Mavis Leno
Encyclopedia
Mavis Elizabeth Nicholson Leno (born September 5, 1946; San Francisco, California) is an American
philanthropist
, feminist and the wife of talk show
host Jay Leno
. They have been married since 1980 and have no children.
A leading feminist in California
, as well as in the United States
and international
ly, she keeps a low profile in comparison to her husband, choosing instead to work behind the scenes of the non-profit
, politically-charged groups she supports and runs.
She has been the chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation
's Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid
in Afghanistan
since 1997. In 1999, she and her husband, Jay Leno, donated $100,000 to the organization, to further the cause of educating the public about the plight of Afghan women under the Taliban.
The organization successfully protested the construction of an oil pipeline through Afghanistan, which could potentially have brought in billions of dollars to the Taliban.
According to Melissa Rossi
, Mavis Leno was a driving force in changing the opinion of U.S. President Bill Clinton
and the executives of the now defunct oil company Unocal Corporation
concerning the Taliban, after Leno had shed light on the group's heinous treatment of women.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, feminist and the wife of talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
host Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
. They have been married since 1980 and have no children.
A leading feminist in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, as well as in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
ly, she keeps a low profile in comparison to her husband, choosing instead to work behind the scenes of the non-profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, politically-charged groups she supports and runs.
She has been the chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation
Feminist Majority Foundation
The Feminist Majority Foundation is a non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to Women's Equality, Reproductive Health and Non-Violence, headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia. The name Feminist Majority comes from a 1986 Newsweek/Gallup public opinion poll in which 56 percent...
's Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid
Gender apartheid
The term gender apartheid, like sex apartheid, is a term used to describe economic and social sexual discrimination against women, including strict sex segregation, as well as an "absence of justice for women in much of the non-Western world." It is used especially to describe treatment of women...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
since 1997. In 1999, she and her husband, Jay Leno, donated $100,000 to the organization, to further the cause of educating the public about the plight of Afghan women under the Taliban.
The organization successfully protested the construction of an oil pipeline through Afghanistan, which could potentially have brought in billions of dollars to the Taliban.
According to Melissa Rossi
Melissa Rossi
Melissa Rossi is an American author and journalist who writes about subjects such as American politics and international geopolitical situations...
, Mavis Leno was a driving force in changing the opinion of U.S. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and the executives of the now defunct oil company Unocal Corporation
Unocal Corporation
Union Oil Company of California, dba Unocal is a defunct company that was a major petroleum explorer and marketer in the late 19th century, through the 20th century, and into the early 21st century. It was headquartered in El Segundo, California, United States.On August 10, 2005, Unocal merged...
concerning the Taliban, after Leno had shed light on the group's heinous treatment of women.