The Influence of the Stars

By: Stephanie Jelenic-Deb

More and more celebrities today are finding a way to give back, get
involved, and volunteer. With all of the constant reporting on drama,
drinking, and drugs, we sometimes forget about all of the good things that
celebrities do. Yes, some of them might have had their fair share of negative
influence, like Britney’s breakdown perhaps, but when it comes down to
negative verse positive influence of the stars, it’s actually a very close race.

Take a look at Hillary Duff;
she has become a real role
model for girls everywhere.
Hillary Duff is the Youth
Ambassador for Return To
Freedom, which is an
organization against the
harassment and killing of
wild horses. Hilary was also
a charter member for Kids
With A Cause, through
which she visits children in
hospitals, escorts
disadvantaged youth to
theme parks and helps with
fundraising efforts. A percentage of some of her concert tickets has gone to
hunger charities, and she encourages her fans to bring canned foods to her
concerts for donation to USA Harvest. She and her fans have raised more
than 4 million pounds of food for the charity. USA Harvest and Duff also
created and sustained many successful programs, including the Blessings in
a Backpack initiative. This partnership has produced over 6 million meals
donated to those less fortunate.

During the first two months after Hurricane Katrina, Hilary, in partnership
with USA Harvest, distributed over 2.5 million meals throughout the Gulf
Coast. Hilary purchased the food along with a few partners. Through the
Blessings in a Backpack program, Hilary is providing over 6000 meals a
weekend at the Normandie Elementary School in South Central Los Angeles.

If you get a chance check out these charities that Hillary supports and help
her make a difference:

www.kidswithacause.org
www.usaharvest.com
www.returntofreedom.org

Another amazing role model, a woman for each young girl to look up to is
Angelina Jolie. Above all the things she does, Angelina is a Goodwill
Ambassador for UNHCR, which is an agency to lead, and co-ordinate
international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems
worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well being of
refugees. Angelina has been traveling to refugee camps around the world
since filming Tomb Raider. During her missions she has visited places
including Sudan’s war-torn Darfur, Sierra Leone, Cambodia and Tanzania.
She also visited Afghan refugees in Pakistan and donated $1 million to help.
Angelina has pledged $5 million to set up a wildlife sanctuary in the
northwestern province of Battambang in Cambodia.

According to tax records, Angelina
Jolie and her husband Brad Pitt
donated more than $8 million to
charity in 2006 alone. Angelina is
also on the board of advisors for the
Yéle Haiti foundation. The Yéle Haiti
is a movement led by Wyclef Jean
that is helping to bring hope back to
Haiti. Projects are designed to make a
difference in the fields of education,
health, environment and community
development. Angelina took time with
Wyclef Jean to help with his Clean
Streets project. She also arranged a
deal with People Magazine allowing
them to print the first picture showing
her visibly pregnant in exchange for a
$500,000 donation to the charity. As
if all of this isn’t enough, In January 2008, Jolie and her brother, James
Haven, marked the first anniversary of their mother’s death from ovarian
cancer by making an undisclosed donation to the Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center in Los Angeles.

If you get a chance check out these charities that Angelina supports and
help her make a difference:

www.yele.org
www.unhcr.org

So don’t think that Hollywood is nothing more then a life of drinking and
drugs. Some of these celebrities o so much and they don’t even get credit. If
you’re interested in making a difference in your community please visit:

www.volunteermatch.org or www.kidscanmakeadifference.org