Cowell has been involved in charity work for many years . He is a patron of Together for Short Lives , the leading UK charity for all children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions . He was patron of Children 's Hospices UK between 2009 and 2011 before it merged to become Together for Short Lives . He also supports animal rights and has appeared in a video for PETA in which he reminds drivers of the cruelty to animals that can occur when their pets are locked in cars in the summer . He donated money to Manchester Dogs ' Home in England after it was hit by a large fire . In view of his charitable works , particularly the production of the charity single '' Everybody Hurts '' in aid of victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake , as well as his services to the music industry , there was considerable media speculation as to whether Cowell would receive a knighthood in the Queen 's 2010 Birthday Honours , a proposal allegedly put forward by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown
2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
Simon Cowell