When it comes to being a benevolent celebrity, there are very few who can stand in the same league as boxer-turned-senator Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao.

Born into abject poverty and raised by his single mother with his six siblings in a cardboard shack, Pacquiao knew that if he was going to help his family rise from the ashes he would have to fight for it. And that he did.

At 10, Pacquiao dropped out of school to help his mom raise his brothers and sisters.

Then, at just 15 years old, he stowed himself away on a ship bound for the rough and tumble streets of Manila, where he knew he’d have the best chance at making it in the professional world of boxing.

Pacquiao relied on his faith and the fight in his heart to survive life on Manila’s streets

Never knowing where his next meal would come from, or if it would come at all, he kept his sights fixed on becoming one of the greatest fighters in the sport.

“Many of you know me as a legendary boxer, and I’m proud of that. However, that journey was not always easy. When I was younger, I became a fighter because I had to survive. I had nothing. I had no one to depend on except myself. I realized that boxing was something I was good at, and I trained hard so that I could keep myself and my family alive,” Pacquiao said as he addressed the public in Beijing during a promotional appearance for Anta Sports, a sportsware company in China.

Little did Pacquiao know just how successful he would become.

At 16-years-old in 1995, Pacquiao made his first appearance as a professional fighter. Then, just 3 years later, the boxer got his first big win when he knocked out Chatchai Sasakul, representing Thailand, capturing him the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title.

From there, Pacquiao went on to become the world-class fighter that he is now. He is the only boxer to earn championships in eight weight classes, knocking out some of the world’s finest boxers in some of the most memorable fights.

Though he started earning some serious winnings, it was his infamous battle against undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather in 2015 that saw him take home a cool $150 million. Though he didn’t win the fight (which is still hotly debated by boxing fans around the globe), he won something far more valuable to him. The chance to give back to the community that raised him.

“He sits in front of his house giving money away to people; they go for blocks. I’ve seen it. Food and money. Food and money. He believes that’s part of the higher purpose, because once he gives it away, he believes God will replenish it,” explains Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter in a 2010 interview.

After becoming what the world knows today as one of the finest fighters the professional world of boxing has ever seen, Pacquiao took on an even bigger fight, entering the political arena as a senator in the Philippines.

“As I went around my country, I realized there were so many people who need help, who look up to me for inspiration. That was when I took on the bigger fight, the bigger challenge of becoming a public servant. And because of their trust and confidence, I now represent my people’s interests as a senator,” the boxer continued in his speech at the Beijing promo appearance.

His activities go far beyond reviewing and signing political documents, though. Pacquiao is a people’s politician, and to this day he is still putting his money where his mouth is in a very big way.

In 2016, the then 37-year-old senator and world-class boxer announced his biggest give-back to his countrymen yet. Pacquiao built 1,000 new homes to house the poorest of those living in the Sarangani Province.

Not only was he going to house these people as an act of true stewardship over his people, but he was going to do it out of his own pockets. The beneficiaries of these homes were asked to pay absolutely nothing. What makes the move so unprecedented is that the senator did not lean on his country’s taxpayers to realize his dream, either.

Construction was finished on the Sarangani homes and the families took up residence in their freshly built houses, but Manny hasn’t stopped there, either. He continues to hold fundraisers through the Manny Pacquiao Foundation to not just build more homes as the money comes in but to also help with disaster relief wherever it seems most needed.

Through it all, he still continues to stop and hand out money from his own wallet to people on the streets in need.

“Every income I receive in boxing, almost half of it goes to the less fortunate. After each fight, half of my income goes to the poor … I will never forget where I came from. I thank god for allowing me to help other people,” the compassionate boxer/senator says.

Now, if only the world could produce more celebrities like him people would suffer much less and know the meaning of love much more. If you would like to give to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation, you can do so on their Facebook page, at their website, or consider donating your birthday on Facebook as well to encourage your friends to give also.

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Source: USA Today/China Daily/InsideSport