Trey Songz, Ray J and More Set for Essence Festival’s First Charity Basketball Game

For the first time, the Essence Festival will host a charity celebrity basketball game when the annual music event returns to New Orleans on June 29-July 2. Trey Songz, Ray J, Trombone Shorty and Juvenile are among the celebrity players who will hit the court on June 29 with former NBA players Chris Jackson, Robert Pack, Caron Butler and Ben Gordon.

The charity event is being presented in partnership with Percy “Master P” Miller’s Team Hope NOLA foundation, and is an expansion of the Essence Festival’s Day of Service activation. Master P and his son Romeo Miller will also play in the game, along with Silkk the Shocker, Curren$y, Doug E. Fresh and others.

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In a statement announcing the event, Master P said, “I reached out to some of my colleagues and friends and told them what we are doing to help raise money for the children in New Orleans and the response has been overwhelming. It’s extremely important to be able to help the young people from my hometown – these children are challenged with so much.”

The Xavier University of Louisiana Convocation Center in New Orleans will be the site for the game. Tickets for general admission ($25) and courtside seats ($100) will be open to the public. Sales will benefit the previously announced scholarship fund developed by Essence and Team Hope NOLA. More information is available here.

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