Ecorazzi

Name the most influential celebrity there is. Got your answer? Was it Jerry Lewis? It wasn’t for me either. However, a recent survey conducted across what in my opinion is a fairly small group of people, showed the 81-year old Muscular Dystrophy Association advocate at the top of the list.

It seems the “older generations” put him there, along with Bill Gates, Jimmy Carter, and Michael J. Fox. And yes, this survey was conducted a while ago (February 2007), prior to this year’s Labor Day Telethon f-bomb gay slur snafu by Lewis, who has since had his apology graciously accepted by GLAAD. The telethon broke records raising pledges of over $63 million.

Younger generations skewed more towards Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, Bono, and Lance Armstrong. I guess I’m obviously part of the younger generation. While people like Lewis, Gates, Carter, and Fox are doing incredible things, they just aren’t the first ones to come to mind for me.

The survey also ranked the “most important causes” according to the respondents. Cute little children ranked first, followed by adorable puppies. Religion came in at number 6, and the environment followed later at number 8. And please don’t read this the wrong way – I think all causes are worthy, especially ones that help those that can not help themselves.

The purpose of the survey was to get a discussion going and to drive more people towards volunteerism. So get to it people!