The big celebrity givers

A new ranking has been released by Parade.com on the biggest celebrity givers of 2008, among whom household names such as Oprah Winfrey, Paul Newman, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Paul Newman, who sadly passed away in September 2008, still manages to posthumously top the list with $21 million donated to health initiatives, education, emergency campaigns, and environmental protection.  A great philanthropist, Newman co-founded the food company “Newman’s Own” in 1982, which profits, after tax, have systematically been given to charity.  According to the Newman’s Own website, over $270 million has been generated for charity since 1982.

As a couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are reported having given away a large total of $13.4 million going to causes such as a health clinic in Ethiopia, New Orleans redevelopment and the Armed Services YMCA, a non-profit organization which “exemplifies the American spirit of caring.”  Long live Brangelina and their charitable inclinations – even if they can border on the slightly mauvais gout sometimes…

Further down the giving line, Oprah Winfrey is said to have donated $2.4 million to causes including after-school programs across the country and scholarships for students in Whitesboro, New Jersey.  In 2004, Winfrey made history by being the first African American as well as second self-made woman to appear in Business week’s annual list of biggest American givers, coming in at number 40.  In 2008, she maintained her position within the magazine’s top 50 coming in at number 57.

With a claimed $2 million, the great Houston Rockets basketball player, Yao Ming, is said to be supporting a project to build earthquake-resistant schools in his home country of China.

Run baby run

Charity-focused celebrities achieved even more publicity this week in the aftermath of the world famous New York marathon which took place on November 1.  Among the most prominent were Edward Norton and Alanis Morissette who were part of a 30 strong group of marathoners who were running for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, which aims to preserve the ecosystem and culture of the 7,000-member tribe in Kenya.  The group, which was also composed of two members of the Maasai tribe, managed to raise $760,000 in sponsorships.

Not bad.