BURLINGTON, Canada — Pop star Rihanna not only makes waves in the music industry but also as a philanthropic icon. Named as Barbados’ 11th national hero in 2021, her Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) has improved the quality of life for underprivileged communities in the Caribbean and the United States since 2012. The foundation centers around three core pillars: Climate Resilience, Climate Justice and Legacy.
Foundation Overview and Achievements
As CLF celebrates its 10-year anniversary, the latest 2021 annual report, showcases the foundation’s achievements. It has leveraged over $80 million in grants, distributed grants worth $7.5 million and partnered with 83 active programs across seven Caribbean countries and five U.S. states. The foundation’s unique approach involves investing in community-driven solutions.
Health Care and Education
CLF has supported various health care initiatives, including the Clara Braithwaite Center for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, with a $1.75 million investment in Barbados. This funding equipped the hospital with its first modern radiotherapy machine, the Equinox External Beam Therapy System, and other radiotherapy equipment.
Education is a central focus for CLF. The foundation introduced the Barbados Scholarship and global scholarship program, to enable recipients to pursue higher education.
The foundation actively invests in educational initiatives, including building schools, supplying resources, and fostering safe learning environments. Since 2016, Rihanna’s Foundation has committed $5 million to advance quality education worldwide.
The philanthropic icon and the Clara Lionel Foundation participated in the GPE Replenishment Conference in Dakar, Senegal, in 2018. The conference aimed to raise $1.3 billion to support education for 870 million children across 89 countries.
Additionally, the gifted superstar Rihanna demonstrates her dedication to fostering talent and future stars by supporting Operation Triple Threat (OTT), a performing arts program for young talents, offering comprehensive training in singing, dancing, and acting alongside academic assistance for the participants between the ages of 4 and 21.
Climate Resilience and Justice Initiatives
CLF launched the Climate Resilience Initiative (CRI) in 2019 to help communities adapt to natural disasters. The initiative focuses on climate adaptation and resilience, climate and environmental justice and disaster preparedness and response.
Rihanna’s CLF actively aids vulnerable countries during natural disasters, committing $500,000 in emergency funding to support Haiti after the 2021 earthquake. The foundation invests in emergency preparedness and climate adaptation projects across the Caribbean, motivated by the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Hurricane Dorian severely impacted Rihanna’s home country, the Bahamas, resulting in 61 fatalities and an estimated $7 billion in damage, underscoring the pressing need for assistance and preparedness measures in small island nations confronted with shifting weather patterns.
The foundation, having formed partnerships, currently works on nine active projects and has committed $10 million to assist six Caribbean countries.
Collaboration and Fundraising
Rihanna’s dedication to philanthropy attracts collaborations with fellow artists and major corporations. The philanthropic icon introduced the annual Diamond Ball fundraiser in 2014, which has raised millions for the foundation, while her Fenty Beauty brand also contributes to raising funds and awareness.
Since its inception, the Diamond Ball has raised millions for CLF’s initiatives. Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty brand supports the foundation’s work through proceeds from limited-edition products and awareness campaigns.
Rihanna also leverages her influence and social media platform to raise awareness about the farmers’ protests in India and the Myanmar military coup, actively demonstrating solidarity with those affected. Serving as the GPE Global Ambassador, Rihanna urges leaders from Canada, Argentina, France and the U.K. to support the Global Partnership for Education, highlighting her unwavering commitment to global causes.
Looking Forward
With Rihanna’s passion and influence, the Clara Lionel Foundation will continue breaking barriers, inspiring hope, and empowering the next generation through healthcare, education, and disaster relief initiatives. The foundation is dedicated to creating a long-lasting impact by investing in community-driven solutions, forming strategic partnerships, and championing innovative fundraising campaigns.
– Tanya Hamad
Photo: Flickr
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