Serena Williams: An equally empowering champion and philanthropist 

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What’s in a name? For Serena Williams, it may be: a 23-time major singles champion, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, a sister to Venus and a mom to Olympia, among many other titles.

Empowering philanthropist comes to mind, too.

As someone who has inspired on the court through numerous match wins and courageous comebacks, Serena has used her platform to enrich the lives of those standing in less fortunate shoes. Here’s a look at some of the ways the former world No. 1 has given back:

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

In 2006, Serena partnered with the initiative for the first time when she visited Ghana. Her connection to the organization has strengthened ever since. She was a leading voice for UNICEF’s Schools for Africa initiative, backed the #EveryChildAlive campaign and was an advocate on the New Schools for Asia movement.

Her work, greatly centered around creating opportunities in education and development for underserved youth, saw her appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2011.

Yetunde Price Resource Center

In 2003, Serena and Venus tragically lost their eldest sister when Yetunde Price was taken in a senseless drive-by shooting. Fifteen years later, Price’s memory was honored in a special way when her champion siblings opened the Yetunde Price Resource Center in Compton, Calif. Its mission aims to support victims in similar situations by providing access to community-wide resources to foster healing from traumatic events.

Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

If you build it, they will come, right? In February 2016, Serena donated her time in northwest Jamaica for a hands-on cause. Partnering with the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation, Serena assisted with the construction of the Salt Marsh Basic School in Trelawny.

Shaggy, Sean Paul and Yohan Blake also took part.

Masks For Kids

The COVID-19 pandemic forced everybody to adapt. One of the most affected groups were the world’s future leaders. Wanting to help ensure children in the U.S. could return to the comforts of their normal learning environments, Serena joined forces with BELLA+CANVAS to donate more than 4 million masks nationwide to kids returning to schools in underrepresented areas.

Overall Push For Better

Serena has sat on several boards that include the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative. She’s featured as a guest speaker at events like Common For Creative Minds, donated auction items to causes such as London’s Small Steps Project and gave her prize money from her 2020 Auckland title run to Australia's bushfire relief. And through Serena Ventures and past collaborations that include teaming up with Bumble, this game-changer has invested in businesses founded by women of color.

She dreams big, plays big and thinks big. The Serena way.