Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, His Foundation To Receive 2007 'Spirit Of Youth' Award

CHICAGO, IL. (Top40 Charts/ National Runaway Switchboard) - Award winning musician and actor Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and his charitable foundation, The Ludacris Foundation, will receive the National Runaway Switchboard's (NRS) 2007 "Spirit of Youth" award at the annual Spirit of Youth Benefit on Nov. 1 in Chicago. The event serves as the kick-off to November's National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM).

The "Spirit of Youth" award recognizes individuals and organizations who work to keep America's runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the street. Ludacris voiced his concern for the runaway problem in the lyrics to his 2006 hit "Runaway Love" and demonstrated his commitment to America's youth through his foundation's partnership with NRS.

"Since Ludacris and The Ludacris Foundation have been involved, we have experienced a 50 percent increase in calls to our hotline, and the number of visitors to our Web site has increased more than 60 percent," said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director.

NRS appreciates the impact Ludacris has had on youth, and so does Ludacris.

"I am extremely happy my association with the National Runaway Switchboard has had a positive impact on reaching out to runaways and potential runaways. When I wrote the song, I wanted young people to know running away from their problems is not the answer and that they did not have to face every problem alone," said Ludacris.