Maria Sharapova

Russian Tennis Superstar Maria Sharapova became a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in February 2007. Sharapova’s work with UNDP includes rallying support for the global campaign against poverty and promoting international efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

While she addresses on global issues in her role as Goodwill Ambassador, she also places a special focus on Chernobyl recovery and development efforts in a region often lacking in resources and which is of special personal significance for her.

Sharapova was born in 1987 in Siberia, after her family fled Gomel in the wake of the Chernobyl accident. After two years in Nyagan, the family moved to the Black Sea town of Sochi, Russia. In 1995 Sharapova left Russia to study tennis in the United States. In 2004 she won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon and was named Women’s Tennis Association player of the year. In 2006 she won the U.S. Open and, in 2008, the Australian Open. 

Activities

In partnership with UNDP, the Sharapova Foundation supports youth-oriented projects in areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine affected by the Chernobyl accident.

Most recently, in July 2010, Ms. Sharapova donated $250,000 to expand the programme. “I am so glad to be able to see these inspiring children and the wonderful projects that my Foundation and UNDP have been supporting for the past two years“, said the tennis star. “They are definitely a good example of how local communities can overcome the ‘victim syndrome’, take greater control over their lives and build productive futures for themselves.”

In December 2009 Maria Sharapova featured in a UNDP advertisement to promote "Seal the Deal", the climate change campaign ahead of the Copenhagen summit.

In 2008, she teamed up "Against Poverty" with National Basketball Association star LeBron James on a UNDP advertisement to garner support for achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). World-renowned photographer Patrick Demarchelier photographed both stars for this series of advertisements.