If you think these celebrities squander all their money on jets and private islands, you’re wrong. What they all have in common is they donate lots of money, start highly successful charitable foundations and do hands-on or philanthropic work. Many listed here are involved with several philanthropies and donate to various foundations. It’s hard to calculate the exact amount of money each star has donated — some choose to keep that information private. These are 10 of the most charitable black celebrities.
Oprah
Oprah has not only donated more than $60 million to several charities; she’s also founded several philanthropic organizations such as the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa and rebuilding the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. She also began the Angel Network, which directs 100 percent of all donations to one of Oprah’s charity projects or other charity work.
Beyonce helped fund a team of inventors who created a neonatal baby incubator that promises to save thousands of lives. Her donation of $125,000 should hopefully get them off their feet. Along with husband Jay-Z, she also raised $1 million for the Shawn Carter foundation that helps send kids to college, and with her mother and sister she founded the Beyonce Cosmetology Center, offering cosmetology training to women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
Every year Keys hosts a Black Ball that raises millions of dollars to support those affected by HIV/AIDS. At her ball, she honors other great philanthropists in the African American community.
The NBA star is the founder of the CP3 Afterschool Zone program providing education, activities and special trips for children in need after school. Paul partnered with JPMorgan Chase, which matched every dollar Paul donated, raising $1 million for the program.
The Grammy Award-winning artist founded the Show Me Campaign, an organization dedicated to minimizing poverty in the U.S. through long-term solutions such as better education. Legend sits on the board of Teach for America and Harlem Village Academies.
The NBA star founded the Lebron James Family Foundation which funds several charitable projects around the country, including the Boys and Girls Club of Akron, Ohio, and the I Promise Program, which works to inspire people across the country to do charitable work.
The TV personality and author started the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation, which funds several mentoring programs for young men in cities across the U.S. The foundation also funds the Girls Who Rule the World Weekend in Atlanta, Georgia — a mentoring event for young girls.
The Grammy Award-Winning artist and producer started the I.am.angel Foundation, which tackles several issues such as housing foreclosures, unemployment, and lack of funding and access to education. Through his foundation and with the help of JPMorgan Chase, Will.i.am opened the Chase Homeownership Center in East Los Angeles, educating homeowners and helping those facing foreclosure.
The Smiths started the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, through which they’ve donated to the Lupus Foundation and the Make A Wish Foundation, they’ve help fund clean water efforts in Ethiopia and donated to the Baltimore School for the Arts.
Williams is the co founder of the Driving Force Giving Circle that helps encourage celebrities to donate. She was also one of the first donors to Huddle Up, a program that encourages minority male achievement, and she is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Asia.