The Beyonce Experience Tour Offers Food Drives in Conjunction with Pastor Rudy Rasmus, The Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the Survivor Foundation

The Beyonce Experience Tour Offers Food Drives in Conjunction with Pastor Rudy Rasmus, The Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the Survivor Foundation

Food Drive To Be Held at Beyonce's Concert at the United Center in Chicago, IL.

CHICAGO, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Greater Chicago Food Depository by sponsoring a pre-concert food donation drive as part of her Beyonce Experience Tour at the United Center on Saturday, August 18th in Chicago, IL.

The first 1,000 fans to drop off a minimum of 3 non-perishable food items or donate $5.00 or more will receive an autographed photo of Beyonce and a raffle ticket for a chance to have their seat upgraded. The Food Drive is also open to the public (those not attending the concert) can drop off food at the United Center locations as well, for the opportunity to receive an autographed photo of Beyonce.

The food drive will be held at all entrances to the United Center from 6:00pm-8:00pm, so that as many donations as possible can be collected to help feed hungry people in the Chicago area. Food Bank volunteers will staff all of the entry gates at the United Center 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.

                 THE BEYONCE EXPERIENCE TOUR -- FOOD DRIVES                           Houston, TX - July 14                             Atlanta - July 20                         Washington, DC - August 9                            Chicago - August 18                       Los Angeles, CA. -September 2   

Beyonce continues, "I want my tour and Survivor Foundation to encourage people to get involved in the fight against domestic hunger, Pastor Rudy's ongoing mission to help the least among us, and the work of America's Second Harvest. Any help -- donating time, money or food -- will make an enormous difference."

You can learn 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 the United Center on Saturday, August 18th, 6:00pm-8:00pm. Help feed your less fortunate neighbors in the Chicago area.

For more information on hunger in the Chicago Area and ways to help, please visit www.chicagosfoodbank.org

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago's food bank, is a not-for-profit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 600 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to almost a half-million adults and children every year. Last year, the Food Depository distributed more than 40 million pounds of nonperishable food and fresh produce, dairy products and meat, the equivalent of more than 84,000 meals every day. Innovative training programs and initiatives developed by the Food Depository also work to provide men, women and children with the tools necessary to break their individual cycles of poverty.

   Contacts:   Music World: Priscilla Clarke, (202)723-2200, pclarkepr@aol.com  

Columbia Records: Yvette Noel-Schure, (212)833-4483, yvette.noel-schure@sonybmg.com

Greater Chicago Food Depository: 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, IL 60632, Phone # 773-247-FOOD, www.chicagosfoodbank.org

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Music World Entertainment

CONTACT: Priscilla Clarke for Music World, +1-202-723-2200,
pclarkepr@aol.com; Yvette Noel-Schure of Columbia Records, +1-212-833-4483,
yvette.noel-schure@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.beyonce.com/
http://www.pastorrudy.net/
http://www.survivorfoundationofhouston.org/
http://www.spiritrisingmusic.com/
http://www.secondharvest.org/
http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/

---

Profile: International Entertainment