Look to the Stars: Black Celebrities and Their Foundations

These top celebrities are using their super powers for good.

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Oprah Winfrey, Oprah's Angel Network and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation - Through her daytime talk show, Oprah Winfrey became known for giving away the best gifts. Off-screen she gave away grants to schools and encouraged individuals to become ambassadors for change in their own communities through the now-closed Oprah’s Angel Network. Her Leadership Academy in South Africa is an all-girls boarding school that seeks to improve the region's plight by encouraging gifted girls to push past their circumstances and excel. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

Russell Simmons - “I'm not saying #troydavis is innocent. There is just #toomuchdoubt. We don't execute people w/ this much doubt.” (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Russell Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and the Hip Hop Summit Action Network - The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, which just celebrated its 15th anniversary, was founded by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons to provide inner-city youth with access to the arts while giving under-represented artists opportunities to exhibit their work. So far, over 2,000 students have benefited from the foundation’s four galleries located in four different schools in New York and with plans to expand their work into Dubai, South Africa and Ethiopia.The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network was also co-founded by Simmons to create and promote initiatives geared toward the development of the hip hop community and addressing relevant issues.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Naomi Campbell, Fashion for Relief - Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief raises funds to help communities affected by natural disasters, as well as countries where women are at risk of dying during childbirth. So far the charity runway shows have raised money to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the India terrorist attacks in 2009, the Haiti earthquake in 2010 and the Japan earthquake in 2011. (Photo: Sven Hoogerhuis/PictureGroup)

Steve Harvey - Once known simply as a comedian, he has starred in a successful series with his namesake, hosts a syndicated morning show and was honored at this year’s BET Awards for his humanitarianism. \r\rSee his photos and good works here.\r\r\r\r(Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)

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Steve Harvey, The Steve Harvey Foundation - The Steve Harvey Foundation provides guidance for young men through weekend mentoring and camp programs filled with team building activities and workshops led by business, entertainment, military and everyday role models. Steve Harvey and his wife have also created the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation to help all kids in health, education and social well-being. (Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)

Dapper Don\r - 50 Cent gets his Curtis Jackson on as he poses on the red carpet at the Every Woman Every Child MDG Reception at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. (Photo: HRC/WENN.com)

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50 Cent, G-Unity Foundation - The G-Unity Foundation provides grants to nonprofits that work to improve the quality of life for low-income and underserved communities. Artists Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks also serve on the organization’s board of directors. (Photo: HRC/WENN.com)

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Lupe Fiasco: February 17 - The "Food & Liquor" hitmaker turns 31. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco Foundation - Lupe Fiasco is reaching out to the youth from his Chicago community to give them opportunities to rise as he did. The Lupe Fiasco Foundation offers empowerment activities like a cultural exchange program that offers creative outlets for young adults to express themselves, such as the music curriculum Little Man Project. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

John Legend, Show Me Campaign - In the United States, John Legend’s Show Me Campaign fights poverty by fighting for equal access to quality education while in Africa. The team has partnered up with Millennium Promise to provide clean water, health care, education and basic tools to impoverished communities. (Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

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John Legend, Show Me Campaign - In the United States, John Legend’s Show Me Campaign fights poverty by fighting for equal access to quality education while in Africa. The team has partnered up with Millennium Promise to provide clean water, health care, education and basic tools to impoverished communities. (Photo: Albert L. Ortega/PictureGroup)

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Common, The Common Ground Foundation - Under the Common Ground Foundation, urban youth are taught leadership and empowerment skills in the hopes they grow into better decision makers. The “BE Empowered” program develops and supports after-school activities that provide students with constructive outlets like art, music, spoken word and technology. (Photo: Fernando Leon/PictureGroup)

Photo By Fernando Leon/PictureGroup

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Ludacris, The Ludacris Foundation -  The Ludacris Foundation, which was established by rapper/actor Ludacris in 2001, seeks to inspire youth through programs geared towards leadership, education and promoting healthy lifestyles.

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Liya Kebede, The Liya Kebede Foundation - The Liya Kebede Foundation’s mission is to provide women with health care and prevent deaths due to childbirth. The group works with policy makers, community organizations and health care providers to offer low-cost care to women and children around the world. (Photo: Fernando Leon/Elevation/PictureGroup)

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Politically Active - Wyclef's uncle Raymond Alcide Joseph is the Haitian ambassador to the United States. (Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images)

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Wyclef, Yéle Haiti - Wyclef’s Yéle Haiti focuses on employment, youth development and education, agriculture and emergency relief after the country’s devastating earthquake in 2010. The organization recently opened a vocational training program in Jacmel for students interested in the hospitality and tourism fields. (Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images)

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Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation - Jay-Z started the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation with his mom, Gloria, to offer students with socio-economic hardships an opportunity to pursue higher education. Not only does the foundation provide 50 scholarships to students in 50 different states each year, but they also host college tours around the country. (Photo: AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Mary J. Blige, FFAWN - Mary J. Blige’s FFAWN project (Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now) helps underprivileged women nationwide and empower them to reach their full potential. This is accomplished through scholarships, support networks and the Mary J. Blige Center for Women, a resource center that offers job readiness skills, mentoring, health education and help for victims of domestic violence. (Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

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Dwyane Wade, Wade’s World Foundation - NBA player Dwyane Wade started his foundation to provide support to community-based organizations that promote education, health and social skills for children in at-risk situations. Wade’s World Foundation primarily works with outreach programs in Miami, Florida, Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee and Wisconsin and hosts basketball camp weekends.

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Kanye West, Kanye West Foundation - Kanye West is trying to combat the high school drop-out rate through his Kanye West Foundation, which provides under-served children and teens with creative outlets (like his music production program, Loop Dreams) and inspires them to pursue their goals. (Photo: Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)

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Carmelo Anthony, The Carmelo Anthony Foundation - Basketball star Carmelo Anthony wanted to create a positive impact in under-served communities so he created The Carmelo Anthony Foundation, which focuses on programs in education, recreation and community outreach. The foundation partnered up with Living Classrooms Foundation and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City to open a 29,000-square-foot youth development center in East Baltimore and has opened basketball courts for children in Syracuse and Puerto Rico. (Photo: AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Photo By AP Photo/Kin Cheung

Big Boi - "R.I.P. Heavy D a true pioneer may god bless your soul" (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

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Big Boi, Big Kidz Foundation - OutKast member Big Boi is providing children with cultural immersion through his Big Kidz Foundation. The organization believes that exposure to diverse musical, artistic, literary and traveling experiences from a young age will create more social-conscious leaders. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

Photo By Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup

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Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland, Survivor Foundation - After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Destiny’s Child members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland founded the Survivor Foundation to provide temporary housing for the victims. Six years later, the foundation continues to provide disaster relief to displaced families as well as provide assistance to those affected by HIV/AIDS. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)