Save the Frogs! Surprising Celeb Causes

By Laura Ferreiro Posted Nov 17th 2009 05:00PM

We've all heard about Angelina Jolie's exploits as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and Bono's campaigns to combat AIDS and poverty in Africa, but did you know that 'Heroes' star Hayden Panettiere has been fighting to prevent dolphins from being killed in Japan? Or that Jennie Garth is taking on, um, bad breath in Los Angeles? We at PopEater decided to take a look at some of the lesser-known (and often bizarre) causes supported by our favorite celebs.

Jennie Garth and Steve-O, Celebrity Causes

Jennie Garth and Steve-O, Celebrity Causes

'Jackass' stuntman Steve-O is also doing his share to save animals by teaming up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to stop students from dissecting frogs in their science classes. He recently took part in a protest urging kids to "Cut class, not frogs" and has appeared in PETA ads with the same slogan.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Buffett co-founded the non-profit organization Save the Manatee Club to preserve the lives of the endangered marine mammals in Florida. The 'Margaritaville' crooner also recruited famous friends including actor John Lithgow, who wrote a children's book about manatees, to promote the cause with public service announcements.

Then there's Jennie Garth, who's tackling a different animal -- bad breath. The 'Beverly Hills 90210' star and former 'Dancing With The Stars' contestant has teamed up with Trident to lead oral hygiene workshops for kids in Los Angeles, urging them to keep their teeth clean and healthy and their breath minty fresh.

Hayden Panettiere is so passionate about dolphins that she risked her life to prevent them from being slaughtered in Japan. The young 'Heroes' star paddled out on her surfboard with a group of friends off the coast of Japan to non-violently protest fishermen's deadly practices. She also serves as a spokesperson for Save The Whales Again, a non-profit that works to end commercial and scientific whaling worldwide and raise public awareness of threats to dolphins and whales.

Madonna is more than just a material girl -- she's offered up one of her most prized possessions to a charity that assists Romanian gypsies. The pop star donated her Christian Dior high heels to be auctioned off for Ovidiu Rom, a non-profit organization that empowers the gypsy community through education and job training. She also spoke out on their behalf at her concert in Bucharest earlier this year, saying that widespread discrimination against Eastern European gypsies must come to an end.

Isaiah Washington works tirelessly to raise awareness of narcolepsy, a common sleep disorder. The former 'Grey's Anatomy' star, who has a close friend that suffers from the disorder, has joined forces with the Narcolepsy Network to increase understanding and awareness of narcolepsy, which afflicts approximately 200,000 Americans.

Daryl Hannah has gone to great lengths for environmental causes, getting arrested and chaining herself to a tree while protesting everything from mountaintop coal removal mining, which is believed to greatly harm the environment, to the demolition of a community garden in South Central Los Angeles.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=764415&pid=764414&uts=1258492524

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Celebrity Charity

Daniel Radcliffe has made a "major donation" to The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization that operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Bruce Glikas, FilmMagic

Celebrity Charity Efforts

Bruce Glikas, FilmMagic

Continuing their long history of charitable and humanitarian donations, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie donated $1 million, along with Pitt's brother Doug, to St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. The money will be used to build a cancer treatment center.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

'Ugly Betty' star Vanessa Williams has teamed up with Dress for Success, which provides donated business attire to disadvantaged women and helps them succeed in the workplace.

ABC

'Grey's Anatomy' star Patrick Dempsey took his love of car racing and used it for good, when 'McDreamy' auctioned a weekend with himself off to the highest bidder. Proceeds went to benefit a children's burn hospital in Denver.

Getty Images

Mia Farrow completed a 12 day hunger strike to raise awareness for the plight of starving refugees in the Sudan. She had set out to fast for three weeks, but gave up nine days shy under the advice of her doctors.

Salvatore Di Nolfi, Keystone / AP

Actor Hugh Jackman announced on Ryan Seacrest's radio show that he has split a $100,000 donation between Charity: Water and Operation of Hope. The donation is part of a "contest" Jackman held via his official Twitter profile.

Sean Gallup, Getty Images

'Top Chef' judge Tom Colicchio is heavily involved with the Children of Bellevue program, which assists and educates kids treated in the New York City hospital. Sixteen years ago, the organization assisted his family when his son Dante was born prematurely. He's hoping his efforts will provide continued support to families in need of medical care for children.

Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

For the past 5 years, 'One Tree Hill' star James Lafferty has organized a charity basketball game, benefiting organizations like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He's forced to cancel this year, due to intrusive and threatening behavior by fans.

Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey has invested $40 million in her Academy for Girls in South Africa and raised over $58.3 million for various non-profits through her Oprah's Angel Network. Plus, she's given cars, hams, toasters, etc. to underprivileged audience members on her show.

Denis Farrell, AP

She gives no mercy on the bench, but famously nasty-on-TV Judge Judy Sheindlin is much more charitable in real life. She supports a mentoring program called Her Honor, which pairs high school juniors and students with dynamic female leaders.

Brad Barket, Getty Images