The Philanthropy of Vanity Fair’s The New Establishment 2013

Vanity Fair’s The New Establishment 2013 was broken into two lists this year: “The Powers That Be” and “The Disrupters” and it serves as a power list of the elite from a cross-section of industries and genres. Today I’m going to be looking at the philanthropy of those Vanity Fair feels are shaping our world. This is a concept I’ve written about in previous posts like the  10 Most Charitable Celebrities from the 2013 Oscar nominees, the top 20 Celebrity Gone Good Part 1 (and Part 2), the 5 Celebrity Charity Events by Musicians, the 10 Celebrities Doing Interesting Things to Change the World, the 10 most charitable celebrities, the 10 Celebrities Doing Good for Women and Girls, the 10 highest paid actresses and their causes, the 10 highest paid actors and their charities as well as the TIFF 2013 Celebrities and the Causes They Support Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. With the help of Look to the Stars we’re highlighting the philanthropy efforts of ten people from Vanity Fair’s The New Establishment 2013.

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  Beyonce and Jay-Z

  Beyoncé – The Powers That Be Ranking: 1. A combination of performing at the Super Bowl, her HBO documentary and selling out her Mrs. Carter Show world tour gave her top spot on this list. Beyoncé helped to launch UN’s World Humanitarian Day in August 2012 and her “Survivor Foundation assists victims of disasters, along with AIDS patients and the homeless. Her $5 million housing project will create 43 permanent housing units in her hometown of Houston.” She has also supported American Foundation for AIDS Research, Artists for Peace and Justice, Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Clothes Off Our Back, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Feeding America, Food Bank For New York City, Kids Wish Network, MusiCares, Oxfam, Save The Music Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer.

• Jay Z – The Powers That Be Ranking: 1. Jay Z has gone from rapper to mogul and part of that was due to his latest album Magna Carta Holy Grail going platinum even before it went on sale through a pre-order deal with Samsung. When it comes to giving back he has headlined benefit concerts and his Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation helps underprivileged students. He has supported many other charities including Artists for Peace and Justice, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Music for Relief and the Red Cross.
• Dr. Dre – The Powers That Be Ranking: 6. Known for his musical collaborations with the likes of Eminem, the producer’s company Beats Electronics which makes high-end, high-priced audio-equipment “accounted for 40 percent of all headphone sales during last year’s holiday shopping season.” He and Beats Electronics partner Jimmy Iovine gave a $70 million gift to the University of Southern California to “create a new undergraduate program called the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation.”
• Stephen Colbert – The Powers That Be Ranking: 11. Stephen Colbert made Vanity Fair’s list because his late-night talk show The Colbert Report ranks ahead of the juggernaut the Tonight Show with Jay Leno when it comes to the key 18-49 demographic. Colbert participated in the Night of Too Many Stars (NOTMS) which benefited the New York Collaborates for Autism (NYCA). He has also supported Amnesty International, Autism Speaks, Clinton Global Initiative, Collaboration Foundation, Comic Relief, DonorsChoose.org, Feeding America, Parkinson Society Maritime Region, Save the Children, Stand Up To Cancer and Yellow Ribbon Fund.
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  Jon Stewart Photo credit: Martin Crook/Comedy Central

  Jon Stewart – The Powers That Be Ranking: 11. Stewart has hosted The Daily Show for fifteen years and he “wrote the screenplay for [the] film [Rosewater], which is based on a memoir by journalist Maziar Bahari, who spent 118 days imprisoned in Tehran.” Stewart also spent the summer directing the film. When it comes to philanthropy he and Comedy Central revolutionized the telethon concept with the special Night of Too Many Stars (NOTMS), which benefited the New York Collaborates for Autism (NYCA). He has also supported American Foundation for AIDS Research, Amnesty International, Autism Speaks, Comic Relief, Feeding America, Robin Hood Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer and Television Academy Foundation.

• J.J Abrams – The Powers That Be Ranking: 13. The creator of Lost and Alias has been given the task of directing the seventh episode of the Star Wars series. When it comes to charity he has supported Alliance For Children’s Rights, American Foundation for Equal Rights, Artists for a New South Africa and Entertainment Industry Foundation.
• Michael Kors – The Powers That Be Ranking: 16. The designer made the Vanity Fair’s list because his company’s I.P.O, which “sold about $700 million in stock, most recently a block of shares worth $180 million in February.” The former Project Runway judge donated $1 million on behalf of his company to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. His company also partnered with “the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to help fight global hunger” with an event on October 16th to help spread awareness for this cause. He has also supported American Foundation for AIDS Research, New York Restoration Project and Golden Hat Foundation.
• Trey Parker – The Powers That Be Ranking: 22. Parker made the list not only because he co-created the cultural phenomenon known as South Park but also because he is working on adapting his Broadway play Book of Mormon into a movie. Parker participated in Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars (NOTMS) telethon to benefit New York Collaborates for Autism (NYCA), is on the advisory board for Declare Yourself and has supported Kitten Rescue.
• Matt Stone – The Powers That Be Ranking: 22. Stone made the list because in addition to co-creating South Park he and business partner Trey Parker are launching their own studio. Stone participated in Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars to benefit the New York Collaborates for Autism (NYCA) and is on the advisory board for Declare Yourself.
• Jennifer Lawrence – The Disrupters ranking: 30. The Oscar-winning actress has supported Bellewood, which works to change “lives and build futures for abused and homeless youth across Kentucky. Since 1849, [their] mission has been to care for, elevate and support neglected young people to become self-sufficient adults.” The Hunger Games star has also supported DoSomething.org, Feeding America, Screen Actors Guild Foundation, The Thirst Project and United Nations World Food Programme.

It is refreshing to see that those with influence are using their notoriety to support and raise awareness of causes close to their hearts.

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