Megastar Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty, 28, has been raking in the dough. From delivering chart-topping albums and embarking on big ticket world tours, to securing lucrative fashion and beauty deals, she is quickly becoming one of the top grossing musicians in the world. Lately, the Barbadian beauty, who is known to show love for her carribean culture and fans, seems set on spending her stacks on more than the designer clothes she looks so lovely in. According to USA Today, Rihanna recently set up a global scholarship program to help students pay for college.
The scholarships will be awarded to selected students who hail from Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, or the U.S. Eligible applicants must have already been accepted into a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited four-year college or university. Organized through Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), the scholarships will be need-based, with awards ranging from $5K to $50K.
“To be able to give the gift of an education is actually an honor,” Rihanna said, according to USA Today. “Higher education will help provide perspective, opportunities and learning to a group of kids who really deserve it. I am thrilled to be able to do this,” added Rihanna, whose maternal grandmother and mother were born in Guyana.
Recently, while accepting an award at the 2016 Black Girls Rock event, Rihanna addressed the crowd with compelling words of wisdom concerning her position as a prospective role model to young women and girls. “The minute you learn to love yourself, you will not want to be anybody else,” said the “Where Have You Been” recording artist who cried before delivering the speech. “Role model is not the title they like to give me … but I think I can inspire a lot of young women to be themselves and that is half the battle. Hopefully one day I’ll be raising my own little black girl who rocks.”
The 2016 applications for the scholarships are open now through June 10.
For more information, visit www.claralionelfoundation.org.
