Kristen Stewart’s generous acts

CEBU, Philippines - Kristen Stewart does a good job appearing malcontent with her sullen expressions in red carpets, but the 23-year-old also happens to be one of the more generous celebrities in Hollywood.

The latest example appeared in a New York Times piece on producer Harvey Weinstein, which noted that the studio head once persuaded Stewart to accept an offer from a Middle Eastern prince to meet with him in exchange for a large donation to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

“How much?” Ms. Stewart asked, according to Mr. Weinstein. He checked with the prince, who proposed a figure, which Mr. Weinstein promptly raised to $500,000. The money was delivered in advance, in cash, Mr. Weinstein said. Stewart sat with the prince for 15 minutes.

And that’s far from the only time the “Twilight” actress has helped out in the name of charity. While researching her role in 2010’s “Welcome to the Rileys,” in which she played a teenage prostitute, Stewart became so inspired to help real-life young sex workers that she talked about wanting to open halfway houses for runaways looking to improve their lives and leave the slave trade behind.

She later donated a pair of autographed Keds for auction, and raised US$1,557.71 for the same cause via the organization Shoe Revolt. In January, she auctioned off the jewelry she wore for a spread in V magazine to raise money for Children of the Night, another organization that fights child prostitution.

Stewart took to the auction block again when she offered up the Zuhair Murad dress she wore to the “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2” premiere to the highest bidder in 2012.

When the devastating earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, Stewart rushed to offer aid there as well, appearing at a Hollywood fundraiser and, once again, auctioning off herself. Four ladies made a donation to Haitian relief in an undisclosed amount to hang out with Stewart at the Sundance Film Festival.

Fans shouldn’t be surprised if it’s ever revealed that Stewart, whom Forbes estimates earned $22 million between June 2012 and June 2013, is making other donations anonymously. The star has made it clear that she’s in favor of the wealthy paying it forward.

“It’s funny when you are endowed not only with public recognition on a seriously vast level, but also money,” she told Vogue in 2011. “Like, fund. Anytime I hear that somebody’s really rich, the first question is ‘Do you do anything with it? Or do you, like, chill? You just sit on it?’” (FREEMAN)