Celebrities Help Charities Raise Profiles, Money

Charities that are promoted by celebrities often see a spike in visibility and donations, reports The Washington Post.

For example, when Lucy Liu appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” on behalf of UNICEF to talk about earthquake victims in Pakistan, the organization attracted a 91-percent increase in visitors to its Web site and raised nearly $500,000.

Angelina Jolie was interviewed by Anderson Cooper on CNN and talked about her work with the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Afterwards, donations increased by more than $500,000.

Alan J. Abramson, who studies nonprofit groups for the Aspen Institute, a research and advocacy organization, says, “Celebrities and their humanitarian work can sometimes show the way, especially overseas.”

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