SEATTLE — The new blockbuster The Greatest Showman has wowed audiences everywhere with its elaborate costumes, beautiful music and star-studded cast. One of the brightest stars in this cast is Zendaya, the Disney actress who has successfully expanded her career into myriad different venues, including singing, reality TV and major motion pictures.
Zendaya is passionate about many things, but she is arguably most passionate about her charity work. At only 21 years old, the actress has been a part of several initiatives to reduce global poverty. The list of accomplishments that prove that Zendaya is an ally of the impoverished is truly remarkable.
Zendaya’s Rise as an Ally of the Impoverished
Named one of Time magazine’s most influential teens, Zendaya uses her star power for the good of others. During her time on Disney’s Shake It Up, she gave her time to several nonprofits. She attended Ice Cream For Breakfast, a campaign that raises money for Give Kids The World, in 2011. She also attended an event with Madison Pettis, a fellow Disney actress, to support Toys for Tots the same year. She also worked with Free The Children with her Shake It Up co-star Bella Thorne to encourage leadership in children.
In 2012, Zendaya sang at a show in Los Angeles where the proceeds went to Operation Smile. That year, she also used her platform to bring attention to the charity Donate My Dress, an organization that collects prom dresses for underprivileged girls, and donated a dress herself. She partnered with Convoy of Hope in 2012 to provide relief to families hit by Hurricane Sandy, and has been an ambassador for the organization since.
Birthday Wishes for the World
Zendaya is an ally of the impoverished even on her birthday. The star is known for using her big day as an excuse to ask friends and family to give back. On her 15th and 16th birthdays, Zendaya donated backpacks to local schools in California. On her 18th birthday, she partnered with feedONE, a program run by Convoy of Hope, to raise money for children in Haiti, Tanzania and the Philippines. She also recorded “All of Me,” a John Legend song, and donated the proceeds to Convoy of Hope.
For her 20th birthday, Zendaya partnered with Convoy of Hope again, this time to raise money for their Women’s Empowerment Initiative. The initiative provides support to impoverished families globally, giving them the resources to bring themselves out of poverty. On her most recent birthday, Zendaya asked friends and fans to donate money to families impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
Recent Accomplishments
In recent years, Zendaya has partnered with many other initiatives. She partnered with TOMS Shoes in 2016, raising awareness for their One Day Without Shoes campaign. In early 2017, she worked with Verizon on the #WeNeedMore campaign, bringing technology to underprivileged communities in order to encourage them to enter STEM fields. This past holiday season, she used her platform to highlight different charities in a “12 Days of Xmas Giving” contest.
Shown by her involvement in these many movements to bring light to dark places, Zendaya is an ally of the impoverished. With her philanthropic spirit and compassionate heart, she can serve as an excellent role model to girls everywhere. She is involved with almost too many initiatives to count, and actresses like Zendaya contribute to a better future.
– Julia McCartney
Photo: Flickr