The value of celebrity philanthropy, and whether it confers more benefit on the stars than on the causes they espouse, is examined by The Observer in a profile of Trevor Neilson, head of consulting firm the Global Philanthropy Group.
The article tracks Mr. Neilson’s career from an internship in the Clinton White House through work for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to 2007 formation of the Global Philanthropy Group, and his rapid rise as a philanthropic adviser to famous actors, singers, and athletes, including Madonna, Angelina Jolie, and Kobe Bryant.
Mr. Neilson characterizes celebrities and the media glare they garner as the best way to best way to draw Western attention to far-off humanitarian and social crises.
“When you look at the amount of news people consume that’s entertainment-focused versus foreign-policy-focused, you realize that if you can use celebrity to have people pay attention to the famine in Somalia, then they’re going to pay attention,” he says. “And if you don’t, they’re not.”
Source:
http://philanthropy.com/blogs/philanthropytoday/profile-examines-who-benefits-from-celebrity-giving/51159
