Alicia Keys Raises $2.4 Million at Black Ball Benefit

Alicia Keys' 8th annual Black Ball benefit raised $2.4 million for AIDS treatment on Thursday (September 30). Held at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom, the star-studed event included appearances from Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Usher, Janelle Monae and Jay-Z, and was put on by Keys' Keep a Child Alive organization which raises funds for HIV/AIDS patients in Africa and India.

Keys, who is expecting her first child, acted as host and performer singing the song 'Love Is Stronger Than Pride' alongside Sade. "It was the most difficult things I ever had to do in my life, to try to pick one song," she said in an interview. "I lost sleep over it actually." The 29-year-old's husband Swizz Beatz also performed.

For the past several years, Keys has been working to raise money to support the needs of HIV/AIDS patients. She recently launched the Buy Life campaign which features photos of celebrities wearing a t-shirt with a barcode, by which the public can donate to the organization simply by using their cell phones to scan the barcode from the site. All contributions will help to purchase medicine, the essential nutrition, shelter and education to help ensure that medicine is taken properly and effectively. For more information or to donate visit BuyLife.org or KeepAChildAlive.org.

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