Farmingdale Company Presents Award to Tina Knowles

A Farmingdale-based company recently awarded Tina Knowles Lawson, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and mother of singer Beyonce Knowles, with its first Community Commerce Impact Award.

SheaMoisture, part of Sundial Brands which manufactures skincare and haircare products, founder/CEO Richelieu Dennis presented Knowles Lawson with the honor during the Variety Power of Women Luncheon on Friday.

She was among six other honorees recognized for dedicating their time and energy to philanthropic and community efforts that improve the world.

Her fellow 2017 Power of Women honorees include Jessica Chastain, Chelsea Clinton, Gayle King, Blake Lively, Audra McDonald and Shari Redstone.

Dennis, who founded Sundial Brands 25 years ago after graduating from Babson College, presented the award to Knowles Lawson.

"When considering honorees for our inaugural Community Commerce Impact Award, one name rose to the top – and that was Mrs. Tina Knowles Lawson," he said. "A successful entrepreneur, a tireless philanthropist, a humble humanitarian, this is a woman who uses her platform, her businesses, her resources and her voice to create organizations that drive positive change for those in need…it seems only fitting that our paths would not only cross – but connect – in service to others and ensuring we leave this world a better place than we found it.”

Knowles Lawson along with her family, Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland and St. John’s Church have built and established a center for young people known as The Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth located in Houston, Texas.

In addition, the Knowles family established The Survivor Foundation in 2005 and co-sponsored the building of a transitional living center for individuals in need of temporary shelter and housing in Houston named Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments.

In 2010, Knowles Lawson partnered with Beyonce to create the Beyonce Cosmetology Center at Phoenix House in New York City as a resource to empower women while providing them the life skills that would give them hope and a means of support after leaving the center.

“This award is very special because it not only recognizes success, but also the giving back part of our lives," Knowles Lawson said. "Thank you to Sundial…From empowering women to be entrepreneurs in Africa or constantly working in the communities that truly need it, the generosity and personal commitment of the owners of this company to make a difference are exceptional.”

Photo: Tina Knowles-Lawson and Richelieu Dennis, CEO of Sundial Brand. Credit: Aurora Rose/Variety/REX/Shutterstock