Celebrity Do-Gooders

8 votes

Shakira Pictures: Shakira's Foundation Donates $40 Million to Charity

Sure, there are a lot of celebs out there who seem to enjoy being the center of the universe <<cough, Kanye, cough>>. But there are also a ton of A-list stars who like to do good in the world. Not everyone can be as saintly as Angelina, but some sure try. Here's a rundown on who's doing their part to make the world a better place this week:

Shakira, Shakira – The hip-popping singer knows how to dance and she knows how to give. The Columbian star just donated $45 million to charity (yes, you read that right) from her foundation Latin America in Solidarity Action (trust us, it makes more sense in Spanish). The money is going to help Latin American countries recover from natural disasters and also provide educational opportunities to children in those areas. This is in addition, of course to her Pies Descalzos Foundation for children and her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Sir Elton John – Elton didn't just get knighted for his rocking beats from the 70s and 80s, he's also a dedicated philanthropist. The Elton John AIDS Foundation donates a ton of money every year to help fight the deadly disease. To date, the Foundation has raised over $125 million, with another big chunk coming in this past weekend at their annual (celebrity-packed) gala in New York.

Hayden Panettiere – Our hero Hayden is working with the group Declare Yourself, which encourages young people to vote. Hayden and a bunch of other celebs, including Justin Timberlake, Kristin Bell, Nick Cannon, and Lauren and Whitney from "The Hills", partied it up this week to celebrate the right of everyone over the age of 18 to vote.

What celeb-endorsed cause would you support?