Gibson Saving The Children

Movie star Mel Gibson has donated a staggering $5 million (GBP2.7 million) from the proceeds of hit film The Passion Of The Christ to help underprivileged children.

Gibson split the sum between Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital. The money will specifically help pediatric patients from poor countries where the necessary medical care isn't available or affordable.

A source close to the 48-year-old say he also donated in excess of GBP1.5 million (GBP800,000) to cover the 23-hour operation to separate conjoined twins MARIA DE JESUS and MARIA TERESA QUIEJ ALVAREZ at UCLA in 2002.