How a pop star's personal trauma inspired a global movement for kindness
In short: After facing bullying and mental health struggles during her youth, Lady Gaga launched a foundation to transform how the world discusses wellness. Moving beyond traditional grant-making, the organization focuses on direct engagement to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and empower young people to be braver.
Founded in late 2011 and officially launched on February 29, 2012, the Born This Way Foundation (BTWF) was established by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta. The organization was born from personal experience; Gaga has spoken openly about being bullied during her adolescence and struggling with anxiety, depression, and PTSD following an assault at age 19. The singer has frequently shared her own history of mental illness to encourage others. She has even expressed a desire for mental health professionals to be present in every school globally.
Unlike many non-profits that act as grant-making bodies, BTWF focuses on direct action and community engagement. This distinction drew criticism in 2014 from blogger Roger Friedman, who questioned the foundation's spending after reports showed $1.5 million allocated to web, social media, and legal fees, compared to only $5,000 in individual grants. In response, the founders clarified that the foundation is designed to carry out its work directly rather than simply distributing funds to other charities. This operational model was highlighted during the foundation's inauguration, which featured speakers like Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra. Additionally, the organization received significant initial funding from the MacArthur Foundation and Barneys New York.
The foundation utilizes several large-scale initiatives to foster wellness. The 'Channel Kindness' program, launched in September 2016, aims to provide positive media stories for youth. Another initiative, 'BeKind21', encourages daily acts of kindness to build lasting habits. In its second year, this campaign saw 1.6 million participants, and by 2019, it had inspired over 40 million acts of kindness. Through these efforts, the foundation seeks to make mental health a global priority and create a world that is both kinder and braver. The foundation also collaborates with Jack.org through the BeKindBeThere initiative to teach essential support skills. Furthermore, it has partnered with brands like Starbucks and SoulCycle to amplify its community-focused campaigns.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Born This Way Foundation
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-born-this-way-foundation.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
