There are some celebrities who are not satisfied with fame and fortune, and wish to do more. Let’s get to know some of these celebrities who have touched the lives of thousands and inspired millions with their compassion.
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others,” said Audrey Hepburn. The lovely and talented actress fought hunger during World War II. Her life of splendour and achievements posed a dramatic contrast to her childhood. She must have felt something was missing because she was ready to dedicate all her time to philanthropy when she decided to retire at the peak of her career. Following her first visit to an orphanage in Ethiopia as UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador in 1989, she spent the rest of her life helping children in need. Between 1988 and 1992, she put most of her film costumes on auction to provide clean water, food, and medicine to children all around the world. Until the last months of her life, she fought for this cause.
TRUE PASSION “And when I met survivors of war and famine and rape, I learned what life is like for most people in this world. And how fortunate I was to have food to eat, a roof over my head, a safe place to live, and the joy of having my family safe and healthy.” These words belong to another Hollywood star, Angelina Jolie. Her dedication to philanthropy became her true passion, virtually her raison d'être. In the early 2000s, Jolie started working with refugees on behalf of the United Nations and, since then, she’s participated in more than 60 field missions to help refugees settle in safe areas and visited many countries damaged by war. In 2012, she became a Special Envoy to United Nations and increased her support to a diplomatic level. On one hand, she worked to provide resources and health services to those who survived the war and, on the other, she co-chaired the “Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict” that aims to eliminate the lack of punishment for sexual violence in war zones across the world. In addition to helping refugees, orphaned children, and women who experienced sexual violence, Jolie is determined to do more than her share in environmental issues as well. In May 2021, Jolie was chosen as the “Godmother” of the enterprise “Women for Bees,” a five-year program designed to train women from all around the world to become beekeepers. In order to raise awareness for this cause, she posed with bees for the cover of National Geographic magazine. Next is Elizabeth Taylor, the legendary actress who expressed the importance of doing good in her life by saying, “At the end of the day, it's all about hope, kindness, and a connection with one another.” Many years ago, AIDS was a big mystery and a terrifying disease. When she lost her close friend Rock Hudson to AIDS, the talented actress decided to contribute to this cause. She founded AmFAR, which is still highly active in the field, in 1985 and Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991, and dedicated the rest of her life to working for these foundations. She donated a quarter of the copyright of her pictures to the foundation so that it could survive after her death. Each product you purchase that reminds you of Elizabeth Taylor’s violet eyes means supporting her cause. When his sister lost her decade-long battle with leukemia, famous actor Keanu Reeves set mourning aside and built a foundation to support children in cancer treatment and the research in the field. Having donated most of his earnings to the foundation, Reeves is known to be the Hollywood star with a golden heart, and for many other reasons. Admired for his kindness and sensitive approach to fellow actors or fans who run into him, Reeves continues to melt our hearts by saying things like, “If you can make a woman laugh, you're seeing the most beautiful thing on God's earth.” French football player Kylian Mbappé is one among the young, generous, and helpful celebrities. “When you’re a kid, you have many dreams. A kid may have endless potential but not the conditions required to realise it. That’s why I’m here to help them, and I will always work for them,” says the 22-year-old athlete. He may be at the peak of his career but, to him, it’s more important to do something for kids and he has no intention of losing time. He donated all his income of €400,000 from the 2018 World Cup to a children’s foundation. Last year, he shared the good news with his fans that his foundation was working to make the dreams of 98 children come true. When he released his first album in 1993, everyone was talking about Haluk Levent. However, making people fans of “Anatolian rock” wasn’t the only purpose in Levent’s life. He believes that “Sometimes, small feelings of happiness mean everything.” There were millions of lives to touch and many faces to put a smile on. In 2017, he built the foundation Ahbap Derneği with the aim of helping those in need and increasing awareness for solidarity and cooperation in Turkey. Boasting a network of volunteers in 68 cities in the country, Ahbap Derneği organises emergency and search-and-rescue operations, provides aid in health services and basic needs, and offers scholarships to students. The foundation continues to be the most trusted relief organisation in Turkey.