Pharrell Williams is doing great things. The celebrity father has partnered with American Express to launch Project Yellow.
“I’m just super excited,” Pharrell shares with PEOPLE. “This is about creativity,” he explains. “As you know, in education curriculum in this country, art is largely diminishing. We have to protect the creative mind. Virtually everything that is around you was once someone’s epiphany. So it’s awesome to team up with a company like American Express. For them to be into this and want to support this.”
#AmexPlatinum Card Members can join me & @AmericanExpress to help back the arts at our Yellow Ball on 9/10/18 in Brooklyn supporting @YoungAudiences_. Buy tickets now: https://t.co/cYGqLJgaY6 #AmexAmbassador #AmexLife pic.twitter.com/i7GdgrPD5v
— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) August 8, 2018
American Express has already committed $1 million to the cause of Project Yellow and its upcoming ball, which will feature a performance by Missy Elliott. “The color yellow was selected and inspired by Pharrell,” says American Express Chief Marketing Officer Elizabeth Rutledge. Yellow, according to Rutledge, is meant to shed light on “the need for arts education and its ability to pave the way for a brighter future.”
Pharrell Williams would agree with Elizabeth Rutledge as Project Yellow is a cause near and dear to his heart. “I wasn’t the best student, but I had teachers who cared, who saw a propensity in me for music,” the recording artist shares. “All kids that have something that is recognizable should get that opportunity.”
American express 💸💸 #americanexpress pic.twitter.com/cvli5iNPIq
— Thomas Andersen (@ThomasCoach94) August 6, 2018
Of course, Pharrell thinks of his four children when doing charities involving education. “Of course when I think of my children, yes, but I would do this without children,” he reveals. “This is about the kids who may not have that kind of force in their life, or the means or the situation or the environment.”
You can learn more about Project Yellow Light here.
Photo: Getty Images