Celebrities Making a Difference in San Francisco's Communities

Famous activists can play a crucial role for social impact organizations. A celebrity's fan base, social media following, and public relations opportunities allow them to highlight an issue and promote nonprofits that are making a difference.

Whether they founded organizations or collaborated with existing activists, here are 12 famous activists using their platforms to fight for the causes they care about.

1. Glenn Close

CAUSE: Mental Health
ORGANIZATION: BRINGING CHANGE TO THE MIND

Glenn Close has been acting on television and film for over 40 years and has appeared in films such as The Big Chill, Fatal Call, 101 Dalmatians, The Stepford Wives and many others. She has received six Oscar nominations, most recently for Best Actress for 2011's "Albert Nobbs." But off camera, Close co-founded Bring Change 2 Mind, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the issues related to mental illness and ending stigma.

The Close family knows firsthand the challenges faced by people with mental illnesses. Close's sister suffers from bipolar disorder and her nephew suffers from schizoaffective disorder.

Bring Change 2 Mind produces public service announcements and runs social media campaigns to help people know they can talk about their experiences. with mental illnesses to end stigma and discrimination.

2. Stephen and Ayesha Curry

CAUSE: Helping children fight hunger
ORGANIZATION: FOOD. LEARN. PLAY. FOUNDATION

Stephen Curry is one of the NBA's brightest stars. Just when you thought he couldn't top himself after winning the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2015, he won it again in 2016 with an unprecedented unanimous vote.

But between workouts, travel, games and Nike commercials, Stephen and his wife Ayesha are fighting to end childhood hunger with Stephen and Ayesha Curry Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation founded in 2019 with the goal of improving the lives of children and families in Oakland, the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country.

The organization is committed to unleashing the unique potential of every child by ensuring that students have access to quality education, nutrition, and safe places to play and be active.

Rooted in the message that children are our future, the organization is committed to developing partnerships and initiatives that have a positive impact on future generations.

3 . Michael J. Fox

CAUSE: Parkinson's Disease
ORGANIZATION: MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH

Michael J. Fox may be best known for his role as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy, but his work is shaping the future of Alzheimer's disease research. This degenerative neurological disorder can affect motor function, memory, mood and manifest with other symptoms.

Fox rose to fame as an actor in the television series "Family Ties". "In the 1980s and later, he starred in television shows such as "Spin City" and "The Good Wife" and in films such as "Teen Wolf" and "Stuart Little." After he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease early in 1991, he made his illness public in 1998. In 2000, he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation to conduct aggressive and risky research to find a cure and improve therapies.

Since its inception, the foundation has funded more than $450 million in Parkinson's research. Its work focuses on a wide range of things, including treatments focused on enzyme activity, a vaccine to curb the disease and a unique scale to measure dyskinesias, the involuntary movements that characterize the most visible symptom of Parkinson's disease.

4. Angelina Jolie

CAUSE: Social assistance for refugees
ORGANIZATION: United Nations Refugee Agency

Angelina Jolie has appeared in many Hollywood blockbusters including “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “A Mighty Heart” and “Maleficent.” But after filming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in war-torn Cambodia, the actress began a life of humanitarian work.

The refugee experience Nations United (UNHCR). ) will be involved. During her first year with the organization, Jolie visited refugee camps in Sierra Leone and Tanzania, donated $1 million to help Afghan refugees, and became a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

Jolie has worked with the agency for years and has carried out dozens of field missions. She serves as Special Envoy for Refugee Issues and continues to support awareness and assistance to displaced people around the world.

5. Willie Nelson

CAUSE: Family Farms
ORGANIZATION: AGRICULTURAL AID

Willie Nelson has been a key figure in country music since the 1960s and has released 68 studio albums. Fans love him for songs like "Always on My Mind" and "On the Road Again" and continue to see the 83-year-old tour across the country. However, Nelson's influence goes beyond country music stations and charts.

In 1985, Nelson hosted Farm's first show, Aid, featuring Neil Young and John Mellencamp. More than 30 years later, the event continues to bring together thousands of people to celebrate family farmers, raise funds and inspire people to choose family-farmed food. Every year Nelson and Farm Aid bring together some of the world's biggest artists to promote their cause. Past artists include Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, B.B. King, The Beach Boys, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, Jewel, Tegan, Sara and Matisyahu.

Since its inception, Farm Aid has raised more than 50 million of dollars. support family farmers, with no signs of slowing down.

6. Tim Tebow

CAUSE: Human trafficking
ORGANIZATION: TIM TEBOW FOUNDATION

Born in the Philippines to missionary parents, Tim Tebow is best known as an American professional baseball player and former professional American football player. His athletic accolades match his passion for giving back and commitment on an even deeper level as a three-time New York Times bestselling author, international speaker and ESPN sports reporter.

Tebow founded the Tim Tebow Foundation to bring faith, hope and love to people who needed brightness in their darkest moments. She is dedicated to raising children with life-threatening illnesses, supporting adoptions of international children with special needs, crowning homecoming kings and queens, and expressing love through mindfulness in many other creative ways.

7. Lauren Miller and Seth Rogen

CAUSE: Alzheimer's Disease
ORGANIZATION: HILARITY FOR CHARITY (HFC)

Seth Rogan's entertaining involvement in series and films such as "Neighbors", "Superbad", "Pineapple Express", "The Interview" and others have made him an almost household name. This Canadian actor, comedian and writer started acting as a stand-up comedian when he was a teenager and today he and his wife Lauren Miller Rogan are making a whole new impact on life.

Lauren is a writer, director, producer and philanthropist with a personal connection to Alzheimer's disease. Her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 2012, when she was just 55 years old. At that time, she co-founded HFC with Seth Rogen to activate the next generation of supporters.

HFC is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to take care of families. caring for people with Alzheimer's disease, activating the next generation of Alzheimer's advocates, and being a leader in brain health research and education.

8. Gary Sinise

CAUSE: Support for veterans
ORGANIZATION: GARY SINESE FOUNDATION

Gary Sinise is best known for his forty-year career in theater, film and television. Does Lieutenant Dan Taylor from “Forrest Gump” look familiar to you? It's just one of many roles that have earned Sinise nominations for everything from the Golden Globes to the Oscars.

After the tragedies After the events of September 11th since 2001 Sinise focused on supporting those who rallied in response. Feeling a deep connection to the veterans in his family and having supported the military for years, he took his commitment to a new level and founded the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Recently, Amazon announced a multi-year commitment to support the Gary Sinise Foundation through employee volunteer hours at events across the country, donations of Amazon Alexa devices, and fresh Amazon food for new smart homes built for heroes wounded of our nation.

9. America Ferrera

CAUSE: Racial justice, social justice
ORGANIZATION: HARNESS

America Ferrera has returned to her passion for activism After the 2016 presidential election, he co-founded Harness with Wilmer Valderrama and Ryan Piers Williams. Best known for her role as Betty Suárez on Ugly Betty, Ferrera made her directorial debut with the Netflix adaptation of I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

promote racial justice, gender equity and civil justice. The organization focuses on cultural change, community building, artist engagement and industry impact by sharing stories of underrepresented and underrepresented communities in popular culture.

Ferrera is known for her participation in women's marches and speaking about civil rights in her current job. She also works with Eva Longoria Baston and other Latina leaders in a digital lifestyle nonprofit called Poderistas, whose mission is to transform lives, families and communities through inspiration, information and education. Confirm.

10. George and Amal Clooney

CAUSE: violation of human rights
ORGANIZATION: CLOONEY FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE

George Clooney is a name that many of us know well. During his long career as an actor and director, he has received numerous awards, including the British Academy Film Award, four Golden Globes and two Oscars. His career began with a small role in a film after college and grew rapidly.

One thing about George is that as his presence and influence grew, so did their careers. . charitable work. To behave. He considers himself a strong supporter of the First Amendment and dedicates his time to humanitarian causes, including responding to international crises before the United Nations Security Council.

George and his wife Amal founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice to respond to the growing number of journalists and democracy advocates arrested, prosecuted and jailed. Their work supports women and girls, LGBTQ+ people, and people who face unjust laws and abuse.