Motives for Celebrities involved in Charity work

[Sheefa]

Hi,

 

One of my colleagues raised a very good question earlier.

 

We hear a lot in the press today about Celebrities involved in charity work, whether it be Miss Mills out and about visiting victims following landmines, Leona Lewis helping out in Africa or Miss Jolie adopting a third world child.

 

The motives seem pretty obvious - they want to help and they often have the resources to do so (cash and time). Also of course, the positive publicity is well welcomed by them and the public.

 

But are there any other motivations for charitable involvement? What about financial benefits such as tax relief or anything?

 

Would welcome your views on this.

 

Cheers.

 

Greg

[Charlotte]

The more they give the more tax relief they get. Sometimes my cynical head says it's 'cheaper' for them to give money to charity than the tax man.

 

I think the same sort of thing applies to musicians on tour? Like they get relief for not being in the country - Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney always do big world tours.

[Gaz Walker]

The more they give the more tax relief they get. Sometimes my cynical head says it's 'cheaper' for them to give money to charity than the tax man.

 

Yep, basically its better all round if they donate some of their riches to charity.

 

Regards,

 

Gaz.

[uk-rich]

if jordan donates some of her used pants to me, i will give some cash to charity

[colsoop]

It is also part of their brand awareness with the public. Charitable work always casts the "celebrity" (i hate that word by the way) in a good light. Their public relations team will have organised it for them.

[Al Massey]

 

I think the same sort of thing applies to musicians on tour? Like they get relief for not being in the country - Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney always do big world tours.

 

that winds me up, i spend a year in the iraq and still had to pay tax

[Class One]

The cynical view would be that some people in the public eye do work for charity to improve their own profile (and save paying tax to boot) or that they are merely using their profile to raise awareness for a specific cause.

 

Many many people in the public eye do alot or work for charity and donate because they can and and seek no recognition or reward for doing so, and should be commended for the work that they do. The Jolies and Madonnas of this world are in a minority of a very very few and not all people of high public profile are like them.

[Al Massey]

well you cant forget Di

 

she went out her way to help all people and being a princess never phased her doing it

 

there are some out there that wana help and some to help themselves

[Lbm]

The more they give the more tax relief they get. Sometimes my cynical head says it's 'cheaper' for them to give money to charity than the tax man.

 

I think the same sort of thing applies to musicians on tour? Like they get relief for not being in the country - Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney always do big world tours.

 

Let's not forget though their fans are world-wide.

I believe they are governed by the tax laws of the countries they're working in. It certainly is not tax free.

 

A mate of mine tours for 3 months every year in Japan and gets taxed out there. He then fills in a form so he doesn't get taxed by this country upon his return.

 

Back to the question then- Perhaps it doesn't matter whether a celebrity is 'doing' charity work for altruistic reasons or perhaps to raise their profile (or both) If they raise awarenesss and/or cash, that's more than most of us would achieve in a lifetime.