Beyoncé donating $2M from Renaissance tour to students, entrepreneurs

Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of the ‘Renaissance World Tour’ at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. (photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood)

Beyoncé is donating millions of dollars of tour proceeds to students and entrepreneurs through her BeyGOOD Foundation.

According to The Hill, Queen Bey will dole out $100,000 to 10 colleges and universities during the Renaissance tour, which is currently underway.

The tour will also propel the foundation’s Black Parade Route, a program “to celebrate people, communities, and small businesses impacted by economic inequities worldwide” with $1 million. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to attend luncheons and win small business grants during the tour.

“The goal is to celebrate small business owners with relief grant opportunities and valued business support services offered by global partners to aid in business sustainability,” the BeyGOOD website reads.

The BeyGOOD initiative was founded in 2013 to help provide aid to communities affected by natural disasters, invest in education, support programs addressing house scarcity and mental health, and serve marginalized communities.

“We believe that everyone has the right to economic equity. And we are keenly aware of the barriers to access, opportunity, and resources that disproportionately impact BIPOC communities,” Ivy McGregor, BeyGOOD Foundation’s executive director, said in a press release. “Our work is rooted in the belief that education, pathways for employment, and support of entrepreneurship are vehicles that help drive sustainable outcomes.”

Beyoncé believes small businesses are “essential,” McGregor said.

“It’s more than just a check that people will receive because we have heard from them. We have listened. We have stayed in contact to understand what are your needs. And we know that small businesses support and are a backbone of their economy,” he said.

Federal lawsuit alleges Nashville Sen. Charlane Oliver’s free speech rights violated

Nashville Sen. Charlane Oliver and four constituents sue Senate Speaker Randy McNally, alleging retaliation over her protest of Tennessee’s congressional redistricting map.

School choice sparking Black parenting debate

Nikole Hannah-Jones’ essay about her daughter’s Brooklyn school choice sparks debate over public education, integration and what Black parents owe their children.

Civil rights groups sue over threat of federal agents at polls

The NAACP, National Urban League and allied groups sue to block ICE and other federal agents near polling places, citing voter-intimidation concerns.

Federal appeals court strikes down Tennessee abortion ‘recruitment’ provision

The Sixth Circuit struck down Tennessee’s abortion “recruitment” provision, finding it violated First Amendment rights by restricting speech about legal out-of-state abortions.

Pressley calls for federal jobs guarantee as Black unemployment draws concern

Rep. Ayanna Pressley renews her call for a federal job guarantee as Black unemployment remains higher than White unemployment and Black women face acute financial