Words by Abi Scaife
If you’re anything like us, you love a bit of nostalgia - and what is more nostalgic than Disney?
Whether your show of choice was Hannah Montana, or you were more of a Wizards of Waverly Place fan, the positive vibes you get from rewatching a childhood fave are unmatched.
To that end, we did a deep dive to find three of the most generous, most charitable former Disney stars - and the findings were pretty interesting, to say the least.
She might not be Hannah Montana anymore, but one thing about Miley that hasn’t changed is her giving spirit. She has a long and generous history of giving back to fans, to charity and to plenty of other causes - even going so far as to set up her own charity.
The Happy Hippie Foundation was founded in 2014 to serve homeless young people, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, and other vulnerable groups. The foundation has since been renamed the Miley Cyrus Foundation, but Happy Hippie remains a flagship project of the trust.
Miley’s philanthropy is as much a part of her legacy as her music, or her time at Disney - and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
Selena has been involved with so many charities it is almost impossible to list them all. Her biggest achievements include becoming the youngest UNICEF ambassador at age 17 and the Rare Impact Fund she set up as the philanthropic arm of her brand, Rare Beauty.
The Rare Impact Fund is mobilising $100 million in contributions towards youth mental health, increasing access to services and support needed by young people.
Selena also co-founded Wondermind, a digital platform with a mental health focus, which draws from its well of mental health experts ready and willing to give advice.
Selena’s personal experience with mental health struggles is the driving force behind her charity work, but she has also supported a wealth of other causes. It’s great to see someone so successful continuously giving back.
Since 2016, Sabrina Carpenter has been a huge supporter of charity - she has flown to hospitals across America in her work for the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, released charity merchandise and so much more.
Most recently, Sabrina announced she was partnering with the nonprofit PLUS1 on her Short n' Sweet Tour to create the Sabrina Carpenter Fund. PLUS1 is a charity that supports social and environmental justice initiatives through partnerships with brands and celebrities, just like Sabrina.
Sabrina has been one of the biggest former Disney child stars to break out, especially with recent hits like Espresso and Please, Please, Please taking over the charts this summer. It’s awesome to see that that momentum is being directed into giving back.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The Fore. This charity is transforming lives and society by turbo-charging exceptional small charities and social enterprises. Support them here.
The Brother’s Trust. This charity is run by Tom Holland’s family, aiming to shine a light on charities where generous donations can be used to maximum effect. Find out more.
The Henry Smith Charity. This is a grant giving charity that aims to use its resources to help people and communities in the UK. Learn more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Partnerships for the Goals.
