Raising Malawi
Encyclopedia
Raising Malawi is a charity
non-profit organization
that was founded by Madonna
and Michael Berg in 2006. It is dedicated to helping with the extreme poverty and hardship endured by Malawi
's one million orphans.
and Gucci
hosted a fundraiser on the North Lawn of the United Nations
in New York
to benefit Raising Malawi & UNICEF.
On October 29, 2009, Madonna vowed to match, dollar for dollar, every donation made towards all Raising Malawi projects.
, which questioned expenditure on salaries and benefits as well as the management capacity and culture, the charity's executive director resigned in October 2010. In January 2011 it was announced that plans to build a school, the charity's flagship project, were abandoned. In March 2011 the Board of Directors was removed. The collapse of the school project has resulted in labour disputes and complicated a dispute with villagers who lost land to the project. It has also resulted in a legal suite by former employees at the school for wrongful termination. It is expected that the labour dispute will be heard by the Malawi courts in April 2011.
, at the Tribeca Film Festival
. Directed by Nathan Rissman, the film follows the stories of several Malawian children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS and poverty.
The documentary was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival
in connection with the 2008 amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala, and at the Traverse City Film Festival
in Michigan. On March 25, 2009, the documentary officially debuted on Youtube
and Hulu
.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
non-profit organization
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...
that was founded by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
and Michael Berg in 2006. It is dedicated to helping with the extreme poverty and hardship endured by Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
's one million orphans.
Mission statement
Charity fundraiser
On February 6, 2008, MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
and Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
hosted a fundraiser on the North Lawn of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to benefit Raising Malawi & UNICEF.
On October 29, 2009, Madonna vowed to match, dollar for dollar, every donation made towards all Raising Malawi projects.
Raising Malawi Academy for Girls
One of Raising Malawi's major projects was funding girls education. Madonna has co-sponsored investments into building an academy for Girls in Malawi. The project however was scrapped due to financial & tax irregularities. There is a current legal suit that has been filed by eight former employees citing wrongful termination.Management and financial problems
Following an audit by the Global Philanthropy GroupGlobal Philanthropy Group
Global Philanthropy Group is a consulting firm that provides philanthropic services for high net-worth individuals, charitable foundations and corporations. Their clients include John Legend, Avril Lavigne, Madonna, and Tory Burch...
, which questioned expenditure on salaries and benefits as well as the management capacity and culture, the charity's executive director resigned in October 2010. In January 2011 it was announced that plans to build a school, the charity's flagship project, were abandoned. In March 2011 the Board of Directors was removed. The collapse of the school project has resulted in labour disputes and complicated a dispute with villagers who lost land to the project. It has also resulted in a legal suite by former employees at the school for wrongful termination. It is expected that the labour dispute will be heard by the Malawi courts in April 2011.
Documentary film
In May 2008, Madonna hosted the premiere of a documentary film that she wrote and produced, titled I Am Because We AreI Am Because We Are
I Am Because We Are is a 2008 documentary film directed by Nathan Rissman and written, narrated, and produced by Madonna.The film premiered at the 7th annual Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, on April 24, 2008 and at the 61st annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 21, 2008...
, at the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
. Directed by Nathan Rissman, the film follows the stories of several Malawian children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS and poverty.
The documentary was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
in connection with the 2008 amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala, and at the Traverse City Film Festival
Traverse City Film Festival
The Traverse City Film Festival is an annual film festival held every late July through early August in Traverse City, Michigan. The festival was created as an annual event in 2005 to help “save one of America's few indigenous art forms—the cinema." The event was co-founded by Michael Moore, the...
in Michigan. On March 25, 2009, the documentary officially debuted on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and Hulu
Hulu
Hulu is a website and over-the-top subscription service offering ad-supported on-demand streaming video of TV shows, movies, webisodes and other new media, trailers, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from NBC, Fox, ABC, and Obstacle on October 20th 2011 Nickelodeon and CBS and many other...
.