Beyonce and Jay-Z team up with Tiffany & Co to pledge $2M to fund college scholarships… after backlash over singer wearing a ‘blood diamond’ for new campaign

Beyonce and Jay-Z have pledged $2million to fund college scholarships.

The couple – who have daughter Blue Ivy, nine, and twins Rumi and Sir, four, together – have teamed up with Tiffany & Co to fund places at five historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) via their charities BeyGOOD and Shawn Carter Foundation as part of their About Love campaign.

Tiffany & Co. Chief Sustainability Officer Anisa Kamadoli Costa praised Beyoncé and JAY-Z for ‘their relentless dedication to lifting underrepresented groups is the inspiration for the About Love Scholarship program.’

Good work: Beyonce and Jay-Z have pledged $2 million to fund college scholarships; this new image was released on Thursday

Good people: The couple – who have daughter Blue Ivy, nine, and twins Rumi and Sir, four, together – have teamed up with Tiffany & Co to fund places at five historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) via their charities BeyGOOD and Shawn Carter Foundation

The funds will go to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, Norfolk State University in Virginia, Bennett College in North Carolina, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Arkansas, and Central State University in Ohio, and incoming and active students must qualify for financial aid to be eligible, with priority given to those most in need.

The students must be studying for degrees in creative areas such as media, performance, visual arts and design, or in history and communications.

Applications will be available on the websites for the institutions from Friday until 26 September, and the awards given will vary per student based on their financial needs.

Good hearts: Tiffany & Co. Chief Sustainability Officer Anisa Kamadoli Costa praised Beyoncé and JAY-Z for ‘their relentless dedication to lifting underrepresented groups is the inspiration for the About Love Scholarship program’

The universities have welcomed the scholarship scheme.

Lincoln University President Dr. Brenda A. Allen said in a statement: ‘We would like to thank the Shawn Carter Foundation, BeyGOOD, The Carters and the Tiffany & Co. family for including Lincoln University in this amazing gift.

‘Over the years, we have developed a wonderful partnership being a part of The Shawn Carter Foundation HBCU Bus Tour. 

‘Lincoln has placed a high priority on supporting the arts and humanities on our campus. Providing financial support for students pursuing these majors enhances their ability to more fully engage their studies.’

Striking: The universities have welcomed the scholarship scheme. Lincoln University President Dr. Brenda A. Allen said in a statement: ‘We would like to thank the Shawn Carter Foundation, BeyGOOD, The Carters and the Tiffany & Co. family for including Lincoln University in this amazing gift

And Central State University President Dr. Jack Thomas added: ‘We are appreciative of the support of BeyGood, the Shawn Carter Foundation, The Carters and Tiffany & Co.

‘This opportunity is timely as our students come from many different socioeconomic backgrounds. These funds will have a tremendous effect on who we recruit and our students’ success as they move on to graduate and professional schools and into their careers.’

This comes after Beyonce was said to be ‘disappointed and angry’ at unknowingly modeling a ‘blood diamond’ in her new Tiffany & Co. campaign after facing furious online backlash. 

Giving back: And Central State University President Dr. Jack Thomas added: ‘We are appreciative of the support of BeyGood, the Shawn Carter Foundation, The Carters and Tiffany & Co. ‘This opportunity is timely as our students come from many different socioeconomic backgrounds’ 

The singer wore the famed 128.54 carat yellow Tiffany Diamond, in a photoshoot with her husband Jay Z, which debuted earlier this summer – becoming just the fourth female – and the first black woman – to ever wear the gem. 

However the chart-topper and the luxury jewelry brand have come under fire over the decision to showcase the controversial diamond, with many social media users calling attention to its contentious history and the circumstances under which it was mined.   

The yellow diamond was discovered in a colonial mine in Kimberley, South Africa, in 1877 – at a time when the country, and its mines, were under British colonial rule – and when predominantly black migrant workers were subjected to horrific conditions while receiving paltry, and sometimes no, pay in return. 

Party time: The couple seen on a yacht to celebrate Beyonce’s 40th birthday this month

But Bey’s mother Tina Knowles fought back.

‘How many of you socially conscious activist own diamonds ? I thought so!’ Tina wrote in response to viral tweets by scholar and writer Zoé Tsamudzi. ‘Well guess what did you go to try to check to see where the diamond came from? Probably not!

‘So when you guys get engaged you won’t have a diamond you gonna put on a sterling silver band,’ Knowles added.

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