Look to the Stars: Black Celebrities and Their Foundations
These top celebrities are using their super powers for good.
1 / 18
Oprah Winfrey, Oprah's Angel Network and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation - Through her daytime talk show, Oprah Winfrey became known for giving away the best gifts. Off-screen she gave away grants to schools and encouraged individuals to become ambassadors for change in their own communities through the now-closed Oprah’s Angel Network. Her Leadership Academy in South Africa is an all-girls boarding school that seeks to improve the region's plight by encouraging gifted girls to push past their circumstances and excel. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)
2 / 18
Russell Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and the Hip Hop Summit Action Network - The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, which just celebrated its 15th anniversary, was founded by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons to provide inner-city youth with access to the arts while giving under-represented artists opportunities to exhibit their work. So far, over 2,000 students have benefited from the foundation’s four galleries located in four different schools in New York and with plans to expand their work into Dubai, South Africa and Ethiopia.The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network was also co-founded by Simmons to create and promote initiatives geared toward the development of the hip hop community and addressing relevant issues.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)
3 / 18
Naomi Campbell, Fashion for Relief - Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief raises funds to help communities affected by natural disasters, as well as countries where women are at risk of dying during childbirth. So far the charity runway shows have raised money to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the India terrorist attacks in 2009, the Haiti earthquake in 2010 and the Japan earthquake in 2011. (Photo: Sven Hoogerhuis/PictureGroup)
4 / 18
Steve Harvey, The Steve Harvey Foundation - The Steve Harvey Foundation provides guidance for young men through weekend mentoring and camp programs filled with team building activities and workshops led by business, entertainment, military and everyday role models. Steve Harvey and his wife have also created the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation to help all kids in health, education and social well-being. (Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)
5 / 18
50 Cent, G-Unity Foundation - The G-Unity Foundation provides grants to nonprofits that work to improve the quality of life for low-income and underserved communities. Artists Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks also serve on the organization’s board of directors. (Photo: HRC/WENN.com)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 18
Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco Foundation - Lupe Fiasco is reaching out to the youth from his Chicago community to give them opportunities to rise as he did. The Lupe Fiasco Foundation offers empowerment activities like a cultural exchange program that offers creative outlets for young adults to express themselves, such as the music curriculum Little Man Project. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
7 / 18
John Legend, Show Me Campaign - In the United States, John Legend’s Show Me Campaign fights poverty by fighting for equal access to quality education while in Africa. The team has partnered up with Millennium Promise to provide clean water, health care, education and basic tools to impoverished communities. (Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)
8 / 18
Common, The Common Ground Foundation - Under the Common Ground Foundation, urban youth are taught leadership and empowerment skills in the hopes they grow into better decision makers. The “BE Empowered” program develops and supports after-school activities that provide students with constructive outlets like art, music, spoken word and technology. (Photo: Fernando Leon/PictureGroup)
Photo By Fernando Leon/PictureGroup
9 / 18
Ludacris, The Ludacris Foundation - The Ludacris Foundation, which was established by rapper/actor Ludacris in 2001, seeks to inspire youth through programs geared towards leadership, education and promoting healthy lifestyles.
10 / 18
Liya Kebede, The Liya Kebede Foundation - The Liya Kebede Foundation’s mission is to provide women with health care and prevent deaths due to childbirth. The group works with policy makers, community organizations and health care providers to offer low-cost care to women and children around the world. (Photo: Fernando Leon/Elevation/PictureGroup)
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 18
Wyclef, Yéle Haiti - Wyclef’s Yéle Haiti focuses on employment, youth development and education, agriculture and emergency relief after the country’s devastating earthquake in 2010. The organization recently opened a vocational training program in Jacmel for students interested in the hospitality and tourism fields. (Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images)
12 / 18
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation - Jay-Z started the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation with his mom, Gloria, to offer students with socio-economic hardships an opportunity to pursue higher education. Not only does the foundation provide 50 scholarships to students in 50 different states each year, but they also host college tours around the country. (Photo: AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
13 / 18
Mary J. Blige, FFAWN - Mary J. Blige’s FFAWN project (Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now) helps underprivileged women nationwide and empower them to reach their full potential. This is accomplished through scholarships, support networks and the Mary J. Blige Center for Women, a resource center that offers job readiness skills, mentoring, health education and help for victims of domestic violence. (Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
14 / 18
Dwyane Wade, Wade’s World Foundation - NBA player Dwyane Wade started his foundation to provide support to community-based organizations that promote education, health and social skills for children in at-risk situations. Wade’s World Foundation primarily works with outreach programs in Miami, Florida, Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee and Wisconsin and hosts basketball camp weekends.
15 / 18
Kanye West, Kanye West Foundation - Kanye West is trying to combat the high school drop-out rate through his Kanye West Foundation, which provides under-served children and teens with creative outlets (like his music production program, Loop Dreams) and inspires them to pursue their goals. (Photo: Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT