Some of Hollywood’s blockbuster players feel a relentless need to put their fame and fortune to good use. A-listers like Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus take advantage of their celebrity status to spread awareness for causes that they’re most passionate about.
While it’s common for Hollywood’s Elite to participate in philanthropic work, it’s less common for celebs to run their own charity organizations. Let’s take a look at some of the stars who have worked their butts off to raise money for their truly meaningful foundations.
Lady Gaga - Born This Way Foundation
Lady Gaga has taken the world by storm with her various musical and artistic talents. She singlehandedly fomated a massive fanbase of “little monsters” who worship the very ground she struts upon.
Nowadays, millions of dedicated fans buy Gaga’s records, memorize her song lyrics, and pay hundreds to attend her concerts. But believe it or not, the “Speechless” songstress was once at the very bottom of the food chain. According to Gaga in a scene from her documentary, while attending school, she was relentlessly bullied by her peers. The bullies even threw her in a dumpster and laughed.
The cruel treatment she experienced on a daily basis was enough to inspire the “John Wayne” singer to promote kindness wherever she goes. Because Gaga knows exactly how it feels to be treated so poorly, the award-winning actress alternately understands the value of kindness- especially in times of need.
Formed in 2014, Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation promotes mental health awareness for those on the outskirts of society. With its slogan — “Be Kind” — the Born This Way Foundation also spreads the value of kindness.
Beyonce - BeyGOOD
Beyonce’s music has always spread a message of empowerment. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that her charity organization, BeyGOOD, takes a similar path. The “YAYA” singer’s organization offers a plethora of educational and artistic opportunities for women, particularly in the black community.
Seeing that the “Formation” songstress rarely gives interviews that delve into her personal life and beliefs, she’s famous for intrigue. Yet despite her star-like aura of mystery, she’s blatant about about the value of education. Case in point: Her famous 2012 hit, “Who Run The World? (Girls)” makes a point to celebrate those who pursue higher education when she sings, “Raise your glass to the college grads.”
The Award-Winning celeb felt fortunate to have the opportunity to attend a high school of performing arts which worked in her favor since music is her dearest passion. To spread her deep appreciation of education, the BeyGOOD Foundation believes in a society where everyone has an opportunity to prosper.
BeyGOOD helps organizations, institutions, and people work to transform their communities into places of well-being, economic prosperity, generosity, and justice.
Oprah Winfrey - Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation
Oprah Winfrey is one of the highest-earning women on the planet. Over the past few decades, the Mississippi native has built a veritable empire off her name, from her famous talk show to her longstanding magazine to her inherent fabulousness.
Yet, long before the fame and glory, Oprah has revealed her hardscrabble childhood. Raised by a single teenage mother, the talk show superstar was so poor she had nothing to wear but potato sacks as clothing.
Since the mega-star knows firsthand what it’s like to struggle with the hardships of poverty, she does whatever she can to offer help to those in need. The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's mission is to support women and children by providing education, support, and inspiration. In 2020, at the height of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Oprah Foundation raised a whopping $10 million for relief programs for those in need.
Meryl Streep - Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts
Art is far more than a source of entertainment. It is, in essence, the best outlet for self expression there is. Through art, people learn about themselves, their values, and their deepest aspirations.
No one’s more aware of the value of the arts than multiple Oscar-Award-Winner Meryl Streep. That is why, in 1986, the “Devil Wears Prada” star launched her charity, the Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts. The organization was created with the help of her husband, Don Gummer, a renowned sculptor. Through its generous contributions, the charity aims to elevate artistic education throughout America and beyond.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - Archwell Foundation
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have stepped down from their royal duties, but this doesn’t mean they’re just sitting around doing nothing. The former royal couple has been actively participating in philanthropy, and even have their own charity, the Archwell Foundation.
Their foundation focuses on multiple causes that are dear to both Harry and Meghan, especially relating to mental health. Both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have opened up on multiple occasions about their own personal struggles with mental illness. So it makes sense that the couple would try to spread as much awareness as they can via their charity.
Elton John - Elton John AIDS Foundation
Elton John has dedicated nearly half of his career to his world-famous AIDS Foundation. According to the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” singer, his mission with the charity is to not only put an end to the stigma surrounding those with HIV/AIDS but also to put an end to the epidemic itself. “The ambition is to get rid of this disease by 2030,” John said in his mission statement outlined in The Elton John AIDS Foundation Overview.
So far, his foundation has raised a whopping $125 million dollars and continues to thrive
Leonardo DiCaprio - Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
The Titanic star may be one of the most well-known actors on planet Earth, but he is still one of the most private celebs in the business. He rarely shares details about his personal life or discusses the latest, hot-button issues with his fans.
Despite being an enigma to the general public, he’s always been actively vocal about his urgent wish for a greener planet. Since DiCaprio was 24-years-old, his central cause has been raising awareness on matters of climate change and actively finding ways to save Mother Earth from pollution and waste.
According to their official website, The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation offers funding for Ocean Conservation, Indigenous Rights, Transforming California, Windlands Conservation, and Innovation Solutions.
Emma Watson - HeForShe
Emma Watson truly is the embodiment of Hermione Granger in more ways than one. Like her Harry Potter character, Watson’s brilliant and ambitious and she’s also determined for justice concerning those who need it most. (Shoutout to her S.P.E.W. organization.)
In real life, Watson’s main concern is women’s rights and general equality between the sexes. The Perks of Being a Wallflower star’s HeForShe campaign aims to liberate both men and women by dismantling harmful gender stereotypes.
Miley Cyrus - Happy Hippie Foundation
Miley Cyrus is extremely dedicated to her charity organization, the Happy Hippie Foundation. The “Flowers” songstress has been a constant advocate for LGBTQ rights. So her foundation aims to raise awareness as well as funding for those in the community who are in need.
Her organization also helps unhoused individuals find help, resources, and care.
“It wasn’t until December of 2014 that I decided I wanted to start my own foundation,” she reveals in a Happy Hippie promo video. “After we lost a young person struggling with gender identity — Leelah Alcorn — I never felt that it was right that someone would lose their life over not being able to be free.” She continued, adding, “It really hurt me to know that she didn’t have anybody to reach out to, and I wish she would’ve had the Happy Hippie Foundation to reach out to.”
Eva Longoria - Eva Longoria Foundation
Eva Longoria may play a pampered, spoiled princess on Desperate Housewives, but in real life, she’s quite the contrary. The “Flamin’ Hot” director has participated in multiple charities to uplift the Latin community, and her own charity does just that.
Through the Eva Longoria Foundation, members of the Latin community have access to educational programs including STEM Education, Parental Engagedment, Mentorship, and Entrepreneurship.
Well, there you have it! 10 celebrities with the most successful charity organizations. If you have the means, feel free to donate to the organizations that fund the causes dearest to you.
4 Easy Ways to Make Fighting Climate Change a Part of Your Holiday Traditions
Reduce your carbon footprint for Thanksgiving and beyond
Are you worried about your carbon footprint this holiday season? There's a limit to how much responsibility for climate change individuals can take when industry is the true locus of the damage, and governmental regulation is necessary to reign it in. Still, with all the travel and the piles of food piled on top of other piles of food, it's easy to see why some people are taking note of the waste and pollution that results from these annual occasions. Does that mean we should give up these rare chances to celebrate and share with far-flung relatives?
Most of us aren't interested in that option, so how do we balance all the positivity of the holidays against the shocking environmental impact they bring? There's a number of methods you can add to your holiday traditions to help minimize your carbon footprint. Hopefully some of these options will fit into your holiday plans and reduce any stress about your carbon footprint.
Travel Less or Travel Better
Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, or Hanukkah, travel is likely the biggest factor contributing to your carbon footprint, but there are a lot of ways you can minimize your impact. Obviously the best way to cut down is to stay local for some or all of the holidays. Many young people prefer to celebrate "Friendsgiving" in their transplant cities and set aside time for video calls with family, rather than trekking back to their hometowns. And if you just don't like your family, pointing to environmental concerns is a perfectly legitimate excuse.
If that's not an option for you—or if you really love your family for whatever reason—choosing buses and trains over cars and planes is always a plus, and selecting a location that is convenient to the greatest number of attendees can make a huge difference. And if you're thinking of traveling to New York City for the Christmas tree lighting or the New Year's Eve ball drop, don't. They're awful.
Get Cozy
Winter heating is hugely wasteful. Any time you see icicles hanging off the side of a house or building, that's a clear sign of heat seeping out into the world. Insulation can go a long way to cutting down on both waste and costs, and signing up with an alternative energy provider like Green Mountain Energy can do a lot to minimize your impact, but there are other strategies that can help you do more while getting you into the holiday spirit, all of which can be summed up with two beautiful words: Get cozy.
Bundle up in your warmest sweater and a pair of thick socks. Share a blanket and some cocoa on the couch with your loved ones. Keep each other warm in one cozy room, rather than heating the whole house. A space heater can be a great way to cut down on your emissions and encourage your whole family to get a little closer.
Get Creative with Your Gifts
Green and eco-friendly gifts are a nice idea and can be really great if they're taking the place of a more wasteful purchase, but there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, and the waste that goes into the manufacture, shipping, and packaging of green-branded goods generally outweighs their benefits.
The greenest option is probably the one you haven't gotten away with since you were ten. A book of coupons for chores and favors doesn't cost you or the environment anything. But if you lack the courage to try pulling off a scam like that, there are some pricier experience-gifts that are a lot more eco-friendly—and a lot more memorable—than an solar-powered phone charger or a pair of pants made from bamboo. A gift card to a farm-to-table restaurant, a voucher for a massage, or just a donation to the Human Fund (or, you know, a real charity) are all great options that don't require wasteful wrapping. Alternatively, if you can make a gift yourself, you'll be a real hero.
Cut Down on Your Meat and Dairy
Okay, this is a big one. After travel, the food that we eat—and the food we throw away—are responsible for the largest portion of our carbon output. Meat is generally the biggest contributor, but red meat is particularly bad. So if you usually have a ham or a roast beside your turkey, cutting that out is a good move. And if you can cut out the turkey itself—or even just choose a smaller turkey—that's even better.
There are obviously other factors to consider, like the distance your food has to travel, and the amount of water that goes into its production, but you may not want to get your PhD before your next meal, in which case, cutting out meat is a simple and effective way to drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Meatless Mondays are an easy step that more people are taking these days, but if you're really concerned about your impact this holiday season, you can offset the added emissions from travel by cutting out meat for a few days, a week, or a month at a time.
If we made that kind of practice a part of our holiday traditions—cutting out meats for some portion of December—we could go a long way toward pairing back holiday emissions. With recent advances in meat alternatives from Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, you might find the change easier than you would think. And if enough of us pick up the habit, the agricultural industry will have no choice but to shift toward more sustainable foods.
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