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Tyler Perry

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Perry has supported civil rights through large-scale and individual donations, making history in 2009 with thelargest-ever individual contribution— $1 million — to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in celebration of the organization’s 100 year anniversary. He also has a history of covering the expenses for rent, funerals and college education for those in need, particularly in his Atlanta community.

02of 11LeBron JamesLeBron James.D Dipasupil/FilmMagicThe Los Angeles Lakers star was namedTIME’s Athlete of the Yearin recognition of histireless activism, which includesspearheading the creationof More Than a Vote, a nonprofit aimed atthwarting voter suppressionand motivating Black voters to make their voices heard at the polls.In addition to becoming one of the most vocal proponents of social issues throughout his time in the NBA, James has given back to his community,opening the I Promise Schoolin his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The inaugural class was surprised withfree tuition to Kent State Universitywhen they recently visited the Ohio college at a part of class trip.

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LeBron James

LeBron James.D Dipasupil/FilmMagic

LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers star was namedTIME’s Athlete of the Yearin recognition of histireless activism, which includesspearheading the creationof More Than a Vote, a nonprofit aimed atthwarting voter suppressionand motivating Black voters to make their voices heard at the polls.

In addition to becoming one of the most vocal proponents of social issues throughout his time in the NBA, James has given back to his community,opening the I Promise Schoolin his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The inaugural class was surprised withfree tuition to Kent State Universitywhen they recently visited the Ohio college at a part of class trip.

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Beyoncé

Beyonce Knowles-Carter.Dave Benett/WireImage

Beyonce Knowles

04of 11RihannaRihanna.Dimitrios Kambouris/GettyThroughout the pandemic, Rihanna and herClara Lionel Foundation(CLF) have been working to help marginalized communities that have been affected domestically and worldwide. In March 2020, the CLF donated $2 million, alongside JAY-Z’sShawn Carter Foundation, to support communities in New York City and the Los Angeles area. In Aprilshe donated $4.2 million to address a surge in domestic violence in L.A. as part of Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall,and later that month, she donated to support COVID-19 rapid response efforts in New Orleans, the Caribbean and Africa.

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Rihanna

Rihanna.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Rihanna

Throughout the pandemic, Rihanna and herClara Lionel Foundation(CLF) have been working to help marginalized communities that have been affected domestically and worldwide. In March 2020, the CLF donated $2 million, alongside JAY-Z’sShawn Carter Foundation, to support communities in New York City and the Los Angeles area. In Aprilshe donated $4.2 million to address a surge in domestic violence in L.A. as part of Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall,and later that month, she donated to support COVID-19 rapid response efforts in New Orleans, the Caribbean and Africa.

05of 11OprahJeffrey Mayer/WireImageOprah has made giving back a cornerstone of her career, and the mogul has stepped up even more during the pandemic,donating $10 million to COVID relief efforts and fighting food insecurity. She also released herOprah Talks COVID-19series, which focused on how the illness is having a deadly impact on Black America and why it is more necessary than ever that people understand the seriousness of the disease.

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Oprah

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Oprah Winfrey

Oprah has made giving back a cornerstone of her career, and the mogul has stepped up even more during the pandemic,donating $10 million to COVID relief efforts and fighting food insecurity. She also released herOprah Talks COVID-19series, which focused on how the illness is having a deadly impact on Black America and why it is more necessary than ever that people understand the seriousness of the disease.

06of 11Queen LatifahGetty ImagesAfter facing years of prejudice in Hollywood as a woman of color, the actress and rapper made it her mission to help uplift other women in the industry.Latifah launched the Queen Collective, in partnership with Proctor & Gamble, a program that works with female filmmakers to finance, make and distribute their films. Latifah also mentors each participant throughout the process.She also teamed up with the American Lung Association to host its first-ever livestream benefit#Act4Impactto raise money for the organization’sCOVID-19 Action Initiative. The initiative aims to highlight the alarming, disproportionate effects of the pandemic on Black and Latino communities throughout the United States and to work on solutions to close the gap: distributing free cloth masks, advocating for accessible, affordable coronavirus and flu vaccines and investing in respiratory research and other programs.

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Queen Latifah

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After facing years of prejudice in Hollywood as a woman of color, the actress and rapper made it her mission to help uplift other women in the industry.Latifah launched the Queen Collective, in partnership with Proctor & Gamble, a program that works with female filmmakers to finance, make and distribute their films. Latifah also mentors each participant throughout the process.

She also teamed up with the American Lung Association to host its first-ever livestream benefit#Act4Impactto raise money for the organization’sCOVID-19 Action Initiative. The initiative aims to highlight the alarming, disproportionate effects of the pandemic on Black and Latino communities throughout the United States and to work on solutions to close the gap: distributing free cloth masks, advocating for accessible, affordable coronavirus and flu vaccines and investing in respiratory research and other programs.

07of 11Denzel WashingtonGettyThe Oscar winner has been a longtimedonor and spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Club;he’s raised millions of dollars to help complete the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture; and has been a mentor to younger actors, including the late Chadwick Boseman. He once quietly paid for Boseman and several of his Howard University classmates to attend an acting program at England’s Oxford University.

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Denzel Washington

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The Oscar winner has been a longtimedonor and spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Club;he’s raised millions of dollars to help complete the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture; and has been a mentor to younger actors, including the late Chadwick Boseman. He once quietly paid for Boseman and several of his Howard University classmates to attend an acting program at England’s Oxford University.

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Kerry Washington

David Urbanke

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John Legend

John Legend.Getty

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10of 11Alicia KeysAlicia Keys.Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesThe singer co-foundedKeep A Child Aliveto empower children and young people with the necessary resources to live healthier, happier lives. The organization provides financial and programatic support to nine community organizations in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and India, and serves over 150,000 people each year.

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Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys.Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Alicia Keys

The singer co-foundedKeep A Child Aliveto empower children and young people with the necessary resources to live healthier, happier lives. The organization provides financial and programatic support to nine community organizations in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and India, and serves over 150,000 people each year.

11of 11Sean ‘Diddy’ CombsSean “Diddy” Combs.Steve Granitz/WireImageWhileaccepting a lifetime achievement honor at the BET Awards in June 2022, the music mogul announced that he would be donating $1 million each to two HBCUs: Howard University, where he attended but did not graduate (later earning an honorary degree) and Jackson State University. It’s not the first time he’s made a major donation to Black-led educational institutions; hepreviously endowed Howard with a $1 million scholarship for undergraduate business majors, andgave $1 million to Capital Prep Charter Schools network to open a school in the Bronx.

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Sean “Diddy” Combs.Steve Granitz/WireImage

diddy

Whileaccepting a lifetime achievement honor at the BET Awards in June 2022, the music mogul announced that he would be donating $1 million each to two HBCUs: Howard University, where he attended but did not graduate (later earning an honorary degree) and Jackson State University. It’s not the first time he’s made a major donation to Black-led educational institutions; hepreviously endowed Howard with a $1 million scholarship for undergraduate business majors, andgave $1 million to Capital Prep Charter Schools network to open a school in the Bronx.

source: people.com