Category Archives: Sports

Ed Begley Jr.

Ed Begley Jr. is a familiar face on the screen, but he’s perhaps better known in environmental circles for being “carbon negative”. He’s a huge supporter of wind energy, check him out discussing vertical axis wind turbines here. He sits on the board of Tree People, and he’s earned some awesome awards from Heal the Bay and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to name a few.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore may be royalty, but she’s not above helping out. A few years ago Ms. Barrymore’s home caught fire in the night, and she credits her survival to the incessant barking of her pooch Flossie. She’s a major supporter of animal rescues, including Much Love Animal Rescue (see her philanthropy) and 800-Save-A-Pet.

Richard Branson

Richard Branson is known for Virgin Atlantic, but his real passion seems to be environmentalism. He’s pledged to give $3 billion ($3 BILLION!) over 10 years to help clean up the planet. He’s big on clean fuel and green technology. Oh, and he’s committed to giving all the proceeds from Virgin airlines and trains towards the cause. Amazing. Check out his well deserved hero status from Time.

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock is an award winning actress and a voice for environmentally conscious living. She has a restaurant in Austin, TX which replaces styrofoam with sugar cane doggie bags. She gave

some great everyday ideas for being better to our planet on Oprah, see them here.

Leonardo DiCaprio

He stole our hearts in Titanic, but he’s giving back to the planet through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. He just donated $1 million to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. He supports water conservation. And just a few years ago he and his mom funded the Leonardo DiCaprio Computer Center at the Los Feliz public library in Los Angeles.

Sir Elton John

ation has done some incredible work in the last two decades. The Foundation has raised over $175 million, which it has used to support more than 55 countries in the fight against AIDS. His “Candle in the Wind” for Princess Diana raised more than $400,000 for charity. He also donated 120 motorcycles for doctors and nurses in Lesotho to use on house calls in remote areas (through Riders for Health). In one year he donated over $43 million to international organizations. One year.

Bill Maher

Some might consider Bill Maher contentious, bu

t there’s nothing controversial about his work on the environment. Maher calls the environ

ment, “the ultimate health care issue“. He may be better known for his work with PETA, particularly for donating his winnings from Celebrity Jeopardy to the group. He also supports gay marriage.

Sir Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney has been supportive of many socially conscious initiatives including the fight against seal hunting, stopping the fur trade in China, removing genetic modifications in food, the US Campaign for Burma and Make Poverty History.

Mr. McCartne

y is a huge supporter of vegetarianism to save the environment (and of course, for animal rights). He speaks out in his own right, but also lends his voice to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Check out this interview where Mr. McCartney talks about a UN report on the effects of the meat industry, and what we can do about it.

He has also helped quite a bit with the campaign against landmines, and was a major supporter of the UN’s Adopt a Minefield program. The program has been completed, successfully clearing more than 1000 minefields.

Steve Nash

Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns scores big in social responsibility with his Steve Nash Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to helping underserved kids in a variety of areas including “enjoyment of life”. He’s also partnered with The Gentleman’s Fund to help promote health. Outside of his foundation, Nash supports the Afghanistan Relief Organization, the China Youth Development Foundation (a

part of Project Hope), and Stop Global Warming. And he’s an all around nice guy.

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone’s work for animal rights makes me happy. Check out her well researched blog, The Kind Life, for an invigorating read. I understand she also has a sanctuary for rescued pets in Los Angeles, but I can’t find it (help update this! Send info to happyelephantcsr at gmail.com). She’s been voted “Sexiest Female Vegetarian” by PETA and has appeared in some racy ads promoting a vegan lifestyle.

*Please note: There are a million activists I haven’t mentioned here. We all know Oprah and Bono do great things for the world, so I’ve taken liberties and included some less well known contributions.