By Tim Saunders on
Grammy Award-winning singer, humanitarian, and New York Times Best-Selling author Patti LaBelle has joined the Board of Directors of an organization devoted to protecting the history of Virginia Union University, a historical African American College/University opened in 1865.
Bells for Peace is a non-profit organization that seeks to restore a top quality facility, the Belgian Pavilion, where excellence in multi-cultural educational services is heightened for students, community, state, nation, and the world. The building was gifted to the University in the spirit of brotherhood, friendship, and peace from the Government of Belgium after the 1939 New York World’s Fair – where 25 million people heard its bells ring out – and was a powerful gesture of international goodwill many years before the Civil Rights Laws were enacted. Listed as a national treasure and Virginia Historical landmark, the building is now without the bells that gave its original purpose – they now ring in Hoover Tower at Stanford University. The building, designed by world-renowned architect Henri Van de Velde, is in need of repair, and Bells for Peace is working to leverage local, national and international attention to the university to preserve the history of the landmark.
LaBelle brings with her a lifetime of charitable work, and has always been committed to the call of peace and stability through her work at improving access to education, access to health care, access to housing, and equality of justice.
Copyright © 2008 Look to the Stars
