Leonardo DiCaprio‘s foundation has announced $15.6 million in grants for conservation efforts, the largest series of donations ever by the foundation, which boasts donations of more than $59 million since it was founded in 1998.

 

DiCaprio, 41, has lobbied world leaders about climate change, protecting wildlife and more, and even spoke of the environment during his Oscar acceptance speech this year, telling the crowd: “Climate change is real. It is happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species.”

 

In a statement released Wednesday, the actor said he was increasing the level of grants “to help solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.”

 

He also appointed Terry Tamminen as the foundation’s CEO. Tamminen was once secretary of California’s Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Beneficiaries of the grants include the Elephant Crisis Fund, the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund, organizations devoted to fighting climate change and groups dedicated to protecting the rights and cultures of indigenous people. (Page Six)