'Queen of R&B' Makes Surprise Visit To Westchester Community College

YONKERS, NY — Fresh off news of her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Yonkers hometown hero made a surprise cameo and a very special announcement.

As Blige's "Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit," comes to our area for the first time, Pepsi, co-presenting partner, is honoring the global icon by giving back to women in her hometown of Yonkers. The Purchase-based company said the move will help bring the event's purpose of empowerment, elevation, and education to life for the community.

Pepsi is launching the Pepsi x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Community Fund, with $100,000 available as grants to local organizations whose work elevates and educates underserved women in Yonkers.

The fund created in partnership with United Way of Westchester and Putnam, which helps residents become self-sufficient and thrive in a stronger community, is open to Yonkers-based non-profit organizations addressing the needs of women who are underserved, marginalized, or living paycheck-to-paycheck. The funds will be distributed via grants between $5,000 to $20,000 to qualifying organizations supporting programs in education, financial stability, and food security. Applications can be submitted online by June 1, here.

"Pepsi has been an incredible partner for the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit since the start," Blige said. "Now, with their support, being able to come home to Yonkers to give back to and invest in the community I grew up in is all I've ever wanted. We hope to provide resources for local organizations striving to support and uplift women for even greater impact this year,"

Blige announced the fund with a surprise appearance at Westchester Community College on Thursday as part of the Pepsi x Strength of a Woman Community Day, presented by PepsiCo Foundation, Pepsi and YWCA of Yonkers. During the day of service, attendees heard from Dr. Kimberly Crawford and Shona Pinnock on wellness, confidence building, and economic empowerment, followed by a shopping trip to provide the women with business essentials for workplace preparedness.

PepsiCo Foundation also donated $50,000 to the YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester, the United Way of Westchester and Putnam and the Westchester Community College Foundation to support and uplift the local community.

"We're excited to deepen our partnership with Mary J. Blige by investing in the very community that has shaped her remarkable journey," PepsiCo's Kent Montgomery said. "The launch of the Pepsi x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Fund exemplifies our shared vision with Mary to empower women, by enabling organizations to continue their valuable work."

The donations are a part of Pepsi's ongoing support of Blige and her impact on and off the stage. As the festival's inaugural partner since 2022, the beverage giant said it continues to share in Blige's refreshingly unapologetic vision to elevate, educate and empower the next generation of women.

The festival will take place May 10 - May 12, at venues across New York City. More information and tickets can be found here.

About The PepsiCo Foundation

The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we're focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at the Pepsico Foundation website.