by Tyrus Townsend
As the late, great civil rights leader and educator Mary McLeod Bethune once said, “As I give, I get.” We must remember that it is always better to give than to receive. Charity begins at home and by home I mean the black community. Don’t feel as though you must give a large amount of money; your time is just as valuable. This featured group of entertainers, business moguls and innovators know just that. So let’s take inspiration from the following notable figures and their philanthropy.
Oprah Winfrey
Whether in the United States or abroad, Winfrey has donated millions of dollars, including $40 million towards the creation of a leadership academy in South Africa and ensuring that deserving students attend institutions of higher learning. Her Angel’s Network has raised more than $80 million in which 100% goes to fund charitable projects and grants globally. Her namesake foundation aids to empower women, children and families and on December 20, 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the national “Oprah Bill” aka National Child Protection Law which created a database to help track child abusers.
Russell Simmons
“I want to contribute more to earth than I take away from it,” is one of the mantras that Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons lives by. Known as the ‘Godfather of Hip-Hop Philanthrophy,’ Simmons supports the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, The Doe Fund and PETA. But his baby is the Rush Philanthropic Foundation, which aides disadvantaged youth with access to the arts and lends exposure to underrepresented artists of color in his many galleries across the city. This year, his annual “Art For Life” benefit raised a recording breaking $1.7 million.
Serena Williams
A hit on and off the court, tennis legend Serena Williams will always be one of our top ranked players in the philanthropy game. Besides holding 13 Grand Slam titles, Williams has received praise and accolades which include the “Young Heroes Award” from Big Brother Big Sisters of Great L.A. and a Celebrity Role Model award from Avon Foundation for her work with breast cancer. Williams helped to build the Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya. Most recently, Serena, along with her sister Venus, skipped the 2010 Australian Open to form a charity event to benefit the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Lou Rawls
Every year you tuned in to watch entertainer Lou Rawls and his Parade of Stars help the United Negro College Fund (now UNCF) raise funds to aid college students obtain a much deserved education. At the time of his sudden death in 2006, the Grammy Award winning Rawls had raised more than $200 million and aided over 65,000 students. Although he never attended college, Rawls made it his priority to ensure that those less fortunate could students could benefit from a sound education.
Michael Jackson
Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as supporting the most charities by a pop star, Michael Jacksons is the King of Pop as well as the King of Giving. An early pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Jackson has donated over $300 million to various foundations and his 1985 hit sing ‘We Are The World,’ raised millions for African famine and relief efforts.
Bill Cosby
Besides having the largest collection of African-American art, Bill Cosby also gives tremendously to support educational causes. Along with wife Camille, the Cosbys gifted one of the largest gifts to a historically black college in the amount of $20 million to Spelman College to establish the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center. The power couple also donated $1.3 million to Fisk University and in honor of their late son, established the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation to support programs that educate young children with learning differences.
Tom Joyner
The voice behind one of the top the nationally syndicated radio shows in the country, Tom Joyner, has been a lifelong advocate for supporting historically black college and universities. His namesake foundation has managed to raise more than $55 million to provide financial assistance to students attending HBCUs. Besides education, Joyner also supports a variety of initiatives involving HIV and AIDS peer programs.
Sheila Johnson Newman
BET co-founder Sheila Johnson Newman is no stranger to helping the less fortunate. This former teacher-turned billionaire-turned philanthropist has used of her share of the BET sale to fund several charities and educational organizations in the amount of $10 million, which include The Hill School in Middleburg, VA, SUNY-Morrisville and Parsons School of Design.
Richard Parsons
Richard Parsons is used to being the head honcho in charge. The current chairman of Citigroup and former chairman and CEO of Time Warner splits duties between The Apollo Theater Foundation, Howard University, the Museum of Modern Art and the American Museum of Natural History as well as the Jazz Foundation of America.
Alicia Keys
Known for her multi-platinum album sales and Grammy Awards, singer, musician and actress Alicia Keys is most proud of her charitable efforts involving children, famine, education, and environmental issues. Keys is the co-founder and Global Ambassador of Keep A Child Alive which provides medicine to families with HIV/AIDS in Africa; shehas donated to Frum the Ground Up, a non-profit organization that awards children with scholarships; and performed as part of the worldwide Live 8 concert to raise awareness of the poverty issues in Africa.
