No matter where she is or what she’s doing, Rihanna is doing it well. She churns out hit after hit. She continually solidifies her status as style icon. She’s an award-winning shoe designer. She’s the most marketable celebrity. Plus, Rih’s flask-fueled antics were arguably the best part of last week’s Grammys show, Beyoncé’s motherhood-celebrating fertility goddess performance notwithstanding.
In addition to accomplishing all the above, Rihanna is also literally saving the human race. Back in 2012, the singer founded the Clara and Lionel Foundation, which provides education, health and cultural programs, as well as medical equipment, in impoverished communities. In recognition of Rihanna’s philanthropic work in her native Barbados and beyond, Harvard University has named her its Humanitarian of the Year. (Previous honorees include Malala Yousafzai, James Earl Jones and Arthur Ashe.)
“Rihanna has charitably built a state-of-the-art center for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados,” S. Allen Counter, the Harvard Foundation’s director, told the Harvard Gazette.
“She has also created the Clara and Lionel Foundation Scholarship Program [named for her grandmother and grandfather] for students attending college in the U.S. from Caribbean countries, and supports the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project, a multiyear campaign that will provide children with access to education in over 60 developing countries, giving priority to girls and those affected by lack of access to education in the world today.”
Our savior will appear on Harvard University’s campus on February 28 to accept the award. Students will be able to attend for free. Congrats, Rih — and Godspeed to the person(s) manning that ticket booth.
[ via Vogue UK ]
