Kelly Rowland Kicks Off ‘Motivational’ Campaign to Educate Youth

R&B songbird Kelly Rowland is taking her hit song 'Motivation' to heart. She has teamed up with the Boys and Girls Club of America to help motivate kids to get ready for the upcoming school year.

Rowland was spotted wearing a cap and gown in New York on Thursday (Aug. 4) as she rung the bell at the Largest Wake-Up Call event for the B&GC's initiative Be Ready. The Grammy Award-winning singer wanted to get involved after she was informed about the high dropout rate among young adults in the United States.

"Last year more than a million students nationally failed to graduate with a high school diploma," Rowland tells CBS. "For me, I just think about my godkids and I think about myself being a student and how hard it was as a kid. It's not just about education. It's just about being a kid, period, and knowing that there's a huge world out here of opportunity. And I don't want to see anybody miss out on an opportunity."

K. Row has been taking advantage of her opportunities as of late, including being the face of Sean Jean's new women's perfume Empress. She will also join fellow R&B artist Chris Brown on his U.S. tour in the fall. Be on the lookout for Rowland's new single 'Lay It On Me' (featuring Big Sean), which hits radio on Aug. 16.