Streisand Donates $5 Million to Hospital

According to Reuters, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles announced Wednesday that Barbra Streisand has donated $5 million for women's heart education and research.

"Women need to be educated about female cardiovascular disease, and the medical community must be propelled toward change," Streisand said in a written statement.

Dr. Eduardo Marban, a Director at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, said cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the U.S., but that most research on heart disease focuses on men, according to USA Today.

Streisand's donation will provide permanent funding for the Barbra Streisand Women's Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars-Sinai, where the hospital said it would broaden their research efforts according to Reuters.

"Just like with breast cancer, the impetus must come from women themselves striving to become empowered to reduce their risks for heart disease," Streisand said.

Streisand, who once termed herself, the "actress who sings," has won several Grammy and Emmy Awards, as well as two Academy Awards.