Women Coming Together
Helping Each Other
Roberta Shields
Born
in Springfield, Illinois, Roberta learned many valuable lessons from her
parents including the importance of an education. Roberta holds an MBA
from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics
from the University of Illinois.
After 20 years in a successful career at a Fortune 50 financial institution, Roberta chose to redirect her talents and skills to help her son develop his growing empire. Roberta wears many hats. She is an entrepreneur, COO and CFO of Bridges Enterprises, which includes entities in Music, Real Estate, Aviation, Publishing, Fashion and Non Profit.
Her greatest passion is her role as President of The Ludacris Foundation. The Ludacris Foundation takes pride in “helping youth help themselves.”
Established in 2001, The Ludacris Foundation has donated over $750,000
to support grass root organizations that work to help our youth live
their dreams. The programs and support of the foundation have impacted
over 7,000 lives. In addition, more than 3,500 hours have been invested
in hands-on service to our youth.
In 2005, The Ludacris Foundation led an Atlanta community’s effort to
provide shelter to 15 relocating Hurricane Katrina evacuee families and
provide food, clothing and toiletries to thousands. Roberta has formed
strategic partnerships with organizations such as The National Coalition
of 100 Black Men, Essence Cares, National Hip-Hop Summit Action Network
and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) to better service communities at large.
Roberta and the Ludacris Foundation work effectively with community
leaders, politicians and school administrators to effect change in the
community. In February of 2006, the Foundation was recognized by Black
Enterprise as one of the leading black philanthropic organizations.
In addition to leading the Ludacris Foundation, Roberta sits on a profit
– nonprofit board with Pepsi Executives,
Dr. Ben Chavis of the National Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, and Rush
Philanthropic. The board has directed
$3 million dollars into urban communities and programs that uplift
youth.
Throughout the vast majority of her life, Roberta has focused on developing, motivating, and effectively engaging people to live their dreams. Roberta believes, “You visualize it - you’ll realize it”, a creed which has proven to be a model of success for Roberta and her son, Ludacris.