Matthew McConaughey: 'Charity is no free ride'

Actor Matthew McConaughey is proud his charity Just Keep Livin has assisted the lives of over 10,000 people.

The 46-year-old True Detective star started the foundation with his wife Camila, aiming to enrich high school students by giving the teenagers access to tools that will help them make positive life choices, remain physically and emotionally healthy, in addition to being contributing members of society.

On Thursday (25Feb16) McConaughey was honored for his philanthropic efforts at Unite4:Humanity, an event thrown by charitable social network company Unite4:Good and Hollywood outlet Variety.

McConaughey is proud of giving back, telling Entertainment Tonight his non-profit Just Keep Livin continues to expand.

"We have 10,000 alumni, so we have 10,000 young men and women who have gone through our program, and are out now," he smiled. "A lot of them still come back to help out."

McConaughey is in awe over the leadership skills exhibited by Just Keep Livin graduates - when he was a teenager, it's unlikely he'd be doing half the things the kids in the program take on.

"They learn exercise and nutrition goals," he said of some of the tasks Just Keep Livin students perform. "It's not a free ride. They're up at 4:30 (in the morning), packing up meals to give to needy families on the holidays. They're up at 4:30 to take a bus trip to go clean up a beach. When I was their age, I don't know if I would have given that much. I wouldn't have given my Saturday, but I'm amazed 100 per cent of the kids who do."