by Charlene Muhammad 

(FinalCall.com)-Dikembe Mutombo never succeeded in his dream to become a doctor. So he decided to do something else: He�s building a 300-bed hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa.

For the NBA All-Star, Philadelphia 76ers professional basketball player and Congo native, the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital is a tribute to his mother, who died in 1998 of a stroke, and his attempt to help curb suffering in a country racked by decades of civil war. In September, a traditional dance troupe, relatives, friends and proud countrymen joined the former medical student in celebration of the groundbreaking for the $14 million facility in Kinsasha. Mr. Mutombo gave $3.5 million of his own money to the project and has received $10 million in pledges.

"This is a happy day for me. We will make this happen because it is my dream," he said.

The dream of making life a little better for others is one shared by other Black celebrities. Their good deeds are often unnoticed amid horror stories of selfish, immature preoccupations with the trappings of wealth, sexual conquests and personal vanity. But there is another side to fame that includes work with health initiatives, shelters, urban technology centers and youth homes. Such programs dot the country and are signs of the potential power for good wielded by Black celebrities.

The Recording Industry Association of America reports that over the last decade, recording artists across the country, like famed rapper-turned-entrepreneur Master P (aka Percy Miller), used their talent and success to donate millions annually to their communities. Funding by the few celebrities listed by RIAA totaled over $3 million. Hip hop music entrepreneur Master P graced his alma mater, St. Monica�s Catholic Elementary School in New Orleans, with $250,000, while giving the same amount to two family church homes.

The money was accepted after debate about whether the gifts should be rejected because of concern about the music offerings that flow from Master P�s No Limit Records.

The Wu Charitable Foundation, which is connected with hip hop�s Wu Tang Clan, gave $20,000 to a Staten Island school all to promote literacy and education. Sean "P Diddy" Combs and his "Daddy�s House" organization has given over $2 million toward the development of urban youth, and funded cultural and educational trips for 200 underprivileged children.

Mariah Carey, in conjunction with the Fresh Air Fund, donated $1 million to boost reading and writing skills, and develop education and career options for 12- to 14-year-olds.

Actress Jada Pinkett-Smith grew up in Baltimore and husband, rapper/actor Will Smith grew up in Philadelphia. The couple plans to open a learning center in Will Smith�s hometown. It will be a place where Black children can be nurtured, develop a better self image and understand that they can achieve things, said Ms. Pinkett-Smith, co-founder of the Smith Family Foundation. The foundation spends $1 million a year funding grassroots organizations, she added.

"We want the school for Black children so they�ll have a place to go after school, where they can actually learn about their culture and history that they�re not going to learn about in public schools, and have a safe place to come to," the actress explained.

She unapologetically says celebrities must have to give something back to their fans and community.

"I think it�s a sin not to�it�s a requirement, and if you don�t, your spirit will pay for that," she said.

Football great Jim Brown sees athletes and entertainers as potential bankers with the capital to finance programs that generate money and help develop suffering communities. Investments in people, especially one�s own, are necessary for survival, Mr. Brown said.

He practices what he preaches through his Amer-I-Can program, which teaches life skills and helps ex-offenders and gang members trade often-violent death styles for lives where they can be productive and enjoy a sense of peace. Many program graduates become entrepreneurs, using skills honed on the streets to run legitimate businesses, and Mr. Brown has also devoted many years to trying to curb gang wars in Los Angeles.

Amer-I-Can conducts classes in Los Angeles County jail facilities and detention centers throughout California. The program has also spread to 10 other states. Besides training and education, participants receive graduation certificates and encouragement to make a successful transition from life behind bars.

While critics may charge celebrities do too little, others say stars must wade through schemes, flim flam artists and hangers-on to associate with legitimate causes. It is also sometimes difficult for young celebrities to meet expectations that their fame demands a level of "leadership."

"In the Congo, having seen children die of diseases that have been eradicated here in the U.S., when he (Mr. Mutombo) saw the difference between growing up, and coming here, and how adequate health care could change these things, it really instilled in him a desire to do something else for the people," said Susan Johnson, executive director of the Atlanta-based Dikembe Mutombo Foundation. The hospital, she added, is a way for Mr. Mutombo to realize his dream of improving the quality of medical care for his people, though his personal dream of becoming a medical doctor was redirected by basketball.

Tyrese Gibson�s old Watts neighborhood has a reputation for poverty, violence and has been called "The Killing Zone." "It�s where I was born. Those are the streets that I roamed and that�s still a part of my reality. I can�t become successful and popular and act like the reality of Watts and my experiences there still don�t exist," he told The Final Call.

Just as old neighborhood ties can bring celebrities into bad situations, those same strong bonds can inspire stars to help change bad conditions. Singer/actor Tyrese started the Watts Foundation to offer alternative programs that cultivate self-esteem, respect for authority and family/community commitment. Plans include building a state-of-the-art Community Youth Center in the Los Angeles neighborhood.

" I just want to get a hold of the young and expose them to things that will help broaden their mind state, give them some options," he said.

In early September, Tyrese�s 2nd Annual Watts Day Festival at Charles Drew Stadium drew over 2,000 people. They enjoyed a carnival and concert, complete with rides, games, food, and giveaways. Mayor Jim Hahn designated Sept. 2 "Watts Day" in honor of Tyrese and his efforts in Watts. Celebrities on hand to lend support included comedian Sinbad, actress and singer Brandy, actor Morris Chestnut, pro basketball player Derek Fisher, actor Steven Segal, comedienne Mo�nique, songstress Kelly Price and Will and wife Jada-Pinkett-Smith, who signed autographs and took pictures with fans.

As part of an annual event, NBA stars Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, Baron Davis, Darius Miles, Nick Van Exel, and Jalen Rose joined Magic Johnson�s bid to improve urban areas through the summertime "Midsummer Night�s Magic Weekend All-Star" and celebrity basketball games this summer. The star-studded weekend also included a children�s Mardi-Gras Carnival in South Central Los Angeles, a Comedy Slam and a Scholarship Award/Reception Dinner. It is similar to other basketball and scholarship programs run by other NBA stars, like Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat, where pro basketballers team up for youth programs.

The Magic Johnson Foundation, Inc., which exists alongside the former basketball star�s businesses�such as Magic Johnson Theaters, TGI Fridays, Starbucks, and now Fatburger�started December 1991. Its original focus on AIDS education and prevention has been expanded to include meeting some of the overall health, educational and social needs of inner city children.

Mr. Johnson says young celebrities often get removed from their communities, but organized efforts, like his charity weekend, can give stars a chance to reconnect and fans, especially youngsters, a different picture of people they admire. "Now they (celebrities) inspire the kids to do well in school and also to know that you don�t have to be a basketball player to achieve. You can be a doctor, lawyer, whatever, have your own business and that�s what it�s got to be about for our kids," Mr. Johnson said.

Olympic great and author John Carlos acknowledges that celebrities often try to make a dent in social problems on a local level. Still he believes a national organization or contribution fund focused on youth illnesses, learning disabilities, and skills and talent enhancement is needed.

"I think they can do a tremendous amount collectively, opposed to a one-on-one basis. If they have a national organization where everyone chipped in to try to help these kids, there�s a shot because without education as a foundation, sports is nothing. At one point or another you�ll fall off sports," Mr. Carlos observed.

Photo: Philadelphia 76ers Dikembe Mutumbo, show during a visit to South Africa, is building a hospital in the Congo.