Singer Mary J. Blige creates foundation to help women with careers

By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

YONKERS, New York - Singer Mary J. Blige is establishing a foundation to help women develop careers and gain self-confidence.

Blige, whose current album is "Growing Pains," and Steve Stoute, who founded a youth-oriented brand consulting firm, say they're setting up the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now.

They say the charity will fund scholarships, grants and programs that help women gain confidence and skills to succeed in careers.

It will concentrate first on the Yonkers area north of New York City, where the 37-year-old Blige grew up. She and Stoute say they expect to expand to the New York metropolitan area and then the nation.