What once seemed the work of a few established entertainment professionals: Bob Hope’s USO tours, Elizabeth Taylor’s work with AIDS, Paul Newman’s non-profit food company, Newman’s Own, (which since 1982 has given more than $200 million to thousands of charities) has mushroomed into a new breed of do-gooders. Call them “Benestars.”
Case in point George Clooney. Forget his Clark Gable good looks, his acting and directing credits, his Rolodex of rich and famous friends. Today’s tinsel town publicists would probably agree that Clooney’s Hollywood package would not be complete without his own Humanitarian efforts. George and his father Nick Clooney trekked off to Africa’s Southern Sudan, meeting with tribesman and chronicling the story for a world audience. That the two funded a reported $100,000 for supplies, distributed by the International Rescue Committee, is admirable—though not entirely surprising. After all, I recall a recent visit Clooney made on Oprah, where he bowed his head, ever so slightly, then declared that he was “quite honestly embarrassed” by how late he’d come to the Africa effort.
Why should he be embarrassed? Isn’t it the world’s leaders who should hang their heads in shame? Why isn’t the United Nations embarrassed? On a larger scale, don’t we all play a part in the big picture? Who does Clooney think he is? Angelina Jolie?
Here’s how one Hollywood actress has brought attention to Africa’s plight: Controversy. How did she do it, you ask? Just snag one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors fresh off his divorce from America’s sweetheart, (or before, the jury’s out on that one) mixed with an edgy past (remember when Billy Bob’s blood was hanging around her neck?) and combine that with her love for tattoos, world justice, and cute little innocent children, and you have a paparazzi magnet. That Jolie took things one-step further by having Brad’s Baby in a Namibian hospital, again, to call attention to that plagued continent, may not garner a peace prize nomination, (leave that accolade to Bono).
Not that I’ve got anything against Ms. Jolie. I just have to wonder. How does the Tomb Raider star expect to separate her philanthropic efforts with her acting career when the two already seem to blend.
While Leonardo DeCaprio, Edward Norton, and Laurie Lennard (wife of Larry David, of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame) are saving the environment, you have Woody Harrelson championing Hemp, Paul McCartney’s soon to be ex Heather Mills sticking up for clubbed seals, and who knows who else rolling up their shirt sleeves to give back, making a difference by redirecting their celebrity spotlight onto a cause. Good for them. Good for us. We need more people like Cher, who made an impassioned plea for our troops to be armed with modified helmets, safer helmets, something you’d think the powers that be should have called attention to before the 70’s songstress felt the need to stand up for her country.
There are others worthy of admiration. John Bon Jovie gives to Philadelphia-based charities through his arena football team, Dennis Leahry has made a significant investment in the families of firefighters, and Nicolas Cage has made a $2 million donation to the surviving families of soldiers killed in Operation Freedom. It makes you think what can you do to give back.
Perhaps the greater good that comes from the generosity of today’s stars—as we are incessantly being bombarded with photos and sound bites of their do-gooding—we become more civic minded in the process.
Perhaps the best example of how we can all make a difference comes from Oprah. ABC will air "Oprah Winfrey's The Big Give," which will follow ten people given the opportunity to use financial tools and resources to help others, with one contestant emerging as the winner, making their dream of helping others a reality. It's this kind of example that should trickle down to the masses.
Which brings us to the issue of celebrities whose philanthropic efforts overshadow their creative careers. Again, film stars like Angelina Jolie have melded their art with their humanitarian efforts. It is admirable. I just want to start the conversation: Do you miss celebrities for celebrity sake? Have some celebrities gained too much public attention and not enough results?
Perhaps in the end what's most important is what we can all do on a smaller scale to make a difference.
So, if you're looking for a cause search no further than Kevin Bacon of "Diner" and "Footloose" fame. His nonprofit http://www.sixdegrees.org shifts the focus from national celebrities to regular everyday folks who want to do good. And that's how one celebrity has connected to the people in bringing about change for the greater good.
