The Giving Back Fund Releases Top 30 Celebrity Donors for 2007

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed)
Sep 17th 2008 at 9:03AM

Each year a list of the top thirty celebrity donors is compiled through public records and released. No big surprise as to the top donor -- Oprah Winfrey -- who last year donated over $50 million largely in support of health care and education. The list includes such giving regulars as Paul Newman, Angelina and Brad, and Lance Armstrong and other lesser-known philanthropists including David and Valerie Robinson, Isabel Allende, and Hugh Hefner?! The amount of dollars donated ranges from $50,200,000 to $724,825. Its good to see where some of those big earners spend their money and which causes are getting the celebrity attention.

Tags: expire-images2009-9-16, giving back 30, giving back 30 2007, giving back fund, GivingBack30, GivingBack302007, GivingBackFund, oprah, oprah winfrey, OprahWinfrey

Filed under: Big Givers

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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 6)

robb Sep 21st 2008 10:28PM

Rich people do not owe us an explanation of what they do with their money. It's their money. They earned it, we are not entitled to it. Nor is the "poor, and unfortunate" to coin a much abused phrase.

Terri Sep 21st 2008 10:30PM

Nita, I think you make a very valid point. I think she does a lot of good and certainly does not owe anyone an explanation for anything.

Eloise Sep 21st 2008 10:38PM

Oprah is wealthy, opulent and corpulent; she's lovely, wise, healthy and she doesn't KNOW THAT YOU LOSERS EXIST! Fight with GW Bush and the other idiots in his administration who are REALLY working you over! You little racist miscreants!

Robin Sep 21st 2008 10:45PM

I am so over Oprah..... Let's find someone else. She also needs to come out of the closet with her bff Gayle. Geesh..... Poor Steadman.

Western Colorado Disaster Relief Sep 21st 2008 10:45PM

We need donations - PLEASE check out our Web Site

Jan France - Director
Western Colorado Disaster Relief
400 S Townsend Ave
Montrose, CO 81401
970-249-3419
970-708-9498 cell

WCDisasterRelief@aol.com

www.WCDisasterRelief.org

Allen Sep 21st 2008 10:51PM

Someone that's certainly not in the top ten is Joe Biden. He makes over three hundred thousand, and averages donating less than a thousand a year.

Dena Sep 21st 2008 10:53PM

I have to agree that Oprah seems to care more about donating her money to her own black causes. Even if she decided to go down South and build a school or improve education there would be fine...but we here in this country made her what she is today...she makes the money here in the US...it is her money to spend where she would like , and in turn...I chose not to spend my time nor money on her!

Peg Barrett Sep 21st 2008 11:01PM

I think it is wonderful that Angie & Brad and Oprah all give to good causes - whether it is in the US of A or elsewhere. To help is to help.

Look at all the stars who do NOTHING!

wESTERN cOLORADO dISASTER rELIEF Sep 21st 2008 11:10PM

WE NEED DONATIONS ---- WANT TO HELP US HELP OTHERS???

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE.....

Jan France - Director
Western Colorado Disaster Relief
400 S Townsend Ave
Montrose, CO 81401
970-249-3419
970-708-9498 cell

WCDisasterRelief@aol.com

www.WCDisasterRelief.org

********** YOU COULD BE A GIVER TOO !

Mia Sep 21st 2008 11:19PM

Oprah can do with her money anyting she wants and give it to whomever she wants. Many children in the USA are brought up to be unappreciative of what they have and what they are given. Compared to children in third world countries, our children are wealthy, healthy and well-fed. Perhaps Oprah has grown and evolved to recognize that the children of the world have needs, and very little hope.

It bothers me that a nation that hammers on being so proud of being a Christian nation forgets that Jesus did not make any distinctions/judgments. Keep opening your heart to the entire world, Oprah, you are the best ambassador of goodwill the USA has nowadays.

KYS Sep 21st 2008 11:39PM

Any person who donates money or time to any cause anywhere in the world (celebrity or not) is a SAINT. Why does it matter who is helped and in what country? We (human beings) are one and someday soon the world will wake up to this fact. Love your neighbor and help whoever you can however you can and your bitterness over people with large sums of $ helping people in other countries will melt away. Serve others and enjoy the rewards that come to you.

Western Colorado Disaster Relief Sep 21st 2008 11:47PM

You are so RIGHT --- 100% of items donated to us are spent on those who need it.... They may recieve the items = but we recieve far more..... All this time fussing over who has what money and what they do with it are not the people who give.... They only want to belittle those who do.....

MAY I SUGGEST - Givinr and see how good it feels????

WE NEED DONATIONS ---- WANT TO HELP US HELP OTHERS???

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE.....

Jan France - Director
Western Colorado Disaster Relief
400 S Townsend Ave
Montrose, CO 81401
970-249-3419
970-708-9498 cell

WCDisasterRelief@aol.com

www.WCDisasterRelief.org

YOU COULD BE A GIVER - TRY IT..... It might make you happy....

goodcoin.weeblydotcom Sep 21st 2008 11:25PM

Bill Gates donates money overseas. Does that make him anti-American? Leave Oprah alone.

Mia Sep 21st 2008 11:30PM

Dena wrote: "we here in this country made her what she is today...she makes the money here in the US...it is her money to spend where she would like , and in turn...I chose not to spend my time nor money on her!"

Dena, have you not seen the give aways on her show? Do you know that she initiated the National Child Protection Act here in the USA? Do you know that she sends deserving students to college? That she has given homes to families in need here in the USA? Not everything she does in the USA is advertised. By the way, your decision won't make a difference. Oprah is Oprah, and I wish we had 10 more like her.

oneajq Sep 21st 2008 11:40PM

Why do we give so much praise and credit to a celebrity who donates a DROP IN THE BUCKET amount of money to a charity or organization?? Don't you realize to not be engulfed by Uncle Sams taxes i'ts a hell of a tax write off and NEED!!!

brad Sep 21st 2008 11:39PM

Americans are very greedy and have more handed to them, then any other country. Look what it has done for us. Nothing, except for expectations, especially from the coloered people who always want something for nothing... Oprah recongnized this many years ago and this is why she donates to causes outside the US. Good for her.. Donations should not be allowed in the US or at least not tax deductible.

james Sep 21st 2008 11:45PM

Tax write-off is what it is folks. Oprah denies Christ His rightful place. She says He is NOT whom he claimed to be. He is NOt the only path for Salvation. So says Oprah the goddess of fools. REgards to giving.........they hardly give anything...........why? It is not a sacrifice. How does she ''earn'' money? Sitting on on butt and preaching the gospel of demons. She doesn't earn it...........she makes it by fools who come rushing in.

loufalce Sep 21st 2008 11:51PM

I wonder just how much Barbara Streisand gave to hurricane victmns? Also, why did Winfrey build a school in Africa for girls? I quess boys {black or others} just don`t matter.

Michael Sep 21st 2008 11:54PM

When will everyone realize that it is not so much the $$$$ dollar amount that each of us gives to promote programs which help others, it is the fact that most of us give of ourselves; be it time, or money. SOMEONE's life somewhere has hopefully been improved. Sure, the richer you are, the deeper your pockets can be. Every one's contributions make a difference. A billion givers around the world are sharing something very special which is to be celebrated every day.

15e51462 Sep 21st 2008 11:59PM

Michael---- Very well said --- Thank you....

I could use 100 of you -- do you clone????

WE NEED DONATIONS ---- WANT TO HELP US HELP OTHERS???

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE.....

Jan France - Director
Western Colorado Disaster Relief
400 S Townsend Ave
Montrose, CO 81401
970-249-3419
970-708-9498 cell

WCDisasterRelief@aol.com

www.WCDisasterRelief.org

WE NEED DONATIONS ---- WANT TO HELP US HELP OTHERS???

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE.....

Jan France - Director
Western Colorado Disaster Relief
400 S Townsend Ave
Montrose, CO 81401
970-249-3419
970-708-9498 cell

WCDisasterRelief@aol.com

www.WCDisasterRelief.org