When you’ve got the bank account of a Hollywood A-lister, chances are you’re not spending all that cash on yourself (after all, one can only buy so much Chanel). In fact, many celebs are using their star status to give back through philanthropic work, focusing on issues like youth programs, natural disaster relief or public health campaigns. Some have even taken the initiative and started their own foundations. While most of us are aware of major players like Angelina Jolie and Emma Watson, other celebrities have also come forward to fight for good causes. Here, those who donate both their time and wealth to help people in need.
Naomi Campbell
The supermodel rallied the biggest names in the industry (think Kate Moss and Bella Hadid) to walk the runway of her Fashion for Relief show. She's fronted the organization for more than a decade, helping victims of world disasters. This time she focused her attention on Save the Children and those affected by the conflict in Syria.
Malin Akerman
The actress, whose humble past includes a time when she was completely homeless, is no stranger to charity. She's currently set to host a fashion event at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills to benefit Children's Hospital Los Angeles' Make March Matter initiative for children's healthcare needs.
Lady Gaga
The Grammy and Golden Globe winner's Born This Way Foundation tackles a variety of issues that affect young people, including mental illness, online harassment and PTSD (which Gaga herself has admitted to suffering from after being raped at age 19). In the past, she's also teamed up with the MAC AIDS Fund's Viva Glam campaign as well as the National Alliance to End Homelessness. She most recently paired with Revlon for The Love Project.
Eva Longoria
Through the Eva Longoria Foundation, the actress not only encourages Latinas to attend college, but also provides mentoring to Latina entrepreneurs. She founded the nonprofit Eva's Heroes to support individuals with developmental disabilities, helped raise more than $4 million for Padres Contra El Cancer (Parents Against Cancer) and volunteered following the disastrous 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Beyoncé
The superstar's #BeyGOOD Foundation has contributed to a wide range of charitable causes—from awarding scholarships to students and providing supplies for under-funded schools to donating $82,000 in response to the Flint water crisis. (She's also helped raise funds for husband Jay Z's Shawn Carter Foundation.)
Sarah Jessica Parker
SJP has been a UNICEF Ambassador for two decades, supporting the organization's Trick-or-Treat campaign as a national spokesperson, helping launch its Tap Project to provide clean water to impoverished children and raising awareness for its HIV Test Kit for mothers.
Victoria Beckham
This year, the designer received the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire honor for her work in fashion and charity. Recently, she's served as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, designing a limited-edition shirt for World AIDS Day in November.
