Mathew Knowles and the Survivor Foundation Donate $40K to Beverly Hills Intermediate Orchestra.

Mathew Knowles Pays a Surprise Visit to Present Check to Beverly Hills Intermediate Orchestra to Fund Trip to Prestigious Chicago Music Event

HOUSTON -- Recently students at Beverly Hills Intermediate (BHI) in Houston, TX, were paid a surprise visit from Music World Entertainment President and CEO, Mathew Knowles. Students at BHI had no idea of the treat they were in for when Knowles and the Survivor Foundation (a charitable entity founded by the Knowles family and Destiny's Child members BeyoncE[umlaut] and Kelly Rowland, set up for the purpose of providing transitional housing for Hurricane Katrina victims), presented a $40,000 check to the BHI Orchestra to help fulfill the director's dream to attend Mid-West, one of the most prestigious band and orchestra music events in the country. BHI is the only intermediate orchestra from the entire United States invited to perform at Mid-West. The Orchestra will be heard by the Nation's top teachers, performers and composers.

"Words do not express the immeasurable feeling felt resulting from the gift of giving," says Knowles. "To be able to inspire and help fulfill the dream of such an exquisite group of talented young people is invaluable. When I received the request from one of the parents, I told her it was already done."

Following the check presentation, Knowles stayed to answer questions from the students. Truly in his element, Knowles intimately expressed the importance of school and the significance of focusing on a dream and pursuing until it comes true.

"We can't thank Mr. Knowles and the Survivor Foundation enough for his generosity," says BHI Principal Alyta Harrell. "He took time out of his busy schedule to be with us and we were all touched by his contribution and his kind, motivating, inspirational words."

Prior to Knowles' donation the BHI Orchestra students had raised a significant amount of money through fundraising efforts. The BHI Orchestra celebrated following the check presentation but could not forget the motivation behind the trip; it has been the dream of orchestra director Leigh Ledford to go to Mid West since high school. Ms. Ledford's dream was recently complicated when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Two weeks after she received the invitation to play at Mid-West, she was hospitalized. Ms. Ledford has undergone numerous tests, procedures, and surgery since April and still remains hospitalized. In honor of Ms. Ledford, the Survivor theme ran throughout the event which served as a motivation for the students considering this major accomplishment and the state of Ms. Ledford.

While the prayers of the students and staff at BHI go out to Ms. Ledford in hopes of her making a miraculous recovery and returning in time to perform with the orchestra, it is her wish that the students will carry on the great tradition of musical excellence that she has instilled in them by performing at this event.

About Survivor Foundation

The Survivor Foundation, a charitable entity set up for the purpose of providing transitional housing for Hurricane Katrina victims and storm evacuees in the Houston, Texas area, was established to provide transitional shelter for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Founded by Destiny's Child members BeyoncE[umlaut] Knowles and Kelly Rowland, and the Knowles Family, Mathew, Tina and Solange Knowles-Smith, the Survivor Foundation extends the philanthropic mission of the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston. Its mission is to rehabilitate extant housing in the Houston area as well as provide means for new building construction and the deployment of mobile housing units.