Beyoncé wants to help Black-owned small businesses dealing with tough times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before celebrating her birthday on September 4, the music superstar has donated $1 million as part of a second round of funding for the Black-Owned Small Business Impact Fund.
The Grammy Award-winning artist and her BeyGOOD foundation partnered with the NAACP to launch the fund in July. $10,000 grants were offered to 20 recipients in August as part of the initiative. BeyGOOD and the NAACP’s fund will begin accepting applications for the second round later this month. Donations are also being accepted via the NAACP’s website.
Earlier this year, Beyoncé and her foundation provided aid to the fight against COVID-19 by donating 1,000 mobile test kits to her hometown of Houston. The #IDIDMYPART Mobile Testing Relief Campaign took place over Mother’s Day Weekend.
“Black Americans disproportionately belong to these essential parts of the workforce that do not have the luxury of working from home,” Beyoncé said. “And African American communities at large have been severely affected in this crisis. Those with pre-existing conditions are at an even higher risk.”
Beyoncé has been outspoken about the threat of the coronavirus, warning about its effects on the Black community during an appearance on Global Citizen’s One World: Together At Home in April.