10 Charitable Athletes

Every year, the most accomplished athletes in the world spend time working for charities off the baseball field, tennis court, football field or basketball court. Millions of dollars come out of athletes’ paychecks to support numerous causes throughout the world.

Every year, the most accomplished athletes in the world spend time working for charities off the baseball field, tennis court, football field or basketball court. Millions of dollars come out of athletes' paychecks to support numerous causes throughout the world. Whether it is building houses in Ghana, traveling with OXFAM to plant trees in Ethiopia or running an orphanage in Zambia, these charitable athletes are doing everything they can to alleviate global poverty.

1. David Beckham

Via independent.co.uk

The former soccer player supports many programs, especially UNICEF, where he is an ambassador and has donated his time to the Unite Against AIDS Campaign. Beckham and his wife’s charity, the Victoria and David Beckham Charitable Trust, supports initiatives for disabled children. Beckham also supports other charities, such as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Malaria No More, the Red Cross and Peace One Day.

2. Larry Fitzgerald

Via athleteslivehere.com

Fitzgerald's charity, The Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund, provided about 1,000 football helmets to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation's youth football program. Fitzgerald traveled to Ethiopia with Oxfam America to perform various projects, including working on an irrigation project and planting trees. He has been a longtime advocate for human rights, has helped build homes in third world countries and he visited Malaysia with the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

3. Clayton Kershaw

Via dodgersnation.com

This baseball player has given a great deal of his paycheck to charities in Africa, including his program called Kershaw’s Challenge, which targets at-risk communities and children. Clayton and his wife also run an orphanage in Lukasa, Zambia. Kershaw participates in various other programs, including Habitat for Humanity. He was given the Roberto Clemente Award in 2012, which honors the top humanitarian Major League Baseball player.

4. Serena Williams

Via stuff.co.nz

One of the biggest stars in women’s tennis and also a very charitable athlete, Serena Williams has traveled to Ghana to advocate for better education for children in the developing world through her role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She has helped build two schools in Kenya, and she has received several awards for her charity work.

5. Magic Johnson

Via bleacherreport.com

A renowned basketball player and superb charitable athlete, Magic Johnson has made significant progress for AIDS awareness. Johnson was infected with the HIV virus in 1991 and immediately retired from basketball. He wanted to have one last hurrah on the basketball court and played in the 1992 All-Star Game. Some players were apprehensive about playing with him because they were afraid they could contract the HIV virus by touching him or coming in close contact with him. Johnson and NBA Commissioner David Stern started to educate the league and the public about HIV, trying to eliminate the stigma attached to people infected with the virus

6. Tiger Woods

Via golfweek.com

Tiger Woods runs the Tiger Woods Foundation, which provides access to college for youth in poverty. According to the website, the Tiger Woods Foundation “has reached millions of young people by delivering unique experiences and innovative educational opportunities for youth worldwide” since its inauguration in 1996. The foundation holds an annual concert called Tiger Jam, which has raised $14 million since its first event, held in 1998.

7. Lance Berkman

Via listtoptens.com

Both a first baseman and an outfielder, Berkman has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros and the New York Yankees. Off the field, he has donated almost $2.5 million through his foundation, The Lords’ Fund, to many different faith-based organizations in Eastern Europe, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to support their work with children in need. There are currently efforts in progress in both Vietnam and the Philippines.

8. Rodger Federer

Via msn.foxsports.com

Some say Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time, but off the tennis court, Federer has donated to AIDS awareness and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He has also provided financial support for the tsunami in India and Hurricane Katrina victims.

9. Nnamdi Asomugha

Via sfgate.com

Education and community service are two of Asomugha’s focuses. He is Chairman for the Asomugha Foundation, which operates two primary programs: Orphans and Widows In Need, which provides aid to widows and children in Nigeria, and Asomugha College Tour for Scholars.

10. Albert Pujols

Via aaronmilesfastball.com

Celebrated as the first baseman for the Angels, Pujols and his wife run the Pujols Family Foundation, which serves to “promote awareness, provide hope and meet tangible needs for families and children who live with Down syndrome.” The organization also supports impoverished families in the Dominican Republic.

These athletes all may be Grand Slam winners, MVPs or All-Americans, but one thing that sets these charitable athletes apart is that they are mentors, ambassadors, volunteers and benefactors. Charitable athletes giving back to the people that support them are great ways to raise awareness about charitable organizations and show how everyday people can give back to their communities.

Sources: The Bleacher Report 1, The Bleacher Report 2, Takepart, The Fumble