As the royal wedding date fast approaches, Prince Harry and fiancée Meghan Markle are asking that anyone who wishes to celebrate donate to a list of seven charities that they have personally selected.
Per the royal family’s official website, “Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are incredibly grateful for the goodwill shown to them since the announcement of their engagement and are keen that as many people as possible benefit from this generosity of spirit.”
Each of the charities selected reflects personal values held by the couple. The Myna Mahila Foundation, for example, is a non-profit that aims to provide professional and personal support to women living and working in Mumbai’s urban slums. Two of the seven charities focus on pro-environmental and conservation causes: Surfers Against Sewage and The Wilderness Foundation UK.
We are delighted to have been selected as one of seven charities to benefit from the donations marking the #RoyalWedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle! Find out more here: https://t.co/LsSzckA31G #PrinceHarryAndMeghan pic.twitter.com/7rzqOH042B
— SurfersAgainstSewage (@sascampaigns) April 9, 2018
Surfers Against Sewage is a national non-profit organization that campaigns to communities to take action to protect oceans, rivers, lakes, waterways, and aquatic wildlife from the 8 million tons of plastic pollution that enter the ocean each year. Hugo Tagholm, Chief Executive of the organization, said “Surfers Against Sewage is thrilled to be one of the charities chosen to benefit from donations marking the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle. Our work as a national marine conservation charity empowers tens of thousands of volunteers annually to protect beaches for everyone.”
Tagholm noted that money raised for Surfers Against Sewage will go towards the charity’s Plastic Free Coastlines campaign, which trains individuals to be Community Leaders, who will help lead plastic-free initiatives on a local level.
The Wilderness Foundation UK, meanwhile, educates urban teenagers and adults about rural employment, thus providing education and inspiring a passion for conservation. CEO Jo Roberts said: “As the world’s population grows exponentially the planet’s remaining wild places and resources are coming under increasing threat. It has never been more important for us as humans to protect the planet that gives us life. Whilst teaching conservation values, we in turn, use the positive power of nature to support and recharge the lives of challenged and vulnerable young people and adults.”
Neither Prince Harry or Meghan Markle have formal relationships with the chosen charities. Like Moby’s commitment to donate 100 percent of the profits from his latest album or P.S. Kitchen, a vegan restaurant that donates all of its profit to animal rights causes, their decision is altruistic.
Image source: Royal Family
