Happy Hippie Foundation: Empowering Vulnerable Youth and Fighting Injustice
The Happy Hippie Foundation is a dedicated organization that rallies young people to combat injustice. By focusing on the most marginalized members of society, the foundation provides critical support services, direct needs assistance, and prevention services for homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, and other vulnerable populations. Beyond direct aid, the foundation leverages public education, fundraising, and high-visibility awareness campaigns to create a more inclusive world.
Key Facts
- Primary Focus: Supporting homeless and LGBTQ youth through direct services and advocacy.
- Major Contributions: Donated 40,000 meals, 20,000 snacks, and 40,000 pairs of socks and underwear to homeless children by 2016.
- Gender Support: Helped establish weekly digital support groups serving over 1,300 transgender and gender-expansive youth and their families.
- Educational Impact: Raised over $11,000 via #HopefulHippies to support 10,000 students across 60 schools.
- Therapeutic Approach: Utilizes art and animal therapies to support at-risk children.
Direct Support and Crisis Intervention
The foundation prioritizes immediate relief during emergencies and tragedies. In 2016, Happy Hippie partnered with the Zebra Coalition—a network supporting LGBTQ youth in Central Florida—to provide urgent counseling following the Orlando nightclub shooting. Additionally, the foundation contributed to the My People Fund, managed by the Dollywood Foundation (founded by Dolly Parton), to assist those affected by the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Beyond crisis response, the foundation addresses long-term stability. Through a partnership with My Friend's Place, the organization has provided tens of thousands of essential items, including meals and clothing, to children experiencing homelessness.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Advancing Gender Identity Awareness
To foster a safe and moderated environment for discussing gender, the Happy Hippie Foundation collaborated with Gender Spectrum to host a digital "Meet-Up." This initiative led to the creation of weekly digital support groups, providing a vital resource for more than 1,300 transgender and gender-expansive youth—those whose gender identity exists outside the traditional male/female binary—and their families.
Strategic Partnerships and Fundraising
Miley Cyrus has utilized her platform to drive significant funding and visibility for the foundation. In 2017, she released the song "Inspired" for LGBT Pride Month, directing her portion of the proceeds to the foundation. She also collaborated with Converse on two separate Pride collections (2017 and 2018). The 2018 line featured the Happy Hippie logo and the motto "Yes to all," with net proceeds benefiting the foundation and other pride-related charities.
| Initiative/Partner | Focus Area | Key Outcome/Impact |
|---|---|---|
| My Friend's Place | Homeless Youth | 40k meals, 20k snacks, 40k clothing items |
| Gender Spectrum | Gender Identity | Support groups for 1,300+ youth and families |
| #HopefulHippies | Education | $11,000+ raised for 10,000 students in 60 schools |
| Converse Pride | LGBTQ Funding | Net proceeds donated to foundation and charities |
| Zebra Coalition | Crisis Counseling | Immediate support after Orlando shooting |
Digital Advocacy and Social Media
The foundation has actively used social media to challenge norms and provide resources. In 2015, the #InstaPride campaign launched on Instagram. This portrait series featured individuals outside the gender binary, including YouTube personalities Gigi Gorgeous and Brendan Jordan, to serve as positive examples for struggling youth.
In September 2016, the foundation teamed up with the band Phantogram and The Trevor Project during Suicide Prevention Month to share mental health facts and crisis intervention hotline information across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the #HopefulHippies campaign was launched to encourage community action. This campaign specifically focused on education in honor of Clinton, partnering with DonorsChoose to fund public school classroom projects.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]The Backyard Sessions
The "Backyard Sessions" served as a creative vehicle for the foundation's launch in 2015. These Facebook-collaborated videos allowed fans to donate directly to the foundation while watching performances. Notable collaborations included Joan Jett and Ariana Grande. The sessions often highlighted the foundation's themes, such as performances of "Androgynous" and "True Trans Soul Rebel" with Laura Jane Grace, and a cover of "No Freedom" dedicated to Leelah Alcorn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does the Happy Hippie Foundation support?
The foundation provides support services, direct needs, and prevention services for homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, and other vulnerable populations.
How has the foundation helped transgender youth?
Through a partnership with Gender Spectrum, the foundation helped establish weekly digital support groups that have served over 1,300 transgender and gender-expansive youth and their families.
What was the goal of the #InstaPride campaign?
The campaign used a portrait series on Instagram to increase awareness and acceptance of people outside the gender binary, providing positive reference points for youth struggling with their identity.
How did the #HopefulHippies campaign impact education?
The campaign raised over $11,000 through DonorsChoose, which benefited more than 10,000 students across 60 public schools between November 2016 and February 2017.
What role did Converse play in supporting the foundation?
Cyrus designed pride-themed sneakers and t-shirts for Converse's 2017 and 2018 collections, with net proceeds donated to the Happy Hippie Foundation and other pride-related charities.