Global Charities Unite to Help Orphans & Vulnerable Children for World Orphans Day™
The Stars Foundation™, facilitating organization of World Orphans Day™, held a First Ladies World Orphans Summit in Nashville recently. The filmed event was organized to create an advocacy platform for World Orphans Day™ and orphan care programs.
Cheryl Robeson Piggott, Founder of World Orphans Day™ and CEO of The Stars Foundation©, and Roger J. Piggott, CEO of Iceman Television Production, worked with governmental entities in 4 African countries to bring illumination to the plight of orphans and displaced children around the world. The television series HEARTS on FIRE will showcase this event, along with numerous other celebrity features from Nashville, Hollywood and abroad, who support the charitable programs of The Stars Foundation™.
The Stars Foundation™ and Nashville welcomed the delegation from Malawi, which had eleven dignitaries accompanying the First Lady of Malawi, Monica Chakwera, the keynote speaker of the First Ladies Summit for Orphans and Vulnerable Children. {below}:
Cheryl & Roger Piggott First Lady Malawi Monica Chakwera
Ambassador Esme Chombo, the Ambassador from Malawi to thenUS, based in Washington, D.C. also represented the country of Malawi with First Lady Monica Chakwera. Ms. Chombo also is a Supreme Court Judge in Malawi under this administration of President Lazarus Chakwera.
The Summit was followed by a gala for the First Lady MonicaChakwera called the Rhinestone Gala. Manuel Cuevas, thedistinguished international fashion designer, known for the glitterand sparkle of Nashville fashion worn by the Stars, was awardeda Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. Tennessee SenatorMarsha Blackburn’s office presented gold Tennessee Cufflinks that were auctioned that night for the orphancauses. Entertainment was provided by Clayton Q, Presley Tennant, finalist with “The Voice” , RebeccaHolden and Terrell Edwards from Hollywood. Also performing was Cynthia Kinnard, Micah Wilson, a JohnnyCash Tribute Band, and Adria Hyde.
The Stars Foundation™ was founded by Cheryl Robeson-Piggott in the early 2000’s and founded World Orphans Day™ in 2006. World Orphans Day™ is the Second Monday in November annually and the foundation serves as an advocacy organization for the underprivileged children and youth of the world. They advocate for global peace, and goodwill between nations as well as fighting for justice for the oppressed.
In its humanitarian efforts, over $115,000,000 dollars of goods-in-kind have been sent around the world. In 2023, over 10 containers of Shoes, have been shipped to Africa. Normally a container holds about 40,000 pairs of shoes.
Key support to the International campaign came from prominent residents of Shelbyville, Tennessee, Kat, Mike and Chris Coffey, who all were unable to attend due to travel. Both Lord David Alton, Life Peer of the UK Parliament and Kat Coffey welcomed the dignitaries of the event with a pre-recorded video messages and spoke about the need for orphan care and the families support in Uganda through their foundation called The Good Shepherd Foundation Uganda, located in a village called Kagavu.
A second International supporter, Jay Paul Deratany, a human rights activist, lawyer and movie producer graciously donated a World Changer sponsorship level of this exclusive event. Jay Paul Deratany produced Foster Boy, which was released during 2020, and Shaquille O’Neal was a Co-Executive Producer. Deratany is currently has a project in Development called Kicking It, the true story of Caden Cox.
A key theme around the world for World Orphans Day™ is the Lighting the World Purple for Orphans. As this campaign drives to bring awareness of the plight of orphans around the world, The origin of this day began in Tennessee, by a volunteer Adria Hyde a country music artist and songwriter with 4 lit buildings being lit up purple in 2020.
Initially, Arkansas State University, Austin Peay University, The Tennessee Capitol, Memphis Bridge, and RC Colman Bridge in Clarksville, TN were illuminated. The campaign is now implemented worldwide in more than 46 countries, as landmarks including the CN Tower in Toronto, Calgary Bell Tower, Niagara Falls, the St. Louis Ferris Wheel, and Chicago’s Sky Cap, Ireland’s Council buildings Ranfuly, House Dungannon, Burnavon Cookstown, Tower Bridge in London England and Bridewell, Magherafelt. are being illuminated for World Orphans Day™ in 2024 to name a few.
The Stars Foundation™ can be reached through the www.thestarsfoundation.net and donations are welcome to support the impactful programs of the foundation.
