Boys & Girls Clubs of America PSA

Superstars Jennifer Lopez, Denzel Washington and Ne-YO have teamed up to front a new campaign for youth mentor programme Boys & Girls Club Of America.

Singer/actress Lopez, American Gangster star Washington and So Sick hitmaker Ne-Yo were all members of the organisation during their youth, and now they're helping to launch a public service advertising campaign for the group, called Great Futures Start Here.

The project is very near and dear to Washington's heart - he joined the club when he was just six years old and he's certain the guidance of the programme's mentors helped put him on the right path in life.

He says, "I am a prime example of the need for a community-based safe haven like Boys & Girls Clubs. Without the support and mentoring of the Club, I'm afraid to think where I would be today. I certainly would not have the life I do now."

The new ad will be directed by Ron Howard and it will feature a number of other notable Boys & Girls Clubs success stories, including Smokey Robinson, Ashanti, Cuba Gooding Jr., Martin Sheen, and sports stars Shaquille O'Neal and Shaun White.

Superstar Beyonce is also getting in on the action - she'll be supplying the vocals for the campaign with her new song I Was Here, which was written by Diane Warren.

Howard says, "We wanted the most powerful piece of music possible, to underscore the dramatic message that what we do today to shape the future of our children is vitally important. We could not have picked a more moving track. Diane's words and Beyonce's delivery are over the top."