Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Oprah Ranked Most Generous Celebrity (Rush Limbaugh #10)
andPOP.com ^ | 09/15/2008 | Eva Lam

Posted on 09/15/2008 3:15:20 PM PDT by iowamark

Oprah Winfrey has been proclaimed the world's biggest giver -- again.

For the seoncd year running, the day-time host topped a list of the 30 most generous celebrities for giving $50.2 million US last year through the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Oprah's Angel Network, which fund education, health care and advocacy for women and children.

The list, now in its second year, was compiled by The Giving Back Fund, a charity that aims to encourage philanthropy.

Claiming the No. 2 spot was trumpeter Herb Alpert, who gave $13 million for education, including music lessons, through the Herb Alpert Foundation.

Three athletes also made the top 10, with cyclist Lance Armstrong, basketball star Michael Jordan and Canadian hockey player Eric Lindros giving $5 million each.

Here is the top 10 on The Giving Back Fund's list of most generous celebrities (all figures in US dollars):
1. Oprah Winfrey, $50.2 million.
"The Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Oprah's Angel Network: education, health care, and advocacy for women and children worldwide"
2. Herb Alpert, $13 million.
"The Herb Alpert Foundation: music education, including the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music"
3. Barbra Streisand, $11 million.
"The Streisand Foundation: the environment, women's issues, civil rights, AIDS research and advocacy"
4. Paul Newman, $10 million.
"Scholarship for Kenyon College, his alma mater, in Gambier, Ohio."
5. Mel Gibson, $9.9 million.
"Holy Family Church in Malibu, Calif."
6. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, $8.4 million.
"The Jolie-Pitt Foundation: New Orleans reconstruction, refugee aid, cross-cultural understanding"
7. Lance Armstrong, $5 million.
"The Lance Armstrong Foundation: cancer research, education and advocacy"
8. Michael Jordan, $5 million.
"Hales Franciscan High School, a historically black all-boys school in Chicago "
9. Eric Lindros, $5 million.
"London Health Sciences Centre, a Canadian hospital where the former hockey player was treated"
10. Rush Limbaugh, $4.2 million.
"Financial assistance to the children of Marines and law-enforcement officers killed in the line of duty."

Source: The Giving Back Fund


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 2009review; celebrity; charity; giving; oprah; philanthropy; rush; rushlimbaugh; talkradio; topten
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 last
To: iowamark

“That year the Obamas claimed $1,050 in deductions for gifts to charity, or 0.4 percent of their income”

0.4 percent of their income??


41 posted on 09/15/2008 4:45:28 PM PDT by bricklayer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: bricklayer

“0.4 percent of their income??”

Nevvver minddd!


42 posted on 09/15/2008 4:48:13 PM PDT by bricklayer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Cinnamontea

That’s right and remember what Jesus said about it.


43 posted on 09/15/2008 4:52:13 PM PDT by Selmore (You want fries with that?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Selmore
Show me % to gross income, that is what I’d like to see.

Amen to that. What's a measly $50M when you're worth over a billion?

44 posted on 09/15/2008 4:54:43 PM PDT by LiberConservative ("Typical" white guy voting McCain/Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Hildy
Wait a second..RUSH ANNOUNCED THIS ON HIS WEBSITE

You have misunderstood my point. Oprah always seems to milk her giving for PR purposes.

45 posted on 09/15/2008 5:35:54 PM PDT by AmericaUnited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: MayflowerMadam

I remember one year Algore gave a total of $15.00 while he was VP. That makes Biden look generous.


46 posted on 09/15/2008 6:14:11 PM PDT by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: iowamark
"The Oprah Winfrey Foundation"
This list is silly -- and ignorant of the tax code. In 2006, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation was worth $181 million, and the "Angel" foundation was worth $27 million. By law, each are to donate 5% of assets, which means in 2006 she probably gave out around $10 million between these two Foundations. And she has others, including the "Winfrey Leadership Academy" which in '06 listed $42 million in assets.

These Foundations were created with pre-tax money diverted from business operations. If anyone knows differently, I'd love to hear it. It wouldn't make sense, otherwise. So, the larger question is that if she gave $50million last year, from where was the money? Did she write the checks? Did she have a one-time dispersement? Did she donate only through the Foundations? And to what tax advantage?

You can play around with tax-deductible moneys all day long at http://foundationcenter.org/

As Oprah, Rush would be insane not to protect assets through charitable foundations. It does, however, render these "generosity" top tens ludicrous.

47 posted on 09/15/2008 6:36:20 PM PDT by nicollo (you're freakin' out!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: iowamark

An oil portrait of Oprah Winfrey with a pancake on her head.
48 posted on 09/15/2008 7:11:08 PM PDT by Dan Lacey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: iowamark

An oil portrait of Oprah Winfrey with a pancake on her head.
49 posted on 09/15/2008 7:11:18 PM PDT by Dan Lacey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited

You seem to have missed my point as well...WHO CARES why people give to charity...do we have to know their intent as well now? What’s the difference? 50 million is 50 million whether you know about it or not.


50 posted on 09/15/2008 10:06:50 PM PDT by Hildy ("We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: iowamark

BTTT


51 posted on 12/31/2009 5:26:33 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FlJoePa

By all reports he’s been consistently generous and considerate of all his family members as well. Like the genuine generosity of Reagan, true conservatism is tied with its own modest compassion—not the big-hoopla/big-government style.


52 posted on 12/31/2009 5:35:11 AM PST by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Hildy

It was historically a point of significant distinction, when givers were supposed to be concerned with their morals and motivations. From that vantage, ‘vanity giving’ was discouraged.

But you’re right, it doesn’t necessarily make a whit of difference to the recipient, in our vain times it probably encourages more giving, and the rationale—whether a cover or valid—is that it provides leadership and something of an endorsement, encouraging others to give to the same or other causes.


53 posted on 12/31/2009 5:40:39 AM PST by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited
When Oprah donates, it always seems to be a PRESS EVENT.

When Oprah donates it always ends up bad. She never follows up to make sure her money is being used properly and it ends up evil permeates the programs. Like those African women who were molesting the children they were supposed to be helping. Or when she gave everyone in the audiance cars and didn't realize they would have to pay the taxes on it.

54 posted on 12/31/2009 5:52:10 AM PST by McGavin999
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: 9YearLurker

Exactly right...


55 posted on 12/31/2009 7:37:25 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson