On Saturday afternoon, I was invited to join three of our board members–Deb Gandy, Donna Callejon, and Rachel Kronowitz–to see the Washington Mystics women’s basketball team take on the Los Angeles Sparks. The Mystics didn’t end up winning, but what struck me was that regardless, a local nonprofit did.
For every three pointer the Mystics score this season, a $100 financial gift will be made to Girls, Inc. of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The Mystics made 163 three pointers last year, so Girls, Inc. could receive about $20,000 this season.
This struck me not only because Girls, Inc. is a Grantee Partner of The Women’s Foundation, and I was thrilled to see their work and investments in girls highlighted in such a big public forum, but also because it got me to thinking about the interaction in our society between celebrity and charity. As the big name players took to the court before the game to announce their team’s gift, they spoke passionately about the importance of giving and why they were investing in women and girls.
Many of the players also have their own personal philanthropy. Nikki Teasley gives her time and talent to the American Kidney Fund. Members of the team participate in a partnership between the Mystics and Sibley Hospital to raise money and awareness for underserved and uninsured women in D.C. facing breast cancer. Sheila Johnson, president of the Mystics, is a major philanthropist in her own right.
Whether as individuals or together, because of their place in the public spotlight, they have the ability not only to give of themselves but to get others to give, too.
It got me to thinking about what we expect from celebrities in terms of their giving and charity. Oprah has become nearly as famous for her philanthropy as she has for her talk show. Bono, and recently Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have significantly increased public interest in Africa as a giving priority. Last month, at the Women’s Funding Network Conference, Angela Bassett offered a keynote address as part of her role as spokeswoman for the Good Deed Foundation.
These celebrities have given of their time, talent and treasure in their philanthropic endeavors. Many would say that having a celebrity behind a cause or issue–even if they just lend a name, and no dollars–could be more valuable than a gift of millions.
And for some celebs, like the Mystics, gifts of millions aren’t realistic. The average WNBA player makes between $46,000 and $60,000, not the millions made by professional male players.
So our expectation of celebrities to give isn’t necessarily based on means, but on their status as a celebrity. Because they have the power, through their public prestige, to encourage others to do the same. To be models for the behavior we’d like to see in others and ourselves–not only on the big screen or on the court–but as neighbors, community members and concerned citizens.
So it would make sense that we view it as a bit of an expectation that celebrities will give. Not only because they can, but because their doing so can motivate so much more giving from others.
But really, don’t we all have the power to be celebrities in our own right?
We all have friends, colleagues, family and associates who rely on us, trust us and listen to us. If we model giving, if we reach out and show by example that we give, wouldn’t at least some of those around us do the same?
Based on my observations and experiences with our giving networks and giving circles at The Women’s Foundation, many of which are comprised of friends of friends of friends, it seems that even if we’re not Angelina or Brad, that we all have the power to inspire giving. As Barb Strom Thompson, co-chair of our Washington 100 network, often says in explaining the rapid success and growth of our leading giving network, "When you hear about something good, the first thing you want to do is tell your girlfriends!"
So while we may not be Mystics players, I’d say we’ve all got the ability to score a few points for the causes and issues we care about.
Phyllis Caldwell is president of Washington Area Women’s Foundation.
