Look To The Stars News: Family/Parent Support

JK Rowling To Create Magic For Charity Tomorrow

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Harry Potter fans around the world will have a very restless night as they wait with eager anticipation for JK Rowling’s new book, The Tales Of Beedle The Bard, which is being released tomorrow, December 4.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of five tales first referred to in Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final part in the author’s series of wizarding masterpieces. It was initially produced as seven handwritten copies, six of which were given away by Rowling as gifts, and one was bought by Amazon.com at auction last year for $4 million.

Proceeds from the book will go to Children’s High Level Group, a charity founded by JK Rowling and Emma Nicholson in 2005 to improve the well-being, health and protection of vulnerable children. The charity works at a political and practical level to ensure that UN minimum standards for the care of children are implemented across the whole of Europe and beyond. Their Children’s Voice campaign wants to end the neglect and abuse of children and teenagers that still exists in many countries.

Lucy Lawless, The Warrior Bed-Making Champion

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It may not be exactly what you would expect from a warrior princess, but Xena star Lucy Lawless took part in a charity bed making competition for a children’s hospital last week.

The star was in her native New Zealand to raise money for the Starship Foundation, the fundraising branch of New Zealand’s biggest pediatric hospital, the Starship Children’s Hospital. The 40-year-old raced against the clock in front of hospital staff and patients in the contest to see who could make the neatest bed in 2 minutes. The contest was judged by Starship Foundation Vice Chair Rosie Horton and past oncology patient Ruby Seeto, with Lawless coming first equal with the CEO of Lorraine Lea Linen – who was at the event to make a $115,000 donation to the Starship Oncology Rebuild project.

“The donation from Lorraine Lea Linen is a great way to acknowledge this huge contribution to our cause,“ said Starship Foundation CEO Andrew Young. “We’re so grateful that even our Australian counterparts are getting on board for this worthy project.”

The new oncology ward will provide eight single inpatient rooms for pre-teen patients who need the space to recover away from much younger patients.

Christopher Reeve Foundation To Make Magic Happen

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Making Magic Happen, the 4th Annual Los Angeles Gala for the Christopher Reeve Foundation, will take place next Tuesday, December 2.

The evening will honor actress Jane Seymour with the 2008 Philanthropy Award and former Indy Racing League Driver Sam Schmidt with the 2008 Visionary Leadership Award.

Christopher Reeve – who was paralyzed when he fell off a horse in 1995 – first met Jane Seymour when they co-starred in the 1980 fantasy romance, “Somewhere in Time.” They remained friends for over 20 years until his death in 2004. After his accident, Seymour was inspired by his extraordinary strength and will to live. His inspiration caused her to reach out to mentor young people with spinal cord injury.

Sam Schmidt was left paralyzed after a racing accident in 2000, but regained control of his life thanks to the support of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, an organization dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.

Stars expected to attend the event include Marcia Cross, Jennie Garth, Kyle Maclachlan, Brandon Routh and many others.

The event will take place at the Beverly Hills Hilton, and tickets can be purchased through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation website.

Kim Kardashian Empties Closet And Garage For Charity

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

If Kim Kardashian is the sort of person that spins your wheels, then you may be interested in the new charity auction she has organized.

The 28-year-old television personality – along with boyfriend Reggie Bush – is selling off her collection of cars, including a white Ranger Rover, a Mercedes Shark II, and a Maserati.

“A percentage of the proceeds from this and all my auctions will go to my favorite charity, the Dream Foundation, a really wonderful organization that grants wishes to terminally-ill adults,“ she said. “I volunteer for them and love the way they’re making a difference in the world… one person at a time.”

Also up for auction is a selection of clothes from the closets of her famous family.

“As you know, I love to sell my stuff on eBay, and give some of the proceeds to charity” said Kardashian. “So I’ve encouraged Reggie to do it with me. We are putting up a whole bunch of auctions. We actually have my sisters Kourtney and Khloe, my Mom, everyone’s selling our stuff. It’s time to clean out our closets and give back a little bit.”

The auction runs until December 3. To check out the items up for grabs or to make a bid, head to their auction page on eBay Giving Works.

Alice Cooper Pulls Charity Plum From The Pudding

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Rocker Alice Cooper has just announced plans for this year’s “Christmas Pudding” event.

Now in its 8th year, the star-studded event has become one of the biggest celebrity charity events in recent history.

The cabaret-style variety show is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, and includes music, dance, and comedy with all proceeds to be donated to the Solid Rock Foundation, an Arizona community youth organization and Alice’s charity of choice.

Celebrity performers at previous Pudding events have included Ted Nugent, stand-up comic Sinbad and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.

This year’s lineup features Fleetwood Mac alumnus Bob Welch, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, F5, Runaway Phoenix, Les Stroud, and Whisky Falls, and Iron Chef winner Mark Tarbell will serve up holiday treats for all attendees.

Adding to the excitement? This year Alice and the band will be performing their greatest hits.

General admission tickets start at $33, with holders of VIP passes (starting at $203) granted access to a pre-show dinner and reception hosted by Alice himself.

For more info, go to www.alicepudding.com.

American Idol Gives Back $67 Million

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

David Beckham, Bono, Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood have all accepted cheques from April’s Idol Gives Back event on behalf of the charities they support.

The show raised over US$67 million for charities such as the Global Fund, Malaria No More, the Children’s Health Fund, Save the Children, and the Children’s Defense Fund.

“I saw first hand with my visit to Sierra Leone with UNICEF last year how devastating malaria can be to a country,“ said Beckham, who was presented with US$12 million by Idol winner David Cook on behalf of Malaria No More. “This money will help buy millions of bed nets and also protect many people, particularly the young children who are most vulnerable.”

Annie Lennox was also delighted to receive $500,000 for the Treatment Action Campaign.

“This is just to express my gratitude to everyone on Idol Gives Back, for putting together a show with a difference, and for inviting me to be part of it,“ she said in a statement. “Because of this event, and the generosity of the viewers, who donated so kindly, I have been able to hand over a cheque for the amazing sum of $500,000 to Treatment Action Campaign, in South Africa. I can assure everyone that every single dollar contributed will go to excellent use, in the work to educate, assist and support people living on the frontline of the HIV/Aids pandemic, many of whom are women and children. Thank you so much.“

Bono received US$10 million on behalf of the Global Fund For AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“The Global Fund will keep thousands of people safe from HIV/AIDS because American Idol has donated $10 million,” said the U2 frontman. “That’s YOU people, who sent in your hard earned cash.”

The Idol Gives Back show featured appearances and performances by Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Miley Ray Cyrus, Annie Lennox, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Sheila E., Fergie, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Peyton and Eli Manning, and Reese Witherspoon, and pre-taped messages from David and Victoria Beckham, Kiefer Sutherland, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. Britney Spears, who couldn’t be at the event, donate $25,000 to the cause.

Rockers Go Bowling For Autism

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Here’s your chance to see some of your favorite rock stars in a setting not normally associated with rock ‘n’ roll decadence: a bowling alley.

The VH1 Classic Rock Autism Celebrity Bowl-Off will take place tomorrow, November 13, at the Lucky Strike Lanes in Hollywood, and will be hosted by actress Holly Robinson-Peete, NFL legend Rodney Peete, and former Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro. Rockers expected to put their best bowling skills on show include Meatloaf, Slash, and members of Velvet Revolver, Camp Freddy, Anthrax, Great White, Ratt, Warrant, Lit, L.A. Guns, Candlebox, Nelson, Cinderella, and many more.

The evening will benefit three autism organizations: The HollyRod Foundation , ACT Today!, and The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism.

“Since launching VH1 Classic’s Rock Autism initiative last year, we’ve received overwhelming interest, feedback and assistance from people whose lives have been affected by autism,” said Tom Calderone, President, VH1. “We’re so proud to partner with hollyrod4kids, ACT Today! and the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation on Rock Autism’s first-ever large-scale event. We also appreciate all of the artists, celebrities and music fans who are coming out to support what’s sure to be a fun and successful night.”

The event will also feature an auction that includes items such as signed guitars from Linkin Park and Tom Petty, as well as the chance to play the Rock Band 2 video game against a surprise rock legend.

More information about the event can be found at the VH1 Classic Rock Bowl-Off website.

Celebrity Clothes Get Ripped For Charity

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A new fashion initiative with a difference has been launched – featuring the shredded old clothes of celebrities – to raise money for charity and persuade people in the UK to recycle their unwanted threads.

Kate Winslet’s suit, Twiggy’s jeans, and boxer Ricky Hatton’s favorite football shirt are some of the celebrity clothes that have been cut up and customized by young volunteers to create Fashion Favours, a project that aims to highlight the issues surrounding throwaway clothing.

The items that have been created will be auctioned on www.fashionfavours.com, and will also be part of a huge fashion show being held in London on World AIDS Day on December 1. Proceeds from the auction and the show will go to Body and Soul, a charity that works with young people affected by HIV in the UK.

Other names to donate clothing to the initiative include Fearne Cotton and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Joel Madden Visits Africa For UNICEF

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Rocker Joel Madden has just returned from a weeklong visit to the war-torn Central African Republic (CAR) observing UNICEF programs and visiting vulnerable children.

“I see 25,000 fans in stadiums we play to regularly,“ said Madden, who fronts the rock band Good Charlotte and was named a UNICEF Ambassador this summer. “I can visualize that number, and it gives me chills to think that many children under five die every day from preventable causes. One major way we can tackle this and help reduce that number to zero is by making sure schools and communities get better access to safe water and sanitation facilities.”

Madden visited CAR – which is bordered by Chad and Sudan – with his brother and fellow band member Benji Madden.

Outside the capital city of Bangui, in the village of Sam Ouanda, the pair met with the families of 47 children who had succumbed to water-related illnesses. The village borders the Darfur region of Sudan and has been attacked by rebels twice in the past year. In addition to diarrhea cause by intestinal parasites found in dirty water, young children and their families who do not have bed nets are susceptible to malaria carried by mosquito vectors bred in stagnant pools of water.

“Without access every day to clean water, sustainable development is impossible,” said UNICEF Representative in CAR Mahimbo Mdoe. “We are facing a huge infrastructure deficit and we are struggling to get more and more support.”

Madden’s trip comes at a timely moment, highlighting the situation of an overlooked country with some of the worst health indicators for children in sub-Saharan Africa. The mortality rate for young children in CAR is 175 per 1,000, meaning that nearly one in five children does not live to see his or her fifth birthday. The lifetime risk of death for women who become mothers is 1 in 25, and an HIV prevalence rate of 6 per cent continues to wreak havoc among populations made vulnerable by chronic poverty and ongoing conflict.

Though Madden is a veteran activist on behalf of children, this was his first mission as a UNICEF Ambassador. Along with Nicole Richie, he recently founded the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation to raise awareness about issues facing children around the world and to inspire the public – especially young people – to get involved.

Madden will also serve as the 2009 national spokesman for UNICEF’s clean-water campaign, the Tap Project. Now in its third year, this grassroots US-based initiative aims to provide safe water to children worldwide by inviting patrons to donate $1 for the tap water they normally get for free at participating restaurants.

“Around the world, in places just like CAR, nearly 900 million people don’t have access to safe water – but it’s the kids, like the ones I met on this trip, who are the first to get sick and die from dirty water,” he said. “The good news is that we can stop this now. I believe in zero. We can reduce that 25,000 to zero.”

Alicia Keys Celebrity Charity Auction To Support Keep A Child Alive

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:25:00 -0000

Alicia Keys and many of her celebrity friends are coming together for a star-studded celebrity charity auction benefitting Keep A Child Alive.

The list of celebrity ambassadors for Keep a Child Alive is as extensive as it is impressive and they are urging others to support the fight against AIDS in Africa. Join Alicia and celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Bill Cosby, Britney Spears, Russell Crowe, Rachael Ray, Kirsten Dunst, Magic Johnson, Forest Whitaker, Jenny McCarthy, Josh Brolin, Denzel Washington, the NY Giants and many more as they come together to raise support and money for an inspiring cause.

The celebrity-inspired auction features numerous items that have been generously donated by some of Hollywood’s most talented and brightest stars with big hearts. Bidders have a chance to win hot items such as VIP tickets to the Black Ball hosted by Alicia Keys and Iman.

This auction package ends Monday, November 10th, so make sure to get your high bid in early. Other auction packages include autographed American Gangster posters and scripts from Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, signed High School Musical poster from Vanessa Hudgens, 2 signed DVD’s of the Nanny Diaries from Scarlett Johansson, a signed Alex Rodriguez jersey, spending a day with Bonnie and Thor, the reigning King and Queen of Tweens, signed Brooks & Dunn jean jacket and photograph, a signed “How I Met Your Mother” script from Britney Spears, and many more items from celebrities such as Marlon Wayans, Mariska Hargitay, Rick Fox, Tyler Perry, Channing Tatum, the Cheetah Girls, Ryan Seacrest, Dwayne Wade, Julian McMahon and others! This group of auction packages and many others end on November 15th.

This auction is crucial for saving the lives of millions of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. AIDS is a growing epidemic in Africa and has left nearly 13 million children orphans, young mothers without children, and husband’s without wives. The proceeds from this auction will help provide communities with life-saving medication, support, and orphan care to keep children and families alive. Keep a Child Alive is a global initiative to help those who cannot help themselves; bidders are urged to take a stand against this fatal disease and help make a difference.

For more information and to view all the lots, visit www.auctionwire.com/keepachildalive.

Jonas Brothers To Launch the 2008 Red Kettle Campaign

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

On November 27th, the Jonas Brothers will become the latest in the long line of artists to kick off The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Christmas Campaign.

The band is excited to perform at halftime during the Dallas Cowboys’ nationally televised Thanksgiving Day game against the Seattle Seahawks, with Nick Jonas saying, “I was born in Dallas, which makes performing with my brothers at the Cowboys’ halftime on Thanksgiving an incredible honor.”

“This year, more than ever, the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign will make a huge impact for families at Christmas and throughout the year. It’s very important for us to give back,” Joe Jonas added.

The campaign has raised more than $1 billion since its partnership with the football team began back in 1997. Funds raised help the Salvation Army serve 30 million people each year nationwide, with last year’s campaign raising a record $118 million.

Previous artists to perform include Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny’s Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Jessica Simpson, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.

Jennifer Hudson To Set Up Charity Foundation

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The family of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson has announced that a new foundation for families of murder victims is to be established.

The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims will be set up in honor of Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew, who were murdered earlier this week.

“The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime,“ said a statement released by Hudson’s family. “This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling.”

Contact information for the new Foundation is: Hudson-King Foundation, c/o Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP, Attention: William L. Abrams, Esq., 237 W. 35th St. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

Win Jessica Alba's Handbag

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Throughout November, make-up giant Revlon will be donating a percentage of their profits to Rainbow Trust, a children’s charity which provides support to families dealing with terminal or life threatening illnesses. And to celebrate, they are running a competition to win Jessica Alba’s handbag.

As part of the month-long initiative, Revlon has also teamed up with In Style magazine to auction off bags signed by some of Hollywood’s favorite starlets – including Keira Knightley, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer and Thandie Newton, Sharon Osbourne, and Eva Green – at a champagne tea event at The Berkeley hotel ballroom on the 4 November.

“This is going to be a fun, über glam event which will raise lots of money for an incredibly good cause,“ said Trish Halpin, editor of In Style. “After all – what woman doesn’t want a fantastic handbag?”

“Revlon are proud to be working alongside In Style Magazine to hold the UK’s first-ever In Style Handbag Auction to raise money for the Rainbow Trust Charity,“ added Scott Peterson, commercial director UK & Ireland for Revlon. “This amazing event is perfectly suited to Revlon’s heritage of contemporary glamour and iconic beauty. We are also pleased to bring this event to life in-store through our partnership with Boots to raise even more money and grateful to our spokeswoman Jessica Alba for donating her designer bag for the Boots customers to win.”

More information about the competition and auction can be found at the In Style website.

Get Your Hands On A Celebrity-Designed Chumby

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fancy a new chumby personalized by one of your favorite stars?

For those of you unfamiliar with the wonderful world of the chumby, let us explain what they are. A chumby media player lets users select their favorite parts of the Internet and delivers them in a new kind of format. Over 1,000 widgets in 30 different categories – ranging from news and entertainment to videos, music, sports and more – are available from high profile media partners such as CBS, MTV Networks, MySpace, New York Times, Pandora, The Weather Channel Interactive, AOL’s SHOUTcast and Scripps Networks.

And now stars like Hayden Panettiere and Kim Kardashian have designed chumbies of their own for a new online charity auction. Along with Isabel Lucas, Survivor and Surreal Life star Jerri Manthey, actress Meredith Salenger, Carlos Alazraqui of Reno 911, and the bands Blind Melon and Duke Spirit, the stars have put their own personal touches to chumbies to benefit the Dream Foundation and The Whaleman Foundation.

“Chumby is all about personalization – from the design of the device itself to the content that plays on our interactive media players,” said Stephen Tomlin, CEO of chumby. “We are delighted to give fans the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind chumby players from their favorite celebrity.”

The auction – which runs until November 3 – can be accessed through eBay Giving Works.

Fulfillment Fund Attracts Big Names For Annual Gala

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:30:00 -0000

The stars came out on October 13 for the Fulfillment Fund’s annual benefit gala.

Look To The Stars Celebrity Ambassador Rachel Zeskind was lucky enough to be on the red carpet for the event, which was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featured appearances by Kate Beckinsale, Sinbad, Christian Bale, John Fogerty and many more.

The Fulfillment Fund is dedicated to helping promising yet disadvantaged students graduate from high school and complete college, and honored Legendary Pictures Chairman and CEO Thomas Tull at this year’s STARS 2008 Benefit Gala.

Each fall, Hollywood and the Los Angeles community provide almost $2 million in critical support at the annual gala event, which has been recognized as one of the top five most successful annual fundraising events in Southern California.

“This might have been the worst week in memorable history to have a fund-raising dinner, but we’ve always been blessed with strong support from the entertainment industry,“ said Fulfillment Fund founder Dr. Gary Gitnick.

Rachel Zeskind, who last month attended the 60th annual Emmy Awards on behalf of Look To The Stars, had the chance to catch up with several of the guests at the gala, including Superman Returns’ Brandon Routh, who revealed that he is a huge supporter of the Christopher Reeve Foundation, and Sean Thomas, who supports the Young Storytellers Foundation – a Los Angeles based non-profit organization dedicated to developing literacy, self-expression and self-esteem in elementary school students through the art of storytelling.

(Photos copyright Jesse Brunt)

_Rachel’s dress and jewelry by Tal Sheyn and Creative Brazil

JK Rowling To Hold Beedle The Bard Reading

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Author JK Rowling is to read from one of the original handwritten fairytales she wrote in a special charity tea party.

The Harry Potter creator will read extracts from The Tales Of Beedle The Bard at the event – to be held at the National Library of Scotland on December 4 – being hosted by the Children’s High Level Group. Local school children will be invited to attend the event, with 10 local schools each being able to bring 20 pupils to the party.

December 4 will also see the public release of The Tales Of Beedle The Bard in bookshops around the world, with royalties going to the Children’s High Level Group, a charity established by the author to help vulnerable children in Eastern Europe.

“Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children in Eastern Europe are living in appalling conditions in large, residential institutions,“ she said. “Contrary to popular belief, fewer than 4% of them are orphans, but are in care because they are considered disabled or their families are poor or from ethnic minorities. The charity is publishing The Tales of Beedle the Bard to raise money to fund our work in helping these children out of institutions and in to loving families or community care homes.

“I hope that The Tales of Beedle the Bard will not only be a welcome present to Harry Potter fans, but an opportunity to give these abandoned children a voice. It will encourage young people across the world to think about those who are less fortunate and help change many young lives for the better.”

As part of the celebrations for the book’s release, Scholastic USA is giving away the chance for five lucky children from America to attend the tea party. All they have to do is write an essay of 200 words or less describing how they have helped others. The competition ends on October 30, and more information can be found at the Scholastic website.

Coronation Street Star Supports Maternity Heroes Campaign

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

She may be the girl Coronation Street fans love to hate, but Kate Ford is definitely not the character she plays on screen.

Ford – who plays Tracey Barlow on the long running ITV show – has put her support behind the Baby Lifeline campaign, an initiative designed to honor the thousands of midwives, doctors, nurses and paramedics who help save the lives of special care infants every year in the UK.

“Giving birth is hard, but it’s just as hard for midwives who work round the clock to give the best care possible,“ said Ford. “You feel so vulnerable, but a good midwife makes you feel safe. The people who work in these units are unsung heroes, and if anyone has had a positive experience giving birth, whether premature or not, this is their chance to say ‘thank you’ for all the fantastic work the staff do.”

Baby Lifeline was established 27 years ago, and is currently searching for unsung heroes across Britain who have helped to save premature babies. Their MUM (Maternity Unit Miracles) Awards seek to honor these champions with the thanks that they deserve but hardly ever get.

“Having a baby can be a worrying time, and if there are problems all parents want to know they are in the best hands,“ said the charity’s founder, Judy Ledger. “When the odds of life or death are stacking up, the care and expertise on offer can make the world of difference. That’s why charity Baby Lifeline wants to champion the work of dedicated professionals committed to helping those who don’t always get the best start in life.“

Nominations for the MUM Awards can be made at the Baby Lifeline website.

Want to write for us, or help with our research? Find out more about contributing.

Pick Up Celebrity Hand-Me-Downs For Charity

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It’s time to start thinking about Christmas shopping again, and this might just be the answer you’ve been searching for.

Celeb2nds.com has a whole swag of exciting items donated by your favorite stars – including Jamie Oliver’s apron, Donny Osmond’s dressing gown, Duran Duran’s drum kit, Kelly Osbourne’s dress, a card signed by David Tennant, Beverley Knight’s gold disc, and much more.

“Celeb2nds.com is an exciting new concept that allows users to get their hands on money can’t buy items from their celebrity idols, whilst raising money for some very worthy charities,” said site founder Steve Howell, who established the initiative in 2006.

80% of the proceeds from the site go to charity, with organizations such as Children with AIDS, Plan, Dial a Dream, Rainbow Trust, Elephant Family, Richard House, Kids Company, and Whizz-Kidz all benefiting.

Absolutely everything the site auctions is 100% authenticated, obtained through the correct channels and backed up by a certificate of authenticity signed by the celebrity or by one of the celebrities representatives.

New York Food Festival Raises Money For Food Bank

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity chef Rachael Ray was one of the many guests to appear at the Food Network’s New York City Wine and Food Festival last weekend.

The star joined Jessica Seinfeld – wife of Jerry Seinfeld and founder of Baby Buggy – for one of the many events held over four days from October 9 to October 12 to benefit Food Bank For New York City. The pair talked about one of the biggest health challenges parents face today – preparing healthful, convenient meals their children will actually eat. They shared practical advice for feeding kids and avoiding the common mistakes many parents make when facing down a picky eater.

The festival attracted a wide range of chefs and celebrities, including Rocco DiSpirito – recently voted off Dancing With The Stars – as well as Gordon Ramsay, Al Roker, Pat Neely, Gina Neely, Nigella Lawson, and Anthony Bourdain.

Warrick Dunn To Host Fundraiser Tonight

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Sixth Annual Warrick Dunn Foundation Gala will be held tonight, October 13, in Atlanta.

American football legend Warrick Dunn will be joined by former and current NFL teammates to raise money for his charity – which he established after his mother was shot to death in 1993 – to help struggling single parents buy their own homes.

“Despite Warrick’s move from the Atlanta Falcons to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers there is still a need for the Foundation’s assistance in Georgia,” said Natalie Boe, Warrick Dunn Foundation Executive Director. “We look forward to continuing our support of the greater Atlanta area.”

The evening will include live musical performances, a live and silent auction (including a Super Bowl XLIII package), Macy’s Fashion Extravaganza and much more.

Earlier this year, Dunn joined a host of professional athletes – such as Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning, and Cal Ripken Jr. – to found Athletes For Hope, a charitable organization which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.

More information about the Gala can be found at the Athletes For Hope website.

Ashley Judd Wants You To Make A Difference

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

October 25 is Make A Difference Day, and Ashley Judd is urging you to help others by volunteering for non-profit organizations.

The 40-year-old has been a Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS for the last six years, and has traveled through 13 countries – including Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo – to witness health empowerment programs and raise awareness of their work.

“Volunteer work has revolutionized my life,” she said. “It has, in the best possible, most dramatic and rewarding way, turned my life inside out and upside down.”

The star – who supports causes such as Jeans for Genes and SixDegrees.org – wants to encourage others to help, and says that the feeling of fulfillment is extremely satisfying.

“Volunteering in other countries is spiritually rewarding because it demonstrated to me in such a profound way that the things we think make us different are illusions,” said Judd. “I can’t imagine a better way to see the world than by doing service work.”

To find out more about how to volunteer for a charity on Make A Difference Day, visit www.makeadifferenceday.com.

Tiger Woods' Caddy Digs Deep For Charity

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tiger Woods’ philanthropism has rubbed off on those closest to him – his caddy has just donated US$610,000 to a charity in New Zealand.

Steve Williams – who was born in New Zealand and has been Woods’ regular caddy since 1999 – donated the cash to the Starship Foundation in Auckland to go towards a new US$3 million cancer ward being built in the Starship Children’s Hospital, the country’s largest facility for sick kids.

The hospital treats nearly 70 percent of child cancer patients in the country but hospital authorities say the medical facilities are well below standard. Williams and his wife, Kirsty, spent a day at the hospital last year meeting many families in the cancer ward, and felt a donation was needed.

“It was impossible not to get emotional,“ said the 44-year-old. “I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have a child diagnosed with cancer and then have to go through the long treatment process.“

Williams donated the cash from his Steve Williams Foundation which traditionally supports junior golf projects.

Stars Stomp Out Bullying With New Auction

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Love Our Children USA STOMP Out Bullying auction reported by Look To The Stars last week has now started.

In November, the organization will celebrate its 10th year as the national nonprofit leader that honors, respects and protects children. Its mission is to break the cycle of violence against children. Love Our Children USA has become ‘the go-to’ prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect against children in the US, and their new Celebrity Auction will raise funds to go towards bullying and cyberbullying prevention, education and peer mentoring in schools.

Among the celebrities and those in the entertainment and sports industries who have joined Love Our Children USA in its STOMP Out Bullying Auction are: Elton John, Bette Midler, Ellen DeGeneres, Sugarland, John Cusack, Donny and Marie Osmond, Ashleigh Banfield, Dancing With The Stars, Live With Regis and Kelly, The View, truTV, “In The Heights”, the NJ Nets and more.

The auction can be accessed through the Charity Folks website and runs until October 20.

Look To The Stars News: Family/Parent Support

JK Rowling To Create Magic For Charity Tomorrow

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Lucy Lawless, The Warrior Bed-Making Champion

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