Celebrity speakers are proving to be profitable ambassadors for charities looking to continue their good deeds in these times of world-wide economic hardship, acting as role models to encourage others to get involved with their chosen charities and volunteer on the front line. At no other time in history have people used their celebrity to make such a difference on the global stage, using their publicity to pressure society's leaders to help those truly in need. The growth of social networking sites, most notably Twitter, has led to millions of pounds being donated by celebrities and their fans to their favourite charities. Ashton Kutcher famously donated 10,000 mosquito nets to Malaria No More after a competition between himself and the American television network CNN. Now other celebrities are speaking out on Twitter and highlighting their causes. Not only has this ensured the survival of so many charities during the recession but it has led to younger people getting involved in charitable giving and volunteering.
Celebrities not only speak for their chosen charities but can become activists on their behalf, visiting the regions or the countries where the charity's work is been done and meeting those who benefit from this work.
Angelina Jolie's career as an ambassador for UNICEF and UNHCR is one of the most documented episodes of modern celebrity philanthropy and has had a significant impact on young people, many of whom decide to spend their gap year volunteering in third world countries. In this way, celebrity speakers can attract life-long supporters for the charities that they represent and ensure that society's youth understand the importance of helping others less fortunate than oneself.Domestic charities have received an increase in attention and support from national celebrities as the scale of poverty at home has been highlighted by the recession. Celebrity speakers have contributed to families with sick children, hospitals and other institutions designed to give aid to the poor, receiving more financial donations. Thousands of pounds have been raised at events where celebrities are brought in to entertain the guests and in celebrity auctions. Great Ormond Street Hospital has raised over £450,000 through celebrity auctions as guests bid on memorabilia signed by the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Vernon Kay. The celebrities have even put themselves up for auction, a date with Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom bringing in £9,000 alone! While it is often cynically claimed that celebrities use charitable giving as a guise for tax-relief, the charities themselves welcome attention from such high profile figures as an influential factor in receiving continued support during such hard economic times.
It is not only the celebrities that grace the cover of the tabloids and glossy magazines that have left an impression on society and led to an increase in charitable donations. Speakers can be celebrities in their own field and it is these experts who have an impact behind the scenes, influencing the world's leaders with their specialist knowledge and bringing newer issues into the public eye such as climate change and human rights. The CSA Celebrity Speaker's inaugural forum 2009 highlighted the impact of using celebrity speakers on international issues. Leading figures in banking, the economy, government and business including self-made entrepreneurs impressed the audience with their positive attitude, recognising that by working together and enrolling the help of celebrity speakers, charitable giving will continue even in times of economic hardship.
Celebrity Speakers - Recession Beating Benefits For Charities