Celebrities’ charities and causes

As a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie has been traveling the world since 2001 raising awareness about human rights issues and visiting refugees. With her partner, Brad Pitt, Jolie co-founded the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which focuses on alleviating worldwide poverty and supports conservation efforts.  (Ho New / Reuters)

Actor and architecture enthusiast Brad Pitt founded the Make It Right Foundation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The foundation sustainably builds hurricane-resistant houses for New Orleans’ Ninth Ward residents who lost their homes in the 2005 disaster.  (Matthew HINTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Actor Michael J. Fox founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Afflicted with Parkinson’s himself, Fox and those at his foundation work toward finding a cure for and raising awareness about the disease.  (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

Singer and actress Bette Midler founded the New York Restoration Project, which aims to revitalize run-down and struggling neighborhoods in New York City. Midler also works to preserve and protect city parks and community gardens.   (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Singer-songwriter Paul Simon co-founded the Children’s Health Fund, which focuses on securing health care for disadvantaged children. Since its inception in 1987, Simon has performed a number of charity concerts to benefit the fund, and has worked as a spokesman for the cause.   (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Athlete Lance Armstrong founded the Lance Armstong Foundation, which supports cancer sufferers through the sale of Nike’s Livestrong products, including the popular yellow bracelets.  (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Sir Elton John has long been active in raising awareness of AIDS and HIV. He founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992, which supports prevention of the disease. John also hosts the annual White Tie & Tiara Ball, a celebrity gala that raises money for his foundation.  (Osman Orsal/Reuters)

Jennifer Aniston is a spokesperson for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, a non-profit research center and hospital that focuses on curing and treating life-threatening and debilitating diseases in children. Aside from starring in St. Jude’s ads, Aniston and her father John narrated the children’s book “Loukoumi’s Good Deeds,” proceeds from which go to the hospital.   (ason Merritt/Getty Images)

Now synonymous with celebrity activism, Bono has supported, raised awareness about and held charity concerts for groups such as Amnesty International, Band Aid, Live Aid, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.   (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Singer Cyndi Lauper advocates equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people through her True Colors Fund. Lauper’s True Colors Tour donates proceeds to the fund and the Give A Damn Campaign within the fund provides education and awareness about the LGBT community.   (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Musician Lady Gaga openly advocates LGBT rights, and strongly targeted the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Gaga has also donated concert revenue to relief efforts for Haiti and Japan following their devastating earthquakes and uses social media to raise awareness about these issues.  (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Singer Willie Nelson co-founded Farm Aid with fellow musicians Neil Young and John Mellencamp in 1985. Farm Aid began as a charity concert that benefited American farmers facing mortgage debt. Today, money from Farm Aid efforts help farmers whose crops and livestock are devastated by natural disasters.  (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Actor Sean Penn has been active in supporting several causes, including assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina, advocating the end of the war in Iraq, and sending aid to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, for which he co-founded the J/P Haitian Relief Organization.  (Valerie Macon/Getty Images)