Nowadays if you’re a professional athlete, you’re not just getting recognition for your hard work on the field. With the amount of money in sports, it goes a long way with fans and the media to give time off the field doing charity work to give back to the community. And everyone loves photos of attractive athletes doing charity work. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and giving back, here are a few of those athletes who stand out among the rest in giving time both on and off the field/court/ice or whatever sort of ground they’re on in their sport.
Michael Phelps
Every household knows Michael Phelps’ name, or at least they should. After having the most decorated career in Olympian history that spanned five Olympics and earning 28 medals, 23 of which were gold by the way, his charity has continued strong even though his Olympic swimming career has seemingly come to an end.
In 2008, Phelps began the Michael Phelps Foundation, an organization which is dedicated to “promoting water safety, healthy living and the pursuit of dreams.” He received a $1 million bonus from a sponsor after picking up eight (yes, eight) gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and he decided to put that into beginning the foundation.
In partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America and Special Olympics, Phelps and his foundation have helped over 16,000 participants since 2010. This foundation helps children learn how to swim, in addition to other programs, such as providing financial aid to those who may not be able to afford it.
Henrik Lundqvist
Let’s be real, Henrik Lundqvist is a stud both on and off the ice. Known for his skills in the net and his style in the city streets, Lundqvist and his wife created the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation in 2014. HLF, “through it’s fundraising efforts and community outreach, strives to create positive change in the lives of children and adults throughout the world through education and health services.”
Serena Williams
One of the greatest tennis players of all time, Serena Williams isn’t just known for her skills with a racket. Williams has fought against breast cancer, built schools in Africa as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and also helps to promote access to education for children in Asia alongside UNICEF.
Williams links her name to 12 different charities and a countless number of causes. It’s safe to say that despite the ups and downs she may face on the court, she’s always going to be standing by causes that are important to her off it.
Christiano Ronaldo
A soccer superstar on the field, Christiano Ronaldo is an impactful member of Real Madrid in Spain and also plays for the Portugal National Team.
From donating his entire Champions League bonus, to donating $83,000 to fund a 10-year-old child’s brain surgery, Ronaldo’s actions are no stranger to grabbing headlines. Ronaldo’s also an international spokesman for two global campaigns addressing childhood hunger and obesity, as well as one dedicated to conserving biodiversity. A lot of the work Ronaldo does ends up going unnoticed because it goes under the radar but he is without a doubt one of the most charitable in professional sports.
Derek Jeter
New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter founded the Turn 2 foundation with his father back in 1996 during his rookie season. Turn 2 is dedicated to helping kids and teens turn away from drugs and alcohol and live healthy lifestyles instead. The charity has awarded more than $20 million programs and activities thus far.
In addition to Turn 2, Jeter also invested in STOPit, an app which helps to prevent cyberbullying, by providing kids with a platform to report inappropriate behavior in an easy and anonymous way.
Honorable Mention: NHL Players + Puppies
This article couldn’t be written without including at least one of these photos. Every year, NHL teams each create a “Pucks & Paws” calendar to raise awareness for a dog shelter or adoption organization.
Each team usually chooses an organization that is local to them. This year, the New York Islanders raised awareness at Northwell Health Ice Center, just down the turnpike from Hofstra, and posed with some adorable pups and service dogs.
The proceeds from the 2018 calendar will benefit America’s VetDogs, a Long Island-based organization that trains dogs to assist combat veterans both emotionally and physically.
This holiday season, try to follow these charitable examples and give back. No act of kindness is too small and it doesn’t go unnoticed by the people you help.