5 Celebrities Who Give Globally [Make a Difference Week]
By Halogen TV | October 22, 2011 at 5:51 am
During Make A Difference Week, across the country, neighbors, friends, families and businesses are volunteering their time to participate in community service projects. In honor, we are spotlighting five celebrities who actively bring awareness to larger humanitarian issues that impact the international community.
Ashley Judd
Platform: Women’s rights, social justice, animal cruelty
The thespian of the famous Judd family, Ashley Judd began her activist work in college. During a trip to Southeast Asia, she experienced first-hand the deplorable conditions and hopeless lives women face in the brothels and slums. Deeply moved Judd left Asia with a powerful promise to the women, “I will never forget you.” As a humanitarian, Judd travels extensively supporting global grassroots campaigns that focus on alleviating poverty, public health, human rights and social justice issues.
Her recent memoir, All That Is Bitter and Sweet reveals her transformation from actor to activist. Judd explains how she overcame her debilitating depression, and the heartaches involved growing up overshadowed by her famous mother and sibling, superstar country duo, The Judds. Struggling through her personal battles, she renewed her dedication to empower others with global stories of survival.
Hugh Jackman
Platform: Strengthen third world communities through supporting local farmers
Tony award-winning actor, singer, dancer and all-around awesome “Aussie,” Hugh Jackman is a formidable talent who recently celebrated his 43rd birthday by launching Laughing Man Worldwide. This innovative food and beverage company donates 100 percent of the profits to charity.
During a trip to Ethiopia with humanitarian organization, World Vision, Jackman met a local coffee farmer Dukale, who “changed the way I look at the world.”
Jackman noticed how Dukale was running a successful farm and putting the local community to work. Inspired, he started Laughing Man Worldwide, to support the entrepreneurial spirit using the simple mantra, “ALL BE HAPPY!”
The Laughing Man vision centers on creating healthy communities through jobs and supporting local business owners. Initial product offerings include coffee, tea, chocolate, gifts and accessories imported from farms in Peru, Ethiopia, Guatemala and Papua New Guinea.
All the products are available online and if you’re in New York, you can stop by the Laughing Man café located at 184 Duane Street in Tribeca.
John Legend
Platform: To provide quality education for children worldwide
A recent recipient of the distinguished Center for Education Reform award, songwriter John Legend believes a quality education is key to breaking the poverty cycle.
Starting the Show Me Campaign, Legend collaborated with author and humanitarian Dr. Jeffery Sachs of the Millennium Promise Alliance. Motivated by Sachs’ book, The End of Poverty, Legend and Sachs began a Poverty Action Tour, visiting universities to promote social, economic, personal and educational growth. The tour asked students and the community to promote charities that support the fight against poverty.
In a USA Today article, Legend states, “Every kid in America deserves to get a quality education. No matter where you go to school in America, you should be able to get a quality education regardless of your income level, background or race.”
A global campaign, Show Me works with Millennium Promise providing clean water, health care, education and other basic tools to break the cycle of poverty in African villages.
Photo by AP
Bono
Platform: African AIDS pandemic; Third World debt relief
Nominated as a “Person of the Year” 2005 in Time magazine for his efforts in global debt relief, the magazine states, “Bono charmed and bullied and morally blackmailed the leaders of the world’s richest countries into forgiving $40 billion in debt owed by the poorest.”
After attending the Secret Policeman’s Ball, a series of benefit concerts dedicated to social and political causes, Bono explained in a 1986 Rolling Stone interview how the experience, “Became a part of me. It sowed a seed.”
Bono helped organize Amnesty International’s “Conspiracy Of Hope” tour alongside fellow musician Sting, and participated in the Band Aid and Live Aid projects with musician and activist Bob Geldof.
Widening his efforts, Bono began focusing on combating Third World debt relief and bringing a heightened visibility to the African AIDS pandemic.
The U2 frontman has continued his humanitarian campaigns co-finding DATA (Debt Aids Trade Africa), EDUN, a clothing company that develops trade with Africa, the ONE Campaign and Product Red. Crossing both political and religious divides, Bono insists we are all responsible in taking care of the widow, orphan and stranger.
Photo by AP
David Beckham
Platform: Ending malaria; children’s issues
The superstar soccer player has traversed the globe playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid, A.C. Milan and now the Los Angeles Galaxy.
In 2006 Beckham became a spokesperson for Malaria No More, a nonprofit focused on wiping out malaria in Africa by 2015.
Beckham stated in a 2008 Daily Mail interview, “We can’t turn a blind eye to the tens of thousands of young children who die every day in the developing world mostly from causes that are preventable. In Sierra Leone, one in four children dies before reaching their fifth birthday – it’s shocking and tragic especially when the solutions are simple – things like vaccinations against measles or using a mosquito net to reduce the chance of getting malaria.”
Beckham is a UNICEF Ambassador and started the Victoria and David Beckham Charitable Trust, which donates wheelchairs to needy children. He is also involved with the UK-based Help for Heroes, which provides financial support for returning soldiers that are wounded while serving their country.
You don’t have to be a celeb to make a difference. Choose your platform, then go to serve.gov or VolunteerMatch and be a changemaker in your community.
- Heather Georgoudiou
Watch celebs highlight young leaders around the world effecting real change under extreme circumstances in “4REAL” Tuesdays at 10pm ET on Halogen TV.
More on Making a Difference from HalogenTV.com
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- 5 Ways to Travel and Make a Difference
- Vampire Fans Take a Bite out of Malaria
- Football Wives’ Star Chanita Foster Helps Swaziland Orphans
- Giveaway: Global Soccer Mom by Shayne Moore
- Empowering Entrepreneurs to Do Social Good: Q&A with Ryan Eliason
- Jordin Sparks Hosts Charity Experience
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