Complete list of sports athletes and celebrities donating to bushfires
In the wake of Australia's devastating bushfires and crippling drought, some of the biggest names in sport are raising much-needed funds.
The biggest story of the Australian summer isn't David Warner's triple century, Ashleigh Barty's number one ranking, Latrell Mitchell's contract saga, Liverpool's premier league winning streak, the Big Bash's big crowds or Conor McGregor's comeback fight. All these stories are but candles in the wind next to the one event that is affecting us all.
We talk of Australia's bushfire catastrophe.
Lives have been lost, homes destroyed, entire ecosystems eviscerated and the environment forever changed. Real heroes are on the frontline giving their all to halt the wave of flames rolling down the eastern seaboard and across into South Australia – and they need help. As do the victims of what could be the biggest natural disaster in Australia's recorded history.
While there may be no rain, thankfully, there is Nick Kyrgios. That's a phrase many people thought they would never say, but credit where credit is due.
The polarising tennis star has as many haters as he does fans, but whatever your thoughts on the phenomenally talented 24-year-old, he has built himself quite a platform. When he talks, the world listens. And moved to tears by the impact of the fires on his home town of Canberra, he used that platform to call on sports elite stars to do more.
Kyrgios vowed to donate $200 of his own money for every ace he served over the summer. He then went out and sent down 20 perfect serves in his very next match. The act has inspired an outpouring of donations from sports stars across the country. Here is an expanding list of names that are doing their bit to support those in Australia that are hurting the most.
If you'd like to donate to help those in need, all the information you need is here.
List of bushfire donations by sports celebrities
If you are aware of a donation we've missed from this list, please let us know in the comments below. It's important to name and fame these selfless gestures.
| Athlete | Sport | Pledge |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne City | A-League | $2 from very ticket sold on w/e Jan 5 |
| Melbourne Victory | A-League | $2 from very ticket sold on w/e Jan 5 |
| Western United | A-League | $2 from very ticket sold on w/e Jan 5 |
| Adam Saad | AFL | Took photos with punters if they donated at least $5 |
| Bradley Hill | AFL | Auctioning his 2015 premiership guernsey |
| Carlton | AFL | $20,000 |
| Darcy Parish | AFL | Took photos with punters if they donated at least $5 |
| Dayne Beams | AFL | Auctioning his 2010 grand final medal |
| Dyson Heppell | AFL | Shaved off his dreadlocks to raise over $50,000 |
| Essendon | AFL | $15,000 |
| Gary Ablett Jnr | AFL | Auctioning Cats jersey signed by himself and his famous dad |
| Mitch Robinson | AFL | Helped raise $15,000 in video game charity stream |
| Richmond | AFL | Auctioning team-signed guernsey |
| Tayla Harris | AFL | Auctioning boots she wore during famous 2014 exhibition match |
| Trent Cotchin | AFL | Auctioning signed guernsey, four tickets to round 1 game and a family pass to club photo day |
| David McNeill | Athlete | $1 for every km ran |
| Josh Wilcher | British Basketball League | $20 for each point he scores and $10 for each three his team scores in next game |
| Andy Maher | Channel 7 commentator | $100 for every Chris Lynn six he calls |
| Commonwealth Games Australia | Commonwealth Games | $25,000 |
| Aaron Finch | Cricket | Will match the final bidding price on his signed Sixes shit |
| Adam Zampa | Cricket | $200 for each wicket taken |
| Boxing Day Test Team | Cricket | Auctioning signed shirts from boxing day test |
| Brisbane Heat | Cricket | Matching donations made by their players |
| Chris Lynn | Cricket | $250 for each six hit |
| Cricket Australia | Cricket | Will host a Tripple Header for Bushfires including Bushfire Cricket Bash to raise funds which will see veternan players such as Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Justin Langer, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Alex Blackwell take part to raise funds, $2 million to community cricket clubs affected by fires |
| D'Arcy Short | Cricket | $250 for each six hit |
| Fawad Ahmed | Cricket | $250 for each six hit and every wicket taken |
| Glenn Maxwell | Cricket | $250 for each six hit |
| Hobart Hurricanes | Cricket | Matching donations made by their players |
| James Pattinson | Cricket | $1000 for each wicket in SCG test |
| Jeff Thomson | Cricket | Auctioning his baggy green and cricket vest |
| Kane Richardson | Cricket | $200 for each wicket taken |
| Matthew Renshaw | Cricket | $250 for each six hit and every wicket taken |
| Mitchell Starc | Cricket | $1000 for each wicket in SCG test |
| Nathan Lyon | Cricket | $1000 for each wicket in SCG test |
| Pat Cummins | Cricket | $1000 for each wicket in SCG test |
| Peter Siddle | Cricket | $200 for each wicket taken |
| Shane Warne | Cricket | Auctioning his baggy green |
| Sydney Sixes | Cricket | Auctioning signed shirts |
| Toby Price | Dakar Rally | Auctioning signed Renaut race suit from 2019 Australian GP |
| Daniel Ricciardo | F1 | Auctioning signed Renaut race suit from 2019 Australian GP |
| Lewis Hamilton | Fornula One | $500,000 |
| Australian Golf Industry Council | Golf | Set up Australian Golf Bushfire Appeal with 50% of total going to Red Cross and rest distributed amonst wildlife funds and golf clubs impacted by the disaster |
| Lucas Herbert | Golf | $40 for each Birdie at Vic Open |
| Matt Griffen | Golf | 25% of prize money from the Blitz Golf Pro Series |
| Sarah Kemp | Golf | $40 for each Birdie at Vic Open + $20 for each birdie at Australian Ladies Bonville Classic and Women’s NSW Open |
| Zac Murray | Golf | 25% of prize money from the Blitz Golf Pro Series |
| Hockey ACT | Hockey | $10 for each ACT goal for the championships |
| Hockey Australia | Hockey | Donate $500 per goal scored by Kockeyroos and Kookaburras in their FIH Pro League matches played in Sydney, Host a bushfre relief auction |
| Hockey Victoria | Hockey | $5,000 to Victorian Bushfire Relief |
| Jamie Dwyer | Hockey | Anyone who donates to her fundraiser will go into draw to win Jamie's signedRio Olympics playing shirt or stick |
| Kalindi Commerford | Hockey | For every goal scored during the first weekend of Pro League in Sydney (against Belgium) Kalindi will donate: $50 for every goal scored by both Belgium and Australia (Men’s & Women’s matches) $100 for every goal she scores |
| Lily Brazel | Hockey | Donate 100% of all profits from her apparel business to WIRES |
| Cranbourne Turf Club | Horse Racing | Auctioning off six all-inclusive sponsorship packages |
| MRC | Horse Racing | Will donate all gate takings from Mornington on Jan 24 and Caufield on Jan 25 |
| VRC | Horse Racing | Will donate all gate takings from Flemington on Jan 11 and Jan 18 |
| Damian Lane | Jockey | $250 for each winner he rides in January |
| Jamie Kah | Jockey | Donated double her riding fee and prizemoney from Caulfield on Jan 4 |
| Tommy Berry | Jockey | $250 for each winner he rides in January |
| William Pike | Jockey | Auctioning Perth Cup trophy and winning silks |
| Jack Miller | MotoGP | Auctioning his 2018 MotoGP helmet |
| Australian Players | NBA | $1,100,000 donated by Aussie players in NBA, with help of NBA and NBPA: Joe Engles, Aron Baynes, Jonah Bolden, Ben Simmons, Ryan Broekhoff, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Thon Maker and Patty Mills |
| Dejan Vasiljevic | NBA | $5 for every 3-pointer through the season of US colleage basketball |
| Dirk Nowitzki | NBA | Matching Kyrgios' final tally of donations |
| Anthony Drmic | NBL | $50 for every 36ers 3-pointer in next match |
| LaMelo Ball | NBL | Donating a month's wages |
| Mitch Creek | NBL | $100 for every Phoenix 3-pointer and $200 for every Phoenix dunk in next match + Auctioning his Looney Tunes shoes |
| Mitch McCarron | NBL | $100 for every Illawarra Hawks or Melbourne United dunk in their next match |
| NBL | NBL | $300 for every three-pointer in Round 15 |
| NZ Breakers | NBL | $1000 for all every three-point basket scored in a match vs South East Melbourne Phoenix. The resulting $13,000 donation was then matched by CEO Matt Walsh. |
| Lighthouse Sports | NBL Agent | $50 for every point scored by one of their players in next round of NBL |
| Netball Australia | Netball | Bushfire relief fundraising showcase match between Australian Diamonds and Suncorp Super Netball All Stars, Volunteer Day to help rebuild communities |
| Aidan Guerra | NRL | Auctioning six signed QLD State of Origin jerseys |
| Canterbury Bulldogs | NRL | $50,000 |
| Chad Townsend | NRL | Auctioning signed Cronulla jersey |
| Curtis Scott | NRL | $5,000 |
| Euan Aitken | NRL | Auctioning signed Anzac Day St-George Illawarra jersey |
| Nathan Peats | NRL | 50% of profits from his clothing brand, Jaded Republic |
| NRL | NRL | Round 1 of the competition set to be fundraising round |
| Penrith Panthers | NRL | Open training session and free barbecue breakfast fund-raising day |
| Wests Tigers | NRL | Auctioning 5 x team-signed and framed 2020 Wests Tigers jerseys, two game day experiences including tickets to a fully catered box, private meetings with staff and the team |
| Australian Paddle Team and Paddle Australia's athlete commission | Paddle | Set up a GoFundMe page with Paddle Australia athletes donating to the page |
| Rugby League Players Assosciation | Rugby | NRL stars auction jerseys with people such as Parramatta Skipper Clint Gutherson, RLPA Board member Daly Cherry-Evans, premiership-winning South Sydney prop Thomas Burgess donating items |
| Neil Robertson | Snooker | $9,500 pledge plus $190 for each century made by any player at the Masters Championship |
| Optus Sport | Soccer | $1000 for every goal scored in Premier League Round Jan 11-13 |
| Oz Football Aid | Soccer | Host a charity match featuring footballers, Hollywood and television including Anthony LaPaglia, ed Kavalee, Simon Hill, Thomas Serenson and Shane Delia. |
| Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) | Soccer | $1000 for every goal scored in A-League and W-League on w/e Jan 12 |
| Australian Football League | State of Origin | Special State of Origin Match for the bushfires and $2.5million to the cause |
| Alex Bolt | Tennis | $25 for every ace served |
| Alex de Minaur | Tennis | $250 for every ace served |
| Alex Zverev | Tennis | $10,000 for every match won at Melbourne Park, if he wins entire tournament will give entire $4.12million cheque |
| Alize Cornet | Tennis | $50 per drop-shot winner (her coach Sandra Zaniewska will add $50 for each ace, too) |
| Amanda Anisimova | Tennis | $150 for every ace served |
| Ash Barty | Tennis | Entire Brisbane International prize purse + $30,000 to RSPCA for fire affected wildlife support |
| ATP Cup | Tennis | $100 for every ace served by any player |
| Australian Open | Tennis | Rally for Relief exhibition on Jan 15, all proceeds donated. Includes Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Nick Kyrgios, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniaki and Stefanos Tsitsipas. |
| Ellen Perez | Tennis | $10 for every ace served |
| Jan-Lennard Struff | Tennis | $2,000 |
| John Isner | Tennis | 25% of entire Australian Open winnings |
| John McEnroe | Tennis | $1,000 for every set Nick Kyrgios wins for the 2020 Australian Open |
| John Milman | Tennis | $100 for every ace served |
| John Peers | Tennis | $100 for every ace served |
| Jule Goerges | Tennis | $100 for every ace served |
| Karolina Pliskova | Tennis | $200 for every ace served |
| Kiki Bertens | Tennis | $100 for every ace served |
| Maria Sharapova | Tennis | $25,000 |
| Matt Reid | Tennis | $50 for every ace served |
| Nick Kyrgios | Tennis | $200 for every ace served |
| Novak Djokovic | Tennis | $25,000 |
| Petra Kvitova | Tennis | $150 for every ace served |
| Priscilla Hon | Tennis | $50 for every ace served |
| Samantha Stosur | Tennis | $250 for every ace served |
| Serena Williams | Tennis | Entire winning cheque from WTA Auckland Classic ($62,000) |
| Simona Halep | Tennis | Every time she gives her Australian coach @darren_cahill a hard time during her matches she'll donate $200. |
| Storm Sanders | Tennis | $10 for every ace served |
| Katie Boulter | Tennis | $100 for every ace served |
| Conor McGregor | UFC | Asking public to purchase a t-shirt from UFC.com |
| Jorge Masvidal | UFC | Coming to Australia to join RFS, says he will donate proceeds of visit, too. |
| UFC | UFC | Pledged $US 250,000 with parent company Endeavour to Australian Red Cross |
| Scott McLaughlin | v8 Supercars | Auctioning helmet and race suit from 2017 season, then matching the winning bid |
| Thomas Randle | v8 Supercars | Auctioning Tickford Race Suit |
| Ellie Carpenter | W-league | $5 for every pass in Melbourne City vs Canberra United match |
| Abby Bishop | WNBL | $50 for every 3-pointer by either team in next Townsville Fire game |
| Kelsey Griffin | WNBL | $5 for each point scored by Canberra Capitals in next five games |
| Kia Nurse | WNBL | $5 for each point scored by Canberra Capitals in next five games |
| Chris Jericho | WWE | Auctioning the T-shirt he wore to the ring for his match with Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 14 |
List of celebrities that have donated to bushfire relief
| Celebrity | Pledge |
|---|---|
| Chris Hemsworth | $1million |
| Elton John | $1 million |
| Kylie Jenner | US$1 million |
| James Gorman | $750,000 |
| Backstreet Boys | Auctioning two meet and greet packages for the Australia leg of their tour |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | US$3 million |
| Matt Moran | $10,000 for every venue owned- $280,000 |
| Gordon Ramsay | Auctioning off a private lunch for one person and a guest |
| Metallica | $750,000 |
| Kylie Minogue and family | $500,000 |
| Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban | $500,000 |
| Pink | $500,000 |
| Rebel Wilson | Raised $100,000 by auctioning a private lunch |
| Russell Crowe | $105,000 |
| Dacre Montgomery | Raised over $250,000 through donations |
| Flume | $100,000 |
| Jeff Bezos | $1 million |
| Nick Cave | $US 500,000 |
| Bette Midler | $US 500,000 |
A warning about bushfire donation scams
Unfortunately, some scammers may see the Australian bushfires as an opportunity to take advantage of peoples generosity. The government's Scamwatch agency has released a statement warning of this risk and noting that there have been scams related to previous crises – including the 2009 Victorian bushfires (also known as the Black Saturday bushfires).
Scammers could approach you in the street, through door-knocking or set up online donation pages that look legitimate at first glance. You can make sure your funds go to legitimate causes by checking the organisation's details before you donate. If you're donating online, make sure the website is secure by checking for an "https" at the start of the address, as well as the padlock symbol.
Visit the Scamwatch website for more information and report suspected scams to the ACCC.
