He's one of the very few actors that have remained tight-lipped about their philanthropic work.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on November 16, 2021. It has since been updated.
Keanu Reeves is loved by all, despite being known to keep his personal life notoriously private. He's gone viral numerous times after people who've crossed paths with him couldn't stop raving about his kindess, and down-to-eath attitude. This is why we all know stories of his kindess and compassion, but not many know that Reeves has been doing a lot of charitable work over the years, silently.
The Matrix star once revealed that he runs a private foundation that works towards helping out children's hospitals and cancer research. According to the fact-checking website Snopes, the actor made the revelation in a 2009 article published by Ladies Home Journal. "I have a private foundation that’s been running for five or six years, and it helps aid a couple of children’s hospitals and cancer research. I don’t like to attach my name to it, I just let the foundation do what it does," he reportedly said at the time.
Reeves knows all to well how cancer can take a toll on people that have been diagnosed with it. His younger sister, Kim Reeves, was reportedly diagnosed with leukemia around 1991 and battled the disease for nearly a decade.
Though in true Reeves fashion, the actor refrained from talking about the hard times. However, he did open up in 1999—the same time his sister went into remission—according to a Woman's Day report, where he spoke about his sister and her battle with cancer.
"I love Kim. She's so brave, and I want the very best for her. You can star in hit movies, but that's nothing compared to going through what Kim's been through," Reeves reportedly said at the time.
Kim herself was grateful for the love and support her brother showered her with, through her journey. "Keanu helped me so much through my illness. When the pain got really bad, he would sit with me and hold my hand, and keep the 'bad man' from making me dance. He was supporting me and comforting me all the time, even when he was away," she said.
Now, Reeves is not the first celebrity to help out charitable organizations using his wealth, but he may be one of the few that have chosen to remain anonymous while doing so, and that's what sets him apart from the rest of the crowd. In fact, he's spoken about how money's not his first priority earlier as well.
"For me, I guess I don’t connect the enjoyment and the money. I work on a part and hopefully realize a part, and make good films. Some of the successes I’ve had I’m grateful for because it creates other opportunities. [The way] I look at it is I get to act again," Reeves said.
Safe to say this man's got his priorities in order, right?
References:
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/keanu-reeves-tragic-story/
http://www.whoaisnotme.net/articles/1999_0412_kea.htm
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Jamie McCarthy
