While it’s not uncommon to see top CEOs and entrepreneurs contribute to causes as a part of their companies’ corporate social responsibility, some individuals have stepped it up a notch. Female entertainers are not left behind as we’ve seen a number of them embarked upon significant charitable causes across developing nations. Some of these notable female entertainers will be spotlighted in this article.
First on the list is Pop music Icon Madonna Louise Ciccone. She is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman, who has continuously contributed to charitable causes. Considered one of the most influential women in contemporary music, this American recording artist, Golden Globe winner, and entrepreneur, has received global recognition for her efforts to bring an end to the extreme poverty and hardship endured by Malawi’s 2,000,000 orphans and vulnerable children through Raising Malawi, a non-profit organization she founded in 2006 with Michael Berg. Raising Malawi is involved with supporting community-based organizations that provide vulnerable children and caregivers with nutritious food, proper clothing, secure shelter, formal education, targeted medical care, emotional care and psychosocial support. In addition to these, it also supports non-government organizations that offer impoverished families with innovative opportunities for sustainability such as Millennium Promise and International Medical Corps.
On corporate, community, and academic levels, Madonna matches every dollar donated to Raising Malawi and is partnered with SocialVibe, the leading social media utility connecting people with brands, empowering them to engage with sponsors and share branded content with their social graph to benefit a cause of their choice.
A recent achievement of the Raising Malawi initiative is the opening of The Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care which was opened at the Queen Central Hospital in Blantyre on July 11. The Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery is named after Mercy James, one of her daughters adopted from Malawi. She actively gives money to many causes relating to children and is a Patron of Children of Peace.
Some of the Causes she Supports include; Abuse, Adoption, Fostering, Orphans, AIDS & HIV, Animals, At-Risk/Disadvantaged Youths, Cancer, Children, Conservation, Creative Arts, Disaster Relief, Economic/Business Support, Education, Environment, Gender Equality, Health, Homelessness, Human Rights, Mental Challenges, Miscellaneous, Peace, Physical Challenges, Poverty, Slavery & Human Trafficking, Substance Abuse, Unemployment/Career Support, Water, Women.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (South America) is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, and record produce. In 1997, Shakira founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation, a Colombian charity with special schools for poor children all around Colombia. It was funded by Shakira and other international groups and individuals. The name of the foundation was taken from Shakira’s third studio album, Pies Descalzos, which she released in 1995. The foundation’s main focus is on aid through education, and the organization has five schools across Colombia that provide education and meals for 4,000 children. On 27 April 2014 Shakira was honored with the Hero Award at the Radio Disney Music Awards for her Fundación Pies Descalzos work.
Shakira is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and is one of their global representatives. On 3 April 2006, Shakira was honored at a UN ceremony for creating the Pies Descalzos Foundation. In March 2010, she was awarded a medal by the UN International Labour Organization in recognition of being, as UN Labour Chief Juan Somavia put it, a “true ambassador for children and young people, for quality education and social justice”. In November 2010, after performing as the opening act of the MTV European Music Awards, the Colombian singer also received the MTV Free Your Mind award for her continuing dedication to improve access to education for all children around the world. In February 2011, the FC Barcelona Foundation and Pies descalzos reached an agreement for children’s education through sport. Shakira was honored at the Latin Grammys as the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year on 9 November 2011, for her philanthropy and contributions to Latin Music.
Moran Atias (Middle East) is an Israeli-American actress. In Italy, she was spokeswoman for 2005–06 for the City of Milan in their campaigns against graffiti and animal cruelty in the city. Atias participated in the Artists for Justice and Peace volunteer mission with Sean Penn following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, in which she assisted the evacuation of refugees to Florida. During her second trip to Haiti, she took part in a workshop at Ciné Institute in Jacmel. In May 2010, she worked with Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) and hosted and organized a charity event at Cannes Film Festival. In November 2010, she hosted and organized a charity event for APJ in New York, with proceeds going to the first free high school for the children of the slums of Haiti. She is a goodwill ambassador for IsraAid.
Aituaje Iruobe, known as Waje, is a Nigerian singer and one of the notable female entertainers engaged in humanitarian activities in Africa. In 2012, Award-winning Nigerian songbird Waje launched her non-profit organisation Waje’s Safe House to provide support to women and children across Africa. The safe house’s first project was financial support to the children’s primary school in the impoverished slum town of Makoko in Lagos. Waje through Waje’s Safe House in support of MEDIC gave away proceeds from her Ring Back Tune [RBT] earnings towards the refurbishment of the dilapidated school house and furniture for the school. Most recently, Waje’s Safe House is partnering with women organisations in 3 cities in Nigeria to provide computer education and facilities to young and adult women.
Priyanka Chopra is one of India’s most popular actresses and singers. She has won accolades including India’s prestigious National Film Award and is equally acknowledged for her sharp acting talent as for her slew of successful films. Most importantly, she is an icon for Indian youth, especially girls. For young Indian women, the actress symbolizes power and strength.
Ms. Chopra is also known for her contribution to social causes, particularly those involving children. She has been associated with a number of NGOs to raise awareness about ways to improve the condition of the girl child in India. She has also been a part of the UN’s global “Girl Up” campaign, which envisions a world where all girls, no matter where they live, have the opportunity to become educated, healthy, safe, counted and positioned to be the next generation of leaders. In 2010, she was appointed a UNICEF National Ambassador, tasked specifically with promoting child rights and adolescence. She has partnered with UNICEF to feature in videos and advertisements aimed at building awareness for child rights and the need to create healthy environments for children, filled with opportunities to blossom.
