These Athletes Have Donated Over $600 Million To Charity – You’ll Be Surprised To See #7!

Credit: Georges Antoni
Credit: Georges Antoni

Professional athletes are best known for their contributions to their respective sport but are less often recognized for their contributions to charity. Whether it’s individual donations to different organizations or people, or they have a foundation (always named after themselves, of course), the following athletes deserve some credit for all that they do.

While many millionaires tend to want to keep all of their money, despite having some wiggle room with their finances oftentimes, there are still many that want to give much of it away to causes they deem worthy or relevant to solving the problems of today’s world. Though they may not have the time to volunteer their own time, their money allows professionals in that field to continue to do their work and effect change.

Find out which 14 athletes give the most charitable donations and who they’re supporting.

14. Cristiano Ronaldo

Credit: Sky Sports
Credit: Sky Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo was named the most charitable sportsperson last year by Do Something on their Athletes Gone Good list. One of his most notable donations was the $6.5 million he donated to Nepal after they suffered a massive earthquake last year. He has also covered the cost of a 10-month-old’s brain surgery, which cost $83,000, and paid for a 9-year-old cancer patient’s medical expenses. He used his nearly $700,000 bonus and donated to different charities, and gave $165,000 to fund a cancer center in Portugal where his mother was treated. He said this of his donations: “My father always taught me that when you help other people, then God will give you double, and that’s what has really happened to me. When I have helped other people who are in need, God has helped me more.”

13. Serena Williams

Credit: Georges Antoni

Credit: Georges Antoni

Serena Williams has her own fund and is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. She has aided the organization in the 1 in 11 campaign to support the 1 in 11 children around the world who aren’t able to attend school for a variety of reasons. The campaign is aimed at making access to education easier for young boys and girls so that they can fulfill their potential.

12. Brett Favre

Credit: Empire Sports
Credit: Empire Sports

His foundation, “Fourward Foundation,” is aimed at supporting underprivileged children in Mississippi and Wisconsin. Since it was founded, the foundation has donated $2 million to local charities that help the youth in their community.

11. Clayton Kershaw

Credit: Frank Franklin II
Credit: Frank Franklin II

Clayton Kershaw donates significant portions of his eight-digit paychecks to causes in Africa, including his program called Kershaw’s Challenge. The program is run by him and his wife and aims to change the lives of at-risk children and communities. The pair also runs an orphanage in Lukasa, Zambia and supports a variety of organizations, including the Habitat for Humanity. He was given the Roberto Clemente Award, which honors the top humanitarian amongst Major League Baseball players.

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