Beyoncé
Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD foundation pledged $2.5 million to aid victims of the devastating Southern California wildfires, which claimed 24 lives and destroyed over 12,000 structures.
The Grammy winner announced the “LA Fire Relief Fund” donation via BeyGOOD’s Instagram, urging others to support displaced families. Founded in 2013, BeyGOOD focuses on economic equity and supporting marginalized communities.
Kyrie Irving
NBA star Kyrie Irving donated $50,000 to the Tamir Rice Foundation, established by Samaria Rice, the mother of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was fatally shot by an Ohio police officer in November 2019 while playing with a toy gun.
The foundation aims to “invest in the growth and enrichment of all children.” To honor her son’s 23rd birthday on June 25th, Samaria Rice launched a GoFundMe campaign, asking for “$23 dollars for 23 years without him.” She stated in the fundraiser that she purchased and invested in a historic Cleveland building for art and cultural development for inner-city youth and is close to finishing the project.
Shaquille O’Neal
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal noticed six-year-old martial artist Nalah Barry’s talent on Instagram. He was so impressed that he flew her and her family to New York and gave her a shoe deal. O’Neal also donated $10,000 to the family, which another company matched.
Nalah is a very successful fighter with five gold medals. Her father, Dominic, a professional boxer with a large following on TikTok, trains her and her younger sister, Nayah. Her start was tough; her father shared on TikTok that Nalah lost every competition for the first six months, but she kept working hard and got better.
In another philanthropic move, O’Neal’s Foundation donated $20,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) at their 2025 Youth of the Year Gala. The donation was split, giving $10,000 each to the winner and the runner-up. O’Neal also actively participated by speaking, announcing the top five candidates, and engaging with participants.
Jerry Rice
Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and his wife, Latisha Pelayo, donated over $667,000 to eliminate student lunch debt nationwide. Their contribution cleared overdue balances at 103 schools, relieving thousands of families and ensuring students receive meals without financial stress.
A’ja Wilson
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson gave four-year-old superfan Iman Taylor a memorable surprise on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” ahead of his fifth birthday.
Iman, a dedicated fan, thought he was only there to discuss his favorite player. Wilson, however, surprised the young fan, who immediately ran to hug her, bringing his mother, Bianca Taylor, to tears.
The WNBA star gave Iman a signed jersey and her signature A’One sneakers, telling him to “remember this moment every time he laces them up.”
The Weeknd
After Hurricane Melissa, R&B star The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) donated $350,000 from his XO Humanitarian Fund to the World Food Programme (WFP) to aid the emergency response. The Category 5 storm hit the Caribbean in late October, affecting nearly six million people, with Jamaica suffering the most. The WFP will use the donation to help up to 200,000 Jamaicans recover.
Michael Jordan
Basketball legend Michael Jordan donated $10 million to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center on November 18. The donation honors his mother, Deloris Jordan, and will rename the facility’s neuroscience institute as the Novant Health Deloris Jordan Neuroscience Institute.
Jordan said the gift reflects his desire to honor his mother’s focus on compassion and community by helping to ensure access to advanced neurological care for the region. The donation will also support advancements in brain health research and expand cutting-edge neurological care throughout Southeastern North Carolina.
Tyler Perry
Amid the government shutdown, filmmaker Tyler Perry, 56, donated nearly $1.4 million to various organizations to help families affected by the impending loss of SNAP benefits.
Recipient organizations included Atlanta Community Food Bank, Baby2Baby, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Caring for Others, All for Lunch, Ron Clark Academy, and Goodr. Perry stated that for millions, the loss of SNAP benefits could mean “extreme hunger” or lack of access to formula for newborns, highlighting the life-changing impact these benefits have on hard-working people, seniors, and children.
Tracy Morgan
Comedian Tracy Morgan, 57, donated over $200,000 to the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, feeding 19,000 vulnerable families.
He told People, while promoting his new sitcom Crutch, “It’s fun to get the love and support, but it’s better when you give it back,” stressing that teaching his children empathy and spending time with family are his main priorities now.
Usher & Big Sean
Music icon Usher and rapper Big Sean invested $1 million to launch the Detroit Youth Innovation Hub, a new facility focusing on entertainment production to cultivate young talent.
Located within the new Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan at Michigan Central, the Hub will feature a virtual production studio, a special effects lab, and a creators’ lounge.
Scheduled to open in February, the project is a collaboration between the Sean Anderson Foundation, Usher’s New Look, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
