Celebrities and their charitable giving....
By veromar
@veromar (1453)
Argentina
March 20, 2010 7:07pm CST
Does it bother anybody else or is it just me? These people have millions, and sometimes billions, of dollars and yet when they hold "fundraisers" or host "charitable" events they only manage to raise a few hundred thousand. Why?!?! I just don't get it. A case in point. Here are some stats of what some celebs gave for Haitian relief after that massive earthquake that devastated an already impoverished country:
http://anythinghollywood.com/2010/01/biggest-celebrity-donations-for-haiti-relief/
Oprah Winfrey gave $1Million. Hmmmmm. One of THE richest women in the world, valued in the billions could only give $1million??? If she had opened 50 schools for girls in South Africa instead of just ONE, I could understand that.
MADONNA! $250,000 What?!?!? That's all she could come up with??!?!? Guess she's had to pay too many fines to Malawi for her last adoption.
Leonardo DiCaprio $1 Million. Now....how much did he make for his last flick....whatever...the guy "makes" $25 MILLION per YEAR! Come on Leo! Did you really plant soooooooooo many trees that you can't afford to rebuild the entire country of Haiti all by yourself?!?!?
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/calc/moviestar/movieS_salary.asp?web=brm&athlete=143&submit=Submit
At the above site, you can search any celeb name you want and see how much they "make" per year. My point is....these people should be ashamed of themselves! With what most of them make per film, they could feed, house and clothe entire countries. And the really sad thing is, most of them "give" just to get a tax write-off.
Shame on you celebrities! SHAME ON YOU!
1 person likes this
4 responses
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
21 Sep 10
They probably say they donate to many causes during the year. That's all they do is give for the tax write off hence one of many loop holes the regular folks have no access to KWIM? I know I can't afford to donate to anyone or anything, we are barely afloat but those that are doing better than the majority should trickle down their wealth. I don't mean in hand outs exactly but John Wayne left a sum of money to keep kids fed for free in Arizona schools. Something that helps alot of people KWIM?
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
3 Nov 10
Your welcome :0) I've been online for 13 yrs so I guess you could say I've picked up a few things including a husband over that time span.
Though that relative must of forgotten my 2 that had birthdays last month, but I won't complain or say anything as it's not my place to tell her what to do with her money.
Yeah I know they can't take it with them and usually if they end up with medical conditions that are costly or even in a nursing home that will suck up every penny they've pinched, saved, or earned.
I don't think things will change as long as money equals power and status.
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
24 Sep 10
Hi SnuggleBunnies. I'm sorry but I don't understand the acronym KWIM. Could you spell it out for me please? I agree with you 1000% about trickling down. Unfortunately those that "have" are hording it and more and more and that is leaving less and less for those of us that "don't have". I think the tax write offs for charitable giving should be done away with. If that happened, we'd surely get a truer picture of the "generosity" of the wealthy. Sadly to say, some people really need the help and appreciate it no matter what the motives of the giver. I'd fathom a guess that if those loopholes were done away with, charitable giving would drop off considerably, if not totally. A lot can be said for those people whose tax cuts are about to be abolished griping about it. It only affects those that make more than $250k a year. $250K a YEAR!!!! I'd be happy to make a quarter of that! lol. It's their own fault that they choose to live in houses that have high mortgage payments....or choose to buy the latest electronic gadget. My motto is: Live simply so that others may SIMPLY LIVE. It's a shame more can't adopt the same philosophy. Thanks for the response and await your illumination of KWIM!
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
3 Nov 10
Thanks for the explanation. Duh! lol. Guess I'm just not into the internet "lingo" yet. lol. It's nice to hear that your relative is sending stuff for your kids. A lot of better off folk "seem" to have a little more sensitivity or generosity when it comes to children. Still not enough for my taste but I guess something is something. I have an uncle who in the past few years gained millionaire status and he's one of the cheapest people I've ever met. He's saving it. I don't know what for. You know...."you can't take it with you". lol. Far be it from me to tell somebody what they should do with their money but I guess I just don't understand WHY people can live with blinders on. How can they be unaffected by the amount of poverty or lack of simple living status of so many people. Sigh......maybe it'll change......someday.........
@flpoolbum (2978)
• United States
21 Mar 10
Don't knock it. Oprah has a lot of different charities. So do other celeb's. What about those rich celebs that don't give anything at all? There are hundreds of celebs whose name you never hear about giving anything. Don't knock the folks that do. How much have YOU donated compared to your earnings?
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
22 Mar 10
I'm not knocking those celebs who donate. I'm knocking HOW MUCH they give. The people I listed came with readily available figures. Is there a celeb in particular you'd like to know the charitable giving practices of? I'd be happy to look it up. As one who lives paycheck to paycheck and have to decide which bills to pay when, I don't have any money to offer. I have however fed and clothed people with the meager resources that I have. I've taken people into my home when they needed a place to stay. Lent a hand when I could. The fact of the matter is, you can't compare my day to day existence and finances with a celebrity's. In some regards, I feel that I've given more than those that have the ability to give more. Because they have more, they should give more. In some instances it's because certain people have so much that others have to do without. There's only so much to go around and if a select few keep it all to themselves, what's left for the rest of us. Giving a million when you've got BILLIONS is shameful plain and simple.
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
22 May 10
Well thats a good one you pointed out. Its really shame on celebrities who just for fame uses the name charity and does nothing.
@Mike4me (567)
• Philippines
21 Mar 10
hello there,
Yes I do feel the same wondering the same thing. I hate it when they do that when in fact they can just take money out from their millions of dollars. Why do they still have to conduct those fundraisers and sometimes some celebrities try to put their outfits or clothes to auctions and stuff just to help others.
Are they trying to let everyone know that they are helping? Or they are also making some image of their own. In my opinion, if you really want to help, then you can donate immediately even without anyone knowing, but what most celebrities are doing is the opposite, they always require cameras so see them do something.
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
22 Mar 10
I agree about them feeling the need to have people "see" that they are donating. I've also wondered just how much of their "giving" is to actually help people or to get a tax break. A couple of years ago, I saw a fundraiser that was being hosted by Katie Couric on a ship in the port of Manhattan, NYC. She was broadcasting how many celebrities were there and was very excited to announce that they had "raised" $350,000! There were well over 500 people there and that was the best they could do. Very sad.
