Charity boosters

Learn how Canadian celebrities help good causes

What do Pamela Anderson, The Weeknd and Seth Rogan have in common? These famous Canucks have all attached their names — and money — to worthy charitable causes.

Whether starting a charitable organization of their own or supporting an existing one, the far-reaching influence of public figures endorsing causes and helping spread the word is incalculable.

From disaster relief and fighting poverty to empowering kids through sports and advocating for animal rights, there’s no shortage of non-profits for famous names to get behind.

What’s in a name? Well, large sums of money, for one.

Big names carry big weight, also commonly known as The Oprah Effect due to the media mogul’s ability to mobilize legions of fans to open their wallets in support of the causes she champions. Beyond money, celeb endorsements also signify credibility, said Erica Harris, an assistant professor at Florida International University’s School of Accounting

“It’s easy to say that if you have a celebrity on board, you’re going to get more donations,” Harris said. “However, we find that celebrities also offer a credibility signal to donors, which is especially important for non-profit organizations.”

Case in point: When late Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie revealed his diagnosis of incurable brain cancer in 2016, fans immediately jumped into action with grassroots fundraisers and donating to Sunnybrook’s Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research and the Canadian Cancer Society. Since Downie’s death in 2017, millions of dollars have been raised in his name.

Downie’s work continues in other powerful ways, too. Toward the end of his life, the singer dedicated himself to bringing awareness to Canadian residential schools, inspiring the Gord Downie & Charlie Wenjack Fund. The charity which raises money for programs aimed at improving the lives of Indigenous people is still going strong.

Here are some other Canadian names committed to charitable work:

Who: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, actors

Charity of choice: Water First Education and Training Inc. The Canadian organization helps bring clean water to Indigenous communities. Why they support it: The celebrity couple announced a $500,000 donation to the organization earlier this year. In a social media post, the Vancouver-born Reynolds said, “Canada is home to 20 per cent of earth’s freshwater. There is no acceptable reason Indigenous communities don’t have access to clean, safe water.” Meanwhile, the philanthropist pair has also helped flood recovery in British Columbia through Red Cross Canada and has supported Ukrainian refugee efforts. What’s more, Reynolds’ ugly sweater campaign helped raise more than $850,000 in 2021 for The Hospital for Sick Children. Visit: waterfirst.ngo; donate.redcross.ca; sickkidsfoundation.com

Who: Clara Hughes, Canadian Olympian, cycling and speed skating

Charity of choice: Right To Play brings play-based activities and sports to children living in countries affected by war, poverty and disease. Why she supports it: The six-time Olympic medalist is a long-time supporter of the organization, joining as an Athlete Ambassador in 2003, and then as a member of its International Board of Directors. Hughes has also made financial donations to the charity.

“I firmly believe in what Right To Play does,” she told Canadiancyclist.com. “I have witnessed the benefit of sport and play firsthand and, from personal experience, how important it is for kids to have sport as an outlet for energy, anger and even fear.”

Visit: righttoplay.ca

Who: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors forward

Charity of choice: Siakam launched the PS43 Foundation to empower kids through financial literacy, sports and education and help them achieve their goals. Why he supports it: Siakam credits his parents for inspiring his commitment to helping youth. Last year, the organization launched Coding for Champions and made a six-figure donation to buy laptops outfitted with the necessary programming to assist students at two Toronto-area schools.

“As a child, I didn’t think I could accomplish what I have today,” the basketball star said. “My father was passionate about education and my parents put me in positions to be successful by providing me access to education and sport in my home country of Cameroon, a place where such opportunities are limited and hard to come by. I want to do the same for kids in Toronto and encourage them to dream big no matter what limits they face.” Visit: ps43foundation.com

Who: Nav Bhatia, Raptors superfan

Charity of choice: The Superfan Foundation raises money to build and resurface basketball courts across Canada. Why he supports it: Bhatia, everyone’s favourite superfan, is using his inadvertent celebrity status for good. His goal is to eliminate discrimination and bring people together through the game he adores.

“Basketball is a part of my success,” Bhatia told the CBC. “Not that I’m a good basketball player, but the principles which I’ve learned from basketball … If you treat everybody like you want to be treated yourself, you’re going to have one beautiful world.” Visit: navbhatiasuperfan.com

Who: Pamela Anderson, actor, model, activist

Charity of choice: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is dedicated to protecting animals Why she supports it: The vegan bombshell is a huge animal lover and decades-long supporter of PETA. Over the years she has starred in numerous campaigns to promote veganism and the ethical treatment of animals. She is vocal in the fight against animal testing and the use of fur and animal skins in clothing.

“If you’re not vegan, you’re old-fashioned,” Anderson said on her website. “Everyone knows that being vegan is the simplest, most effective way to save the planet.”

Visit: peta.org

Who: Seth Rogen, comedian, actor

Charity of choice: Hilarity For Charity (HFC) raises money and awareness in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Why he supports it: The Canadian-American actor has a personal connection to Alzheimer’s. After Rogan’s late mother-in-law received a diagnose of early-onset Alzheimer’s, he and his wife, actress and screenwriter Lauren Miller Rogen, formed HFC. At a star-studded event in October — which included an acoustic set by John Mayer — the charity raised more than $860,000.

Visit: wearehfc.org

Who: The Weeknd, singer, songwriter, producer

Charity of choice: The Grammy-award-winning performer, born Abel Tesfaye and raised in Scarborough, has donated millions to various causes. Among them are Global Aid in Lebanon, Black Lives Matter, MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, and front-line health workers at Scarborough Health Network. Why he supports them: While the Starboy singer is an international superstar, he is also famously understated. Rather than making a big press-hungry splash, when it comes to charitable giving, he lets his carefully curated donations do the talking.

Who: Mitchell Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs, right winger

Charity of choice: The Marner Assist Foundation raises money in support of various organizations that focus on children’s social care, health, and education. Why he supports it: The inspiring Leafs winger wants to make a difference both on and off the ice. Through the foundation’s recent Sink the Stigma event, a $30,000 donation was made to the First Episode Mood & Anxiety Program in London, which assists youth experiencing the first episode of mental illness.

“You’ve got a big spotlight on you (as a Maple Leaf) to change people’s lives every day, and I think it’s your choice to try to do that,” said Marner. “I think if there’s an opportunity that you can do something great with it, try and do it.”