My favorite Mc. Donald’s commercial is the one where the flavorful kids are riding down the streets  in a dollar van in Brooklyn, New York spitting vicious rhymes about the Mc. Donald’s Dollar Menu.

I am enticed by this commercial, because it speaks directly to my generation; young, black, hip hop heads who probably frequent Mc. Donald’s a lot. In fact, every time I go to Mickey D’s those lyrics pop into my head. (I’ve even downloaded the songs to my iPod)!

Have you ever wondered how companies come up with genius ideas that speak directly to your culture? Well, they hire the best and brightest advertisers, public relations specialists, and marketers who represent that target ethnic group. Whether it be African Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, Native American/Alaska Native or Asian/Pacific Americans.

Nonetheless, there is a problem. The issue  is that there is such a large gap of minorities in these industry. In fact, statistics show minorities represent less than 5% of the Advertising/PR/Marketing professionals in this industry, yet, minorities spend the most money every year in consumer goods.

To encourage minorities to decipher this problem and shatter the glass ceiling, The LAGRANT Foundation offers scholarships, internships, Executive Leadership Trainee positions, career development workshops and mentors to under graduate and graduate minority scholars.

Founded by LAGRANT Communications CEO, Kim Hunter, The LAGRANT Foundation (TLF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase the number of ethnic minorities in the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations by providing scholarships, career development workshops, professional development and much more.

One of the most striking components of the foundation are the Career Development Workshops. TLF has relationships with some of the industry’s top Advertising and PR agencies throughout the United States. Students get to experience a day in the life at these companies where they are treated to seminars, tours, lunch and one-on-one meet and greets with the executive staff.

The seminars create an intimate environment where students can ask questions with innovators in the industry. Best of all, many of the TLF participants have been given internships and job opportunities through these workshops.

With their slogan, “Funding dreams into reality,” The LAGRANT Foundation has awarded over $1 million to more than 130 minority students since its inception in 1998.

To learn more about the programs the LAGRANT Foundation offers, visit  www.lagrantfoundation.org or email TLF Programs Manager Ericka Avila at: erickaavila@lagrant.com.