Selected for their outstanding philanthropic actions in a variety categories:
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Muhammad Ali – Parkinson’s Issues
Boxer Muhammad Ali is well known for his one hundred defeats. He is also known for donating countless amounts of time and research to Parkinson's related charities every year. Ali is fighting Parkinson's himself. He helped develop The Muhammad Ali Center, which is a place for people to go to, not only to learn about his life, but to learn about themselves. Ali lends his name and presence to hunger and poverty relief, supports education efforts, promotes adoption and encourages people to respect and better understand one another. It is estimated that he has helped to provide more than 22 million meals to feed the hungry. |
Bob Barker – Animal Issues
Television host Bob Barker is one of the most notable spokespersons in the animal rights movement. He established the DJ&T Foundation, the purpose of which is to help control the cat and dog population. Barker is known to fund the foundation with his own resources to support low-cost or free spay/neuter clinics. Barker has also established endowments of $1 million each at a number of law schools including Stanford, Columbia, Duke and UCLA, for the study of animal rights law. He is a role model for Animal Issues; he is even trying to pass a bill (Bill HR2929) which bans the use of elephants in circuses. |
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Harry Connick, Jr. – Hurricane Katrina Recovery
Actor/Musician Harry Connick, Jr. has agreed to be honorary chair of Habitat for Humanity's "Operation Home Delivery," a long-term rebuilding plan for families victimized by Hurricane Katrina. He filmed a Public Service Announcement to help raise funds for the rebuilding effort. Connick was known to help out with Hurricane Relief in New Orleans, his native hometown. He helped out at the New Orleans Convention Center during these desperate times. Connick also performed at "A Concert for Hurricane Relief" on NBC, to raise funds for those affected. |
Katie Couric – Cancer Issues
Katie Couric focuses her work on more than just being a co-anchor for "The Today Show." She also works deliberatively to increase the awareness of colorectal cancer. In 1999 she co-established the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA). The NCCRA was founded to end the threat of colon cancer through education, new research and regular medical screenings. The NCCRA also provided funding for The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, named after Couric's late husband. The Jay Monahan Center is one of the few cancer and wellness centers in the U.S. that is dedicated to gastrointestinal health. Couric hopes to improve the odds for individuals with gastrointestinal cancers and help prevent the disease in others. |
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Angelina Jolie – Humanitarian Aid
Angelina Jolie, known for her on-screen roles, is also known for spending most of her free time helping refugees under the care of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Jolie has traveled with UNHCR to remote and desolate regions, meeting refugees and field workers in some 20 countries and regions including Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Côte d'Ivoire, Pakistan, Cambodia, Thailand, Ecuador, Kenya, Namibia, Kosovo, Sri Lanka, the Russian Federation, Jordan, Egypt, Chad, Sudan's Darfur region and Lebanon. While Jolie is most valued as a dedicated advocate for refugees, she has also been a generous donor to UNHCR. She has donated to many field operations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Americas. She is often the first private donor to respond to UNHCR appeals for emergencies and forgotten refugee crises across the globe. She covers all of her expenses when she goes on mission with UNHCR, as well as costs related to her World Refugee Day activities and other refugee advocacy projects. These contributions now total well over $3 million. |
Paul Newman – Children’s Issues
Actor Paul Newman has numerous ties to the philanthropic sector. The most well known is through Newman's Own, all of the proceeds from this company, totaling over $175 million, go to charitable organizations of his choice. He is further involved through his active participation on the boards of directors of the "Hole in the Wall Gang" camps (which were initiated and are funded by Newman's Own contributions). The camps are all found under the umbrella name of Association of Hole in the Wall Camps and serve seriously ill children ("Hole in the Wall" is a movie reference to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ). The Scott Newman Center, also founded by Newman, works to prevent substance abuse through education. The center produces short films and other materials to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse. It also runs a camp for children and families whose lives have been affected by drug or alcohol abuse or domestic violence. |
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Robert Redford – Environment
Actor Robert Redford focuses on issues concerning the environment. He launched a radio campaign with the Natural Resources Defense Council on the critical environmental issues facing the country. He urges responsible methods for reducing our oil consumption He has been a forceful advocate for the Clean Air Act, the Energy Conservation and Protection Act, and anti-strip-mining bills. He lends his name to these efforts by testifying on Capitol Hill, and lobbying key members of Congress. The Redford building in Santa Monica houses the Natural Defense Councils office, and its floors are made of bamboo and the carpets from hemp. |
Click here to read the press release.
2005 Phoenix Community Philanthropy Honorees Announced September 19, 2005
 Jimmy Walker, founder of Celebrity Fight Night and a major supporter of numerous nonprofit initiatives was selected as this year's honoree for Individual Leadership.
Photo courtesy of Blacktie-Arizona.com
| | |  Susan Karis, Southwest Region SVP of Clear Channel Radio and active Valley leader was selected as this year's honoree for Corporate Leadership. |
These two wonderful role models of social responsibility received their Golden Karma Awards statues on November 2, at Debbie Gaby's Catwalk for Charity Celebrity Fashion Show luncheon. Click here for more information about this event. Click here to read more details about these two honorees.
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