Cynthia Germanotta

Cynthia Louise Germanotta (née Bissett; born August 30, 1954) is an American philanthropist, activist and entrepreneur. She is the president of the Born This Way Foundation, which she co-founded with her daughter, the singer Lady Gaga, in 2012.[1][2]

Cynthia Germanotta
Born
Cynthia Louise Bissett

(1954-08-30) August 30, 1954
Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
EducationWest Virginia University
George Washington University (MPA)
Occupation(s)Philanthropist, activist, entrepreneur
SpouseJoseph Germanotta
ChildrenStefani Germanotta
Natali Germanotta

Early life, education, and career

Germanotta was born and raised in Wheeling, West Virginia. Her parents were Paul Douglas Bissett, a State Farm insurance agent who sang with the McMechen Men's Chorus and the McMechen Methodist Choir, and Veronica Rose Ferrie.[3] She is of Italian descent through her mother and Scottish, English and German descent through her father. She has an older brother, Paul, and a younger sister, Cheryl Ann.[4]

Germanotta graduated from John Marshall High School.[3] She then attended West Virginia University and earned a master's degree in public administration from George Washington University.[5] While at West Virginia University, Germanotta was a cheerleader and a member of Chi Omega.[3]

Germanotta worked for Verizon as a telecommunications executive in sales and management.[5][4]

Philanthropy and activism

In 2012, Germanotta and her daughter, Lady Gaga, co-founded the Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on inspiring youth, ending bullying, and building up communities.[6][7] Germanotta was honored by Boston PFLAG and by Dancing Classrooms for her advocacy regarding youth mental health.[5]

Germanotta is an advocate for the Women's Council on Heart Health for the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute and serves on the board of the Empowerment Initiative at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also served on the Ladies Auxiliary Committee of The Columbus Citizens Foundation, for which she received the Humanitarian Award in 2015. As of 2016, she serves as a member of the Board of Governors for the Parsons School of Design.[5]

On June 10, 2018, Germanotta addressed the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the Born This Way Foundation and launched the United for Global Mental Health initiative.[8][9] On May 20, 2019, the United Nations' World Health Organization announced that Germanotta would be one of four new Goodwill Ambassadors, as the ambassador for mental health.[10]

Personal life

Germanotta is married to Joseph Germanotta, an internet entrepreneur and restaurateur.[11] The couple has two daughters, Stefani and Natali.[12][13] Germanotta is Catholic and is a parishioner at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament.[14] In 2017, she appeared in the documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two.[15]

References
  1. Bhuiyan, Johana (June 1, 2016). "The president of the Born This Way Foundation urges tech executives to sign a pledge to end online harassment". Vox. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  2. "Cynthia Germanotta". U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. January 19, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  3. "CHARACTERS: The West Virginia brain drain made one of the world's greatest popstars |". December 18, 2020.
  4. "A Guide to Lady Gaga's Universe". Rolling Stone. May 25, 2011.
  5. "Cynthia Bissett Germanotta". U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. January 19, 2016.
  6. "About the Foundation - Born This Way Foundation". Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  7. Germanotta, Cynthia. "Cynthia Germanotta". Oprah Magazine.
  8. "Lady Gaga's Mom Cynthia Germanotta Addresses UN, Stresses the Importance of Mental Health Resources". Billboard. September 26, 2018.
  9. "Lady Gaga's Mom Speaks At The UN About Mental Health". 94.1 The Sound Seattle. September 27, 2018.
  10. "Lady Gaga's Mom Cynthia Germanotta Named Goodwill Ambassador for the UN's World Health Organization". Billboard. May 20, 2019.
  11. "Lady Gaga's father cites homelessness for his bar's woes". ABC News. February 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  12. "Lady Gaga's mom opens up about Thanksgiving plans". AOL.com. November 22, 2018.
  13. "Lady Gaga's Mom on Her Daughter's Mental Health Struggles". InStyle.com.
  14. Ragusa, Gina (April 21, 2019). "'RHONY:' What Is Dorinda Medley's Connection to Lady Gaga?".
  15. "11 Things We Learned in Lady Gaga's 'Five Foot Two' Netflix Documentary". Billboard. September 22, 2017.
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