by Janeé Bolden | SOHH.com

Atlanta rapper Ludacris is being honored by the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) for his work with American youth.

On February
26, during a NRS event in Chicago, the organization announced they will
be giving Luda’s non profit group, The Ludacris Foundation, the “Spirit of Youth” award.

The award follows The Ludacris Foundation’s partnership with
the NRS, an alliance that was forged after Luda released his single
“Runaway Love” featuring Mary J. Blige. The song addresses a number of situations that youth face every day, often leading them to running away.

“The timing could not have been better with November’s
National Runaway Prevention Month,” Maureen Blaha, NRS executive
director, said via statement. “Since the release of “Runaway Love”
Ludacris’ and The Foundation’s commitment to helping runaway youth and
letting people know about the help they can receive by calling
1-800-RUNAWAY has only increased.”

The oldest hotline of its kind, the National Runaway
Switchboard provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources
and education
and prevention services to youth and families throughout the country.
According to NRS records, the organization has received a 17% increase
in hotline calls in 2006, while the NRS website has received nearly
twice as many visitors this month as last year at this time, with the
most significant increases reflected since NRS partnered with the
Ludacris Foundation.

Ludacris and President of the Ludacris Foundation, Roberta Shields, will be honored with the Spirit of Youth awards on Thursday, November 1 in Chicago.

For more information, visit http://www.1800RUNAWAY.org.