According to Ian Mitchell King, this list of famous philanthropists includes twelve billionaire benefactors who have donated millions of dollars to charities and other organizations. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos topped the list with $10 billion in donations. He announced his resignation as CEO of the company last week. He also gave $100 million to Feeding America, which provides food to more than 200 food banks across the country. Author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott polled 512 community leaders to determine the top seven-figure charities.
While philanthropists may not be universally admired, their efforts are worthwhile. Some critics accuse them of supporting unworthy causes, evading taxes, or pursuing celebrity and personal success. However, while many of them are self-serving, the majority of them are truly committed to helping others. These donors have been accused of selfish behavior, such as stock-watering, kickbacks, and collusion, in addition to making significant contributions to society.
Many celebrities are philanthropists in addition to donating money to charities. Octavia Hill, the singer and actress, for example, is dedicated to improving the well-being of the poor. She founded a foundation that distributes books to underprivileged children. Andrew Carnegie is another well-known philanthropist who contributed funds to the construction of over 2,000 libraries around the world. In addition, he established the Carnegie Foundations, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Endowment for International Peace.
Ian Mitchell King pointed out that, another well-known philanthropist is hedge fund manager George Soros, who has donated more than $23 billion to various charities. This billionaire also contributes his time and talent to charitable causes. He also contributed to a variety of organizations, including hospitals and universities. He has also given millions of dollars to charity over the years, including to help children in Nigeria. He has become a philanthropic role model, and we can learn from his example.
Serena Williams is yet another well-known philanthropist. She has started her own foundation in addition to donating money to non-profits. This foundation provides funding to a variety of organizations, including the American Red Cross. As a mother and a businesswoman, Williams' philanthropy reflects her values. This foundation has given millions of dollars to numerous non-profit organizations. In addition, the foundation works with youth to combat violence.
Aside from the Gates family, other wealthy people in the world include Azim Premji, the founder of Wipro Limited. He was the first Indian to sign the Giving Pledge in 2010. He gave the Azim Premji Endowment Fund 67 percent of his Wipro holdings. This foundation provides assistance to the elementary education system in rural government schools throughout India. The fund is worth US$21 billion. Premji donated US$150 million to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in the previous year.
Shirley Porter, a Tesco heiress, is another philanthropist who has given to a variety of charities. She has contributed to a number of projects, including the National Portrait Gallery in London and Tel Aviv University. Charles Pratt, co-founder of Microsoft and founder of the Pratt Institute, and Sir David Robinson, co-founder of the Robinson Charitable Trust, are two other notable philanthropists. Finally, Bill Gates has donated US$28 billion to his foundation, which focuses on improving education and information technology access.
Ian Mitchell King described out that, aside from the well-known philanthropists, there are many ordinary people who can volunteer their time and efforts to help the less fortunate in their communities. They can help out at soup kitchens, stock food pantries, or make meal delivery boxes. They can also help out at community centers or be mentors to at-risk youth. Their actions have demonstrated that giving is the key to happiness. The list of famous philanthropists goes on and on!
Oprah Winfrey is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. She has overcome many obstacles to success, including growing up in a poor household and dealing with sexual abuse. She has given millions of dollars to charitable organizations, and her Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation has taken over Angel Network. Her Foundation has made a $140 million donation to the Oprah Leadership Academy for Girls.
Hank Aaron was a civil rights activist and baseball legend who left a legacy of activism and philanthropy behind him. He and his wife Billye have given hundreds of scholarships to HBCUs and contributed to a number of ground-breaking projects. RWJF is the nation's largest healthcare grantmaker, promoting vaccine equity, local health justice organizing, and a higher minimum wage. Bill Gates has a $6 billion independent fortune, but he still makes time to carve out his own niche as a major funder of gender equity.
