Forever First Lady Michelle Obama is leading the charge to educate young women by donating more than $500,000 to the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, The Hill reports.
Obama will use proceeds from her “Becoming” merchandise sales to further her foundation’s mission of educating girls. The education initiative was launched as “Let Girls Learn” in 2015 while the Obamas were still in office. The organization has continued its work since then, focusing on educating young girls in an effort to help build grassroots leaders nationwide.
In a statement released, Obama said this is her responsibility. “This duty of giving back is what my parents and grandparents taught me, and it’s a value I’ve tried to live by my entire life – because it’s not enough just to make your way through life, thinking only of yourself,” she said.
She announced the contribution on “Giving Tuesday,” a national day set aside for the public to give to nonprofits around the world. The Chicago native said she was “incredibly blessed and humbled” to receive such love for her “Becoming” memoir. The memoir has sold more than 11 million copies since its release just a year ago.
“I’m proud to channel that enthusiasm toward girls around the world. My hope is that this donation will help more bold and brilliant girls reach their fullest potential, continuing upward on their path toward becoming the women they are meant to be,” Obama said.
If you want to donate to the Girls Opportunity Alliance, you can visit their GoFundMe page.