Most celebrities boast about the charities they are involved with or donate to, and usually it’s just another ploy to get in the headlines. However, The Giving Back Fund used public records to compile a list of the top 12 celebrities who gave the most in 2008, according to Parade magazine.
Here are the true stars who talk the talk and walk the walk!
1. Paul Newman
HOW MUCH: $21 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: Health initiatives, education, emergency campaigns, and environmental protection (before his death in September 2008)
2. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
HOW MUCH: $13.4 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: A health clinic in Ethiopia; New Orleans redevelopment; the Armed Services YMCA
3. Mel Gibson
HOW MUCH: $6.5 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: Holy Family Church in Agoura Hills, Calif.
4. Richard Childress (former NASCAR racer)
HOW MUCH: $5 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: A pediatric trauma center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
5. Oscar De La Hoya
HOW MUCH: $3.5 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: A hospital and a charter school in Los Angeles
6. Oprah Winfrey
HOW MUCH: $2.4 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: After-school programs across the country and scholarships for students in Whitesboro, N.J.
7. Sam Waterston
HOW MUCH: $2.1 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: Refugees International; the American Institute for Stuttering
8. Yao Ming
HOW MUCH: $2 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: A fund to build earthquake-resistant schools in China
9. Patricia Comwell
HOW MUCH: $2 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: Harvard University and City University of New York
10. Barbara Streisand
HOW MUCH: $1.7 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: The Barbra Streisand Women’s Cardiovascular Research and Education Program in Los Angeles
11. Leonardo DiCaprio
HOW MUCH: $1.5 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: Community development; The Paris Review literary magazine
12. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
HOW MUCH: $1.5 million
TO CAUSES INCLUDING: The Baltimore School of the Arts; Malaria No More; The Make-A-Wish Foundation
Here’s an interesting interview of Will Smith talking about his thoughts on the law of attraction and other simple philosophies.
Smith sites the The Alchemist as one of his favorite books which he found to be very inspiring.
“An alchemist is a mystical chemist and one of the great feats they used to do is they would take a chunk of lead and they would turn lead into gold,” Smith said of the book’s storyline. “I so connected symbolically with turning lead into gold.”
He goes onto talk about how his mindset has always been that he can choose to be whoever he wants to be with hard work.
“I believe I can create whatever I want to create,” Smith said. “I feel very strongly we are who we chose to be.”
Smith goes onto say that success comes from people who are ready for opportunities when they present themselves!
He boasted: “If you stay ready you ain’t gotta get ready!”
You’ll find that the most successful people in the world believe these simple ideas!
Hancock star Johnny Galecki hung out with The Boots Girls and Boots reader Brittany W., at Underground on Thursday night for their new REWIND party. We got a chance to talk with Galecki and asked him what it was like working with Will Smith in their July 4th opening weekend blockbuster hit.
“He’s a fine, fine man,” Galecki told us.
Smith sure is fine and was more than fine in his new super hero flick! Be sure to go see it if you haven’t already!
In a summer of superheroes, Will Smith’sHancock is the most off-beat: a trash-talking alcoholic screw-up who reluctantly helps to save the world even though he’s hated by both the bad guys and the good guys, according to Parade.com. Smith spoke to the on-line magazine about playing a drunken super hero, his workout routine and what drives him in life.
Are you worried about how your fans will feel when they see you drunk and cursing a blue streak?
“All they have to do is have a sense of humor. It is bizarre though. I was looking for something different and I loved the idea of being a superhero who’s invincible but just can’t get his life together.”
Hancock is conflicted and misunderstood. Have you ever felt that way?
“It’s funny. There were really brief periods in my life but it never got dark and painful the way it is for Hancock. I’ve always seen the light. I’ve always seen my way around. I’ve always felt like I could maneuver, whereas Hancock has sort of given up and given in to being miserable. I’ve never done that.”
Smith acknowledges he is in the best physical condition of his life.
“It’s important for me to stay in good physical condition. When you marry a little firecracker like Jada Pinkett you have to stay in shape.”
What drives Will Smith now?
“Don’t feel or acknowledge obstacles and boundaries. I identify with what Barack Obama has called ‘the audacity of hope.’ I know some people may call it the arrogance of hope, or the foolishness of hope, but I believe something gets created when you believe in something.”
In his spare time, he’s gotten hooked on reading…
“And I’m taking what I read and connecting it to my life. How can I take this and apply it to my relationship, how can I apply it to educating my children, how can I apply it to movies, how can I apply it to making the world better?”
Smith attended the world premiere of the new flick with his family in Hollywood last night. I can’t wait to see it, the movie looks hilarious!
Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish hosted the 10th annual White Tie and Tiara Ball to Benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation yesterday in Windsor, UK.
Hollywood power was in full effect with celebs such as Orlando Bloom, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Bill Clinton, Rod Stewart, Mischa Barton, Elizabeth Hurley, Elle Macpherson, Jada Pinkett Smith, Naomi Campbell, Natalie Imbruglia and Jonathan Rhys Meyers all attending the gala.
Our style maven Steph S., wrote up the do’s and don’ts from last nights MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles.
The red carpet for the awards show was quite a spectacle! I saw everything from plastic looking celebs to perfectly matched couples. Here is my recap of do’s & don’t of the red carpet for those of you who missed the show.
The Don’ts for Men:
*Don’t look like you’re trying to be cool by wearing Converse sneakers with black pants. FYI Brody Jenner: Even though you know you look good, those sneakers are ridiculous! I’m sure your lavish closet has some nice Prada loafers in it that you could have worn tonight.
*Coldplay - Leave the matching jackets for New Kids On the Block!
*Don’t use more botox that your plastic looking girlfriend. Ok Spencer Pratt, we all know that you’re very narcissistic, but lay off the botox! Is it really necessary pre-puberty?
Do’s for Men:
*Do look sizzling summer hot like P.Diddy in his summer suit! I love that he stayed away from the color black and wore a sexy light colored number!
*Do look casual chic with your adorable son. Will Smith and his son Jaden took the cutest picture of the night. I love that he made it a family affair.
Don’ts for Ladies:
*Don’t look like you’re trying too hard and wearing an outfit that just isn’t you. Anne Hathaway looked awkward in her rocker style outfit. She should have stayed true to herself and worn a classic short dress.
*Don’t try to hide your gorgeous new body with a bright colored hideous dress. I applaud Nikki Blonsky for her recent weight loss, but I wish she would embrace her curves with a more body skimming dress. Call me if you need a new stylist!
*Don’t pretend that you don’t make money as an actress! Ellen Page obviously doesn’t want to be taken seriously otherwise she would have spent a little more time getting ready. Seriously, did you think people wouldn’t take pictures? Note to Ellen: Avoid the red carpet next time.
*Don’t try to accentuate double D’s please! I understand it’s cool to have a large chest in Hollywood, but Jennifer Hudson needs to keep those girls under wraps once in a while. That hot pink bra and matching belt over a white dress would look better…never! It’s really a shame that she ruins her new figure with hideous clothing that just doesn’t flatter her figure. She does look great from the neck up.
Do’s for Women:
*Do look stunning in a classic black Herve Leger Dress. When in doubt Hollywood, stick to my all time favorite classic designer. These dresses always look good and never go out of style. Rumor Willis looked absolutely incredible in a black Herve Leger dress.
*Do dress age appropriate like Lauren Conrad. She always shows up to every red carpet looking classic and pretty. Her blue one shoulder dress tonight revealed only the outline of her toned figure. She never shows too much of anything and I admire this for a young Hollywood star.
*Do show off your new signing bonus. Audrina Patridge walked the red carpet with a new pair of twins. I have to admit, they do look good in her v-neck navy dress. She didn’t go overboard like one of her other co-stars. The Hills are no longer hills.
*Last, but certainly not least, do glow like Sarah Jessica Parker! She was stunning in her metallic long sleeve dress with her long flowing hair. I only wish that she chose a different pair of Christian Louboutins, because those white ones just don’t look right. She looks better here than she did at all of her Sex and the City movie premieres. After seeing the movie on Friday, I am in awe of her!
Will Smith stars as a lazy superhero who gets on the public’s nerves with his off-beat methods of saving people. Justin Bateman plays a public relations professional who befriends Hancock and along with his wife, played by Charlize Theron they try to fix his public image.
