Celebs Whose Charity Work Focused on Underrepresented Communities

Celebrity giving has changed a lot. It’s no longer just about writing checks; many stars are now dedicated to long-term efforts to support people facing hardship. Today, you’ll find a lot of well-known people using their money and influence to fight for fairer access to things like education, healthcare, and basic rights. They often team up with smaller, local organizations to make sure help actually reaches the people who need it most. By focusing on overlooked communities, these celebrities are helping to fill gaps in funding and support.

Rihanna

Rihanna started the Clara Lionel Foundation in 2012 to help communities around the world through education and disaster relief. The foundation primarily focuses on improving education and healthcare for students in Africa and the Caribbean. Rihanna has given millions of dollars to help communities build resilience against climate change, as these areas are especially vulnerable to environmental issues. She also provides scholarships for students from the Caribbean to attend college in the U.S.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé created BeyGOOD to help people in underserved communities around the world with financial support and educational opportunities. During the recent health crisis, the organization started a program to help families in cities avoid losing their homes. She also created the Homecoming Scholars Award Program, which provides funding for students at historically Black colleges and universities. Through the BeyGOOD for Burundi partnership, she’s also worked to bring clean water to people in Burundi.

LeBron James

LeBron James started the I PROMISE School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, to help students who were struggling in traditional schools. The school is free for students and provides them with meals, and also offers job support for their parents. LeBron has also pledged to cover college tuition at the University of Akron for students who successfully complete the program. Through his foundation, he aims to create a nurturing space that supports the emotional and social well-being of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey created the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa to give bright, disadvantaged girls a top-notch education. She’s invested over $100 million in the school, making sure students have excellent facilities and support. Oprah also continues to help these students succeed as they go on to universities worldwide, with the goal of developing a new generation of female leaders who can improve their communities.

Angelina Jolie

For over twenty years, Angelina Jolie has worked with the UN Refugee Agency, traveling to conflict zones more than 60 times to see firsthand the difficulties faced by people forced to leave their homes. She especially focuses on protecting refugee women and children, who are often the most at risk during crises. Jolie also helped create the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, an organization that provides schooling to children living in war-affected areas.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams created the Serena Williams Fund to help create fairer opportunities through education and by strengthening communities. The fund has built schools in Kenya and Jamaica, giving children in rural areas access to better education. It also supports the Yetunde Price Resource Center, which provides help to people affected by violence in communities that need it most. Serena is also a strong voice for equal pay and improved healthcare for women of color.

Common

Common founded Imagine Justice to work on changing the prison system and fighting for fairness for people who are incarcerated. He’s also known for writing the song ‘Glory’ for the movie ‘Selma,’ which celebrated civil rights pioneers. Through his Dreamers Only Foundation in Chicago, he supports young people in cities by offering training in the arts and leadership. Ultimately, his efforts are designed to help prevent young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, from ending up in the criminal justice system by giving them positive and creative opportunities.

John Legend

John Legend started the FREEAMERICA campaign to raise awareness and spark discussion about too many people being in jail and the problems with the criminal justice system in the US. He visits prisons to talk with inmates and understand the issues they face. The campaign works with leaders at all levels of government to push for changes that would lower the number of people in prison, and also supports programs that help people who have been released get back on their feet and rejoin their communities.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis partners with the No Kid Hungry campaign to fight childhood hunger in the US. She often shares her own experiences growing up in poverty to highlight the fact that millions of children don’t have enough to eat. Davis supports programs that offer free breakfast at school and meals during the summer, especially in lower-income communities. She believes that all children, no matter where they come from, deserve access to nutritious food.

Leonardo DiCaprio

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation works to protect fragile natural environments and support the rights of indigenous communities worldwide. DiCaprio has given millions of dollars to the Amazon Sacred Headwaters initiative, which focuses on protecting the lands of indigenous groups in Ecuador and Peru. The foundation collaborates directly with tribal leaders to make sure conservation projects respect their land rights and culture. DiCaprio also uses his public voice to draw attention to how environmental damage most severely affects vulnerable populations.

Zendaya

Zendaya is a dedicated supporter of Convoy of Hope, an organization that helps people affected by disasters and provides food to those in need. She’s used her birthday to raise money for schools in Africa and to help people recover from natural disasters. As an advocate for diversity, she also works to improve representation of women of color in the fashion and beauty worlds. Additionally, she partners with groups that bring clean water and healthcare to underserved communities in developing countries.

Chance the Rapper

Chance the Rapper started SocialWorks to help young people in Chicago through art and education. He gave $1 million to Chicago Public Schools to support arts and extracurricular activities. Through the My State of Mind program, his organization also offers mental health support in communities that need it most. Chance often hosts open mic nights to give young creatives a space to share their work and connect with each other.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda has partnered closely with the Hispanic Federation to help Puerto Rico recover and rebuild after major hurricanes. He’s raised millions of dollars for infrastructure and small businesses, and created the Flamboyan Arts Fund to protect the island’s vibrant arts and culture. Beyond disaster relief, he champions immigrant rights and provides scholarships for Latino students pursuing careers in the arts.

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington is a leader with Voto Latino, an organization dedicated to getting more young Latinos involved in civic life. She uses her influence to promote voting and census participation, helping ensure that these communities get the resources they deserve. Washington also champions safe and fair workplaces for women across all fields. Ultimately, her work is about empowering underrepresented communities to speak up and create positive political and social change.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan started a foundation to help people in rural China by providing healthcare and aid after disasters. The foundation has built many schools and community centers to give more children in poor areas access to education. It also provides scholarships for bright students who are struggling financially. Jackie Chan often visits these remote areas himself to deliver supplies and offer support.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez created the Rare Impact Fund to raise $100 million for mental health services, focusing on communities that don’t have easy access to support. She’s also working to bring mental health education into schools, helping young people understand and manage their feelings. Ultimately, she wants to make it easier for everyone to get help and break down the stigma around mental health.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato is a well-known supporter of both mental health and LGBTQ+ rights. Throughout her career, she’s partnered with groups like Global Citizen to offer mental health services to refugees and those forced to leave their homes. She often shares her own experiences to encourage open and honest conversations about addiction and recovery, especially within communities that face challenges. Lovato also champions initiatives that create safe environments and provide resources for LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness or discrimination.

Elton John

The Elton John AIDS Foundation works worldwide to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS. It concentrates on helping those most at risk, like the LGBTQ+ community and people in developing countries. Through fundraising, the foundation supports local projects and fights the stigma surrounding the disease, ensuring everyone has access to compassionate care and medical help.

Eva Longoria

The Eva Longoria Foundation empowers Latinas by providing the resources they need to thrive through education and by supporting their entrepreneurial ambitions. They offer programs to get parents involved in their children’s learning and focus on STEM education for young girls. The foundation also provides microloans and business training to Latina entrepreneurs, who frequently struggle to get funding from traditional sources. Ultimately, this work is about creating more opportunities and building a stronger economy within the Latino community.

Gina Rodriguez

Gina Rodriguez is a strong supporter of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which helps Latino students afford college. She famously redirected money she would have spent on awards season events to create a four-year scholarship for an undocumented student. As an actress, she’s dedicated to improving representation of Latinos in all aspects of Hollywood. Rodriguez also believes that education is key to helping people improve their lives and gain more opportunities.

George Clooney

George Clooney helped create The Sentry, an organization that investigates and reveals how money fuels conflict and corruption in Africa. He focuses on holding leaders accountable for profiting from human rights violations, particularly in places like Sudan that often don’t get enough attention. He’s used satellite images to watch for possible war crimes and gather evidence for legal cases. Ultimately, his foundation works to break the cycles of violence that harm vulnerable communities.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai created the Malala Fund to champion every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe schooling. The fund supports local activists working to improve education for girls in countries where access to school is most difficult. Malala also uses her platform to push for policies that promote equal educational opportunities for all genders. Ultimately, her work aims to empower girls in underserved communities to become leaders and speak up for their own rights.

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams started Yellow, a nonprofit dedicated to giving children in underserved communities access to quality education. Yellow creates learning spaces designed to meet the individual needs of students from all backgrounds. Additionally, he founded Black Ambition, which provides funding and guidance to Black and Latinx entrepreneurs working in tech and healthcare. Through these initiatives, Williams is working to break down obstacles that prevent people from underrepresented groups from achieving financial success.

Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick started Know Your Rights Camp to help young Black and Brown people understand their legal rights and succeed in life. The organization runs camps nationwide where participants learn how to handle interactions with police, and also offers guidance on managing finances and staying healthy. Kaepernick’s work is dedicated to fighting for civil rights and challenging unfair systems in the United States.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys started the organization Keep a Child Alive to help families in Africa and India who are affected by HIV and AIDS. The group provides comprehensive care, including food, medical treatment, and support for both children and the adults caring for them. Keys has organized many fundraising events, raising millions of dollars to improve healthcare in areas with limited resources. She believes everyone, no matter where they live, should have access to the medical care they need to survive.

Lizzo

Lizzo actively uses her influence to support smaller organizations working on issues like social justice and reproductive rights. For example, during Juneteenth, she donated a substantial amount of money to groups helping Black women and transgender individuals. She also promotes self-acceptance and body positivity as a way to challenge conventional beauty standards. A lot of her charitable work focuses on providing direct support to people in need within cities and underserved communities.

Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion started the Pete and Thomas Foundation to help seniors and students in communities that need support. The foundation provides scholarships and helps with housing costs, giving people the resources to succeed in school and life. She’s also given money to groups offering mental health services and care for people in nursing homes in Houston, where she grew up. Her main goal is to support the community that helped launch her career and inspire the next generation.

America Ferrera

I’m a huge supporter of America Ferrera and the incredible work she’s doing with Harness. It’s an organization she started to connect creators – artists, influencers, people with platforms – with grassroots organizers who are working for real change. What I love is that Harness focuses on lifting up the voices of communities that often aren’t heard, hoping to inspire people to get involved in politics and their communities. America is a strong advocate for immigrants’ rights and making sure we see diverse stories and people represented in the media. Ultimately, she’s trying to build a more inclusive society, and she believes storytelling and bringing communities together are the keys to doing that.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson created The Rock Foundation to help seriously ill children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. He often partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfill the dreams of children battling tough illnesses. The foundation also supports schools in low-income communities by providing things like educational materials and fitness programs. Johnson uses his public influence to inspire strength and create chances for those facing difficult circumstances.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson started the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to help with the mental health crisis affecting the Black community. The foundation offers free therapy and supports students pursuing careers in mental healthcare. While promoting her film ‘The Color Purple,’ she spoke about her commitment to this cause, emphasizing the need for emotional healing and breaking down the shame often associated with mental illness. Her goal is to make sure everyone has access to mental healthcare that understands and respects their cultural background.

Share your thoughts on these impactful celebrity foundations in the comments.

2026-01-26 06:17