Now Playing
ABC/Lou Rocco
Rihanna couldn’t be more proud of her second annual Diamond Ball benefiting her Clara Lionel Foundation, which takes place December 10 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.
In an exclusive video with Entertainment Tonight, the singer spoke on the significance of her foundation, which she founded in 2012 in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Brathwaite.
“The foundation started when my late grandma got sick. She was diagnosed with cancer and passed away and so I care about fighting this disease, giving people a chance,” she explained. “Now with the Clara Lionel Foundation, everything seems to be in motion,” she said. “Of course, I can’t do it alone, which is why I’m partnering up with so many people that care as much as I care.”
After raising two million dollars at last year’s event, Rihanna is very proud of the impact of her charity.
“I am beyond proud of the work the Clara Lionel Foundation has done. Over the past year, we have helped transform the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados into the most modern cancer treatment facility in the Caribbean,” she continued. “With the funds raised from the inaugural 2014 Diamond Ball, we were able to purchase two state-of-the-art pieces of equipment for the hospital’s Clara Braithwaite Center for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine.”
Rihanna hopes to expand even further. “If we can help facilitate a better future for these people, that’s what I care about,” she said. “If I can save one life, if I can give someone an extra day, an extra week, an extra year, an extra ten years, it’s completely worth it. This is exactly what this is about.”
Rihanna’s black tie event will be hosted by comic and actor Kevin Hart and feature a performance from Lionel Richie. In addition, guests will enjoy dinner and a live auction.
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Clara Diamond foundation Lionel Proud Rihanna success talks upcoming
