By Alexis Bell. Watch the video interview online.

PUBLISHED 7:30 AM ET Aug. 10, 2023

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A raffle for two tickets to the Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour in Charlotte raised $12,000 for local nonprofits.

A raffle for Beyoncé tickets, dinner and a ride for the night raised $12,000 for two local nonprofits. Community Link and BCDI-Charlotte are splitting the funds Beyoncé was in Charlotte on Aug. 9 at Bank of America Stadium

Z3 Carolinas donated two 100-level Beyoncé tickets. Proceeds from the tickets, raffled off with a dinner at Sea Level and a ride for the night with Charlotte Black Car Service, are benefiting nonprofits Community Link and Black Child Development Institute of Charlotte. 

President and CEO of Community Link, Tameka Gunn, said this is the first time they did a fundraiser like this one. Typically, the nonprofit runs on federal and state grants. Gunn said she is thankful for this type of non-restricted funding.

“As nonprofits, we’ve got to keep the doors open, we’ve got to keep the lights on so we can provide that service, so that’s why fundraising is really important to us,” Gunn said.

Community Link helps families get and maintain safe, affordable housing. The organization has a Homeless to Housing program and an Asset Building program for people looking to buy their first home. 

The program also includes helping people who are falling behind on rent.

“We are seeing more families that need more assistance with the rising cost of rent, and not rising income costs,” Gunn said. 

Tierra Brant and her family turned to Community Link for its Asset Building program and she and her family looked to buy their first home. 

“Making sure that your credit is in order. Making sure that you have some money saved,” Brant said. “The affordability piece was big.”