Celebrities Who Have Founded Their Own Charities!

Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Pharrell Williams, and Beyonce have used their influence to better the world!

With great power comes great responsibility. It is no surprise that Hollywood celebrities have tremendous influence over the masses. The question is whether or not they choose to use this influence for good. Many celebrities have harnessed their star power and devoted their efforts to betterment. These celebrities have started their very own charities for a variety of causes.

Elton John

Elton John is a trailblazer in music, fashion, and philanthropy. The Elton John AIDS Foundation is rated an impressive four stars on Charity Navigator. The organization has devoted its efforts to ending the AIDS epidemic since 1992. To date, the foundation has saved 5 million lives and raised 525 million dollars worldwide.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez teamed up with her sister Lynda to found the Lopez Family Foundation in 2009. The foundation aims to improve healthcare for women and children, and first paired with Los Angeles Children’s Hospital to support the telemedicine program. In addition, Lopez recently announced her plans to partner with microfinance organization Grameen America as a part of the organization’s latest efforts to empower Latina entrepreneurs.

Michael J. Fox

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has been dedicated to finding a cure for Parkison’s disease for over a decade. Iconic actor Michael J. Fox created the foundation in 2000 after publicly disclosing his diagnosis, at age 29, with Parkinson’s disease. The foundation has funded over 1 Billion dollars in research programs to date.

Miley Cyrus

The Happy Hippie Foundation was founded by Miley Cyrus 5 years ago to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth, and other vulnerable populations. All Happy Hippie operational costs are funded privately, so 100% of all donations directly benefit those in need.

Beyonce

Beyonce founded BeyGood during the Mrs. Carter World Tour in 2013. In addition to funding scholarships, the program also works with other local charities to help fundraise and raise awareness for local causes. Queen B really does it all.

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams has had several philanthropic endeavors throughout his career. The latest is YELLOW. Through YELLOW, Williams wants to “even the odds” for all students to make sure the next generation has the tools and resources they need to succeed, especially under-resourced youth. He created YELLOWHAB, a micro-school that gives students an immersive learning experience based on skill, not age.