And so, when the Oscar-winner  heard that the his hometown was going to have to cut all of it’s after-school programs, including sports programs, he decided to step in and take action — he donated $100,000 to keep the programs going!

After-school and sports programs really are so important — they give kids a chance to grow and explore their talents, and it’s hard to imagine how many of us truly would be totally different people had we not had the chance to play basketball or join the school band. Good for Denzel for helping out so many kids. And keep in mind that, even if you can’t make a major donation for a cause like this in your area, every little bit will help pay for uniforms, coaches, facilities, and more!

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com

David’s mom still lives in the town, and apparently the shelter was falling apart and was going to be forced to shut down. The generous donation more than covered the cost of the necessary repairs. The facility focuses on rescuing animals abandoned in the woods and mountains surrounding it — some people assume that if they leave an animal in the wild, it will automatically be able to fend for itself, and that’s not at all the truth. It shelters and tries to find homes for approximately 3500 animals each year.

It should be noted that David made his donation under the radar — he didn’t have any photographers follow him, and he didn’t hold a press conference. He did it out of the goodness of his heart, and he should feel great knowing that this donation is saving the lives of thousands of animals.

Photo courtesy of celebritywonder.com

The former 007 has been a proponent of environmental action for over 10 years, and he and his wife have set up a trust to donate to environmental organizations. Not only has he done this and encouraged the public to donate what they can, but he has been a pretty hefty contributer himself, personally reaching the one million dollar donation mark. You’ve got to love a man who has no problem supporting the causes he’s passionate about by digging into his own pockets.

Pierce encourages his fans and fellow environmental activists to donate their money to causes that will offset carbon emissions by planting trees as well as paying carbon tax when traveling in environmentally sensitive areas. But the environment isn’t the only cause that gets this leading man to take action. He’s been a supporter of breast cancer research and replaced a playground near his home in Hawaii — a good guy through and through.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Cardiovascular disease kills nearly 500,000 women each year in our country alone, and although it’s the nation’s leading killer of women, the majority of heart disease research is focused on men. Therefore, most testing and treatment methods are based on male patterns.

Babs‘ donation will create the Barbra Streisand Women’s Cardiovascular Research and Education program, which she hopes will increase the amount of research done on female heart disease as well as awareness. More research into the role of gender in heart disease will take place.

Streisand said, “Women need to be educated about female cardiovascular disease, and the medical community must be propelled toward change. Just like with breast cancer, the impetus must come from women themselves, striving to become empowered to reduce their risks for heart disease.”

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com

Dempsey understands all too well how difficult it is for a family to receive a cancer diagnosis — his mother has had continuous battles with ovarian cancer, which is what put the idea for the Center in Dempsey’s mind. He realized that for families who try to do the research, all the information can be overwhelming yet insufficient, so he decided to create “a place where people can go for all this type of information and help. Knowledge is power.”

The Central Maine Medical Center is the hospital that treated his mother and sent her cancer into remission, so Dempsey made a great decision in choosing to put his money and fame to work in that location. His sister will run the Center, but the actor plans to do his part as well by lending a hand with the education campaign on how to prevent and treat cancer.

I know — as if you didn’t already have a huge crush on him.

Photo courtesy of tv.yahoo.com

Barrymore doesn’t sit back and write checks, though — she’s taken two trips to Africa to see the work accomplished by the World Food Programme, and says, “I have seen with my own eyes what a difference a simple cup of nutritious porridge can make in a child’s life. It helps them learn, stay healthy and sets them on track for a bright future.”

The 33-year-old Charlie’s Angel made the announcement on Oprah’s show, with boyfriend Justin Long in the audience and BFF Cameron Diaz making a telephone appearance. Long gushed about Barrymore, calling her “the most compassionate person” he’s ever met, and Diaz got all choked up about Barrymore’s generous donation.

The World Food Programme has a goal — they want to feed 10 million hungry school children in Africa by Thanksgiving. You can help by visiting their website and making a donation (even if it isn’t a million dollars).

Photo courtesy of askmen.com