On Friday, March 5, Beyoncé was joined by her mother Tina Knowles, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Karen Carpenter-Palumbo, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, elected officials and Phoenix House President and CEO Howard Meitiner for the official opening of the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center at the Phoenix House Career Academy in DUMBO.

Phoenix House is a residential substance abuse treatment program with a fully equipped vocational training center on site, the Career Academy. Adding a new track to the Career Academy’s vocational programs, the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center will offer a seven-month cosmetology training course for adult men and women. As Beyoncé is a spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris, the company is generously providing all makeup, skin care, and hair care products.

The pop superstar’s relationship with Phoenix House began when she was preparing for the role of Etta James in the 2008 film Cadillac Records. To play the part of the former heroin addict, Beyoncé met with women in treatment at the Career Academy. Moved by their powerful stories of addiction and recovery, she later donated her salary from the film. A year later, she and her mother and business partner, fashion designer Tina Knowles, who owned a popular hair salon in Houston when Beyoncé was growing up, conceived of the idea of Phoenix House’s new cosmetology program.

“We were thrilled when Beyoncé and her mother Tina approached us about creating a cosmetology center for our clients,” said Meitiner. “Their generosity and compassion toward the men and women we serve is extraordinary. With this tremendous gift, they have given our clients a route to achieve successful, rewarding lives in recovery.”