Stars Inspire Giving Back This Holiday Season

By Aynslee Darmon. 5 Nov 2020 1:54 PM

With the holidays around the corner, the season of giving is officially here. Take a look at some of Hollywood’s most giving stars and their favourite charities to donate to.

Seth MacFarlane's Fight For The Rainforest

Photo: ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Harry & Meghan’s Spin On ’12 Days Of Christmas’

Photo: Shutterstock

Photo: EPA/NINA PROMMER

Celine Dion Supports Cystic Fibrosis Research

Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Photo: Laurent VU/SIPA/Shutterstock

Photo: AFF-USA/Shutterstock

Michael J. Fox And His Fight For Parkinson’s Research

Photo: Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock

Photo: Michael Buckner/Showtime/Variety/Shutterstock

Photo: CPImages

Leonardo DiCaprio's Fight For The Amazon

Canadian Press

Photo: Filip Kos/PIXSELL

Photo: Courtesy of Andrea Hunter/Red Music

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Seth MacFarlane's Fight For The Rainforest
Photo: ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Seth MacFarlane is focusing on the rainforest this holiday season, and through the Rainforest Trust foundation, the "Family Guy" creator donated $1,000,000 to help the organization’s work to protect rainforests and tropical habitat.

“The science is clear on the connection between preventing deforestation and addressing the climate crisis," MacFarlane said in a statement following his donation. "Rainforest Trust’s commitment to protecting habitat and its inherent biodiversity is fundamentally important. I wanted to support Rainforest Trust’s direct-action approach, and I hope others will join me in supporting this crucial work."
Harry & Meghan’s Spin On ’12 Days Of Christmas’
Photo: Shutterstock
This Christmas, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are changing things up by highlighting 12 different charities as a part of a new initiative.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared the foundations on their Instagram page, writing, ”We have selected 12 organizations caring for those in need – especially at this time of year.”

The 12 charities the couple are focusing on are: Shelter, the Salvation Army, the Los Angeles Mission, Scottys Little Soldiers, FareShare UK, The Felix Project, SSAFA the Armed Forces charity, Lifewise New Zealand, Centrepoint UK, St Felix Centre, The Trussell Trust and Social Bite.
Matt Damon’s Water.org
Photo: EPA/NINA PROMMER
Matt Damon, a co-founder at water.org, fights to bring water and sanitation to the world.

Every year, around the holidays, the foundation joins forces with Stella Artois for a Limited-Edition Stella Artois Chalice that helps provide five years of clean water to someone in the developing world. This year, Stella collaborated with watercolour artist Eili-Kaija Kussniem to celebrate the vibrant impact water has on families and communities.
Celine Dion Supports Cystic Fibrosis Research
Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Celine Dion is a longtime supporter of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, even becoming a spokeswoman for the charity after her niece died of the disease at 16-years-old.

The Canadian icon has brought awareness to the disease, generates large amounts of funds for research and care, and has even donated her appearance fees from multiple concerts.
Elton John Aids Foundation
Photo: Laurent VU/SIPA/Shutterstock
Elton John takes his fight against AIDS international with his Elton John Aids Foundation, which hopes to create an AIDS-free future.

The icon founded the foundation in 1992 in the United States and brought it to the United Kingdom in 1993 but hopes to “end AIDS by 2030.”
Seth Rogen’s Hilarity For Charity
Photo: AFF-USA/Shutterstock
Seth Rogen, the loveable funny guy from all your favourite comedy films, uses his humour for good.

In 2012, Rogen and his wife Lauren Miller Rogen launched Hilarity For Charity, “a national non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness, inspiring change, and accelerating progress in Alzheimer’s care, research, and support.”

And in 2018, the pair released a Netflix stand-up special where 100 per cent of the proceeds went to the initiative.
Michael J. Fox And His Fight For Parkinson’s Research
Photo: Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock
Michael J. Fox launched his foundation (The Michael J. Fox Foundation) in 2000 and is the world's largest non-profit for Parkinson's research. The actor was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 29 in 1991 and has since worked tirelessly as a patient advocate.

And in 2009, fellow Canadian Ryan Reynolds joined the Board of Directors at The Michael J. Fox Foundation, in honour of his late father who suffered from the disease.
Jim Carrey And The Better U
Photo: Michael Buckner/Showtime/Variety/Shutterstock
Jim Carrey is a proud founder of The Better U Foundation, which aids global food security by supporting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI).

The SRI allows for increases in rice productivity and helps farmers earn a better living. The Better U Foundation has reached over 55 countries and has increased farmer’s yields by 20-100 per cent.
Avril Lavigne And Her Foundation
Photo: CPImages
After suffering from Lyme Disease for many years, Avril Lavigne launched The Avril Lavigne Foundation which raises money for research and treatment.

The Canadian singer released the track “Head Above Water” detailing her battle with the disease. “One night I thought I was dying, and I had accepted that I was going to die. My mom laid with me in bed and held me. I felt like I was drowning,” she explained in a statement about the song. “Under my breath, I prayed, ‘God, please help to keep my head above the water.’ In that moment, the songwriting of this album began. It was like I tapped into something. It was a very spiritual experience. Lyrics flooded through me from that point on.”
Leonardo DiCaprio's Fight For The Amazon

Leonardo DiCaprio, known for his critically acclaimed movies and now his fight against climate change, is focusing on the Amazon this holiday season.

With Earth Alliance, the actor “helps address the urgent threats to our planet’s life support systems,” and the fires blazing through Brazil.

“At this time of crisis for the Amazon, I support the people of Brazil working to save their natural and cultural heritage,” DiCaprio wrote to Instagram. “The future of these irreplaceable ecosystems is at stake and I am proud to stand with the groups protecting them.”
Chantal Kreviazuk And War Child Canada
Canadian Press
One of Canada’s most recognizable voices has been using her gift to rep War Child Canada, which fights for “education, opportunity and justice” for children in war-affected communities. The charity hopes to break the cycle of poverty and violence.

Kreviazuk regularly uses her social media platform to bring awareness to the organization, as well as sharing fundraising events which helps inspire many to help end poverty.
Michael Bublè For Cancer Research
Photo: Filip Kos/PIXSELL
After cancer affected his family, in son Noah, now 6, Michael Bublè partnered with Stand Up 2 Cancer to raise funds for cancer research.

Little Noah was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2016 but a year later, he was given the all-clear.
Walk Off The Earth Loves MusiCounts
Photo: Courtesy of Andrea Hunter/Red Music
Walk Off The Earth wants music to count in every household in Canada.

The Canadian rock group regularly shows support for MusiCounts Canada, hoping “children and youth in Canada have access to music education in their school or community.”

After the unexpected loss of band member in late 2018, Mike "Beard Guy" Taylor, the band released its heartfelt original single "Mike's Song" that helped raise thousands of dollars for MusiCounts.

Stars Inspire Giving Back This Holiday Season

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