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00:00It's your girl Lori Mack from 105 When The Bounce and Detroit today is a special day.
00:04I got a chance to sit down with two men that are all about service and giving back to the community.
00:09I have Demetrius Carrington, a beautiful machine magazine, and I have Horatio Williams himself of Horatio Williams Foundation.
00:18Today we'll be talking about purpose, community, and this year's gifted fundraiser.
00:23Fellas, thank you so much for coming.
00:25Thank you for having us.
00:27So, you know, I'm a ping back and forth.
00:28I'm going to start with you, Demetrius.
00:29Okay.
00:30Okay, so we're going to get right into it.
00:31How long have you been doing gifted?
00:34This is the fourth year for gifted.
00:37Oh, nice.
00:38Yep, fourth year.
00:39Okay, and this is something that just came up out of the blue or you just was like?
00:43Well, we were doing, we've always had two or three parties a year.
00:48Okay.
00:49And, you know, we've been fortunate that people really appreciate what we do when they show up.
00:54So we said we need to do something, talking to Horatio with the foundation,
00:59that we need to do something to give back.
01:01So we came up with the title gifted and the rest has been history.
01:08Well, I love that.
01:09So how do you guys pick the organizations or the families to support through gifted?
01:14Well, in the beginning, we tried to piggyback with organizations that were newer and needed a little hand up.
01:24Yeah.
01:24And we did that.
01:27We had a very good run with Filthy Cares, Filthy Rockwell, and we raised a lot of toys.
01:35But this year we said, hey, let's just keep it home.
01:38Yeah.
01:38You know, we've been very fortunate at this foundation that has been supported very well.
01:45So we were able to share the wealth, so to speak.
01:48But this year we're going to keep everything in house.
01:51I love that.
01:52So it's going down December the 20th.
01:54Correct.
01:54How could people attend or is it too late?
01:56Too late to RSVP?
01:57Well, it's yes and no.
02:01Well, it's never just people can come.
02:05It's by invitation only.
02:07And, you know, we get a lot of inquiries about, you know, I get a ton of inboxes.
02:12I'd like to come.
02:13I'd like to come.
02:14Just as a baseline.
02:18I'm never going to send you the invitation or invite you if you're not following the magazine.
02:24This is we celebrate with the people that help us get to this point.
02:29Absolutely.
02:30So if someone inboxes me and they're not even following me.
02:33That's a no brainer.
02:35It's not.
02:36I'm not going to do it because, you know, on top of the philanthropy portion, we need you
02:44to get to know our brands.
02:45Yes.
02:46And support them.
02:47It's like even with Horatio, he has things going all year round and a donation of $20 or
02:54whatever could feed a family or whatever.
02:56So the people that support us, we support them.
03:00That's how you got to show up.
03:03I think it's only right.
03:04Absolutely.
03:05You got to tell us, tell us about the magazine.
03:07Well, the magazine is a, is a multicultural monthly online magazine where our goal is
03:14just to share stories from every walk of life, not just, you know, the, the news people that
03:22go to the big time fundraisers or the doctors or, you know, guys like Horatio that get in all
03:29the magazines, there was room for other stories, just, you know, incredible things that happen
03:36that we don't really appreciate.
03:39Like dice Clark, this guy's all over the place.
03:42I love dice.
03:43You know, pie Mopkins, you know, I could go on and on and on, you know, uh, the winners
03:49network, a group of professional women that are just doing tremendous things.
03:54And a lot of times they get overlooked perhaps because, you know, I don't know why the big
04:01organizations or the big thing.
04:02Yeah.
04:02But that was something that we said, we're not going to just watch.
04:07So we started a magazine so we could, you know, take care of our own.
04:11Okay.
04:11So does each month you feature somebody different?
04:13Yes.
04:14Oh, I love that.
04:15I love that.
04:15And it's all about the community.
04:16Absolutely.
04:17Tomorrow, the new edition drops and it features, uh, Beverly bill, who's a fantastic attorney
04:23and entrepreneur.
04:24So I'm, I'm, I'm hoping everyone reads about what she's doing and, uh, we just going to
04:30keep it rolling.
04:30I love it.
04:31That's how you do it.
04:32Horatio.
04:33Thank you so much for being here as well.
04:35You know, my first question is how long have you been doing Horatio William foundation?
04:41Since 2002.
04:43Oh, 2002.
04:452002, but we became a 501c3 in 2005.
04:49And that's when we started going around asking for funding to help provide free opportunities
04:55for the kids in the community.
04:57I love that.
04:57And my goal, me and Demetrius go back 35, 40 years.
05:02Wow.
05:02So my goal is, yep.
05:04So my, my goal is, and it's Demetrius' goal and his passion.
05:09If you look at the beautiful machine, they have always, they always have positive stories.
05:13You know, as an anchor person or people just looking for news to talk about something.
05:19Right.
05:19But I love his mission is all about positive stories, embracing other people.
05:24We had discussions.
05:25It's not about me.
05:26It's not about him.
05:28It's about people who provide some good in the community.
05:30So when you look at it like that, you get blessed and you're able to help more and more people.
05:36Because at the end of the day, since he started Gifted, it was during COVID time.
05:40People really didn't have anything.
05:42Yeah.
05:42That's actually one of the best times.
05:44When you're in the house, you just need some type of motivation.
05:46And I feel like that's good to see yourself, see your own people.
05:48Yep.
05:49And the great thing about it, you've seen people that really wanted to come out and help.
05:53I don't care if it was a small toy or a big toy.
05:55They really wanted to come out and help.
05:57Because when you have an event and have almost 2,000 toys to give to the community, that's a blessing within itself.
06:05So just being a part of it.
06:07I know his mission.
06:08He knows my mission.
06:09And like I said, we go back, I mean, to our younger years and just being able to give back.
06:15And he give great parties, great events.
06:17I ain't even going to call it a party.
06:19It's an event.
06:20Because when he do it, it's just not a DJ and just partying.
06:24When you go to an event and most people need to follow his model.
06:29When you have an event, no one should have to pay for it.
06:33No one should have to pay for drinks.
06:35No one should have to pay for food.
06:36And that's giving an event.
06:38Most people have parties.
06:39It's a cash bar.
06:40A party, you got to do this, you got to do that.
06:42But at the end of the day, let's reward the people in the community that's giving back.
06:47So if you can do that, that's just going to build up a network of people of giving back to the community.
06:53And we are much stronger if we all come together.
06:55And that's the problem.
06:57This is not an individual sport.
06:59It's always a competition.
07:00Exactly.
07:00So you got to come together.
07:02You got to collaborate.
07:03And once you learn how to collaborate, we can touch more lives.
07:06Yeah.
07:07So I know I don't get out like I'm supposed to and tell the story because the story is not about me.
07:13The story is about the community and helping younger people.
07:16So I do turn down a lot of interviews because I don't want to talk about me.
07:21I already know I'm just a vessel through God and just being a been blessed with funding from everywhere.
07:28And people see my mission and see my cause and see what I want to do.
07:32And they want to be a part.
07:33And I never want to let them down, you know, this year we had our first HBCU.
07:38We brought four HBCU schools here to play.
07:41Yeah.
07:41They play Wayne State, Grand Valley, Eastern and U of D.
07:45And the kids had opportunity to do a college fair.
07:48They had an opportunity to see the band for Grand Valley and Wilberforce.
07:52And Central State came and turned it out with a band.
07:55They had 120 people band come out there.
07:58So the band alone?
07:59The band.
08:00The band alone.
08:00So at the end of the day, it's giving kids experience, letting them know this is bigger than your neighborhood.
08:08Yeah.
08:08This is bigger than Belle Isle.
08:10This is bigger than downtown.
08:12Explore the world and get out and see things so your imagination can be bigger than just the Internet.
08:18I love that.
08:19That's powerful.
08:20And how can people like how can they give back?
08:22How can they be a part of your organization?
08:25Both of your organizations.
08:26Well, the doors are open.
08:28Just go on the website.
08:29Like Demetra said, we do at least 10 events.
08:33We're not one waiting on one big gala trying to fundraise.
08:36It's not about fundraising with us.
08:38It's about branding and letting people know exactly what we're doing out here.
08:42So I don't want your money.
08:43I want you to come and be a part of it.
08:46So to kick off the party, the gifted party, that morning, we're going to take 10 families and give them $500 and take them shopping at the Myers on 8 Mile in Woodward.
08:57And we get the kids from the social workers from the school.
09:00So they know the kids that really need to help.
09:04A family of four, a family of three that's struggling.
09:07Some of them in shelters.
09:08They just need a little boost.
09:10And that's what that's what gifted is all about.
09:12And it's Christmas time.
09:14No one should be sitting in the house with no toys and nothing for these kids.
09:19I don't care about their situation.
09:21I don't know their situation.
09:22But our goal is to give back to the community.
09:26And when he said gifted, I'm all in.
09:28I'm so happy he's been doing this.
09:30One year, I couldn't get in.
09:31It was so crowded.
09:32You know, I'm like, all right, I'm going to turn back around.
09:35But at the end of the day, what they doing over there.
09:38And I just think people don't acknowledge the good work that they do.
09:42When you have a magazine in Michigan Chronicles, like they always give out positive stuff.
09:47We don't need to see no more negative news.
09:50We want to see some positive news so our mentality can change.
09:54Oh, there's some people out here doing something positive.
09:56How can I be a part of that?
09:57Just like you said, how can people be a part?
09:59Everybody want to be a part of some positive stuff.
10:01Something, yes.
10:02And a lot of people don't want to be a part of bad stuff.
10:05But sometimes they make bad decisions.
10:07Right.
10:07So you can make bad decisions in 90 seconds that cost your life or anything.
10:12So at the end of the day, it's about us coming together and showing the city of Detroit.
10:18That we can have a very nice event.
10:21You got to have a tux on, a blue or black suit.
10:23I'm going to ask for a dress code.
10:25Yeah, yeah.
10:25So you got to show these people how to dress, how to come.
10:29This, you know, put on some good cologne.
10:31Just come out and have a great time.
10:33Meet some great people.
10:34Absolutely.
10:34I love that.
10:36I love that.
10:36Now, I always say, like, you're a representation of yourself.
10:39You know, you want to come out.
10:39You want to, you know, you represent yourself, represent other people.
10:42So you want to, you might learn from somebody when you go to something like this.
10:47If you, what I'm learning is if you go to a beautiful machine event, it's an experience.
10:51There you go.
10:52It's not just something you just go through and you just, oh, hey, it's an experience.
10:55And not everybody can get into it.
10:57Like you said, you got to make sure you're there, you're doing the right things.
10:59And you're just really looking out for each other because it's hard.
11:01Exactly.
11:02It's hard to come together.
11:03And if we have more of this, I think Detroit would be not only on the rise, we would be
11:08the next big thing swinging.
11:09We were at one point in time.
11:11But I feel like a lot of people forgot.
11:12Yeah.
11:12They forgot and or probably don't have the resources or know where to go.
11:16So I just love that you guys are doing this and the fact that it's growing each year.
11:20Yeah.
11:21And he's doing a great job at it.
11:22You know, he's not, he's committed to it.
11:24So at the end of the day, for you to be able to look at a magazine and you can have somebody
11:30every month that want to be a part of your magazine, that's big.
11:35Some people don't want to be a part of certain magazines.
11:38So if he can make people feel comfortable with that, he didn't have a lot of celebrities
11:43on the magazines.
11:44He didn't told the story.
11:46And I'm just happy with the gifted thing.
11:49He had Monty Holland.
11:50I've been knowing Monty.
11:51We've been dressing since we was kids.
11:53Wow.
11:53He had his break now.
11:55He's in Macy's.
11:56He's all over.
11:57He's been working at it.
11:59And Monty, I have a jogging suit on.
12:02And if I don't see a tie with it, he ain't dressing, you know.
12:05So he all about fashion.
12:07I call him for stuff if I want to wear something somewhere.
12:10And isn't he dressing all the guys?
12:12Yeah, he's dressing all the guys for the party.
12:17Oh, yes.
12:18And we've been very fortunate.
12:20Christian Louboutin is sending us some shoes.
12:24Oh, okay.
12:26We have Les Stanford.
12:28We got Detroit Auto Show.
12:31My man Donnie over at Hollinsway Freight helped us put this all together.
12:36We got the number one African-American-led foundation in the country, my man Horatio.
12:44Yes.
12:46And we just have a good time.
12:47You know, we got Chef Bobby providing the food and beverage.
12:53Oh, we love Chef Bobby.
12:54We got DJ Highlight that's going to be doing the music this year.
12:57He's going to take us all the way back through the 90s, golden age of hip-hop.
13:03And the place is beautiful.
13:05Very cool location.
13:08And we're just going to have a good time.
13:10You know, I'm actually energized.
13:13You know, I haven't been energized about these parties because it takes a lot of energy.
13:18I can't even imagine what you have to go through each year.
13:21Absolutely.
13:22Absolutely.
13:22And, but for some reason, I feel energized about this, you know, and, you know, it's
13:30just been a great year.
13:31You know, like you said, we just did the hoops and culture.
13:35I, there's a guy on my live right now who said Horatio was the reason he got a four-year
13:41ride, a four-year scholarship.
13:43What?
13:43Some dude.
13:44Some dude.
13:45He just said that about you right now.
13:46Sorry.
13:47You just do it.
13:48They don't even know when you make it.
13:49No.
13:50Yeah.
13:50That's a beautiful thing.
13:51So it's, it's hard not to be energized because see, I see the things that most people don't.
13:57He won't tell you, but he buys groceries for families.
14:00He pays rent.
14:02He pays this.
14:03He does that.
14:04And how can I sit and watch that kind of love and, and brotherhood and not be motivated
14:11to do it?
14:12Absolutely.
14:13So, um, I'm really looking forward to us doing a lot, uh, in the community with this.
14:18Hopefully, uh, you know, we, we, we get a lot of toys and, and, uh, there's some kids
14:24that, you know, you never know what a toy can do to a kid.
14:27It does everything.
14:28Yes.
14:29Especially for those that don't have.
14:30Yeah.
14:31Especially maybe they favorite toy.
14:33Yeah.
14:33Right.
14:34It could be something.
14:35They didn't even know they needed it until they had it.
14:37You know, and it was so, it was so funny because a few years ago, you know, the media comes
14:44out and follows and well, you know, other toys are being distributed.
14:48And this guy says something.
14:50I never thought about it.
14:51We gave this kid a football, right?
14:54Yeah.
14:54He looked at this football, like it was just a, a, a gold block or something.
14:58And he said, this football could possibly lead this kid to a scholarship into a pro football
15:06career or whatever.
15:08You just never know.
15:09You never know.
15:10That's like giving a girl one of those easy bake ovens.
15:13I could turn her into a restaurant.
15:16You never know.
15:17Like for me, I got a book about Louis Armstrong when I was in elementary.
15:22I started playing trumpet that led me into the entertainment business and the promotion
15:28business and now the publishing business.
15:31So you never know what could happen.
15:33So it's not just a toy.
15:36It's a vessel for something, even if it's just a vessel for them to be happy that day.
15:42So it's just, it's something so small can definitely grow into something beautiful.
15:46When you, when we, when I saw those kids that came out on the porch and got a toy, I knew
15:51it was bigger than that toy.
15:53You know, they like some of these, like we were having people like the grandmothers crying.
15:59Like, I didn't know what I was going to do, you know?
16:02And I'm just happy we were there.
16:05Yeah.
16:05Cause a lot of people don't know like this time of the year, a lot of it's hard to come
16:09around with all the different holidays.
16:10You got Thanksgiving, then boom, Christmas.
16:12And you're just thinking, how am I going to afford what they want?
16:16Especially when you have a family on a fixed income.
16:18Yes.
16:19And you know, and I applaud families that are on fixed income.
16:23Cause I don't know how they make that money stretch out like that and survive for a whole
16:28month until the next money come.
16:30But at the end of the day, when you bless, and I say this to everybody is listen, when
16:35you bless, reach out and help somebody else.
16:37Cause you never know the tables can turn and it's, it's never about you.
16:41Cause when it's about you, you, you're not doing the right thing.
16:45You know, my success is just not about me.
16:47It's about making everybody in this room successful.
16:49If everybody in this room is successful, now we can help grow another six people.
16:54Then we can help get another six.
16:56And hopefully they can take the tools that they have, that they learned from me, you or
17:00anyone, they can pass it on.
17:02My thing is about passing this knowledge on.
17:05Right.
17:06So I have to listen to the young guys.
17:07They're the eight.
17:07You can't keep coming in here with suits on, looking like a preacher.
17:10I'm like, all right, I'm fine with that.
17:12Now they got me wearing jogging pants, different gym shoes and stuff.
17:17You be active.
17:17Exactly.
17:18But at the end of the day, I see their vision and I see what they need.
17:23So we got to cater to them too.
17:25So it's just, once you get the concept out your mind, it's not about you.
17:30A whole lot of good things will come to you because you open up the doors to accept any
17:36blessings or any, any positive stuff to come to you.
17:39When you close down, it don't work.
17:42That's why sometimes I don't interview with different organizations because if I feel
17:47your mission is not genuine to me, I don't want to be a part of it at the end of the day.
17:52So when I walk out of there, anybody walking in this room, I want you to feel like I treated
17:57you like you wanted to be treated.
17:59So you'll want me back.
18:01I don't want to say, well, he just rubbed me the wrong way.
18:05Right.
18:05But at the end of the day, we got to treat people the way we want to be treated in a beautiful
18:09machine.
18:09I mean, we did the first party.
18:12I got on it.
18:13We had Alicia Myers come out and sing and it was at the old temple place on Jefferson.
18:18The Players' Playhouse.
18:19Players, yeah.
18:20It was called the Players' Club.
18:21It was the Players' Club.
18:22The Players' Club.
18:23The Players' Club.
18:23Yeah.
18:23It's an old castle on Jefferson and it was beautiful.
18:26And every since then, Amitra's just been taking this thing to the next level.
18:31And I applaud him because it's hard to write a story.
18:36It's hard to write a story.
18:37Y'all are all off into this.
18:38Somebody got to give you something to write the story, right?
18:41So if you don't have a picture or nothing, how am I going to tell the story?
18:44It's hard.
18:45So at the end of the day, I'm just looking to have a great time.
18:47I usually don't go to the parties, but I'm going to be there.
18:49I'm going to be ready this year.
18:50Like you said, I'm excited.
18:52I'm going to have my tux together.
18:53Yeah, suited to boot it.
18:54I'm excited for you.
18:55I'm like, dang, this is big and it's growing each year.
18:57I'm just so excited when I see it on social media.
19:00I'm just like, okay, it's happening.
19:02I know every time when it gets cold, I know it's coming.
19:04Gifted is coming back around.
19:05You know, I've been, I've been really avoiding making it bigger.
19:10Really?
19:11Well, we'll see because it's just from the party aspect of it.
19:15Okay.
19:16You have to control the quality and we're a boutique operation.
19:22We have a very strict like idea of what we're doing.
19:28I'm not really interested outside of our ideas.
19:32So everyone, beautiful machine is not for everybody.
19:38I say that all the time and I mean it.
19:40And I don't mean to sound arrogant or whatever, but those are the facts.
19:43Nothing is for everybody.
19:45You know what I mean?
19:46So, um, I just don't want it to get so big that it loses its integrity.
19:53You know, I don't want it to get so big that it's not a beautiful machine party and it's
19:59just a party.
19:59A party.
20:00You know what I mean?
20:01Because it like in my mind to throw a good party, I, I put together things to make people
20:09feel like I want to feel like I want to be around beautiful women.
20:14So we create an atmosphere for beautiful women to be attracted to.
20:20I want to be around gentlemen.
20:21I don't want to be around guys.
20:23It's got a gun.
20:24And as soon as you look at them, you want to shoot you boys.
20:26That's not even like in my, in my mind, you know?
20:30So we put together atmospheres where gentlemen come and treat the ladies like ladies.
20:37No one's grabbing your arm while you walking by.
20:40We don't play that.
20:41We throw two or three people out every year because of that.
20:44And they're never people that we invite.
20:47They're always coming with other people.
20:49So the quality control is really, really important.
20:53And when you get so big, you, it's hard to do.
20:59So, you know, every year we argue because I say, look, we capping this at 200 this year.
21:04I don't care.
21:05And then, you know, no, we can't do it.
21:07We can't do it.
21:08You know, so it gets bigger, but we're, I'm going to make it just a little bit bigger because
21:13it's, it's, it's, you know, I don't know.
21:17Just come early guys.
21:18That's all I'm going to say.
21:20Especially if you get an invite.
21:21I just think it's a great thing for the holiday.
21:23And people never always say this, me and Demetrius sit down and talk all that.
21:30We, we argue back and forth.
21:32How can you give an event and you charge somebody?
21:34Can't do that.
21:35How can somebody give an event?
21:36How am I going to invite you to somebody you got to buy your dream?
21:38Can't do that.
21:39All right.
21:40So let's figure out how we can talk to some of our people and get this thing where it's
21:45supposed to be at.
21:46He the one set the trend.
21:48People really don't give him enough credit, enough credit for what he does.
21:53He the one.
21:54Demetrius was the one with Biggie small when he said Detroit players, the Gators and stuff.
22:00That's Demetrius.
22:01The Gators.
22:02All right.
22:02So he brought him in town.
22:05Biggie small.
22:06He showed, he made Biggie feel the way he want everybody to feel at this party.
22:10Biggie was supposed to leave in two days.
22:11He was here for two weeks.
22:13Okay.
22:14Now you come out, you got a rapper Jeezy.
22:17He's selling out arenas by having people dressed up.
22:20That's something he started with the beautiful me, beautiful machine.
22:23Now you got to come to a party.
22:25You got to be dressed up.
22:26So now he's setting the trend.
22:27He really a trendsetter, but everybody's not ready for his imagination because he done
22:31seen this and did this before.
22:33So we want people to come out and have a good time.
22:37It's going to be a real party.
22:38It's not, you don't even got to bring your wallets.
22:41Just come out and have a great time.
22:43This is a beautiful thing because like you said, bars.
22:45Exactly.
22:46Alone.
22:46It's hard.
22:46I mean, that's one of the main reasons why I don't really like to go out because it's
22:49just like, dang, I'm spending $40, $50 on a drink, two drinks.
22:52I didn't, two drinks and I'm not even where I want to be.
22:56Well, we're going to give you at least three drinks.
22:58Oh, see, look.
22:59You'll get three drink tickets.
23:02Don't be wobbling out of there.
23:03You'll get a little, you'll get a little something to put on your stomach and you'll have a great
23:08time.
23:08You don't have to worry about spending a dollar.
23:10I think that's the best part.
23:11Bring, bring some valet money.
23:13I don't control the valet.
23:14Well, that's only right.
23:15I mean, you got to tip, tip your valet.
23:16Okay.
23:17Make sure you do that.
23:18And it's an experience.
23:19Like I say, whenever you are able to connect with a beautiful machine, events and experience
23:24is what you leave having.
23:26So I'm just really excited for you.
23:28I know this is going to be out the park.
23:30Are you coming?
23:32Can I come?
23:33No, I'm there.
23:34I'm there.
23:35You only got to ask me.
23:36I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to put on.
23:38So that's what the party is about.
23:40Younger women like you and younger men like John over there.
23:43So y'all can know when y'all want to give a party, go to the next level.
23:47It's not about the price.
23:48Go big or go home.
23:49It's not a party if you got to pay to get in.
23:52I'm learning.
23:53You're teaching me.
23:53So at the end of the day, we're giving you guys an event.
23:56We want everybody to come and be a part of the event.
23:59And we pray to God everything go off right.
24:01But we got some surprises coming in here.
24:04So we just want y'all to come on down and have a good time.
24:06Well, I'm excited for it.
24:07I know that you guys have been partnered for many, many, many years.
24:10Yes.
24:12Are you guys going to continue to work?
24:14Or do we have something in the future coming up with you guys?
24:18After this interview, I'm never talking to him again.
24:20Oh, my God.
24:20You're not.
24:21I don't believe it.
24:23I put a lot of pressure on you.
24:24No, we got a whole bunch of plans.
24:27I mean, we're going to bring a polo match to the city.
24:32You know, we we we we had this scheduled a few years ago and you wouldn't believe how
24:39hard it is to get people to let horses run on their grass.
24:44So, oh, my God.
24:46On their grass?
24:47On the grass.
24:47I thought that would be.
24:48No.
24:49OK.
24:49I mean, that's that's the reason it didn't happen because of that.
24:53So we finally found a location.
24:55Nice.
24:56And we're going to do a great activation with that.
25:00And we're going to I'm working on some other stuff that you big parties.
25:05OK.
25:06Because that's my background is is entertainment.
25:09So we're going to do some big stuff and, you know, just keep it going.
25:15Everything I do will have a charitable component to it.
25:17OK.
25:18Um, but everything won't be free and some things will be for profit, but we'll still
25:24give money back.
25:26So I think that in order for us to be a world class city, you have to have world class entertainment.
25:33Yes.
25:34And you have to have world class retail.
25:36The retail is trickling in slowly.
25:39So we need to get the entertainment stuff coming.
25:42Absolutely.
25:43You know what I mean?
25:44It is just we need to be the reason someone said, let's go to Detroit this weekend because
25:48of blah, blah, blah.
25:49Like Atlanta or New York or whatever.
25:52Florida, you know, five cities in Florida.
25:55People say that about all the time.
25:57So I just want to do my little small part to make that happen.
26:03I love that.
26:03I think you're doing it.
26:04You already doing it.
26:05And it's just like it's going to be a lot of people that's going to follow behind both
26:08of your footsteps.
26:09Yeah, hopefully.
26:11And that's the, you know, and that's the goal.
26:13You know, there's no reason to have all this knowledge and don't pass it down.
26:17And a lot of times I see a lot of guys my age don't pass it down.
26:22Get this knowledge to these young guys, get these young people, you know, give them experience
26:27so they can understand what this is supposed to be.
26:30I've been fortunate enough to travel all around the world and see and see different things.
26:34So now I understand what event really supposed to be like, you know?
26:37So at the end of the day, that's what we want to do is give everybody experience before
26:41the holiday.
26:42Then after that, the kids come and get experience and get some free toys.
26:46Yeah.
26:46So it's a win-win.
26:47I love that.
26:48And everybody leaves happy.
26:49Exactly.
26:50It was something they didn't know they was going to have or need.
26:53So anybody that's listening right now that wants to support either Gifted or the Horatio
26:59Williams Foundation, how can they do that?
27:01Go to HoratioWilliams.com.
27:03So press the donate button.
27:05Okay.
27:06That's what you do.
27:07Just donate.
27:08And then screenshot that.
27:10Send it to me.
27:11I'll make sure you get in the party.
27:13Oh, nice.
27:15Okay.
27:15And see, the goal is to the party ain't the only thing is free.
27:20All our programs are free.
27:21Right.
27:22CNA program.
27:24CNA, right?
27:25Yeah.
27:25We got a CNA program, which we sponsor at least 100 kids a year.
27:29We have a janitorial program we work on.
27:31We had a culinary arts program, which we're going to start up.
27:35My brother, Max, passed away two years ago and two or three years ago.
27:40And we want to start the program up.
27:42It was something that really hit us hard.
27:44You know, we was not expecting.
27:46And during COVID, he probably put out 400,000 meals during COVID, you know, over at the kitchen,
27:53at CNN over there.
27:54So it's a lot of positive programs that go on.
27:58And we want to embrace all of them.
28:00This is not about the Horatio Williams Foundation.
28:02This is not about the beautiful machine.
28:04How can we bring everybody together and they can see that it's not about us.
28:09It's about us educating everybody how to do this.
28:13Right.
28:13So at the end of the day, it's all about educating.
28:15You have this young man over there, John.
28:17He's a big artist now.
28:19I've been knowing him when he was taking pictures, but he's a famous artist now.
28:23You know, he's got murals at University of Michigan.
28:25He got them all over now.
28:27He got some drawings that went global.
28:30So at the end of the day, it's showing him, showing some more young guys.
28:34So hopefully when he get done, he can grab some younger guys, take them under his wings
28:38too, because it just wasn't given to him.
28:41You got to have imagination to do this.
28:43You know, you can't get all this off the phone.
28:46You got to have imagination of this, things that you saw that you can vision.
28:51He's an artist, so he can see something and draw it, which we wouldn't think much of it
28:55until he explained to us what it is.
28:57So once he explained to us what it is, and now it's like, whoa, okay.
29:02So at the end of the day, this is our city.
29:07This is our state.
29:08This is our town.
29:09We all about the community.
29:12This is not, when I do events, it's about branding.
29:14The Beautiful Machine is about branding.
29:17So it's not about how we get somebody there and make a dollar.
29:19That's not the object.
29:21So if we can keep all these programs free and people want to donate to the programs,
29:26we're not going to turn down their funding.
29:28Oh, no, that's right.
29:29Because we can service more kids.
29:30Absolutely.
29:30At the end of the day, instead of us taking 10 families at $500, if you want to bring some
29:34money and somebody listening, if you want to come and adopt a family for $500, go on the
29:39website.
29:40Meet us at Myers.
29:42We'll have the family there with you.
29:43You walk through them.
29:44You talk to the family.
29:46See how they live and see what's going on with them.
29:48See if you can help.
29:48And it's not just a one-day thing.
29:50You may want to help them all through the year and check up on the kids.
29:54So it's not just a shopping spree.
29:57I'm tricking them with the shopping spree, but I want them to build a relationship with
30:03the family.
30:04That's big.
30:05That's actually bigger than you can actually think.
30:07You think you're just coming in, just helping, just doing a little bit.
30:10But when you leave with a bond.
30:12Exactly.
30:12The kids want your phone number.
30:15The kids, if there's no mail in the house and you got a mail walk or whatever.
30:18The boys can relate to them or the girls can relate to them.
30:21They probably say, mama, can we call him?
30:23Or he may want to do something on Easter for them.
30:26It's a lot of holidays.
30:27You got to dress up Thanksgiving, Easter.
30:30So it's all about us just putting a platform out there and letting people.
30:35And I already said, I'm 58.
30:37I probably got 25 more good summers.
30:39I'm giving all this knowledge up.
30:41So that's right.
30:42Everybody have it, you know.
30:43You need to write a book if you haven't already.
30:45I mean, invest.
30:46I wouldn't invest on that.
30:47They've been knowing me about that.
30:49I mean, it's so much wisdom as you just speak it so fluently, so freely.
30:52I'm just really blessed that you're here.
30:54And I'm able to witness this in the flesh because it's a beautiful thing.
30:59And it's not a lot of people that are motivating young people or just showing them that they
31:05have the tools that they never knew they had.
31:07Like, you already have it.
31:09Use it.
31:09You know what I'm saying?
31:10Find the resources.
31:11You don't have to dive into the phones or the tablets all the time or feel like you
31:15don't have anything or nobody's listening.
31:17But some of them need to know where the opportunity is at.
31:20Absolutely.
31:21We all are opportunists.
31:22Oh, man.
31:23So we just need an opportunity.
31:25Yeah.
31:25So once we get the opportunity, now you got to take it around.
31:28I got the opportunity of doing transportation.
31:30I've been doing that 35 years.
31:32So I made money there.
31:33And I said, how can I help the community?
31:35Demetrius was there.
31:36Boom.
31:37I went back, started feeding families, helping.
31:40Went back to my old middle school where he did the gym.
31:42I took the foundation camp from a week to three weeks.
31:46Then I took him to see the point.
31:47And the last time we went to see the point for COVID, we took 875 people.
31:53875 people.
31:54That young man said he got a scholarship.
31:55I bet you he went to see the point with us.
31:57So my thing is, how do I reward y'all at the end of the day?
32:02So if you come to the summer program, I adopt some more.
32:05And we take them free.
32:07And I go out there and beg with the organization and say, hey, give these kids the opportunity to get out the state of Michigan.
32:12Yeah.
32:13Because a lot of kids have never even been outside.
32:14And they don't pay for nothing.
32:16We feed them.
32:17We barbecue.
32:18We got food.
32:20Everything.
32:20They come out every two hours and eat.
32:22Now, if they want to buy some ice cream, do what they want to do, that's fine on them.
32:24That's beautiful.
32:25But nobody going to come to our event and going to be hungry and say they did not eat.
32:30We're not doing that.
32:31See, that's what it's all about.
32:32That's not a part of it.
32:33That's not part of the trip.
32:34You can't have a picnic with no food.
32:38No.
32:38You know, so at the end of the day, it's all about us passing this knowledge on to this young man, to you.
32:46And whoever is listening, want to be a part, they already know.
32:49The beautiful machine doors is not closed.
32:52My doors are not closed.
32:53I'm here to help.
32:55I'm so thankful.
32:56I'm thankful for both of you guys being here.
32:57Well, all three of you.
32:59Definitely thankful for you guys being here.
33:01It was, it's a pleasure.
33:03I'm going to be there December 20th at the Gifted Fundraiser.
33:07Make sure if you are there, you bring a toy or some cash.
33:10Okay.
33:10And don't forget to tip your valet for sure.
33:12There you go.
33:13Okay.
33:13Like I say all the time, if you're going to a Gifted, I mean, sorry, a Gifted, a beautiful machine event, it's an experience.
33:20So thank you guys again.
33:21And one more question I want to ask you guys before we leave.
33:24Okay.
33:25In one word each, what does giving back mean to you?
33:29In one word, what does giving back mean to you?
33:33Blessings.
33:35I love that.
33:37Blessings.
33:38An unforgettable moment.
33:41It's not one word.
33:42I know.
33:43I couldn't do it in one word.
33:45An unforgettable moment because you never, you never again will see the expression that person have that you gave them something.
33:52It can be the littlest thing.
33:56And I'm going to lead you with this story.
33:57I took four kids back in, when was that, 2019, to a Pistons game.
34:08I gave each one of them $20.
34:10It was three of them.
34:12I said, go get y'all something to eat.
34:14All of them came back with the pop and chips.
34:16I said, where are the hot dogs?
34:18I gave you $20.
34:19He said, a hot dog was $7.
34:21I can buy three packs of hot dogs.
34:23And it changed my mindset.
34:25He said, he was thinking about his family.
34:27Yes.
34:28It wasn't just about him.
34:29So I feel my message got delivered to him.
34:32Don't just think about yourself.
34:34Think about when he got home, he can go buy them hot dogs.
34:38Everybody in the house can eat.
34:39And we take it for granted, because we go buy popcorn, hot dogs all day when you go to a game.
34:45But that money goes a long way with these kids.
34:48And them kids don't forget about that.
34:50No.
34:51They do not forget about it.
34:52So when you have moments like that, unforgettable moments like that, it make you reevaluate yourself.
34:59Yourself.
34:59So our goal, everybody's goal in this room is to be a better person.
35:03Absolutely.
35:04Every day, that's our goal, to be a better person.
35:06I'm going to be a better father.
35:07I'm going to have a better spiritual relationship with God.
35:10I ask for forgiveness every day.
35:13So at the end of the day, that's the positive stuff that we want to, the message we want to give to everybody, adults, kids, and everybody.
35:21I love it.
35:22That's a beautiful way to end it.
35:24That's what you're going to experience when you go to a gifted fundraiser.
35:27I got one more thing I want to say.
35:29Absolutely, please.
35:31We're doing two new magazines.
35:33Okay.
35:34I just want to tell everybody to be on the lookout.
35:36We have partnerships with other people.
35:39We're doing a fashion magazine.
35:41Oh, a fashion magazine.
35:43It's going to be incredible.
35:44It's going to be incredible.
35:46We're going to blend men and women fashion together.
35:48It won't be just, it's fashion.
35:51And we're doing a food and hospitality magazine.
35:55I'm doing that with Chef Bobby.
35:57I love it.
35:58And Latrice Delgado Macon is our partner on the fashion magazine.
36:03So we're going to do some amazing things.
36:06We're expanding.
36:08If you have something that could contribute, whether you're a writer or whatever, if it makes sense, reach out to us.
36:17We want to work with as many people as possible here.
36:20And I just wanted to share that because we're, after this party, we're going to go nuts with it.
36:28And so people, people hear about that.
36:30And, you know, we're just going to keep doing what we do and grow.
36:33Right.
36:34So you can avoid those inboxes when they're blowing you up.
36:36How can I be a part of this?
36:37I can do this.
36:38Yes.
36:39Everybody have an opportunity.
36:40And I know this is the end of the story, but it wouldn't be right if we don't think some people helped us to get to this point.
36:49So everybody helped us.
36:50We can't call out a bunch of names, but you guys know who y'all are.
36:55And we want to thank y'all for giving us the opportunity to work with y'all when we was kids to learn.
37:00Now look where we at.
37:01So we want to do the right thing.
37:03And whoever here is or see it, they know, you guys know who you guys are.
37:08All right.
37:08And we want to thank y'all.
37:09We didn't do this by ourselves.
37:11We've been coached.
37:13We made mistakes.
37:14But now when you make mistakes, you learn.
37:18So we didn't learn from some of our mistakes.
37:20And that's why we're giving a gifted free event.
37:25I'm definitely thankful that you guys are able to make it in and tell us exactly what we need, what we're going to be missing if you don't come.
37:34Gifted December 20th.
37:37Hopefully it's going to be bigger and better.
37:38Not too big, but bigger and better than the next.
37:42Fellas, thank you so much.
37:44That was 105.1 The Bounce.
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