Humanitarian Work and Awards
Nicolas Cage – Humanitarian – A True Action Hero
“Throughout my career as an actor I’ve played many parts: heroes and villains, lovers and losers, and yes, criminals and crime-fighters.
But Goodwill Ambassador for Global Justice for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime is certainly my most challenging and meaningful role. At some point I wanted to stop being an actor and start taking action.”
His Charitable Work, Causes, Events and Awards
We here at Cagealot Castle, the Nicolas Cage Forum, are tremendously proud of Nic for his contributions and efforts over the years to fight poverty and injustice and help the environment. We admire his special commitment to the rights and welfare of children. Because he is not a loud philanthropist, not all of his work is public knowledge. What follows is a list of some of his many contributions, most recently and notably, his work as Goodwill Ambassador for Global Justice for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and being awarded the UNCA’s Global Citizen of the Year Award for Humanitarian Achievements.
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As noted by UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa: “Mr. Cage has shown a long-standing commitment to global justice and philanthropy. As an Amnesty International advocate, he raised awareness about the horrors faced by child soldiers, arms trafficking, violence against women and other human rights tragedies. He donated US$2 million to establish a fund to help former child soldiers, providing support for on the ground rehabilitation shelters, medical services and psychological and reintegration services. He led a campaign around his film, Lord of War, to raise awareness about International Arms Control, supported “Heal the Bay”, the Red Cross, the United Negro College Fund, Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts, and the Royal United Hospital’s Forever Friends Appeal to build intensive care units for babies.”
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August 2005 – Nicolas Cage donates one million dollars to relief efforts for the residents of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina. The actor, who has a home in the Louisiana city, made the donation to the American Red Cross. In a statement, his publicist, Annett Wolf, says, “(Cage) wishes to help his neighbours during this most devastating time.”
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June 2006 – Nicolas Cage, a tireless worker for Amnesty International USA for the past 2 1/2 years, donates two million dollars to fund rehabilitation shelters, and medical and psychological services for former child soldiers.
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September 2006 – Nicolas Cage donates his entire salary from the movie ‘World Trade Center’ to charity. “I didn’t do this movie for money. I donated my salary to charity. I did this movie because I believe that these people’s stories need to be told.”
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October 2007 – Nicolas Cage becomes a Montblanc Charity Ambassador, a partnership formed to promote the idea that helping others gives success true meaning, and donated his salary to aid the Heal The Bay charity organisation.
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May 2009 – Nicolas Cage addresses the induction ceremony for the appointment of Ross Bleckner as a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking.
Ross Bleckner, first artist as UN Goodwill Ambassador
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October 2009 – Nicolas Cage lends his support to the Royal United Hospitals Forever Friends Appeal.
Images from Cagefactor
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November 2009 – UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Nicolas Cage goes on a week-long mission with UNODC to Uganda and Kenya that focuses on the recruitment of child soldiers and other forms of human trafficking, as well as piracy, prison conditions, HIV and AIDS and drug addiction.
A Kenyan blog that covered the visit
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December 2009 – ‘Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presents the Global Citizen of the Year Award for Humanitarian Achievements to actor Nicolas Cage at the UN Correspondents Association Awards Dinner in New York. During the event Mr. Cage was also appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Global Justice for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.’
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June 2010 – Nicolas Cage receives the Walk the Talk Award – A tribute to honoree Nicolas Cage, long-time donor, at the 2010 Heal the Bay Dinner.
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August 2010 – Nicolas Cage works with Amnesty USA to speak with Gulf Coast survivors and fight poverty with human rights.
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October 2010 – Nicolas Cage opens an exhibition on human trafficking at the UN Conference in Vienna and calls for countries to work together to combat organised crime.
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October 2010 – Nicolas Cage lends his support to the Ovidiu Rom charity, a long-term initiative to get every poor child into the educational system from an early age, so that they can succeed in school. He appears as guest of honor and speaker at the 2010 Ovidiu Rom Halloween Charity Ball in Romania.
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By Lady Trueheart
(c) Cagealot Castle
