Keys' Star-studded Gala Raises $2.4 Million For Charity

The No One star staged the seventh annual Keep A Child Alive Black Ball in New York on Thursday night (30Sep10) to generate funds for kids and families in Africa and India affected by HIV and AIDS.

A heavily pregnant Keys, a co-founder of Keep A Child Alive, performed at the event, teaming up for a duet with Sade and with Jay-Z for a rendition of their smash hit Empire State of Mind, while singer/songwriter Janelle Monae also took to the stage.

Other guests at the high-profile gala included Hollywood actress Uma Thurman and Jennifer Hudson.

Keys, who was accompanied at the event by her new husband Swizz Beatz, is overjoyed by the success of the fundraiser - and she's determined to teach her unborn child all about the importance of giving.

She tells People.com, "The baby is going to see everything we do and I think that we are giving individuals. (Even) something small like reaching out to one person in the world can change that one person. That's a big deal. I plan to show that (to my child)."

Prior to Thursday's event, the Black Ball had generated over $10 million (£6.6 million) for Keep A Child Alive since its inception in 2004.