Asian Humanitarians Who’ve Made A Difference

By Jamie Samhan. 5 May 2021 10:50 AM

In honour of Asian Heritage Month, we are taking a look at some of the Asian stars who love to give back.

Most recently, wanting to lend a hand, Priyanka Chopra recently teamed up with GiveIndia to raise money for India which is “suffering the world’s worst COVID crisis.”

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Akshay Kumar
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Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has stepped up time and time again to help India, recently donating over $4 million to PM Cares Fund which helps those affected by the pandemic.

In the past he has made large donations for flood relief and to farmers unable to make a living during a drought.
Jackie Chan
Photo: © Liau Chung Ren via ZUMA Wire/CPImages
According to Forbes, Jackie Chan is "one of Asia's premier philanthropists."

The action star has championed causes from no smoking to clean up efforts.

Not having a formal education himself, he started the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation in 1988 that offers scholarships to youth. It has since advanced to medical services and natural disaster relief.

He also started the Dragon's Heart Foundation that builds schools in remote parts of China.
Awkwafina
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Awkwafina has done lots of work with Building Beats, a program that teaches entrepreneurial, leadership and life skills to underprivileged youth through music and DJ production.

In 2019, she was honoured for her work with the foundation at Variety's Power of Women event.
BTS
Photo: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images
Global superstars BTS were at the forefront of raising funds for Black Lives Matter, donating $1 million which was then matched by both ARMY and John Cena.

They also used their voices to speak out against Anti-Asian Hate.

"We feel grief and anger," they said while sharing their own experiences.
Praya Lundberg
Photo: Praya Lundberg
Model and actress Praya Lundberg was Southeast Asia's first UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, taking on the role in 2017 after her work with the UN's High Commissioner for refugees.

She is also a big supporter of Operation Smile.
Nadine Labaki
Photo: Ammar Abd Rabbo/ABACAPRESS.COM/CPImages
Lebanese actress and director Nadine Labaki has brought the social issues of Lebanon to the world stage, from her film work to taking part in a Beirut protest over the corrupt government.

"I feel so aware of my responsibility as a human being in this world. I know I can make a change. I’d rather turn my anger into something positive. The first step is creating a revolution within you; a rebellion against what we are living. I don’t think weshould adapt anymore," she told Harper's Bazaar.

Her film "Capernaum" has won her multiple Humanitarian and Peace awards.
Chrissy Teigen
Photo: CPImages
Chrissy Teigen is outspoken for a number of causes she is passionate about.

The model turned cookbook author was honoured by Baby2Baby in 2019 for her charity work.

Other foundations she supports include Planned Parenthood, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and American Foundation for AIDS Research.
Ruby Yang
Photo: Sam Tsang/South China Morning Post via Getty Images
Oscar winning documentary director Ruby Yang founded the Chang Ai Media Project to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in China.

She has also raised awareness through her work like "The Blood Of Yingzhou District".

FilmAid Asia honoured her with the Humanitarian Award and the University of Hong Kong made her a Distinguished Fellow in Humanities.
Daniel Dae Kim
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Daniel Dae Kim has been an active voice in "Stop Asian Hate" campaigns, including starting a GoFundMe page for an eldery man attacked.

He also gave testimony at a U.S. congressional hearing about the rise in Asian hate crimes.
Priyanka Chopra
Photo: © Hubert Boesl/DPA via ZUMA Press/CPImages
Priyanka Chopra champions a number of causes, including girls’ education. The star helps support the educational and medical expenses of a number of children in India, including donating 10 per cent of her income to assist them.

She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and runs The Priyanka Foundation.

Asian Humanitarians Who’ve Made A Difference

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