Sports fans know Steve Francis best as Steve “Franchise” Francis, the NBA star who played for the Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic, among other teams. However, the children of the Steve Francis Foundation simply know him as Steve. More important than any big game or slam dunk is the outlet created for the children in his program.
Located in Houston, now, Steve Francis’ foundation is active from Texas all the way up to his native Maryland. Aware of the doors opened for him, Steve Francis has decided to do the same for inspired youth with ambition. The Steve Francis Foundation gives out annual scholarships and also helps inform college students about financial aid.
In addition to the Steve Francis Foundation, Steve Francis also operates his own record label, Mazerati Music. Once the door to success was opened for him, Steve Francis found multiple doors to open for others. Hip Hop Vibe talked to Steve Francis about his foundation and the opportunities he has helped create for others.
Read the entire interview below:
When did you first launch the Steve Francis Foundation? I first launched the foundation in 1999.
What are some of the programs included in the Steve Francis Foundation aside from the scholarships and the seminars about obtaining financial aid? Of course, the Calvin Avant Awards and we have turkey drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways and we also do a Christmas in February.
How does one go about getting involved in the Steve Francis Foundation? You can log on to www.SteveFrancisFoundation.com and we are still looking for interns to work in some cities we are expanding to. So, you can submit applications and we will definitely take a look at it.
Can you talk about Calvin Avant and the Calvin Avant Award? Calvin was a guy from my community who took care of all of the younger kids out there, keeping them out of trouble. He taught us how to not to be a statistic, he taught about basketball, and he was like a parent to the ‘hood.
Do you keep in contact with the youth who used the Steve Francis Foundation after they have graduated from school? Yeah, one of the requirements is that they come back and work with current recipients. We have over thirty children we have sent to Stanford, Harvard, and Howard. It is all on our site, how we have sent kids to school all over the United States.
What professions have some of these students gone on to work in? Right now, we have two doctors, one sportscaster, we have a basketball player who is one of the top female basketball players. We have a wide array of careers our past youth have gotten involved with.
Who are the people who assist you in running the Steve Francis Foundation? Myself, my brother Jerry, Calvin Avant, Kerry Carter, Bryant Williams, who always works with the Houston Rockets. Right there, that is my core committee.
In addition to your foundation, you also have a record label, correct? Yeah. I own Mazerati Music.
Can you briefly discuss some of the talent you have signed to the label? So far, Dynomite Biggz, Yung Fresh, K-9, and some other young kids coming up and doing projects, right now, they hold it down.
How long have you known DJ Junior and what is your relationship like? Oh man, he is one of the guys who is trying to put the city of DC on in a different way from the norm. There are so many races and so much talent from go-go, to hip hop, and DJ Junior is trying to shed more light on all of that.
Where can people go to find out more about you and your projects? MazeratiMusic.net, we have mixtapes coming, there is a lot of real hot things coming out.
