Rapper's Youth League Hits Midwest
6:00AM ET July 22, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

Snoop Dogg is taking his youth football league to the Windy City. The rapper is setting up a free clinic for an estimated 200 participants from Chicago Housing Authority families. Chicago will be the first city outside of Snoop's home state of California to get any teams in the league's five-year history. Snoop initially invested $1 million to launch his own youth conference, and he charges about $200 less per player than the average Pop Warner teams. His league also offers sibling discounts, and allowed parents with criminal records are also allowed to volunteer. Additionally, Snoop invests an additional $50,000 each year to sustain the program, with some of the participants moving on to NCAA Division I programs.

"This allows them to see the artist giving back to the community and also introduces them to sports," said Crystal Brown Black, executive director of Windows of Opportunity, CHA's nonprofit affiliate. "Their ability to go onto a field and learn techniques in football is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."