Maria Sharapova Gives Quarter Million Dollars for UNDP projects

Tennis star Maria Sharapova was appointed a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in 2007. Her role is to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, with an emphasis on promoting the recovery of Chernobyl-affected areas.

On July 1 Sharapova made a personal contribution of US $250,000.00 to expand a UNDP-supported programme that provides sports and physical activities for youth in the area affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Sharapova said that despite the challenges, “I’ve seen progress in Gomel and kids with a great potential to do even more. What they need is to work hard and believe in themselves. Having supported health and education initiatives, I am very happy to start contributing on sports and physical activities that promote healthy lifestyles.”


-Molly McNeill

SOURCE: UNDP News