News Article from Parade

Here is a list of Celebrities who gave the most in the year 2008.  This list was compiled from Public Records, so it is possible that anonymous donations were given by these celebrities and others.  However, I don’t think celebrities do shit anonymously because they are addicted to being the center of attention, therefore, I believe this list could be fairly accurate.

Paul Newman topped the list at $21 million to Health initiatives, education, emergency campaigns, and environmental protection (before his death in September 2008) – This man was incredible.  Newman was a co-founder of Newman’s Own, a food company from which Newman donated all post-tax profits and royalties to charity. As of October 2008, these donations had exceeded US $250 million.  Paul Newman is the definition of a man and an amazing humanitarian.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt rounded out the 2nd spot giving $13.4 million towards a health clinic in Ethiopia; New Orleans redevelopment and the Armed Services YMCA.   They are a couple, so technically they each have given about $7 million of their own money if you split it evenly.  No matter how you look at it, it’s a ton of money.  I don’t want to like either of these two, but it is impossible.  Every single day they are working towards making this world a better place.  They have used their celebrity in the best possible way and will most likely continue to do so in the future.  Bitch about them adopting children in other countries, bitch about them helping other countries, the truth is they have done their damn fair share of helping America and especially New Orleans.  Kudos to the Jolie-Pitts!

Mel Gibson – $6.5 million to the Holy Family Church in Agoura Hills, CA. Mel Gibson is an ass.  The Holy Family Church in Agoura Hills is not ackowledged by the Roman Catholic Church.  They have allegedly preached anti-Semitic beliefs and is pretty much solely sponsored by Gibson.  This church is filled with holocaust deniers.  This is not charity, it is f-ing insanity.

Richard Childress (former Nascar racer) – $5 million to a pediatric trauma center in Winston-Salem, NC. I have no idea who this guy is so I did a little research.  After being a NASCAR badass, he eventually opened a vineyard in North Carolina and became a buh-billionaire.  I like this guy and it looks like he has done a lot of good.

Oscar De La Hoya – $3.5 million towards a hospital and charter school in LA. Listen, there was some speculation that the guy got busted cheating on his wife and dressing in women’s clothing.  So be it.  He donated a shit ton of money (as well he should have) and that’s rad.

Oprah Winfrey – $2.4 million towards after school programs across the country and scholarships for students in Whitesboro, NJ. I honestly cannot f-ing believe that Oprah is 6th on this list.  I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT.  I get it, celebrities are human too…blah blah eff you barf.  She is the most powerful and wealthy woman on the planet practically.  She should be on the top of the list, every single year until her show gets cancelled and/or she dies.  She has spent her life capitalizing on the success of OTHER PEOPLE, therefore I believe at the very least 50% of this womans money should go to charity.  Shame on you Oprah.  And I know damn well you aren’t donating anonymously.

Sam Waterston – $2.1 million towards Refugees International and the American Institute for Stuttering. Dude is on Law and Order.  He has donated time and money to all sorts of charities and organizations throughout his life.  Why the hell is this guy on this list and Johnny Depp is not?  Or Eddie Murphy?  All of whom were the highest earners in 2008 each making well over $50 million during the year.  WHY ARE THEY NOT ON THIS LIST?

Yao Ming – $2 million towards the fund to build earthquake resistant schools in China.  Hell yes.  Yao Ming plays for the Houston Rockets and hails from China.  He gave a SIGNIFICANT amount of money to assist in this organization to help build earthquake resistant schools.  He rocks.  Currently he has a 5 year deal with the Rockets for $12.5 million dollars.  Do the math…..$2 million to a single organization in one year is A HUGE DEAL.

Patricia Cornwell (author) – towards Harvard University and City University of New York. Who? She writes Crime books. She is a drunk, besties with Reverend Billy Graham and close with the Bush family.  She’s also given a ton of money to the Republican party and a bunch of other organizations that are worthless and have too much money already.   P.S. She’s a lesbian

Barbara Streisand – $1.7 million towards The Barbara Streisand Women’s Cardiocascular Research and Education Program in LA. Babwa! She’s a good lady, gives he fair share and does her thing.  She could be giving more and it’s a bit sketch to me whenever a celebrity gives to their own charity, but I will attempt to believe that her organization is legit.

Leonardo DiCaprio – $1.5 million towards community development and The Paris Review literary magazine.  Maybe Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t realize that the magazine business is dying…..but I guess if he believes in it, so be it.  He has the money, he should be giving and that’s all that matters.

Will Smith and Jada Smith – $1.5 million towards The Baltimore School of Arts, Malaria No More and The Make a Wish Foundation. Way too low.  Way way way way wayyyyyy too low.  Will Smith made $80 million in 2008.  $80 FUCKING MILLION DOLLARS!!!!! Not cool Will, not cool at all.  You have WAY too much money and you should be giving PAUL NEWMAN amounts of money!!!!!  I do like that they gave towards Make a Wish.  2009 better be a banner year for the Smiths and charity givings.  I don’t even want to imagine how much of their money was given to Scientology.  *shudder*

LeRoy Neiman (artist) – $1.5 million towards The Arts Horizons LeRoy Neiman Art Center in Harlem, NY.  If you have ever browsed through Playboy, then chances are you have seen his stuff.  His annual sales of art is around $10 million annually which is very impressive.  Another “I gave money to my own charity” dude, but it’s for a school he created in Harlem. I’m down with that.

Dean Koontz – $1.4 million towards Canine Companions for Independence. I like that Koontz gave to an organization that I am assuming is near and dear to him.  Canine Companions is a wonderful organization and I am going to bet that his generous contribution helped out a lot.  He has also given his fair share of funds to the Republican Party :/

Marc Bulger (QB for the Rams) - $1.3 million towards The Backstoppers Inc.(a police officers and firefighters fund of St. Louis, MO). Another Sports guy.  But I have to ask, where the hell is Tiger Woods on this list?  Where is LeBron James? Kobe? Shaq? A-Rod? Instead we have this unknown guy giving millions to a small organization in St. Louis.  I sometimes can’t stand athletes.  They are showboating ass clowns.

Bob Barker – $1.2 million towards various animal charities, pet spaying and neutering programs across the country.  Not surprised and happy to see him on the list.  Animal charities are extremely important, he has done a lifetimes worth of work for them and continues to do so.

Nicolas Cage – $1.1 million towards Amnesty International. I’m a little confused about this one.  According to every single news outlet in the world, Nic Cage owes $6 million in back taxes to the IRS…..so i’m not sure why he was giving that much money away, unless of course his accountant was actually screwing him like he claims.  Either way, good for Nic.

Drew Barrymore – $1 million towards The U.N.’s World Food Program.  She’s trendy as hell, but a million bucks is a million bucks.  She’s a good person who managed to not become a complete and utter disaster growing up in Hollywood.

Jenny Jones – $1 million towards community improvement projects.  How the hell does Jenny Jones have a million dollars is what I am wondering?  And I cannot believe she is on this list on top of all the other people I have mentioned.  Not to mention every single other actor and actress in the world.  JENNY JONES?

Jimmy Dean – $1 million towards Wayland Baptist University for campus improvements and endowments.  mmm, sausage.  Towards a college, meh, not that big of a deal.

Penny Hardaway (NBA) – $1 million for the Athletic Hall of Fame at University of Memphis.   Another sports guy.  For the Athletic Hall of Fame?  That seems really friggin weird.

Roger and Chaz Ebert – $1 million towards The Robert Ebert Program for Film Studies Fund at the University of Illinois.  Another “my own charity is getting my charity”.  And its an acting school…..meh, if you are a great actor you don’t need no stinkin schooling.

Isabel Allende (author) – $900k towards The Global Women’s Fund, Marine Education Fund.  I don’t know who this woman is and I honestly don’t care.  $900k is awesome.

Larry David – $720k towards the NY Restoration Project, national Resource Defense Council.  Should have given more, but I will allow it for this was probably a personal contribution for something he felt strongly about.

Andre Agassi – $540k towards The Andre Agassi College Prep Academy in Las Vegas, NV.  Considering he is a former meth addict, this is a great contribution towards HIS OWN DAMN CHARITY.

Jeff Gordon – $526,000 towards Riley Hospital for Children, Northeast Medical Center, Hendrick Marrow Foundation.  Anything with children is a sell with me.   He made $11 million in 2008, so i’d say this is a nice chunk of change for a great cause.

Leonard and Susan Nimoy – $510k towards The Nimoy Foundation supporting arts and education about the arts. Yet another who is giving their money toward the charity that they created.  Not much to say.  Why isn’t Tom Cruise on this list again?  Where is Ben Roethlisberger, that mothereffer made $23 mil in 2008?

Cher – $500k towards various health and research programs, veterans rights groups and childrens rights organizations.  Down with Cher.  She gives.  She will always give.

This list made me want to puke.  I hope it’s not real.  I don’t know how legit and resourceful PARADE magazine is, but i’m assuming that they have to have some sort of merit when it comes to these types of “lists”.  Either way, I can think of about a hundred celebrities who should be on this list and aren’t.  I do not believe they are giving anonymously.  I do not believe this list is completely inaccurate.  Celebrities are scumbags.  They do not give.  They do not give even a QUARTER of the amount of funds and time that normal Americans do.  It’s sad and I hate them.

Love,

Jamie