During my research for the Product RED feature I kept coming across the name Bobby Shriver. Besides being the CEO of the RED campaign, why was he important?
Bono (the infamous U2’er) was a name I instantly recognized (the two of them co-founded DATA, the Debt Aids Trade in Africa foundation), but I couldn’t be sure why I should care about Shriver.
None of the other articles I read mentioned Shriver’s affiliation with the media, or other charities. The first relation that popped to my head was that of Maria…Mrs. Govn-ah herself. “Could one relation have gained him that much celebrity access,” I thought? I’d have to dig a little deeper to figure this guy out.
Turns out I was right in my assumption; he is the brother of Maria Shriver but what else?...well, it turns out the guy is kind of stacked.
Born the oldest of five children, with the unfortunate name of Robert Sargent Shriver III (Bobby the obvious nickname), he attended Yale and graduated from their law program. He is in the Kennedy blood line through his mother Eunice Mary Kennedy who started the Special Olympics in 1962. His father, Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., helped found the Peace Corp (and many other social programs) in the U.S., for a two year period was the American ambassador to France and in 1972 ran for vice-president.
Bobby himself started out as a journalist, then went on to become a venture capitalist (read: gave money to people to help their businesses grow), and a music producer. With the ability to charm such acts as Madonna, Bon Joni and U2 into being on the first “Very Special Christmas” CD to help fund the Special Olympics, Shriver quickly became known on the music scene.
Befriending Russell Simmons, and sharing with him a passion for yoga, Shriver is now on Santa Monica’s City Council, as well as being part of California’s State Park and Recreation Commission. He helped organize Philadelphia’s Live 8 concert in 2005 and it was Shriver who initiated Product RED as a new prototype for raising funds, away from the traditional forms.
Shriver was the force behind getting these corporations (Motorola, the Gap, etc) to join on for five years. His main pitch to them was that he wanted it to be a win-win situation for everyone. He was the man who turned down the Gap’s pitch to make one t-shirt and have all of the proceeds going to the Global Fund. Shriver told these companies that he wanted them to be making money off of the RED campaign because that was the only way they would stay on, and advertise it. His statements to the public have made that point very clear. He knows RED is not an entirely genuine effort for these companies, but he knows the people in Africa need the public’s help.
By starting a campaign like this he is truly following in the footsteps of both his parents. He saw people in need, disadvantaged, and used his power to do something about it.
Next time you’re reading an article and a name you don’t recognize comes up, type it into Wikipedia, or Google and see what comes up. You’ll probably be presently surprised…or realize that you need to start doing a lot more research.
Bono (the infamous U2’er) was a name I instantly recognized (the two of them co-founded DATA, the Debt Aids Trade in Africa foundation), but I couldn’t be sure why I should care about Shriver.
None of the other articles I read mentioned Shriver’s affiliation with the media, or other charities. The first relation that popped to my head was that of Maria…Mrs. Govn-ah herself. “Could one relation have gained him that much celebrity access,” I thought? I’d have to dig a little deeper to figure this guy out.
Turns out I was right in my assumption; he is the brother of Maria Shriver but what else?...well, it turns out the guy is kind of stacked.
Born the oldest of five children, with the unfortunate name of Robert Sargent Shriver III (Bobby the obvious nickname), he attended Yale and graduated from their law program. He is in the Kennedy blood line through his mother Eunice Mary Kennedy who started the Special Olympics in 1962. His father, Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., helped found the Peace Corp (and many other social programs) in the U.S., for a two year period was the American ambassador to France and in 1972 ran for vice-president.
Bobby himself started out as a journalist, then went on to become a venture capitalist (read: gave money to people to help their businesses grow), and a music producer. With the ability to charm such acts as Madonna, Bon Joni and U2 into being on the first “Very Special Christmas” CD to help fund the Special Olympics, Shriver quickly became known on the music scene.
Befriending Russell Simmons, and sharing with him a passion for yoga, Shriver is now on Santa Monica’s City Council, as well as being part of California’s State Park and Recreation Commission. He helped organize Philadelphia’s Live 8 concert in 2005 and it was Shriver who initiated Product RED as a new prototype for raising funds, away from the traditional forms.
Shriver was the force behind getting these corporations (Motorola, the Gap, etc) to join on for five years. His main pitch to them was that he wanted it to be a win-win situation for everyone. He was the man who turned down the Gap’s pitch to make one t-shirt and have all of the proceeds going to the Global Fund. Shriver told these companies that he wanted them to be making money off of the RED campaign because that was the only way they would stay on, and advertise it. His statements to the public have made that point very clear. He knows RED is not an entirely genuine effort for these companies, but he knows the people in Africa need the public’s help.
By starting a campaign like this he is truly following in the footsteps of both his parents. He saw people in need, disadvantaged, and used his power to do something about it.
Next time you’re reading an article and a name you don’t recognize comes up, type it into Wikipedia, or Google and see what comes up. You’ll probably be presently surprised…or realize that you need to start doing a lot more research.
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