Singer and dancer Paula Abdul has been selected to receive the Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award from the Music Business Association (Music Biz).
Abdul is being recognised for being an ambassador of We.org where she has interacted with thousands of youths around the world as a speaker for We Day, a movement that unites world-renowned speakers and performers to celebrate the power young people have to change the world. This year, she partnered with Turnaround Arts, a signature program of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, to adopt a school in Brooklyn, NY, and help foster arts education in impoverished schools across the nation.
James Donio, president of Music Biz, said “Paula’s philanthropic efforts are a prime example of how artists give back to their community and the world. We are pleased to recognise her and hope her example will remind everyone how important it is to donate time, energy, and influence to charitable causes.”
Abdul said “I’ve been blessed to be able to do what I love for a living, but it’s helping others that really brings me the most joy. The work itself is the true reward, but I hope this recognition will bring further awareness to the causes I fight for and inspire others to do the same.”
Paula will receive her award on May 18 at the annual Music Biz Awards Luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.
Abdul started her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers before being discovered by The Jacksons to choreography their video for Torture. She went on to do extensive work with Janet Jackson along with becoming a successful dance/exercise video tape star.
From 1988 to 1995, she had a series of hit singles including Straight Up, Forever Your Girls and Opposites Attract followed by a career in TV as a judge on shows like American Idol, The X Factor and So You Think You Can Dance.
Previous winners of the Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award include the T.J. Martell Foundation, Martina McBride, Dee Snider, Annie Lennox, Melissa Etheridge, Norman Lear, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Jackson, Hilary Rosen, Rock the Vote, Hands Across America and Live Aid.
