Whitney Houston Charities + Giving Activities

1. WHITNEY HOUSTON FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN: started in 1989, it aids homeless children, children w/cancer, children w/AIDS, & works towards the prevention of child abuse, teaches illiterate children to read, & has built inner-city parks & playgrounds. Also hosts annual Christmas party for homeless children. The Whitney Houston Foundation for Children's Website

2. United Negro College Fund: a regular "pet" charity of WH's, she raised a quarter of a million dollars for them at a 1988 Madison Square Garden concert, appeared on at least two "Lou Rawls Parade of Stars" telethons for UNCF, & has been honored by them for her consistent giving with the Frederick D. Patterson Award. one of WH's first gigs was a benefit concert for the UNCF in which she sang "Tomorrow" from Annie.

3. JUVENILE DIABETES FOUNDATION: WH annually attends their "Carousel of Hope" charity gala and was honored for her giving in 1996 with the Brass Ring Award.

4. ST. JUDE'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: founded by the late Danny Thomas, this hospital helps critically-ill children without asking for a dime from their parents/guardians; it is subsidized completely by charitable giving. WH has given so much to them over the years that the founder's daughter, Marlo Thomas, honored her at a charity banquet in 1994.

5. AIDS: another of WH's "pet" causes; highlights include her performance at the Arista 15th Anniversary AIDS Benefit in 1990, and she flew to Los Angeles for the "Commitment for Life" AIDS Benefit in 1994 from her South American tour, then had to fly right back!

6. CANCER: another "pet" cause. Highlight: Howard University(Washington DC) Cancer Research Benefit.

7. SOUTH AFRICA: the announcement that WH would participate in the 1988 Freedom Fest for (a then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela) drew other artists & much media attention to it. In 1994, she did a tour in South Africa, giving proceeds to numerous children's charities including 2 children's museums, the President's (now a FREE Nelson Mandela) Trust Fund, the Kagiso Foundation & several orphanages.

8. RED CROSS: donated ALL her proceeds from the sales of her "The Star-Spangled Banner" single & home video to benefit Gulf War troops & their families; Arista & BMG followed suit. Whitney is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross - elected 1991.

9. "WELCOME HOME HEROES": her Easter Sunday (March 31) 1991 concert in Norfolk VA was FREE for returning Gulf War vets & their families. HBO, which televised the event live, encouraged cable systems to de-scramble their signal so everyone could enjoy the show.

10. 1994 RAINFOREST BENEFIT IN NEW YORK CITY: surprise guest performance by Nippy.

11. HER 1992 WEDDING: Nippy asked that in lieu of gifts, all attendees & fans contribute to her Foundation for Children instead.

12. "THE BODYGUARD" PREMIERE: proceeds went to WH's Foundation for Children & to Magic John- son's Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

13. "THE PREACHER'S WIFE" PREMIERE: proceeds went to WH's Foundation for Children, Boys' & Girls' Clubs ofAmerica(Denzel Washington's choice) & a charity of director Penny Marshall's choosing.

14. KURDISH REFUGEE RELIEF 1991: performed at the "Simple Truth" concert at London's Wembley Stadium & allowed MTV to simulcast her performance of "Miracle" at her Oakland CA concert during a telethon they were holding for this cause.

15. CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND-: ALL of WH's proceeds from her 2 "Classic Whitney" concerts in Washington DC went to this (a quarter of a million dollars!!!).

16. THE NATIONAL BIRTH DEFECTS CENTER IN BOSTON: named their Hearing & Language Disorder Clinic after her due to her giving.

17. UMDNJ UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NEWARK NJ: named their Pediatric Special Care Unit after her due to her giving.

18. HALE HOUSE IN HARLEM: she donated enough to them to build a Learning & Recreation Center.

19. RAINBOW HOUSE: for adolescent mothers & for children with HIV & AIDS.

20. MICHAEL BOLTON FOUNDATION: honored WH for her charity work in 1995 with a fund-raising gala; in 1997, his foundation would join forces with Whitney's to honor other charitable artists at a fund-raising gala.

21. T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION: funds research for leukemia, cancer & AIDS.

22. TOYS 'R' US 1992 Dinner for Children with Special Healthcare Needs.

23. EMMANUEL CANCER FOUNDATION: for children; she was unable to attend a 1990 Benefit held in her honor, so she turned it into a Food Drive for them!

24. HARLEM BOYS CHOIR, NEW JERSEY STATE PBA & THE YOUTH OF ATLANTIC CITY: she benefitted these 3 charities with her only 1990 U.S.A. concert appearances.

25. INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS: performed at their Opening Ceremonies in 1987 & recorded "Do You Hear What I Hear?" FREE for their 1st "A Very Special CHRISTmas" benefit album in 1987.

26. 1988 OLYMPICS: recorded "One Moment in Time" for album of same name to benefit Olympic athletes.

27. RONALD McDONALD CHILDREN'S CHARITIES OF SOUTH FLORIDA: they honored her for her giving.

28. DONATED TWO LION CUBS to the Bronx Zoo, NYC.

29. HONORED FOR CHARITY WORK IN GENERAL BY:
    • VH1 Honors in 1995;
    • The First Annual Triumphant SPIRIT Award by Essence Magazine in 1997;
    • The First Annual Trumpet Awards(Ted Turner).

30. These items aren't charity work, but reveal more of WH's social consciousness:
    • While an unknown model, WH refused to do any work for any company that did business in then-Apartheid South Africa;
    • In 1988, she invested $40 million in low- & middle- income housing on her hometown of Newark NJ;
    • She insisted that her production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" be multi-culturally cast (so "every child could see themselves in it") AND that it be shown on a broadcast network (ABC) so that children & elderly people who couldn't get to movie theaters and/or didn't have cable TV could see it FREE.