Beyoncé announces $500K fund for cosmetology students, salons
Beyoncé performs onstage during the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at SoFi Stadium on September 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - Beyoncé's charity BeyGOOD and her new haircare line Cecred are giving back to cosmetology schools students and salons nationwide - including right here in Atlanta.
On Tuesday, the pop star announced a new $500,000 fund supporting scholarships and business grants in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New Jersey.
"Hairstylists have an immense impact on the people in their chairs," reads a statement posted on BeyGOOD’s website announcing the new fund. "They create a sacred space where we can show up how we want and express ourselves through our hair. We’re honored to give back to this amazing community."
Each year, the fund will distribute 25 $10,000 financial aid scholarships to five cosmetology schools - one of which is Atlanta's Beaver Beauty Academy.
Recipients will need to be currently enrolled or be accepted to the academy, have financial need, and live in one of the areas the fund is designed for.
Applications are now open and will close on March 20.
In a response to the announcement, Beaver Beauty Acadmey wrote that it was a "blessing and honor to have been selected."
The fund will also distribute 25 $10,000 grants to qualifying salon business owners in the five selected areas.
"We recognize running your own business is difficult, no matter if you rent a booth, operate a salon, or work out of your home," the grant announcement reads.
Beaver Beauty Academy: A DeKalb County School benefiting from Beyoncé's generosity
A DeKalb County beauty school is excited for the opportunity given to them by Beyoncé.
"At first I was like, 'Is this a scam?' Is this really someone from Beyoncé’s team calling us?’" Dr. Melanie Beaver said.
Dr. Beaver owns Beaver Beauty Academy in DeKalb County and says it's a miracle-send.
"It's super important for our students. A lot of our students have financial hardships and challenges. We have single moms and single dads, so this $10,000 for five students will be super beneficial for those who may not have been able to attend school," Dr. Beaver said.
The school sits on Candler Road and offers skills in cosmetology, barbering, nail tech and equips students with schools to pass state exams and get jobs.
The foundation will award 25 students a total of $10,000 in scholarships each year to five schools nationwide.
For the students and graduates whose faces are along the hallways, this will be life-changing.
"This is all they have and many of them were not college bound. They didn't like school. They don't like to open books, but they are very creative people, so they want to utilize their hands. For me, it's about them coming here and obtaining the skills they need to go into the industry and be successful," Dr. Beaver said.
Dr. Beaver says Beyoncé's team will comb through all the applications and ultimately make the final selection.
Applications are open until March 20 and winners will be announced April 20.
It's more than a school for Dr. Beaver.
It's a dream she shared with her mother who spent decades in the beauty industry.
"Throughout my career I always wanted to be a school principal and I never achieved it. I was an Assistant Principal. She gave me the opportunity to have my own school in so many ways I would never had been able to achieve," Dr. Beaver said.
You can find the full list of application dates and deadlines on the fund's website.