Keanu Reeves Has Been Secretly Donating Millions To Children's Hospitals And Cancer Research For Years

You've probably heard this before: Keanu Reeves is one of the nice stars in Hollywood. Well, here's some proof to back it up. Reeves once mentioned that he runs a private foundation that works towards providing aid to children's hospitals and cancer research. "I have a private foundation that's been running for five or six years, and it helps aid a couple of children's hospitals and cancer research," Keanu said in a Ladies Home Journal article from 2009, according to Snopes. "I don't like to attach my name to it, I just let the foundation do what it does."

The charitable endeavor may have stemmed from a situation close to home. His younger sister Kim Reeves was diagnosed with leukemia around 1991. The younger sibling battled the disease for nearly a decade and was in remission as of 1999. This could be why cancer research is a cause close to Reeves' heart. The List noted that Reeves has also donated to SCORE (Spinal Cord Opportunities for Rehabilitation Endowment), a charity founded after a UCLA hockey player's spinal cord was injured during a game. He is also said to have been spotted manning the phones at a Stand Up to Cancer telethon in 2008.

And it's not just about the big gestures, but Reeves also makes an effort with smaller acts of kindness that still go a long way. Insider went on to list 13 reasons why Reeves is the "greatest person ever." This list includes everything from being kind and respectful of his fans, where he frequently poses for photos and signs autographs for them. His random gestures of kindness also include giving up his seat on a crowded subway train. Fans also love the fact that the actor even has a sense of humor, as was evident when he played a parody version of himself in the 2019 film Always Be My Maybe. 

According to Vox, Reeves has been gaining more adoration in recent years and has reached a career peak as well. Many are calling this period of activity “the Keanaissance.” The 57-year-old actor has starred in a number of films where his recent roles included playing a wide array of characters. From a martial arts master to a gaming hero, he's doing it all. But perhaps what people are most fond of about the actor is his kindness.  Reeves didn't even know how loved he is, telling PEOPLE in 2019 he was surprised the internet was so obsessed with him. "That's, uh, that's wacky," he said at the Toy Story 4 premiere. "Well, the positivity's great."