Celebrities volunteer and make donations for relief in Haiti
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February 18, 2010
Lindsay Huth
Gossip about celebrities constantly bombards young people. The media reports everything about celebrities’ lives: their houses, clothes, relationships, scandals – everything except what they are actually doing to help the world. And for some, that is quite a bit.
The Jackie Chan movies have become immortal, but few know that he hosted “A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF” along with Madonna and her daughter to benefit UNICEF. Additionally, he made the excursion to Cambodia multiple times to assist with the HIV/AIDS and land mine projects.
After her 16-year-old cousin’s life was cut short by cystic fibrosis, Celine Dion has fought to end the deadly illness and has worked with the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1993. She also is a member of the board of Foundation Achille-Tanguay which helps impoverished Canadians sustain themselves.
The recent tragedy in Haiti has inspired stars to dole out even more aid in the form of monetary donations as well as donations of time and talent.
On Friday, Jan. 22, the Hope for Haiti Now telethon debuted with George Clooney as its host. Performances ranged from Madonna and Beyonce to Jay-Z and Bono. The event had 24 million dedicated viewers who watched the entire program, while 83 million viewers tuned in at some point during the production. A total of $61 million was raked in over the course of the event.
“I think it definitely contributed to a spike in funds,” Caroline Preston, writer for the Chronicle of Philanthropy, said, according to The Christian Science Monitor. “Thirteen days after the earthquake, the pace of giving had slowed. Having the telethon a week and a half after the disaster helped to remind people that there’s still a need for funds, and people responded.”
In an effort to contribute, Muhammad Ali and Christina Aguilera have teamed up to create a public service announcement to encourage $5 donations to United Nations World Food Programme for Haiti.
“I’m devastated by the toil that the earthquake has taken, and as a mom, I am especially heartbroken by the children and families affected,” Aguilera told Entertainment Tonight. “My goal for the PSA is to inspire as many people as possible to donate to the World Food Programme so they can continue to feed the survivors in Haiti and move them from hunger to hope.”
Though celebrities are famous for their talent and appearance, they are making an impact with their donations and volunteer work as well.
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