education to youth who have been affected by For any questions regarding future scholarship information please email [emailprotected], Copyright 2009 The Serena Williams Serena Williams Foundation also provides scholarships to students from low-income families. We have one or two of the usual "stats" based facts, but we promise most of them are very interesting. Where the organization is headquartered (e.g. Price was murdered in a drive-by shooting in 2003. Guided by the insights and leadership of three generations of the Sanghvi family, K.P. Though the book closed on her on-court career last summer at the US Open, Serena Williams is still receiving well-deserved plaudits for her impact both inside and outside of tennis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Serena teamed up with BELLA+CANVAS on the Masks for Kids campaign to ensure that kids across America would be able to start the 2020-21 school year safely. This prompted Serena Williams to take action, as she wanted to prevent as many families as possible from experiencing food insecurity. Women. Although Serenas dad wanted her to wait until she was 18 in order to go professional, she began playing professionally at the young age of 14. She has done so much for charity that she has even won several awards. I like to run short distances, like 5 km: in this way you do not abuse your body too much but you can still experience the atmosphere of the race. Serena, alongside her sister, Venus, have participated in various tennis matches in mostly black neighborhoods as a means to raise money for theRonald McDonald House. Her involvement in the Serena Williams Foundation has also given her a platform to advocate for social justice. Serena cuts a ribbon at the opening of the Serena Williams Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya, in 2008. Williams has posed for the 2003 and 2004 editions of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The resource center will be able to map all of the resources in and around the Compton community while providing customized assistance that will be a vital asset to improving our ability to service our youth, adults and families.. The "Being . available to them. Committed to social, children's rights, women's rights, gender equality and civil rights, Serena was one of the great supporters of Black Lives Matter this year. In addition to founding Serena Ventures, the 40-year-old has established brand partnerships throughout her . Considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, [a] she was ranked world No. Serena and Venus Williams are honoring their late sister and giving back to Compton with a new fund and upcoming resource center. Total number of Crunchbase contacts associated with this organization, Total number of employee profiles an organization has on Crunchbase, Total number of organizations similar to the given organization, Descriptive keyword for an Organization (e.g. to assist underprivileged youth around the world The Foundation's mission is to advocate equity, including education, gender, race, and disability, and to help people achieve their goals and live their best lives. Compton Mayor Aja Brown expressed her excitement over the new development, stating: This is an incredible investment and commitment by Serena and Venus Williams, and I commend them for their desire to help children and families in Compton thrive. In her post-game days, the former US tennis star, now 41, focused more on religion and has now been baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in Florida. Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player who is currently ranked No. will achieve this goal by providing grants and Sanghvi, Serena Williams Jewelry features ethically sourced and conflict-free diamonds. Men sometimes prove stupid for some of their ways, "she said, in one of the best speeches of her incredible career. These grants and scholarships Last year, after running 5,000 I thought, wow, I should really promote a collection through a race, because it's an effective and fun way to promote a life healthy: people love it and you can walk, run, bring your family. The answer is the two head coaches, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Kyle ShanahanContinue. COVID-19 Special Edition: Women's Leadership Matters, Click Here to Visit Our Philanthropy Women Job Board. Founder of The Serena Williams Foundation, which donates to education, social welfare and community development. Serena Williams The Former World No.1 has been involved in philanthropy throughout her career and runs her own Foundation, The Serena Williams Foundation. ", "Female Founders Fund has been committed to investing in women and minority founders from day one. In 2019, Serena launched her own venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, which focuses on investing in companies that embrace diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity and opportunity. In 2008, she provided aid to fund the construction of a secondary school in Kenya. Throughout February, a portion of proceeds fromSerena Williams Jewelrywill benefit Opportunity Funds Small Business Relief Fund, directly supporting Black small-business owners. Christian Andrews-Excel High School (Oakland, Ca) This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Michael Jackson But, even with the pandemic shining a light on these health-care disparities, Wilson says she "won't detract from the fact that being a Black woman founder is extremely hard." It doesnt matter what she decides to do, chances are she will find a way to continue to donate as generously as she currently does. Her talent for the sport was first recognized when she attended the tennis academy of Rick Macci, at the age of 3. Even though she is considered to be retired from tennis, who knows what Serena Williams might do next with her life? Join the Global Day of Action: RISE for Afghan Women! What Does Bernard Arnault Do For Charity? In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Serena Williams, alongside other tennis stars, decided to organise a charity event for the victims of the disaster. Serena is also committed to other philanthropic causes, supporting several organizations worldwide. The Serena Williams Foundation Sarah Hillware: Feminism Is Not Feminism Unless Its Intersectional, View all posts by Gender Equality Funding News, Find Funds Now: 355 Funders for International Gender Equality, Funder Database: 413 Funders for Gender Equality in the US, The Ascend Fund Grants $600 K for Electing Women in States, Money for Families: Big Philanthropy Supports Economic Recovery. Health-care startup HUED, founded by entrepreneur Kimberly Wilson, announced Monday that it has raised $1.6 million in seed funding, with investors including Female Founders Fund, Serena Williams' VC fund Serena Ventures, Black Founders Matter, Gingerbread Capital and angel investor and health-care leader Halle Tecco. Gwen Stefani This is why when you have small children crying in a family, it is often women who hold them in your arms. Naomi Osaka on the court with a baby bump: Andre Agassi her new coach? She gives to these charities because she absolutely loves helping those who are less fortunate. Getty Images. We live in an age of excess where the haves and have nots are generally distinguished by their possessions and lifestyle. For Black History month, Serena Williams Jewelry will be donating a portion of proceeds to Opportunity Funds Small Business Relief Fund. We take your privacy very seriously. Serena Ventures - The Serena Williams-backed VC Fund PLAY TO WIN Through a champion mindset and unparalleled network, we empower founders to change the world. 1 in women's singles tennis. Elle Macpherson Playing professional tennis has enabled Serena to attain an immense amount of wealth, and her current net worth is $250 million. The fund, which has raised $111 million recently, invests mainly in businesses and startups founded by women and individuals of other . Sanghvi is one of the worlds largest diamond and diamond jewelry manufacturers, having worked with iconic jewelry brands across the globe for over 50 years. Who is Serena Williams' spouse? ", Sign up now:Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter, This founder created a tech platform that connects patients of color to culturally competent doctors, Female Founders Fund closes $57 million funding round, backers include Goldman Sachs and Melinda French Gates, Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox, Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It, 2023 CNBC LLC. In September 2018, after tennis player Serena Williams was penalized for code violations during the 2018 US Open, Knight created a cartoon depicting Williams with exaggerated, masculine features and red lips reminiscent of racist caricatures of the 19th and 20th century. This included Williams reaching out to Instagram users and encouraging them to donate to this worthy cause to help feed impoverished families. . This is no surprise since she has one . Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional worldwide tennis player, from Michigan. Camila Giorgi is out of this world! Stay up to date on the latest product releases, special offers & news by signing up for our newsletter. In January 2010, Williams announced UNICEF's new Schools for Asia campaign to educate Asia's 26 million marginalized children in the countdown. The foundation primarily funds charitable (unrestricted) grants. "My journey was not easy to say the least," she explains. ABOUT OPPORTUNITY FUND:Opportunity Fund is the nations leading nonprofit organization supporting diverse, resilient entrepreneurs through these challenging times. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Serena Williams turns 40 today and we have 10 facts about the tennis great. Offers may be subject to change without notice. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas calls for more investment in girls during visit to home country, India, UNICEF appoints climate activist Vanessa Nakate as Goodwill Ambassador, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Muzoon Almellehan returns to Jordan to meet refugees affected by the COVID-19 education crisis, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra Jonas meets refugee families in Poland who fled war in Ukraine, calls for more support for refugee children, Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICs). The future first-ballot International Tennis Hall of Famer was presented with the Jackie Robinson Sports Award at the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday in . "We are thrilled to back Kimberly and her vision for HUED in making health care more equitable for millions of Black and Latinx patients," says Anu Duggal, founding partner of Female Founders Fund. The sisters established the Williams Sister Fund to collaborate on philanthropic projects, and the first thing the two tennis legends have planned is a resource center honoring their late sister Yetunde Price. We applaud her on her new role as a mother. The latter was formed to support the sisters . She defines "culturally competent" as health-care professionals who "specifically understand the physical, mental and cultural needs" of diverse patients. Health-care startup HUED, founded by entrepreneur Kimberly Wilson, announced Monday that it has raised $1.6 million in seed funding, with investors including Female Founders Fund, Serena. The purpose of the YPRC is to ensure that anyone whose life is affected by trauma and violence has access to the resources necessary for them to flourish. Shortly after relocating, Serena became interested in learning to play tennis. View contacts for Serena Williams Foundation to access new leads and connect with decision-makers. Serena Williams herself, the #1 ranked women's tennis player in the world and Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year, was on hand to help with the build, along with an incredible cast of characters that included the likes of Grammy Award winning artists Shaggy and Sean Paul, Olympic gold medal sprinter Yohan Blake, Olympic Bronze medal Serena Williams (born Serena Jameka Williams) is a well-known American tennis player. 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. The decorative beads that adorned her braids on and off the courts also played a. That year, she established the Serena Williams Foundation to help underprivileged. Her fashion brand, SERENA, celebrates body positivity and female empowerment. Learn how your comment data is processed. In the '90s, Serena Williams cemented her status in the tennis world and won her very first US Open in 1999. During the COVID-19 pandemic, along with BELLA + CANVAS, Serena joined a campaign that ensured that children were able to attend school in person while remaining safe at the same time. How Ali Wong Achieved a Net Worth of $3 Million, Eight Reasons to go to French Polynesias Marquesas Islands, How Lisa Rinna Achieved a Net Worth of $10 Million, 20 Cities with The Worst Weather in Europe. She has recently made a career comeback after taking a break due to her pregnancy. When Gary Kubiak was the head coach of the Houston Texans what current head coaches in the NFL conference championship games were two of his offensive assistants? Serena Williams is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In 2008, she helped fund the construction of the Serena Williams Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya and her Foundation also provides scholarships in the United States. In Kenya, for example, after the end of the project, the school built was named after her, Serena Williams Secondary School; she is not alone, because fortunately there are those who help her and for the technological equipment she wanted to contribute, providing all the material, even the giant Hewlett-Packard. I want tohave an opportunity to help UNICEF make the world aware of challenges that children face.. Life after tennis began for Serena Williams. The Serena Williams Foundation SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT Serena Scholars We are pleased to announce the following scholarship recipients: Destiny Dixon- Lynwood High School (Lynwood, Ca) Brittany Jenkins-Lynwood High School (Lynwood, Ca) Davontae Foxx- Centennial High School (Compton, Ca) Ciante Lovely- Excel High School (Oakland, Ca) "I probably pitched over 100 investors if I'm being honest with you about the process. Williams doesnt give to the various charities that she does because she feels obligated to do so because of her financial status.