Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most well-known football players in the world. Apart from his athletic achievements, he is also widely known for his philanthropic work and charitable donations. Ronaldo has used his fame and fortune to help people in need, both in his home country of Portugal and around the world. This article will take a closer look at Cristiano Ronaldo’s philanthropic work and charitable donations, highlighting some of his most significant contributions.
Ronaldo’s Early Philanthropic Work:
Cristiano Ronaldo’s philanthropic work dates back to his early days as a football player. In 2004, when he was playing for Manchester United, Ronaldo donated £60,000 to the cancer ward at the Hospital Santo António in his hometown of Funchal, Madeira. He also visited the ward to meet with the young patients and their families.
The following year, Ronaldo participated in a charity match in Madeira, with the proceeds going to the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. He also donated money to the relief efforts, along with other football players.
In 2007, Ronaldo became a global ambassador for Save the Children, a charity organization that focuses on helping children in need around the world. He has been involved in numerous campaigns and fundraising events for the organization since then, including a charity auction in 2013 that raised over £600,000.
Ronaldo’s Contributions to the fight against cancer:
Cristiano Ronaldo has made significant contributions to the fight against cancer. In 2009, he donated £100,000 to the hospital that treated his mother for breast cancer. The following year, he participated in a charity match in Madeira to raise money for the Portuguese League Against Cancer.
In 2012, Ronaldo was named the global ambassador for the Mangrove Care Forum in Indonesia, an organization that aims to protect and restore mangrove forests, which play a vital role in the fight against climate change and natural disasters.
In 2013, Ronaldo donated $1.5 million to fund a children’s cancer center at the Hospital de São João in Porto, Portugal. The center was named after his father, who died of alcoholism-related illness when Ronaldo was just 20 years old. The donation was the largest ever made by a Portuguese athlete.
In 2016, Ronaldo auctioned off one of his Ballon d’Or trophies to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. The trophy sold for €600,000, with the proceeds going to the charity.
Ronaldo’s Contributions to Education:
Cristiano Ronaldo has also been actively involved in promoting education. In 2015, he donated £5 million to fund a new children’s hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. The hospital, which is expected to be completed in 2022, will have a research center dedicated to pediatric oncology and other childhood diseases.
In 2016, Ronaldo was appointed as an ambassador for the Mangrove Care Forum’s education program. The program aims to teach children about the importance of mangrove forests and how to protect them.
In 2017, Ronaldo donated €600,000 to fund the construction of a new school in Syria, which was destroyed during the country’s civil war. The school is located in the northwestern city of Idlib, which has been one of the most heavily bombed cities in the conflict.
In 2020, Ronaldo teamed up with the Pestana Hotel Group to launch the CR7 Pestana Hotel in Madrid, Spain. The hotel offers scholarships to young people from low-income families to help them pursue higher education.
Ronaldo has an immense impact on the world. His philanthropic work has helped to raise awareness of important issues and inspire others to give back. Through his foundation, he has helped to support projects and initiatives that make a positive impact on the world.
Ronaldo’s charitable efforts have also helped to break down stereotypes about football players. Despite being one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, he has shown that he is not solely focused on his own success, but rather on using his wealth and fame to help others.
Ronaldo’s philanthropic work is a testament to the fact that one does not need to have vast resources to make a difference in the world. His early donations to the cancer ward in his hometown, for example, show that even small contributions can have a significant impact on people’s lives.
