Since its inception the Kanye West Foundation, originally led by the vision and passion of Dr. Donda West, has been critical to individuals, families and communities around the world in need of support.
In 2005, Donda West and the Kanye West Foundation donated money to provide textbooks for children in Sierra Leone. Those funds were used to completely rehabilitate a dilapidated, roofless school building for 416 children. This donation helped to support Tiffany Person’s Shine On Sierra Leone Foundation to provide education, mentoring, and nutritional support to African diamond mining schools.
In association with the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Kanye performed at a benefit for colon cancer research in New York City in 2005. Afterwards, he was congratulated backstage by Vice President Al Gore for his participation in the event and his commitment to the disenfranchised in this country.
In 2006, Kanye gave aid to Hurricane Katrina evacuees during their displacement. The Foundation purchased furniture and provided housing for several families for a full calendar year. This was to be a time of transition for the families – a time to rebuild. In June of 2006, The Houston Area Urban League presented an award to Kanye West Foundation at its annual gala for the immediate assistance the foundation provided to Katrina evacuees. The theme of the gala was “Then Came the Village…After the Storm”.
During his recent Glow in the Dark tour, Kanye teamed up with MTV’s “Choose of Lose” campaign to bring awareness to young veterans issues, and to tell the stories of returning veterans in the powerful documentary “Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming” which aired July 28, 2008. On behalf of MTV and the Dr. Donda West Foundation, Kanye gave each veteran a life-changing gift. Debts were paid off, rents were taken care of and tuition's were funded.
As a performer, Kanye West continues to find opportunities to use his talent by participating in concerts and benefit performances. In July of 2005, Kanye joined over 150 performers and 3 billion people around the world as part of the Live 8 concert. The Live 8 concerts raised millions of dollars in an effort to bring awareness to and eradicate hunger around the world.
Kanye performed at the Concert for Diana - a celebration of the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales in July of 2007 Diana was a passionate champion of the rights of disadvantaged people and did much to highlight the plight of people living with HIV or AIDS, offering a visible helping hand to those in need. All proceeds from ticket sales after deduction of all costs and expenses of the Concert were given in equal shares to the Concert beneficiaries: Princess Diana’s Patronage and Memorial Fund, Centrepoint UK and Sentebale, Lesotho.
In June of 2008, Kanye headlined the Nike Human Race concert. The Nike+ Human Race is an opportunity to give back. Participants ran for a worthy cause and supported the three official Nike+ Human Race charitable partners: the Lance Armstrong Foundation – uniting people in the fight against cancer; WWF - change; and the UN refugee agency's ninemillion.org campaign – bringing sport and education to refugee youth.
Since its inception the Kanye West Foundation, originally led by the vision and passion of Dr. Donda West, has been critical to individuals, families and communities around the world in need of support.