Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (pronounced /biːɒnˈseɪ/[1]) (born September 4, 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director, actress, dancer, and fashion designer. Knowles rose to fame as the creative force and lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny’s Child.

After a series of commercially successful releases with the group, Knowles released her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, in June 2003. The album became one of the biggest commercial successes of the year, topping the albums charts in the U.S. and the UK. It also spawned the number-one singles “Crazy in Love” and “Baby Boy” and earned Knowles five Grammy Awards in a single night in 2004. Knowles’ second album B’Day was released worldwide on September 4, 2006, coinciding with her twenty-fifth birthday. The album spawned the UK number-one singles “Déjà Vu” and “Beautiful Liar”, as well as the worldwide hit “Irreplaceable”, which reached number one in several countries. It also earned Knowles her seventh solo Grammy Award (she has won ten in total).

Knowles also achieved success in the film industry, starring in such Hollywood films as the 2006 comedy The Pink Panther and the 2006 musical film Dreamgirls, which earned her two Golden Globe Award nominations—one for acting and other for the song “Listen”.

Philanthropy:
Knowles, music producer David Foster, and his daughter, Amy Foster Gillies, wrote Destiny’s Child’s single “Stand up for Love” for World Children’s Day, an event which takes place annually around the world on November 20 to raise awareness and funds for children’s causes worldwide. Destiny’s Child lent their voices and support as global ambassadors for the 2005 World Children’s Day program.

Knowles and Kelly Rowland, along with Mathew Knowles, Tina Knowles, and sister Solange Knowles announced the formation of the Survivor Foundation, a charitable entity set up for the purpose of providing transitional housing for 2005 Hurricane Katrina victims and storm evacuees in the Houston, Texas area. The Survivor Foundation extends the philanthropic mission of the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston.

Knowles had food drives during her The Beyoncé Experience tour in Houston on July 14, Atlanta on July 20, Washington, D.C. on August 9, Toronto on August 15, Chicago on August 18, and Los Angeles on September 2. “I want my tour and Survivor Foundation to encourage people to get involved in the fight against domestic hunger, Pastor Rudy’s ongoing mission to help the least among us, and the work of America’s Second Harvest. Any help—donating time, money or food—will make an enormous difference”, she stressed.

The Survivor Foundation announced a new project called “Knowles-Rowland Temenos Place Apartments”, in support of St. John’s Downtown and Temenos Community Development Corporation. The housing development is the result of a collaboration with House of Deréon founders Tina Knowles and Beyoncé Knowles, Survivor Foundation, Inc., the City of Houston, and St. John’s Downtown (church home of the Knowles family). The project was designed to provide permanent living accommodations for women and men who are taking significant steps in improving their lives after the traumatic effects of personal and natural disasters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

On October 20, Knowles performed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as part of the nation’s millennium anniversary celebrations. While there, she was welcomed by President Girma Wolde-Giorgis, who gave Knowles a brief cultural and history lesson. Knowles responded by saying that, in the future, she will return to Ethiopia with a focus on humanitarian efforts.