Popstar Beyonce Knowles Pledges $6 Million To Fund Mental Health Support Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
The American pop star Beyonce Knowles has pledged $6 million through her BeyGOOD foundation, in partnership with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's Start Small.
The
American
pop
star
Beyonce
Knowles
has
pledged
$6
million
through
her
BeyGOOD
foundation,
in
partnership
with
Twitter
CEO
Jack
Dorsey's
Start
Small.
According
to
a
report
in
Varitey.com,
the
donation
aims
to
fund
the
mental
health
and
personal
wellness
services.
A
statement
was
released
by
the
38-year-old
singer
on
her
website,
stating
that,
"Beyonce's
BeyGOOD
recognises
the
immense
mental
and
personal
health
burdens
being
placed
on
essential
workers
during
the
COVID-19
pandemic."
"In
our
major
cities,
African-Americans
comprise
a
disproportionate
number
of
workers
in
these
indispensable
occupations,
and
they
will
need
mental
health
support
and
personal
wellness
care,
including
testing
and
medical
services,
food
supplies
and
food
deliveries,
both
during
and
after
the
crisis," the
spokesperson
added.
Earlier,
the
Grammy
Award-winning
singer
talked
about
the
deadly
impact
of
Coronavirus
on
African
American
communities
during
the
event
One
World:
Together
at
Home
organised
by
fellow
artist,
Lady
Gaga.
She
said
the
virus
is
leading
to
the
deaths
of
black
people
at
an
alarmingly
high
rate
in
the
US.
"Black
Americans
belong
to
these
parts
of
the
workforce
that
don't
have
the
luxury
of
working
from
home.
And
African-American
communities
at
large
have
been
severely
affected.
Those
with
pre-existing
conditions
are
at
higher
risk."
The
donation
for
mental
health
initiative
is
said
to
include
a
key
national
partnership
with
UCLA.
BeyGOOD
reportedly
has
also
partnered
with
the
National
Alliance
in
Mental
Illness,
which
will
provide
local
support
in
cities
like
New
York,
Houston,
New
Orleans
and
Detroit.
Beyonce's
foundation
is
also
supporting
organisations
like
United
Memorial
Center,
Bread
of
Life
and
Matthew
25,
to
help
provide
basic
necessities,
including
food,
water,
cleaning
supplies,
medicines
and
face
masks.