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Ashley Stewart & Gladys Knight to create charitable foundation

10 Jul '06

3 min read

Leading fashion retailer for full-figured women Ashley Stewart Stores and legendary songstress Gladys Knight have joined forces in creating “The Stores Community Foundation.”

Ethan Shapiro, President and Chief Executive Officer of Urban Brands, parent company of Ashley Stewart Stores comments, “We believe that education is the cornerstone of human development. As a company we are committed to the education of the youth in our communities. There is an opportunity to help people in our communities through education. Be it at the grammar school, high school, trade school or college level. We want this foundation to provide people with the opportunity to have that chance.”

Ms. Knight's upcoming album, Before Me, due October 10, 2006 is a reflection of the things that the foundation stands for. Before Me is a heartfelt homage to the great women of song who paved the way for Knight to become a legendary performer in her own right — Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone and Mahalia Jackson.

Many of these artists were friends, mentors, and colleagues of Knight's since the beginning of her career. “Coming up, I was an artist who wanted to watch, listen and learn,” says Knight. “We had such wonderful people to look up to. They gave their all with love and respect for what they did in spite of society's shortcomings at the time.” Ashley Stewart Stores will collaborate with Gladys Knight and Verve Records to sell the CDwith all of the profits from the sale in the Ashley Stewart Stores going to the foundation.

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