SEATTLE — The British power couple David and Victoria Beckham have been global icons since the late 1990s. With four beautiful children, soccer star David and singer turned fashion designer Victoria live a charmed life based out of London. When not busy competing, designing or taking the kids to school, the Beckhams can often be found investing their time in different philanthropic efforts. David and Victoria Beckham work together for charity and have accomplished a great deal to benefit the underprivileged.
While the couple has several joint projects, the two also have their own separate philanthropic pursuits. David Beckham is a UNICEF Ambassador, with a focus on supporting the Unite Against AIDS Campaign. He has traveled to many countries in Africa with this organization to spend time with children affected by AIDS and other diseases. David Beckham also assists Help for Heroes, a charity for former soldiers, Save the Children and many other organizations.
David’s wife, Victoria, also has an impressive list of charities she supports. She has been an ambassador for UNAIDS for the past four years and has traveled to South Africa to spend time with HIV patients. She has also sold clothes from her designer closet to benefit Save the Children. Last year, Prince William made Victoria Beckham an Officer of the Order of the British Empire to thank her for her charity work inside and outside the United Kingdom.
While the two serve others well on their own, David and Victoria Beckham work together for charity to make an even bigger impact. In 2013, the couple donated hundreds of items to the Red Cross Shop Drop to support victims of the typhoon in the Philippines. They urged their fans to do the same on social media, bringing awareness to the important fundraiser.
David Beckham is a co-founder of Malaria No More U.K., and Victoria has supported his work with this organization by participating in their fundraising efforts. The couple also donated two tickets to a World Cup party to an auction benefiting the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The auction of these tickets raised almost $200,000.
In 2005, David and Victoria Beckham founded the Victoria and David Beckham Children’s Charity. The organization raises money to buy wheelchairs and other disability resources for disabled children. Every year, they also donate to other charitable organizations. Since its start, the couple’s charity has raised close to £1 million.
David and Victoria Beckham work together for charity with their children as well. The two encourage their children to participate in their charity projects, particularly their initiatives with UNICEF. Charity work is incredibly important to the Beckhams, which can be seen in their private and public lives. The couple is a prime example of what it looks like to use celebrity status to benefit the underprivileged. Their work has not gone unnoticed by the U.K. or the rest of the world and will continue to set a wonderful example for years to come.
– Julia McCartney
Photo: Flickr