Celebrity Philanthropy - Page 3, PR or Passion?

There is one key question we are asked time and time and again at Innovaid – ‘What is the real motivation behind Celebrity Philanthropy?’ Are they just doing it for publicity? Do they really care or is it all just for a photo op and brand enhancement?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to scratch the surface of most celebrity philanthropy and see the depth of what they are doing behind it.

Here are some key tips for you to spot whether a celeb has passion for a cause or is looking for page 3 presence:

• Consistency - is there consistency in their pattern of behavior, have they exhibited a steadfast adherence to the same principles, course and form in regards to their philanthropy?
• Depth - depth can be described as a dimension taken through an object (perhaps subject); downward from an upper surface, horizontally inward from an outer surface, or from top to bottom of something regarded as one of several layers - is there depth to their philanthropy?
• Synergy - the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements or contributions - do daily actions contribute to their philanthropic agenda?
• Long term - is it a once off or continuing contribution to a single or related group of philanthropic causes?
• Knowledge - an acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigations - does the individual exhibit a thorough knowledge of their chosen cause?

Answer yes, to any of these elements and I think you can be confident your celebrity is after more than a page three presence.

They are exhibiting a passion and a commitment to the cause, always a good sign, and, something we at Innovaid strive towards in assisting our clients in setting up their own foundations!

Thoughts on YOUWECAN

With the launch of his YOUWECAN Foundation, Yuvraj Singh stood up and embraced what we think of as an ‘Innovaid’ style of philanthropy.  His initiative aims to combat cancer in India by spreading awareness about the disease itself, advantages of early detection and fighting the stigma attached to it.

This comes as a refreshing change from the earlier version of the Foundation which, no matter how well intended, seemingly lacked purpose and any clear programs.

At the core of Innovaid’s approach to celebrity philanthropy is ensuring that the work of the clients foundation is firmly built around a core passion of the client – something synonymous with who they are and what they stand for in life.

Yuvraj has found his mission for philanthropy through his own personal battle with this disease, which kills up to 80% of sufferers in India due to a lack of early detection, making India home to one of the highest mortality rates for cancer sufferers in the world.

“Having experienced cancer personally, I can totally empathize with the pain and difficulties faced by a cancer patient and thus we have launched ‘YouWeCan’, I feel extremely passionate and motivated about using this platform to appeal to everyone, to come forward for early detection, as I have myself benefited from it and it is key to saving your life.” Yuvraj said, at the time.

Hats off to Yuvraj for focusing his philanthropy, making a stand and leveraging his almighty sphere of influence, here in India, to make a difference on this crucial social issue.