“Diddy in December” Highlights Inaugural Joy to the
World Fest in Philadelphia; All-star Events to Raise Money, Combat
Critical Social Issues

Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jamie Foxx, among
stars to headline December weekend of celebrity events in Philadelphia
to enliven holidays for the needy, draw focus to hunger, homelessness
and youth development

Music mogul and entertainer Sean “Diddy” Combs, Grammy- and Academy
Award-winner Jamie Foxx and internationally renowned songstress Regina
Belle are among the litany of stars converging on the city Dec. 16-19 to
initiate the inaugural Joy to the World Fest.

The December weekend of activities is designed to offer food, health
services, education and information with a touch of stardust to children
and families across Greater Philadelphia that are facing financial
hardship during this holiday season.

The event is the brainchild of Tyrone L. Gilliams Jr., a University
of Pennsylvania graduate and ordained minister who heads T.L. Gilliams,
LLC, a Pennsylvania-based private commodities trading firm with global
holdings.

Highlights of the weekend include a celebrity bowling night, a day of
free kids’ activities; a black-tie gala with a red-carpet; a feeding
initiative to reach 5,000 in need; and a closeout inspirational concert.

Thousands are expected to participate in the series of events that
will raise money, collect toys, provide meals and services as well as
draw awareness to three critical crises lashing locally – hunger,
homelessness and youth development.

Celebrities coming to participate in the festival and its cause
include Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, megaproducer and
entertainer Jermaine Dupri, actors Boris Kodjoe, Vivica A. Fox and Lance
Gross, comedian Kevin Hart, members of the Bravo hit show, “The Real
Housewives of Atlanta” and many more.

“From a social standpoint, the needs are greater now than they have
been in my lifetime,” said Gilliams, who grew up between Camden, N.J.
and North Philadelphia. “I’ve done things, helped people, all my life.
But I was moved to take it to the masses.

“Giving is not a week-to-week or season-to-season thing. It’s a
lifestyle,” he said. “What we’re trying to establish, through this event
and others that will soon come, is a giving mentality. Then the idea
becomes a movement. And a movement is what we need right now.”

A recent series by the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that hunger and
food insecurity are rising in the city and region. Nearly 1 in 3 is
afraid food would run out before more could be gathered. Area food
cupboards, emergency shelters and kitchens have seen a 30 percent uptick
in requests, many from first-time visitors, according to the advocacy
campaign Philabundance.

Hunger, much like soaring foreclosure rates are symptomatic of
unemployment and underemployment, which fuel the growing threat of
homelessness. As of Nov. 22, the unemployment rate for Philadelphia
stood at 11.2 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
New Jersey’s Camden and Salem counties, also part of the Philadelphia
MSA, also reported unemployment rates higher than the national average,
at 10.2 and 9.9 percent, respectively.

These realities will be on the floor during the weekend’s signature
black-tie gala, hosted by Combs. The evening will feature an assortment
of movers-and-shakers, casting a national spotlight on combating the
aftermath of the prolonged economic downturn.

Cost defrayment for Joy Fest comes from major event sponsors T.L. Gilliams LLC, Ciroc and Mercedes-Benz.

The weekend’s events are among the initial activities of the newly
formed Joy to the World Foundation. The charitable nonprofit entity,
launched by Gilliams, seeks to address hunger, homelessness, and youth
development in urban centers across America. This year, Philadelphia is
its focus.

Last month, partnering with Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter,
Pennsylvania State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, Pennsylvania State Rep.
Kenyatta Johnson and various social service agencies, Gilliams opened
the Joy Fest season by giving away nearly 1,000 turkeys across the
region.

“All these events, they’re meant to be catalytic, to inspire,”
Gilliams said. “Inspire people who might be on the verge of giving up.
Inspire kids who might not have believed anyone cared about them.
Inspire those of us with means to do more than talk about problems, but
to actively work to solve them. We’re Americans. Nothing is out of our
reach. We dream big. We reach for the stars.”