HOUSTON CHRONICLE ARCHIVES 

Paper: Houston Chronicle
Date: SUN 12/08/02
Section: A
Page: 38
Edition: 4 STAR

Popular trio dedicates new youth center

By MELANIE MARKLEY
Staff

The Grammy-winning R&B trio Destiny's Child dedicated a new youth center Saturday that members of the group helped finance at St. John's United Methodist Church downtown.

"Thank you for giving us the opportunity to give back," said Beyonce Knowles, who was joined at the ceremony by parents Matthew and Tina Knowles, her sister Solange, and group members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

The Knowles family and Rowland, all members of the church at 2019 Crawford, donated $500,000 to help build the adjoining Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, which has a basketball court, recording studio and other facilities for youth activities.

The Rev. Rudy Rasmus , pastor of the church, said the members of Destiny's Child have always felt indebted to God for their enormous success as a multiplatinum singing group.

"Every time they have received an honor, they have always acknowledged the fact that God has blessed them, and that is something to celebrate," he said.

Matthew Knowles presented Rasmus with an additional check for $125,000 on behalf of his family and Rowland. He also said that Williams had donated $150,000 to her church in Rockford, Ill.

The center will host the St. John's Academy after-school program during the day and will serve as a venue for youth activities and recreation in the evening.

Activities will include Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, abstinence and sex education classes for middle and high school students, mentoring programs, career development programs, tutorial programs and a summer camp.

 

St. John's Downtown    2019 Crawford    Houston, TX 77002    (713) 659-3237    (713) 659 2236 Fax