Celebrities Give Thanks: How Rapper T.I., Ellen Degeneres, Lil' Wayne and Others Are Giving Back

For as much as many celebrities are given, it would be a shame if something didn't make its way back into others' hands. This year, the famous folks who entertain us year-round - and thankfully, give writers something to write about - will show their appreciation be helping the less fortunate.

Take rapper and actor T.I., for example. The Atlanta-born MC celebrated his recent release from prison this year personally handed out over 300 frozen turkeys to less-fortunate families Tuesday at Atlanta's Carrie Steelie-Pitts Home, which cares for abused and neglected children.

Likewise, Lil' Wayne spent Nov. 18 in his native New Orleans handing out turkeys as a part of his Cash Money label's own annual giveaway.

Ellen DeGeneres took quite the opposite approach. Instead of handing out over 300 birds, she tuned in more to her love of animals and endorsed the Farm Sanctuary Adopt-A-Turkey Project, which encourages finding alternative, fowl-friendly Thanksgiving meal options.

“Did you know that every year between 250 and 300 million turkeys are bred for slaughter in the United States?” asks Ellen. “More than 46 million for Thanksgiving alone. So, this Thanksgiving instead of eating a turkey, please join me in adopting one from Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt-A-Turkey Project and you can give a turkey something to be thankful for.”

For the seventh year running, actor Kirk Douglas will give the homeless a homestyle Thanksgiving. He and his wife Anne will team with other celebrities to host a Thanksgiving meal for the homeless at the Los Angeles Mission on Skid Row, sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank.

Though out-of-work himself, Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown understands that the situation could be much worse. He and Lakers legend A.C. Green recently teamed up with the lovely Laker Girls to servce a meal to Long Beach, CA seniors.

It's been the kind of year that, despite all that the famous and the ordinary have been through, we should all honor the words of Henny Youngman and just be "happy to be anywhere." On behalf of Yidio, have a happy and grateful Thanksgiving.