Will And Jada Smith Donate Their September Birthdays To Charity: Water

Scott Harrison started nonprofit charity: water by asking for donations in lieu of birthday gifts. Just four years later, the organization is drilling wells to bring clean water to developing communities around the world.

Since Harrison's birthday is in September, charity: water conducts an annual campaign asking Americans to forgo birthday gifts for a worthy cause.

Now, Hollywood couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have joined the campaign, donating their September birthdays to clean water projects in Africa.

Supporters can get involved by making an online donation or pledging to also donate their birthdays on www.charitywater.org/willandjada.

WATCH:

Comments

[Waiting for Something]

10:00 AM on 09/26/2010

Donating in lieu of gifts is a really great concept.

But how do you donate your birthday? I would like to donate at least the last ten, if not more. I may need to read the entire post, but to be honest, I can't read another word about this couple, despite my appreciation for their generosity. Believe me, I know people in my personal life who trumpet their every accomplishment and expound constantly about the wonderfulness of their offspring, so it's nothing against W & J, I just feel nauseated by this type of behavior in general.

But seriously, I need to donate some birthdays.....many, many birthdays.

[DanoX]

11:32 PM on 09/22/2010

My wife and I do the same for Christmas. We tell all our family and friends they don't need to get us anything, but if they still feel compelled we give them a list of charities we support, or they can choose one of their own. It really started with my niece. At the age of seven she started asking for her Christmas and birthday gifts be charitable donations. She hasn't gone back on this in four years.

[Macready]

06:41 AM on 09/21/2010

good for them . . . . they are a fantastic couple

[angrymanspokane]

07:55 PM on 09/20/2010

Rich or not, anything helps.

[larryjackshon]

07:26 PM on 09/20/2010

Coonery not cookery ha!!!!

[larryjackshon]

07:25 PM on 09/20/2010

They both sell 'cookery' to white people. They should give it all away as penance.

[javajava]

01:23 PM on 09/20/2010

Their act is commendable but I wish more celebrities would commit to some of the more challanging issues facing us. They are under no obligation to jepardize careers or hurt potential earnings but for they also have a stake in our future. So often lending a name to a Charity seems more about positive publicity than an expression of standing on issues. But I'm sure benifitting charities welcome the attention.

[Stephen Stafford]

07:17 PM on 09/20/2010

Stop it I say. The story is about them doing a commendable thing. Providing clean water is one of the challenging issues people throughout the world face. Their participation brings the challenge, and this solution, to many other people's attention.

This does not satisfy you, who wish for something else, rather than applaud this couple's activism and charity. You even take a swipe at their motives.

Start over. Applaud this good news. Stop judging. Enjoy these acts of kindness.

[ThatBKChick]

05:14 PM on 09/19/2010

I appreciate the Smiths. There are few power couples like them that give back these days. I love the Smith's. However, giving doesn't require publicity. I can remember Denzel Washington about two years ago, wrote a check for $250K for a Veteran's hospital for beds they needed for wounded troops. Washington did not ask for publicity for it. Real giving from the heart, should come from no strings attached, nor public announcements.

[socialtalker]

07:22 PM on 09/19/2010

they are probably trying to raise millions, and there is no saying what the smiths have given directly out of their pockets. the whole point of PA is to get people aware. who had ever heard of this group until the smiths did the pa? very few.

[netaholic13]

01:46 PM on 09/19/2010

if only all the celebrities were like them, a great sum of money will be gone to the needy people and has long sustainable impact and changed their life positively.
sadly most of them are still throwing big parties costing probably millions of dollars.

[Connie Markley Boppre]

10:57 AM on 09/19/2010

good job ! quite admirable ! other wealthy celebs should take note !!!!!

[eric14]

06:17 PM on 09/18/2010

I will add their pictures to the shrine of wealthy celebrities that I worship.

[socialtalker]

07:25 PM on 09/19/2010

jeez, try some colon cleanse, it will chill those snaky remarks.

[eric14]

07:48 AM on 09/20/2010

Recommend me your brand.

[noladebby]

05:11 AM on 09/18/2010

Good for them!

[SrAN]

04:09 AM on 09/18/2010

Wow there are some angry people on this post. I don't care what religion they are or what they said on Oprah. I do care that they realize that they have enough and that others can benefit from a day that is supposed to be about celebrating their birth. I commend anyone who asks people to give to charity instead of to themselves.

[penndl]

11:29 AM on 09/18/2010

I agree on all points. Those who have plenty, is usually because they gave plenty. Wise men, prophets, philosophers and poets have said for thousands of years that the path to wealth is found through the act generosity. Or something like that.

[socialtalker]

07:24 PM on 09/19/2010

they are all over the internet, and as usual with obnoxious people, they wouldnt thing of giving anything.

[Nicole Dixson]

12:19 AM on 09/18/2010

You know you rich when you can give your birthday away. Anything for a good cause!

[N8tracks]

03:24 PM on 09/19/2010

Or simply not selfish.

[Nicole Dixson]

03:39 PM on 09/19/2010

It was a joke dude, chill.

[olddognewtrick]

09:47 PM on 09/17/2010

Sounds good. Now Joan Rivers needs to donate 20-30 or hers!