Born in Barbados, Rihanna explained that when she was younger, she would watch children on television suffering and from there, she vowed to help people in need when she eventually grew up. What’s more, the sultry singer also finds time to support charities which focus on disaster relief, AIDS and environmental issues.
The Clara Lionel Foundation was founded by Rihanna in 2012 in honour of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Brathwaite. The foundation allocates grants for efforts promoting health, education, arts and culture globally.
At the tender age of seventeen, Rihanna fully embodied the humanitarian spirit of service to others. In the last decade, she has so far been able to raise millions of dollars for charitable causes. She has also personally donated about $1.9M of her own earnings for charitable causes. Rihanna’s remarkable and inspiring legacy of service to others will continue in the mission, programs, and partnerships of the Clara Lionel Foundation.
The Grammy award-winning singer, Rihanna has always proven her dedication to helping children in need, and created her Believe Foundation in 2006 to help terminally ill children.
In partnership with charities across the nation, Rihanna has performed a number of concerts to raise funds for both those charities and the Foundation. After her performances, she met children from the local charities, signing autographs and posing for pictures with her young fans.
Rihanna’s global impact has forever remained in the hearts of her beneficiaries. Rihanna’s music career has supported global campaigns for children’s health and enrichment programs, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and emergency response to natural disasters.
The icon’s who’s also into fashion has left indelible footprint in this industry which has helped boost awareness for the battle against HIV/AIDS. Rihanna has led two highly successful campaigns for MAC’s Viva Glam lipstick. And now, she is presently on track to reach the campaign’s goal of $41 million. VIVA Glam benefits women and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Rihanna however does not restrict her humanitarian involvement to cause related campaigns. She has given over $1 million to organizations including the Food Bank NYC following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and UNICEF in support of the “There for the Philippines” campaign to aid survivors affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
Over the last five years, Rihanna’s charitable impact has encompassed a vast global scope. Her accomplishments include:
• Serving as UNICEF’s Tap Project ambassador in 2011. This raised funds to bring clean water and sanitation to children around the world. UNICEF’s efforts have helped give more than 2.1 billion people access to clean water since 1990.
• Performing the original song “Just Stand Up!” with 15 other female artists live on the television special “Stand Up to Cancer”. The proceeds realized from this has benefited cancer research and the program helped raise $100 million for the cause.
• Performing at the House of Blues, Los Angeles in 2012 for a benefit concert to raise money for the Children’s Orthopedic Center and the Mark Taper-Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children’s Hospital L.A.
The following are a few of the organizations supporting causes dear to Rihanna:
• Alzheimer’s Association
• City of Hope,
• The Entertainment Industry Foundation
• Grammy Foundation
• Live Earth
• Hope for Haiti Now
• Red Cross
• Cartier Love Charity Campaign
She also performed a charity concert for Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and met some of the organization’s Small Miracle kids & staff. Rihanna encourages authorities and individuals to always help the sick and needy.