Doing a world of good. Sacha Baron Cohen and wife Isla Fisher donated $1 million to Syrian refugees, the Save the Children charity announced Sunday, December 27.
“Today Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have made a $1 million donation split equally between Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee to support victims of the conflict in Syria,” the charity announced in a post on its website. “500,000 Dollars will be used to fund a programme vaccinating more than 250,000 children against a potential measles outbreak in Northern Syria. The other half of the donation will be used to help fund the work to support families, with a special concern for women and children, both inside Syria and in neighboring countries who are suffering as a result of the ongoing conflict.”
The Borat star, 44, and the Confessions of a Shopaholic actress, 39, were praised by both the CEO of Save the Children, Justin Forsyth, and IRC president David Miliband.
“By allowing us to make their generous donation to Syrian children public, Sacha and Isla are helping highlight the tragedy of the issue today,” Forsyth wrote in a statement. “These are desperate times for Syrian families facing bombs, bullets and torture in Syria. The couple’s donation will save many thousands of lives and protect some of the most vulnerable children.”
“Sacha and Isla's donation is a great expression of humanity, and a challenge to do more for the most vulnerable,” Miliband said in a statement. “I hope it is an example to many others seeking practical ways of making a difference during the Christmas and New Year season."
The star couple — who share three children together — married in March 2010.
