As Whitney Houston's family makes their final preparations for the star's funeral Saturday, they have asked her supporters to donate to her favorite cause, instead of sending flowers.
Houston, who died Saturday at a hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., was active in a number of charities throughout her career, but relatives requested that fans pay special care to an arts school named for the "I Will Always Love You," singer, the Associated Press reports.
The fallen singer attended the Franklin School in East Orange, N.J., as a child and it was eventually renamed the Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts in the 90s, the news outlet reports.
The school aims to teach its students to become "contributing members of society now and in the next century," according to its website and Houston's family hopes to continue her legacy there through her supporters' donations.
Henry Hamilton, principal of the Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, said he was surprised that the family decided to have a private service at her childhood church, rather than host a public memorial at a major venue.
"I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't believe it," Hamilton told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond, "but I think this is probably what Whitney would have wanted."
Find out how you can get involved in the Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts here.
To learn more about Whitney Houston's humanitarian efforts through the years, click through our slideshow below:
PHOTOS: AP
