Cause Celeb

Charity and celebrity go together like hand in glove

By Noa Glouberman and Heather Riccio

      Like it or not, lots of celebrities today use their name and their fame to promote important causes. They establish charitable foundations in their own names or simply use their star power to increase public awareness of everything from diseases to animal rights to political issues.

"We need the political will, and that often comes from the will of the people. So if celebrities or personalities can help to educate the people - not influence them, not tell them (what to do) - just tell them the truth about what's happening and let them form their own opinion, that will strengthen them and they will push their politicians." - Angelina Jolie

Though some people view it as self-serving, the bottom line is that a celebrity can put a worthy cause in the spotlight like nothing else – and that's a good thing, no matter how you look at it. Check out what your fav celeb is dedicating their time to, and how you can help:

The Top Two: Giving Celebs

Angelina Jolie

On top of being one of America's top paid actresses with her paycheck for Mr. & Mrs. Smith equaling 20 million dollars, Ms. Jolie is devotes much of her time to charity work. So much so that at one time, she was contemplating leaving acting for an even more active role in charity work.

Angelina Jolie has been a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Refugee Agency since 2001. She has visited refugee camps in Namibia, Thailand, Ecuador, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Kosovo and Congo. Her extensive charity work even gave way to the King of Cambodia's decision to offer Ms. Jolie full Cambodian citizenship in August of 2005. Jolie is also giving the Cambodian Vision in Development $1.5 million for its environmental protection efforts in remote parts of the country. She was also the first recipient of the citizen of the world award from the UN Correspondent's Association for her work as a goodwill ambassador.

Pierce Brosnan

Brosnan's charity work is so extensive it could rival the organizations themselves. Together with his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, the duo regularly devote their time to many environmental causes such as marine mammal and wetland protection, as well as anti-nuclear, clean air and clean water campaigns.

Both Brosnan and Smith have been honored with humanitarian awards from the Environmental Media Association and Women in Film. Other organizations like Heal the Bay, The American Oceans Campaign, and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have honored them for their help with the ongoing environmental issues.

Brosnan has even devoted his time to women's healthcare and children's issues where he serves as Campaign Chairman for the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which distributed $15,000,000 last year. Some of the charities the duo donate their time to include the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Waterkeeper Alliance, Ocean Futures Society, Oceana, Global Green, The Global Security Institute, Environmental Media Association (EMA), Earth Communications Office (ECO), Roots & Shoots, UNICEF Ireland, Starlight Children's Foundation, The Tibetan School, The Jane Goodall Institute, Revlon Run/Walk For Women, and the list goes on.

Furry Friends

Some celebrities seem to have a love-hate relationship with animals. One minute they're wearing a fabulous mink to the Oscars, and the next they're crashing a fashion show that includes fur. For the most part, though, stars love their furry friends, and many support charitable foundations that help save animals.

One of the most famous (and infamous) animal rights' campaigns in the world is PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (www.peta.org). Among the celebs that literally go to extremes to support PETA are sexpert Ron Jeremy, singer Pink, actress Charlotte Ross, hottie Pamela Anderson and actor James Cromwell, as well as numerous supermodels.

Linda Blair, who played a girl possessed by evil spirits in The Exorcist, is also possessed by a passion for animals. She founded the WorldHeart Foundation (www.lindablairworldheart.com) to improve the quality of life for humans and animals alike.

Bob Barker of The Price is Right, is the founder of the DJ&T Foundation (www.djtfoundation.org), which funds the spaying and neutering of animals. He has also waged a public campaign to ban elephants from circuses and, in 1988, refused to host the Miss America and Miss Universe pageants when officials insisted on giving a fur coat as a prize.

Twins Alexandra Paul (of Baywatch) and Caroline Paul (one of the first women to join the San Francisco Fire Department) are both vegetarians and animal-rights activists. Alexandra's defense of critters extends even to silkworms – she reportedly wore a wedding dress containing no silk when she walked down the aisle!

In the last decade, even supermodels have made their opinions known, with top models Elle MacPherson and Christy Turlington coming out publicly against fur.

Kids and Cures

Former talk show heavyweight Rosie O'Donnell's For All Kids Foundation (www.forallkids.org) supports the social and intellectual development of underserved kids. Since 1997, the foundation has awarded $10.2 million to established childcare programs.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (www.michaeljfox.org) aims to find a cure for the disease by 2010. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease himself, hopes to increase public awareness and raise funds for research.

After directing the Academy Award winning Schindler's List, Steven Spielberg established the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation (www.vhf.org), to chronicle eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust. And Spielberg works double-time as chairman of the Starbright Foundation (www.starbright.org), which works with seriously ill children.

The Last Samurai star and producer Tom Cruise helped open Applied Scholastics International's new global headquarters in Spanish Lake, Missouri and is the chief sponsor of a lower Manhattan detoxification program, based on L. Ron Hubbard's discoveries, that is helping to rid New York fire and rescue vets of debilitating post-9/11 toxins.

Everyone knows Oprah. But did you know Oprah Winfrey uses her celebrity to power Oprah's Angel Network. So far, the organization has built 200 homes for Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org) and sent 150 students to college.

The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (www.apacure.com) supports research to develop treatments and a cure for paralysis from spinal cord injuries. This "super" foundation has raised millions of dollars to enrich the lives of people with such disabilities.

The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance was co-founded by Today host Katie Couric, who underwent a colonoscopy live on national television in 2000. The group hopes to educate the public about the cancer, which is treatable if detected early.

Soccer star Mia Hamm's namesake foundation (www.miafoundation.org) raises money for bone marrow disease research and programs for young women in sports. And the Tiger Woods Foundation (www.twfound.org) works to help children accomplish their life goals.

Hockey and football may be rough sports, but some players of the games are actually soft. The Mario Lemieux Foundation (www.mariolemieux.org), for example, raises money for Hodgkin's disease research, while Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, established the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism (www.dougflutiejrfoundation.org), in honor of their autistic son.

It Takes Two

We can't forget about celebrity power couples, who work two-by-two to make this world a better place.

Michael and Juanita Jordan: In honor of his late father, Michael donates time and cash to orgs like the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club and Family Life Center, while Juanita lends a hand to Pets Are Worth Saving (www.pawschicago.org).

Stephen and Tabitha King: The king of horror and his wife have set up the private, non-profit Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation (www.stkfoundation.org), which recently donated $1.1 million to help build a 12,000-square-foot swimming-pool facility and complex in their hometown of Bangor, Maine.

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith: The Smiths work closely with the Will Smith Foundation, raising thousands of dollars for Coppin State College in Baltimore.

Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson: The newlyweds performed at the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, which kicked off the U.S. Open tennis competition this past fall. Nick also works with the Make A Wish Foundation, while Jessica works to spread the message about the dangers of premarital sex.

Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles: The allegedly engaged couple does a ton of charity work. Beyonce uses her vocals to raise money for the United Negro College Fund (www.uncf.org) and Jay-Z hosts and performs at charity concerts for organizations such as the New York City Mission Society (www.nycmissionsociety.org), raising funds for underprivileged city kids.