Alicia Keys’ “Black Ball” Put On Hold Due To Sandy

The arrival of Hurricane Sandy canceled many events this week in the tri-state area, including the ninth annual Black Ball. In union with the Keep a Child Alive foundation, R&B singer Alicia Keys‘ soirée was rescheduled for a date to be announced in the coming weeks.

In a statement released Tuesday (October 30) the foundation said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all our fellow New Yorkers affected by this devastating storm.”

At this year’s function that was set to take place Thursday (November 1) in New York City, Oprah Winfrey and Angelique Kidjo were to be honored along with performances by Beyoncé, Carole King, Alabama Shakes and of course the organization’s global ambassador Ms. Keys. The native New Yorker and her charity serve as a platform of acknowledgement for those who engage in humanitarian efforts across the world. The Black Ball event was created in 2004, and has raised $13.8 million since its commencement to aid those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

The Black Ball is a melting pot of “musicians and philanthropists” as Keys told MTV “I don’t think you get to see it like that in such an intimate place.” –Camille Augustin