Lil Jon’s “Celebrity Apprentice” stint not only boosted his fan base—it spiked an interest in his charity-of-choice: The United Methodist Children’s Home in Decatur, GA. UMCH called upon us to help them capitalize on the popularity of the show, draw national media attention and increase an interest in the organization through social media and their website.
UMCH was founded 140 years ago, and originally served as an orphanage for post-Civil War orphans. Today, it’s a haven that fosters young children, teenagers and families who need help getting back on their feet.
We began by revamping UMCH’s website just in time for the “Celebrity Apprentice” premiere. Website traffic spiked more than 200% throughout the duration of the show, and UMCH’s Facebook fan base increased 200% as well.
While Lil Jon went to work for Trump in the Big Apple, we hit the media circuit in Atlanta. With the assistance of Lil Jon’s publicist and management team, we secured coverage of Lil Jon’s UMCH connection through various publications and television stations, including the AJC, Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch, AP Wire, News One, 11 Alive News and CBS Atlanta, to name a few.
Lil Jon managed to be one of the last final four contestants standing before Donald finally let him go. Amazingly, during his time on the show, he raised a staggering $80,000 for UMCH. Upon his return, we coordinated a star-studded and heart-warming reception honoring the rapper. The event was held on May 24 on the UMCH campus. We pulled out all the stops, inviting prominent community leaders such as Dekalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, who deemed that day, “Lil Jon Day.” During an initial press conference, Lil Jon was presented with an award for his fundraising efforts by his mom. In a hilarious turn, Jon’s brother, Chris, showed up in a huge Lil Jon mask, complete with gold teeth and dreadlocks.
After the press conference, the good times continued as Lil Jon met with children under the care of UMCH, enjoyed a private lunch and was treated to a talent show. There were plenty of photo ops, and I was able to get in the fun and pose with Lil Jon for a picture.
But by far, the most rewarding experience was to see the impact of our PR and media relations strategy—it was instrumental in increasing interest in the United Methodist Children’s Home and its noble mission.
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