Look To The Stars News: Cancer

Kevin Spacey Donates Shoes To Charity Auction

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Whose shoes would you most like to step in to? A glamorous day in the life of Kylie Minogue? A moment treading the boards as Kevin Spacey or a chance to strut your stuff as Cindy Crawford?

A new and amazing auction offers you the chance to step into the shoes of some of the most idolised people in the world, with proceeds to go to Macmillan Cancer Support.

And there is a whole bunch of celebrity shoes going under the hammer, including footwear donated by Olivia Newton-John, Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, Yasmin Le Bon, Rod Stewart, Darren Hayes, Sharleen Spiteri, Melanie C, Russell Watson, Denise Van Outen and many more.

The auction will close at 1pm on Wednesday 18th November. At this point the shoes will be entered in to an auction at the ‘In Their Shoes’ Macmillan Annual Ball on Thursday 19th November. If you are not attending the event but would like to make your maximum bid known, please contact hfoster@macmillan.org.uk before midday on Thursday 19th November.

Whether you want a taste of The Ashes with Andrew Strauss’ cricket shoes or to walk tall in Trinny Woodall’s stilettos, there is something here for everyone! Each celebrity has kindly donated their signed shoes and they are here for the taking!

To take part in the auction or view the shoes, click here.

Champions League Armbands Raise Charity Cash

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0000

John Terry, Cesc Fabregas and Steven Gerrard are just some of the 21 Premier League captains whose signed and framed captain’s armbands are up for auction online from November 12. This unique piece of sporting memorabilia could make the perfect Christmas gift and will raise money for two worthy causes – the Willow Foundation and the Steve Bernard Foundation.

The Willow Foundation was set up by Arsenal legend Bob Wilson and his wife, Megs, and provides special days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the UK. The Steve Bernard Foundation supports sporting projects in the Bournemouth area, in memory of sports mad Steve who sadly passed away in November 2005.

Unlike other sporting memorabilia, the captains armbands cannot be bought in the shops. They are unique items that have been signed by your sporting heroes and many have been worn, even showing the battle scars of the day. An armband from each of the 21 Premier League club captains are up for grabs, along with a selection of armbands from Championship captains. Each signed armband is framed alongside a striking picture of the captain in action.

The online eBay auction will run for ten days, starting on Thursday November 12, ending Sunday November 22, with proceeds to be split equally between the Willow Foundation and Steve Bernard Foundation. You can view all armbands here.

To date the Willow Foundation has provided more than 5,000 special days for people living with cancer, cystic fibrosis, motor neurone disease and muscular dystrophy, amongst other conditions. This year alone, the charity’s tenth anniversary year, the charity will provide almost 1,500 special days compared to just 17 special days in its first year.

Since its formation in February 2006 the Steve Bernard Foundation has supported more than 40 projects across 16 sports and 4 continents. These projects range from our work with a disabled football team to outreach projects in Kenya, Uganda and Thailand. In the three years since it began, the foundation has grown into an organisation which provides considerable support to sporting teams, individuals and projects.

Willow Foundation co-founder Bob Wilson said: “These armbands are a real one-off and I’m sure that any football fan would be thrilled to own one. Buying just one armband in this auction will not only be a fantastic purchase of unique sporting memorabilia but will also mean a great deal to the people who will benefit from a special day during a really tough time of their life.”

Director of the Steve Bernard Foundation, Tony Bernard said “We are delighted to be working in conjunction with the Willow Foundation on this fantastic memorabilia auction. It is extremely fitting that these truly unique items will help to enhance the lives of some very special people”

For more information on the Willow Foundation visit www.willowfoundation.org.uk or telephone 01707 259777.

Tila Tequila Gets Plastered For Breast Cancer Charity

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Tila Tequila is among several notable TV personalities who bared all this month in support of Keep A Breast Foundation’s unique online auction of painted plaster breast casts. These one-of-a-kind pieces combine sculpture, philanthropy, and symbolic artistry to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention and early detection.

  In the span of 12 hours, bidding on Tila’s cast had reached $44,500 with eight days still left in the auction before it ends on November 6. Her cast is featured along with the hosts of E! Entertainment’s That Morning Show and Cristal Camden of The Girls Next Door.  

Tila posted on her blog: “I am so excited to be able to work with Keep A Breast Foundation! It’s a great charity that I work with that help raises money for Breast Cancer [Awareness]” Later, twittering non-stop to her fans as her breast cast jumped thousands of dollars as she upped the auction with promises of a personal phone call and kiss for the winner, and matching tweets for dollars to her TilaArmy that she would donate up to $10,000 for people to tweet about the Keep A Breast Foundation and the auction. As the bidding rose this morning to $44,500 with 8 days left to bid. Tila wrote on her twitter "Wow! I just checked and now my boobies are at $44,500.00!! Incredible!!! I’m gonna cry of joy! xox"

Look To The Stars reported on a similar initiative organized by the charity last year featuring Katy Perry. Perry breast cast raised $3,500 for the cause

Proceeds from the breast casts, which were painted by artists Mike Maxwell, Caia Koopman, Carly Ealey, Brant Sandor and Randy Janson, will benefit the Keep A Breast Foundation’s mission of raising awareness amongst young teens and adults across the nation about prevention and early detection.  We would be happy to provide photos of the celebrities during the casting process along with the finished products. The auction will be live until November 6 at www.keep-a-breast.org.

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.

Fergie Headlines Avon Foundation For Women Gala

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The ninth annual Avon Foundation for Women Gala on October 27 honored exceptional women and men for their efforts fighting breast cancer and domestic violence at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The event was hosted by award winning actress and Avon Honorary Chair Reese Witherspoon with a special musical performance by Fergie.

More than 550 guests attended the event and raised $2 million to benefit breast cancer research and access to care and domestic violence education, prevention and victim support programs.

Along with Reese Witherspoon and Andrea Jung, presenters included Patrick Dempsey, Courteney Cox, Lauren Conrad and Suze Orman.

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.

It's Snow Patrol Versus Cancer At Charity Gig

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British band Snow Patrol will headline a very special charity gig in Manchester in December.

The band is the latest group to sign on for the show – organized by The Smiths’ Andy Rourke – to benefit Versus Cancer, a charity dedicated to making a difference to people suffering from cancer, both in the UK and around the world.

The concert is the latest in a series of concerts organized by the charity. The organization has been behind performances from the likes of Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, New Order, Ian Brown, The Happy Mondays, The Fun Lovin Criminals, The Enemy and The Fratelli’s and have instigated partial Smiths and Stone Roses reunions.

Snow Patrol will join James’ Tim Booth, Jim Glennie and Larry Gott, New Order’s Peter Hook, Rourke and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & Joe Duddell for the show, which will take place at MEN Arena in Manchester on December 12.

Ticket info can be found here.

James Denton Races For The Cure

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

Desperate Housewives star James Denton will be serving as the honorary co-chairman of the fourth annual Susan G. Komen for the Cure Southwest Florida 5K Run/Walk. The fundraising event will take place March 13, 2010 at the Coconut Point in Estero.

The 2009 walk raised $914,000 and boasted more than 8,100 participants. The goal for 2010 is to match the success of 2009. Confirmed sponsors include: Coconut Point, Naples Community Hospital, Lee Memorial Health System Foundation, Stephen J. Laquis MD, FACS, the News-Press, Pearle Vision, Anchor Health Centers, Hope Health Care and Drs. Jeannie Moran and Denise Gay.

Komen for the Cure is the world’s leading network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives. The Komen promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all, and energizing science to find the cure. A world without breast cancer is the organization’s ultimate goal.

For more information about the race please click here.

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.

Katherine Jenkins Busy With Charity Projects

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins has been busy with charity projects lately.

Last week she was spotted at the Macmillan Cancer Support De’Longhi Art Auction, following the announcement that the charity is hoping to name her as an ambassador.

“Macmillan looked after us when my father was ill, so I always sing or do something special for their events,” she said. “I bought the first painting at the auction for £1,800 because the charity is so special to me.”

Later in the week she appeared at the Westfield Shopping Centre in London for a special Breast Cancer awareness event, alongside Jamelia and Beverley Knight.

Held in aid of the Samsung Pink Ribbon breast cancer charity, who used the event to launch European Breast Cancer Awareness Day, the event featured people making pledges to help raise awareness of the disease.

“Breast cancer touches women of all ages and it is vital that as many people as possible are encouraged to help fight the disease," said Jenkins. " The work that breast cancer charities do is crucial to raise awareness and I am an active supporter of these initiatives.”

More info about the initiative can be found here.

Carrie Ann Inaba iParticipates At Food Bank

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

ABC’s Dancing with the Stars judge and iParticipate celebrity ambassador Carrie Ann Inaba donated her time – along with 50-plus volunteers – for a day of service at the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas on Wednesday, October 21.

The event was part of the iParticipate initiative that Look To The Stars reported on earlier this week, in which celebrities such as 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) have joined with the Entertainment Industry Foundation to encourage people to volunteer for good causes.   

Inaba joined 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.

The photo shows iParticipate celebrity ambassador Carrie Ann Inaba, center, and UnitedHealthcare employees Brian Elkjer, left, and Jay Sivasailam at the Three Square food bank in North Las Vegas during the event.

Photo © Isaac Brekken/UnitedHealthcare

Alan Shearer Becomes Patron Of Sir Bobby Robson Foundation

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

English football legend Alan Shearer is to be the new patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

The former Newcastle star will be named patron of the cancer charity following the death of football manager Bobby Robson in July. Launched in March 2008, the Foundation focuses on the clinical trials of cancer drugs and treatments.

“It was a huge honour for me to be asked by Sir Bobby’s family to join his charity as patron and I was very happy to accept,” said Shearer. “Sadly nobody goes through their lives unaffected by cancer and I’m proud that there are experts working towards a cure for the disease here in the North East. Bobby was, quite rightly, incredibly proud of what his charity had achieved and I’m just as proud now to be asked to help carry on his fight against cancer.”

Earlier this year, Shearer was part of a charity match held to raise money for the charity.

“Speaking for both my family and the charity we’re extremely happy and grateful that Alan has agreed to become a patron for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation,” said Sir Bobby’s widow, Lady Elsie.“We know how much effort he already puts into charitable work and it’s no small thing to agree a commitment to another good cause.”

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.

Guests Announced For UK A Not So Silent Night Concert

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Boy George, Dawn French, Guy Garvey, Jennifer Saunders and The Thompsons (Teddy, Kami, Linda) are just a few of the special guests and friends announced for the hotly anticipated Wainwright/McGarrigle Family Christmas concert, ‘A Not So Silent Night’ at the Royal Albert Hall, December 9th. It is the first time the show will take place in the UK.

This special seasonal Royal Albert Hall show will be headlined by Rufus and Martha Wainwright, and will also include performances by Ed Harcourt, International soprano and ‘Prima Donna’ star Janis Kelly, Jenni Muldaur plus human beatbox Shlomo.

In the US, Christmas has practically become synonymous with the bi-annual Wainwright/McGarrigle Carnegie Hall shows. The New York Times has called the show an “enactment of a family gathering: motley, full of overlapping agendas, a little sentimental, a little fractious but harmonious in the end.”

“It is an off-the-cuff evening of friends and family kind of popping on and off stage as if the stage was our living room,” said Rufus Wainwright.

Tickets are on sale now priced from £35-£70. Tickets are available online from www.artistticket.com, by phone on 0871 230 0333 and to personal callers to the Royal Albert Hall Box Office.

A limited number of exclusive A Not So Silent Night VIP Packages are available. They include excellent seats for the concert, entry to an intimate post-show cocktail with the performers, and unique gift bags. These packages can be obtained by making a donation of £500 to benefit cancer research through the Kate McGarrigle Fund.

For more information, call Cléa Desjardins at the McGill University Health Centre Foundation on 00-1-514-931-5656 or visit the A Not So Silent Night website at www.anotsosilentnight.net or email Clea at anotsosilentnight@gmail.com. This is organised by the McGarrigle/Wainwright family and friends, a supporter of Cancer Research UK.

The Kate McGarrigle Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer care and research and affiliated with the McGill University teaching hospitals and Cedars Cancer Institute in Montreal, Canada. Find out more about the Trust 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.”

TLC Reform For Justin Timberlake Charity Concert

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Justin Timberlake wrapped his annual charity golf tournament with a dazzling concert on Saturday night that featured Taylor Swift, Snoop Dogg, Ciara, Alicia Keys and a reformed TLC.

The concert – held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children – marks the second year that Timberlake has gathered his friends for a charity performance. Last year’s show featured the Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, will.i.am, Maroon 5, 50 Cent, Boyz II Men, Esmee Denters, and Leona Lewis.

“There were a lot of acts this year that weren’t able to get here till today, so there weren’t as many collabs as I had in my brain,” Timberlake told MTV News during rehearsals. “But I think that’s always the case, it’s kind of like [when] you do an album and you write, like, 40 songs, and then 12 of them make it. … But still, just having everyone out and getting to see them do their set — there are a couple of things that have never been performed onstage. There’s a new song from [Timbaland] tonight, from his record that we did together. I think Snoop’s doing a new song from his new record. So it’s kinda cool for them too, because it’s like perfect test marketing.”

Martha Stewart Airs Breast Cancer Awareness Show

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Ford Warriors in Pink, in its 15th year of support for breast cancer health, is joining forces with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to focus on breast cancer treatments and awareness with a special ‘Warriors in Pink’ episode of the daily syndicated how-to series, “The Martha Stewart Show” airing on October 16.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia will help support Ford’s fight against breast cancer with an entire hour devoted to this important cause. Homemaking icon Martha Stewart will host a special studio audience of Warriors whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. This important initiative will culminate with the giveaway of two 2010 Ford Taurus’ outfitted with Martha Stewart inspired items.

“This partnership helps broaden the reach for Ford Warriors in Pink with a different approach by teaming up with the biggest name in home design,” said Connie Fontaine, Brand Content and Alliances manager for Ford Motor Company. “As a 15-year partner of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, we know that awareness leads to early detection and early detection saves lives. This special episode of ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ brings a new element of creativity to drive awareness and further our commitment in the fight against breast cancer.”

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Ford Warriors in Pink to help raise awareness about breast cancer,” said Janet Balis, EVP Media Sales and Marketing at MSLO. “Breast cancer touches the lives of so many women and their families. We’re proud to be tapping the power of our media platforms to develop a creative, integrated program that resonates with our passionate consumers and spurs action.”

Ford creates limited edition Warriors in Pink apparel and accessories featuring important symbols signifying the message of hope, strength and unity in the commitment to the fight against breast cancer. Sold on FordCares.com, Ford donates 100% of net proceeds to Susan G. Komen for the Cure 365 days a year.

As a special addition to this year’s campaign, Ford Warriors in Pink is unveiling an all-new stamp kit inspired by the team of crafting experts at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. This crafting tool provides Warriors with a creative way to show their support for the fight against breast cancer. Each stamp features one of Ford’s “Symbols of a Warrior,” evoking themes of peace, healing and strength in the battle against breast cancer. Because personal connections to breast cancer are varied, every symbol represents a distinct message of power that is personalized for every Warrior’s journey.

“One of the unique elements of the Warriors in Pink initiative is its ability to unite people who have been touched by breast cancer,” Fontaine said. “Warriors in Pink apparel and accessories demonstrate support for the cause while making a contribution and now this year consumers can personalize their support with the stamp kit. It allows people to feel as though they are a part of a larger force – an army of Warriors fighting the disease together.”

As a long-standing partner of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Ford has dedicated more than $100 million to the breast cancer cause and remains committed to innovative ways to drive breast cancer awareness. The company’s commitment runs well beyond raising funds – as a national series sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Ford is present at all 121 races nationwide. For more information please visit www.FordCares.com.

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.

Stephen Fry To Host Leukaemia Research Event

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Emily Ray

Stephen Fry will be the latest guest of the ‘A Special Audience’ events to raise money for Leukaemia Research.

The event, on Sunday 18th October at the Criterion Theatre in London, will enable Fry to share the highlights of his extraordinary life. The audience will also have the opportunity to direct questions to Stephen.

Alastair Campbell, Ed Victor and Alan Yentob will also be present. Victor’s own experience with being diagnosed with leukaemia led to the creation of the ‘Special Audience’ idea to push forward development of research.

A champagne reception featuring Stephen Fry, Alastair Campbell, Ed Victor and Alan Yentob will be held at 6:30pm before the actual performance at 8pm. Tickets for both are £125, whilst seats for the show only range from £25 to £50.

For enquiries and to book tickets, contact Sophie on 020 7685 122 or email sgarrett@lrk.org.uk

Nigella Lawson Cooks Up Cakes For Charity Un-Birthday

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British charity Leukaemia Research is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, and celebrity chef Nigella Lawson is supporting their latest fundraising campaign.

The chef helped a group of children whip up some special fairy cakes for an “un-birthday” party last week. The campaign has been inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Through The Looking Glass, where Alice is told un-birthdays can be celebrated 364 days a year.

“My fairy cakes go down well with nostalgically-minded adults while children just pick off or lick off the icing,” said Nigella. “Anything that is too hard or too fiddly can be daunting but everyone can help Leukaemia Research by making a batch of my fairy cakes and throwing an Un-Birthday Party fundraiser.”

The charity is encouraging children of all ages to throw “un-birthday parties” to raise funds for the organization. Supporting doctors and scientists at hospitals and academic institutions throughout the UK, Leukaemia Research funds a wide range of projects, from basic laboratory research to clinical trials with patients. The charity is devoted exclusively to leukaemia, the lymphomas, myeloma, aplastic anaemia, myelodysplasia, the myeloproliferative disorders and the related blood disorders in both children and adults.

To find out more about the campaign and get Nigella’s special recipe, click here.

Gwyneth Paltrow Encourages Volunteers In PSA

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow and her mother, Blythe Danner, have teamed up to appear in a new PSA encouraging people to volunteer.

The ad is sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and United Healthcare and aims to get more people interested in helping at a community level.

“The biggest blessing in life is to realise your personal power – community work brings families closer together,” says Paltrow in the ad. "Doing good for others, doing positive action – help always comes back around and enriches your life. It’s the biggest gift you could ever give yourself.

“Join us in volunteering.”

To watch the ad, click here.

Celebrities Donate Handbags To Charity Auction

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The annual Handbag Amnesty Celebrity Auction to raise money for Cancer Research UK is on now, giving you the chance to bid on some unique handbags donated by some of today’s hottest stars.

Going under the hammer are bags belonging to Paris Hilton, Rachel Weisz, Rachel Bilson, Heidi Klum, Scarlett Johansson, Peaches Geldof and Alesha Dixon, all of whom have given up a favourite handbag from their personal collection. Even Alexander McQueen has donated.

All profits will go to Cancer Research UK – the largest single funder of breast cancer research in the UK – which spent £44million on groundbreaking research last year alone.

To view the items and take part in the auction – which runs until October 11 – visit the official website.

Andy Roddick To Play James Blake For Charity

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tennis player James Blake has announced that he will host a tennis exhibition match with Grand Slam champion Andy Roddick to raise for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in December.

All of the proceeds will benefit the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund, a charity named in memory of James Blake’s father, who died of cancer in 2004. Blake has raised more than $1.5 million for charity, and earlier this year was awarded a major humanitarian award for his charity work.

The event will also include an after party with entertainment, food and fashion show.

Tickets for the event are now available for $500, $250 and $150. The event will be held on December 1 at Pier 94 in New York City, and more info can be found here

Patrick Dempsey Pedals For Charity

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Patrick Dempsey took to his bike on Sunday, October 4, to raise money for the hospital where his mother was treated for cancer.

As reported last year by Look To The Stars, “The Dempsey Challenge: A Journey for Hope” consisted of a 100-mile bike trek and a 5 kilometer fun walk/run.

“I’ve never done 100 miles in a single day,” said Dempsey. “I wanted to do something that is true to me. It’s promoting health and taking care of your body.”

Proceeds from the event went to the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing, an integral part of cancer care at The Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center and affiliated cancer clinics at Bridgton and Rumford hospitals. Located on the CMMC campus, the Dempsey Center was established by the actor earlier in 2008.

The event raised over $1 million for the Cancer Center, with over 3,500 people taking part.

“I learned a lot during my mother’s illness,” he said. “I found out how important it is to have access to good, reliable resources to help the patient, family members and caretakers… I knew that I wanted to make a difference.”

To find out more, visit the official website.

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