Hollywood celebrities often make their money playing clear-headed protagonists with noble goals. It is a stroke of irony, then, that some celebs turn out to be actual 'good guys', using their money to help those in need and/or further critical causes.
There are a lot of charitable celebs out there, who are passionate about various inequities and injustices and who put their money where their mouth is. But for the sake of brevity, this article has compiled just five of the most charitable celebrities (in some cases, couples) the ones who show, more than the rest, a notable dedication to humanitarian and philanthropic efforts.
Here they are: five real-life Hollywood Robin Hoods.
Oprah Winfrey
If "givingest" were a word, it would be the perfect word to describe this one-time talk show host turned influential media mogul. She gave 10 million dollars to the Hurricane Katrina relief, another 400 million to educational causes. She also started the Oprah's Angel Network, a kind of meta-charity that donates to causes worldwide. Oh, and she's also pretty famous for that car giveaway!
Will & Jada Pinkett Smith
The Fresh Prince himself has strived to make sure that everyone has a chance to break free of their own "West Philadelphia". Together with wife Jada Pinkett, he set up the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, which invites underprivileged youth to mentor with Hollywood filmmakers so they can learn about entering the entertainment industry and telling their story. Also, for his 50th birthday, Smith bungee jumped out of a helicopter in order to raise money and awareness for Global Citizen, a charity aiming to end global poverty.
Ellen DeGeneres
Another talk show host, with the same proclivity for surprising studio audiences with lavish giveaways, Ellen's philanthropy also extends beyond the set. But whereas above entries on this list were focused on human poverty and injustice, Ellen is equally passionate about animal rights, giving money to the Humane Society.
George & Amal Clooney
Clooney has long been known for his humanitarian focus, but it kicked into high gear with his marriage to Amal Clooney (née Alamuddin), a prominent human rights lawyer. Together, the two have launched the Clooney Foundation for Justice, following George's efforts to bring about peace in Sudan, and Amal's efforts to fight for legal justice for marginalized people. For continually giving their time and money to the causes of equity and justice, Amal and George deserve a spot on any celebrity philanthropy list.
Emma Watson
If she could, the Harry Potter star would surely just use a disappearing spell on injustice and inequality. But instead, she has settled for donating a million pounds (1.23 million dollars) to the Justice and Equality Fund. Additionally, she has spoken publically, passionately and influentially about matters concerning gender equality and sexual harassment. Not yet 30 years old, Watson has done so much to further the issue of women's rights around the globe.
These five celebrities seem just as passionate and good-hearted when the cameras are off. If you are interested in getting involved in a good cause, click one of the links above.
