philanthropy - Jezebel

posts about #philanthropy more →
The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
Give A Little
Women Are At The Forefront Of American Philanthrophy
America Loves Abused Puppies Approximately 2.5 Times More Than Battered Women
Natalie Portman's Tireless Work On Behalf Of...Nothingness

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Maulleigh
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
I liked Shakira until she said she wasn't a feminist but....

I hope she changes her mind someday.
Reply

Maulleigh was starred Maulleigh was unstarred

casi nadie (loves MCC forever)
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
Honestly? This makes sense. Before Shakira was repackaged for the United States market (and by that way, that blonde veneer happened because of the backlash against arab-americans. Before the attack on the World Trade Center, her label was planning on playing her up her Lebanese heritage.) her songs were actually quite political - sort of like early Jewel. Sure, since then, she's produced commercial stuff. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't actually care about issues like this.

And furthermore, Latin America is so ignored within the United States that having a hugely popular singer bring attention to it - in a way that isn't reinforcing negative stereotypes, as this doesn't seem to do to me - can only be a good thing.
Reply

casi nadie (loves MCC forever)
06/03/09

@o português é muito sexy de Curly Crown: By "this makes sense" I meant that it makes total sense for Shakira to be working for this issue, btw. I always manage to write incomprehensible beginnings to my comments.
Reply

Cunning_Linguist
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
I don't get it. Is the haterade coming from the fact that she's not focusing on Africa? Because, really, there are plenty of people EVERYWHERE in the world that need help. AND I feel like South America is ignored far too much, so good for her.
Reply

Cunning_Linguist was starred Cunning_Linguist was unstarred

J.D.Regent
06/03/09

@Cunning_Linguist: where are you reading haterade?
Reply

J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred

EkaterinaBallerina
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
Just because Bono does large-scale charity work doesn't mean there isn't stuff we don't hear about on a regular basis. I volunteered at an orphanage in the Khayelitsha township outside of Cape Town, South Africa and his and Beyonce Knowles' money was funding the ARV drugs the kids received. I didn't know about it until Rosie, who ran the orphanage, mentioned it once in passing and then showed us the pictures as proof. Neither one of them was running around bragging about it.

Many, many kudos to Shakira for her work. But just because she does it differently doesn't mean she's better. I didn't realize there was a scale when it came to charity.
Reply

EkaterinaBallerina was starred

lovecake
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
Also of note- Shakira has been known to donate MILLIONS to charity a year. I think just last year alone she donated over 10 million to one charity. She puts her money where her mouth is and that is AWESOME. She has major girl power.
Reply

lovecake was starred lovecake was unstarred

maybeimamazed02
06/03/09

@lovecake: That's really cool. As someone who works for a nonprofit, I can say that while donating your time and energy is certainly valuable and appreciated, it is money that keeps us functioning.
Reply

maybeimamazed02 was starred maybeimamazed02 was unstarred

morninggloria
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
Whenever Boyfriend is crabby, I try to make him laugh with my Shakira impression. It's really good/hilarious/throaty, but now I sort of feel bad for making fun of someone who does a lot more good shit for the world than I do.
Reply

morninggloria was starred morninggloria was unstarred

saintbernadette
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
When I look at the world and all the fucked up crap happening in it, it's all I can do not to go back to bed.

So, when I see anyone doing anything to try to help, I have a hard time comparing and contrasting their motives and techniques.

Good for all of 'em, I say.
Reply

saintbernadette was starred saintbernadette was unstarred

Sputnik_Sweetheart
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
I think this is great. I've always been cautious of Bono's type of philanthropy because it doesn't examine the cause of the debt and poverty. I don't think you can solve the problem unless you look at the causes, too.
Reply

Sputnik_Sweetheart was starred

AuntieBee
06/03/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: Right. You don't effectively stop a disease by only treating the symptoms.
Reply

AuntieBee was starred AuntieBee was unstarred

kapoosta
06/03/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: Yes, exactly. I remember reading an article last year about how US aid to Africa has been hurtful, in a way. Because aid was coming in, people didn't learn how to raise crops or become self-sufficient. Bono's efforts are great, but the results are so temporary. It's pretty depressing.
Reply

kapoosta was starred kapoosta was unstarred

jigglyball
06/03/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: I couldn't agree more. There's absolutely nothing wrong with generously donating money to worthy causes, I want to be clear about that. It doesn't begin to address the source of the problem, though, and I commend Shakira for doing her research here.
Reply

jigglyball was starred jigglyball was unstarred

CurtCole
06/03/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: Still makes a difference though, and it is better than nothing.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

J.D.Regent
06/03/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: it's unclear exactly what Bono has done besides throw concerts and sell red tshirts. And take meetings with Jesse Helms.
Reply

J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred

luchita
06/03/09

@Sputnik_Sweetheart: that said, if you read the article, you see that her charity's board is made up of the heads of the richest families in Latin America. I wonder how much people like Carlos Slim are interested in looking at the causes of poverty in Latin America, since they're pretty heavily invested in maintaining the status quo.
Reply

luchita was starred luchita was unstarred

J.D.Regent
06/03/09

@luchita: rich people need workers! you can always get people to sign up for child-centered charity.
Reply

J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred

Lymed
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
We wouldn't need early childhood education if women were in the homes like they were supposed to be, taking care of the kids and letting the daddies bring home the money and take their good time learning to love their children.
Reply

Lymed was starred Lymed was unstarred

sportz.star
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
This is certainly admirable of Shakira, and I wish her plan all the success in the world.

However, I don't think her homegrown, home-focused actions are "better" than Bono's or Angelina Jolie's (both of whom I think are poor examples, because it seems both do things off the radar and within small communities as well as big-time promotional-type events). The tone of the article read as though a value judgment were being made on types of charity. For me, if a celebrity wants to spend time, influence and money helping those less fortunate and bringing focus on an issue they think is important, I won't make value judgments on their choices. I may not choose to support them, but that's my call, not theirs.
Reply

sportz.star was starred sportz.star was unstarred

J.D.Regent
06/03/09

@sportz.star: it does make a difference; one is rooted in a history of colonialism and aimed gaining allies among other first world upper class people, and one is rooted in development theory and aimed at local policy makers.
Reply

J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred

casi nadie (loves MCC forever)
06/03/09

@J.D.Regent: Exactly.
Reply

CurtCole
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
Charity is charity. I don't think people should try and compare one celebrity's efforts with another. At the end of the day they all do great work.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

hatepuns
06/03/09

@CurtCole: Agreed. Any celebrity who uses their power for good rather than simply to buy more expensive toys... is good in my book.
Reply

hatepuns was starred hatepuns was unstarred

CurtCole
06/03/09

@femibot: Yeah, I have a friend that hates Angelina simply for talking about her charity work. I have to remind her that she is being interviewed and asked about that topic. Same thing with Bono. They do good work, more than people at my level could probably accomplish. End of debate(at least from my end).
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

J.D.Regent
06/03/09

@CurtCole: I totally disagree. A lot of charity can be very counter productive. It's nice to have good intentions, but that doesn't remove your responsibility to become educated and do research so that you aren't doing stupid things with your philanthropy. I mean maybe from an individual moral perspective, charity is charity, but in terms of outcomes, they are definitely not all the same. I think this article and the kinds of disctinctions it is making is very welcome. As celebrities become true centers of wealth and develop foundations and projects, they need to have smart people advising them and enough staff for sustainability; we are not talking about you or I writing a fifty dollar check to the nice drug treatment center around the corner or whatever.
Reply

J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred

braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.
06/03/09

@J.D.Regent: I agree on this score; however, I also want to defend Angelina Jolie as a charitable celebrity. Yes, adopting kids isn't going to save the world, but pouring her money into establishing sustainable villages in Vietnam, for instance, according to the UN's Milennium Village project, is a serious and well-considered contribution.
Reply

BellaTricks
06/03/09

@CurtCole: Right. The fact that a celebrity may become involved with a charity for the wrong reason doesn't negate the fact that it's the right thing to do, or diminish any of the good that it does. However, I also agree with J.D.Regent-- the ideal combination is education plus charitable action/intention. And to maximize the good that they do, celebrities really do have to be informed about their charities- otherwise, I think it tends to look like PR.
Reply

BellaTricks was starred BellaTricks was unstarred

bluebears
06/03/09

@J.D.Regent: agreed. every word.
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

maybeimamazed02
06/03/09

@braak: It always seemed to me like Angelina was way more "hands-on" and thoughtful in her charitable work than a lot of celebs. As in, she actually goes to third-world countries because she wants to help, not just for the photo ops.
Reply

maybeimamazed02 was starred maybeimamazed02 was unstarred

CurtCole
06/03/09

@braak: Yeah, I don't understand how all of a sudden it became their jobs to change whole continents. If she adpots children, it does make a difference. It doesn't save the world, but no mere human can do that--even one with pouty lips. She makes a difference where she is able to. I'm not aware of many instances in which philanthropy has started a war or anything major.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

CurtCole
06/03/09

@maybeimamazed02: Agreed, but don't use "thrid-world" on this site, or they will cut you a new one.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

J.D.Regent
06/03/09

@braak: you don't have to defend Angie to me! I am very acquainted with the ins and outs of her work (some of it funds me!) and she is very smart about it for the most part.
Reply

J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred

CurtCole
06/03/09

@CurtCole: *third
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

citrus buddha
06/03/09

@CurtCole: Philanthropy may not have started wars, but it has in the past funded corrupt politicians, been wasted on dead-end projects that ran out of funding, and been used more to support the the philanthropical organization itself than the people receiving the help. It matters.
Reply

citrus buddha was starred citrus buddha was unstarred

J.D.Regent
06/03/09

@citrus buddha: not to mention contributed to underdevelopment of local economies.
Reply

J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred

willwriteforfood
06/03/09

@J.D.Regent: Very good point. And constant scrutiny (although maybe not constant criticism) is needed because it keeps people paying attention to how the money is being used and what the results are. Without it, I can see a celeb thinking that tossing handfuls of money out of a limo to the unwashed is charity.

That said, I think Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt honestly have best interests at heart with their charities. Pitt, for instance, actually goes to the Lower Ninth Ward and helps build the houses he's funding with his foundation, alongside the residents.
Reply

willwriteforfood was starred willwriteforfood was unstarred

CurtCole
06/03/09

@J.D.Regent: My only point is that it is not a competition, Bono and Angelina do great work in my book, the methods may not always be perfect, but they are better then someone sitting on their ass and eating Skittles.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

J.D.Regent
06/03/09

@CurtCole: I hear you, and I don't think it's about saying "Bono is a bad person" or wahtever, but to say look this person is doing something in a new way, a different way, that would maybe be more effective. It's not about personal moral judgment but the effectiveness of programs, which is absolutely subject to judgment and discernment. Of course I feel that Shakira, Bono, Angie, and myself are all superior to couch sitting Skittles eaters.
Reply

J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred

CurtCole
06/03/09

@J.D.Regent: Okay, I get what your saying.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

CurtCole
06/03/09

@CurtCole: *you're, maybe this isn't the day for me to comment.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

LoLoAGoGo
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
Shakira, your actions do not lie.
Reply

LoLoAGoGo was starred LoLoAGoGo was unstarred

maneki neko
06/03/09

@LoLoAGoGo: Whenever, wherever, Shakira is being philanthropic.
Reply

maneki neko was starred maneki neko was unstarred

sara-without-an-h
06/03/09

In reply to The Anti-Bono: Shakira's Crusade For Early Childhood Development
"One Colombian columnist questioned whether Shakira really cared about the affairs of her native country, Colombia: she called Shakira "more Canadian than Colombian."

I hate this kind of comment. It's so reductive.
Reply

sara-without-an-h was starred

Eleanor Ramilly
06/03/09

@sara-without-an-h: Agreed. Totally missing the point.
Reply

Eleanor Ramilly was starred Eleanor Ramilly was unstarred

SevenNationArmy has truth tourettes
06/03/09

@sara-without-an-h: I more surprised they didn't say anything about her being Lebanese.
Reply

Evie Havok
06/03/09

@SevenNationArmy hates summer: Yeah, would they have mentioned the Italian/Spanish ancestry on her mother's side, too.
Reply

Evie Havok was starred Evie Havok was unstarred

AuntieBee
06/03/09

@sara-without-an-h: I hope something was lost in translation, honestly. Or that the quote comes from a more developed concept within an article, and is really only giving us half of the idea. Because, yeah, reductive. Also, it feels really Mean Girls-y.
Reply

AuntieBee was starred AuntieBee was unstarred

Sorcha
06/03/09

@sara-without-an-h: Who is he/she to criticize. What the hell has this columnist done for his country?

Shakira is trying to bring attention to something important that will ultimately benefit the quality life of many Latin American children, and she's criticized for it!? That makes me so mad.

btw: what's so wrong about being Canadian, eh? :P
Reply

Sorcha was starred Sorcha was unstarred

AuntieBee
06/03/09

@Sorcha: Your last point, too. I cut out a big rant from my earlier bit about how I'm not sure what she means. Canadian as in... Canadians don't care about the situation in Columbia (fair enough, probably almost none of them really know about it) or as in Canadians don't care enough about problems in Canada? Or just that Canadians don't CARE ENOUGH ABOUT ANYONE EVER?!?!
Reply

AuntieBee was starred AuntieBee was unstarred

bluebears
06/03/09

@sara-without-an-h: seriously. what does it even mean? its just a way of dismissing her.
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

Gena Radcliffe
02/25/09

In reply to Give A Little
Without intending to be flip at all, I will say that I do a lot of hands-on volunteering work, mostly with children and the homeless, and I notice a huge disparity between the number of female volunteers and the number of males. I've often wondered why that is.
Reply

Gena Radcliffe was starred Gena Radcliffe was unstarred

Plum-Pie
02/25/09

@Gena Radcliffe: I've seen this too and I think it's to do with competetiveness - how many men rate their effort at work and how they then 'feel' about the money they earn.

They authors of The Millionaire Next Door and The Female Millionaire Next Door said that they biggest difference between men and women financially was how much money women gave to other less wealthy adults in their families.
Reply

Plum-Pie was starred Plum-Pie was unstarred

mass romantic
02/25/09

@Gena Radcliffe: I noticed this too. But when I got involved in some environmental groups and activism, all of a sudden girls were outnumbered by guys (at a majority-female university).

I don't have any deep analysis of this but it was interesting and assured me that people will find something positive to do, male or female.
Reply

mass romantic was starred mass romantic was unstarred

Penny_Esq
02/25/09

@mass romantic: Yeah, there aren't usually too many dudes in the cattery at the shelter I volunteer at, but I've always seen plenty at the one-off Habitat for Humanity things I've done.
Reply

Penny_Esq was starred Penny_Esq was unstarred

TheUptightMidwesterner
02/25/09

In reply to Give A Little
If I am downtown and get hit up for a smoke, I will give them the whole pack (or I used to do that before I quit).
I donate a lot of stuff to the local women's shelter and volunteer time.
This year I am only giving money to MN Public Radio because they are so relentless and worse than any guilt- driving yenta alive.
My husband won't do a damn thing.
Reply

AnalogTelevision
02/26/09

@TheUptightMidwesterner quit smoking. Don't Make Me Kill You.: Ah, public radio is the worst! "If you're listening to this and enjoying it and you haven't donated any money yet, YOU'RE STEALING!!!!!!!!"
Reply

AnalogTelevision was starred AnalogTelevision was unstarred

yvanehtnioj
02/26/09

@AnalogTelevision: Worse is that after I became a "sustaining member" I thought they'd be proud of me. NO! New drive last week, and I actually got an email saying "Would you like to double your donation?" Um, of course not?
Reply

yvanehtnioj was starred yvanehtnioj was unstarred

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion