By Laura Ferreiro
It doesn’t get much bigger than Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey, and the unlikely duo will team up to launch Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation at the end of the month.
The event will take place at Harvard University on February 29 and will be featured on Oprah’s OWN Network. It will also include renowned author and spiritualist Deeprak Chopra, as well as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, and Charles Ogletree, Harvard Law School’s Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice.
The mission of the Foundation, which was founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, is to explore the best ways to reach youth and “create a new culture of kindness, bravery, acceptance and empowerment,” according to a press release. Some details of the Foundation won’t be unveiled until the launch date, and a visit to its website reveals nothing more than a clock that’s counting down the days until the launch event and the words:
“This Way, Towards Bravery
Where Youth Are Empowered.
This Way, Towards Acceptance
Where Humanity is Embraced.
This Way, Towards Love
Where Individuality is Encouraged.”
Lady Gaga has long been an advocate for gay rights and has been very vocal in speaking out against homosexual discrimination. Interestingly, she recently took over Oprah’s spot as the Forbes most powerful woman in entertainment due to her 32 million Facebook fans, 10 million Twitter followers and the $90 million she earned touring last year.
BTWF is partnering with the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The California Endowment and The Berkman Center at Harvard and will have a broad focus, addressing issues including self-confidence, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development through research, education and advocacy.