16 Famous People Who Use Their Money And Fame To Make A Difference In The World

They prove that they are more than just celebrities.

Sophia

• Published in Film & TV
• January 18, 2022

Most celebrities are not only admirable because of their talent and skills, but for their huge hearts as well. It's easy for some people to peg celebrities as air-heads and out of touch with reality (well, to be fair, some of them are out of touch), but there is a good number of them who use their platforms and voice to support causes that are close to their heart.

Being a celebrity means you are being looked up to by not only thousands, but millions of people, and every single move you do is watched and will always be criticized. They are usually the subject of harsh judgments, and many people do not particularly care about them.

However, some of them do take the time to mingle with the commoners in the society and donate mounds of money to charities and donation drives. It's amazing and heartwarming to see them not let fame get to their heads, but instead, use their career to save and make the lives of groups of people a lot better, despite it all.

It's not really rare to see celebrities with great moral compasses, but given how many controversies we hear about Hollywood throughout the years, it's definitely a breath of fresh air seeing them take the time to make a difference in someone's life. It could be as simple as visiting a sick fan in a hospital or establishing organizations that aim to make the world a better place.

Take a look at some of them in this list.

1. Keanu Reeves Established A Private Cancer Research Foundation That Helps Children's Hospitals

Bonus: he actually gave his profit-sharing points to the special-effects and costume-design team of The Matrix because he felt like they deserved it, given that they were the ones who truly made the movie.

2. Benedict Cumberbatch Is An Advocate For Equal Pay Between Men And Women

"If she’s not paid the same as the men, I’m not doing it."

3. Ricky Gervais Is A Long-Time Advocate Of Animal Rights

He has received awards for his advocacy on animal rights, and he plans to leave a fortune for animal charities.

4. Dolly Parton Founded The Dollywood Foundation, An Organization That Promotes Literacy All Around The World

They have a program called The Imagination Library, which sends books to children all over the world.

5. Ashton Kutcher Helps Battle Human Trafficking

Ashton and his then-partner Demi Moore founded Thorn in 2012, an organization that aims to protect children from trafficking. They utilize resources of Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Tumblr, and Facebook to help government agencies put a stop to online child pornography and trafficking.

6. George Michael Was A Long-Time Supporter Of Project Angel Food In Vegas

He was quietly helping people behind the scenes.

7. Emma Watson Became UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador And Promotes Feminism And Literacy

She promotes girls’ education, fair trade and organic clothing. She is also an ambassador of Camfed International.

8. Sam Simon, Co-Creator Of Simpsons Left A Fortune To Animal Charities

He founded the Sam Simon Foundation, which helps train hearing dogs and provide canine companions to veterans that have PTSD.

9. Ian Somerhalder Advocates For The Preservation Of Environment And Wildlife

The Ian Somerhalder Foundation aims to advance science, promote the conservation of natural resources, and support the underprivileged. Their programs focus on the protection of the environment, and they also provide grants for animals in need.

10. Kesha Is An Ordained Minister And Officiates LGBTQ Weddings

11. Leonardo Dicaprio's Foundation Is Dedicated To Helping The Planet

Leonardo is a strong advocate against climate change. His organization, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation aims to protect the wellbeing of Earth and the humans and animals that live in it.

The foundation gives support and funds about six programs that are dedicated to wildlife conservation. They also give out grants.

12. UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie Is Involved In A Lot Of Philanthropic Activities

A prominent one is the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which is dedicated to help alleviate rural proverty and the protection of wildlife in Cambodia.

13. Oprah Winfrey Helps Provide Scholarships For Students In Need

She established the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation that offers assistance and education to those in need. The foundation then established the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

She also spoke about protecting abused children, which caused the creation of a registry of child abusers, which was unofficially called the “Oprah Bill.”

14. Nicki Minaj Helped A Village In India Have Important Structures And Commodities, And Also Helped Straight-A Students Pay For Their Education

She sent money to the village through a middle man and was able to give them a Tailoring Institute, Computer Center, Reading Program, and two water wells.

She also paid books and materials for her fans, but only if they could prove they were straight A students.

15. J.K. Rowling Advocates To Transform Care Systems Around The World

She created Lumos, an international non-governmental charity that aims to transform care systems all around the world.

16. Megan Fox Lets Her Son Express Himself However He Wants

She raises her son without judgment, and allows him to like "feminine" things. Her son is interested in fashion and dressing up.

No matter how little or huge the actions these people make, what's important is that they take the time in doing these little changes to make the world a better, and bearable place to live. Some people may not agree with them on some things, but hey, at least they do something good with their fame and money!

Do you know any other celebrities who are advocates for important global issues? Comment it down or share this article for your family and friends to see!

Sophia