The Mac Miller Fund Hands Out Inaugural Grants
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- From Pittsburgh and beyond, Malcolm "Mac Miller" McCormick was a well known name in the music industry. The 26-year-old was living in Los Angeles when he died of an accidental drug overdose September 7, 2018.
A month later, fellow musicians and rappers headlined a benefit concert raising nearly one million dollars for the Mac Miller Fund that was established by the artist's parents.
That brings us to today at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church.
Miller's grandmother Marcia Weiss announced the first recipients of the Mac Miller Legacy Fund.
WATCH: The Mac Miller Fund News Conference --
"The fund is set up to provide programs, resources and opportunities for young people," she said.
RELATED STORIES:
- Playground Now Identified As 'Mac Miller's Blue Slide Playground' On Google Maps
- Grammy Winner Cardi B Says She's Sharing Best Rap Album Award With Mac Miller
- Late Pittsburgh Rapper Mac Miller Nominated For First Grammy
- Celebrity Friends Remember Mac Miller At Benefit Concert, Raise Money For Charities
Monies were given to Music Cares in Los Angeles, an organization established to help young people deal with substance abuse.
Hope Academy of Music and the Arts, operating out of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church found out about a week ago they were getting $50,000 from the fund.
Director of the Academy Linda Addlespurger says she was happily surprised.
"Each year Hope Academy has a positive impact on the lives of 365 young people and their families by giving them the opportunity to study and perform dance and music."
Two nonprofits have been named to receive the first grants from The Mac Miller Fund, established at our Foundation. Pittsburgh-based @HopeAcademyArts and @MusiCares®, a charity of the @RecordingAcad™, will receive $50,000 each. Learn more: https://t.co/zeNmNMkayo pic.twitter.com/erF6o82G0a
— The Pittsburgh Foundation (@PittsburghFdn) May 17, 2019
There are 40 students in the program now, that will double next year because of the Mac Miller fund.
After Marcia Weiss talked about Hope Academy and looked at some of the performance areas, Brenda Waters showed her a picture she took with her grandson at KDKA-TV back in 2012.
"This is just beautiful. He was smiling and happy to be with you. I love it. Thank you so much for sharing it," she said.
But keeping her grandson's memory alive and to make a difference in the lives of others, makes this grandmother proud.
"I wish he were here to see what's happening. He's here, I think so."
For more information on The Mac Miller Fund, visit The Pittsburgh Foundation at this link.
