Sandra Bullock has stepped up and donated every time a disaster has hit America

Hollywood star Sandra Bullock made headlines in 2018 when she donated a total of $500,000 for relief efforts during the California wildfires. According to PEOPLE, "in addition to her $100,000 donation to the Humane Society of Ventura County, California, Bullock added a $400,000 to the American Red Cross." Acknowledging her donation in an official statement issued at the time, the star addressed the need for help and relief during distressing times. "The untold destruction from these fires is heartbreaking, especially following the tragedy at Borderline in Thousand Oaks," Bullock said, referencing a recent shooting that claimed 12 lives.

"I'm glad to be able to help. We're all family in this, whether it be human, furry, or feathered," she added. While Bullock's generosity earned her much praise at the time, it wasn't a one-off instance of the Miss Congeniality star's humanitarianism. Time and time again, she has stepped up to help her fellow Americans in times of need, silently donating to charities without seeking out recognition from the media. Here are some instances of Bullock's philanthropy:

1. 2001 - 9/11 Attacks  

Following the devastating September 11 attacks that left 2,996 people dead and another 6,000 others wounded, a number of celebrities volunteered to help those in need. During a telethon, "which aired on more than 30 television networks, 8,000 radio stations, and on the Internet, [celebrities] brought in more than $150 million in pledges," as per CNN. Bullock was one of the celebrities to donate $1 million at the time. 

2. 2004 - Tsunami In Indonesia

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on December 26 caused a series of large tsunamis that killed about 227,898 people in 14 countries. Wanting to aid relief efforts in countries affected by the deadly earthquake and tsunamis in southern Asia and eastern Africa, Bullock donated $1 million to the American Red Cross at the time. "At this critical time, I am grateful to Sandra Bullock for once again demonstrating her leadership, compassion, and belief in our global humanitarian mission," said American Red Cross President and Chief Executive Officer Marsha Evans in a statement. "Sandra continues to enable our lifesaving work and is a model for personal generosity." 

3. 2005 - Hurricane Katrina

The mother-of-two donated $1 million to the Red Cross again in 2005, following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. This played a role in the charity pulling off its largest relief response to date—it served almost 68 million meals and snacks (four times more than what the Red Cross had ever provided during past relief efforts) and provided emergency financial assistance to 1.4 million families, which is nearly 20 times more than any record prior to Katrina.

4. 2010 - Haiti Earthquake

Bullock joined the Haiti relief effort in 2010 by donating $1 million to help victims of a devastating earthquake that ravaged the region. According to NBC Bay Area, the actress pledged the amount to Doctors Without Borders' emergency operation in Port-au-Prince.

5. 2011 - Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku — the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan and the fourth most powerful earthquake in the world since modern record-keeping began in 1900 — claimed over 15,894 lives. The Blind Side star donated $1 million to the Red Cross to aid earthquake and tsunami relief efforts during the environmental crisis.

6. 2012 - Warren Eason Charter High School 

 Bullock has been supporting Warren Eason Charter High School, New Orleans' oldest public high school, since 2005 after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In addition to donating $25,000 to help rebuild the school after the environmental crisis, she has since donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in a number of other ways, including paying for band uniforms, athletic equipment, helping open a health clinic at the school, and funding scholarships for graduating seniors.

7. 2015 - Art + Practice Foundation 

Art + Practice (A+P), a private operating foundation based in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, was founded by artist Mark Bradford, philanthropist and collector Eileen Harris Norton, and social activist Allan DiCastro with the vision to support the needs of the community's local foster youth while providing the community with free access to museum-curated contemporary art. In 2015, Bullock debuted a pair of custom-designed Rupert Sanderson shoes at the Minions' Los Angeles premiere and later put up 10 similar autographed pairs for auction. All proceeds were donated to A+P. 

8. 2017 - Svend Peterson

Svend Petersen, who was the manager at the famed Beverly Hills Hotel for more than 40 years, found himself living out of a car at age 86. The description of a GoFundMe campaign set up by a close friend of Peterson's at the time read: "[Peterson] used to own the house I lived in Hollywood and was my landlord. I received a call from one of the few friends Svend has left to inform me that he is homeless and has been taken advantage of by realtors who sold his house." Locals and celebrities alike rallied for Peterson, including Bullock, who donated $5,000 to the campaign.

9. 2017 - Hurricane Harvey

Bullock donated $1 million to help those hard-hit by Hurricane Harvey in Texas in 2017. "I'm just grateful I can do it," she said in a statement. "We have to take care of one another."

10. 2020 - Coronavirus outbreak

According to PEOPLE, Bullock and her family did their part in helping frontline workers receive personal protective equipment last year by donating 6000 KN95 masks to health care workers in Los Angeles.

11. 2021 - Central Texas Food Bank

Following the deadly winter storm that left millions without power and access to drinking water, Bullock and her castmates from Ocean's 8, donated $250,000 to the Central Texas Food Bank. "It's incredible to see our community come together to help Central Texans recover after the snowstorm," the non-profit tweeted. "We're grateful to receive a $250K gift from Sandra Bullock on behalf of the Women of 'Ocean's 8.' Their generosity will help provide 1 million meals for our community. Thank you!"