Charitable Celebrities: The Stars Who Give Back
From Taylor Swift to Emma Watson, Madonna to Kate Hudson, these charitable celebs want to put their fame and fortune to good use...
WatchHungerStopKate Hudson is once again lending her talents to support Watch Hunger Stop, Michael Kors's annual campaign to fight global hunger.
“This is the third year I’ve had the honour of collaborating with Michael on this important cause,” says Hudson. “In June, I visited schools in Cambodia, where the funds raised by Watch Hunger Stop enable the United Nations World Food Programme to feed children so they receive the nutrition they need to grow and to finish their education. It was an amazing experience — I can’t wait to share everything that I saw and learned there.”
What's more, a percentage of sales from the Michael Kors Access Sofie smartwatch and a unique version of the brand’s bestselling Lon aviator sunglasses will go towards the fight to help achieve a world with Zero Hunger.
“I’m thrilled and grateful that my friend Kate is joining us once again in our efforts to end hunger,” says Michael Kors. “She and I share the belief that if we all work together, this is a problem we can solve. Watch Hunger Stop supports WFP’s school meals program, improving the lives of children who deserve the chance for a healthy, happy future. We’re proud to be able to help.”
chrishemsworth/ InstagramChris Hemsworth is taking a stand for an ecological crisis he feels strongly about: how plastic negatively impacts our oceans. The actor took to Instagram to raise awareness and share the news of his new role as an ambassador for the Parley AIR X Corona initiative:
"I've spent a large part of my life in and around the ocean, it's where a lot of my happiest memories came from. If I had anxieties or worries I'd head to the ocean and it was always the place where I could reset and be 100% present. My experience in the Maldives made it obvious how our short-term use of plastic has a long-term damaging effect on our oceans. I’m thrilled to be a part of this program, because I want to inspire people to find a solution and protect the world’s oceans so future generations can enjoy them like I do".
PALeonardo DiCaprio took a stand at the D.C. Climate March. The Oscar winner is a long-time climate activist and he marched alongside indigenous leaders at the march.
Splash NewsWe thought we couldn't love Liam Hemsworth anymore until we saw this photo of him being charitable in LA. Be still our beating hearts.
The Independence Day actor was filling up his SUV in Studio City, Los Angeles this week when he was spotted handing a local man some money.
Hold onto this one, Miley Cyrus.
UnicefThis week, Unicef UK supporter Rosie Huntington-Whiteley visited Lesotho to meet families and children affected by droughts. Speaking about her visit, Rosie said: "From the moment I arrived in Lesotho it was immediately obvious just how much of an impact the drought is having on families here, many of who were already struggling with poverty and the effects of HIV. Already hugely vulnerable, these families are struggling to cope with the added burden brought by the lack of food and water". Rosie later spent time with children at the Unicef supported Sentebale youth club.
Getty ImagesLouis Tomlinson & Niall Horan
The ex-One Direction boys went head-to-head in a celebrity football match for Soccer Aid. Louis and Niall joined other big names including Robbie Williams, Damian Lewis and Olly Murs in the match which raised over £5.4 million for UNICEF UK.
But who won? Louis's team. Better luck next time, Niall.
Splash/Rays of SunshineJohn Boyega
John Boyega from Star Wars is officially our favourite person. Why? Because he surprised kids with Star Wars toys at a hospital in London. The 23-year-old was dressed as Finn from The Force Awakens, and delivered toys on behalf of the Rays of Sunshine children's charity, for sick children at The Royal London Hospital.
Patient Daniel Bell, aged 5, wished to meet his favourite Star Wars character and his dream came true.
John captioned a sweet snapshot of Daniel on Instagram: "This little stormtrooper Daniel had a wonderful wish after seeing the force awakens. Daniel currently lives with a brain tumour and rather than having Finn to himself he wanted Finn to meet the kids at the Royal London hospital and give them some toys. I stayed in character while I was with this brave boy asking him what a car was. He taught Finn about everything earth related! Really thankful for the opportunity this child granted me and I'm just humbled! I hope I played a little part in making you smile young stormtrooper." We feel all warm and fuzzing inside.
Christy Turlington Burns
Supermodel Christy Turlington Burns isn’t just a pretty face, she’s also the founder of Every Mother Counts – a non-profit organisation dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother. Christy has now teamed up with TOMS to release a limited edition collection featuring a backpack and a tote. The 90s supermodel is pictured with Blake Mycoskie, TOMS Founder and Chief Giving Officer, on their trip to Haiti. With every bag purchase, TOMS will help provide a safe birth for a mother and a baby in need.
Shop the collection here.
UNICEFOrlando Bloom
Orlando Bloom joins in the fight against Ebola and has made a four day visit to Liberia as his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. The 38-year-old actor is the first high profile personality to visit since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak.
"Everyone I met was determined to beat Ebola so that they can resume their normal lives," Bloom said in a UNICEF statement after meeting with religious and youth leaders in the capital city of Monrovia. "Communities have been at the centre of the fight against Ebola and must continue to be supported because of their crucial role in getting to zero cases."
After observing the strict Ebola school safety protocols, Orlando said: "Because of this outbreak, a million children in Liberia have had their school year cut in half. They're excited to be back in the classroom but the precautions every single one of them must follow every day are a reminder of the need to remain vigilant."
Orlando Bloom, we salute you.
Getty ImagesNaomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief campaign helps raise vital funds and awareness towards the ongoing fight against Ebola. The 44-year-old model calls upon the most influential designers, artists, brands and celebrities to donate amazing items to the Fashion For Relief Auction, where the items go under the hammer at on the night. Naomi's 2014 show raised over 1.4 million.
Rex FeaturesTaylor Swift
She is never, ever, ever, not giving to charity! The I Knew You Were Trouble singer donated $4 million to the Country Hall of Fame Museum, $150,000 to an Alabaman school affected by tornadoes and spent hours with children cancer patients in New York. She was even named most charitable celeb in 2012, 2013 AND 2014, beating former flame Harry Styles who came a close second (in 2013).
Oxfam/Abbie Trayler-SmithKeira Knightley
The mum-to-be was so moved by her eye-opening experience visiting a refugee camp in South Sudan with Oxfam in July 2014 that she called on the British public to support the 1.5 million victims of conflict there.
The Golden Globe Award nominated actress said at the time: “All of those I met were suffering a terrible trauma unable to comprehend. I saw the amazing work Oxfam are doing day in and day out but the situation is getting worse and resources are running out. They can’t do it alone, they need our help.”
Rex FeaturesZooey Deschanel
The New Girl star might just be the most generous small screen actress. Zooey, who is currently pregnant with her first child, gave $1,500 per month to charities including the Innocence Project, which works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals via DNA, animals rights’ charity Mercy for Animals and Sean Penn’s charity, Help Haiti Home.
PA PhotosPrince William
The Duke of Cambridge left Prince George at home to join homeless young people for breakfast at a homeless charity in London in 2014. Centrepoint, which the Prince became patron of in 2005, has always had a special place in his heart having visited it as a child with his mother, the late Princess Diana of Wales.
The second-in-line to the throne discussed interview techniques and job searching at its newly refurbished health and well-being centre in Soho and even dubbed the Duchess of Cambridge’s glossy locks a “nightmare”!
Rex FeaturesPixie Lott
Pixie Lott revealed that 20p from each single of her version of the 80s classic Caravan of Love would be donated to Alder Hey Children’s Charity. The Strictly star also joined Jessie J and Sarah Jessica Parker by modelling Alphabet Scarves with their initials appliquéd onto them in aid of the charity. She said: “I am really honoured to be involved with, and supporting, Alder Hey. It will raise much needed funds for the children’s hospital.”
PA PhotosMichelle Obama
The First Lady launched the Reach Higher Initiative this year which encourages young people throughout the United States to pursue higher education in some form.
The mother of two, 50, said: “Our young people need to know that no matter where you come from or how much money your family has, you can succeed in college, and get your degree, and then go on to build a better for life yourself”. Way to go, Mich!
PA PhotosMary Kate and Ashley Olsen
The uber stylish sisters might be busy designing for their labels The Row and Elizabeth and James, but they’ve still left some time to fundraise for charitable causes. Both were honoured at the Salute to American Heroes awards ceremony in 2012 for their work for the Fresh Air Fund, which sends inner city children to camp or host families to experience country life.
But it isn’t the first time the twin tycoons have raised funds for charitable endeavours. In 2011, the designing duo created a limited edition purse with 100% of the proceeds donated to the Pennies for Heaven initiative, which supports after-school programmes for children.
Recently married Mary Kate, 28, said at the time: “Customers can help impact a child’s life.”
PA PhotosEmma Watson
The Hogwarts alumni delivered one of the most memorable speeches of last year as she launched the United Nations’s #HeForShe campaign in October 2014, calling on men worldwide to help achieve gender equality. She said: “Men – I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.”
The 24 year old was even named feminist celebrity of the year. Congrats Emma!
GettyFearne Cotton
GLAMOUR fave Fearne’s annual music festival Festifeel returned for its fifth year to fundraise for breast cancer charity Coppafeel! The Radio 1 DJ said: “So many women are scared to check their boobs because they don’t know what they will find.”
But that’s not the first time the generous spirited star has raised funds for charitable causes. Fearne Cotton donned a Christmas jumper for Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day campaign in November 2014 and rummaged through her designer-laden wardrobe in April 2014 to donate her dresses for the Rumble in the Jumble fashion event in aid of Oxfam. Inspirational stuff!
PA PhotosEllie Goulding
GLAMOUR HQ were bowled over by Ellie Goulding’s Christmas spirit – the BRIT-award-winning songstress revealed she would be dishing out dinners to the homeless at a shelter over Christmas. The star, 27, said: “I’ve done it for a few years. It’s fun.” She added that homelessness is an issue that could affect any of us: “It’s so scary because it happens so quickly and to anyone.” What an inspiration!
Mark PinderEd Sheeran
The Grammy Award nominated artist swapped singing in October 2014 to raise awareness of homelessness. Ed Sheeran was so inspired by his experience he dropped in to homeless charity Crisis’ Skylight Centre in Newcastle to lead a song-writing class. He also performed a short acoustic set for local homeless people that he signed Crisis’ 14,000 strong petition for the No One Turned Away campaign calling on the government to help the homeless find somewhere to live.
He said: “Homelessness is a horrifying experience and no one should have to go through it. We need to demand change so that every homeless person can get the help they need.”
Jason BellBenedict Cumerbatch
The nation’s heartthrob set female hearts racing as he re-created Colin Firth’s most iconic scene in Pride and Prejudice; his wet, white shirt revealing a hint of toned torso as he emerges from a lake. But the Sherlock star stripped off for a great cause – the Give Up Clothes for Good campaign’s 10th anniversary which encourages people to donate their unwanted clothes to TK Maxx stores across the UK in aid of Cancer Research UK.
FlynetAngelina Jolie
The UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie joined Foreign Secretary William Hague to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in March 2013, campaigning against the use of rape as a weapon of war.
The mother of five called on governments worldwide to give the issue the attention that it “desperately deserved”, and said: “Unless the world acts, we will always be reacting to atrocities, treating survivors rather than preventing rape in the first place.”
Liz Matthews PR/InstagramAlexa Chung
She swapped fashion parties, TV presenting and posting #ootds to travel to Malawi with Oxfam to support its global gender equality campaign in July 2014. Alexa Chung took to social media to share her moving experience in one of the world’s most poverty-stricken countries: “There have been tales of domestic abuse and children being married off at 14 and all the other fun stuff that comes from not being considered an equal. Female empowerment is vital.”
Well said!
Rex FeaturesEmma Stone & Andrew Garfield
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 actress found an innovative way to use her celebrity status to raise awareness of charitable causes.
The Arizona-born star, 25, enlisted the help of her beau Andrew Garfield as she was photographed stepping out for breakfast in New York, covering her face with a cardboard sign that read: “We were eating and saw a group of guys with cameras outside. We don’t need the attention, but these wonderful organisations do.”
It isn’t the first time the pair have used the waiting paparazzi for good use. Emma and Andrew both strolled through the streets of NYC to raise awareness of charities back in September 2013.
Dawn Porter
GLAMOUR’s fave fashionista teamed up with Oxfam summer 2014 to promote vintage fashion. Dawn said: “Oxfam is one of my favourite places to snap up amazing vintage finds so I’m thrilled to be teaming up with them to get the British public sharing their vintage treasures – all while raising money for Oxfam’s work around the world.”
Landmark MediaGisele Bundchen
The world’s highest paid supermodel has a heart of gold! Brazil-born Gisele Bundchen once donned an apron and served up turkey and the trimmings alongside NFL husband Tom Brady for volunteers of charity Goodwill Industries International’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. She said: “I feel it is more a gift to us to be able to serve them. I am happy to be here.” Aww!
