![Rihanna to be Honored at This Year’s Parsons Benefit: ‘It’s Such a Thrill’](http://townsquare.media/site/625/files/2017/02/Rihanna-Celebrates-29th-Birthday.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Rihanna to be Honored at This Year’s Parsons Benefit: ‘It’s Such a Thrill’
Rihanna will be honored at this year's Parsons School of Design Benefit.
The superstar singer will be honored alongside Neiman Marcus and Eileen Fisher at the school's 69th benefit this May. The school's dean was excited to announce RiRi as an honoree.
“Parsons is proud to present Rihanna with this honor, as she has inspired millions through her powerful music and distinct style,” said Joel Towers, the school’s executive dean, in a statement, according to New York Magazine. “She has championed our recent alumni on a number of occasions by wearing their designs. She is also creating important philanthropic programs, which support communities by fostering effective education, health, and emergency response programs around the world through her Clara Lionel Foundation.”
For her part, RiRi said that she's thrilled to be recognized by the prestigious organization.
“It’s such a thrill to know that a design school as prestigious as Parsons School of Design would present me with this honor,” Rihanna said in the statement. “I consistently find creative and exciting designs coming from Parsons alumni, so I feel a deep connection to the school. But I am especially grateful that Parsons would recognize me for the work I’ve done in regards to philanthropy.”
This isn't the first time this year that Rihanna's philanthropic efforts worldwide were recognized by an acclaimed organization. Early this month she accepted Harvard’s 2017 Humanitarian of the Year Award for her done through her Clara Lionel Foundation.
“You don’t have to be rich to be a humanitarian,” she told the Harvard crowd during her acceptance speech. “You don’t have to be rich to help somebody. You don’t have to be famous. You just do whatever you can to help in any way that you can.”