When it was announced a few moments ago that Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” won Video of the Year in tonight’s MTV Music Video Awards, pretty much everyone expected the singer to do something outlandish for her acceptance speech.
She did.
But …not how anyone expected. Instead of twerking, or yelling some ragtime, or whatever else we’d deem shocking our crazy, Cyrus sent a young man up to the podium at the Forum in Los Angeles to read a note about homeless youth in America. Then he directed people to Cyrus’ Facebook page, which displayed this video below, asking people to donate to Hollywood shelter My Friend’s Place.
Miley doing good. Let’s hope as many people who were outraged after last year’s twerk-gate step up to applaud her this year.
UPDATE 8:26 a.m. EST: Here’s more on Miley’s cause, via a presser we received this morning…
Miley Cyrus Asks Fans to Join Her Fight to End Youth Homelessness
Cyrus Launches Online Raffle to Benefit My Friend’s Place in Hollywood
LOS ANGELES, August 24, 2014 –Miley Cyrus launches Prizeo fundraising campaign and asks fans to join her fight to end youth homelessness. The campaign benefits My Friend’s Place, a drop-in service center in Hollywood that assists and inspires homeless youth to build self-sufficient lives. Cyrus met with youth and staff at My Friend’s Place where she learned about the challenges and potential solutions around the issue of homelessness.
Fans can support the cause by making a donation at www.prizeo.com/mileycyrus between now and September 21. For every $5 donation, fans will be entered to win a chance to meet Cyrus at her upcoming concert on September 28, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The grand prize package includes two tickets, backstage access, hanging out with Miley before the show, as well as airfare and accommodations for two. The campaign will also offer an exclusive, limited-edition t-shirt, with net proceeds benefitting My Friend’s Place.
“I’m just getting started,” said Cyrus, “and I want to make sure my fans are part of helping me to give back and make an impact on this issue – we all have the power to make change happen. This is about helping youth, people just like you and me have the opportunity to find their inner power and potential, no matter what their circumstances.”
An estimated 4,000 homeless youth live in Los Angeles County, many of whom are fleeing abuse or are kicked out of their homes by their guardians. In the U.S., it is estimated that on any given night there are 1 million homeless youth living on the street, in abandoned buildings, with friends or strangers. These youth are at increased risk of engaging in dangerous behaviors, experiencing anxiety and depression, and becoming involved in the criminal justice system.
“My Friend’s Place is so grateful for Miley’s genuine interest and involvement in supporting homeless youth in Los Angeles,” said My Friend’s Place Executive Director Heather Carmichael. “By Miley drawing attention to the nation’s homeless youth crisis and the work we are doing locally, we hope to soon be able to expand our services and help even more young people.”
My Friend’s Place provides homeless youth with opportunities to improve their psychological, intellectual and physical capacity to reach their potential and build self-sufficient lives. In collaboration with leading social services providers and educational institutions as well as over 500 volunteers, My Friend’s Place offers a free and comprehensive continuum of care that combines emergency necessities with therapeutic, health, employment and education assistance, and creative arts services.
Join Miley in the fight to end youth homelessness by donating here: www.prizeo.com/mileycyrus.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/mileycyrus.
http://smarturl.it/MyFriendsPlace #MYFRIENDSPLACE