15 athletes who do good, helping people and the planet (16 photos)

Although the media prefer to focus on all sorts of troubles that athletes get into in the world of professional sports still remain true role models. Here are 15 famous athletes who use their status for good and spend their time and money to help people.





1. David Beckham



Despite all his fame and fortune, David Beckham remains a humble and down to earth guy. When it comes to children, it generosity knows no bounds: the football player supports many charitable organizations that help them. In 2013 he gave away £3.3m of his football royalties to charity. True, Beckham said it was his wife's idea, but still!

2. J. J. Watt





Three-time NFL top quarterback founded charity an organization that organizes various extra-curricular programs for children and seeks to involve them in sports in a safe environment. playing for the Houston Texans, Watt often invited children with disabilities and children from low-income families for games and training. And on August 26 of this year footballer launches fund on YouCaring.com to raise money for victims Hurricane Harvey with an initial target of $200,000. Watt closed fundraiser, raising $37,097,298, over 185 times exceeds its original purpose.

3. Derrick Coleman



Derrick Coleman, who played for the Seattle Seahawks, starred in an ad Duracell, in which he demonstrated that deafness did not prevent him realize his dream, which inspired many children and even adults with hearing loss and other disabilities.

4. Eli Manning



The former New York Giants quarterback is constantly collecting money for children's hospitals and clinics. He has also helped raise over 25 million dollars for the New York March for Infants (for fight against preterm birth), and his work with the Tackle Kids campaign Cancer Led To Over 1 Million Fundraisers dollars.

5. Lamarr Woodley



Recently, a football player heard that a school district in Michigan was going to introduce a fee of $75 per year for children wishing to exercise. It was the same school district in which he grew up and graduated from high school in 2003. He contacted the county to find out how much will be collected after collecting this fee. As a result, Woodley donated $60,000 so kids don't have to pay for classes sports.

6. LeBron James



A girl with cancer named Ebony dreamed of meeting LeBron James. Twitter launched the hashtag #LeBronMeetEbony" and a miracle happened: LeBron found time in his busy schedule to meet with Ebony and her family. On top of that, he has raised over 3 million dollars for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which organizes extracurricular programs. He also founded the successful charitable foundation whose goal is to positively influence children's lives through education and extracurricular programs. In 2015 the James Foundation spent $41 million to pay for tuition at college for students from Akron.

7. Abby Wambach



Abby Wambach of the US Women's National Soccer Team actively collaborates with both the Juvenile Diabetes Association and Epilepsy Foundation. Both of these diseases affected her personally: her her brother Peter has epilepsy, and her brother Andrew and her nephew Ben have diabetes 1 type.

8. Nelson Cruz



A baseball player from the Texas Rangers bought a fire truck for his hometown of San Francisco de Macoris, located in Dominican Republic. There are no fire engines in his hometown, no ambulances, so it was a huge gift for the local residents. His donation caught the attention of the Texas service emergency responsewho donated two more ambulances help.

9. Pat Tillman



Tillman was a professional American football player. After the September 11 attacks, he refused a contract for 9 million dollars from the St. Louis Rams to join the army with one of his brothers. He died in the service due to friendly fire, which for many years hidden from the public.

10. Mia Hamm



Former professional soccer player who played in the women's US national football team, founded a charitable foundation in honor of her brother who died of a bone marrow disease.

11. Payton Manning



One of the best quarterbacks in NFL history founded charitable foundation that helps children from disadvantaged families.

12. Pierre Thomas



The former New Orleans Saints running back is famous for spoils the kids all the time in New Orleans, but last Christmas he surpassed himself: the athlete came to the store, filled five carts and donated them to Toys for Toddlers.

13. Steve Nash



Basketball player Steve Nash played for the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers." It is not in vain that he is famous for his modesty and generosity: founded his own charitable organization that helps needy children.

14. Tom Brady



According to her website, Best Buddies is "the world's largest an organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic exclusion of 200 million people with intellectual and Development (IDD)”, providing “friendship, work and leadership development qualities." Charity credits famous quarterback Tom Brady raising more than $46.5 million for her needs.

15. Cristiano Ronaldo



Cristiano may seem arrogant on the football field, but what he does outside is worthy of respect and admiration. Recently, a family turned to Ronaldo with a request to help their son. The child needed brain surgery, and the parents tried raise money for it. They asked Ronaldo if he could donate a pair of boots for auction. Ronaldo not only donated boots, but also paid for the child's brain surgery, which eventually cost 83,000 dollars.