SEATTLE — Over the years, 24-year-old musician Miley Cyrus has used her public status to help others. In 2014, she founded The Happy Hippie Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to fight injustice facing youth, women and gender and sexual minorities in America. However, her generosity does not stop at the national level. Cyrus’ endless giving to global causes, including Amnesty International, Red Cross and the Starkey Hearing Foundation, has served great numbers of people and is certainly worth acknowledging.
In 2015, Cyrus recorded a video featuring Johnzo West singing “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” from “Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.” Amnesty International is a global movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights. Anyone can take action towards making a difference, from signing a petition to donations or partnerships. Some of the problems on which Amnesty International is focused are poverty and human rights, based on the belief that no one should be denied adequate shelter, food, water, sanitation, education or healthcare.
Cyrus’ endless giving to global causes is also carried out through her position on the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. In this capacity she released a public service announcement in 2011, encouraging people to support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Red Cross has a presence in almost every country and operates on seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. All of these values contribute to the greater mission of helping those who suffer and eradicating global poverty.
Also in 2011, Cyrus became involved with the Starkey Hearing Foundation during a trip to Haiti, where she spent time distributing hearing aids to those in need. From there, she learned about its Listen Carefully campaign and teamed up to advocate for hearing health and protection, pertaining particularly to youth and young adults. For more than 30 years, Starkey Hearing Foundation has been committed to bringing the gift of hearing to those who live in a silent world. More than 100 countries and 1.1 million people in total have been helped by the foundation.
Cyrus’ endless giving to global causes and youthful enthusiasm sheds light on victims all over the world and urges others to take a stand and use their voice against injustices abroad.
– Mikaela Frigillana
Photo: Flickr