Hearts As Large As Their Wallets: Celebrities Who Donated Big During Natural Disasters
Oprah Winfrey does everything big and that includes her philanthropic efforts. The media mogul gives money to numerous charities and organizations throughout the year, both publicly and behind closed doors. In 2005, the Gulf coast was ground zero for one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history. Hurricane Katrina killed almost 2,000 people across several states and left millions and millions without a roof over their heads. Cutting her vacation short, Winfrey made her way down to New Orleans. “I was sitting at home feeling frustrated and useless, like so many other people, so I came down to personally assess how I could best be of service,” said the talk show host. In addition to her presence, the big O donated $10 million to help Katrina victims rebuild their homes.
