Harvard University has just announced that celebrity singer Rihanna will receive the 2017 Humanitarian of the Year Award. The singer is being honored for setting up enhancements in cancer treatment facilities in her home country, Barbados, and for creating college scholarships for Caribbean students to study in the United States of America.
Harvard Foundation Is Pleased With Rihanna's Goodwill
Dr. S. Allen Counter, head of the Harvard Foundation, commented on the great things that the singer has achieved. "Rihanna has charitably built a state-of-the-art center for oncology and fissile medicine to analyze and treat breast cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados. She also established the Clara and Lionel Foundation Scholarship Program for college students in the U.S. from Caribbean countries.
She also supports the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project, a multiyear crusade that will provide children with access to education in more than 60 developing countries, giving priority to girls and families that are affected with educational deprivation in the world today."
Harvard Humanitarian Of The Year Award
The Harvard Foundation says that the Harvard Humanitarian of the Year Award is given out to "an individual whose works and deeds have served to improve the quality of our lives and have inspired us to greater heights. This award is given in the name of the Rev. Professor Peter J. Gomes, Plummer Professor and Minister in Harvard's Memorial Church, and is authorized by the Dean of Harvard College and the President of Harvard University."
However, Rihanna is not the first artist to be honored with the prestigious award. Lionel Richie was honored in 2011. With others who also accepted the title are; U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, tennis star Arthur Ashe and the actor James Earl Jones. Last year, the award was given to Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
Rihanna's Groundbreaking Album
Rihanna's eighth studio album, Anti, was released on Jan. 28, 2016.The album was well received and hits Billboard Top 200. The album is certified platinum and was voted for Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Recording Package at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
