SEATTLE, Washington — Bill Gates, Bono and George Clooney are notable male celebrities who are not only celebrated for their roles in the entertainment industry but also for their philanthropic roles. These celebs extend their time and money to support charities and causes. However, their female counterparts are right on par with them. Here are the top 6 celebrity women who donate to poverty-stricken countries.
Oprah Winfrey
This billionaire is not only one of the world’s most powerful woman but she is an actress, television network owner and former talk show host. Winfrey is also a humanitarian and philanthropist in her own right. Oprah Winfrey is one of 6 women who donate to poverty-stricken countries. Winfrey has used her fame and affluence to donate more than $350 million to various charities and causes. She donated $140 million to open and maintain the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls South Africa. This school combats the country’s educational challenges and allow girls to break the cycle of poverty.
“Charity isn’t even charity for me because it is an extension of who I am,” says Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey gave $1.5 million dollars to the Save the Children foundation in 2011 to rebuild a primary school in Zimbabwe. In 2015, Winfrey donated $100,000 to the GEANCO Foundation, a foundation that provides health programs and education to women and girls in Nigeria.
Beyoncé
This superstar has an extensive track record of giving. She regularly makes time for giving back despite having a high demand career placing her in the global spotlight, being a mother to three children and a wife to the rapper Jay Z. The singer has created the BeyGood foundation to “make the world a more beautiful place.” Currently, the BeyGood is raising money for earthquake victims in Nepal. Beyonce and Jay Z have helped raise $7.1 billion to aid Global Citizen in an effort to eliminate poverty around the world by improving education, healthcare, sanitation and women’s rights.
Nicki Minaj
This female rapper is another celebrity woman who donates to poverty-stricken countries. In 2017, Minaj spontaneously paid off the student loans for 30 of her twitter followers along with a host of other school-related expenses. However, the entertainer’s generosity extends beyond the U.S. The rapper has confirmed that she has been donating an undisclosed sum of money to an Indian village for years. Her donations to India are helping women and girls by providing access to clean water, education and technical training.
Rihanna
This singer and business owner has put forth tremendous efforts to change people’s lives all across the world for the better. Rihanna has lent her time, energy and money to fundraising and donating to noble causes. As the Global Ambassador for the Global Partnership for Education in Senegal, Africa, the celebrity raised more than $2.5 billion for global education. She also donated $1.75 million to be used for the purchasing of medical equipment for the radiology department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in her native country of Barbados. The funds will provide radiotherapy equipment to honor her grandmother who died of cancer.
Rihanna is a huge supporter of disaster relief, believing the recovery continues long after the news cameras leave. The singer gave $100,000 in food bank donations in 2012 to the Hurricane Sandy relief and another $100,000 to those affected in the Philippines when Typhoon Haiyan hit. Rhianna is also a huge supporter of disaster relief. She donated $100.000 in food bank donations in 2012 to the Hurricane Sandy relief and another $100,000 to those affected in the Philippines when Typhoon Haiyan hit.
Gisele Bundchen
The former Victoria’s Secret model is the highest-paid model in the world. Most people, however, are not aware that this supermodel is one of the most charitable celebrities in the world. This is why Gisele Bundchen is number 5 of the 6 celebrity women who donate to poverty-stricken countries.
The model donated $1.5 million to Haiti in 2010 after the devastating earthquake in earthquake relief. She has also donated more than $150,000 to Brazil’s Zero Hunger program and is an active supporter and donor to the I Am African HIV/Aids awareness campaign. Bundchen was also the face of American Express RED Card where a percentage of the proceeds were donated to Africa’s HIV/Aids victims, a campaign to aid women and children affected by the disease in Africa.
Sandra Bullock
Bullock might be one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood, but she is also considered one of the most charitable. The actress also has a long history of donating to people and causes in need. She has quietly “donated more than $5 million since 2001.”
Bullock has donated a total of $1 million to Haiti on behalf of the Haiti relief efforts in 2010 and provided another $1 million in aid to Japan after its devastating earthquake in 2011. The actress has reportedly donated $5 million to the Red Cross, including donating $1 million to Indonesia after the devastating tsunami in 2004. “I’m just grateful I can do it. We have to take care of one another.” -Sandra Bullock
With great power comes great responsibility. These top 6 celebrity women who donate to poverty-stricken countries are true examples of this. They have definitely demonstrated the understanding of their great responsibility and have embraced it wholeheartedly by putting their efforts and great power to use for those in need.
– Na’Keevia Brown
Photo: Flickr