Whoopi Goldberg becomes first Maiden Factor Voice

INNAUGURAL ‘MAIDEN FACTOR VOICE’ ANNOUNCED

Whoopi Goldberg, award-winning actor, producer, author, entrepreneur and humanitarian announced as the first Maiden Factor Voice

“Maiden changed my life and now she can help change the lives of girls who are not in education.”   Tracy Edwards MBE

Supporting The Maiden Factor project the Voices will be a group of influential and inspiring women – and men – from around the world; coming together with the common goal of generating awareness of the importance of girls’ education and championing solutions to enable access to education for girls currently denied this human right.

All humans are born equal, but gender inequality exists in many societies around the world; girls and women face countless obstacles on a daily basis simply because they were born female.   Poverty, illiteracy minority status, disability, early marriage and pregnancy, as well as cultural attitudes about the status and role of girls and women are barriers that negatively impact on them throughout their lifetimes. 

Education is proven to be a way of equipping girls and women with the necessary knowledge and understanding to empower them to determine the shape of their futures and the futures of their children and communities.

Commenting on her role as a Maiden Factor Voice, Whoopi Goldberg said “ Whenever someone offers a great idea for girls, I’m all in.  Tracy and The Maiden Factor Voices are offering up brilliant ideas, so I am behind it all.“

At the conclusion of the Maiden’s World Tour, the thousands of ‘Messages of Hope’ written by young people at stopovers and all around the world will be collated and presented as a ’Call to Action’.  The Maiden Factor Voices will put their weight behind this ‘Call to Action’ to be presented to the UN in 2022, giving a platform for the voices of young people everywhere to be heard

“When Whoopi came to see the film, Maiden, we have the chance to speak and her words very much echoed what we want to achieve with Maiden - equality in education for all.  I invited Whoopi to be our first Maiden Factor Voice and when she graciously accepted, I was absolutely delighted!  Whoopi is an inspiration to me and to so many.”  Said Tracy Edwards MBE.

Nearly 30 years ago, Tracy Edwards MBE sailed into the record books on Maiden with the first all-female crew in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race.  Maiden and her glass shattering crew paved the way for women, particularly those in the world of yachting.

After the race, Maiden was found abandoned and rotting in the Seychelles. Tracy Edwards MBE worked tirelessly to return Maiden back to the UK; the boat has since undergone an extensive refit and restored to her former glory. Now, the iconic yacht Maiden is sailing again with an all-female skipper and crew and on a new mission to raise awareness and funds for girls’ education around the globe on a two and a half year worldwide tour across 30 destinations of over 60,000 nautical miles.

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Film:

Maiden’s story has also been captured in the documentary film, Maiden. The film tells the incredible, against-all-odds story of school drop-out Tracy Edwards MBE, who skippered the first all-female international crew in the 1989 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. The film is directed by Alex Holmes and produced by Victoria Gregory & Alex Holmes. HERE.

Assets:

Maiden Film Images: HERE
Trailer: HERE

Social Media:

Website: https://maiden.film | https://www.themaidenfactor.org
Hashtag: #MaidenFilm
Tracy Edwards: @TracyEdwardsMBE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maidenfilm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maidenfilm

Tracy Edwards MBE:

Tracy made history in 1989/90 as Skipper of the first all-female team to compete in the Whitbread Round The World Race. Her accomplishment was recognised by the Queen when she was awarded the MBE. She also became the first woman to be awarded the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy.
www.themaidenfactor.org

The Maiden Factor Foundation:

The Foundation’s mission is to raise funding for the empowerment and education of girls. The charities supported  by  the  Foundation develop  community  led,  girl  centered  sustainable  programmes  which provide opportunities  for  girls  to  reach their  potential.  Through  funding these  charities,  the Foundation aims to make a significant difference to girls around the world, advocate for equal human rights, and enable girls to access the basic human right to an education.
www.themaidenfactor.org/donate

Media Contact:

Deborah Kim | PMK BNC | Deborah.Kim@pmkbnc.com
Libby Mudditt | The Maiden Factor | media@themaidenfactor.org