Look To The Stars News: Adoption, Fostering, Orphans

Peace Prize Nominees

Thu, 02 Mar 2006 13:15:36 +0000

Bob Geldof and Bono are among 191 nominees for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Both were nominated for their efforts in eliminating world poverty; Geldof for his organization of the Live 8 concerts, and Bono for his campaigning against the condition.

Photo Auction For Third World Relief

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 19:33:02 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Avril Lavigne, Céline Dion and Alanis Morissette are among Canadian musicians taking part in the Art Gives Hope: A Decade of Music Portraits exhibit in Toronto.

Inspired by the Live 8 concerts, photographer Andrew MacNaughtan hopes that his prints will raise at least $100,000 for World Vision Canada, where the funds will go to families living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. He also would like fans of the artists to become active in bringing about social change in Third World nations.

Frost and Moss Help Orphans

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 20:37:09 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Sadie Frost is flying to Africa to help build an orphanage for the Homes Of Hope project.

Frost learned of the plight of twelve AIDS orphans while travelling in South Africa with her ex-huband, Jude Law, and their children last year.

Frost is also trying to involve her good friend, Kate Moss, in the project. A friend of the supermodel says that the English beauty is speaking to some of her clients to see what they can do, and is also donating money to the cause.

Shakira Honoured For Charity Work

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 20:20:15 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Shakira received a United Nations Humanitarian Award this week for helping children with her charity Pies Descalzos. Pies Descalzos, also known as the Barefoot Foundation, helps thousands of displaced children in Shakira’s native Colombia.

The singer moved the 400 member audience with her speech. “Let’s not forget at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America,” she stated.

She then encouraged the public to help make a difference, saying, “This generation has so many ideas and technologies that my parents didn’t have access to, so let’s take advantage of this historical opportunity we have within reach to make this world a better place.”

How a trip to Africa changed Michelle Wright's life

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:16:14 +0000

Written by Greg Hitchcock

Canadian-born Michelle Wright's latest record Everything and More is clearly one of the happiest, most filled-with-gratitude country-ish albums you’ll hear.

Ironically, it came together when the 45-year-old singer and
songwriter, who has sold more than two million records, gave up her ambition to become an even bigger country star after getting involved with World Vision in 2002, when she went to Zambia and saw the AIDS crisis first-hand.

In June of 2002, Wright traveled to Zambia to film a television special for World Vision, the child sponsorship organization. It was a life-changing experience for her; Zambia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and in some areas over 60 percent of the Zambian population is HIV positive.

“It’s changed my life. I saw first-hand how privileged I am,” Wright says on her mobile just outside Saint John, NB.

“For a long time, all I could focus on was my career, fighting the good fight by selling a million records, paying the mortgage and the good people that work with me,” she said.

Wright said all that changed for her after she went to the African
relief camps and saw massive suffering on an unimaginable scale. After that experience, she said she had to rethink her whole mission in life.

“I still have a lot of responsibilities here but now what is really
important to me is coming from a different place in my heart,” Wright said.“It’s so important, I usually have a World Vision sponsorship table at all my concerts.”

Wright followed up her Zambian experience with a trip to Honduras for World Vision in June 2004. She now sponsors both a Zambian child and a Honduran child, and continues to help out World Vision whenever and wherever she can.

Wright is no stranger to charity. She was the Honorary Chairperson for “Operation C.A.T. Scan”, a fundraising campaign that raised almost two million dollars for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chatham, Ontario (the hospital where Wright was born). The campaign raised money for the hospital to purchase its first C.A.T. Scan machine.

She was also Celebrity Spokeswoman for the 1997 Special Olympics World Winter Games and contributed to the Power of Peace CD celebrating the 50th anniversary of CARE.

Washington Helps Africa's Children

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:45:34 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Save Africa's Children has received a donation of $1 million from Denzel Washington.

The charity works to raise awareness and provide direct support through shelter, education and health care for the 17 million orphans across the continent.

Washington’s donation will help to support 300 new orphan care projects, bringing the number of projects up to over 600.

Pitt and Jolie Donate Millions to Charities

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 14:13:39 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are donating $1 million dollars each to Global Action for Children and Doctors Without Borders.

The philanthropic couple keep themselves busy doing what they can to help those in need. Earlier this year, Pitt helped judge the Global Green Sustainable Design Competition; Jolie has travelled to more than 20 countries since 2001 as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations; and they raised $7 million for charity by selling the rights to photos of their newborn daughter, Shiloh Nouvel. With a family such as this, it comes as no surprise that the latest donations were made through the couple’s own charity, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

The humanitarian organisations help to improve living conditions in poverty-stricken areas around the world.

Jennifer Delaney from Global Action for Children said, “Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt not only care, but more important, are taking concrete action to address the fact that there will be 20 million children orphaned by Aids by 2010, and millions more orphaned by tuberculosis, malaria and conflict or whose parents are sick and dying.”

“Their generous gift will enable us to continue assisting people whose plight is often forgotten, such as those displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Sudan,” said Nicolas de Torrente, executive director of Doctors Without Borders.

Pitt and Jolie Donate to Daniel Pearl Foundation

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:58:37 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie marked what would have been the 43rd birthday of late Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl by donating $100,000 to the charitable foundation set up in his memory.

Pearl was kidnapped and executed in Pakistan in 2002. The biography written by his widow Mariane Pearl forms the basis of the movie “A Mighty Heart”, which Pitt and Jolie have recently begun filming in India.

The couple made the donation through their recently-formed Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and released a statement saying, "On this day our thoughts go out to Danny’s family.

“The Daniel Pearl Foundation is celebrating this day, his birthday, with music festivals around the world. The festivals are a great reminder of not just Danny’s work as a journalist but of his life and his love of music."

The Foundation’s mission is to “promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music, and innovative communications.”

Shakira and SEAT Design Car to Benefit Charity

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:38:12 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

At a press conference held in Berlin last weekend to kick off her latest European tour, pop star Shakira announced that she had teamed up with manufacturer SEAT to design a unique car as a competition prize to benefit her charity, Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation).

The Leon Cupra “Pies Descalzos” has metallic lilac paint and interior highlights, and its leather trim features the Pies Descalzos logo. The competition will end on 15th May and the €27,300 prize car will be presented to its winner at the Barcelona Motor Show in June.

SEAT’s partnership for Shakira’s tour sees the company supporting both the tour and the singer’s charity work.

“The support for Pies Descalzos is very welcome,” said Shakira. “The need for education and proper nutrition for the children in my home country of Colombia is very big and I trust that SEAT’s initiative will aid a lot.”

“By supporting Shakira’s charity foundation, we show our social responsibility,” commented Erich Schmitt, SEAT’s president. “All European countries visited by Shakira on her tour will incorporate the possibility to donate money to Pies Descalzos.”

Fans can enter the competition by sending an SMS to to a dedicated number in each of the tour’s countries. Entrants will automatically donate one Euro (or one pound in the UK) to the foundation. For more information, or to make a donation for any amount, visit the Shakira/SEAT website at catch-the-fever.com.

Jolie & Pitt Give $100,000 To Build Hospital In Sudan

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:57:13 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have given $100,000 to help build The Duk Lost Boys Clinic medical centre in the Sudan.

The donation was made through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and will help create Duk County’s first modern medical facility.

The plan to build the medical centre was conceived by Sudanese “Lost Boy” John Dau, who was featured in the documentary “God Grew Tired of Us”, which was produced by Pitt. Dau shared the plan with Pitt and Jolie at the film’s première in January.

As director of Direct Change's Sudan Project, Dau said, "Words cannot express my gratitude and the gratitude of the people of Duk County.
“Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt demonstrate the American spirit of generosity.
“Hopefully, their donation will inspire others to join with us to rebuild southern Sudan.”

Jolie And Pitt Pledge $1m To Darfur

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:14:59 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Philanthropic Hollywood couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have announced that they will give $1m through their foundation to help Sudanese refugees of the Darfur crisis.

Jolie has visited Sudan three times, and is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR, which is working to help those displaced by the fighting.

The donation is to be made through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which the couple established in September 2006 as a vehicle for their philanthropic activities.

UNHCR representative Michel Gabaudan said, “This generous donation comes just months after Angelina Jolie made a personal visit to a refugee camp in Chad and it shows, once again, her and Brad Pitts’ commitment to helping refugees and the displaced.”

Fighting in the region continues between the Janjaweed militia and the African farmers, and an estimated two million people have been driven from their homes by the conflic, 240,000 of which are living in refugee camps in Chad. The Sudanese government denies allegations that it is funding the militia.

“As Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie’s continued support of UNHCR and those we seek to help is a powerful force in ensuring they are not forgotten,” said Mr. Gabaudan.

Oprah Tops Celebrity Philanthropy A-List

Sat, 12 May 2007 08:24:00 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

A list of the 30 largest public donations made by celebrities in the past year puts Oprah in the top spot.

The Giving Back Fund, which encourages and advises on celebrity philanthropy, compiles its list each year. President Marc Pollick said, “Encouragement-by-example is the main reason for the Giving Back 30 list.”

Oprah gave $58.3 million to Oprah's Angel Network and her recently-opened Leadership Academy.

Of the other celebrities high on the list, Barbra Streisand was in fourth spot, having given $11.75 million through her Streisand Foundation.

Tiger Woods took fifth place, giving $9.5 million to organisations including the Tiger Woods Learning Center funded by the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Giving Back’s Marc Pollick praised an increasing trend in celebrity donations, saying, “Ten years ago when Slate magazine first published the Slate 60 reporting on the most generous American philanthropists, the last donor on their list gave $5 million. This year the last donor donated $30 million to charity. This is the type of growth we are hoping to inspire within the sports and entertainment community. One cannot help but be influenced by the generosity of his or her peers.”

The full list and information about how it was compiled can be found at givingback.org. This site has previously reported on many of the list’s featured celebrities and their donations; a comprehensively linked version of the list appears below:

Position	Celebrity	Donation	Cause(s)
1	Oprah Winfrey	$58,300,000	Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Oprah's Angel Network, and other groups
2	Geoffrey Beene	$44,000,000 (bequest)	Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
3	Jack and Marie Lord	$40,000,000 (bequest)	Hawaii Community Foundation
4	Barbra Streisand	$11,750,000	Streisand Foundation, numerous civil liberties, environmental, and civil rights organizations “dedicated to democratic values”
5	Tiger Woods	$9,500,000	Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D. Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund, and other Tiger Woods Foundation programs
6	Rosie O'Donnell	$5,700,000	Katrina Relief efforts including Renaissance Village (a temporary shelter for Katrina victims), day care centers, a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, and a Habitat For Humanity sub division in Baton Rouge
7	Martha Stewart	$5,000,000	New York’s Mt. Sinai Hospital for a center on healthy aging
8	Carmelo Anthony	$4,282,000	CAF Youth Center in Baltimore, AAU Basketball, Syracuse University Recreational Center, and other charities
9	Pat Boone & Shirley Boone	$3,000,000	Pepperdine University for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology Center for the Family
9	LeRoy Neiman	$3,000,000	The School of the Art Institute of Chicago to support a Master’s class in figure drawing
11	Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt	$2,415,000	School and Community Center in Swakopmund in Namibia, Daniel Pearl Foundation, Namibian hospitals, Doctors Without Borders, Global Action for Children and others
12	Nicolas Cage	$2,000,000	Amnesty International for a fund to help child soldiers
12	Dwayne Johnson (“The Rock”) and Dany Garcia Johnson	$2,000,000	University of Miami to name new Alumni Center living room
12	Paul McCartney	$2,000,000	Adopt-A-Minefield
12	Arnold Palmer	$2,000,000	Pledged to the Arnold Palmer Foundation ultimately to benefit the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
16	David Geffen	$1,600,000	David Geffen Foundation
17	Susan Saint James and Dick Ebersol	$1,300,000	The Gunnery to help pay for a new dormitory in memory of their son Teddy killed in a plane crash
18	Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg	$1,250,000	Boston University to renovate facilities
19	Andre Agassi	$1,070,000	Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
20	Tiki and Ronde Barber and family	$1,000,000	University of Virginia to support the McIntire School of Commerce, the Virginia Athletics Foundation, Childrens Hospital, a scholarship fund for African-American students, the Young Alumni Council, and to challenge young alumni to participate in the capital campaign
20	Bob Barker	$1,000,000	Georgetown University to endow a fund at its law school that will focus on the study of animal rights
20	Gloria Estefan	$1,000,000	The Miami Project
20	Dr. Phil McGraw & Robin McGraw	$1,000,000	Dr. Phil Foundation
20	George Steinbrenner & family	$1,000,000	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for Boshamer Stadium for baseball
20	Tony Stewart	$1,000,000	Victory Junction Gang Camp
20	Denzel Washington	$1,000,000	Save Africa's Children
27	Mike Sexton	$560,000	Special Olympics, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, Children, Inc., Wounded Warrior Project, Ohio State University, and other charities
28	Lance Armstrong	$500,000	Lance Armstrong Foundation
28	Dolly Parton	$500,000	Fort Sanders Medical Center
28	Elizabeth Taylor	$500,000	New Orleans AIDS Task Force to purchase mobile medical unit for AIDS sufferers in New Orleans

Mandela, Clinton Auction Star Encounters For Charity

Tue, 15 May 2007 09:33:37 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Fancy tea with Nelson Mandela? Or how about an African safari and passing a bit of time with Sir Richard Branson at a Virgin Unite project? Or if you prefer to spend your time on the green, a round of golf with Samuel L. Jackson at Leopard Creek Country Club could be the epitome of a truly Priceless Moment.

These are just three of the amazing lots up for bid in the MasterCard Priceless Moments Auction on eBay. The auction was brought about by Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton after both leaders visited the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa, where children with cardiac problems from all over the continent are treated. They hope to intensify the vision of Mandela’s late friend and mentor, Mr. Walter Sisulu, to care for and nurture the children of South Africa.

Seven charities will benefit from the auction, with the funds going to provide safe havens and hope for thousands of African children. The charities include the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa, the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC), the South African Red Cross, Cotlands, Reach For A Dream Foundation, Ithemba Trust and St. Mary's Hospital.

Bidding began on May 14th, and goes through May 24th. To view the complete list of lots and place a bid, go to the Mastercard Priceless Moments page on eBay.

Jolie And Shakira Swap Fundraising Tips

Mon, 21 May 2007 13:31:00 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

UN Goodwill Ambassadors Angelina Jolie and Shakira have reportedly become friends since their charity efforts brought them into contact.

A friend of Jolie said, "They have so much in common, we can’t believe they didn’t become buddies sooner.

“Shakira loves kids and runs a children’s charity in her home country so they have been swapping tips on fundraising.”

Jolie is ambassador of UNHCR, which works to help refugees, and Shakira represents UNICEF, the UN children’s fund.

Shakira’s own charity Pies Descalzos helps children displaced by fighting in Colombia, while the Jolie-Pitt Foundation funds various humanitarean causes, most recently including refugee relief in Darfur.

Hill, McGraw and More Become Cartier LOVECHARITY Ambassadors

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:29:26 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Djimon Hounsou, and Eva Mendes are among the list of 2007 Cartier LOVECHARITY Bracelet Ambassadors.

The Cartier LOVE bracelet was introduced more than 30 years ago, and has risen to be one of the most coveted jewelry designs in the world. In 2006 alone, more than $1.2 million was donated to eight global charities from the sales of its LOVECHARITY bracelet, spurring the company to create a new LOVECHARITY bracelet for 2007. The goal is to exceed last year’s donations as a number of new celebrities join the endeavor.

The 2007 LOVECHARITY bracelet features an 18K white gold miniature LOVE bracelet graced with the word LOVE and accented with two signature screw motifs. It is set into a knotted silk cord available in various colors, with each cord designating support of a unique cause. The bracelet costs $475 with $100 per bracelet benefiting its corresponding charity.

The complete list of the 2007 Ambassadors and their corresponding charities includes:

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have a chocolate brown bracelet for the Neighbor's Keeper Foundation
Djimon Hounsou has a deep copper bracelet for SOS Children's Villages
Eva Mendes has a navy bracelet for The Art of Elysium
Julianne Moore has a lavender bracelet for the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
Rihanna has a sea foam green bracelet for Believe
Usher has a gold bracelet for the New Look Foundation
Rachel Weisz has a lilac bracelet for The Constant Gardener Trust
Elie Wiesel has a yellow bracelet for The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

The 2006 LOVECHARITY Bracelets will also be available through the year, supporting YouthAIDS (Rosario Dawson) ; the Salma Hayek Foundation (Salma Hayek) ; USA Harvest (Scarlett Johansson) ; Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & Television Graduate Division / Tisch School of the Arts/NYC (Spike Lee) ; Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (Edward Norton) ; UNICEF (Sarah Jessica Parker) ; The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (Liv Tyler) ; and Mercy Corps Gulf Coast Recovery Fund (Michael Stipe).

Cartier’s second annual LOVE DAY is scheduled for June 8, and on this day 10% of all sales from the complete LOVE collection will benefit partnered organizations.

Celebrities Changing the World Through Kisses

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:35:42 +0000

Written by Nadia Lias

Ever wanted a kiss from a celebrity? Good news! The Mario Magro Kiss For A Cause Foundation is now having an auction of beautifully unique, handcrafted crystal “Le Coop” celebrity-kissed handbags.

Sixty celebrities ranging from Emma Roberts, Gary Dourdan, Martina McBride, George Strait, Vince Gill, Rita Rudner and many more have puckered up in order to end child abandonment, suffering and hunger.

The auction runs until June 25th, and money raised goes to helping orphaned, homeless and abandoned children, locally and internationally by providing them with education, food and housing.

For a complete list of celebrity participants and photos visit the Kiss For A Cause Website.

Alex Trebek to Visit Zambia with World Vision

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:01:59 +0000

Alex Trebek, longtime host of Jeopardy! and supporter of humanitarian organization World Vision, will visit the southern Africa nation of Zambia from June 28 –
July 2.

He and his family will meet children and adults benefiting from a
wide variety of programs and interventions that the Trebeks are supporting in the Kapululwe region, near Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.

Throughout Zambia, many parents have died of AIDS and many are living with the disease. Approximately 20 percent of the population is infected. AIDS not only tears families apart, it often affects a family’s health, a child’s future, and a community’s access to a reliable food supply, education, and economic development.

After several years of special projects with World Vision, broadcast throughout the United States and Canada, Trebek expressed interest to World Vision in bringing significant change to a particular village. This resulted in Trebek’s comprehensive support of Kabeleka, a specific community of Kapululwe, which is deeply impacting the physical and educational well-being of thousands of children and families.

Critically needed improvements supported by Trebek have included the building of a school and two teachers’ houses, seven boreholes providing clean water, a new rural health center, immunization and treatment of multiple childhood diseases, and microenterprise loans and business coaching. Trebek’s family visit will include a celebration of the official
opening of these services in Kabeleka.

“There are so many important ways to change a life, or many lives, through World Vision,” explains Trebek. “Our family has chosen Kabeleka, and we hope others will join us in exploring ways that they can help children lead healthy lives of learning and pursuing their potential.”

While in Zambia, the Trebeks will also visit sites outside of Kabeleka where conditions remain dire, and where World Vision is organizing community care coalitions and volunteer caregivers to serve people living with HIV/AIDS.

Vanity Fair Charity Issue Edited By Bono

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:35:00 +0000

Written by Saskia Akyil

Bono is putting his philanthropic energy into Vanity Fair’s July 2007 special issue about Africa. The issue has 20 different cover photos of high-profile individuals, all taken by renowned photographer Annie Liebowitz.

The magazine includes information about the issues and charities supported by actors, athletes, models, politicians, musicians, activists, and billionaire philanthropists, all of whom are using their celebrity status and the publicity they receive to bring attention to the complex set of problems faced by the inhabitants of Africa.

Africa is a continent with great need, and has been given a disproportionately low amount of attention and aid from wealthy nations. It is the first Vanity Fair issue to have a guest editor, and Bono’s highly publicized commitment to aiding Africa makes him an obvious choice for editor of this issue. In recent years, celebrities have used their status to bring a great deal of attention to Africa.

The covers of the Africa issue include portraits of: Bono, Barack Obama, Queen Rania, George Bush, Condaleeza Rice, Muhammad Ali, Desmond Tutu, Brad Pitt, Djimon Hounsou, Madonna, Maya Angelou, Chris Rock, Warren Buffett, Melinda & Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Iman, and Don Cheadle.

The issue features numerous in-depth articles about a variety of subjects concerning Africa, including: Kenya; Desmond Tutu and the fight for equality in South Africa and worldwide; Tunisia’s success and the threat of Islamic extremism; the role of China in fueling some of the conflict in Africa; Jeffrey Sachs dream of how to eradicate extreme poverty; the consumer-action strategy of (Product) Red to make miracle AIDS treatment drugs accessible to the millions who need them; the role of the Congo’s blacklisted airline pilots in keeping trade flowing; Bill Clinton's stories of Nelson Mandela; African music; Africans defying the status quo of poverty, disease, and corruption; suggestions for platform topics for the US 2008 presidential election; the genetic data that links all people on Earth to Africa; identifying the current literary talents of Africa; Princess Diana's post-divorce charity work, in particular her mission to ban land mines; and the Africa connection of the high-profile individuals on Vanity Fair’s July 2007 issue covers.

The Vanity Fair website offers links and information about Africa, charities that benefit the continent, and full-text versions of some of the articles.

Clinton, Foxx Speak Against HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:22:10 +0000

Written by Nadia Lias

One might not expect a politician and an award-winning entertainer to have much in common, but former US President Bill Clinton and actor/singer Jamie Foxx speak the same language when it comes to active involvement in fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis & malaria. The two shared the stage during the Annual Global Business Coalition Gala on June 13th at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The award Gala is held annually to recognise companies and people who demonstrate action and commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Among the 700-plus guests were political leaders, celebrated entertainers, public heath experts and CEOs of member companies as well as NBA stars Dikembe Mutombo and Samuel Dalembert. Sir Richard Branson was one of the evening’s featured speakers, and discussed the commitment of his Virgin Unite to eradicating the HIV virus.

Jamie Foxx and HBO co-president Richard Plepler presented the premier of Test America, a Public Service Announcement campaign produced in conjunction with the National Basketball Association, GBC, and the Kaiser Family Foundation to educate millions of at-risk Americans about the need to get tested for HIV. Audiences were entertained when Foxx joined DJ Doug. E. Fresh in an impromptu rap, chanting “we’re here to fight H-I-V” with the spectators.

Bill Clinton was honoured with an award for his outstanding action and commitment towards the Global Business Coalition’s fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis & malaria. During his speech at the Gala, he commended Foxx, Doug E. Fresh, and members of the National Basketball Association for taking part in the inspiring Test America PSA campaign. He then thanked GBC for bringing a committed group of leading private-sector executives and NGOs to tackle three global epidemics. He later urged the executives to work together to do what is right: fight for equality for all people, and fight to end the three diseases.

The night left a clear message in mind that it is everybody’s responsibility to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis & malaria. To quote one of the evening’s speakers, Ophelia Haanyama Orum – HIV-positive author of the book “True to Myself”: – “Open your eyes, open your minds, and open your hearts. Walk with me, and continue your work to make a positive difference for people with HIV.”

Prince Fragrance Raises Funds For Charity

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:34:26 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

On 07/07/07, Prince and Revelations Perfume and Cosmetics are to launch the 3121 fragrance with a surprise in-store concert and 24-hours of charity fundraising.

The philanthropic event begins at 12 am EST, at which point the 30 ml bottles of 3121 will be available for purchase at www.3121perfume.com. The 3121 collection will also be debuting at select Macy’s stores.

The fragrance will retail for $31.21, with 7% of each sale being divided between 7 charities chosen by Prince and Revelations.

“This event promises to be huge as Prince fans worldwide will be able to participate in this exclusive offer”, says Larry Couey, President of Revelations. “Our goal is to raise a half million dollars for charity on 07/07/07.”

“Prince has always been generous and this is an opportunity for the public to join him in giving back in a very large and meaningful way.”

The charities benefitting from the event include City of Hope, Jazz Foundation of America, H.A.L.O., Elevate Hope Foundation, Urban Farming, The Bridge and Edith Couey Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund.

Shakira Joins Latin American Solidarity Action Foundation

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:53:00 +0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Shakira has announced her plan to raise $200 million for the charity América Latina en Acción Solidaria (ALAS).

The singer, who is already a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of Colombian charity Pies Descalzos, will stage four fundraising concerts in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and New York this year.

ALAS is dedicated to aiding impoverished communities throughout all of Latin America, focusing on improved nutrition, health and education for children. “ALAS came about because of a social emergency: 350 thousand children die each year due to avoidable causes; 40 million children work and live on the streets,” Shakira said.

Funding for ALAS comes from businesses, international institutions, NGOs and charity concerts. Other musicians involved since ALAS’s launch last December include Juanes, Alejandro Sanz, Diego Torres, Maná, Wyclef Jean and Daniela Mercury. Shakira said, “Each person has worked on projects or foundations on his own, but only now we are able to work together to develop interesting projects that will benefit everyone.”

Many more artists, such as Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, have since joined the foundation. REM’s vocalist Michael Stipe has confirmed his participation in the ALAS benefit concert cycle in 2008, the dates of which will be officially announced later this month.

Concrete ALAS health care programmes cover mass vaccinations and pre-natal care for more pregnant women. “Let’s not forget that at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America,” Shakira said at a UN award ceremony. The ALAS web site states, “Because we are Latin Americans we are determined to change this reality.”

Richard Branson Attends Virgin Festival in Baltimore

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:55:09 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Soaring temperatures of over 100°F did not stop 80,000 music lovers from attending a massive two-day charity concert held at the Pimlico Raceway in Baltimore on August 4 and 5. The Baltimore Virgin Festival was part of a series of concerts being held this year, partly organized by Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin brand.

Concert goers were treated to performances by 40 groups and artists, including Sting and The Police, Ben Harper, The Beastie Boys, Iggy Pop, and The Smashing Pumpkins. $1.50 from every ticket sold was donated directly to Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of the Virgin Group, dedicated to “tackling some of the tougher social challenges by uniting people and Virgin’s global resources.”

The concert also featured a huge tent village which housed a mall of philanthropy booths, where concert attendees could find out more about non-profit organizations such as Oxfam, The Living Classrooms Foundation (which uses maritime settings to train at-risk youth), StandUp For Kids (which helps homeless children), and Youth Noise (a website where teens can talk about significant issues and raise money for their chosen causes).

Branson joined actress Daryl Hannah at the event, and stated that the festivities were extremely eco-friendly, with 99% of the fuels used to power the concert being the cleanest biofuel available.

The Virgin Festival in Baltimore followed a similar concert held in Vancouver in May, and the next event will be in Toronto in September.

Also rocking out on August 4 and 5 was another huge concert, the Lollapalooza Festival, an annual event founded in 1991. 165,000 people crammed Grant Park in Chicago to see 140 acts, including Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, and Snow Patrol. A portion of every ticket sale went to the Parkways Foundation, a non-profit organization working with the Chicago Park District.

Russell Simmons and Lil' Kim Support Lisa Lopes Orphanage

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:46:00 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

The Lisa Lopes Foundation is celebrating the grand opening of the Lisa Lopes Rural School and Orphanage with its Celebrity Auction and Fund-raiser this
Saturday, August 18. The event will take place at The 40/40 Club in New York, where guests can mingle with Russell Simmons, Lil' Kim, Flava Flav, JD Williams, Patti LaBelle and more while raising funds for the Lisa Lopes Orphanage in Honduras.

The orphanage provides a healthy home, dental clinic, and free healthcare for twenty abandoned children, ages 2-15. Free on-site schooling is also available for children in the community. Many of the children living in the orphanage have lost
their parents to AIDS and/or have been victims of sexual and physical abuse.

Honduras is the poorest country in the Americas, and was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, after which the number of orphans in Honduras increased considerably. Reputable orphanages and various professionally operated children’s homes are essential to ensuring stability throughout their society.

The Lisa Lopes Foundation (LLF) was developed in 2003 by Lisa’s mother, Wanda Lopes-Colemon, brother Ronald Lopes and family friend Anashay Murphy. The Foundation was inspired by Lisa’s dream of building a children’s home on some land she purchased in Honduras. Shortly after revealing her plans to her family, Lisa passed away in an auto accident in Honduras. The family established the Lisa Lopes Foundation to bring her dream to fruition. Four years later they opened Lisa’s Hogar De Amor (Home of Love), a 10,000 sq. ft. orphanage. The LLF also provides teen programs in Georgia.

For more information on attending the event, visit the Lisa Lopes Foundation’s website.

Yao Ming-Steve Nash Charity Gala & Basketball Game in Beijing

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:52:58 +0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Two of the NBA’s greatest players joined forces to raise money for various charities in Beijing, and it took just under six-months for Yao Ming and Steve Nash to bring their idea to fruition.

The Steve Nash-Yao Ming Charity Basketball Game and events were held September 12-14 and raised over $2M for needy kids in China.

“I was talking with a friend of mine about the difficulties the children face there,” Nash told Suns.com. “I feel really fortunate that I am in a position where I was able to go to Yao Ming and ask him if he was interested in doing something over there. It’s an exciting opportunity to go to China and hopefully give thousands of kids an opportunity for an education that right now doesn’t exist.”

So, on September 12th, Nash, Yao and nine other NBA players kicked off their collaboration with a press conference that coincidently fell on Yao’s 27th birthday. Yao explained that this was simply a coincidence while thanking his friends for joining him to do something for the kids in China.

Steve Nash has already proven himself a true humanitarian. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who’s got a bad thing to say about the 2-time MVP. Generous, sincere, caring, socially responsible. That’s what Nash is made of. In the off-season, you won’t find him partying in Las Vegas, you’ll find him giving back to the community-whether its raising money by hosting his Steve Nash Charity Classic basketball game or opening an “eco-friendly” sports club in Canada, this guy is good. In fact, he’s so good that he even chartered a plane and flew the players playing for his team to China, namely, Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Baron Davis (Golden State Warriors), Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix Suns), Chuck Hayes (Houston Rockets), Alando Tucker (Phoenix Suns), DJ Strawberry (Phoenix Suns), Amir Johnson (Detroit Pistons), and Paul Davis (L.A. Clippers).

All 9 NBA players attended the Charity Auction Party, which took place at the Diao Yu Tai State Guest House on the 13th. Ironically, this is the same location where the 6-country nuclear talks between North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, USA and China were held, making it an ideal location for NBA good guys to showcase their remarkable intentions. The following 7 items were auctioned during the Charity Gala (winning bids are approximate):

6 VIP tickets for the Charity Gala game on the 14th + 10 autographed jerseys from the Nash Invitational Team (including Yao Ming) + 12 basketballs autographed by the China national team: $39,000.
2 VIP tickets each for the October China Game in Shanghai and Macau + 2 autographed jerseys of Lebron James and Dwight Howard + 5-star hotel accommodation for 2 nights in Shanghai and Macau: $16,000. (Winner bidder Song Tao, former Chinese National team center)
Autographed jerseys of Yao Ming and Steve Nash, 2 VIP tickets (with Les Alexander’s signature/approval to be closest to the court) for Houston Rockets versus Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center + 2 passes to the Rockets players’ locker room + lunch with Yao Ming and Steve Nash: $132,000.
An exclusive VISA platinum card with the imprint of Yao Ming and Steve Nash images on it; the only one in the world. $59,000.
An autographed jersey of soccer legend Pelé + an autographed jersey of Michael Jordan in his 1996 championship campaign + autographed boxing glove of Muhammad Ali + autographed jersey of Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong: $50,000.
2 VIP tickets for the opening ceremony of 2008 Olympics + 1 weeks’ 5-star hotel accommodation in Beijing + 2 round-trip first class air tickets to Beijing from anywhere in the world: $478,000 .
The China Discovery Car which has traveled all over China: $86,000. (Won by Lu Hao, Yao Ming’s China agent)

A total of about $900,000-plus was raised at the auction gala, which was just shy of the original $1M target, but Yao was having none of it and generously kicked in his own money to make up the difference. At one point during the auction, Golden State Warrior Baron Davis even took the stage, performing a few basketball tricks in efforts to bump up the bids.

On Friday, our NBA good guys joined members of the Chinese National Basketball Team to showcase their skills in the star-studded charity game at the Beijing Capital Stadium. The sold-out event gave all 12,000 attendees more than their moneys worth. Team Yao defeated Team Nash 101-92 in a game watched by over 200 million television viewers in China. Prior to the game, Nash pumped up his team and gave a heartfelt speech in the locker room, thanking them for traveling a long distance to join him for this effort. Actor Jackie Chan even made a guest appearance and conducted the ceremonial toss at mid-court to start the game.

SportsBusinessRadio.com’s writer Brian Berger was granted all access for the event, and writes: "Yao Ming came in the locker room after tonight’s charity game and thanked the NBA players who played in tonight’s game. He spoke of how much the effort means to him and to the Chinese people and how impressed he was that these players flew halfway around the world just a few weeks prior to the start of training camp. He told the players in the locker room that if he could ever assist them with their charitable efforts, he’d be happy to do so. It was a really nice moment for these players who play in the most exclusive basketball fraternity on the planet – the NBA. Once Yao finished his speech, the Team Nash players sang a song that the game operations people played whenever Yao scored in tonight’s game. Its a cheesy but catchy song that chants, “Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming……..Yao Ming, Yao Ming”. The Chinese fans love it though."

In total the charity game and related events raised close to $2.5M for kids in China. Specifically, the funds will be used to support and build more Project Hope schools in the poorer area of China’s Western regions; to help impoverished girls in the Xinjiang Kezilesu Keerkzi Autonomous Region to receive education; to upgrade the facilities of schools for mentally challenged children in Western China and to work with children with AIDS through the Chi Heng Foundation which also supports the Special Olympics and China Youth Development Foundation.

For this, we thank you Yao Ming, Steve Nash and all the NBA good guys who were involved in spreading some much needed love around the world.

Double the Effort to Raise Funds for Charitable Causes in India by Vijay Amritraj

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:18:00 +0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

As Jimmy Connors' famed Wimbledon opponent, James Bond’s co-star in Octopussy, and a UN Ambassador of Peace, Vijay Amritraj is considered many things to many people. But on the weekend of October 12th, Vijay will be showing his charitable side as his foundation hosts its Charity Celebrity Golf Classic at Lost Canyons Golf Club, and its Gala Banquet at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday October 13th. The beautiful Parminder Nagra – star of Bend it Like Beckham and ER – will be among the hosts at the Gala Banquet.

Among the celebs expected to attend either of the events are Chuck Norris, Rick Schroder, Charles Durning, and Beverly Johnson. It also looks like it is a done deal for a few of the NBC models from the game show Deal or No Deal will be celebrity golfers. Many more celebs are expected to confirm this week. The Dr. Phil show provided VIP passes and other goodies for auction.

The funds raised by the Vijay Amritraj Foundation will help people in India in a wide variety of ways including educating women, children, a school for the blind and provide healthcare for AIDS/HIV afflicted.

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