#TSRPositiveImages: Leonardo DiCaprio’s Foundation Pledges $5 Million To Combat Amazon Rainforest Fires

The devastating wildfires that have ripped through the Amazon have touched the whole world—and now, Leonardo DiCaprio, one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood, is putting up millions of dollars to help aid in the long road to recovery.

It’s no secret that in addition to being a brilliant actor and an Academy Award winner, Leonardo DiCaprio is also a staunch environmentalist—so the news that’s he’s stepping up in a major way to help the Amazon is definitely not a surprise. @Deadline reports that Leo’s newly launched foundation, Earth Alliance, is pledging to donate $5 million to aid the Amazon in the aftermath of wildfires.

Earth Alliance was only created last month by Leo and philanthropists Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth. However, after the news of the wildfires broke Earth Alliance launched the Amazon Forest Fund in an announcement on its website. In addition, Earth Alliance is currently seeking donations to help repair the Brazilian rainforest as well.

The $5 million in funds is set to be distributed to five local groups working to combat the wildfire problem: Instituto Associacao Floresta Protegida, Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon, Instituto Kabu, Instituto Raoni and Instituto Socioambiental.

This heartbreaking trend of widespread wildfires is an extreme cause of concern across the world, as Brazilian federal experts reported a record number of wildfires across the country this year, up 84% from just a year ago.

Roommates, what are your thoughts on this?