Megan Thee Stallion popped out on the red carpet on July 16th for her inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation gala at New York\u2019s Gotham Hall with her new NBA beau, Klay Thompson. Their burgeoning romance helped bring more spotlight to the evening\u2019s goal of sharing the foundation\u2019s philanthropic work with the world.<\/p>\n
Megan created the foundation three years ago as a way to honor the memories of her late parents, Joseph Pete III and Holly Thomas. Thomas was also a rapper. She deeply inspired Megan and helped shepherd her career until a brain tumor claimed her life in 2019.<\/p>\n
The gala was held to support the foundation\u2019s programming efforts. Taraji P. Henson served as the emcee for the evening. The award-winning actress is dedicated to promoting healthcare access and has spoken openly about the need for mental healthcare resources within the Black community. Megan has previously championed the exact cause.<\/p>\n
The mission of Pete & Thomas Foundation \u201cprovides resources to effect meaningful and positive change in the lives of women and children, senior citizens, and underserved communities in Houston, TX and across the globe,\u201d according to its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n To achieve their goals, the foundation works in collaboration with others. Between 2022 and 2024, the foundation has partnered with over 125 community organizations to support more than 23,000 individuals, making a significant impact in their lives. Megan speaks openly about the organization’s mission.<\/p>\n Megan launched a digital mental health resource<\/a> directory in 2022. The site was named after a saucy but soulful lyric from \u201cAnxiety,\u201d a powerful track from her Traumazine album. The song was released after Megan experienced the trauma of physical violence at the hands of someone in her circle, something that disproportionately <\/a>impacts Black women.<\/p>\n The Pete & Thomas Foundation offers services and grants to communities. Its programming is split into three distinct areas: education, housing, and health and wellness. These form the foundation\u2019s core pillars. It is particularly active in Megan\u2019s home state of Texas.<\/p>\n Education, in particular, is a top priority for the rapper who stayed in school as she ascended to the top of the rap charts. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Administration from Texas Southern University in 2021. Megan previously expressed a desire to open an assisted living facility in her hometown of Houston, Texas. She has discussed the importance of elder care in interviews.<\/p>\n The Pete & Thomas Foundation has awarded scholarships to students at Texas Southern University pursuing degrees in public health fields. Visible Black leaders in public health help create a blueprint for greater representation in the field. Black women, in particular, face extraordinary barriers to building careers in public health.<\/a> As pathways to professional advancement are disappearing, help from non-profits is even more urgent.<\/p>\n Texas Southern University is an HBCU that has received support<\/a> from Beyonc\u00e9, a collaborator on Megan\u2019s \u201cSavage Remix,\u201d through her BeyGood<\/a> foundation.<\/p>\n They also supported student athletes at Audrey H. Lawson Middle School through targeted grants.<\/p>\n She encouraged others to think from a grassroots perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can maybe put together some things at a local school,\u201d she suggested. \u201cYour community needs to be served, but you need to figure out how to serve it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Foundation’s Hotties Helping<\/a> grant program helps people recognize each other for the positive contributions they make to their community through acts of service. Hotties, the official nickname of Megan\u2019s feverish fanbase, can recommend one another for a chance to get their non-profit supported by the foundation.<\/p>\n Megani encourages people to nominate those who work in public service, such as teachers, healthcare workers, or volunteers.<\/p>\n Learn more about the Pete & Thomas Foundation here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat Are Their Main Areas of Focus?<\/h2>\n
Megan is Particularly Passionate About This Area.<\/h2>\n
Megan Believes We All Can Do Something to Help Others<\/h2>\n
Megan shared tips for supporting communities on the carpet in an interview with Billboard. \u201cYou have to know what your community needs,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you’re in an underserved community, figure out what it is that your community needs from you that you can directly do.\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n
Putting a Spotlight on Those Making a Difference<\/h2>\n
\n