2. Oprah Winfrey
When we think of giving back and philanthropy, most of us immediately think of Oprah Winfrey (isn’t that right?). Winfrey is one of the most benevolent celebrities of the 21st century, and she was the first person of color to be ranked among the 50 most generous Americans. One of her most impressive accomplishments (it would be impossible to choose only one), was founding the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls to serve the needs of underprivileged girls in South Africa. In 2011, just short of a decade ago, it’s inaugural class graduated.
Winfrey started her way as a host of a talk-show, but she conquered the hearts of Americans, and later of people around the world, and while today she no longer hosts her iconic talk-show, she’s still one of the most beloved public figures in the U.S. Her major accomplishment of the decade was probably the donation of $12 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C, for which she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.