Leonardo DiCaprio Puts Money Where His Mouth Is

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 21st 2010 08:19PM

Leonardo DiCaprio has donated $1 million to relief efforts in Haiti, earning the admiration of President Clinton, who said in a statement, "I am grateful for the generous gift Leonardo DiCaprio and his Foundation have made in support of our Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Combined with the outpouring of donations from Americans and citizens around the world of all means, this support will go a long way to help save more lives, reach more people with emergency assistance, and help the Haitian people build their nation back stronger and more secure than it was before the earthquake."

DiCaprio's donation, made through the Leonardo DiCaprio Fund, was intended for both immediate relief efforts and long-term redevelopment of the earthquake-damaged country, according to his reps.

The gesture caught the attention of President George W. Bush as well. "I salute Leonardo DiCaprio for his extraordinary generosity," he said. "This donation sends a clear message to the people of Haiti that America's commitment to helping rebuild their country is strong. I thank Leo for setting a wonderful example for all Americans of helping a neighbor in need."

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation was created in 1998 to raise awareness of environmental issues by participating with nonprofit organizations and through the website www.leonardodicaprio.org.

Comments

(71)

Saturday 23 January

By craig

Vote down Vote up Report this

Leo, Your a class Act

By grego

Mr. Zack, your negativity is perhaps surpassed only by your misinformation on what you are talking about. FYI ... there
WERE major telethons, and many many stars and famed Americans
who reached out to help save New Orleans... more quickly and at times moreso than our own government!

You should be aware that among them were these three major ones:
The weekend brought three major telethons for victims of Hurricane Katrina, with a dream cast asking those watching to pledge money for the relief efforts.

Friday night, the six major networks broadcast Shelter From the Storm....

The program was slightly more political on SOS Saving OurSelves: The BET Relief Telethon, also on Friday. Former President Bill Clinton called in to express support and was asked by cohost Steve Harvey what his administration would have done differently if it had been handling the disaster. Clinton refrained from criticizing Bush, but talked about the importance he placed on the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "We always thought faster was better than slower," Clinton said.

On Saturday's ReAct Now: Music & Relief telethon on MTV and its sister networks VH1 and CMT, satirist Jon Stewart didn't crack a single joke, instead making the point: "The help that we have seen is way more powerful than this hurricane was."

Music was provided by such acts as Green Day, the Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Elton John, the Foo Fighters, Fiona Apple, John Mellencamp, Kelly Clarkson and Pearl Jam, among others, with tributes to New Orleans peppering the program.

Sheryl Crow, who recorded her eponymous 1996 CD in the Big Easy and says she's had a love affair with the city ever since, said: "There is an undeniable energy in New Orleans. "The people there are extremely soulful ... and there is a real spiritual vibe about it," Maroon 5's Adam Levine said, "The last time we were in New Orleans was one of my fondest memories of touring. ... So it was particularly upsetting to watch it crumble."

AS you are passionately concerned with "helping your own first", I am really at a loss how you could not remember at least these, as I'm sure you were busy contributing.

... just really needed to put this out there to counter the
shortsightedness and ugliness that your attitude/post spits out into "our" universe.

Sunday 24 January

By Deb

Leo is a generous and nice guy. I've always liked him. He's in a class all by himself.

By Omonigho john

I wish african celebrities can emulate what de americans are doin. They all have various charity organisation to help countries ravaged either by war or any human related crices.

Wednesday 27 January

By LINLIN

Jeez people. Haiti just lost a lot of people, over 1 thousand people died and all you can think about people in America. Haitians just lost their love ones, no home, and no food. They do not have charities and shelters to go to! Wake up people!

Monday 25 January

By AL

I wonder if Clinton thanked Tiger woods for the three million or is everyone still upset at him????

By Al

I think you better read the count, it's more then 150.000 people killed.

By wot90s

Has anyone seen Jesse or Al? I don't recall seeing any of that bunch.
Perhaps I missed them, If so, soorrryy

By Vince

I've always wondered why DiCaprio is referred to as, "Leo". After all, Leonardo is obviously Italian for, "Leonard", so why not, "Lenny".

Regarding Jesse, Al, and associates: They're keeping a low profile so that they won't have to explain to reporters why only white Americans are adopting Hatiian kids.

Thursday 04 February

By Sara

Did Leo forget where he made his millions ? I hope he remembers America...foreclosure must be a dirty word to Bush, and Clinton.

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