Recent Posts
Culture August 21, 2017
#WomenThatDo ... philanthropy.
Photo by Rawpixel.com via ShutterstockThere are many people who celebrate National Philanthropy Day (also known as International Philanthropy Day) on Nov. 15. However, there are more people who don’t know about the holiday at all.
It’s sad this is the case because the day celebrates the people who give just as much or even more than they get.
To honor these great individuals, we wanted to give you some background info of some of our favorite female celebrities who give back. Maybe it’ll inspire you to do the same!
As the Association of Fundraising Professionals explains, National Philanthropy Day acts as both an official day and a grassroots movement. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan deemed this holiday as a day to celebrate “giving, volunteering and charitable engagement.” Although they won’t ask for it, Reagan agreed that philanthropists all deserve a pat on the back.
Since then, the movement has grown tremendously.
In 1998, Phi Mu became the first National Panhellenic Conference organization that integrated National Philanthropy Day into their foundation. Another organization that participates in National Philanthropy Day festivities comes from Orange County’s division of the Association of Fundraising Officials. To celebrate this day, they throw a luncheon where they give out awards for the people they’ve chosen to recognize for that year.
Now, various large cities, such as Houston, TX, Miami, FL and Lansing, MI, hold their own luncheons for regional philanthropic contributors.
As the modern day Carol Brady, Angelina Jolie balances a huge family, career and political and social activism. She supports 29 charities and foundations, including Afghanistan Relief Organization, Peace One Day and Alliance For The Lost Boys Of Sudan. She’s a huge advocate for adoption, disaster relief, slavery and human trafficking, AIDS/HIV research and more.
Angelina also visits many of the third world countries she donates to and integrates herself into the society so she can experience life the way they do. This way, she makes a difference based on the actual experience of the people, instead of a huge organization helping nameless victims.
In 2001, the UN Refugee Agency in Geneva granted her the role of United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador. In this role, Angelina was the head of public outreach and education.
The Clinton Global Initiative also gave her a large role in their Education Partnership for Children of Conflict Foundation as a co-chair. She’s also earned many awards for her charitable endeavors. In the early 2000s, the United Nations Correspondents Association awarded the philanthropist with their first-ever Citizen of the World Award.
Beyoncé supports a total of 31 charities and foundations. A couple of organizations that comprise her long list include the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, American Foundation for AIDS Research and Feeding America. This trailblazing queen looks to help at-risk/disadvantaged youths, rape/sexual abuse survivors and unemployment/career support programs.
Recently, she built a seven million-dollar homeless shelter in Houston to aid in the increasing number of homeless citizens. Recognizing the need for over 5,000 Houstonians, she built a home for many to lay their heads.
As a Woman That Does, Beyoncé started her own foundation called the Survivor Foundation that offered relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina in a time when the country hesitated to lend their own aid. Moreover, she was as a co-founder for CHIME FOR CHANGE. This foundation acts as the cash for the feminist check she writes in all her songs. She backs up her title as a feminist advocate by using education, health care and justice to support women.
In the sea of actresses and media personas, Nora Roberts makes this list as a highly successful romance novelist. She donated $3 million to her Nora Roberts Foundation that focuses on spreading literacy to those who may have a lack of educational opportunities. On the foundation’s website, it explains that the additional areas of focus are “Children’s programs, arts organizations and humanitarian efforts, with local organizations being its priority.”
She annually funnels a large portion of her foundation’s funds to ProLiteracy, First Book, Literacy Council of Washington County (MD) and the Wikimedia Foundation. In addition to these charities, she also donates to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Contemporary American Theater Festival, Habitat for Humanity and the Washington Animal Rescue League.
Ellen Degeneres supports a whopping 49 charities and foundations that include the ACLU of Southern California, Artists Against Racism, Everyone Matters and Love Our Children USA. Her main focus, however, is on fighting for civil rights for minority groups in America, including the African-American and the LGBTQ community. However, she is also an advocate for mental health, at-risk/disadvantaged youths, AIDS and HIV research and unemployment/career support groups.
She acted as the co-founder of the Small Change Campaign, which focuses on feeding the hungry. President Barack Obama has bestowed Presidential Medal of Freedom on her. In addition to this honor, she’s earned other prestigious awards for her philanthropic efforts, such as the Glamour Woman of the Year.
Rihanna supports 102 charities and foundations. Some of these foundations include Alzheimer’s Association, Kids Wish Network and City of Hope. Causes she invests her time and money into range from marrow and organ donation groups to family/parent support to homelessness.
Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation that focuses on education and health beyond the United States’ borders. Rihanna recognizes that access to education and health facilities are key human rights. They are important in decreasing poverty levels, injustices and inequalities. Similar to Angelina Jolie, Rihanna also feels it’s necessary to do more than donate money and make appearances. Just this year, she visited Malawi youth and taught them math and reading skills.
And for more celebrities who land high on the philanthropy scale, visit this website. Additionally, if you want to visit a National Philanthropy Day luncheon or become a part of a local organization, visit the NPD website.
