Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is continuing to show her support for historically Black colleges and universities donating funds to Texas Southern University’s marching band.
The Texas-bred singer’s BeyGood foundation awarded a gift of $100,000 to the university’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band in support of the band’s musical excellence and academic achievement.
Texas Southern University President J.W. Crawford III made note of the donation, which will support scholarships, recruitment and retention for band members as well as enhancements to technology and infrastructure.
“We are deeply appreciative of the BeyGood Foundation for this significant demonstration of its commitment to empowering our student musicians and elevating their form of artistic expression,” Crawford said.
This isn’t the first time Beyoncé has amplified the school and its band members.
During her 2024 Christmas Day NFL halftime performance during the Texas-Ravens game in her hometown of Houston, over 200 band members joined Beyoncé as she put on a jaw-dropping performance. The show, dubbed “Beyoncé Bowl,” brought in 27 million U.S. viewers, according to Netflix.
“The BeyGOOD Foundation’s impactful investment affirms the powerful role that HBCUs play in shaping the next generation of artistic, academic, and cultural leaders,” said Charlie Coleman III, the senior associate vice president of development and alumni engagement at the school. “This partnership does more than support the Ocean of Soul — it opens doors for our students to access the arts in life-changing ways, inspired by one of the most beloved artists of our time.”
Beyoncé is in the middle of her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour, which spans nine cities across the U.S. and Europe. The grand finale is set to take place in Las Vegas on July 26.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
