SANTA MONICA, California – Bobby Shriver is the Co-Founder and Chairman of (PRODUCT) RED and the co-founder of Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa (DATA). Along with Bono, Shriver has been extremely influential in working to improve the financial and health epidemics threatening Africa.
As the oldest child of R. Sargent Shriver, the founder of the Peace Corps, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics, service has been an instilled value for Bobby Shriver from a very young age. In 1999, Bono approached Shriver to assist him in the 2000 Jubilee campaign to cancel the debt of developing nations. Through a petition drive, Bono hoped to invoke and build political support in Washington for financial assistance to the world’s poorest nations.
Their campaign and lobbying efforts proved to a be a great success and lead them to create DATA, as well as form the ONE Campaign, a coalition of grassroots efforts to support the lobbying efforts of DATA. Through the combination of DATA and ONE in 2008, Shriver lead a unified front of grassroots movements from across the nation to call for AIDS relief and poverty reduction.
Along with his dedication to financial and health related emergencies in Africa, Shriver also advocates for domestic issues and the Special Olympics. As a member of the Santa Monica City Council from 2004 to 2012, he worked to reduce homelessness in the city, with a special emphasis placed on housing homeless veterans. He lead a campaign to clean up the Santa Monica Bay as well. He also produced the first ever primetime program on the Special Olympics World Games for ABC in 1987 as well as the first “A Very Special Christmas” record also to raise money for the Special Olympics. His efforts have raised over $100 million worldwide.
Bobby Shriver is an important American activist and humanitarian whose projects and commitment to financial and health security in Africa, have created a legacy of sustainable development and fundraising. His work domestically and internationally has contributed to both national and global enrichment.
– Ananya Marathe
Source: ONE Campaign, Bobby Shriver Official Website, Eunice Kennedy Shriver One Woman’s Vision