There’s little doubt that celebrities live charmed lives – what with fame, fortune and those uber-expensive toys and houses at their disposal. But some celebrities don’t waste their money on shopping sprees. Instead, they give back to the community.
With a disaster like Hurricane Sandy in the headlines – and another huge recent news item involving George Lucas and several billion dollars on page 2 – philanthropic celebrities have been raising eyebrows, warming hearts and opening pocketbooks. With that in mind, we thought we’d take a look at ten of the most generous celebs these days, as ranked by a Forbes of their generosity over the past year. Some of their names might just surprise you.
George Lucas — $4,250,000 (before his recent donation!)
The “Star Wars” creator sold his baby to Disney, made a whole bunch of money, and now he’s doing exactly what seems right for a sci-fi mastermind: He’s thinking about the future. Even before this latest news, Lucas had donated substantial charitable donations to the Lucas Film Foundation, which then granted the George Lucas Educational Foundation with a mission to inspire and empower young people to become responsible citizens, compassionate leaders, and to live their dreams.
Meryl Streep — $2,000,000
It makes sense for this actress to support the arts, as she is such a stunning artist herself. Health causes are also in dire need of help. She gave to Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts and presented grants including $100,000 each to Oxfam America and Partners in Health; $1,225,000 to Vassar College. Her total grant-making for the year was more than $2.1 million.
Jerry Seinfeld — $1,766,000
Jerry is another actor that aids kids. He helps out with children’s educational and health charities. Jerry’s causes were to the Seinfeld Family Foundation that supports education, children’s services, health associations, and Jewish organizations; funding also for the arts.
Barbra Streisand — $1,555,500
Women and the environment are a focus of Barbra’s charitable efforts. Her giving went to the Barbra Streisand Foundation. Grants were distributed to a variety of charities and causes including the Barbra Streisand Women’s Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars Sinai, City Year, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, respectively.
Matthew McConaughey — $1,537,292
Schooling is of the utmost importance to Matthew’s giving. His Just Keep Livin’ Foundation offers after-school, fitness and wellness programs. He gave substantial donations to the Just Keep Livin’ Foundation and supported grants that were distributed, including $88,000 to Communities in School Los Angeles West and $38,000 Communities in School Central Texas.
Alec Baldwin — $1,005,131
Another actor who is for the arts is Alec. The NY Philharmonic is a lovely addition to New York’s art scene and must be cherished. Breast cancer is also of the utmost importance to the actor. He is supporting the foundation that is searching for a cure. His charity is the Alec Baldwin Foundation. Grants included $50,000 to the NY Philharmonic, $42,500 to Waterkeeper Alliance, and $250,000 to the Carol M Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Sandra Bullock — $1,000,000
The earthquake in Haiti was the focus for Sandra Bullock. This devastating natural disaster left many homeless or hurt. Sandra put her money to good use to try and get the displaced population of Haiti back on their feet. She gave to Doctors Without Borders for Haiti Relief following the horrific earthquake.
Will and Jada Smith — $900,000
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, one of the many causes Will and Jada support, provides “wishes” to terminally ill children. It is a way to brighten these kid’s lives and a worthy cause to fund. Will and Jada’s charitable giving extends to the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation. Grants included $126,000 to the Lupus Foundation, $200,000 to the Baltimore School for the Arts, and $52,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Hugh Hefner — $900,000
The Hollywood sign is an iconic symbol of Los Angeles. Hefner recognized that and strove to keep this landmark intact. His money went to the Trust for Public Land, to save the iconic Hollywood sign from being plowed under in order to make room for luxury homes.
Taylor Swift — $625,000
Taylor supports many of her hometown charities, in disaster relief and education. She gave $500,000 to Hands on Nashville the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for Nashville’s flood relief efforts (Nashville Rising); $25,000 to the Wyomissing, PA school district for education, and a $100,000 check to rebuild Kids Kingdom, a playground in Hendersonville, Tennessee where she attended high school.
Bravo to these celebs who think about others and help those desperately in need!