First Lady Michelle Obama will make her first-ever appearance at Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards to present Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Taylor Swift with this year’s The Big Help Award in recognition of her extensive philanthropic endeavors, including her work with tornado and flood survivors in the United States. This year’s Kids’ Choice Awards, to behosted by Will Smith, will be telecast live on Nickelodeon Saturday, March 31, at 8 pm (ET/Tape delayed for West Coast) from USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles, Ca. The Big Help Award recognizes individuals who take actions to better the world and whose significantimpact on their community has inspired kids to do the same.
“Taylor’s dedication to helping others has encouraged her fan base to do the same, and this is the very core of what The Big Help is, inspiring others through action,”said Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Chief of Staff, Nickelodeon Group. “We are honored that First Lady Michelle Obama, a past recipient of The Big Help Award will be presenting this formidable and inspiring artist with this muchdeserved honor.”
First Lady Michelle Obama received The Big Help Award at the 2010 Kids’ Choice Awards in recognition of her leadership in championing healthier lifestyles for kids throughher Let’s Move! campaign. Earlier this year, Mrs. Obama appeared in a special episode of Nickelodeon’s hit series iCarly in support of her Joining Forces initiative to support military families.
Among her many charitable works, Swift is dedicated to raising funds and awareness to benefit those affected by natural disasters. Most recently, Swift took the unprecedentedstep of opening the last dress rehearsal of her Speak Now Tour to fans as a fundraiser for victims of the deadly tornadoes that tore through the Southeastern region of the U.S. The event raised more than $750,000, with 100% of ticket sales going directly tohelp tornado victims via the “Speak Now … Help Now” Fund established through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Swift’s ongoing charitable work includes partnerships with Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Jude Medical Center, Habitat for Humanity, TJ Martell Foundation, The Red Crossand its international and regional affiliates, The Salvation Army, Nick’s Kids, and the Victory Junction Gang Camp, as well as libraries, schools and educational initiatives around the country.
Nickelodeon’s The Big Help is a prosocial initiative that empowers kids to take positive actions on issues that are important to them. The goal of the campaign is tolaunch a kid-led movement, focusing on key issues like health and wellness, education, community service, and the environment. This is the fourth consecutive year The Big Help Award has been awarded to a celebrity who embodies the spirit of the NickelodeonBig Help initiative. Previous winners include last year’s recipient Justin Timberlake; this year’s presenter of the award, First Lady Michelle Obama in 2010; and Leonardo DiCaprio in 2009.
No stranger to Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards, Swift has been nominated four times and is the recipient of two blimp awards, for Favorite Female Singer (2010) and Favorite Song, “You Belong with Me” (2010). Swift also appeared in the 2011 HALO Awards as one of the celebrities paired with an extraordinary teen who shared his passion for community service and giving back.
