From: www.businesswire.com

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Madison Square Garden’s national music network Fuse and MSG Entertainment today announced that JAY-Z will play a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, underwritten by ABSOLUT, JAY-Z and Live Nation, on September 11 at 9pm ET that will air exclusively in HD and commercial-free, live on Fuse. All proceeds from the concert will go towards New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, the organization that has been helping New York City families of fallen first responders for over 25 years. The exclusive relationship between MSGE and Fuse will allow JAY-Z’s fans nationwide to experience “Fuse Presents JAY-Z Live from Madison Square Garden: Answer the Call,” the highly anticipated live event, the same day his 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3 is released.

For this live event, 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales and concert merchandise will go directly to New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund. Since its inception, the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund has distributed over $114 million to the families of New York City police and fire personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Though the Benefit Fund was initially created to assist families of New York City Fire Fighters and Police Officers, the non-profit now includes the families of Emergency Medical Services and Port Authority Officers as well. For more information on the organization, go to www.answerthecall.org.

The on-sale date and method of purchase will be announced shortly. After the announcement, Citi card members will have access to presale tickets through Citi's Private Pass(R) program. For complete presale details visit: www.citiprivatepass.com and for more information on programming surrounding this event, go to www.fuse.tv/jay-z.

The events of September 11th challenged JAY-Z as an entertainer and a New Yorker. This benefit concert serves as not just a reminder of the lives lost but as a look towards the future and the hope that arose on September 12th. "This charity and concert encompass the true spirit of New York City,” commented Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter. “We are asking everyone to 'answer the call' and support and honor the families of those that lost their lives in the line of duty. There was true camaraderie and resiliency that this city showed the world in 2001, and we continue that today by taking care of our own."

"On behalf of New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund’s Board of Directors and the families of our fallen heroes, we are truly grateful for JAY-Z's choice to support our charity and ‘answering the call’,” said Stephen J. Dannhauser, president and CEO of the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.