Celebrities Who Are Doing Their Best To Make A Real Difference

Jordan Claes
Taylor Swift dressed in a squirrel costume.
instagram | @taylorswift

The world around us is in a state of decay. It seems like every time we turn on the television, we're bearing witness to some new atrocity taking place in all corners of the world.

Luckily, amidst the chaos, there is a large minority of celebrities who are intent on using their star power and considerable influence for good. Have a look below and check out these celebs who are doing their best to make a real difference.

Angelina Jolie is the Second Coming of Mother Teresa.

Not only is Angelina a goodwill ambassador for the UN, but she also works closely with refugees all over the world. She has worked tirelessly to combat poverty and disease all over the world.

George Clooney is a global humanitarian.

George Clooney talking into a radio in 'The Midnight Sky'.
Giphy | NETFLIX

George has been an active participant in the "Not On Our Watch" project for years. He uses his star power to attract attention to aid and prevent mass tragedies all over the world.

Brad Pitt was hand-delivering boxes of groceries to families in South Central, LA at the height of the pandemic.

Not only is Brad a man of the people, but he is also a spokesman for the One Campaign, designed to persuade the U.S. to allocate an extra 1% of its budget to help supply Africa with basic needs.

Keanu Reeves donated over 70% of his salary from 'The Matrix' to aid in the fight against Leukemia.

Keanu Reeves as Neo in 'The Matrix' dodging bullets on a rooftop.
Giphy | PeacockTV

In case you were curious, that number came out to just over $31.5 million. Reeves was motivated to help find a cure after his younger sister, Kim, was diagnosed with the disease.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are doing all that they can to aid Ukrainian refugees.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively taking a selfie at the Met Gala.
instagram | @vancityreynolds

"In 48 hours, countless Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes to neighboring countries," Reynolds explained via Twitter. "They need protection. When you donate, we’ll match it up to $1,000,000, creating double the support."

Jack Harlow is finger-licking good.

After a series of devastating tornadoes rocked the Kentucky area in 2021, Harlow's home state, Jack teamed up with the iconic fast food brand KFC in order to donate $250,000 to the Red Cross.

Dwayne Johnson partnered with Under Armor to provide gear for his old high school football teams.

"My family was evicted from Hawaii and forced to move to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania," Dwayne tweeted. "Times were tougher back then, but I will always be grateful to McKinley High & Freedom High for the invaluable lessons of life I was taught."

Gigi Hadid has pledged 100% of her fall earnings to aid victims of war.

Gigi Hadid wearing a white snapback ball cap with a white spaghetti strap halter top.
instagram | @gigihadid

"I am pledging to donate my earnings from the Fall 2022 shows to aid those suffering from the war in Ukraine, as well as continuing to support those experiencing the same in Palestine," Gigi wrote via Instagram.

John Cena wants to make your wish come true.

John Cena as Peacemaker in 'The Suicide Squad'.
Giphy | The Suicide Squad

John Cena has been partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for the bulk of his career. To date, he holds the record for most wishes granted by any celebrity, with over 650 wishes granted.

The topic of mental health hits close to home for Ariana Grande.

Ariana Grande bent over, wearing a tube top and a long skirt.
instagram | @arianagrande

On October 10th, 2021, for World Mental Health Day, Ariana took to Instagram to announce that she would be partnering with BetterHelp in order to provide $5 million worth of free therapy to those in need.

Kanye West is a modern-day Santa Claus.

Kanye West on stage at the MTV Awards.
Giphy | 2022 MTV Video Music Awards

Kanye's love for the city of Chicago has been well-documented over the years. In 2021, the iconic hip-hop artist/business mogul donated roughly 4000 toys to support the Englewood neighborhood in his hometown.

Jay-Z is known as much for his philanthropy as he is for his music.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z wearing dark sunglasses, standing side-by-side.
instagram | @beyonce

Jay-Z has donated time and money to The Boys and Girls Club, Artists for Peace and Justice, as well as Music For Relief. It's estimated that his giving total is north of $450 million.

Lizzo cares about female reproductive rights.

Lizzo wearing a pink wig and a matching pink cheetah-print bodysuit.
instagram | @lizzobeeating

After the United States supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade, Lizzo pledged to donate $500,000 from her most recent tour to Planned Parenthood and Abortion Rights. Live Nation agreed to match the donation, bringing the amount up to a cool $1 million.

Warren Buffet may just be the biggest philanthropist of all time.

The Chairman/CEO of Berkshire Hathaway has pledged to give away 99% of his entire fortune to charity. Warren co-founded The Giving Pledge, and so far has donated over $46 billion.

Miley Cyrus is an advocate and an ally for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Miley Cyrus lying in bed, drinking a cup of tea.
instagram | @mileycyrus

Back in 2014, Miley used her considerable influence to found the Happy Hippie Foundation — a non-profit that focuses on youth homelessness, LGBTQIA+ rights, and other at-risk demographics.

Leonardo DiCaprio is striving to save the planet.

Leo has been one of the most vocal celebrities when it comes to the topic of climate change. He has used his global stardom to establish The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, aimed at providing relief for environmental disasters and conservation efforts.

Eminem is looking to change the landscape for at-risk youth in Detroit.

Through the Marshall Mathers Foundation, hip-hop legend Eminem is looking to give the youth of Detroit a fighting chance. It's estimated that Eminem has donated close to $180 million to charity.

Kylie Jenner helped build a new lounge at Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Kylie Jenner walking through a balloon-lined corridor.
Giphy | E!

The space is set to be utilized for teens undergoing cancer treatments. In order to aid in the project, Kylie donated $500,000 through her company, Kylie Cosmetics.

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have a soft spot when it comes to furthering scientific innovation and education.

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan in a hot springs in Iceland.
instagram | @zuck

The Facebook founder and his wife started The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative back in 2015, and so far have given out more than $3 billion in grants.

Michael Jordan donated $2 million from his Netflix documentary, 'The Last Dance', to help feed the needy.

Michael Jordan in 'The Last Dance'.
Giphy | ESPN

"I am proud to be donating additional proceeds from The Last Dance to Feeding America and its member food banks in the Carolinas and Chicago to help feed America's hungry," Jordan said in a statement.

Taylor Swift is helping to inspire America's youth.

Taylor Swift is one of the most philanthropic young stars in the music business today. She has worked alongside countless charities, including the World Health Organization, Feeding America, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.