Maria Sharapova donates $250,000 to expand a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that provides sports and physical activities for youth in the three countries affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which occurred 25 years ago on April 26.
Sharapova was born in 1987 in Siberia after her family fled one of the affected regions of the Chernobyl accident, Gomel, in what is now Belarus. The 24-year-old has been a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador since 2007 and runs a foundation under her name that awards five-year university scholarships to youth from the area. Sharapova delivered a world wide video message about the tragedy last weekend.
"Today, while the anniversary is filled with sadness, we also acknowledge that this is a time for hope, as we move forward in building a better future for all those whose lives have been changed by this tragedy," said Sharapova, who has donated $750,000 out of her own pocket to the cause. "At the same time my thoughts today are with the people of Japan who are facing a nuclear disaster."—Matthew Cronin