How Keanu Reeves Helps the Less Fortunate After His Sister’s 10-Year Cancer Battle

Keanu Reeves is doing his part to help curb the homeless situation with Los Angeles frontline workers.

Variety reported on March 11 about LAURA (Los Angeles Unhoused Response Academy) as they train former entertainment workers to become caseworkers helping those who are unable to find clear paths out of homelessness. 

Reeves supported the initiative’s pilot in October 2024, according to Variety, and the second week of the initiative is set to run in April 2025 with support from United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Ten participants will be trained in the coming session, the outlet reported.

Reeves & LAURA Founder Justin Szlasa Worked Together on a Documentary

Reeves connected with LAURA through founder Justin Szlasa, after the pair worked together on the documentary “Side by Side.”

LAURA runs a five-day training program for those looking to transition out of their current career paths and into the nonprofit sector. Szlasa is also a commissioner with Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, participates with Future Communities and was a part of the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition.

There are over 75,000 unhoused people in Los Angeles County with no sure course of how to navigate their current situations, according to Variety. Szlasa told the outlet attrition is relatively high when it comes to frontline workers.

“In terms of frontline workers, about 8,000 work in homeless services and there’s about 2,000 open spots,” he said, with a 30% annual attrition rate.

Reeves Has a Private Cancer Foundation

Reeves is no stranger to doing what he can to make the world a better place. 

The actor created a private cancer foundation after his sister, Kim, underwent a 10-year battle with leukemia. In 2020, he also helped auction off a 15-minute Zoom call to high bidders for an Idaho children’s cancer charity, Camp Rainbow Gold. 

In 2023, Reeves, along with “John Wick” director Chad Stahelski and Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Dave Camarillo, participated in another auction. This time, the three threw their signatures on an exclusive training uniform to raise money for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Another auction the actor participated in is with Ontario Hockey League team Windsor Spitfires, benefiting Canadian Mental Health Association of Windsor-Essex in 2024. Here, the actor signed items that were then sold off.

Reeves is also a great gift giver. For “The Matrix Reloaded” 12-person stunt team, Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The actor’s personal stunt team for “John Wick: Chapter 4” received engraved custom Rolex Submariner watches. For the same movie, the larger stunt team was gifted personalized shirts that displayed how many times extras were killed throughout the film.