She slayed during her Super Bowl 50 halftime appearance on Sunday (February 7) and Beyonce Knowles used the extra publicity to support a cause close to her heart.
The mega star announced that her #BeyGood foundation is supporting United Way programs in Michigan to provide thousands of filtration pitchers, faucet filters and water to Flint residents.
Thank you @beyonce @beygood for your support of @uwgeneseeco’s work in #Flint. https://t.co/aBK059zN0y #Formation pic.twitter.com/GJajujqL53
— United Way (@UnitedWay) February 8, 2016
The city of Flint is battling toxic lead levels in its public water. It’s been an issue since the city moved over to its own water source from the Flint River and away from Detroit’s water in the spring of 2014 in an effort to save money. The city’s plan backfired after high lead levels were found in the water. Many residents are suffering from this detrimental outcome, especially children ages 0 to 6.
Research proves that lead exposure may affect a developing child’s IQ, resulting in learning disabilities. Lead exposure can also affect nearly every system in the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many good celebrities, aside from Beyonce, are lending a hand to the city in need.
Cher donated 180,000 bottles of water, while Mark Wahlberg and Sean “Diddy” Combs donated one million bottles of water to the residents of Flint.
MAYBE FELLOW ARTISTS WILL HELP FLINT,IN ANYWAY THEY CHOOSE.BIG?SMALL?? PPL IN”SHOWBIZ”R NOTORIOUSLY GENEROUS& TRULY CARE ABOUT THOSE IN NEED — Cher (@cher) January 17, 2016
The Detroit Daily News reports that Aretha Franklin offered to purchase hotel rooms and provide food for families that needed to leave their homes. Meanwhile, Detroit-native Eminem got involved by donating funds to the cause.
Rapper Big Sean started up his own cause to raise money for children affected by the high lead levels and is asking fans to donate.
“I’m raising money to support the kids of Flint Michigan. Toxic water in Flint has rendered the water undrinkable and put the entire city in a state of emergency. Flint’s children were hit the hardest and some have experienced permanent and potentially devastating health effects from lead poisoning,” he wrote on his website for the cause.
So far, Big Sean’s cause raised nearly $60,000. It runs through April.