By: Madison Bennett
Iris Au and Davide Sanclimenti chose to spend Thanksgiving 2025 in a different way, volunteering on Skid Row with the Los Angeles Mission and Hope the Mission. This was the first time the two organizations partnered to offer the community meals and services for the 2025 holiday. The event served hundreds of turkey meals to those in need, along with clothing, free haircuts, and basic-care services.
Rather than enjoying the holiday at home or working on set, Iris and Davide rolled up their sleeves alongside other volunteers, officers from LAPD and the LA Sheriff’s Department, and outreach workers to help prepare and hand out meals to thousands of unhoused people across downtown LA.
“Holidays feel different when you spend them shoulder-to-shoulder with the community,” Iris said. “Being present with the community mattered more than any other way we could spend the Thanksgiving Day.”
Skid Row is home to one of the largest homeless populations in the country, and Thanksgiving is especially meaningful there because of how many people show up and how great the need is. Iris Au, who goes by “The Goddess” in her public work as a philanthropist, was right there on the serving line with Davide Sanclimenti. They both handed out meals, chatted with people, and connected directly with individuals who usually get talked about in policy conversations instead of being recognized face-to-face.
In an Instagram post looking back on the day, Iris wrote, “Truly grateful for everyone who comes together to make days like this possible.”
But Iris Au’s charitable work goes way beyond just one event. Iris Au has volunteered to feed the homeless before, showing that her dedication to helping others isn’t just for a photo op; it’s something she does regularly. She’s said multiple times that charity means more when you actually do the work, not just show up for the cameras, and her involvement in this Thanksgiving outreach reflected exactly that.
She’s been involved in humanitarian efforts for years, supporting causes that help children and families around the world. Her work has been linked to organizations including Baby2Baby, which provides diapers, clothing, and basic necessities to children living in poverty, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with critical illnesses.
She has also supported World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization working to end extreme poverty through emergency relief, healthcare, education, and clean water initiatives. Additional partnerships include Compassion International, Feed The Children, and the American Red Cross.
Standing beside her was Davide Sanclimenti, who most people know from Love Island UK. He’s been showing up more and more at charity events with Iris Au. The fact that they participated together as a couple shows a shared commitment to giving back and community work, and it looks like something they’re both planning to keep doing going forward.
With over 250,000 followers and more than 5 million monthly impressions across her platforms, Iris Au’s influence gives her the ability to amplify causes beyond physical service. Her Thanksgiving involvement reflects a direction where her platform could become a tool for awareness, fundraising, advocacy, and expanded humanitarian outreach. She has expressed interest in continuing mission work and developing future projects focused on children, families, and underserved communities.
Some who have volunteered alongside her say that Iris talks openly about how community service grounds her and how it keeps her connected to the realities that social media can blur. Her focus on living life to the fullest doesn’t mean avoiding tough or uncomfortable situations. Traveling to over forty countries has shown her the stark differences in privilege, safety, and opportunity, and it’s shaped how she sees the world. This exposure appears to be one reason she remains invested in philanthropy.
All in all, the beauty people see on the outside is matched by Iris Au’s character and compassion. By spending Thanksgiving serving meals alongside those in need, she demonstrated what the holiday is truly about—gratitude, community, and giving back. Together with Davide Sanclimenti, she shows that influence gains meaning when paired with action.