Imagining the American landscape without Arnold Schwarzenegger sounds uncanny. The ex-governor of California was responsible for nurturing and trailblazing the many action franchises in Hollywood. Rather, it was his Terminator series that was among the first action-heavy movies that birthed the genre. However, not all his contributions lay in the cinema. The 76-year-old has pioneered several philanthropic movements to date.

However, all of these come in sharp contrast to his hot-headed early persona. As to how one who used to be so self-obsessed came around as selfless is a story worth listening to from the legend himself.

A ‘misunderstood’ phone call spearheaded a lifelong process of change for the better

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been many things, but being grounded was not among the ones he championed during his early career. From his bitter feud with Sylvester Stallone to his competitiveness, it took a beautiful coincidence for the FUBAR star to come around. In talks with The New York Times, Schwarzenegger shared that “I always fell into things,” implying that his many laurels and achievements have a back story to it. Speaking of his goodwill activities, he recalled how a misunderstood phone call made it all happen.

In 1979, Jacquie Kennedy invited him to the University of Wisconsin-Superior to mentor Special Olympians. Mistaking them for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis of the Kennedy family, Schwarzenegger agreed to the deal. However, upon realizing the conundrum, it was too late for him to turn back, and he went ahead with the session, anyway. Afterward, the star felt “good” about it. From that moment onwards, his dedication, “started there. It has not stopped since.”

By all means, the Austrian Oak was undoubtedly correct to mention that his good-natured activities have never stopped. Rather, despite his age, there is no stopping him.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is on a mission for a better and fitter planet

From the days of his bodybuilding to acting and politics, Schwarzenegger never hesitated to pay back the love he received after his transformation. Back as governor of California, he donated his governor’s salary of $175,000 per year to charities and worked for California’s Proposition 49 to increase funding for after-school programs. Moreover, he has spearheaded the After-School All-Stars (ASAS) Relief Organization since 1992.

From serving kids after-school meals and programs to donating to children’s healthcare institutions, the $450-million net-worth star has put him behind others. Earlier this year, on account of his 76th birthday, he shared a wishlist that wanted global peace and better health for all. Acting upon it, Schwarzenegger started the Pump Club venture, which aimed to make fitness available for all. By all means, indeed, he truly serves to be an inspiration.

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