Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Rags-to-riches stories are rare. Especially in the third world country of the Philippines. But rarer still are men like Allan Pineda Lindo, also known as apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, who, after becoming rich and famous, now in turn give of their riches to those still in rags that they too might have their own success stories to tell.

Born out of the union of an African-American airman stationed in Clark Air Base and a Filipina, Cristina Pineda, Allan was adopted when he was 14 by Joe Ben Hudgens, a philanthropist from California. There, Allan met William James Adams Jr. or now popularly known as will.i.am, the nephew of Hudgen’s roommate. The pair started the group, Black Eyed Peas, which has catapulted them to worldwide fame. The quartet is composed of Allan Pineda Lindo aka apl de ap, William James Adams Jr. or will.i.am, Jaime Gomez or Taboo, and Stacy Ferguson or Fergie. The Black Eyed Peas now has almost a dozen Grammy nominations, three Grammy Awards, and an estimated 27 million albums and singles sold worldwide.

Perhaps one reason for their success is their good and generous hearts. For ever since the group started, they have been extending their hands to needy people. Since their own humble beginnings, The Black Eyed Peas have performed to raise funds and awareness for children’s charities worldwide. The group gave free concerts to fund charity toy drives for Los Angeles-based children and local orphanages.

Then, in 2005, they announced their continuing global charity efforts under the moniker of the Peapod Foundation to help underprivileged youth with the support and expertise of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) - Hollywood’s leading charitable organization. The Peapod Foundation is a global leader in encouraging social change by uniting people through the universal language of music. It has worked to support social issues affecting children worldwide, including: Shelter/Housing, Starvation, Healthcare, Education, Poverty, and Music/Artistic Education.

The Peapod Foundation is dedicated to providing opportunities and support for children who suffer worldwide. They awarded a grant to a South Central Los Angeles-based charitable institution, A Place Called Home, and its music program, Project MuszEd. They also held the first major philanthropic endeavor in 2006 with The Peapod Benefit Concert in South Africa, which raised awareness and funds for the Shanduka Foundation and their Adopt-A-School Program.

Last year, the Black Eyed Peas opened the first Peapod Academy, a state-of-the-art music and educational/recording facility serving foster care youth and other at-risk teens, at the Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club. The new joint Adobe Youth Voices/Peapod Academy sites plan to expand worldwide, building on more than 160 sites in 31 countries. The Peapod Foundation will contribute an on-site fully-equipped recording studio at each site, along with expertise and mentoring. Thru this effort, apl. de. ap and his group are giving underprivileged youth the chance to get involved in film and music programs.

"As a group, we’ve made a commitment to help give teens the artistic tools and opportunities to help them realize their fullest potential," said William. "Thanks to the incredible generosity of Adobe Youth Voices (AYV), we are able to expand our vision and give even more kids a chance to be productive, enterprising adults."