Alicia Keys is the co-founder as well as the Global Ambassador for the non-profit organization Keep a Child Alive, that provides medicine and help to families with HIV and AIDS in Africa. She had grown up during a time when the epidemic was gaining much attention, and had also learned of her mother's close friend who had passed due to AIDs. This is what sparked Keys to take action and help others affected by the disease, using the influence that she has in society. Consequently, she found herself traveling to many countries in Africa such as Uganda, Kenya, as well as South Africa in order to visit families and children affected and promote their care, which was documented into the documentary Alicia in Africa:Journey to the Motherland.
Keys has also made many generous donations such as to the non-profit organization Frum tha Ground Up, which works to aid children and teenagers with scholarships. Following the 9/11 attacks, she performed at the America: A Tribute to Heroes benefit concert as well to show her support and respect to those lost and affected. In December of 2007, she participated in the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, and in the following year she had recorded a theme song for then Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's campaign along with Joss Stone and Jay-Z. Due to all of her wonderful work, she had received and was honored the Humanitarian Award at the 2009 BET Awards. Her Keep a Child Alive foundation is still going strong, and every year they hold an annual gala called the Black Ball. This is where every year many artists come together to perform to help raise funds for the families who are affected by HIV and AIDS. This year's Black Ball featured performances by Chance the Rapper, A$AP Rocky, Pattie Smith, and Salt-N-Peppa. All proceeds go towards charity, with last year's donations totaling 3.8 million dollars.
"We must come together – individuals, governments, corporations, philanthropists and artists – as one and fight for the rights of children and families suffering unnecessarily from this dreadful disease. We must never give up until AIDS treatment and realistic prevention messages go hand in hand across the world; until we realize that keeping mothers alive is critical to the well being of the world’s children; and until we can stand together and say, 'We did not sit idly by and watch an entire continent perish.'" -Alicia Keys, 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto in 2006
