5 Athletes Who Are Incredibly Charitable

When we start to ponder on the idea of "professional athletes" and what exactly they positively contribute to society, it's easy to starting rambling on about all the negative things that come to mind (which is fair enough)... But, putting aside all the suspensions, fights, scandals, etc., I would confidently say, in most all cases, the good outweighs the bad in the world of professional athletes. If we take a look at the professional athletes today, there are both men and women using their salary, privilege and prestige to better the world in one way or another. Whether they are working with children, donating their time and/or money or standing up for a cause they believe in, there are truly so many athletes who contribute in ridiculous magnitude. Setting aside what society tell us, let's focus on the positive (that's what 2018 is all about, right...?) and see some current athletes who go above and beyond the call with their charitable ways!

Serena Williams:

While slaying the game on and off the court, Serena Williams' charitable endeavors continue alongside her everyday life. As the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF (The United Nations Children's Fund is a United Nations), Williams' has helped build schools in Africa, helped promote access to education for children in Asia and fought against breast cancer. It's said that Williams is listed with 12-13 different charities and countless causes. Her long career mean more opportunity for charitable donations and it does NOT go unnoticed. Super women? I think so...! Micheal Phelps: When he's not busy being a legendary eight-time Olympic gold medalist, Phelps spends the rest of his free time throwing down major financial gains in regards to charity. With that being said, Phelps adopted a $1 Million bonus from a sponsor and created his own foundation, "The Micheal Phelps Foundation". This is a nonprofit organization that works to promote healthy, active lives, especially for children and primarily focusing on the participation in the sport of swimming. As a mentor to most, Phelps spends most of his free time doing all he can for charities around the world. Is there anything he can't do? Cristiano Ronaldo: I know this can be a tad controversial considering Ronaldo is known for his vain, arrogant and "rich boy" attitude... But, little do most know, he is an extremely charitable athlete! To bad he isn't known for this side of him, huh? This Real Madrid superstar has used his social profile to raise awareness and millions of funds for a number of different causes important to him. For example, he has donated $165,000 to fund a cancer center in Portugal and it is rumored that he donated around $7.5 million to the Nepal earthquake relief efforts... If that doesn't do it for you, Ronaldo has been a global spokesperson for childhood hunger, biodiversity and obesity. He's got it all... looks and a kind heart! John Cena: As the face of the WWE and a 12 time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Cena already has a lot of expectations to exceed... But, he makes it look easy while incorporating endless charitable efforts into his daily life! As a philanthropist, he understands that sometimes it takes more than just money to make a difference in the world, and all his efforts support that statement. Cenas most known charitable work is for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He holds the title for granting the most wishes in the foundation's history! Recently, he granted his 500th wish... How amazing is that? His continuous effort to put a smile on the faces of ALL kids in need is what makes his specific charitable efforts SO special... LeBron James: There is no doubt that James has a fueling passion for the game of basketball, but that's not all that fuels his fires... James has a vested interest in using his love of the game to improve the world one game at a time. Creating The LeBron James Famliy Foundation was just the start of his massive charitable efforts. This foundation focuses on children and primarily their education. In 2015, James dropped around $41 million to send 1,100 kids to school... And that's just the beginning! James has committed a full-court press to helping educate children around the world. He also uses any and all platforms given to him as an opportunity to speak out on race relations and police interactions within the United States. Superman? I think yes...

Sources:

• http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2656316-10-current-athletes-who-are-ridiculously-charitable
• http://www.goliath.com/sports/the-10-most-charitable-athletes-in-the-world/