Lady Gaga Launches 'Born This Way Foundation'

Friday, 04 November 2011 00:32

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Grammy-award winning artist and cultural icon Lady Gaga proudly announced today the launch of the Born This Way Foundation (BTWF), which will support programs and initiatives that deal with all aspects of empowering youth. The non-profit charitable organization will lead youth into a braver new society where each individual is accepted and loved as the person they were born to be. BTWF will focus on youth empowerment and equality by addressing issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and will utilize digital mobilization as one of the means to create positive change.

"My mother and I have initiated a passion project. We call it the Born This Way Foundation. Together we hope to establish a standard of Bravery and Kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment," said Lady Gaga.

Led and directed by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, BTWF will partner with the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The California Endowment, which are both ranked among the top foundations in the country and focus on unique aspects of youth empowerment. The foundation will also partner with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, one of the most cutting edge institutions in the country focusing on the power of the internet as a means to promote change. An advisory board will also be appointed and announced soon.

“Speaking not only as a foundation leader, but also as a paediatrician, we are thrilled to serve as a strategic partner in Lady Gaga’s philanthropic commitment on behalf of young people,” said Dr. Bob Ross, CEO and President of The California Endowment. “Lady Gaga will help empower and give voice to young people who find themselves overwhelmed, under-supported, disconnected, isolated, bullied, or struggling….this brand of leadership is sorely needed in today’s world.”

Born-This-Way “This is a time of potential transformation in how young people learn, socialize, and engage in civic life because of digital media,” said Connie Yowell, PhD, Director of Education for the John D.& Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. “With new tools come new responsibility and sometimes painful unintended consequences such as bullying and challenges to safety. Lady Gaga is at the forefront of harnessing the power of digital media for her fans and encouraging them to be healthy and safe and to make meaningful change in the world. We look forward to working with her and the Born This Way Foundation as a strategic partner.”

"It seems Hollywood launches foundations all the time, but I can't recall an artist of Lady Gaga's reach or calibre who has done the months of due-diligence and behind-the-scenes meetings with the experts before they've launched such a foundation,” said John Palfrey, Harvard Law Professor and Co-Director of Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. “If this dedication and thoroughness is any indication of what is to come when this program launches, the Born This Way Foundation has the potential to transform the foundation community the same way Lady Gaga is transforming the music industry."

Additional details concerning the Born This Way Foundation will be announced shortly and the official launch will take place in 2012. Please visit www.BornThisWayFoundation.org to take the pledge and become part of the movement.

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Lady Gaga launches youth empowerment foundation

Born-This-Way-Launch (Reuters) - Lady Gaga has launched the Born This Way Foundation to support programs dealing with youth empowerment and help people facing bullying and abandonment.

The foundation, named after the Grammy-winning singer's hit album and single of the same name, was launched by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta.

"My mother and I have initiated a passion project," the singer said in a statement. "Together we hope to establish a standard of Bravery and Kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment."

It follows on the singer's interests in supporting gay rights and being outspoken on issues affecting youth. The Born This Way Foundation will be work closely with the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The California Endowment, both focusing on youth empowerment. Read More > http://www.reuters.com/article

Born This Way Foundation Partners

Born This Way Foundation will partner with The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The California Endowment and The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

About The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society. More information is at www.macfound.org.

About The California Endowment
The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, The Endowment has regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. The Endowment challenges the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people's health. The Endowment believes that health happens in neighbourhoods, schools, and with prevention. For more information, visit The California Endowment's homepage at www.calendow.org.

About the Berkman Center for Internet & Society
The Berkman Center was founded to explore cyberspace, share in its study, and help pioneer its development. Established in 1997, we are a global leader in the study of the Internet and its impact on society. Our mission is to recognize, study, and engage with the most difficult and fundamental problems of the digital age, and to share in their resolution in ways that advance the public interest. We represent a network of faculty, students, fellows, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and virtual architects working to identify and engage with the challenges and opportunities of cyberspace. We consistently strive to strengthen and build upon this network, engaging in meaningful and productive collaborations with a diverse range of organizations, including private industry, non-profits, social entrepreneurs, and academic institutions across the globe.

These partnerships reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the space we study; our ability to integrate these varied perspectives and expertise is crucial to our capacity for identifying opportunities and challenges arising from recent social and technological change. More information can be found at http://cyber.law.harvard.edu.