Richard Branson's Charity Work, Events and Causes

Charity biography

Branson has pledged to commit $3 billion, all profits from his travel firms over the next ten years, to the reduction of global warming.

He has previously donated to educational charities in Africa.

Branson started his first charity, “Student Valley Centre”, when he was only 17.

Richard is Patron of the International Rescue Corps.

In 2007, Branson formed The Elders – a small, dedicated group of leaders, working objectively and without any vested personal interest to solve difficult global conflicts – with Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, and Jimmy Carter.

In March 2008, he hosted an environmental gathering with Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales, and Larry Page of Google at his private island in the Caribbean to discuss global warming-related problems facing the world.

When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Richard Branson organized to fly 40,000 blankets to refugees fleeing into Jordan. He single-handedly had to fight with Government ministers to make sure the supplies got to those who needed them.

In 2004 he set up Virgin Unite to encourage all of his staff around the world to tackle tough social problems.

He persuaded Elton John to sing Candle In The Wind at the funeral of Princess Diana – which eventually raised $40 million for charity.