Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, one of the country’s more prominent one-on-one mentoring programs, hosted their 18th annual Big Night Event last weekendwith Jason Derulo as the headliner. The event raised $2 million, which Rich Greif, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Community Relations, explained would go towards “recruiting and training.” Ultimately, this will allow more than 1,500 children to get off the waitlist, and to find a compatible adult mentor. The 27-year-old “Watcha Say” singer said he participated in a similar program as a kid.
“You know, sometimes it’s just a place to go to be off the street, so I think this program is the next step of that,” he says. “So when I heard about being apart of the event tonight, of course, absolutely” Going further, Derulo hopes to do some musician mentoring of his own through an upcoming 50-50 partnership with Warner Bros.
“Basically, we’re finding the future, finding the next best things, what’s gonna change the world tomorrow,” he explains. In collaboration with the record label, Derulo has found a few artists of interest, and hopes to introduce them to the world this year. Looking ahead at 2017, the multitalented star adds: “I have a new single coming out at the end of next month with Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign. Album shortly after that. And I have a clothing line and shoe line called LVL XIII that’s on the horizon as well.” We’ll be waiting on the other side, Jason.
Jason Derulo’s big, big night
John Gillooly/PEI
