Rick Ross and Wingstop have started a scholarship initiative that will award college funds to young employees of the franchise as well as high school students in impoverished urban communities.

According to the education advocacy nonprofit GradNation, the high school dropout rate (in the U.S.) for urban youth is at 54 percent and high school graduation rate for low-income students are 74.6 percent, which is 14 percentage points lower than students from “middle class” families. The non-profit program will also distribute grants to community groups working to curb dropout rates through tutoring and mentorship.

“We see the drop out rates. We know what’s going on. So what’s the biggest thing that we could do?” said Ross about his scholarship program (via HipHop DX). “Wingstop as a company came together and put together an urban scholarship that’s for the underprivileged, that’s educationally based. That’s me talking to my audience. We need to hear this, and we need to bring all these ideas and concepts to the table and start as soon as possible.”

All the details of Ross’ involvement are still unclear but he raved about the positive initiative during the launch of Wingstop’s online clothing and accessories store. The Wingstop Foundation will officially launch later this year.

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