Or least his people did.
Rapper Ludacris, whose real name is Christopher Brian Bridges, made 20 families who needed a hand up pretty happy this week. He partnered with Nissan South, a car dealership in Atlanta, to give away 20 cars to folks in need as part of his own stimulus package.
The giveaway worked like this: to qualify for the free cars, contestants submitted an essay to Ludacris’ Foundation. Applicants were asked to write a one page essay on why they feel they deserve the car. To qualify, applicants had to be at least 18 years old, have a valid GA drivers license and not currently own a car.
Roberta Shields, President of The Ludacris Foundation, explained: “This year we want to do something to help youth and families manage during these tough economic times. Having a vehicle to get back and forth to work and daycare can make the difference in getting and keeping a job.”
More than 4000 folks vied for the used vehicles, which also included free gas for 30 days. The winners were responsible for the rest: tags, registration, insurance and – yes – taxes. After the winners of Oprah’s car giveaway learned the hard way, Ludacris made it clear on his website that winners were responsible for paying any applicable taxes.
The winners of the cars were visibly moved. Crystal Beauford, a single mom and college student, used to ride two buses to get to work. Now the proud owner of a used Saturn Ion, she said, “This is going to help me out so much,” she said. “It’s a blessing.”
It’s time for our annual review! Here are my picks for the top stories on taxgirl.com for the year:
10, Dancing With The Stars champ and race car driver Helio Castroneves is indicted on federal tax evasion charges. In a related story, my mother is stricken with grief and may never samba again (okay, I’m not sure that she sambaed before but I’m pretty sure that this will end any chance).
9, Prop 8 in California passes and prompts the promise of tax boycotts by the gay and lesbian community.
8, taxgirl endorsed Obama for President. I was both roundly cheered and jeered for my picks but stand behind my choice. One of my most controversial and commented posts of the year.
7, Tax evaders hit the slopes. A massive tax fraud investigation in Germany, the UK, the US and other countries points the finger at the tiny Alpine principality of Liechtenstein. I am elated to finally have a reason to prove that I can spell Liechtenstein.
6, After Congress says no, President Bush says yes and earmarks taxpayer dollars to save the Big 3 automakers. As a result, Fiat misses its chance to hit it big in the US.
5, Wesley Snipes is acquitted of tax fraud. Remarkably, the world did not end, though we will now be subjected to more of his movies.
4, Congress commits US taxpayers to a remarkable bailout package. Treasury Secretary Paulson is now more powerful than Oprah.
3, The “biggest tax fraud ever” tax trial finally reaches an end. Out of the original 19 defendants involved in the spectacle that was the KPMG trial, only 3 were eventually convicted.
2, Rebates, rebates and rebates. I probably posted the most – and received the most comments – about this year’s rebate checks. Taxpayers were confused about the amount of the check, set-offs, when checks might arrive and more. An overwhelming majority of Americans admitting to being as cynical about the chances of the checks stimulating the economy as they are about Paula Abdul “just being tired.”
1, taxgirl gets a nod by the editors of the American Bar Association in the ABA Journal Blawg 100 for 2008. In case you missed it before, voting by readers for the best of the blawgs runs through January 2 – just click to vote. And no, this tidbit never gets old (not for me, anyway)!
So those are my picks for the year. What did you like? What did you hate? And what did I miss?
