Saturday Night Live (SNL) alumna and comedienne Amy Poehler has a knack for keeping audiences on their toes. Alongside Tina Fey’s portrayal of Sarah Palin, She delivered one of the greatest moments in SNL history with her spot-on impersonation of Hilary Clinton during the 2008 presidential election. Poehler also served as a co-anchor for SNL’s “Weekend Update” for four years.

Now most well known for her starring role on NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation,” Poehler is considered to be female comedic royalty. However, Poehler is creating a legacy of charity to rival her acting resume.

Poehler serves as the Ambassador of Arts for the Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO.) The WWO is dedicated to supporting orphaned children and assisting at-risk children in becoming healthy and successful world citizens. Poehler has been a crucial propent of WWO since 2010. During this time, Poehler has hosted numerous fundraising events for the organization, including auctioning off a tour of the Parks and Recreation set; all proceeds went to the WWO.

In 2012, Poehler traveled to Haiti with WWO founder Dr. Jane Aronson to help at-risk children in the rural community of Kenscoff. While in Haiti, Poehler helped to build new soccer and recreation fields, implement a library of toys for children in the community, and promote a youth training program to prepare young people of the community for future opportunities.

During the 2013 Emmy Awards, Poehler hosted a “Losers Party” for those passed over for an award at the ceremony. Hosting the event alongside Mad Men star Jon Hamm, Poehler raised $20,000 for the WWO.

In addition to her constant advocacy for children across the globe, Poehler also runs her own non-profit organization, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls. Smart Girls encourages women to achieve self-acceptance and empowerment by making charity and kindness a cornerstone in their lives.

“Giving to charity is good for your skin, and it makes your butt smaller,” Poehler teased at Variety’s Power of Women Banquet in 2013. Touching on a more emotional note, Poehler stated, “There are so many children living in the world who have nothing. Who are we to be in this room and be living this life without helping them?” Her words are a striking example of Poehler’s unparalleled ability to inspire through both laughter and charity.

– Taylor Diamond

Sources: Bustle, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls
Photo: UPI