Novak Djokovic Visits A School In Belgrade, Donates Over $65K Toward Children’s Playground [Video]

Good lad!

February 7th, 2013 at 8:15 am

What a great guy!

February 7th, 2013 at 1:29 pm

Nothing against celebrities as a whole doing the charity foundation thing,its the media and the feet kissing/back scratching that goes with it all thats a turn off for me,i just think its something that should be done privatly,and not made such a fuss about,but its all for a worthy cause,so well done Novak and congratulations on a job well done.

February 7th, 2013 at 1:51 pm

@alison No1e is Unesco ambassador and as such he is in obligation to donate money publicly to encourage others to do the same.

February 7th, 2013 at 3:59 pm

^Fair enough^.

February 7th, 2013 at 5:41 pm

Mastoor, that’s a good point; I’d never really thought of it that way, i.e., the idea that they are compelled to be public about it when they are an ambassador of a particular charity etc.

Anyhow, good for Nole! :)

February 7th, 2013 at 7:53 pm

This school is not ordinary school and these kids are not ordinary kids and this playgraund is not ordinary playground, has to be constructed to suit needs of this kids. If you listen to video and have a better look at these kids you will find out what I am talking about. Last few seconds of the video when that young man on left side of Nole cannot have enough of Nole are particulary touching.

The school principal told Nole:

“Your donation is measurable but the joy and happiness that you brought to this young people just by turning up here today is not measurable.”
Nicely said. It wasn’t about money, it was about something much biger than money.
Keep it up No1e.

February 7th, 2013 at 8:41 pm

should say “Nole’s left side” and not “on left side of Nole”

February 7th, 2013 at 8:48 pm

@Queen:Why don’t you shut up for once?It would be nice change

February 8th, 2013 at 12:53 am

Jane,Mastoor my post was not taking a pop a Novak as i would say the same about any famous person tennis player or otherwise,its all the media back scratching that i personally find irritating,its the same when the BBC do children in Need,or Comic Relief,its all in a good cause dont get me wrong,and i did congratulate Novak on a job well done,so ill leave it at that.

February 8th, 2013 at 5:55 am

All in the name of publicity!!

February 8th, 2013 at 6:23 am

Giles, this is for you: “Nadal flies to the Netherlands for charity”. Or should we say “publicity”?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOsxarD72Ew

February 8th, 2013 at 9:50 am

waste of money. give some scholarships to bright/poor serbs for college etc.
65K goes quite a way with living expenses in the balkans. though not when it comes to indulgent playgrounds it seems.

February 8th, 2013 at 10:05 am

jane. Wasn’t that for the Krajicek Foundation? If I remember correctly Richard invited Rafa over! A bit of a difference don’t you think?

February 8th, 2013 at 10:34 am

^ In my opinion it’s the same thing: prooting charitable acts. I am sure I could find some videos of Rafa promoting his own foundation. Would that be just “publicity”? I wouldn’t look at it so cynically. They are helping people; they are promoting their charities so hopefully other people will help out too. Is this bad? Humanitarian work? Not to me.

February 8th, 2013 at 10:46 am

* promoting not prooting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHOZRBQnjSM

February 8th, 2013 at 10:47 am

^^^ Whatever!

February 8th, 2013 at 10:58 am

I just think you should apply the same standards to both is all. If it’s all in the name of publicity for Nole then it is all in the name of publicity for Rafa too.

February 8th, 2013 at 11:01 am

jane. Publicity was a key factor for the tennis match between Rafa and Nole. I think the idea was to sell tickets for the match!! Also that event was to benefit the Rafael Nadal Foundation AS WELL AS the Real Madrid Foundation!

February 8th, 2013 at 11:12 am

I suppose it works both ways in most charitable situations involving celebs/famous people: the cause is helped, in this case the school, and the foundation is promoted simultaneously. Sean Penn, whether he wants to or not, perhaps improves his image due to his tireless work in Haiti. But he’s doing the work, raising the funds, etc, so in the end it seems like a positive thing.

There are problems with it, though. I heard this guy interviewed on radio recently, and he has a book about the harms celebrity charity can cause. Seems counter-intuitive but he makes some valid points:

http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2013/01/10/celebrities-involved-in-global-charity-work-cause-harm-says-new-book/

February 8th, 2013 at 11:28 am

Jane thanks for the article this is actually my point about why i dont care for the celebrities and the whole charity thing,it all brings media attention to what is visually going on,but never the root cause of why these crisis start to begin with,its a double edged sword though i suppose.

February 8th, 2013 at 12:14 pm

ROY, ARE YOU SERIOUS?? These kids are special needs kids and it is insensitivity like yours that is the problem. I have a special needs niece, who has become an artist because of the extra help she received. How pathetic a person that would deny these kids the opportunity tohave stimulation and excercise that could enrich their lives. I hope you or yours never have to use thes type of facilities but I am glad that Novak has the heart to help these kids who have one stroke against them already.

February 9th, 2013 at 3:50 pm

Alison, the fact is that every charity uses celebrity names to draw attention to it’s cause because people and especially corporations are more likely to take out their cheque book when a celebrity asks. The fact is that these celebrities are willing to give of their time and star power for a good cause. It only stands to reason that if no one paying attention , no one is donating either. Novak has plenty of photo ops now and could use the time for leisure and family. I guess that a cynical society will find some way to turn a positive into a negative.

February 9th, 2013 at 3:59 pm

suzzete,

I wish I can put it together the way you did it. Very nice, indeed.

February 9th, 2013 at 5:20 pm

Wogboy and Suzette im not saying we shouldnt help out the poor and needy and thats the whole point,we should we definetly should,we should also be looking at the bigger picture digging a little deeper,and seeing why these things happen to begin with,the whole banking systems have enough money to end this poverty for ever if they wanted to,but unfortunatly the fat cats are only interested in keeping the money for themselves,i just think we should all be doing more to help,this is just the tip of a very large iceberg.

February 9th, 2013 at 5:38 pm

Wog boy and suzette, I agree – super nice of Nole to help people with special needs in particular. Often they are overlooked. Good for Nole.

February 9th, 2013 at 5:48 pm

Suzette,Jane,Wogboy i dont really need Bono,Madonna,Bob Geldof,or Novak etc to tell me whats going on in this wicked world that we live in,i already know its in the newspapers and on the news everyday,the point is we should all be doing more to help,not just financially either,but digging a little deeper as to why these things happen to begin with,this is just the tip of a very large iceberg,lets just say i have my opinion and you all have yours.

February 10th, 2013 at 5:51 am

Alison,nice sentiments but the reality is that most people don’t dig deep without being prodded. If they didn’t need reminding about the underpriiledged and disadvantaged, there would be no need for organizations such as the Red Cross, UNICEF, the Salvation Army, ect. and your priest, pastor, or Rabbi wouldn’t have to preach about it on Sunday either. I just don’t see the negative aspect of a personality who is accomplished, famous and usually busy with a career, but takes the time to use their celebrity to draw attention to those less fortunate. Too many would turn a blind eye, cacoon themselves in their cushy world and say “the hell with the rest of the world, I’m doing just fine.” May be you don’t need to be reminded but there are millions that do.! You can’t solve a problem when you don’t know it exists.

February 16th, 2013 at 12:49 am

Suzette youve made your point,fair enough,i see where your your coming from,i think your missing my point though,but never mind,enough said.

February 16th, 2013 at 8:49 am

You do make a strong case, suzette. Publicity draws attention to the issues, and lets hope it helps to make a difference in addition to the money the celebs contribute themselves.

February 16th, 2013 at 10:32 am

Thank you ladies, case closed! Alison, I do see that you think that it should be a natural instinct to the right thing and that is noble indeed.

February 16th, 2013 at 12:44 pm

@alison
Did u know Coldplay donated a percentage of proceeds from their concerts, completely anonymously, to “Kidscape,” the London children’s charity, for years and years? I admire that.
Bankers, stockbrokers, multi million corporations who employ accountants to seek tax avoidance loop holes, millionaires with off shore accounts etc.etc
Let’s start with them first shall we?
I’m with you on this one.
Also, pro rata the poor give far more money to charity than the rich.

February 16th, 2013 at 12:48 pm

Thanks Margot great post,thats exactly my point.

February 16th, 2013 at 5:38 pm