Stars Doing Good: 10 Charitable Celebrities Who Started Foundations

charitable celebrities

Stars like Rihanna, Dolly Parton, Jennifer Lopez, and plenty others have put their good foot forward by using their wealth to support and uplift those in their community and around the world. 

With Thanksgiving just a week away, we're casting a light on a handful of selfless celebrities who put others first with their foundations and initiatives to promote common and social good.

1. Emma Watson

In September 2014, the Harry Potter alumna founded HeForShe, a solidarity campaign committed to supporting gender equality by encouraging all genders to partake as advocates of change and take action against negative stereotypes and behaviors.

2. Jennifer Lopez

The pop star was motivated to launch the Lopez Family Foundation in 2009 after she experienced a medical scare with her daughter, Emme. Since then, the nonprofit organization has made constant efforts to increase the availability of healthcare for underprivileged women and children.

3. Pharrell Williams

In 2008, the Grammy-winning musician launched his educational nonprofit foundation From One Hand To AnOTHER (FOHTA), which serves predominantly at-risk and low-income elementary and middle school students. Per the organization's website, FOHTA works to "change the world one kid at a time by giving them the tools and resources to meet their unique potential."

4. Rihanna

In 2012, the "Work" artist founded the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. The nonprofit organization supports and funds innovative and effective education, health and emergency response programs across the globe.

5. Beyoncé

In 2014, the Lemonade vocalist created her philanthropic initiative BeyGOOD to assist to help the homeless, sick children and the unemployed. In past years, Bey's foundation teamed with UNICEF to raise money to bring clean water to those living in Burundi and also aided in relief efforts during the water crisis in Flint, Michigan in 2016

6. Dolly Parton

In 1988, the iconic country singer launched the Dollywood Foundation to assist in offering high school students scholarships. Years later, Parton turned her the foundation toward literacy by developing the Imagination Library in 1995, which continues to provide free books to children every month up until age five, serving approximately 1,000,000 children every month.

7. Lady Gaga

Mother Monster created the Born This Way Foundation to support the wellness of young people through empowerment and kindness by teaming with youth to build better communities and improve mental health awareness.

8. Miley Cyrus

In 2014, the "We Can't Stop" singer initiated the Happy Hippie Foundation, a non-profit organization that concentrates fighting injustice, youth homelessness, and rallies for the LGBTQ community and other vulnerable populations.

9. Chance the Rapper

During the 2017-2018 school year, the "No Problem" emcee launched the New Chance: Arts & Literature Fund, a grant made eligible to 20 schools in public school systems across his native Chicago. Since its inception, the fund has raised $4.2 million toward expenses for enhancing access to enrichment programming.

10. J.K. Rowling

In 2005, the Harry Potter author started the international charity Lumos to put an end to the institutionalization of children across the world, with a goal to rescue all children from orphanages and find them loving, nurturing, and protective families.

Photo: Getty Images


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