ATLANTA, GA. (Top40 Charts/ www.beyonce.com) - Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and actress
Beyonce 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 Atlanta Community Food Bank by sponsoring a pre-concert food donation drive as part of her
Beyonce Experience Tour at Phillips
Arena on Friday, July 20th.
The first 1,000 fans to drop off non-perishable food items will receive an autographed photo of Beyonce and a raffle ticket for a chance to have two seats upgraded.
The food drive will begin outside the CNN Center at 6:30 p.m. so that as many donations as possible can be collected to help feed hungry people in the Atlanta area. Food Bank volunteers will staff the six entry gates at Phillips Arena so everyone attending her Experience Tour can make a donation.
Beyonce 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.
Beyonce 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 entitled "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) entitled "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 Beyonce.
More than 35 million Americans are struggling with limited access to food, and the problem of hunger in the United States is growing.
Any help - donating time, money or food - will make an enormous difference. You can find out 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 Phillips Arena on July 20th between 6:30-8:30 pm. Help feed your hungry neighbors in Atlanta.
