One of the elements that make Fashion Week Tampa Bay different from all of the other Fashion Weeks is our beneficiaries. Our event benefits both the YWCA of Tampa Bay and Best Buddies Tampa, because it’s important to us to support those making a difference and giving back to the community. At this year’s BET awards, Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean were honored for their humanitiarian efforts.

Alicia Keys has been working with Keep A Child Alive since 2002 and this partnership led her to being honored at this year’s awards show.

Keep A Child Alive’s mission is to “provide life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care and support services to children and their families with HIV/AIDS in Africa and the developing world by directly engaging the global public in the fight against AIDS.” Alicia is a co-founder of Keep A Child Alive as well as their global ambassador.

Alicia participated in a documentary by Earle Sebastian entitled, Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Homeland.  This movie was created in order to bring light to the situation in Africa and in turn, gather support.

Visit the Keep a Child alive website for more information on how to donate and join the cause.

Wyclef Jean was the other recipient of BET’s Humanitarian Award, which was awarded for his efforts with his organization Yéle Haiti.

Wyclef was born and raised in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. He states that “the objective of Yéle Haiti is to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of our heritage.”  During his award speech he mentioned that he went from a hut in Haiti, to the projects in New York to a mansion! This man truly represents that all things are possible and he founded Yéle Haiti in order to help those in his native country.

To learn more about the organization and to donate visit the Yéle Haiti website.

Alicia Keys quoted Maya Angelou in her acceptance speech in saying, “I’ve Learned That You Shouldn’t Go through Life with a Catcher’s Mitt on Both Hands. You Need to be Able to throw Something Back.”  The Fashion Week Tampa Bay team agrees, and reminds all fashionistas that giving is always in style!