Why do celebrities and others donate to help the needy in other countries but not their own?

Question

There are plenty living in poverty, homeless, hungry, needy etc. right here in the USA but high profile celebrities and others are contributing to other countries needy, I don't get that? Shouldn't you help your 'own' first?

Answer 1

I don't agree with a lot of the things that celebrities do, however the average poor person in America is no comparison to the needy in 3rd world countries around the world.

Answer 2

I think there are many reasons that celebrities and others help the needy in other countries. One is that the poverty level in USA is considered a family of 4 earning less than or equal to approximately $18,000 per year. In other countries, and I site Tanzania, E. Africa, because I personally work to help people in this country (see website at www.throughourhands.org), the average income is $1 a day. Many of the people I know, live very deep in the bush, and don't have the opportunity to make even this. There are no food stamp programs, free education, or health programs in the area I serve. The weather, either no rain or so much rain that crops are washed away, seems to guarantee a constant state of famine. Even primary education in a national school involves fees incurred by the family. These people literally have no where else to turn. In the same token, however, I never turn away a "beggar" here in the USA. If someone approaches me and asks me for $1, I give it. The problem is in choosing an organization that's cause is to help the poor. Just how much of each $1 actually goes to the cause? Also, our country offers many opportunities to the downtrodden. However, I must also add that our own country, particularly at the state level has cut out many programs that were designed to help others. For example, many programs to help the mentally ill in Michigan were cut out several years ago, leaving many homeless.
I think that rather than criticizing celebrities and others that have taken a stand and are dedicated to helping others, we should be happy that they are helping others. We should instill in our children that they are blessed and that they need to find a way in this world to share those blessings.
I think less should be thought of as to "where" the help is going and more to the fact that help is indeed going.
We live in a country under a government that spends (wastes) how many thousands of dollars each year? Perhaps this needs to change first, plus the big non-profits need to take a look at the big salaries, vacations, and other unnecessary overhead and work to putting more of each $1 to the work of their supposed "cause". I personally do not draw a salary or vacations from my non-profit, it is run 100% by volunteers. In this way, when I visit the Boay area, the money goes to the cause. It can be done!

Answer 3

I agree with Uncle Ben. While we have the poor and needy in our country, their poverty is nothing compared to third world poverty. In the third world there are no resources for the poor, no safety net. I don't think it has to be an either/or, but I think we are so blessed we need to help wherever and however we can.

I don't live according to celebrities---they are just people like you & I.

Answer 4

Celebrities and others DO donate to help people in their own countries.

If you follow media hype, you get a skewed view.

However, since there are people who are worse off than any Americans, and since America has caused a LOT of the suffering of people all over the world, some people feel an extra obligation to speak out, donate, etc. to those others.

But it's a gross over-generalization to say they all do.

If that were true, who do you think is funding all the charities in this country? Foreigners?

Unlikely.

Answer 5

Well : those "Celebrities are an Offical Members from each
"Orgnizations or Support Groups of Volunteers like some others
are trying to help with" Buliding 1Community for 1Child at an time
yes because they would be an Sponsor giving an idea today
Like http://www.unitedway.foundation.org
http://www.the.ronaldmcdonald.houseforchildren.org
why sure we'd do by asking for newer members
try http://www.kiwanis.clubs.international.org

Answer 6

That's a good question maybe these people are just selfish and care more about other countries then their own.
Same goes for Australia we spent money on other countries but never spend it on people who are ill, homeless, hungry ect
But I would not have a clue for an answer to your question.

Answer 7

youre right, in that people shoul help their "own" first. it gives america a feeling that they're beign betrayed by all these celebrities hollywood helped develop. but some may not know about the realities of home, despite hurricane katrina. - but oprah did help a lot with katrina, she did more than bush did and sh'es a celebrity and bush is our president.

a month ago, or around, 20/20 and nightline reported on camden, nj beign the most dangerous city in america with at leat 60% of the city being under the poverty line, but percentage may be more. i didn't know about this poverty in camden until 20/20.

many celebrities may also think that life in america even if ur poor is better than being poor in a third world ocuntry. if you go to a thrid world country and see poor people there, you can see their skeletons, they're in deserts, barren land with NO ONE WILLING TO help them, no one at all. the rich natives don't care, they'll drive in their cadillac and literally laff at all the people begging for money, this is based on tru experience- i've seen adn witnessed it. the governemtn of these countries could care even less. in southeast asia, people have no one to turn to for help because everyone is way too greddy and selfish and cheap to shell out some money to poor people. these rich people may also think that since they are rich and the poor are poor and the poor are poor because they're too lazy to work for their money adn resort to begging because of that, they are not willing to give out money they worked for.

in america, there are opportunities despite being extremely poor. theres welfare, in poor countries, there is nothing of such kindness. america has more opportunities for the poor than third world countries do for their poor.


celebrities may also go to other countries than othe countries to help their image. by not focussing on america, the american dream, you show that you are not ignorant to the rest of the world .the rest of hte world is a lot poorer than america, america has one the top salries per/person in the world and an exceedingly hi gdp. these statistics for third-world countries are a fraction of america's. people may see american celebrities as selfish for focussing on their own kind instead of other ocuntries who need that help more than america does. in this sense, the poor in america are usually in the dark compared to the rest of hte world's poor.

Answer 8

I think so. I don't have a lot to contribute, but I would rather help here even if its not as flashy.