Chris Martin
Christopher Martin was born on the 2nd March 1977 is a singer-songwriter and the lead vocalist and co-founder of the band Coldplay. He was schooled at the independent boys school in Dorset and went on to study at University College London where he read Ancient World Studies and graduated with a first-class honours degree in Greek and Latin.
Humanitarian Causes
Chris Martin is vocal on issues of fair trade in particular the Oxfam Make Trade Fair Campaign. He travelled to Ghana and Haiti to meet farmers and view the effects of unfair fair trade prices. Whilst touring from 2002-2004 Chris Martin gathered 30,000 signatures for this cause. Chris Martin performed as part of the “12 12 12 Concert’ which was held as a fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy relief. Coldplay are active supporters of a number of charities including Amnesty international and starred on their make poverty History’s Click Campaign.
Philanthropic Donations
In the early years of the formation of Coldplay, the band were known to donate 10% of their profits to charity. The band have also donated items for auctions benefiting Cancer Active and Kids Company and have supported Kids Company by donating from their Under 1 Roof charity concerts. Coldplay were one of the biggest donors to a children's charity called Kids Company, over ten years they saved to fund the creation of the Kids Company’s Tree House centre in north London. In 2009 they donated £1m. On march 2014 Chris Martin donated a work of art to the mental health charity Upbeat Music, which was then auctioned of for a donation.
