CHERYL PIGGOTT, the founder of The Stars Foundation and World Orphans Day recently moved from Nashville to Shelbyville. In the years to follow, Piggott has laid out plans to hopefully begin to produce movies and television shows in the Shelbyville area. It would not only help Shelbyville’s economy, but it would also help children all over the world.
The Stars Foundation is a nonprofit with the main goal of aiding the United Nations in eradicating world hunger, reducing poverty, and conquering food insecurity by 2030. Cheryl Piggott, a social activist, never intended to start a charity. However, after working closely with Stella Parton, she knew her voice mattered, and she could make a real difference. After years of traveling to over forty countries, Piggott’s memory was ridden with images of poverty and children injustices. She knew she could make an impact, and soon founded The Stars Foundation and Worlds Orphans Day. Her husband Roger helps in a key leadership position with The Stars Foundation and has produced hundreds of episodes of sports television programming.
The organization is entertainment based. This allows for many people of influence to openly endorse and support the foundation. Some of these influential people include Shaquille O’Neal; NFL All-American, Patrick Allen; Vince Gill; Kix Brooks; and Garth Brooks. The organization works with these celebrities plus more in raising financial relief and awareness on exactly how extreme the issue of hunger is around the world.
This is done through many different avenues. One of the greatest of these being through the production of movies and television shows. With the support of the local Shel- byville community, Piggott, along with Tri-Rahn Pictures, hopes to shoot two movies in the area. She also aspires to build television programming revolving around horses in the area. A portion of the proceeds from these projects would go to- wards the charity.
The foundation facilitates World Orphans Day, which happens to be right around the corner on the second Monday of November. This day is geared to fundraising support for orphan care organizations around the world. From donations, financial grants, provisions of food, medicines, and shoes are distributed to orphan care programs and ministries worldwide.
On November 8, The Stars Foundation is holding an orphan’s aid event. The event has three main goals. The first being to provide resources, medicine, nutrition, clean water, and spiritual growth for displaced children. They also believe nothing can replace the care of an ac- tual parent; however, community-based orphan care programs are essential and a top priority. Lastly, they hope to use this event as a chance to spread information on how to help children around the world. Cheryl Piggott and her husband moved to the area with hopes of enjoying a more relaxing environment while still staying close to Nashville. They also desire to share this vision with the peo- ple of Shelbyville, creating long trusting relationships with the local businesses and the horse industry. She also desires to bring publicity through the Stars Foundation’s fundraising. -GN
