Vivica A. Fox Chats About Community Service Work With Best Buddies
For her appearance on Celebrity Apprentice 7, which premiered in January 2015, Vivica A. Fox chose Best Buddies International as the charity for which she would be raising funds. The organization, which was founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, helps people with special needs obtain scholarships, jobs, and housing opportunities. Today, there are almost 1,900 middle school, high school, and college chapters in over 50 countries worldwide.
“I’ve been involved with Best Buddies for over 10 years,” Fox told MadameNoire.com. “I was introduced to the organization by my good friend Carl Lewis, the Olympian champion track runner. He invited me to a Best Buddies gala and told me it was created by Anthony Kennedy Shriver. When I went to the event, I was so moved. Best Buddies focuses on working with special needs children and helping them with employment, housing and opportunities. Just seeing the children be happy with things everyday people take for granted stirred me because they are so happy to wake up and go to their jobs or furnish their apartment.”
So when she stepped onto the platform of Celebrity Apprentice, Fox saw the opportunity to shine the spotlight on an organization that helps those with intellectual and developmental disabilities integrate into society and forge lasting friendships.
“When I signed up to do Celebrity Apprentice, I decided to name Best Buddies as the organization that would be my charity of choice,” she said. “I like to be involved in my community and give back because I’ve received so much support over the years. It’s important to do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. That’s what I believe helps ‘pay it forward.’”
Fox was fired from the competition in task 12, which aired in the February 9 episode, but not before raising $50,000 for the organization. To learn more about Best Buddies International, visit bestbuddies.org.
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(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Samsung)
