WASHINGTON, DC -- 08/06/07 --
Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and
actress Beyoncé announced today that she is supporting her minister and
friend Pastor Rudy Rasmus, America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food
Bank Network and the Capital Area Food Bank by sponsoring a pre-concert
food donation drive as part of her Beyoncé Experience Tour at the Verizon
Center on Thursday, August 9th in Washington, DC.
The first 1,000 fans to drop off a minimum of 3 non-perishable food items
or more will receive an autographed photo of Beyoncé and a raffle ticket
for a chance to have their seat upgraded. The Food Drive is also open to
the public (those not attending the concert) who can drop off food at the
Verizon Center locations as well, for the opportunity to receive an
autographed photo of Beyoncé.
The food drive will be held inside the F Street and Gallery Place Lobby
Entrances from 5:00 pm - 8:00pm, so that as many donations as possible can
be collected to help feed hungry people in the DC area. Food Bank
volunteers will staff the six entry gates at Verizon Center so everyone
attending her Experience Tour can make a donation.
Beyoncé says, "Hunger affects every community in the United States. So I'm
using my Tour and Survivor Foundation to bring attention to domestic
hunger. I'm joining forces with Pastor Rudy and America's Second Harvest -
The Nation's Food Bank Network to fight hunger."
Statistics show that hunger hits families where both parents are working
but struggle to make ends meet; hunger affects seniors who find themselves
with limited access to transportation and food; and hunger affects more
than 12 million children who may not know where they will find their next
meal.
Beyoncé grew up attending St. John's Church with Pastor Rudy, where she
learned at a young age the importance of reaching out and helping those who
are less fortunate. It's that upbringing that spurred the birth of her
Survivor Foundation.
Pastor Rudy is an urban prophet. He is the author of a new book titled
"Touch: The Power of Touch in Transforming Lives," which profiles his
unique brand of faith sharing and radical hospitality and a new music
project (the book's sound track) titled "The Pastor Rudy Experience." "I am
committed to touching and changing the world... one life at time," Pastor
Rudy says.
"Reaching out and touching lives is incredibly empowering. That's why I
want my fans to experience more than my music this summer. I want them to
experience the joy of making a difference by helping someone else," said
Beyoncé.
"In the Washington metro area, over 633,000 residents are at risk of
hunger, 200,000 are children. That's enough kids to fill up the Verizon
Center over nine times," said Lynn Brantley, president & CEO of the Capital
Area Food Bank. She continues, "We are grateful to Ms. Knowles for her
gracious effort to help those who suffer from hunger. Every food item
received will help feed hungry families, children and seniors." More than
35 million Americans are struggling with limited access to food nationwide,
and the issue of hunger continues to grow in the United States.
Beyoncé continues, "I want my tour and Survivor Foundation to encourage
people to get involved in the fight against domestic hunger, Pastor Rudy's
ongoing mission to help the least among us, and the work of America's
Second Harvest. Any help -- donating time, money or food -- will make an
enormous difference."
THE BEYONCÉ EXPERIENCE TOUR - FOOD DRIVES
Houston, TX - July 14
Atlanta - July 20
Washington, DC - August 9
Toronto - August 15
Chicago - August 18
Los Angeles, CA - September 2
You can learn more at www.beyonce.com, www.pastorrudy.net,
www.survivorfoundationofhouston.org, www.spiritrisingmusic.com or
www.secondharvest.org.
Please bring a can, box or jar of food -- no glass please -- to the Verizon
Center on Thursday, August 9 between 5:00 - 8:30 PM. Help feed your less
fortunate neighbors in the D.C. metro area. For more information on hunger
in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area and ways to help, please visit
www.CapitalAreaFoodBank.org.
The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest public, nonprofit food and
nutrition education resource in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.
Last year the Capital Area Food Bank distributed 20 million pounds of food
through more than 700 partner agencies in the region. In Washington, D.C.
1 in 2 school age children is at risk of hunger; in Prince George's and
Montgomery Counties, 1 in 5; and in Northern Virginia, 1 in 6. In
conjunction with our partner agencies, the CAFB helps nourish children,
seniors and families in need. The Capital Area Food Bank has served the
National Capital Region for over 27 years.
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=550933
Contact:
Music World:
Priscilla Clarke
202-723-2200
240-476-9643
pclarkepr@aol.com
Columbia Records:
Yvette Noel-Schure
(212) 833-4483
yvette.noel-schure@sonybmg.com
Capitol Area Food Bank:
Kasandra Gunter Robinson
202-526-5344
www.CapitalAreaFoodBank.org
