With Leonardo DiCaprio pledging $5 million to fight the fires in the Amazon rainforest, we thought we’d draw attention to other famous philanthropists. From the well-known in the news to the less-often reported on, these people all have their love of giving back to the community in common.
Warren Buffett
Warren Buffet, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is likely the second richest person on the planet. He takes his responsibilities as a major source of economic change seriously too. Buffett has said, “if you’re in the luckiest one percent of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99 percent.” The charities he gives to are many and varied, but perhaps his largest contribution has been to encourage a culture of philanthropy among the wealthy.
Michael Jordan
While anyone who has ever even heard of basketball as a sport knows who Michael Jordan is, you may be less familiar with his philanthropy. His causes include the US military and service members, childhood education and feeding the hungry. He has also donated to Hurricane Florence relief aid. He has said before, “some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
Oprah Winfrey
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation and Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation have provided millions of dollars to important causes across the country. Oprah’s legacy is perhaps even more impressive sue to her early struggles in life growing up in poverty. She has said of her success, “What material success does is provide you with the ability to concentrate on other things that really matter. And that is being able to make a difference, not only in your own life but in other people’s lives.”
Pitbull
You may be more familiar with Pitbull’s as a famous Cuban-American rapper and music industry giant, but his philanthropic works are truly amazing. Pitbull created the Sports Leadership and Management Academy in Little Havana, Miami, to provide opportunities to disadvantaged youth. Much of his charitable support aid children and families. He has said, “I’m taking all the negatives in my life, and turning them into a positive.” We’d say he’s done that better than most!
Serena Williams
Another athlete, Serena Williams is known for her ability to dominate on the tennis court. Alongside her sister, Venus Williams, she started the Yetunde Price Resource Center in Compton, CA to directly help people in the community. She has said “Growing up I wasn’t the richest, but I had a rich family in spirit.” That commitment to her family seems to have spread to her community and beyond.