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ARCHIVED PRESS ARTICLES "Chaka Khan Foundation Honors" "Magic Johnson, Kenny G Honored at Chaka Khan Foundation Gala Dinner" "Chaka Khan Believes - R&B Reaches Out Beyond Her Music and Joins The Fight For Autism Awareness" "Chaka Khan – Assists Women and Children at Risk"
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Chaka Khan – Assists Women and Children at Risk Chaka Khan is world renown as an eight-time Grammy-award winner and legendary R&B singer with memorable hits like “I’m Every Woman,” “Tell Me Something Good” and “I Feel For You,” just to name a few. But to millions whose names are not readily known, she has become a voice for the victimized and a comforter to those with no one to care for them. She is the chairperson of the Board of the Chaka Khan Foundation whose mission is to assist women and children at risk. Chaka’s foundation endeavors to support programs serving women and mothers with children, who are victims of domestic violence and/or who suffer from substance abuse; organizations providing research, awareness and therapies for children with autism; organizations providing arts programs for children in communities where the arts have been eliminated from the public schools; and programs providing educational outreach for adolescents who have dropped out of school. When Chaka sings her soul-grooving classic, “I Feel For You,” she is not just putting heartfelt words to music. She is helping to better the lives of women and children at risk by raising funds for the Chaka Khan Foundation because she is not only a great entertainer, but also a great humanitarian. She has transferred her passion for music into her foundation with a special focus towards finding a cure for autism. “The focus of the foundation is to go after the kids that may fall through the cracks,” said Chaka, who recently received an honorary doctorate degree from the Berkley College. She further stated, “It is our responsibility to give these kids the academic support they need to be successful citizens.” To that end, her foundation has teamed up with Cure Autism Now as a research partner to develop a teaching method for non-verbal children with autism. The project will help autistic children learn how to read and write so they may communicate with their parents and teachers. The impetus for Chaka’s involvement with autism was her nephew, Tallon McCreary, who is 7 years old and is autistic. She said, “Our involvement means a lot to Tallon. What we’re saying to him is that we’re not just sitting back and accepting his condition. We’re going to fight for him to have a normal life.” In her message as the chairperson of the board, Chaka has put her feeling into words by reiterating, “My life has come full circle because of the Chaka Foundation. I am fortunate enough to be able to help women and children to find the courage to overcome their hardships and realize their dreams.” “We’re making a difference,” said Veronica Coffield, president of the foundation, “At the end of the day, we all have an obligation to do our part to help and serve others.” Chaka will put on her walking shoes when she serves as the official host for Walk Now Los Angeles on April 16 at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena. At the end of the walk, she will perform. She will be walking “Through the Fire” for all the autistic children. |