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Gun Control Advocacy
Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
In June, the actorattended a White House press briefingto deliver remarks about the elementary school shooting — which killed19 students and two teacherson May 24 — and what it means for the future of the nation.
“This should not be a partisan issue,” McConaughey said during hisemotional, 21-minute speech. “There is not a Democratic or Republican value in one single act of these shooters, but people in power have failed to act.”
In the weeks following the shooting, he and his wifeCamila Alves McConaugheyspent several days in Uvaldevisiting with victims' families. They listened to numerous stories about the innocent lives lost, and came to realize that every single family shared a common goal: to make the lives of those lost matter.
“While we honor and acknowledge the victims, we need to recognize that this time, it seems that something is different,” McConaughey said. “There is the sense that perhaps there is a viable path forward [for enacting gun safety legislation].”
The actor spent a considerable amount of time in the D.C. area following the shooting, advocating for gun safety, andmet with"over 30 members across both parties," including “leaders of the Senate, the House,” as well as President Joe Biden.
On June 2, the couple also launched the Just Keep Livin Foundation’sUvalde Relief Fund
In addition to grief counseling, thefund also supportedvictims' families with burial costs and “other immediate and long-term needs of the community.”
02of 14101 Bold NightsVera Anderson/WireImageMcConaughey, who serves as the creative director for Wild Turkey, helped out with the bourbon brand’s initiative that supports up-and-coming artists, 101 Bold Nights, earlier this year.In October, he detailed the importance ofopening doors for people— just like someone did for him once.“You can’t really do anything for somebody once they’re in the door, but if you can help open a door and go, ‘The mic is plugged in, you better hit it, better make it happen,’ there’s some things that they’re going to be able to learn from this,” he told PEOPLE.In collaboration with Wild Turkey and Spaceflight Records, theDallas Buyers Clubactor helped to launch a mentorship program called #101BoldNightsMusicMentorship. Within the program, McConaughey and Spaceflight Records worked to find an emerging musical artist, to whom the record label would offer personalized mentorship.
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101 Bold Nights
Vera Anderson/WireImage
McConaughey, who serves as the creative director for Wild Turkey, helped out with the bourbon brand’s initiative that supports up-and-coming artists, 101 Bold Nights, earlier this year.
In October, he detailed the importance ofopening doors for people— just like someone did for him once.
“You can’t really do anything for somebody once they’re in the door, but if you can help open a door and go, ‘The mic is plugged in, you better hit it, better make it happen,’ there’s some things that they’re going to be able to learn from this,” he told PEOPLE.
In collaboration with Wild Turkey and Spaceflight Records, theDallas Buyers Clubactor helped to launch a mentorship program called #101BoldNightsMusicMentorship. Within the program, McConaughey and Spaceflight Records worked to find an emerging musical artist, to whom the record label would offer personalized mentorship.
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Opening Up About Sexual Abuse and Consent
Noam Galai/Getty for HISTORY
In McConaughey’s2020 memoirGreenlights, the actor opened up aboutthe sexual abuse he experienced as a teenager.
McConaughey said his parentstaught him to be respectful in such situationsand credited his father with teaching him about consent.
“[My father is] talking to me as his son, as a male in this situation and speaking to me about a heterosexual relationship,” the actor recalled in a clip from the episode. “He says, ‘If you ever feel the girl, the female, hesitate, stop.’ "
“Wow, he told you about consent,” de Cadenet said in response.
“He even said this: ‘You may even feel them hesitate and then after you stop, then they go, ‘Oh no, no, c’mon,’ Don’t. Wait until next time,’ " McConaughey said.
“And he was right. I got in circumstances where I was like, ‘Nah nah nah, okay, I’m out’ and then saying, ‘Okay, cool, I’m out.’ The girl went, ‘Oh, well, no c’mon,’ and I was like, ‘No, no, no,’ " the actor added. “And he said, ‘Trust you’ll have another day if it’s to be.’ "
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Mack, Jack & McConaughey Foundation
Gary Miller/Getty
In May, McConaughey and his wife celebrated the 10-year anniversary of theMack, Jack & McConaughey Foundation.
Since its founding, the organization has raised and donated more than $20 million to multiple charitable organizations dedicated to children’s education, health and wellness.
05of 14Hosting ‘We’re Texas’ for Victims of Winter StormsMatthew McConaughey/YoutubeIn 2021, after a series of winter storms hit his home state of Texas, McConaughey stepped up and took actionto help those impacted.“In Texas, we’re used to a hurricane, a tornado, a drought, heat, but not a freeze,” McConaughey told PEOPLE in March 2021. “It’s something we weren’t prepared for.“Along with Camila and theJust Keep Livin Foundation, which they launched in 2008, McConaughey organized a star-studded virtual benefit,We’re Texas, whichaired on March 21on the actor’sYouTube channeland in Texas on Spectrum News 1.The event featured stars likeRenée Zellweger,Kelly ClarksonandKacey Musgravesand raised funds for families and vulnerable communities getting back on their feet after the storms.
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Hosting ‘We’re Texas’ for Victims of Winter Storms
Matthew McConaughey/Youtube
In 2021, after a series of winter storms hit his home state of Texas, McConaughey stepped up and took actionto help those impacted.
“In Texas, we’re used to a hurricane, a tornado, a drought, heat, but not a freeze,” McConaughey told PEOPLE in March 2021. “It’s something we weren’t prepared for.”
Along with Camila and theJust Keep Livin Foundation, which they launched in 2008, McConaughey organized a star-studded virtual benefit,We’re Texas, whichaired on March 21on the actor’sYouTube channeland in Texas on Spectrum News 1.
The event featured stars likeRenée Zellweger,Kelly ClarksonandKacey Musgravesand raised funds for families and vulnerable communities getting back on their feet after the storms.
06of 14A Friend to AnimalsFlynetpictures.com /SplashNews.comMcConaughey and Camila addeda few four-legged friendsto their family in 2021.In January 2021, the couple adopted two puppies from the Humane Society just days apart. The first was a 4-month-old rescue and the second was a 2-month-old pup.“If you thought…what was I thinking with a 4 month old puppy…well how about with another one that’s 2 months old!! 🐶,” the Brazilian supermodel wrote alongside a selfie with one of the dogs.“Yep, got work cut out for me in the next months!” she added. “3 kids, 2 older dogs , 2 pups, 1 cat andmy mother in law😉.“The McConaughey family has long included furry friends. Pictured is McConaughey walking along the beach with three of his dogs in Malibu, California, in 2010.
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A Friend to Animals
Flynetpictures.com /SplashNews.com
McConaughey and Camila addeda few four-legged friendsto their family in 2021.
In January 2021, the couple adopted two puppies from the Humane Society just days apart. The first was a 4-month-old rescue and the second was a 2-month-old pup.
“If you thought…what was I thinking with a 4 month old puppy…well how about with another one that’s 2 months old!! 🐶,” the Brazilian supermodel wrote alongside a selfie with one of the dogs.
“Yep, got work cut out for me in the next months!” she added. “3 kids, 2 older dogs , 2 pups, 1 cat andmy mother in law😉.”
The McConaughey family has long included furry friends. Pictured is McConaughey walking along the beach with three of his dogs in Malibu, California, in 2010.
07of 14Delivering MasksMatthew McConaughey/InstagramIn May 2020, theDazed and Confusedactor shared a photo of he and his wife in a truck filled with masks to donate to area hospitals during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.“Thanks to@lincolnfor donating 110 thousand masks – me and@camilamcconaugheyhitting the road to get em to rural hospitals in need across Texas,” he wrote onInstagram.
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Delivering Masks
Matthew McConaughey/Instagram
In May 2020, theDazed and Confusedactor shared a photo of he and his wife in a truck filled with masks to donate to area hospitals during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Thanks to@lincolnfor donating 110 thousand masks – me and@camilamcconaugheyhitting the road to get em to rural hospitals in need across Texas,” he wrote onInstagram.
08of 14Connecting with Seniors During COVID-19The Enclave at Round Rock Senior LivingIn April 2020, as the world was settling into what would become the “new normal” of social distancing and self-isolation due to COVID-19, McConaughey and his family found a way to connect — virtually!McConaughey and Camila, along with two of their kids and his mom Kay, joined a Zoom call toplay Bingo with a few seniors in their home state of Texas.The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living posted a video of the call on Facebook, showing the moment McConaughey called out a chip that leads to two potential winners.“Thank you to Matthew, his wife Camila, and his mom Kay for hosting our residents for a few rounds of virtual bingo!” the facility wrote alongside the video. “Our residents had a great time playing, and they loved talking with Matthew about his family heritage and his favorite drink.““We got I-24,” McConaughey read in the video before the whole family started whooping in celebration when one player raised his board. “Richard is waving a hammer up high, we got Charles with the iPad up high. We got two winners!”
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Connecting with Seniors During COVID-19
The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living
In April 2020, as the world was settling into what would become the “new normal” of social distancing and self-isolation due to COVID-19, McConaughey and his family found a way to connect — virtually!
McConaughey and Camila, along with two of their kids and his mom Kay, joined a Zoom call toplay Bingo with a few seniors in their home state of Texas.
The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living posted a video of the call on Facebook, showing the moment McConaughey called out a chip that leads to two potential winners.
“Thank you to Matthew, his wife Camila, and his mom Kay for hosting our residents for a few rounds of virtual bingo!” the facility wrote alongside the video. “Our residents had a great time playing, and they loved talking with Matthew about his family heritage and his favorite drink.”
“We got I-24,” McConaughey read in the video before the whole family started whooping in celebration when one player raised his board. “Richard is waving a hammer up high, we got Charles with the iPad up high. We got two winners!”
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Operation BBQ Relief
Rich Polk/Getty Images Wild Turkey
Back in 2019, McConaughey partnered with the disaster relief organization Operation BBQ Relief and Wild Turkey Bourbon to cook, prepare and deliver meals to first respondersas multiple wildfires raged acrosshis “second home” of California.
The Oscar winner helped put together 800 dinners, which were delivered to more than 20 fire stations. An additional 800 meals were also prepared for local homeless shelters.
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Joining Khalid at 2019 Benefit Concert for El Paso Shooting Victims
Rick Kern/Getty Images
According to The Great Khalid Foundation’s website, the eventraised $500,000for the El Paso Community Foundation Victims' Fund.
McConaughey took the stage at the event and talked aboutcoming together and supporting one another.
11of 14Helping Out on a College CampusUT Student Gov’t/TwitterIn addition to his work as an actor and philanthropist, McConaughey is also a college professor!That’s right, after working as a visiting professor at the University of Texas at Austin, his alma mater, starting in 2015,in 2019 it was announced that he would be aprofessor of practice at the University of Texas' Moody College of Communication in the Department of Radio-Television-Film.In 2016, McConaughey stepped outside of the classroom and helped out on campus, volunteering his time for a university student-government program called SURE Walk. The program organizes safe ways for students to get home late at night throughgolf-cart rides and walking partners, theDallas Morning Newsreported.The organization shared an image of McConaughey behind the wheel of one of the golf carts.
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Helping Out on a College Campus
UT Student Gov’t/Twitter
In addition to his work as an actor and philanthropist, McConaughey is also a college professor!
That’s right, after working as a visiting professor at the University of Texas at Austin, his alma mater, starting in 2015,in 2019 it was announced that he would be aprofessor of practice at the University of Texas' Moody College of Communication in the Department of Radio-Television-Film.
In 2016, McConaughey stepped outside of the classroom and helped out on campus, volunteering his time for a university student-government program called SURE Walk. The program organizes safe ways for students to get home late at night throughgolf-cart rides and walking partners, theDallas Morning Newsreported.
The organization shared an image of McConaughey behind the wheel of one of the golf carts.
12of 14Meals on WheelsSource: Camila Alves/InstagramOver the years, McConaughey has helped out with Meals on Wheels on numerous occasions.Back in 2015, he and his family volunteered their time for the second year in a row, helping to deliver hundreds of meals on Thanksgiving Day, according toMeals on Wheels Central Texas. In 2019,he joined Governor Greg Abbott,who also did some delivering, KXAN reported.
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Meals on Wheels
Source: Camila Alves/Instagram
Over the years, McConaughey has helped out with Meals on Wheels on numerous occasions.
Back in 2015, he and his family volunteered their time for the second year in a row, helping to deliver hundreds of meals on Thanksgiving Day, according toMeals on Wheels Central Texas. In 2019,he joined Governor Greg Abbott,who also did some delivering, KXAN reported.
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Hurricane Katrina Relief
Alamy Stock Photo
The efforts included rescuing “50 dogs, 18 cats and 2 hamsters,” according to Oprah.com, where the actor’s journey was documented.
In addition, McConaughey listed his1971 Corvette Stingrayon eBay, selling it for $61,600 — all of which he donated toOprah Winfrey’s Angel Network for Katrina and Rita, another storm that touched down in Texas about a month after Katrina.
The actor also worked with Relief Spark, pictured, at the Van Nuys Airport in California, to organize supplies to be brought to impacted areas.
14of 14Brett Costello/Newspix/Headpress/ReduxFor more with Matthew McConaughey and PEOPLE’s People of the Year, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
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Brett Costello/Newspix/Headpress/Redux
For more with Matthew McConaughey and PEOPLE’s People of the Year, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
source: people.com
