Beyoncé’s sultry voice was first discovered by her dance instructor Darlette Johnson. Johnson watched in awe as a then-young Beyoncé gave a perfect high-note ending to her hum. Johnson, at the time, had no clue that she’d be part of the history of one of the world’s best-selling female artists. Beyonce found success as a member of Destiny’s Child and later managed to carve one of, if not the most successful solo careers ever witnessed. Overall, she has sold millions of records, bagged numerous awards, amassed a mammoth net worth, and redefined onstage performance.
More impressive than Beyonce’s fierce professional track record is the good she has brought to the world through her platform and voice. Her kindness has been felt throughout the world. The singer has a charitable spirit that has been shown one too many times. Here are some of those moments:
10 Knowles-Rowland Centre For Youth
In 2002, Beyonce partnered with her mother Tina Knowles and former Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland to co-found the Knowles-Rowland Centre for Youth. Based in the singer’s hometown, Houston, Texas. According to Pastor Rudy Rasmus of St. John’s Downtown United Methodist Church, Both Knowles and her mother have donated over $4 million through the years, to aid in some of their projects.
9 Survivor Foundation
In 2005, following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland founded the Survivor Foundation. The initiative was aimed at providing housing for affected families. Beyonce made an initial contribution of $250,000. The foundation also partnered with Show Your Helping Hand and Feeding America to provide meals to food banks. Beyonce had this to say about giving: "Reaching out and touching lives is incredibly empowering. That's why I want my fans to experience the joy of making a difference by helping someone else."
8 Donating Her Salary From ‘Cadillac Records’
In 2009, Beyonce starred as Etta James in the film Cadillac Records, alongside Adrien Brody and Jeffrey Wright. When she learned about Phoenix House, a not-for-profit drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization, she donated her entire salary from the film, $4 million, to contribute towards the organization’s operations.
7 Beyonce Cosmetology Centre
To aid the clients of Phoenix House in getting back on their feet, Beyonce and her mother founded the Beyonce Cosmetology Centre, which offered a seven-month cosmetology training course. Asked why she took the initiative, Beyonce said: “ It was their stories of what they had been through and how positive they were about the future that inspired me and my mom to come up with something that would teach them a skill, make them feel good about themselves and prepare them to return to work."
6 'Hope For Haiti Now': A Charity Telethon
In 2010, Beyonce was a participant in Hope For Haiti Now, a charity telethon initiated by Wyclef Jean, George Clooney, and Joel Gallen. She was also the face of ‘Fashion for Haiti’, a limited edition set of t-shirts The telethon was unlike any of its kind, widely structure to aid charities like UNICEF, the Red Cross, and the United Nations World Food Programme. Collectively, it made history by recording a viewership of at least 83 million and raising an estimated $61 million.
5 Let’s Move!
Beyonce, in collaboration with former First Lady Michelle Obama, who is an avid fan and has attended some of her concerts, collaborated on a campaign against child obesity. The 2011 Campaign dubbed ‘Let’s Move’ saw Beyonce join dancers at a school Cafeteria in a lively choreographed routine, dancing to a remix of her song, ‘Get Me Bodied’.
4 BeyGOOD Foundation
In 2013, Beyonce launched BeyGOOD, a foundation aimed at inspiring people to be good to themselves, their communities, and the world as a whole. Through the foundation, the ‘If I Were A Boy’ singer has not only provided funding for black-owned businesses but also contributed generous amounts towards educating needy students. In August of 2018, the foundation partnered with that of her husband, Jay-Z to provide $100,000 towards the education of a gifted but needy student.
3 BeyGOOD Houston
Beyonce’s charitable spirit has been extended to her hometown in the past, and she continues to honor the very town that raised her. In 2017, following the attack by Hurricane Harvey, Beyonce established BeyGOOD Houston which donated blankets, pillows, wheelchairs, $75,000 worth of mattresses, and different body products to those affected. She also visited Houston, aided in serving meals, and made more personal donations.
2 Donating Proceeds From Her Songs
In late 2017, Beyonce released a remix of "Migente" featuring J Balvin and Willy William. Her proceeds from the song went to charities in Mexico, the USA, and Puerto Rico, that supported the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Ima, and Maria. In 2020, Beyonce’s proceeds from her remix with Megan the Stallion of the song ‘Savage’ went to benefit COVID-19 relief efforts in Houston.
1 Supporting Causes Around The World
Through the years, Beyonce has shown support for different causes and lent her voice to different movements such as the Black Lives Matter campaign, the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon, the End Sars movement in Nigeria, the Shit It All Down campaign in Namibia, the Zimbabwean Lives Matter movement in Zimbabwe and the Rape National Emergency in Liberia.