When it comes to philanthropy, Whoopi Goldberg never slows down. She offers her time and energy to a wide range of causes, including Unicef, women’s causes, children’s issues, animal rights, GLBTQ rights, and HIV and AIDS awareness. This month the award-winning actress and cohost of ABC’s The View brings her unique brand of political comedy to the Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel, on November 4. Goldberg will give the keynote speech at the third annual Chicago House Speaker Series luncheon for Chicago House, which provides housing, job training, and supportive services to 1,300 HIV-affected families and individuals each year.
As the keynote speaker, Goldberg follows on the heels of such Democratic luminaries as former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who headlined the Series, the organization’s largest fundraiser, in 2009 and 2010, respectively. “We’re excited to have Whoopi, to change the face of the event but keep an emphasis on the issues,” says Chicago House CEO Stan Sloan.
Politics have impacted Goldberg’s career as far back as the 1980s, with her prime-time marriage of comedy and charity, Comic Relief. It was a program she became involved in (and served as TV fundraiser cohost for) due to her fury at then-President Reagan releasing mentally ill patients from hospitals without providing them with a place to go. “My anger had to do with the thoughtlessness of what was being done,” she remembers.
Getting things done is what constantly motivates Goldberg, which is why she gladly accepted Chicago House’s invitation to speak. Founded in 1985 by a group of community volunteers, Chicago House was the first organization in the Midwest to provide housing for people with HIV and AIDS. Today, even before being diagnosed, many of Chicago House’sclients are homeless, jobless, and without a safety net of friends or family. The organization provides a wide array of services, from housing to job training, disease prevention, and case management, all with the goal of guiding clients toward wholeness and self-sufficiency.
While Goldberg is among the elite group of artists who have won the Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Tony, she is equally known for her humanitarian efforts. When it comes to her HIV/AIDS advocacy, her stance has not changed over the past 30 years: If someone asks for unprotected sex, you can say no. “You have to make a conscious decision about how to live your life,” she says.
As for Goldberg making a conscious decision to put her name on a ballot, she may put her fundraising talents to work for Chicago’s favorite son, but no, she won’t be running herself. “Too many skeletons,” she says.
