George Clooney And His Humanitarian Efforts Against Genocides

George Clooney is what some consider to be a late bloomer in life. He has been married twice. When his first marriage ended in 1993, he didn’t marry again until 2014 when he was 54 years old. He has no children, but he is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his twins with wife Amal. Being a 56-year-old father will not be an easy task. Clooney is best known for his box office hits like Oceans 11 and 12 as well as Gravity. Currently worth an estimated $250 million, the Lexington, Kentucky native is worried about more than the birth of his children. He is concerned about humanity. As the chair of the selection committee for the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, he urges everyone to take a responsibility in addressing global challenges.

Though he began his television career in 1978, he wasn’t officially noticed until he got a main role on the infamous television show ER. Fans far and wide know Clooney for his work in the motion picture industry. However, few know his humanitarian side. He is an avid supporter of numerous charities and projects around the world. One that is closest to his heart is the Armenian Genocide Project. As the chief over the associates, the goal is to remember all those who have lost their lives because of the Armenian Holocaust. More than 1.5 million people were killed because of systematic extermination in 1915. His program helps bring awareness and focuses on preventing genocides and other atrocities.

He visited Armenia in April of 2016 to commemorate the 101st anniversary of this massacre. The Aurora Prize honors those who work hard, and even risk their lives, to prevent such occurrences. Numerous government officials in the U.S., including former President Barrack Obama, support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Even though it is the second most-studied case of genocide after the Holocaust, many people have never heard of this horrific event. Clooney not only wants to bring recognition to the fact that genocides exist but that each person has a duty to ensure that they do their part to stop such slaughters.

Clooney’s humanitarian efforts are often overshadowed by his movie career and personal life, but this is his passion. Acting pays the bills, but giving back to others is what keeps him going. This year will bring big changes for the actor, but he will always make time for his most beloved charitable organizations and the people they help.