Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae lend hand to Alicia Keys in fight to end HIV and AIDs

By Mesfin Fekadu

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK _ Taraji P. Henson and Alicia Keys are joining forces to fight HIV and AIDS.

Henson, Janelle Monae and Laila Ali are signing on as ambassadors for the newly formed power council on Keys’ charity, Keep a Child Alive. The announcement was made Tuesday to coincide with World AIDS Day.

Henson, Monae and Ali will offer support to Keep a Child Alive, which Keys launched in 2003 to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.

“AIDS is the No. 1 one cause of death of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa and the second greatest cause of death worldwide. … I’m honoured to be supporting Keep a Child Alive in the fight to put an end to this disease,” Henson said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Grammy-nominated Monae added: “We need to come together and use our voice to help put an end to this epidemic!”

Keys held her annual Black Ball charity event in New York City last month, raising $3.8 million. Chris Rock hosted the event, which featured performances by Lenny Kravitz, Wale and Lion Babe.

The Grammy-winning, piano-playing Keys appeared as a guest star on “Empire” last week in the role of Skye Summers. The Fox series, starring Henson and Terrence Howard, will have its winter finale Wednesday.

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Online:

http://keepachildalive.org/

http://www.fox.com/empire/cast