One of the biggest compliments you can offer a fighter is to say he or she has a big heart. That usually refers to the effort that he or she is able to put forth in a fight, but plenty of the sport’s men and women have huge hearts away from the cage, too. In fact, 2012 was filled with fighters who generously donated their money or time to worthwhile causes.
In the spirit of the holiday season, and with “26 Acts” of kindness spreading worldwide in honor of the victims of the recent Newtown school shooting, we bring you a list of 26 charities supported by people with ties to mixed martial arts. Donate what you can, whether it’s time or money, and whether it’s to one of these causes or one more near and dear to your heart.
Disaster Relief/Support Funds
Charity: Sandy Hook School Support Fund
Focus: supporting the families and community affected by the school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
Those involved: Glover Teixeira, Ryan Quinn
Charity: American Red Cross
Focus: emergency assistance and disaster relief in the U.S. and abroad
Those involved: Alistair Overeem, Frankie Edgar
Charity: Restore the Shore
Focus: addressing affected parts of the Tri-state area ravaged by Hurricane Sandy
Those involved: Frankie Edgar
Children’s Causes
Charity: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
Focus: pediatric treatment and research facility
Those involved: Nick Diaz, Bjorn Rebney
Charity: Friends of Kids with Cancer
Focus: enriching the lives of children undergoing treatment
Those involved: Michael Chandler
Charity: Daniel James Miller Foundation
Focus: son of Dan Miller, for continuing care for autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease
Those involved: Dan Miller, Jim Miller
Charity: Shriners Hospitals for Children
Focus: non-profit hospital for children
Those involved: Team Alpha Male
Charity: Boys and Girls Club of America
Focus: giving kids a safe place to learn and grow
Those involved: Rashad Evans, Brendan Schaub
Charity: Stomp Out Bullying
Focus: non-profit for kids and teens that focuses on reducing and prevention of bullying
Those involved: Georges St-Pierre
Charity: Racing for Kids
Focus: raises funds for health care needs of children
Those involved: Cain Velasquez
Charity: Learning Links Foundation
Focus: programs for children with developmental problems or autism
Those involved: Jon Jones
Charity: Ronald McDonald House Charities
Focus: provides comfort and advocacy in a home-like environment for families with critically ill or injured children who must travel to address healthcare needs
Those involved: Michael McDonald
Charity: Boys Town
Focus: dedicated to housing and education of at-risk children
Those involved: Dana White, Tyson Griffin
Fighting Disease
Charity: Pink Ribbon
Focus: supporting breast cancer patients and survivors
Those involved: Phil Davis
Charity: Keep A Breast
Focus: Breast cancer prevention
Those involved: Felice Herrig, Julie Kedzie, Sara McMann
Charity: It Ain’t Chemo
Focus: provides cancer patients with comfort and care supplies
Those involved: Randy Couture, Ryan Couture, Natasha Wicks
Charity: Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
Focus: raising funds for research in finding a cure
Those involved: Dave Batista
Charity: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba
Focus: aiding the hospitals of Curitibia, Brazil
Those involved: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Helping U.S. service members
Charity: Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
Focus: serves military personnel wounded in service
Those involved: UFC, Greg Jackson, Rad Martinez
Charity: Fisher House
Focus: provides comfort homes that enable family members to be close by military members injured in service
Those involved: Forrest Griffin
Charity: Wounded Warrior Project
Focus: Helping injured service members
Those involved: Ryan Bader
Charity: Hire Heroes USA
Focus: helping returning service members find jobs
Those involved: Brian Stann
Brain Health
Charity: Cleveland Clinic and Lou Ruvo Brain Institute
Focus: non-profit medical center that focuses on research and education
Those involved: Lorenzo Fertitta
The Fight Against Hunger
Charity: Free Rice
Focus: non-profit group that combats world hunger
Those involved: Ronda Rousey
Charity: Blessings in a Backpack
Focus: ensures impoverished children meals on weekends through school year
Those involved: Jade Bryce
Service Charities
Charity: Kingdom Building Ministries
Focus: A Christian organization that engages in social welfare to people in need around the world regardless of religious denomination
Those involved: Justin Wren