how about celeb-aid instead?

[joko]

i am sick of being begged for my money by rich celebs.

robbie william said on an ad recently that if we all gave �5 to this charity they'd have �2million (don't know how he got that figure!) but i say to him - lets not take �5 from people who are living hand to mouth and lets ask the celebs to give the cash instead - he famously boasted that he was rich beyond his wildest dreams with �80 million so �2million will be nothing to him.

i know celebs claim they donate, and i am sure many do, but generally if they do they want it publicised to show everyone how wonderful they are, and i can't recall the last time i heard about it.

you have children emptying their piggy banks and people with little giving their last �2 and yet these people are sitting on millions.

i don't begrudge them their cash, just that they beg me for mine.

so for celeb aid, lets get stadium filled with celebs and treat them to karaoke, pub quiz and magic tricks and get them to "give us yrrr money"

whaddayathink?

[littleoldme]

I think it's a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't. If celebs make a big show of donating to charity, people accuse them of only doing it for publicity; if they don't, people accuse them of not doing anything. As for begging ordinary people to help, even Robbie Williams hasn't got enough money to solve all the problems on his own!

I do understand what you're saying, and the constant begging (not just from celebrities, but from TV adverts, envelopes through the front door and so on) does get annoying, but I don't think it's particularly aimed at those "living hand to mouth", but at those who are comfortably off without being particularly rich.

I like your Celeb Aid idea though. I could get up and start singing some Robbie Williams songs. See how much he'd pledge to get me to stop. ;-)

[zara 4]

100% agree with you,let 'em put their money where their mouth's are for a change!!

[:Ace:]

Let's see what Mrs McCartney does with her settlement money.

:Ace:

[unruliejulie]

I think you will find that Robbie gives more than his fair share to charity and without a celebrity such as him to promote these charities such as Unicef by doing wonderful things such as soccer aid, then these charities wouldn't get half the donations they do.That can't be a bad thing surely! Well done to him and all like him i say, and some people actually enjoy donating to good causes

[mightyWBA]

Totally agree,I always find it strange that mega rich "celebrities" try to entice us to part with our cash.

George Harrison snuffed it with �400 million in the bank.Enough to spare us the next 20 Children in need shows.(now theres an idea)

[pinksmartie]

lol @ littleoldme and :ace:!

[noxlumos]

Yul Brynor (remember him? ) built whole orphanages and was mortified when someone found out and publicised the fact, because he wanted that to just be his private way of giving something back. Bill Gates also gives millions.Dunno how many other celebrities feel that way, but when I give any real amount to charity I always do so anonymously ( I'm obviously not a celebrity) as I feel it's ostentacious to be really public about it and unnecessary, but I know what you mean, it would be nice if Mr and Mrs McCartney donated a bit more of their own money.

[LaLaLand2006]

Totally agree with everything being said. I also don't think it's just individuals. It's a culture of the mega-rich. How about all these mega-millions paid for individual footballers. Imagine even if just 1% of these figures were giving to charity. Surely, that would be a true Soccer-Aid.

But like most people know, the bigger question isn't just about throwing money at certain causes. It's the root causes of the problems - corruption, wars etc that a nice little PR exercise on ITV won't solve (but that's another story!!!)

[loobie]

If Robbie wants to keep organising these soccer aids I don't mind - I'm going to the match on saturday and I cant wait to see him running aroung in shorts. Yummy!!!

On the charity hand, although they have millions and millions I don't see why it should be up to them entirely to sort the problems out. And if it wasn't for Robbie's promotion of it, I wouldn't even know what unicef is!

[Gevs1966]

Anyone who criticises someone else, celebrity or not, for giving money to charity or for publicising charities such as Unicef through things like socceraid should take a long hard look at themselves first.

Celebrities raise the profiles of these charities so that ordinary people get to hear about the problems around the world. the giving of money to charity should not be judged on how wealthy the donator is. I dare say these celebrities give more to charity and do more for charity than any of the people criticising them.

The argument that they are millionaires and you are not so they shouldn't try to get you involved is basically a load of socialist b*ll*x!!

Even in a worst case senario where a celebrity may do something for charity as a means of self promotion, the benefit to the charity will greatly outweigh anything the celebrity gets out of it.

I find people like you offensive

[gessoo]

I agree with Gevs, except that I respect joko's views and don't find her offensive

[joko]

ah, gessoo, you seem to have entirely missed the point.

where exactly did i criticise anyone for giving to charity??

nor did i say people who aren't millionaires shouldn't donate.

nor did i say they shouldn't get any publicity out of it.

nor did i say that only millionaires should sort out the issues.

my point was that they should put their money where there mouths are.

"i daresay" is not evidence of celebs giving money - i work in the industry and i know how self centred and tight-fisted many of them are - even with little things and i have heard some of them speak with thinly veiled disdain when charity is mentioned.

as has been pointed out, paul mc is worth 800million, george died with 400million in the bank

if even a quarter of that was given it would do much more than waiting for our fivers to trickle in.

i don't doubt that they do give money to charity, and I know some work tirelessly and are extremely generous, and you are right that without their publicity many would never have heard of some of these charities, but that rather says more about you, don't you think, that the only way you even hear about or donate to these charities is if a celeb is at the head of it.

vomit away all you like but in case you hadn't noticed the was a jokey tone to my post

[joko]

my apologies gessoo - i meant to say gevs.

also you do realise that a great many celebs demand pay and elaborate riders and chauffeur driven cars etc etc for these things don't you?

[Gevs1966]

joko, just because Paul McCartney has 800m in the bank, why should he give a quarter to charity?

If you had 8k in the bank would you give 2k to charity? I very much doubt it.

The extent of someones earnings should bear no relevance to what they feel happy to give.

Paul McCartney has, given tirelessly over the years, set up charities, helped set up charities, organised massive charity events such as Music for Montserrat etc, is that not enough for you that he has to give up a quarter of the assets he has earned over the past 45 years.

Completely unreasonable!

Yes I do know that people ask for chauffers etc and I find these people equally as despicable as those who citicise anyone for whatever reason when connected with helping charities.

Why don't you put your money where you mouth is and give the same percentage of your own earnings to charity as you are expecting them too!

[unruliejulie]

I have to say, i'm with Gevs1966. I think its the fact that they raise the profiles that is hugely important to the charities. Who would have given a toss about landmines if Diana hadn't put her name to it! I believe they give more than enough, they just don't brag about what they do do. Macca gives more than his fair share.

[Kay]

Hear Hear Gevs and Julie, I could'nt agree with you more. You've both said it all so no need for me to add anything.

[gessoo]

With apologies for hijacking the thread: Nice to see you FINA X

[Kay]

Aw thanks Gessoo. Nice to be back X

[joko]

just for the record, it wasn't me who brought paul mcartney or george harrison in to this -someone else brought them up
i agree paul has done much more than his share in raising awareness. He�s also kind & gives a lot back to liverpool & has done a lot for vegetarianism

i wasnt suggesting he actually give a quarter of his earnings, merely that that kind of money could make a world of difference to the charities rather than our small amounts, trickling in & just keeping them afloat- & he'd probably not even miss it
nor was i suggesting that robbie w is tight fisted either, i just mentioned him because of the recent ad & because he's extremely rich

i meant other loaded celebs who are not at all generous, sitting on a fortune & then asking us to give a few quid
i agree that putting their name to a charity & an extensive -& expensive -campaign is great, & does wonders for fundraising, but when they themselves could help financially & don't...well that just gets on my nerves. I've also done a few charity fundraising films so i know what its like trying to get celebs involved. many are great & can't help enough, but some others....well

glad to see most of you understood what i was getting at with my post...

by the way i give plenty to charity & can't really afford it. & I work in a charity shop some mornings, help design literature & done a few charity films �for free �you know, actually physically doing something, putting myself out at bit, not just agreeing for my name to be used, & recording a soundbite to get myself some publicity -does that make me worthy of adulation?

lets see how many of you go to the site below & click on the link every single day -it won't cost you a penny so there is no excuse really is there...
http://www.thehungersite.com/