People News

Good deed: Lady Gaga creates Born This Way Foundation

By April MacIntyre Nov 2, 2011, 20:20 GMT

Good egg - Lady Gaga wipes tears off her face as she gets emotional during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, 23 June 2011. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Mother Monster did a good thing today.

Lady Gaga announced she's launching the Born This Way Foundation, which aims to further inspire young people.

The pop superstar is also helped by real mom Cynthia Germanotta.

"My mother and I have initiated a passion project. We call it the Born This Way Foundation," Gaga said in a statement about the foundation, which takes its name from her hit single and album. "Together we hope to establish a standard of Bravery and Kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment."

The foundation will work with a number of partners, including the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the California Endowment and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

According to the statement, the foundation will focus on "youth empowerment and equality by addressing issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and will utilize digital mobilization as one of the means to create positive change."

Gaga even met with President Obama at a fundraiser in September to talk about the bullying epidemic, after she was touched in particular by the suicide of bullied 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer.