Look To The Stars News: AIDS

Giving Back Fund Releases 2009's Top Celebrity Givers

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look To The Stars is proud to announce that our partners at the Giving Back Fund have announced their third annual Giving Back 30, a list of celebrities who have made the largest donations to charity according to public records.

Readers may have been surprised to learn that Paul Newman replaced Oprah Winfrey as the most generous celebrity of 2008. Oprah had occupied the number one spot by a wide margin for the first two years of the list.

Before his death, Newman made a donation of nearly $21 million to his self-named Newman’s Own Foundation. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were second with a $13.5 million donation to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which distributed $6.4 million to charity, including a $2 million grant to The Global Health Committee for an Ethiopian clinic project, a $1 million grant to the Make it Right Foundation founded by Pitt, and $500,000 to the Armed Services YMCA USA.

“Our hope is that celebrities will begin to become more comfortable sharing information about their charitable giving - perhaps not disclosing everything they give, but sharing enough to enable them to serve as role-models to their peers and fans,” said Marc Pollick, President and Founder of The Giving Back Fund.

Also on the list: Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Mel Gibson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurie and Larry David and Drew Barrymore. Several authors made the list this year, along with representatives from the NBA, NFL and NASCAR. To see the complete list visit The Giving Back Fund’s web site at www.givingback.org.

HOW IT WAS COMPILED
 To compile the most accurate rankings, The Giving Back Fund culled media reports of charitable giving by sports and entertainment professionals; reviewed PF-990 tax-forms; contacted more than 250 publicists, attorneys, agents, agencies, and managers for information about their clients; polled more than 150 charities known for their celebrity associations; and contacted all of the major sports leagues.

The Giving Back Fund did not include grants made by foundations in the list so as to avoid counting the same funds twice - once when the donor gave money to a foundation and again when the donor decided on a beneficiary for that money. The Giving Back Fund did not calculate giving as a percentage of the celebrities’ income because there are no public records documenting income. Re-directed income from sponsorship and merchandising deals to charity made by a celebrity was also not reported as it is not available to the public.

 Donations to private foundations are disclosed in public documents. However, donations to public charities are not publicly disclosed and therefore may not be reported in the Giving Back 30.

UPCOMING: CELEBRITY CHARITIES’ DISTRIBUTION TO CHARITY
 The Giving Back Fund will be releasing a second list in early 2010 reporting on the dollar amount distributed to charities by public and private celebrity foundations, respectively. Charities may submit their 2008 990 reports for review to The Giving Back Fund at GivingBack30@givingback.org.

Elton John AIDS Foundation To Honor Sharon Stone And Bill Clinton

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Elton John AIDS Foundation will honor Sharon Stone and Bill Clinton at a charity event this month.

The Enduring Vision Gala is an annual event that last year raised over $2 million for the organization. Sir Elton’s event has attracted celebrities such as Gladys Knight, Tim Allen and Whoopi Goldberg in the past, and this year’s event promises to be bigger than ever.

Sir Elton set up his AIDS Foundation to provide funding for educational programs targeted at HIV/AIDS prevention and/or the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for programs that provide services to people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.

The gala will take place on November 16 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. More information can be found here.

Stars Write Letters To Themselves For Charity Book

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

If you were to write a letter to your 16-year-old self, what would it say?

In the new book Dear Me, some of the world’s best loved personalities have written just such a letter. Their letters range from the compassionate, to the shocking via hilarity and heartbreak – but they all have one thing in common: they offer a unique glimpse at the teenager who grew up to be a house-hold name.

£1 from each copy sold will be given to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“We’ve all written a letter to our sixteen-year-old selves collected together in the fabulous new book, DEAR ME: A LETTER TO MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF,” said Sir Elton John. "It’s a wonderful, uplifting and poignant journey through the lives of some of the country’s best-loved personalities and would make a great gift for all your friends and family this Christmas.

“Your purchase will also directly benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which works throughout the world to provide support to those affected with HIV and AIDS.

“DEAR ME made me laugh, cry and reminisce to when I was 16 – so I went and wrote a letter too. It starts ‘Dear Reg’ and ends ‘CHANGE YOUR NAME!’ I hope you enjoy it!”

Some of the stars featured in the book include Annie Lennox, Burt Bacharach, Alan Carr, Rosanne Cash, Julian Clary, Jackie Collins, Jenny Éclair, Tracey Emin, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Jane Fonda, Mark Foster, Stephen Fry, Rolf Harris, Debbie Harry, Peter Kay, Patsy Kensit, Lynda La Plante, Baz Luhrmann, Joanna Lumley, James Nesbitt, Yoko Ono, Jonathan Ross, Emma Thompson, Desmond Tutu, Suzanne Vega, Alfre Woodard, and Sir Elton John.

Dear Me is the perfect gift for anyone, mum, dad, cousin, aunt, nephew or perhaps someone who is turning 16.

To buy a copy, click here.

Richard Branson Rocks The Kasbah For Charity

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Richard Branson hosted his annual star-studded Rock The Kasbah charity event in Los Angeles last week.

The event attracted an amazing array of celebrities, including Lindsay Lohan, Sharon Stone, Paula Abdul, Daisy Fuentes, Jenna Elfman, Kristin Cavarlli, Matt Goss, Natasha Bedingfield, Gavin Rossdale and many others.

Proceeds from the evening went to Virgin Unite’s domestic and international programs, including the Eve Branson Foundation, set up by Sir Richard’s mother to help women in Morocco generate their own incomes to support their families.

Madonna Promises Electricity To Village

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

During her visit to Malawi last week, Madonna promised electricity to a village that has never been able to have power.

“I know you work in darkness,” she told villagers in Mphandula. “I will bring you electricity.”

The singer was in the country – one of the poorest in the world – to oversee the start of construction of a new girl’s school her charity, Raising Malawi, is building.

The organization has already donated $500,000 for a child care center in the village – a facility that now feeds and educates 3,000 orphans.

Miley Cyrus And Friends Hit The Concert For Hope

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Ashley Parker

Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Jesse McCartney took to the stage on Sunday, October 25, for the 2nd annual Concert for Hope.

The concert, held at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, benefitted life-saving cancer research and treatment programs at City of Hope. Located in Duartes, California, City of Hope is one of the nation’s leading cancer centers.

Lovato tweeted about the show afterward, saying the “concert tonight was incredible! I had a blast and Jesse and Miley rocked it…so amazing!”

Last year’s sold out show, featuring Miley, Demi and the Jonas Brothers, raised more than $1.2 million for City of Hope.

Miley is also donating $1 from every ticket sold on her current Wonder World Tour to cancer research. During her last tour, she raised more than $2 million to benefit City of Hope.

Travis McCoy To Release Charity Song On World AIDS Day

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:30:00 -0000

MTV Networks International’s Staying Alive Foundation has announced the launch of Travis McCoy’s charity track, One At A Time, which is set for release on December 1st to coincide with World AIDS Day.

McCoy, lead singer of alternative hip hop collective Gym Class Heroes and special ambassador to The Staying Alive Foundation, exclusively wrote the track for the Foundation which is MTV’s global HIV and AIDS awareness charity, funding and supporting youth-led grassroots HIV prevention projects around the world.

Available to download on iTunes from December 1, World AIDS Day, all proceeds from sales of the track will benefit the young people and projects supported by the Foundation.

The track was written after the 10-day journey McCoy took as Staying Alive Foundation Ambassador to South Africa, India and The Philippines, during which time he visited some of the inspirational projects funded and supported by the charity. His journey enabled him to meet with some of the young people who have dedicated their lives to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in their own communities.

The track, which draws on McCoy’s experiences while on the trip, was recorded in Miami and produced and co-written by The Smeezingtons.

“This track comes straight from the heart,” said McCoy. “It encompasses everything that I saw and felt on the trip. I met some amazing and inspiring young people – and this track is dedicated to them and their tireless and selfless commitment to the fight against HIV and AIDS. I just hope that it’ll inspire others out there to get involved in whatever way they can. It really doesn’t take much to make a difference.”

Commented The Smeezingtons, “It was such an honour and humbling experience to work with Travis and MTV to create this song. We love making music, but when the music is used to help such a worthy cause it’s unbelievably fulfilling.”

“Travis’ commitment to The Staying Alive Foundation has enabled us to reach young people around the world in a truly innovative way,” said Georgia Arnold, Executive Producer of The Unbeaten Track and Senior Vice President, Social Responsibility, MTV Networks International/ Executive Director, Staying Alive Foundation.

“Through this track, Travis will be sharing his experience and amplifying the HIV awareness message to MTV audiences, globally, in a creative and memorable way. We are delighted with the track and can’t wait for the world to hear it.”

In addition to the One At A Time track, an accompanying music video will be aired on MTV from November 9, 2009 and will be available to watch online on MTV websites. The video features footage of Travis in the studio, as well as clips from ‘Travis McCoy’s Unbeaten Track’, the documentary that charts Travis’ tri-continental journey and is set to air on MTV channels on December 1, coinciding with the track release.

The philanthropic effort behind One At A Time is the result of a partnership between MTV Networks International, The Staying Alive Foundation, Atlantic Records and Fueled By Ramen.

One At A Time will be available on iTunes from December 1, 2009. From December 8, 2009, the track will also be available via other major online music retailers.

In addition to buying the track, donations can be made directly to The Staying Alive Foundation by visiting www.stayingalivefoundation.org

Check out www.theunbeatentrack.com for more details on McCoy’s trip, including the inspiration behind the track and the Foundation-funded projects McCoy visited.

Jennifer Garner Makes Time For CHANGE

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Jennifer Garner is the new spokesperson for Save the Children’s Make Time For CHANGE campaign.

The charity’s CHANGE program (Creating Healthy, Active, and Nurturing Growing-up Environments) has teamed up with Frigidaire to donate $1 to every pledge made on the official website to raise funds to help at-risk children in need in the United States.

“I grew up in West Virginia, which is a state that has struggled a lot,” Garner told PEOPLE.com. “It needs so badly the exact kind of support that Save the Children offers, which is helping kids perform better in school … because they are healthier and not worrying about food.”

For more than 75 years, Save the Children has been helping children survive and thrive by focusing on early childhood education, literacy and physical activity and nutrition programs.

Save the Children created the CHANGE program (Creating Healthy, Active, and Nurturing Growing-up Environments) to promote healthier lifestyles for children living in poverty by providing nutritious snacks and regular opportunities for children to be physically active.

“The main realization that I had is that every mom wants the best for their kid,” she says. “Some of us may have more opportunities with time or financial cushions than others so it’s important that we just spend a minute of our time to help other kids in our own country.”

To make a pledge or find out more, visit the official website here.

Gossip Girls To Attend City Of Hope Event

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

On Friday October 30, 2009 a group of young professional philanthropists known as “Future of Hope” will join City of Hope’s fight against women’s cancers with a Halloween-themed benefit called A Night of Mischief at Marquee in NYC.

Celebrities are joining Future of Hope’s efforts in raising the awareness of City of Hope and its mission to find cures for cancers and other life-threatening diseases. Appearances will include cast members from hit television series such as Gossip Girl and The City.

Lending her considerable clout to the cause will be Tinsley Mortimer as she films her new CW reality series “Empire State”. This new reality show will air this winter chronicling Tinsley’s travels, adventures and causes that include finding a cure for women’s cancers. The CW will be in attendance filming Tinsley and her friends as they join together with New York’s Future of Hope. The evening will be dedicated in loving memory to Amy Salm.

The City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, is one of the world’s leading research and treatment centers for cancer and other serious diseases, including diabetes and HIV/AIDS. The work conducted at City of Hope is shared with medical centers worldwide, touching the lives of millions of people everywhere, including the New York Metropolitan Area.

Tickets are $99 in advance and $120 at the door based on availability. Guests are asked to dress in costume. The night features an open bar with sponsors such as Innocente Tequila, Three Olives Vodka and Manhattan Beer Company. A decadent dessert bar to satisfy even the sweetest tooth comes compliments of the Cupcake Stop and Milk & Cookies Bakery. There will also be a live raffle with over 30 fabulous prizes to be won such as Valentino Handbags, Roundtrip JetBlue tickets, Equinox gym memberships, Private Dinner Catered by Chef Rob of Hell’s Kitchen fame, and Knicks and Rangers Tickets. Spinning all night will be the incomparable DJ NVM.

You may purchase tickets in advance by logging on here

For more information about City of Hope, please visit the official website.

Madonna In Malawi For New Girl's School

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Madonna is in Malawi to lay the foundation stone of a new girls’ school she is building with her charity, Raising Malawi.

“Our vision for the school is to empower girls to become Malawi’s future leaders,” blogged the singer on the charity’s website. "Our goal is to teach them to challenge themselves, serve their local communities and develop their country. We created this vision in partnership with the local Malawian Ministry of Education, and other educational experts from Malawi, Sub-Sharan African and elsewhere around the world.

“We are developing and using innovative educational approaches, cutting-edge architectural design methods, and other modern technologies, which we hope, will become a replicable model for girls secondary school education.”

The school is expected to cost $15 million, and the cause is close to Madonna’s heart. She is a member of Raising Malawi’s Advisory Committee, and helps with the volunteer organisation’s mission to help orphans by providing water, food, medical care and schooling.

“Research proves that young girls throughout the developing world are often left without opportunities to receive a comprehensive education and the benefits that education can provide,” she wrote. "It’s an honor for me to be able to help as many of these girls as I can achieve their dreams.

“I’m also incredibly proud of all the projects Raising Malawi is involved in and I look forward to visiting a number of them during my visit.”

Madonna will also meet President Bingu wa Mutharika during her trip. The ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. on the future site of the Academy.

Charlize Theron Kisses For Charity Cash

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

ONEXONE, the charitable organization committed to fighting health issues and preserving the lives of children locally and globally, hosted their 2nd Annual ONEXONE Fundraiser at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco, CA on Thursday, October 22.

Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron, Jeremy Piven, Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, David Arquette, Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra, Laila Ali and more helped raise funds and awareness for charitable causes.

The evening featured keynote speaker Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America, along with a special headline performance from Snow Patrol. Additional entertainment included performances by Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Spencer Day, the local jazz vocalist from San Francisco, and Ethan Bortnick, the 8-year old pianist and composer who wrote his own song “It’s For the Kids” in honor of the event. ONEXONE also welcomed back Jay Bilas for his second year as Master of Ceremonies.

Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron, on behalf of the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project, and 2-time World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Mia Hamm also announced the latest initiative “Home Field Advantage” in partnership with ONEXONE and Academy Award-winner Matt Damon which will bring soccer fields and clean water to the children of South Africa by 2010. The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and the ONEXONE Foundation will work together on this initiative to bolster impoverished rural South African communities with plans to break ground by the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The highlight of the evening came during the live auction when Charlize Theron helped auction off a two-week trip to South Africa for the World Cup plus a kiss from her for $140,000. Jeremy Piven also jumped onstage during the live auction and encouraged two guests to bid $140,000 each for a walk-on roll on the hit HBO show “Entourage” for a total of $280,000.

“The night was a huge success and we’d like to thank the generous people of San Francisco for their continued support,” said Marc Joubert, President of ONEXONE U.S.

The ONEXONE event in San Francisco focuses not only on raising funds and awareness for the issues, but also on producing a top-notch show that entertains and educates the audience at the same time. ONEXONE was founded in 2005 by Diesel Canada President, Joelle Berdugo Adler, and has raised more than $9 million for children around the world since that time.

Charitable Celebrities To Receive 21st Century Leaders Awards

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Celebrities will be out in abundance in Doha, Qatar, next week for the Whatever It Takes Experience presented by 21st Century Leaders and Whatever It Takes.

As well as a private art experience and gala dinner, several stars will be honored with 21st Century Leaders Awards at this massive charity event.

The Doha 21st Century Leaders’ Awards are granted to individuals who, whilst being leaders in their own fields, have also made a serious commitment and significant impact on their chosen cause.

The award is given to individuals who have used their influence to raise awareness, their celebrated status to raise funds, and the respect and notoriety which they have gained from successes in their chosen profession, to make positive policy changes to progress either environmental or humanitarian concerns.

Friday, October 30, will see Sir Ben Kingsley CBE, Venus and Serena Williams, Josh Hartnett, Danny Boyle and Christian Colson honored for their outstanding charity and humanitarian work. A surprise guest will open the event, and an art exhibition will also take place featuring original artworks by George Clooney, Stella McCartney, Sir Roger Moore KBE, Sir Michael Caine CBE, and Lady Shakira Caine, Sir Ian McKellen, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Laurence Fishburne, John Travolta, Pierce Brosnan OBE, Morgan Freeman, Charlize Theron, Minnie Driver, Lucy Liu, Susan Sarandon, Courteney Cox & David Arquette, Whoopi Goldberg, Penelope Cruz, Benicio del Toro, Joseph Fiennes, Anjelica Huston, Christian Slater, Harvey Keitel, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Gillian Anderson, Hilary Duff, Adrien Brody, Mickey Rourke, Robin Wright Penn, Patrick Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Stephanie Powers, Toni Collette, Daniel Craig and many more.

An active supporter and patron of charities such as the Prince’s Trust, Teenage Cancer Trust and First Star, English actor Sir Ben Kingsley CBE is very much devoted to helping disadvantaged young people and children. In 2008, Kingsley was awarded the “Cinema for Peace Honorary Award”, for the portrayal of the humanitarian role-models Simon Wiesenthal, Itzhak Stern and Gandhi.

In April 2009, following the success of Slumdog Millionaire, filmmakers Danny Boyle and Christian Colson announced a commitment of £500,000 to Plan, an international children’s development organization. The money will be spent on a five-year program focusing on education and sanitation, designed to improve the lives of children in Mumbai’s slum communities. In consultation with Plan, the filmmakers have also founded the Jai Ho Trust, an independent trust which aims to ensure that Rubina Ali (who played the youngest Latika in the film) and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail (youngest Salim) receive an education, housing and social support. The trust will also hold a sum of money for the two children until they reach adulthood.

American actor and film producer Josh Hartnett supports a number of worthy causes and has backed Global Cool, a charity focused on climate change since its inception. Launching with a reception at No.10 Downing Street in London in 2007, Josh Hartnett met with former Prime Minister Tony Blair on behalf of the group and has since taken the message of greenhouse gas reduction far and wide, to let people know that they really can make a difference to the environmental health of our planet.

Professional women’s tennis players whom have won a combined 12 Grand Slam titles. The Williams sisters have demonstrated an immense amount of charitable work off the court. The “Williams Sister’s Tour” set out to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities which provides housing for families of seriously ill children. In addition, Serena started The Serena Williams Foundation which focuses on education, and helping underprivileged children in Africa who cannot afford to go to school or college to do so.

WhateverItTakes.org is a unique charity artwork project which inspires hope by gathering artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, sports, literature etc. The artworks are used to ethically produce Whatever It Takes products which are then sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader. 21st Century Leaders Foundation’s mission is to assist and encourage a generation of influencers – royalty, Nobel peace prize laureates and well-known leaders in the fields of film, music, fashion, art and literature – to raise awareness and funds for international development causes, thereby leading the way in promoting positive environmental sustainable development. 21st Century Leaders was founded in May 2003 when Charlotte di Vita was made a Goodwill Ambassador to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. 21st Century Leaders was also the 10th Anniversary celebration of Trade plus Aid, the foundation for which Charlotte had received an MBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

To find out more about this event – to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Doha on October 30/31 – click here.

LTTS Exclusive - The 2009 Noble Awards

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

I had the honor of attending “The Noble Awards” on their first annual show honoring charities and their celebrity supporters.

On Sunday, October 18th at The Beverly Hilton, “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush hosted the premiere of this special event honoring Morgan Freeman with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a list of celebrity honorees from Brett Ratner to Teri Hatcher.

Guests were treated to live performances from names like Brian McKnight and Benji Madden and the famed 8-year-old piano prodigy, Emily Bear. The night was supported with a star-studded cast of performers, honorees and guests that all believe in using the power of their voice in the name of philanthropy and charity. No detail was too small for this event. The award sculpture itself was the vision of Antonio Banderas and came to life at The Art of Elysium workshop with personal touches from the children at the Shriners Hospitals for Children with the guidance of The Art of Elysium volunteer/actor/sculptor David Grieco.

The Noble Awards was an inaugural awards show that launched the beginning of a perennial movement that will encourage each and every person to give back and take action in the world today.

Each year they will recognize and honor philanthropic organizations and the celebrities that make considerable contributions to them. Some of this year honorees included Nancy O’Dell for Best Buddies International, AnnaLynne McCord for The Blind Project, Teri Hatcher for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Brett Ratner for DoSomething.org, Billy Bush for Lollipop Theater Network, Whitney Burditt for Playing for Change, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds for Stand Up To Cancer, Laila Ali for Women’s Sport Foundation and a charity very close to my heart, The Art of Elysium honoring Joel Madden.

Jennifer Howell, Founder of The Art of Elysium, presented this award to Joel Madden with Lionel Richie, Allison Beck and Stacey Price: “As both an artist and a father, Joel truly embodies a sincere passion for both music and children. It was evident in his beautiful and humble acceptance speech where he expressed his heartbreak at the thought of a child spending one second inside of a hospital. A moment that was also extremely moving was when his twin brother Benji (who has spent many days with The Art of Elysium teaching guitar and participating in music workshops) shared his love for his brother with a music dedication. Nicole Richie (who has also dedicated her talents to the charity) looked on lovingly while her Father introduced Joel and thanked him for loving his daughter so much. The love, support and generosity that was shown by all members of Joel’s family are the true roots that can help take The Art of Elysium’s mission to every child that spends that terrifying one second in a hospital.”

I was lucky enough to experience the vision of the Founder/Executive Producer, Janeen Mansour, prior to the event and watch it develop from an idea to a reality.

“The goal of the Noble Awards was to highlight the charities there that night and celebrities that champion them," she said. "Our goal reached far beyond my expectations. The purpose of the Noble Awards is to create awareness and send out a call to action. I feel everyone in the room was inspired and moved and understood the message we were trying to convey. That message is to be a Noble.”

The Noble Awards are a testament to what Hollywood can achieve when it uses its voice to celebrate positive change. This event showcased just a few of the many celebrities and individuals dedicated to making a difference in the world today. It is my hope that it will serve as an inspiration to others to get involved in their charity, community or cause that has meaning to them. Being a volunteer takes less time than your yoga class and can cost you less money than your Latte. But the experience will stay with you a lifetime.

To the children, the volunteers, the unnamed angels, the celebrities, the founders, the team behind this event and to all of the people that donate their time and passion to making a difference on a daily basis, this celebrates you.

Jamie Lee Curtis To Celebrate A Dream Halloween For Charity

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation will hold its annual Dream Halloween event in LA this week, and Jamie Lee Curtis will be there to celebrate.

The 16th annual event will be held at the Santa Monica Air Center on October 24, and will feature a whole bunch of your favorite stars – including Jason Priestley, Doris Roberts and Melina Kanakaredes – in weird, whacky, and hopefully scary costumes as they celebrate the season to be frightened.

There will also be a special auction, featuring shoes worn by Candice Wiggins of the Minnesota Lynx and much more.

“World-wide there are more than two million children living with HIV and an additional 15 million who have been orphaned due to AIDS,“ said Joe Cristina, founder of CAAF. “Events like Dream Halloween Los Angeles allow us to raise critical funds to support these children in need. Our gracious sponsors, event attendees, performers and volunteers have helped us to raise more than $30 million since our inception in 1993.”

To find out more about this event, go to the CAAF website.

Brooke Shields To Attend Family Charity Carnival

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Brooke Shields is confirmed to attend the annual Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Kids For Kids Family Carnival on October 24.

This annual event is a major fundraiser for the charity, and has for 16 years brought families together to rally in support of the Foundation’s fight against pediatric AIDS. Last year’s event raised $3.6 million. The event will feature samplings from New York’s greatest restaurants, world-class artists and photographers, celebrities, and both old-fashioned and cutting-edge games and activities – all-in-all a great day out for the whole family.

Joining Brooke at this year’s event will be Nigel Barker, Mario Batali, Diane Sawyer and many more. Past years have seen appearances by Whoopi Goldberg, Marcia Cross, Mariska Hargitay, Heidi Klum, TR Knight, Vanessa Williams and others.

The event will take place at the Industria Superstudio, New York City. More info can be found here.

Inaugural Noble Awards Celebrate Hollywood Philanthropy

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Look To The Stars was proud to be part of the inaugural Noble Awards on Sunday, October 18 – an event that honored a host of charities and the celebrities that support them, elevating awareness of the significant impact of their work.

Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the event honored Morgan Freeman with a lifetime achievement award, as well as Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org).

Lionel Richie was on hand during the ceremony to present an award to Joel Madden, who attended the event with Nicole Richie and his brother Benji.

“I want to welcome him to our family and present this Noble award to a guy I love very much – Joel Madden!” said Lionel as he introduced Joel to the crowd.

“They are just as much a part of it,” said Madden, paying tribute to Nicole and Benji. “Nicole does just as much as I do with Art of Elysium and all the charities we work with. And so does Benj – Benj actually does more then I do, and he plays the guitar better then I do, so he is a little more entertaining for the kids.”

Madden later Twittered about the emotions he felt as he accepted his award: “Just left the NOBLE awards. Got an award that was really for the people at the Art of Elysium. Awesome folks and I’m humbled to know them. By the way got totally choked up when I got my award. I hate thinking about kids in the hospital, they should be getting the awards not us.”

The award itself was designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Morgan Freeman received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“I think so often we don’t know that our gestures matter,” said Teri Hatcher, who was also honored. “I think when you get involved in your local community charity you really do see you make a difference and it’s empowering for you.”

Look To The Stars was at the awards, and we will bring you more about the fantastic event over the coming days.

Stars Want Fans To iParticipate In Charity Initiative

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The Entertainment Industry Foundation has mobilized the entertainment community around a groundbreaking initiative designed to inspire a new era of service and volunteerism.

Called iParticipate, the initiative aims to show what we can achieve when we all pull together. A number of celebrities have given their support to the campaign, including Michelle Obama, Blythe Danner, Morgan Freeman, Faith Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Simon Baker (CBS’ The Mentalist), Emily Deschanel (FOX’s Bones), Eva Longoria Parker (ABC’s Desperate Housewives), Julia Louis Dreyfus (CBS’ The New Adventures of Old Christine), Masi Oka (NBC’s Heroes), Michael Strahan (FOX’s Brothers), Kate Walsh (ABC’s Private Practice) and Rainn Wilson (NBC’s The Office).

As a centerpiece for this initiative, EIF has enlisted major broadcast networks including, ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, for an unprecedented, week-long television event beginning Monday, October 19. Tune in to seven days and nights of television and watch how your favorite TV shows and personalities shine a light on the power of community service.

The rate at which Americans volunteer regularly has not increased in 40 years and has generally remained around 26% of the population, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While volunteerism usually declines during periods of economic distress, volunteerism is currently on the rise in America, particularly among young people, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

EIF has also produced a series of public service announcements to reinforce the importance of volunteerism. Through these PSAs, EIF will also recognize and encourage support for five key areas of service: Education & Children, Health & Well Being, Economic Development, Environmental Conservation, and Support for Military Families.

To coincide with the week of programming, hundreds of employees working at entertainment industry companies are answering the call to serve with organized volunteer projects throughout Los Angeles. Planned projects include:

Tuesday, October 20
Paramount Pictures, NBC Universal and United Talent Agency (UTA) will team up to make food packages for families at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Thursday, October 22
Warner Bros. Entertainment employees will be planting trees in Griffith Park, which was devastated by fires last year, in partnership with TreePeople.
WME Entertainment will volunteer at the Lowman Special Education Center with The Art of Elysium, a program that helps children battling serious medical conditions.
Fox Entertainment Group, International Creative Management (ICM) and Screen Actors Guild(SAG) will work side-by-side with CITY YEAR corps members to beautify Carthay Center Elementary School.

Friday October 23
Sony Pictures Entertainment,AEG and Paradigm will build homes for Habitat for Humanity at the first LEED certified housing development in the city of Lynwood.

Saturday, October 24
Disney | ABCTelevision Group and Creative Artists Agency(CAA) will assemble holiday care packages for military troops with Operation Gratitude at the Van Nuys National Guard Armory.

Other entertainment organizations who will volunteer this week include: CBS, Directors Guild of America, Nickelodeon, Producers Guild of America and Writers Guild of America.

Also as part of the initiative, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars judge and iParticipate celebrity ambassador Carrie Ann Inaba will donate her time along with 50-plus volunteers for a day of service at the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas on Wednesday, October 21st at 10:30 AM.

Inaba will join her fellow volunteers in sorting and packaging food for distribution to needy residents of Southern Nevada. Three Square is the only food bank in Las Vegas and prepares more than 8 million meals annually for underprivileged families. Inaba supports numerous charities along with “iParticipate” including the Face Foundation and Rescue Train.

To find out more about iParticipate, to watch PSAs, or to take part in this amazing revolution of volunteerism, visit the official website here.

Anthony Edwards Busy With Charity Initiatives

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

E.R. star Anthony Edwards has announced that $1 from every ticket sold to his new film Motherhood via website Fandango.com – during the film’s first two weeks – will go to charity.

The actor has revealed how his sister is a breast cancer survivor and he is thrilled the campaign will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  

“It’s fantastic,” he said. "Obviously breast cancer affects a lot of women in America. I have a sister who’s a survivor. People uniting together and raising money and awareness this way is hugely important and it seems right on with Motherhood.
 
“It’s not a gimmick. It’s a real thing and we can celebrate motherhood and the challenges that go right along with it, so I think Fandango stepping up and Susan Komen being the benefactor is fantastic.”

 Edwards has also revealed that he will take part in the New York Marathon on November 1 for Shoe4Africa – an organization for which he sits on the Board of Directors – which aims for empowerment through sports & education, creating unique health initiatives, and promoting Aids awareness.  

“The big project in my life right now is raising money to build the first public children’s hospital in Kenya through an organization called Shoe4Africa. We use running as a medium to bring women together and empower women in Africa to run for health initiatives and AIDS education. I’m running on November 1st with 30 people to raise awareness and funds.”

Kaiser Chiefs Join Concert For CARE

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

British band the Kaiser Chiefs have been added to the bill for this year’s Concert For CARE.

The Kaiser Chiefs have had a whirlwind past five years; three Top 5 albums, numerous hit singles, and 2009 saw them sign off with a hometown showing at this years Leeds Festival. Since that performance, the band have decided to take some time away from the spotlight, slowly beginning work on album four. Having worked with David Arnold in the recent past, the Kaiser Chiefs are delighted to make an exception to their time off the road and lend a musical hand to ’Concert For CARE’.

Music and Comedy giants – such as Gary Barlow, Rob Brydon, Damien Rice, David Walliams and more – will join together in a one off event for aid agency CARE International. This one-off live event will take place at London’s Brixton Academy on November 2.

‘Concert for CARE’ is the brainchild of David Arnold, one of Britain’s most successful film and television composers and ambassador for CARE International (CARE). CARE works in 70 countries and helps 55 million people to find ways out of poverty each year.

Announcing the line up David Arnold said: “I have wanted to do this concert from the day I met a 20 year old woman in Rwanda who was orphaned at 14, is HIV positive and has to look after her two younger brothers. Without CARE’s support she would be unable to keep them in school, feed them or keep a roof over their heads. I have asked my colleagues from the music and comedy world to get together to help raise money and awareness of the amazing work CARE does all over the world.”

Geoffrey Dennis, CARE International UK chief executive, said: “We are really proud to have David Arnold as a CARE Ambassador. The money raised from the concert will mean that we can continue to help some of the world’s poorest people.”

Tickets are priced £30 and can be purchased from www.ticketweb.co.uk.

To find out more, click here.

World Cup To Begin With Charity Concert

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A major charity concert event is being planned to kick off the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa next June.

The lineup will not be released until January, but the BBC has reported rumors that the Spice Girls may reform for the gig, to take place on 10 June at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg.

The show will be produced by Kevin Wall – who was behind the Live 8 and Live Earth concerts.

“We are going to have a lot of the major African artists and really it’s going to be about Africa so the slots for international artists are a rarity,” said Wall.

Proceeds from the concert will go to FIFA’s 20 Centres For 2010 campaign, which aims “to achieve positive social change through football by building twenty Football for Hope Centres for public health, education and football across Africa. The centres will address local social challenges in disadvantaged areas and improve education and health services for young people. 20 Centres for 2010 will promote social development through football long after the final whistle of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, leaving a tangible social legacy for Africa.”

US$10 million is required to create the centers, and FIFA is contributing 500 dollars for every goal scored in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers (a minimum investment of over US$1 million).

Look To The Stars Helps Promote Hollywood Philanthropy At Noble Awards

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look to the Stars is pleased to announce that we will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

The inaugural Noble Awards, taking place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 18, has announced five new award honorees. The Blind Project, The Lollipop Theater Network, Padres Contra el Cancer and Playing for Change will be honored along with six previously announced charities. In addition, Morgan Freeman will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The two-hour event, hosted by “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush, seeks to annually honor up to a dozen charities and celebrities who actively support them, elevating awareness of these organizations and the significant impact of their work.

Celebrities who will accept awards on behalf of the charities being honored include Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org). During the ceremony, each will be presented with an award sculpture, designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Brian McKnight and Julio Iglesias, Jr., along with Emily Bear and Timothy Mitchum will provide live musical performances throughout the evening.

“We are delighted to present these eleven distinguished charities and their celebrity supporters with the inaugural Noble Award,” stated Janeen Mansour, creator and executive producer of The Noble Awards. “With the presentation of The Noble Awards, our goal is to turn the spotlight back onto these celebrities and charities to provide recognition, to educate, to inspire, and to encourage even more support from the Hollywood community and the public at large.”

Morgan Freeman will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“The Entertainment Industry Foundation is pleased to be a part of the inaugural Noble Awards,” said Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of Entertainment Industry Foundation. “We are honored and so proud to present our dear friend and exceptional actor Morgan Freeman with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding charitable work and ongoing contributions to so many important social causes.”

The Noble Awards will kick off the “Be A Noble” Movement, a perennial effort to encourage each and every person to “Be A Noble,” and inspire them to give back and take action with a purpose on a global scale. Some of these initiatives include:

Look to the Stars will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

As part of next year’s Cup with a Cause program, 7-Eleven, in collaboration with The Noble Awards, will produce a series of celebrity-designed coffee cups featured in stores nationwide. A minimum of $250,000 will go towards each participating celebrity’s charity of choice. During The Noble Awards’ cocktail hour, guests will be asked to design cups as part of the program.

Participant Media and Takepart.com, the official “action” platform for the Awards, have partnered with the “Be A Noble” Movement to provide the Foundation with a web platform to showcase the work of all the organizations they are honoring throughout the year.

ONEHOPE Wine has bottled an award-winning varietal of wine to be labeled “NOBLE.” 100% of all proceeds from each bottle will go towards the “Be A Noble” Movement, to be distributed among the honored charities.

Rumblefish Jewelry will design a jewelry line based on The Noble Awards and “Be A Noble” Movement, where a percentage of sales will be donated to Noble charities.

Additional partners include EIF/iParticipate, The Hollywood Reporter, Audi, Beverly Hilton, Mobile Cause, Rosenthal and GoodSearch.

As the film industry has the Oscars, television the Emmys and the music industry the Grammy Awards, the charity community and its most dedicated Hollywood supporters will gain global recognition with the staging of The Noble Awards. Produced on behalf of the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit organization, the first annual awards will take place on October 18, 2009. The Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation will launch a year-round movement to BE A NOBLE to better unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, influencers, media and everyday citizens in order to create an effective forum for change and service. For more information, please visit www.thenobleawards.org.

Charlize Theron Creates T-Shirt For Charity

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Charlize Theron has designed a new T-Shirt to be sold exclusively for her African Outreach Program.

The star has teamed up with Give And Take Tees – a company that gives a large percentage of its profits to charity – to create the shirts to help her project, which provides funding to help impoverished families affected by HIV and Aids.

“The kids that are being helped through my African Outreach Project are so incredible and vibrant – these t-shirts capture the spirit of South Africa and give everyone a way to help,” she said.

To view the shirts and make an order – they cost US$48 – click here.

Idol Gives Back Is Back!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

After a one year hiatus, Idol Gives Back is set to rock for charity once again.

The American Idol special will air April 21, 2010, and will benefit national and international charities including Malaria No More, Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation.

“I am very pleased to announce that we will be doing our third Idol Gives Back on April 21, 2010,” said Simon Fuller, Idol creator and CEO of 19 Entertainment. “This is our opportunity to reach out and support the people of America and around the world who need our compassion and generosity to improve or even save their lives. America will undoubtedly prove once again what a remarkable and generous nation it is. For American Idol to be able to facilitate this kind of initiative makes me very proud.”

“Idol Gives Back” has raised over $140 million since its inception in 2007. The event regularly attracts appearances by major stars such as Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and many others – including 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama. The show last aired in 2008.

ONEXONE Prepares For Star-Studded Fundraiser

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

ONEXONE, a charitable organization committed to fighting health issues and preserving the lives of children locally and globally, will host the 2nd Annual ONEXONE Fundraiser at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco, CA on Thursday, October 22.

Academy Award-winner Matt Damon will be the ambassador for the evening, which features keynote speaker Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America and Master of Ceremonies Jay Bilas. The annual fundraiser will announce details surrounding the organization’s latest program in partnership with ONEXONE Ambassadors Matt Damon and Mia Hamm, and Academy-Award winner Charlize Theron and the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project.

The evening will include a special headline performance by Snow Patrol, along with musical performances by Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, local San Francisco jazz musician Spencer Day and 8-year old pianist and composer Ethan Bortnick, along with other special guests.

ONEXONE is a unique umbrella organization that partners with talented and dedicated NGOs to implement specific programs which align with its mission statement – the alleviation of suffering of children locally and globally – and important programs targeted to health, education, self-esteem and dignity. Through its ongoing campaigns, the ONEXONE foundation is committed to supporting, preserving and improving the lives of children at home and around the world. ONEXONE was founded in 2005 by Diesel Canada President, Joelle Berdugo Adler.

$1.1 Million Raised At Milan Fashion Week Charity Event

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Regina Walton

Supermodel Linda Evangelista opened the amfAR Milano Foundation’s inaugural event held recently in conjunction with Milan Fashion Week.

In a moving speech in which she recalled the losses of friends during the early epidemic, she talked about the death of her booking agent. “Those were desperate times for so many of us. I watched him die and helped bury him, not understanding any of it. The fashion industry was especially hard hit by AIDS.”

  The event raised $1.1 million (euro750,000) for HIV/AIDS research, and was attended by many of the rich, famous and fashionable, including Rachel Bilson, Kanye West, Donatella Versace and models Anja Rubik and Chanel Iman

Janet Jackson, longtime dedicated philanthropist and HIV/AIDS activist, chaired the event along with many other notable people including DSquared² designing twins Dean and Dan Caten and Linda Evangelista. The event was presented by DSquared², BMW Group Italia, and Lambertz, along with media partner Vanity Fair and hotel partner Westin Palace Milano. The black tie dinner and auction was followed by an after-party deejayed by Bob Sinclar.  

Alek Wek and Giuseppe Zanotti auctioned off a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti boots designed exclusively by Mr. Zanotti for Michael Jackson to be worn on the opening night of his planned come-back tour. The hand-embellished boots featured 3,000 multicolored Swarovski beads and sold for $14,634.
 
French model Noemie Lenoir made the impromptu decision to go out on a date with the highest bidder in the room and, in doing so, raised $16,097.
 
There were so many more great items auctioned off, including a private DJ lesson with Bob Sinclar. 
 
Dita Von Teese, a longtime amfAR supporter, celebrated her birthday on the evening of the event. Von Teese closed the night by treating guests to a special performance of “Le Bain Noir.”
 
 You can read more about the event here. To learn more about amfAR, click here

More Performers Announced For Keep A Child Alive Black Ball

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Regina Walton

Back in July, Look to the Stars brought you a story about this year’s scheduled 6th Annual Keep A Child Alive Black Ball. As the official website promised, more artists have been announced.  

One of the new honorees is Youssou N’Dour. N’Dour is a legendary Senegalese musician and he’s been consistently active in promoting the health and well-being of those in Africa. N’Dour is also scheduled to perform at The Black Ball. To add to the excitement building over this event, two more performers are on the event list: Chris Martin and John Mayer

In addition, Queen Latifah is the event’s emcee. Alicia Keys is event host and musical director, and Iman and Padma Lakshmi are the event’s co-hosts. The other two honorees are former President Bill Clinton and Sir Richard Branson

With only a few more days before the event, we’re pretty excited to see who else might attend and perform.

  For more information about Keep A Child Alive and The 2009 Black Ball, please click here

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