Other Ventures: Philanthropy

Knowles has been exposed to issues of social awareness since a young child, as her father would sometimes take her into the community, including African-American society. Knowles and Rowland, along with the former’s family, founded the Survivor Foundation, a charitable entity set up to provide transitional housing for 2005 Hurricane Katrina victims and storm evacuees in the Houston, Texas area. The Survivor Foundation extended the philanthropic mission of the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston. Knowles donated $100,000 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund, which benefits victims of Hurricane Ike in the Houston area. She is organizing a fund raising benefit for Hurricane Ike relief through the Survivor Foundation.

In 2005, music producer David Foster, his daughter Amy Foster-Gillies, and Knowles wrote “Stand Up for Love,” which would serve as the anthem of World Children’s Day, an event which takes place annually around the world on November 20 to raise awareness and funds for children’s causes worldwide. Destiny’s Child lent their voices and support as global ambassadors for the 2005 World Children’s Day program. In 2008, she recorded with various artists for “Just Stand Up!”, a charity single for the Stand Up to Cancer charity. Joining Knowles on the song was Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Rihanna, Leann Rimes and Mary J. Blige, among others.

Knowles conducted food drives during stops on The Beyoncé Experience tour in Houston on July 14, Atlanta on July 20, Washington, D.C. on August 9, Toronto on August 15, Chicago on August 18, and Los Angeles on September 2, 2006. On October 4, 2008, Knowles attended the Miami Children’s Hospital Diamond Ball & Private Concert at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, where she was inducted into the International Pediatric Hall of Fame. Ethan Bortnick, the seven-year old musical sensation, dedicated and performed “Over the Rainbow” to Knowles. After completing work on Cadillac Records, Knowles donated her entire salary to Phoenix House, an organization of rehabilitation centers around the country. Knowles visited a Brooklyn site in preparation for portraying singer Etta James, who was once addicted to heroin. And most reacently Knowles has teamed up with the Show Your Helping Hand™ hunger relief initiative and General Mills Hamburger Helper®. The goal is to help Feeding America™ deliver more than 3.5 million meals to local food banks. Knowles encourages her fans to bring non-perishable groceries to her U.S. concert tour stops.

[Text from Wikipedia]