Jennifer Hudson has done quite the good deed after major tragedy hit her family last week. She’s created a foundation to assist the families of murder victims and named it after her deceased relatives.
Jennifer Hudson’s family announced Thursday a new foundation for families of murder victims. The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims is named in honor of the singer-actress’s slain mother Darnell Hudson Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King.
“The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime,” the family says in a statement. “This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling.”
Donations to the Hudson-King Foundation can be sent:
c/o Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP
Attn: William L. Abrams, Esq.
237 West 35th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10001The foundation announcement followed a prayer vigil Wednesday night in Chicago.
“Jennifer sang her first song in this church – she said her first prayer in this church,” her cousin Shari Nichols Witt said of the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church. Witt also spoke fondly of the actress-singer’s slain nephew, saying 7-year-old Julian King “seemed like he was ahead of his time.”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who spoke at the vigil, told PEOPLE that Hudson, 27, and her family “are overwhelmed by the suddenness and the unexpectedness of it all. This family knows triumph, and they also know tragedy.”
[From People]
Most people don’t realize that services like this don’t exist in the vast majority of cities. I had a criminology professor tell a class about cleaning up a crime scene in her mother-in-law’s home. Her brother-in-law was schizophrenic – one of the very rare ones who could be dangerous when he was off his meds. He’d been living with his mother when something triggered him and he stabbed her 20-some times. The mother lived (and the son kept living with her after that), but it was up to the family to figure out how to clean up the crime scene. My professor described it very vividly and really explained how upsetting and deeply emotional the process was. I just remember thinking how out of this world hard that would be on top of everything else.
It sounds like the Hudson-King Foundation may fill in some of the gaps in the legal system that don’t properly take care of victims. What a deeply considerate way for Jennifer to honor her slain family.
Here are mourners gathering at the murder site of Jennifer’s mother and brother on Wednesday. Photographer: C.M. Wiggins. Images thanks to WENN. Header of Jennifer singing at the Democratic Nation Convention on August 28th. Images thanks to Fame.
What an awesome thing for her to do. Especially so soon after this horrendous crime. Prayers for her and everyone in her family as they heal from this.
how wonderful of her to think of helping others in need, especially right now. i hope this helps her heal.
Bravo Jennifer!, to give of herself so selflessly something that will be so powerful to others in such a state of desperation is nobel.
Hurrah! If only others in a position to really do something could think like this woman!
I hope it gives her the release she from the darkness she craves.
Along with my condolences goes a cheque…
That is one brave soul, to even show her face in public so soon after all this.
Jennifer is such a brave person, I can’t imagine being alive in her position after half your family have been tragically murdered. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare. She is such a strong person to stand up in front of everyone like that.
I think its a bit soon for this. I can just hear her people telling her the day after her family is murdered “You can turn this into a great thing for your family but also for you. The publicity will be great but we have to strike while the iron is hot. We’ll create a foundation tomorrow and we’ll capitalise on the fact that its fresh and in the news now. We’ll make a fortune and you’ll be bigger than ever”.
Yeah a charity to help others is great but its so soon that it just reeks of opportunism. I honestly dont think this was her idea at all.
Ugh Johnson,
You’re commment “reeks” of negativity and judgement. Everyone heals in their own way and maybe this is her way of honoring her family. I thought for the first time I’d read through this thread and see only some positive support for a human being that’s probably going through her own personal live hell, and having to do it with everyone watching her every move. Give her a break. Let’s as humans on this earth just give some support and quit being so judgemental of people in the public eye having to deal with things like this. There’s no “right way” to act when, in one night, half your family is taken away from you.
Without getting too personal I know what Hudsons going through because I’ve been going through it too. What she’s doing is something I wish I could have done. She’s a brave one and someone who can afford to start such a thing. I was forced to brave it out when all I wanted to do was disappear from the face of the earth and erase everything that made me feel even th faces of those that I loved just to spare myself the anguish. Hudson is willingly doing this, she could have had a publist do it for her. But look at her standing tall and right there for everyone to see. So this was clearly her choice. I salute her for it. Brave beautiful girl her mother would be so proud of her.
I want to give her the biggest hug. Nothing else I could do or say would be enough.
@geekazoid: the above extends to you too…
Violent crime has touched too many people. There is real evil in this world. Conveying to another that they’re not alone, whether in person, in a letter, over a blog is what binds us and separates us from the monsters out there: our basic humanity in wanting to reach out when another human being is in pain.
ugh yourself Eileen. Im just calling it like I see it. i wish her no ill will and I truly feel for the girl but this just smacks of opportunistic publicity by her agent.
Seriously, when I saw that, my first reaction was “already?!!!!” How is that possible? The murders JUST happened! I’d be concentrating on funeral arrangements, making sure the cops are doing everything possible to get whoever did this, looking after the actual mother of the boy killed (it was not her son, the boy had a mother!) and just looking after myself the best I can etc… Then later, when the air had cleared, yeah get into foundations, advocacy and whatnot once you are up to it. I very much doubt SHE actually did this. I think ‘her business people’ sold the idea to her.
*sighs* this is just so sad! jennifer is so brave for thinking of others in her time of obvious grief. 🙁
Thanks DubDub2000, Im glad to see Im not the only person who thought the same thing.
You gys are missing the real purpose to her actions. This is her way of coping, reaching out and staying sane. this has NOTHING to do with her manager. To think in such a way it’s absolutely indescribably cruel. Think hard everyone at how you would react and deal with such a crime. I mean it, take the time right now to think. Now do you honestly think that the advice of a MANAGER is going to mean anything to you during this time. NEVER.
So this is getting too personal for me but Baholicious I agree with you with every ounce of my heart.
Did Jennifer Hudson forget where she came from. It is hard for me to believe that her family did not want her help in moving into a better and safe community. Her brother had already been shot and was using a cane. What did Jennifer think was going to happen with all the gums and shooting taking place right outside of her mother’s home, and she say according to the Star Magazine, her mother didn’t want to leave her home. I don’t believe not one word of what Miss Hudson has said. Who in their right mind would not take the opportunity to live in a safe neighborhood if the opportunity to do so what a choice. Jennifer Hudson has much at stake now that her mother, brother and nephew died as a result of violence. Shooting was normal in the neighborhood her mother lived. How sad with all her fame she could not upgrade her mother’s standards of living. Miss Hudson career is on the line and she will do whatever to maintain a good public image, but the truth is there, and in time, the public will come to see Miss Hudson in a different light.
Did Jennifer Hudson forget where she came from? It is hard for me to believe that her family did not want her help in moving into a better and safe community. Her brother had already been shot and was using a cane. What did Jennifer think was going to happen with all the gums and shooting taking place right outside of her mother’s home. According to the Star Magazine, Jennifer said her mother didn’t want to leave her home. Who in their right mind would refuse to live in comfort, luxury, a safe neighborhood or community if given a choice.
Was Jennifer Hudson selfish with her money? Well, I am here to say, Jennifer is not all of that, yea she has a big voice and got a big break, but now, well ,when the truth comes out, and it will, the public will have a whole new attitude about Jennifer Hudson in light of what happen with her mother, brother and nephew.
Jennifer Hudson career will forever change as a result of what happen with the murders of her family. The pictures of her mother’s home and the neighborhood where violence was an everyday activity really cast a dark shadow on Jennifer’s character. We all want the good life, and I would think Ms. Donerson wanted the same as well. She would have more than welcome Jennifer’s financial support in providing the best living possible as she shared with her daughter rising stardom. I pray that Miss Hudson find the peace, but know that the public will not be fooled.
I do not understand why people want to be so judgemental about this situation. Whatever her motivations, what do you care? She has lost three family members and was one of those who identified the bodies. For goodness sake leave the woman alone. If this will benefit others in the future all the better. If you can’t express your support of her and her family, and decently express your sympathies, than keep your hands off the keyboard.
blueiii since when did you become the head moderator dictating which opinions can and cannot be expressed on here.
I think the problem we have with these comments your making is it’s so typical crappy attitude of people with celebrities. They are just people and for some reason the second you get in the public eye, so many people think it’s their right to judge them and constantly think in the negative. You see the typical celebrity camera whore who is out all the time and lives off the attention. I don’t get that from her at all-she’s relatively private.
Regardless, something unspeakable and evil has happened in her life and we owe her some peace and empathy-not pick at her every move. Just as a human to human thing-just send some love her way and hope that however she choses to deal with this tradegy is what gets her through each day.
Same to you Geekazoid. Sending some love your way.