Giving Compass' Take:

· Celebrities are doing more than just entertaining the world, they're helping to change it. MadameNoire reports on the philanthropic activities of well-known celebs like Oprah, Rihanna, and Chance the Rapper.

· Celebrities usually have a large following base. How does displaying the philanthropic activities of celebrities inspire the action of people everywhere?

· Read more about the rise of celebrity philanthropy. 

To be a celebrity these days means more than just being a singer or actor and collecting a hefty check. Being a celebrity also means being a public figure, and that title comes with a powerful platform. Luckily for us, many stars are using their platforms for good and not just for their own personal, self-promoting benefit. These 10 celebrities aren’t just doing their everyday jobs, they’re also impacting the culture in a positive way:

  1. Chance the Rapper - Chance has made it his mission to provide better for our school systems and our children. He created his own youth empowerment charity called SocialWorks aimed to teach and empower the youth of Chicago.
  2. Jesse Williams - From his activism, protests, or his spot on the board of directors of the Advancement Project, Williams aims to not only bring awareness to injustices and the Black experience, but also work towards creating change.
  3. Rihanna - Her Clara Lionel Foundation, named in honor of her grandparents, aims to fight for the basic rights of all children, with an emphasis on those in impoverished communities.
  4. Serena Williams - With her Serena Williams Foundation, the tennis star has two main goals: she wants to fight for equity in education and to help those who are affected by senseless violence.
  5. Russell Westbrook - Westbrook's Why Not? Foundation aims to inspire children to believe in themselves and empowers them to fight to accomplish their dreams.
  6. Sheryl Lee Ralph - Ralph's DIVA Foundation, created in honor of the friends she lost to HIV/AIDS, encourages men and women to be fully aware of their health risks and also brings awareness to what the virus is truly all about
  7. Viola Davis - Davis works with the charity Hunger Is to help fight child hunger.
  8. Usher -  His charity, Usher’s New Look, aims to help disadvantaged children.
  9. Steve and Marjorie Harvey -  The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation  works to provide mentoring, educational programs and global service initiatives in the hopes of developing a generation of future leaders.
  10. Oprah Winfrey - Winfrey donated $12 million to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, $1 million to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, awarded 400 scholarships to Morehouse college students, and even built The Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy in South Africa over 10 years ago.

Read the full article about celebrities and philanthropy by Ashley McDonough at MadameNoire.