Posted on 12/31/2004 6:54:50 AM PST by Timmy
Maria donates $10,000 to Thai quake victims 29th December 2004
Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, due to play an exhibition match in Thailand against Venus Williams, will donate $10,000 to help victims of the killer tsunamis that hit the kingdom, a minister said on Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister and tennis association head Suwat Liptapanlop said the Russian starlet, scheduled to arrive in Bangkok late on Wednesday, had notified him about her generosity.
"She informed us that she wanted to donate 10,000 dollars of her own money to the government's victim relief fund," Suwat said.
The fund, launched yesterday, had already received donations amounting to 108 million baht ($2.77 mn), according to media reports.
Although a gala dinner to be held for Sharapova and Williams would be cancelled out of respect for the unprecedented loss of life, the match scheduled for January 2 in the northern city of Chiang Mai was due to go ahead.
I think it's great she's contributing, but I hate to see this "Look at what a great think I'm doing" attitude. This young lady is worth millions. Personally, I think she's received her reward in full, but if she's gonna make a big production about it, at least make it a significant sum considering her resources.
True charity should be given anonymously. To expect public acclaim for charity drains it of its moral purpose.
At some point FR needs to make up its mind about this, though; innumerable threads are filled with people asking snidely "what did (country/person) X contribute?" Then if it's publicized, though, they'll be attacked for publicizing it.
Elvis once said something to the effect that if you take it off of your taxes, it's not charity.
I've only seen this mentioned when the "target" of the criticism fired the first volly. True charity doesn't seek promotion... nor should the lack of promotion receive ridicule.
If her charitable donation causes some of her fans to make a donation too why is it wrong that she be public about it?
Streisand and other celebrities made donations to the DNC with the hope that their donations would inspire other leftists to do the same. I hope her donation does encourage others to donate.
Ditto.
In other news, Bill Clinton donated 250 pair of used underwear to the cause...
Agreed. She should at least donate the entire amount she's being paid for playing in the exhibition, which you can be sure is a LOT more than $10,000 (probably in the $250,000 range).
Um, charity is important, especially in this case. Give all you can.
But - I thought it was a rule to have pics on a Sharpova post?
Hey, I resemble that remark! :0)
Maybe she can persuade Michael Moore...I hear he has a few bucks laying around.
When I first saw the head, I assumed this was about Maria Shriver Schwarzenegger.
I hate to see people on FR bashing charitable actions. This "young lady" is still a minor, and simply wants to do something.
Nitpicking over this is unseemly, and makes you and others who do it look awfully cheap.
Good for her.
She's a public personality. Whatever she does is going to be in the news. How do you know the Thai officials didn't arrange the publicity?
I should think more celebrities would give megabucks since they obviously have more.
Government Shrinker should at least donate the entire amount of his last paycheck.
I've decided that he doesn't need it.
Nitpicking over this is unseemly, and makes you and others who do it look awfully cheap.
Agree 100%. At least she's offering to help. Her giving may set an example for a lot of others.
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