Many celebrities use their fame to build a community for awareness on issues that are most important to them. There are famous people who raise campaigns for health and wellness, but there are also a handful who are all for building a better environment for people and animals.

Ellen DeGeneres

The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund is a global effort to help keep endangered species safe and secure. DeGeneres has worked with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to spread awareness to the issue of endangerment of the wild gorillas in Rwanda. The two funds have been working to empower the people to develop a relationship, and respect the gorillas ecosystem, according to ellendegenereswildlifefund.org. Not only did DeGeneres help the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund grow with donations, but she also bought land just for the Rwanda gorillas, according to gorillafund.org.

“I love animals, and I want to protect them, especially when they’re endangered,” Degeneres said according to ellendegenereswildlifefund.org. “We need all these incredible creatures and they need our love and compassion to help save them.”

Leonardo Dicaprio

Leonardo Dicaprio built a foundation to help protect threatened ecosystems and species. The Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation has worked on the most pressing environmental issues since 1998 and currently has four action funds including Oceans 5, Elephant Crisis Fund, Shark Conservation Fund and Lion Recovery Fund according to leonardodicaprio.org. Dicaprio not only wants to save the environment for animals, but he wants to spread more awareness to the ever growing issue of climate change.

“We only get one planet,” Dicaprio said according to globalcitizen.org. “Humankind must become accountable on a massive scale for the wanton destruction of our collective home. Protecting our future on this planet depends on the conscious evolution of our species.”

Matt Damon

Matt Damon’s efforts to bring fresh, clean water to those in need has earned him an incredible amount of respect and admiration. Damon is the co-founder of Water.org, and has helped make it his mission to save lives with safe water. According to water.org, the company has transformed more than 13 million lives just by providing access to fresh water and sanitation.

“You have a million people dying a year, just completely needlessly, because they lack access to clean water,” Damon said according to cnbc.com. “If you are a little girl who now can’t go to school because you are in charge of water collection for your family, and you are spending your entire day scavenging for water, what kind of outcome can you expect for your life? Certainly you are not going to live up to your potential.”