In 2012, Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons , was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, and Simon was only given three-to-six months to live. However, Simon has now been living with his diagnosis for two years. Despite wining the battle against cancer for longer than doctors had expected, Simon has decided to give away his multi-million dollar fortune to charity.
In an exclusive interview with Maria Shriver , Simon discusses his battle with cancer and why he has decided to donate his fortune to charities. Simon notes that his battle with cancer has been tough, but discusses some of the positives of fighting the devastating disease.
“It’s a journey, it’s a fight, it’s tough, but if you want publicity and you want to pick up girls. Cancer is the greatest thing in the world.”
Simon is also using the publicity gained from his battle with cancer to bring awareness to charities and causes that he cares deeply about. Simon is using his fortunes to help with work done on behalf of animals by PETA and his own charity, The Sam Simon Foundation, which offers hearing dog training, adoption services and a mobile pet clinic.
He also gives to Save the Children (of which, Mark Shriver, brother of Maria, is president) and Feeding Families organizations. “The Feeding Family program feeds 400 families a day in Los Angeles,” Simon noted.
Although Simon feels his money is going to good causes, he notes that a lot of it is “selfish.”
“A lot of it is selfish. I get to watch these animals that have been in concrete bunkers their whole life, I get to watch them take their first steps on grass.”
In total, Sam Simon will give away over $100 million to these select charities. What do you think of The Simpson ‘s creator’s charity choices? Where would you like to see him give money?
[Images Via trueactivist.com and mundoconectado.net
