Travels with Guy
In Search of Philantrepreneurs
Guy Dawson, President of Classy
Communication PR firm is our roving
reporter searching for the next
“Philantrepreneur”.
Do you use a platform of social
enterprise? Are you a Philantrepreneur?
Be interviewed by Guy by contacting
him at:
Full court press for Tito Hudson
Life as an Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
[email protected]
E
ntrepreneurship, philanthropy
and sports have always been
prominent in Calvin “Tito”
Hudson Jr.’s life. Hudson’s father was a
business owner in Monroe, Louisiana
and he always taught his sons the
importance of serving others and doing
charitable works. As Hudson grew up,
playing sports was a constructive way to
occupy his time and helped him focus on
performing better academically.
“I watched my father start softball
and baseball teams when I was a kid and
I have been playing sports since I was 10
years old. Being involved in sports kept
me and my brother out of trouble and we
were known as exceptional athletes. We
had to keep our grades up or our parents
wouldn’t allow us to continue to play.”
Hudson’s interests as an adult are
clearly a reflection of his upbringing.
He is the owner of Classic Cuts, a sports
oriented barbershop that opened in
2006. As the official barbershop of the
2007 NBA All Star Game in Las Vegas,
Classic Cuts trimmed the hair of a host
of NBA stars including Carmelo Anthony,
J.R Smith, Anthony Smith, Jermaine
O’Neal and Donte Jones. The shop has
been featured in a host of high profile
magazines and is known worldwide for
its barbering prominence.
Classic Cuts has the distinct feel
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The Philantrepreneur Journal
and appearance of a sports oriented
barbershop. A miniature full court
basketball arena runs through the center
of the shop and its wall are covered with
athletic jerseys, sports-related murals
and posters. Youngsters who are waiting
to get their hair cut can shoot some
hoops or take a seat in bleachers and
watch TV on the scoreboard that hovers
over the court.
“Some of the most prominent high
school and college athletes in the city
have been getting their haircuts here
all of their lives. Many of the children in
our community come from one parent
households and my staff and I act as their
“uncles” by giving them advice about
life. It’s really important for older guys to
have a positive influence on our youth
and guide them in the right directions.”
“Our youth need a lot of help. Many
of them are being misguided by social
media and other things. A lot of young
people are having children in their teens
and then they become grandparents in
their early thirties. They just don’t have
enough life experience to raise children
and teach them how to function in the
world.”
The urge to guide inner city youth
became stronger when Hudson’s son
began to play sports. His constant
interaction with children at Classic Cuts