Along with building her career as a musician, releasing pop anthems and going on grand arena tours, Miley Cyrus found her true purpose in grassroots activism. Inspired by high-profile struggles faced by vulnerable teenagers, she created a dedicated non-profit organization to address homelessness, identity rejection, and systemic inequality in 2014. Here is how the pop star built an initiative that continues to provide shelter, community, and advocacy for youth in crisis after more than a decade.
In 2014, Miley Cyrus invited a homeless youth to accept an award on her behalf
In August 2014, Cyrus won the VMA for Video of the Year for his hit song ‘Wrecking Ball.’ Rather than accepting the trophy herself, she sent Jesse Helt, a 22-year-old unhoused man from Oregon, to accept it. She didn’t take the stage to deliver a typical acceptance speech; instead, she let Helt bring attention to the thousands of homeless youths who suffer in the US and open the door to a hard conversation. This initiative from the singer even got her fans to start an online fundraising page that raised over USD 200,000 for youth shelters in just 24 hours. This is also what prompted her to start her own nonprofit organization.She started the Happy Hippie Foundation on September 17, 2014, which was later rebranded under the broader banner of the Miley Cyrus Foundation.
What was the focus of Miley Cyrus’ nonprofit organization?
According to their website, the organization was built to tackle homelessness amongst youth, especially the LGBTQ+ youth across the US.
Miley Cyrus’ initiative started as a way to help homeless and queer youth survive and provide them with the resources that they lack, such as security, food and shelter. (Instagram)
The description on the website reads, “The Miley Cyrus Foundation will encompass projects and initiatives across issue areas, geographies, and communities, focusing on the inspiration, power, and legacy of mothers in all their diversity.” Miley’s passion stems from the relationship she shares with her own late grandmother, Loretta, and mother, Tish, who have served as her biggest inspiration to support and uplift others in her community and around the world. Happy Hippie will proudly continue to operate as a signature, long-term campaign of the Miley Cyrus Foundation and will keep serving homeless youth and LGBTQ youth.”They also fund all kinds of programs to help at-risk youth and anyone vulnerable, suffering, and in need. They also added that, “All operational costs are funded privately, so 100% of all donations directly benefit communities in need.” This means that Cyrus herself privately covers all administrative and operational costs of the organization.
How Miley Cyrus raised awareness about the initiative and raised money for the programs
The singer recently donated USD 1 million through her foundation to a housing program that provides shelter to homeless women. (Instagram)
To raise funds and awareness, Cyrus also launched her famous ‘Backyard Sessions’ music videos, which had her collaborating with music icons like Joan Jett, Ariana Grande, and Laura Jane Grace to help the audience understand the plight of homeless youth and to support unhoused youth.Other than that, the website has also shared that other firms that have partnered with the ‘Flowers’ singer’s organization help in providing meals, clean clothes, hygiene kits, and emergency shelter. Over the years, the foundation has also transitioned to the digital age and has started digital support groups and crisis resources for youth dealing with homelessness, isolation, and mental health challenges.Lastly, the organization continues to support multi-million-dollar housing initiatives, including funding permanent housing developments and support services for vulnerable women and youth in Los Angeles.Earlier this year, in October, Cyrus even managed to raise USD 1 million for a Los Angeles housing project that helps women experiencing homelessness find a safe and permanent space. The funding will go to Rosa’s Place, a housing development that is currently being built by the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) in the city’s Skid Row neighborhood.