Shakira has a lot to be proud about this week. The 34 year-old Colombian superstar is being immortalized in The Hollywood Walk of Fame and awarded the 2011 Recording Academy Person of the Year Award.
On Tuesday, Shakira joined Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz and other Latinos recognized on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, but she is the first Colombian to receive such an honor.
And on Wednesday, she will receive a very special award from The Latin Recording Academy at the 12th Annual Tribute Gala at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. A VIP dinner and concert with other artists performing her songs will be part of the event. Shakira is being honored for her artistic and philanthropic contributions, namely her charity work through her Fundacion Pies Dezcalsos (Barefoot Foundation).
"I am elated on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy and its Board of Trustees that the much admired Shakira - whose incredible talent and artistic integrity are equaled only by her commitment and dedication to philanthropy and selflessly helping those in need - has been elected the 2011 Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy.
Fundacion Pies Dezcalzos, which works to provide education for impoverished children, currently has five schools in different regions of Colombia and provides education and psychological support for more than 4,000 children.
Billboard News spoke to Shakira earlier this week about her philanthropic awards. Speaking of her Fundacion Pies Dezcalzos charity, Shakira said:
From the onset, it was clear to me that my foundation would deal with education, with creating schools where there's no government presence, where there's no hope. It's frustrating to see that in Latin America and in other developing countries education is treated as a luxury instead of being recognized as a fundamental right. There are so many intelligent, vibrant children who can't develop their potential. I believe every child is born with a talent. We each come to the world with a gift, and society crushes people's possibilities to shine.
Her star is certainly shinning. The two milestones add to a string of achievement and recognition this year. She has three nominations, including Album Of The Year, for this year's Latin Grammys. And in early October, Shakira was appointed by President Obama to become a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
The 12th Annual Tribute Gala Will Be Held on Nov. 9 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas as Part of This Year's Latin GRAMMY Week Celebration and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central.
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