George Clooney's Role in Feeding the Hungry of the World

He is one of the best known actors in Hollywood. George Clooney is also known for fighting genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Did you know, however, that the actor is also actively involved in fighting hunger and poverty in America and around the world? He told an interviewer he contracted malaria because of his work in supporting peace and fighting hunger in Sudan.

Many people are well acquainted with the former television star as an actor for his role in the show, "ER," and many movies, including "Ocean's 11." Many know he is an activist, involved in fighting for human rights in Sudan.
They may not know, however, of his involvement in feeding the hungry through America through Feeding America, fighting poverty through Realizing the Dream, his large gifts of money to homeless people in America, and his fight against AIDS and poverty throughout the world through the One Campaign. He has also helped the hungry in Sudan through the World Food Program of the United Nations.

Many were surprised that a such a major television star could also be a big movie star, as some television stars do not succeed on the big screen. He won an Oscar for his role in "Syriana" and was nominated for "Michael Clayton," as well as his efforts as a writer and director for the screenplay for "Goodnight, and Good Luck."

The actor is one of many celebrities who support Feeding America, which was once known as Second Harvest. The organization gives away grocery and food products nationwide. Feeding America is also involved in promoting public awareness of hunger in America and supports public policies aimed at helping the hungry in the United States.

A lot of people already know the celebrity and other stars of "Ocean's 11," including Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, and movie director Jerry Weintraub founded Not on Our Watch to stop the genocide in the Sudan. What they may not know is Clooney has been more than a public advocate for the issue, as he has been actively involved in helping the hungry in the region. Not on Our Watch has given millions of dollars to help the region through the World Food Program of the United Nations. The World Food Program often feeds more than 100 million people in a year in almost 100 countries.

The actor was also involved in monitoring any violence during elections in the Sudan. He launched a satellite system to allow him to do the monitoring almost live. He also has visited the area and personally spoken with victims of torture and rape.

Realizing the Dream, which Clooney supports, seeks to fight poverty in the United States and worldwide, through the Poverty Project. It also seeks to fight for peace in the world through Generation II Global Peace through a group of prominent people, including Martin Luther King III, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Kerry Kennedy, and others. The organization has other programs, and the Oscar winner has supported it through an auction.

The One Campaign, which the former ER star supports, seeks to fight poverty and disease in Africa. Part of the work is done through seeking support from political leaders. The organization works with leaders in Africa.

The actor also supported a telethon for victims of 9/11, donated $25,000 to television writers during a 2007 strike, and is on the Board of Trustees for the United Way. The celebrity has been recognized for his peacekeeping work in Sudan by the Ripple of Hope Awards.

"I guess the mosquito in Juba looked at me and thought I was the bar," Clooney joked about his contracting malaria in an interview recorded on the website, news.blogs.cnn.com. He said that was the second time he has had malaria, which is spread by infected mosquitoes and can cause chills, vomiting, fever, flu-like symptoms, jaundice, and diarrhea. One million people per year, mostly in developing countries, die from the disease. The Oscar winner has said he is okay, despite contracting the disease.

Citations:

George Clooney's Charity Work, Events and Causes, no author listed, looktothestars.org
George Clooney Biography , no author listed, talktalk.co.uk
George Clooney Monitoring Violence During Sudan Elections , posted by Joyce Lee, cbsnews.com
Celebrate George Clooney's Charity Honor With Celebrity Auction, no author listed, looktothestars.org
George Clooney says he contracted malaria in Sudan, no author listed, news.blogs.cnn.com