Another big night for singer Alicia Keys as she raised 1.3 million dollars for her Keep A Child Alive foundation. The annual Black Ball Redux event was held at New York’s famous Apollo theater last night [Dec. 6th] The event honored Oprah Winfrey for her philanthropy work and role in the Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa which began just five years ago. The hostess of the evening was actress/View co-star – Whoopi Goldberg and performances were rendered by Brittany Howard, Bonnie Raitt, Beninise singer Angelique Kidio [who sung “I Just Can’t Make You Love Me” with Keys], Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys [who also performed a collaborative song for the audience].
As you may/or may not be aware, the Alicia Keys “Keep A Child Alive” foundation helps aid those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India to obtain Treatment, Food, Orphan Care and a promising Future [which for many people was non-existent] prior to the start of this charity organization. The event was originally scheduled for November 1st but was rescheduled following the storm of Hurricane Sandy.
“There are places in the world where ‘Keep a Child Alive’ serves where they have a Hurricane Sandy every day,” Keys said in an interview on the red carpet. “They don’t have electricity, they don’t have heat … and that made me more invigorated to make sure this Black Ball happened – said Keys. “
Pharmaceutical billionaire Stewart Rahr pledged $1 million to Keep a Child Alive for a trip to South Africa helping the R&B singer raise more than $1.3 million.