Look To The Stars News: Adoption, Fostering, Orphans

Shakira Wins Humanitarian Award

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Colombian pop star Shakira proved hips don’t lie when she received an ALMA award on Sunday for the humanitarian work she has been doing for Latin America’s impoverished children.

The American Latino Media Arts awards – hosted by Eva Longoria – celebrated the achievements of Latin American performers, with accolades going to America Ferrera, Linda Ronstadt, and Charlie Sheen.

Shakira, who is a UNICEF Ambassador and recently took part in concerts to bring a stop to civil unrest in Colombia, received the award for her work to improve the lives of children in Colombia and Latin America.

“I feel unworthy to accept this award because we have only scratched the surface,” said the singer. “There is still so much to be done.”

Shakira founded Pies Descalzos – a Colombian charity that runs special schools for poor children – in 1997. She has taken part in a multitude of benefit concerts and has visited many people affected by natural disasters, including the victims of Hurricane Sidr in Bangladesh. It was revealed at the 2007 Clinton Global Initiative that she had donated a massive $40 million to help the victims of natural disasters around the world. Earlier this year she acted as Chairperson for the Global Campaign for Education’s Action Week to generate awareness about the Education for All Act, during which she spoke with a number of world leaders to promote a move towards Global Education.

A-Rod To Donate To Madonna's Charity

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Baseball star Alex Rodriguez – also known as A-Rod – is reported to have made a large donation to Madonna’s charity for children in Malawi.

Rodriguez – third baseman for the New York Yankees – is said to have given $500,000 to Raising Malawi, a charity the singer established to help the African nation’s one million orphans gain access to food, education and medical care.

“Obviously when you’re talking about donors, these are private things,” said the charity’s director, Philippe van den Bossche. “I would never reveal information about any donor.”

The money is expected to be used to help build a new school in the impoverished country.

“We’re building a girls’ school, which will bring the best resources from around the world with a specific focus on medicine, education and the law,” said van den Bossche. “It will be based on the British system – as is taught in private schools Madonna’s children Lourdes and Rocco attend… We want programs that can be copied in developing countries throughout the world. Not just a celebrity one-off.”

Madonna’s Malawi Efforts Get Multiple Recognition

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Malawi is awarding Madonna with citizenship in honor of the work she’s done through her charity, Raising Malawi, for AIDS orphans of the impoverished country.

However, Malawi’s government offices aren’t the only ones noticing Madonna’s work. Michael Moore asked to show her new film, I am Because We Are, at the Traverse City Film Festival and for her to attend the showing in person.

“She said she’d be thrilled to come here and be part of the film festival,” said Moore. “We were pleasantly surprised.”

The documentary, written, produced and narrated by Madonna, follows her through Malawi, a country devastated by poverty and AIDS, exploring the lives of the orphans. The message, though, is optimistic: there is hope. No child without vision has a future – this future exists when children believe “they are their own potential.”

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton, activist Jeffrey Sachs, Archbishop Desmund Tutu and various experts are also interviewed.

“When I saw it, I thought, ‘Wow, it’s like she’s been making these films for years,’” said Moore. “She takes the viewer through a very personal journey and tries to connect us, living here in the U.S., giving us a window into the way it is for other people in the world. You understand very clearly why she’s devoted so much of her life to the people of Malawi.”

“The film is a labor of love and I am happy that I can bring it home to my roots,” Madonna told The Associated Press. “I am also honored that the film will be screening at this particular festival arranged by Michael, as he is a genius and I am a huge fan.”

The Traverse City Film Festival will run July 29 through August 3. Madonna will introduce I am Because We Are, playing at 8:00 p.m. August 2 at the State Theatre, and take questions from the audience afterwards. Proceeds of the $25 tickets will go to the Raising Malawi foundation.

Jolie-Pitt Foundation Donates To War Children

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million to support the education of war-affected children through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict will distribute the donation to four organizations working with children who have lost parents and homes in Iraq, and children in the United States who have lost parents in the conflict will also benefit.

“These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal,” said Jolie, who co-chairs the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.

“We hope to encourage others to give to these great organizations,” added Pitt.

$500,000 will go to the Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program, which will provide educational tutors and counseling to 2,500 children affected by the war in America. The remainder will be split between three organizations operating in Iraq: Women for Women International, which provides books, school supplies and other basic necessities to Iraqi women and children; the International Rescue Committee, which will repair three schools and offer classes for more than 2,500 students; and www.NineMillion.org – a UNHCR campaign – which will donate learning materials to more than 2,000 displaced Iraqi children.

Aid will also go to refugee children and school rehabilitation programs.

Janet Jackson Receives Humanitarian Honor

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:34:00 -0000

Superstar Janet Jackson was the recipient of a humanitarian award at an event organized by the Lisa Lopes Foundation on Saturday night.

Every year the charity honors an artist that has excelled in community and humanitarian efforts, and this year the presentation was made at the 13th Annual Hot 107.9 FM Birthday Bash at Phillips Stadium in Atlanta. Jackson was unable to attend the event, but accepted the award via a video. Other attendees included Ludacris and Usher, both of whom were past recipients of the award.

Jackson received the honor for her ability to create a global unification through her music and for her community efforts. She has provided global assistance to organizations which focus on children, hunger, conservation and animals, and after the tragic 911 attacks she supported the victims and families affected by the events at both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon through donations to the ClearChannel.com Relief Fund. She also aided the victims of the Tsunami disaster via the American Red Cross. Besides her support toward the on-going efforts of the Lisa Lopes Foundation, she also supports the Orca Network and Second Harvest.

“Instead of focusing on the mistakes our peers in the music industry make, the Lisa Lopes Award highlights their accomplishments in music and in giving back to the community,” said Ronald Lopes, Executive Director of the Lisa Lopes Foundation. “It’s our way of saying thank you. Your work has not gone unnoticed.”

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, a member of R&B group TLC, was killed in a car accident in 2002. The Lisa Lopes Foundation was established in 2003 by Lisa’s mother, Wanda Lopes-Colemon, her brother Ronald Lopes and family friend Anashay Murphy. The Foundation was inspired by Lisa’s dream of building a children’s home on land she purchased in Honduras, now the site of Lisa’s Home of Love, a 10,000 sq. ft. residential facility. The orphanage includes a dental clinic, free healthcare, and on-site free schooling, which is open to children throughout the community who have no school to attend.

The mission of The Lisa Lopes Foundation is to provide access to basic health, education, self-awareness and recreational programs to children living in low-income communities within the United States and underdeveloped communities within Central America. The Foundation works to transform communities by establishing and supporting high quality community based programs.

Iggy Pop Supports The Children's Society

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:03:42 -0000

Written by Richard Alan Krieger

The Children’s Society chose punk legend Iggy Pop’s song “Lust for Life” as their theme for a garden entry in last year’s Chelsea Flower Show. The garden won a Silver medal at the London event, using as a main feature an arc of water which moved in rhythmic patterns to his song.

“I’m honoured The Children’s Society’s garden is inspired by my music and wholeheartedly support the work they do – they rock,” remarked Iggy. He went on to say, ‘It’s awesome The Children’s Society’s ‘Lust for Life’ garden won a Silver medal. It’s great to know my music reaches out to so many and inspires’ following with ‘I’m getting a big kick out of making music for the Children’s Society. All kids deserve a good childhood.’

Iggy and the Stooges also headlined a benefit concert called Rock The House for The Children’s Society in the grounds of Harewood House in Leeds on August 31, 2007.

The Children’s Society in partnership with The Co-operative returns to the Chelsea Flower Show this May for the show’s new category called, “The Front Garden,” a theme that addresses the loss of front urban gardens.

Designer Mark Gregory said: “This is a garden with children and families at its heart. This design proves that you can have a practical, usable space and be environmentally responsible. The Children’s Society Garden is a garden for future generations – we’re making front gardens green again.”

Tomiko Fraser Reminds Women They Are Born With It

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:14:02 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

Last Saturday, April 5, a full day of seminars were held in Los Angeles for women and at-risk youth, sponsored by Maybelline and model Tomiko Fraser’s Goddess organization. Making a difference is a recurring theme in Fraser’s life. Last year she put together Butterflies Over Hollywood to raise funds and awareness about Lupus, an event she anticipates doing again this year. Saturday’s event was the first Born With It workshop, an outreach program and offshoot of Tomiko Fraser’s Goddess Gathering.

What began as a small gathering of five women at her home spawned an event with about 50 women. Fraser says of her gatherings, “Everybody comes to the table with their various strengths. I call it girlfriends being there for girlfriends. Each month I come up with a topic such as self esteem or goal setting.” She adds that she gives a homework assignment based on the topic so they can use it in their lives.

The goddess members were involved in every aspect of the program on Saturday, from being workshop leaders to serving food. Among them were a choreographer, a personal trainer, people who work in music, actresses, and a model.

Fraser describes all of the workshops as “pieces of the empowerment puzzle.” Among the workshops were those relating to fitness, beauty, confidence building, self esteem, spirituality, and well being, and there was also a financial freedom seminar that taught basics such as balancing a check book and investing.

The activities on Saturday were innovative and included props and physical activity. The girls involved all had fun.The confidence building seminar engaged the youth in creating commercials about themselves which highlighted the positive. In another seminar, girls created a collage based on their qualities as women.

Personal Trainer Fee King said of her involvement, “I am especially enthusiastic about this event because type 2 Diabetes is an epidemic in African American and Latino communities. It is an epidemic that does not have to be. I am using this platform to be an example and minister to these young people.”

Another member of the Goddess group, Big & Beautiful model Chenese Lewis, loaned her support to the body image workshop. Her emphasis was that real beauty comes from within.

Fraser and Maybelline plan on spreading the Goddess Gatherings to several cities throughout the country.

(Photos copyright Natiya Guin )

Carrie Catherine Takes World Vision On Tour

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:26:37 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

At each of singer Carrie Catherine’s performances, she brings with her a small box. It’s filled with photos of children, and on behalf of those kids and World Vision, she asks her audience to consider choosing one of them to sponsor.

Through sponsorship, World Vision is able to provide children with life necessities and more. Not only do the children receive food, vitamin supplements and safe water, but World Vision is able to provide them with an education by paying for school uniforms, school fees, hands-on skills training, training for local teachers, and even building classrooms.

Catherine says, “I’m very honored to be representing World Vision and giving audiences an opportunity to sponsor a child at the shows. I became a sponsor of Prince from the Democratic Republic of Congo not too long ago, and the experience has been really profound. I urge you all to check out World Vision’s website and change someone’s life right now.”

Last week’s Earth Hour – where the world was asked to shut off all lights from 8 to 9 pm – fell upon Catherine’s 29 March performance. Not a problem for this artist – the venue simply shut down it’s power and an acoustic jam session filled the hour.

Still on tour, the audience has responded favourably to Catherine’s plea for the children through both sponsorship and donations. “I’m so grateful to those new sponsors. It’s great to see kids go home with someone.”

A Little Madonna Madness

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:05:26 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

“Strike a pose, there’s nothing to it, grab a globe, and then donate it to charity…” OK, so it may not rhyme and it may not live up to the songwriting standards of modern music, but it does explain what Madonna is up to over at eBay this week.

Starting today, one lucky bidder will get into the groove and thank their lucky star when the Material Girl auctions off the polystyrene and plaster globe she posed beside on the upcoming May cover of Vanity Fair magazine.

The singer has signed the globe and also drawn a heart around Africa – almost like a borderline. Proceeds from the auction will benefit her Raising Malawi organization, a charity she established to raise money for one of the poorest nations in the world.

As an added bonus, which any Madonna fan will cherish, the Queen of Pop is also auctioning two tickets for a show in New York later this month, including accommodation and dinner. Fans are guaranteed to want to live to tell about the holiday experience, which will be like a prayer come true.

So open your heart, express yourself, and try to count exactly how many Madonna song titles I just included in that story…

Victoria Rowell - Building A Better World For Foster Children

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:33:38 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

When Victoria Rowell was eight years old, her foster mother enrolled her in a classical ballet school. It was an act of love that led to bigger and better things – not only did dancing teach her to live her life with poise and grace, it also gave her the discipline to face the many challenges she has encountered. From ballet to acting, Rowell has lived a life of passion, a merit that eventually led her to establish the Foster Children Positive Plan.

Most people know Victoria Rowell from her role as Drucilla Winters on the long-running daytime drama The Young And The Restless and her role as Amanda Bentley on Diagnosis Murder (alongside Dick Van Dyke). Born in Portland, Maine, Rowell was surrended to child services when she was just 16 days old and spent the next 18 years in foster care. However, she has no doubt that it was the ballet lessons that gave her the courage and the strength to find herself as a person and to help her discover her potential. Soon after her first tentative steps into the world of dancing, Rowell received scholarships to the School of American Ballet, the Cambridge School of Ballet, the American Ballet Theater, and the Dance Theater of Harlem. After dancing with the Juilliard School of Music’s dance extension program, it was only a short step to acting and appearing on shows such as The Cosby Show and films such as The Distinguished Gentleman and Dumb And Dumber.

In 1990, at the height of her acting career, Rowell decided she wanted to help the thousands of foster children who do not recieve the same opportunities that led her to a successful career in the arts. She wanted to become a passionate voice for children like herself, and established the Foster Children Positive Plan to help children reach their potential in the arts and sports.

Today, the plan runs scholarships to assist foster children attend dance classes, sports camps, and also give them the opportunity to partake in cultural enrichment programs. And it is a cause that has attracted some high profile supporters – including Melora Hardin, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton.

Rowell has become a passionate lobbyist for foster child rights, and has received many awards for her work, including an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Southern Maine, the National Arts Award from the National Association of Counties, and the United Nations Association Award. She has appeared on a multitude of television shows promoting her beliefs, including Dr Phil and the Montel Williams Show, and is also the national spokesperson for Casey Family Services.

In 2007, Rowell released a book chronicling her time in foster care called The Women Who Raised Me, a fascinating read that reveals her courage and determination to make the world a better place for foster children.

“Growing up as a foster child, little did I dream that someday I would have my own non-profit organization dedicated to helping foster children,” said Rowell. “I [want] to change perceptions and bring national attention to the plight of over 550,000 foster children in this country, many of whom have significant educational and emotional needs, and who have suffered either neglect or physical and emotional trauma. Foster children are good kids. With guidance and instruction, they will be prepared to become self-sufficient, successful adults.”

Tomiko Fraser Offers Empowerment to Women

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:49:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Supermodel Tomiko Fraser will launch an exciting new series of events this Saturday, April 5, when she facilitates the first session in what is set to become on-going national empowerment conferences for women.

“Born With It”, sponsored by Maybelline, will bring together a diverse group of 100 women and teenage girls selected from two shelters in the Los Angeles area, and offer them workshops on self-esteem, finances, fitness, and more. The day-long event will also feature panel discussions addressing issues important to women, as well as stores and an “empowerment” fashion show.

“Our vision is that woman of all ages possess the knowledge and ability to live truly empowered lives,” said Tomiko. “We are committed to supporting them as they tap into their undiscovered potential. We will provide them with the guidance, tools, and education to achieve their goals, thereby giving them the opportunity to live the life of their dreams.”

“Born With It” is an initiative of Tomiko’s Goddess Gathering, a national organization created to encourage the empowerment and self-esteem of women. She hopes the on-going events will give women across the US the opportunity to harness their natural greatness through a series of fun and educational workshops, motivational speeches, and Q&A sessions with some of the country’s most inspiring women.

Tomiko was born in the Bronx, the eldest of a family of seven. She is the legal guardian and caretaker of her sister, who suffers from a severe case of Lupus, and is a spokesperson and board member for the Lupus Foundation of America.

The “Born With It” events are designed to build confidence in women who are in “transition” (trying to overcome homelessness, unemployment, or drug addictions), “at-risk” teens, and girls in foster care, by providing information and tools for goal setting, finance, fitness/beauty/body image, well-being, and self-esteem techniques. The first day-long workshop will take place at the Pan Pacific Community Center in Los Angeles on April 5 from 9am-6pm. For more information about the event, or to make a contribution, visit the Tomiko Fraser Goddess Gathering website.

Charlize Theron Bringing Classrooms to Students

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:49:26 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Screen star Charlize Theron is bringing life saving information to rural kids in KwaZulu-Natal, a province that holds the unfortunate record of the highest HIV infection rate in South Africa.

Where sex, teenage pregnancy, rape and HIV are taboo topics and half of all females are expected to contract AIDS, 10 percent of them before graduating high-school, Theron created the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project and partnered with Oprah’s Angel Network to assist the charity Mpilonhle in bringing education, free condoms, HIV testing and treatment to the kids via a mobile health and computer clinic.

Theron says, “Medical staff told me many students here have lost one or both parents to AIDS. The mobile clinic is one of the few places offering help, guidance and a safe place to talk.”

Launched last November, the clinic spends one week per month at each of four remote high-schools where thousands of students receive computer training sessions and health education workshops with a special focus on HIV, plus a visit with an HIV counselor and a nurse. Tuberculosis, cholera and schistosomiasis, a debilitating parasitic infection, are some of the diseases that also plague this area due to limited access to clean water.

The clinic is already having a positive effect. One grade 11 student said, “After I finish grade 12 I know it will help me in the future. Maybe I will be a teller working with the computer. I thank you Mpilonhle because my future is in my hands – it is up to me to reach my goals.”

Theron’s presence in her home country has also made an impression: “Most of us are afraid to dream just because we are afraid our dreams won’t come true,” said one inspired student. “(Charlize) has awakened my dream of becoming a business woman. And I know that someday I’m going to achieve this.”

Theron says, “You come here, and you see how people are struggling. And then you see the spirit of these people and how resilient they are. That’s the miracle.”

Stars Take A Gamble At Charity Poker Tournament

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:01:58 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Look To The Stars reporter Delinda Lombardo recently attended the star-studded World Poker Tour Invitational in Los Angeles and caught up with some of the celebrities involved.

On March 1-3, celebrities and poker professionals hit the felt for the 6th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. More than 100 celebrities were invited to compete for a seat in the WPT Championships while raising money for charity, including a side pot worth nearly $30,000 that went entirely to charity in the names of the final 13 celebrities in the field. The three title charities of the event, guaranteed to receive at least $2,500 each, were Soles United, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Harbor Private Funds.

Poker professionals, including Phil Laak, Shawn Sheikhan, Allen Kessler, Kathy Liebert, Jennifer Tilly, Billy Baxter, David Pham, Kenny Tran, and Antonio Esfandiari (who was just named the official spokesperson for the WPT) flocked to the highly successful event, which is now in its sixth year.

Actor James Woods has already established himself as one of the ‘best celebrity’ poker players out there. After losing his brother to a stroke in 2006, it came as no surprise that he plays for the American Stroke Association Charity.

“I’m playing for my brother,” he told me.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss was also playing cards, but it was Lakers forward Ronnie Turiaf who came out a winner. Turiaf has been coping with a heart aliment that didn’t seem to stop him from making the best of it.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “You know, things happen for a reason, and I just try to make the best of it. God tests us all in different ways.”

And part of this ‘test’ includes corroboration with NBA player/poet/humanitarian Etan Thomas. Thomas recently underwent open-heart surgery. When I asked Turiaf what charity he was playing for, he dropped the bomb on me:

“Right now, I’m working on putting together something with Etan Thomas so we can help others going through the same thing,” he said. “Etan and I talked about it when I went to Washington, my part is going to be here and his part will probably be in Washington. We’re hoping to have it established later this year.”

The name of his foundation – Heart to Heart.

“You know, heart to heart,” he said with his hand over his heart. “As in my heart and his heart, and our hearts reaching out to others.”

Another celebrity taking the time to discuss his charitable efforts was actor Nicholas Gonzalez (Undressed). Gonzalez plays poker on a regular basis, but was much more interested in promoting his charity than his poker skills. Gonzalez was playing for Friends of El Faro, an organization that helps needy kids and families in Tijuana, with celebrities making routine visits across the border into Mexico. When asked about his role, he was quick to take the attention off himself.

“You know, it’s a great cause that I’ve been working with for a while,” he said. “One of the biggest proponents of El Faro is Molly Sims, who has a contract with Cover Girl. They even supported her work, went down there and talked to the younger girls, made up their faces and took pictures. Also Shannon Elizabeth, Adam Rodriguez, and especially Sharon Lawrence, who has been a really huge supporter – there’s a lot of celebrity friends. We used to have big gala every year in Hollywood that’s very well attended, but really, like I said it’s about getting down there, it’s not about who anybody is, it’s about spending time with the kids. We do everything from build playgrounds, to rebuilding kitchens, to knocking down walls – that kind of thing. “

Also on the red carpet was actor Justin Henry (The Junior Defenders), sitting in for actor Heath Ledger, who recently passed away. When asked about his charity, Henry simply stated “I’m playing for Heath.”

Numb3rs actor Will Wheaton walked the Red Carpet while commenting on his Curious George doll, “My son gave it to me for good luck.”

Actor John Hawkes (American Gangster, Deadwood) was knocked out of the poker tournament early on, so I spent some time chatting with him about his charity efforts. Had he not been eliminated, his winnings were earmarked to help save a few animals.

“I love animals,” he said. “So I would have given it all to support Friends of Animals in Utah, they do really great work and are a worthwhile cause that really I believe in.”

Hawkes in also involved with the 1-Second Film Project, a non-profit collaborative film that anyone can be part of. Hawkes is listed as one of the celebrity producers, along with Brett Ratner, Spike Jonez, and Kiefer Sutherland, who are raising money while creating the Worlds Biggest Short Film. All profits raised by the finished film will be donated to the Global Fund for Women.

Tom Everett Scott (Cashmere Mafia, Saved) was playing for a cause close to his heart.

“I’m playing for autism” he said prior to the tournament. “It runs in my family so it’s really important for me to personally get involved.”

Brian Baumgartner (The Office) was there to help raise money for those writers who were affected by the writers strike.

“I’m playing for the Motion Picture and Television Fund for the below the line workers that were affected by the writers strike,” he commented. “Its really an important organization that does a great deal of good work.”

Other celebrities in attendance included Mimi Rogers, who was playing for the Dream Foundation, actor Dwayne Adway (Into the Blue), who was very proud to support the Creative Coalition, and James Kyson Lee (Heroes) who has been inspired to start his own foundation.

“I’m just getting it established” Lee happily stated. “Im really excited about being able to help others and give back, I’d like to help the children in some way.”

Other celebrities in attendance included actor Don Cheadle, Meat Loaf, Ryan Stiles (Drew Carey Show), Donnie Wahlberg (Kill Point), Mekhi Phifer (E.R.), Eric Paladino (E.R.), Jonathon Schaech (Prom Night), Joshua LeBar (Entourage), Joshua Morrow (Young and the Restless), Lukas Haas (Death in Love), comedian Doug Benson, Camryn Manheim (Ghost Whisperer), Louis Lombardi (Sopranos, 24), Jeremy Sisto (Law & Order, Six Feet Under), Andy Milner (Weeds), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Michael Vartan (Big Shots, Never Been Kissed), Ron Livingston (The Time Traveler’s Wife), Tia Carrere, and Andy Hirsh (Big Love).

Congratulations to the winner of the event, Van Nguyen, who became the first female in history to win a mixed WPT tournament. She is married to poker pro Men ‘The Master” Nguyen.

Angelina Jolie - Helping Her Heroes

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:34:29 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

She may be known for her various roles on the silver screen that have earned her Golden Globes and an Academy Award, but perhaps Angelina Jolie’s greatest role is that which she plays in real life – Global Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. And it is exceedingly clear that the dedication that she shows in her acting is reflected in her work for humanitarian causes around the world.

The 32-year-old actor has just returned from a visit to Iraq, in which she met with top political officials to discuss people displaced by the war.

“There are over two million displaced people and there never seems to be a real coherent plan to help them,” she told CNN on her return. “There’s lots of goodwill and lots of discussion, but there seems to be a lot of talk at the moment and a lot of pieces that need to be put together.”

The trip was a follow-up to her visit to the country six months ago, and marks Jolie’s commitment to displaced persons and refugees in war-ravaged nations, and confirms her dedication to implement solutions wherever possible.

“Of the two million internally displaced, it’s estimated 58 percent are under 12 years old. It’s a very high number of people in a very, very vulnerable situation and a lot of young kids,” said Jolie. “So far, the different US officials I met with and different local people I’ve met with all have shared concerns, very, very strongly. They have spoken out about the humanitarian crisis, but there seems to be a block in.”

Jolie traveled to Baghdad with Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, and Refugees Minister Abdel Samad Rahman Sultan. As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie is well known for using her status as a superstar to generate media coverage about the plight of refugees and the conditions under which they live, and this trip to Iraq proved no different.

“This trip is to get a better picture of the internally displaced people and to discuss [the situation] with the local government, with our government, with the NGOs and with local people,” said Jolie. “I’m not good at policy and fixing all this and saying what’s wrong, but I do know that, for example, U.N.H.C.R. needs to be more active inside Iraq… I know that this is one thing that needs to be addressed and solved because there does need to be a real presence here to help count the people and register the people. Also, the prime minister here needs to empower the government that deals with migration and displacement to be able to address the concerns for these people, and that hasn’t happened in a significant way yet.”

Born in Los Angeles in 1975, Jolie’s acting career has already spanned two decades. Her first feature role was in Lookin’ to Get Out in 1982, a film co-written and co-produced by her father, the acclaimed actor Jon Voight. Since then, she has received Golden Globe Awards for the television movies George Wallace (1997) and Gia (1998), and her film credits include Hackers (1995), The Bone Collector (1999), Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), and Mr and Mrs Smith (alongside her partner, Brad Pitt, in 2005).

It was while filming the first Tomb Raider movie in Cambodia, a country stricken by poverty, that Jolie began to become aware of humanitarian issues around her. She approached the UNHCR for more information, and was sent to Sierra Leone, a small African country that – like the Democratic Republic of the Congo – had been devastated by years of brutal civil war. Seeing firsthand the enormous challenges that refugees face was a life-altering experience for the actress, and she was named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in August 2001.

Over the next few years, Jolie witnessed some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. She visited refugee camps in Tanzania, Pakistan, Thailand, Ecuador, Kosovo, Kenya, and Namibia, covering all of her own costs and insisting on sharing the same living and working conditions as field workers.

In 2003 Jolie published Notes From My Travels, a compelling collection of journal entries from her early field missions. She now publishes her latest journal entries on the UNHCR website.

Since 2003, Jolie has traveled to refugee camps in Sri Lanka, Russia, Jordan, Beirut, and Egypt, and has also visited detained asylum seekers in Arizona. In 2005 she filmed an MTV special entitled “The Diary of Angelina Jolie and Dr. Jeffrey Sachs in Africa”, portraying her trip to a remote group of villages in Kenya, and has visited Chad and Darfur several times since fighting erupted there in 2004.

In recent years, Jolie has been joined by Brad Pitt on many of her trips. In 2005 the pair witnessed the devastation of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan, and in 2006 they visited a school in Haiti supported by Wyclef Jean’s Yéle Haiti Foundation.

Also in 2006, the pair founded the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which made initial donations of $1 million to Doctors Without Borders and Global Action for Children. This was followed by a $100,000 donation to the Daniel Pearl Foundation, another to the Duk Lost Boys Medical Clinic in the Sudan, and $1 million to help refugees in Chad and Darfur.

Angelina Jolie’s generosity seems bottomless, and her heart is clearly as big as her stardom. In 2005, she announced the founding of the National Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Children, an organization that provides free legal aid to asylum-seeking children, and personally funded it with $1 million over 2 years. She also co-chairs the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, a program established at the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative that has pledged to help with the education of over 1 million children affected by conflict around the world.

Her missions to the most dangerous troublespots in the far-flung corners of the world look set to continue well into the future.

“It’s always hard to see decent people, families, living in such difficult conditions,” she said. “What is most upsetting is how long it is taking the international community to answer this crisis… You go to these places and you realize what life’s really about and what people are really going through. These people are my heroes.”

Shakira's Auction A Success

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:05:25 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The auction of Shakira’s clothes that we reported on earlier this week was a resounding success, with over $76,000 raised for the Pies Descalzos Foundation.

The money raised will be distributed through the singer’s Bare Feet campaign, and will be used to build a school for needy children in Northern Colombia.

Several items attracted high bids, with a lavender skirt going for $1,000, and a custom-made bra reaching $3,000. But the most sought after item was VIP tickets, including a meet-and-greet, to Shakira’s upcoming concert in Toronto, which sold for $14,000.

“It was a phenomenal success,” said Eric Gazin, president of Auction Cause. “We had bidders from 10 countries.”

But for those who missed out, there is still a few items left – two guitars autographed by the singer are available on eBay until Sunday, February 17.

Shakira Sheds Threads For Charity

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:11:47 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Although the Northern Hemisphere is still gripped with winter chills, it has not stopped some celebrities from shedding their clothes… for a good cause, of course.

Latin American pop princess Shakira leads the pack by donating more than 40 items of clothing from her 2007 Oral Fixation Tour to a massive internet auction.

There is an impressive list of garments from the hip-shaking performer’s wardrobe, including a lavender skirt with turqoise and coral beading and a blue tank top emblazoned with the words “For Those Who Love To Rock”. And the demand has been overwhelming, with one dress attracting bids of $10,000, and a custom-made bra reaching $1,126.

“We have bids from all over the world,” said Eric Ganzin, president of Auction Cause. “It’s very exciting.”

Proceeds from the auction will go to the singer’s Pies Descalzos Foundation, and the money will be used for the construction of a school for impoverished children in North Colombia.

But bidders had better be quick – the eBay auction ends in just a few hours.

Former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has pushed the envelope a little further by allowing naked photos of herself to be auctioned on eBay.

But before you get too excited, they are not all that they appear: the 30-year-old actress originally posed for the photos in a little black dress that was later removed digitally.

The proceeds from the photos will go to the Coalition of Skin Diseases.

And even Donald Trump is getting in on the act… although thankfully he is keeping his clothes on.

A tie signed by Trump is currently up for auction on eBay, with proceeds going to the Spirit Fund, a fund established by radio station Warm 101.3 to help children in the Rochester area.

The story behind the tie is twisty and, you could say, knotty: When a Kodak executive arrived on set for a recent taping of The Celebrity Apprentice, Trump objected to his tie. He ordered the executive to replace it with one belonging to one of the security guards.

There are only a few hours left in the auction, and bids have already reached $759.

But the biggest celebrity auction on the Net right now is the 50th Grammy Awards Charity Auction on eBay. Over 100 items from some of music’s hottest stars is up for grabs, with all proceeds going to MusiCares.

The auction, which runs until February 21, features exciting and priceless items such as the chance to visit the set of LL Cool J’s next video, a guitar lesson with Joe Satriani, VIP tickets to concerts by Linkin Park, John Legend, and Rihanna, guitars signed by Richie Sambora, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, and Neil Diamond, a microphone signed by Joss Stone, posters and photos signed by Rod Stewart ($167), John Mayer ($170), and Sting ($482), as well as items from Avril Lavigne, Slash, Reba McEntire, Quincy Jones, Beyoncé Knowles, and Snoop Dogg.

The internet auction follows a live auction held on February 8 at Aretha Franklin’s MusiCare’s Person Of The Year Award ceremony. Items that were up for sale on that night included a private painting lesson with Tony Bennett, a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton, sheet music to Stairway To Heaven signed by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, as well as clothing and instruments donated by Elton John, Slash, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.

MusiCares is the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, the group that gives out the Grammys, and focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.

Black Eyed Peas Rock The Peapod Party

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:10:28 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The Black Eyed Peas held their fourth annual charity concert at the Avalon in Hollywood last week, with a plethora of celebrity friends turning up to raise money for charity.

And even before the concert started, front woman Fergie was eager to spread the love.

“Travelling around the world and seeing disease and poverty, for me it’s about giving back,” she said.

The Peas’ concert was to benefit their Peapod Foundation, which provides aid to underprivileged children while also introducing them to new musical and technological programs.

“We’ve been doing this since 1999, and it started with a toy drive for kids in Pasadena,” said B.E.P member Taboo. “But now we have all these artists coming to support us, and it’s good because we give back to the community and now to all different countries.”

Supporting the not-to-be-missed concert, and picking up the microphone at times, were The Roots, Natasha Bedingfield, M.C. Hammer, Snoop Dogg, Slash, and Ludacris. During the show, Snoop attempted to get Hammer to bust a move, and later, Fergie was joined by Slash during her solo set – for which she received a standing ovation from the audience.

“My kids love Slash, they be playing ‘Guitar Hero’,” Snoop said.

Earlier this year, the Peas kicked it up a notch when they opened the Peapod Music and Arts Academy at the Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles. In an interview with The Associated Press, Peas frontman will.i.am said one of the organization’s main goals is to teach children how to become music moguls.

“I would like to have these workshops all around the world, these music schools, that teach people technology, so that way they can bring back money into communities,” he said. “We gave them green-screens, ProTools equipment, high-definition digital cameras – everything they’d need to make music and cut films. Peapod gives them the same tools we have and a platform to showcase it.”

Even though the Watts center is a pilot program, that isn’t going to stop the Peas.

“We’re going to East Los Angeles next, and hopefully all over the country,” said will.i.am. “Afterwards, we hope to hit South Africa, the Philippines, Brazil and others. We want to continue to build these hubs all over the world to give inner-city kids tools to do these things.”

Madonna And Friends Shine A Light On Malawi

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:23:58 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

If you were to look on a map, you could be excused for missing Malawi completely. Bordered by Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique in South East Africa, the nation of Malawi is shaped like a lightning bolt, with much of its land area covered by a massive lake. But it a country that is in dire need of help, and a host of celebrities turned out to a dazzling evening of fun on Wednesday, February 6, to raise awareness for what is one of the poorest countries in the world.

The gala event was hosted by Madonna on the lawns of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with the $3.7 million raised going to UNICEF and her own Raising Malawi organization. A long list of stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Tea Leoni, Lucy Liu, Billy Joel, Gwen Stefani, and Djimon Hounsou, attended the event, with tickets ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. The evening also featured performances by Alicia Keys, Timbaland, and Rihanna.

“I want to put Raising Malawi on the map,” said Madonna. “I want credibility as a philanthropic organisation. I want to inspire people. I don’t want them to just write me a cheque: I want them to give me a piece of their heart.”

Comedian Chris Rock hosted an auction during the evening, which featured some exciting items donated by celebrity guests. Priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities were up for grabs, such as a dance class with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow (which sold for $600,000), and a trip to Château Latour – including lunch with Salma Hayek – which was sold to Donald Trump for $120,000.

Tom Cruise, who attended the event with wife Katie Holmes, narrowly missed out on buying a sports package that included baseball practice with Yankee Alex Rodriguez and soccer practice with David Beckham.

“It was an extraordinary evening,” said Cruise. “The whole evening was quite moving. [Saving Malawi] is an absolute necessity.”

Saving Malawi was co-founded by Madonna in 2006, after she witnessed the plight of the country firsthand. And it is a plight she hopes to make more people aware of.

Recent UNICEF figures state that almost 1 million people in Malawi (whose total population is 13 million) suffer from HIV/AIDS, including 83,000 children. 267 people are infected with the virus every day, and half of the country’s 1 million orphans have lost their parents to the disease.

It is a country where 48% of children are severely malnourished, and many are subjected to the horrors of exploitation. The infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world, and 133 children out of 1000 die before they reach the age of five. They suffer from lack of food, shelter, clothing, education, clean water and sanitation, as well as basic medical services, and the average life expectancy is only 37 years.

Raising Malawi hopes to ease the suffering of the children of Malawi by providing smart solutions to the most challenging problems. Instead of just throwing money at the nightmare, they provide grassroots initiatives in the way of healthcare, education, and agriculture at a community level. To do this, they have partnered with some of the best organizations that work in the country, including the Millennium Promise Alliance, the Network of Organizations for Vulnerable and Orphan Children, and Spirituality for Kids.

One of Raising Malawi’s greatest initiatives is the Orphan Care Center recently built in the village of Mphandula. Designed to serve 4000 children, it provides a safe haven for orphans, and supplies nutritious meals, basic education, and crucial life skills. Along with programs to introduce solar power, clean water systems, and self-sustenance, Madonna hopes the Orphan Care Center will help Malawi overcome its problems.

“I’ve earned a reputation for many things,” said Madonna during Wednesday’s gala evening. “For pushing the envelope, for being a provocateur, for never taking no for an answer, for endlessly reinventing myself, for being a cult member, a kidnapper, for being ambitious, outrageous, and irreverent. And for never settling for second best. I don’t just want you to write me a check. I’m more interested in your heart. I want to take you on that journey with me tonight. I want you to feel as inspired as I do right now.

“Yes, I want to raise Malawi. But if I can do that – if we can do that – then the sky’s the limit.”

Celebrities On Show For AIDS Relief

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:52:49 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

“A Dollar Saves A Life” is the catchphrase of a new advertising campaign featuring Alicia Keys, Jessica Alba, and Somalia-born model Iman, launched to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

The stars will join actress Lisa Bonet, Indian model Padma Lakshmi, and Zöe Kravitz – daughter of Lenny Kravitz – in a series of advertisements in magazines across America, as part of Keys’ Keep A Child Alive Foundation’s new “Good Cents Initiative”.

The advertisements will see the stars dressed in stylish black clothes, striking simple yet elegant poses surrounded by accessories and props to promote the new campaign. Keys has been photographed clutching a large pink piggybank, and Alba smiles under an umbrella as coins rain down from above.

“Every penny counts,” read the advertisements. “We see every penny as something worth saving. Please join us in helping children in Africa and India get the vital AIDS drugs they need.”

The Good Cents Initiative was launched in September, 2007, when Keys took part in a roundtable discussion on youth activism with Bono, Shakira, Chris Rock, and Bill Clinton. The event was hosted by the Clinton Global Initiative.

Another star to be involved in an HIV/AIDS related project is singer Johnny Clegg, who has reworked his classic song “Great Heart” with an all-star cast of South African musicians as a fundraiser for the Starfish Greathearts Foundation.

Clegg appears alongside 17 other acts on the recording, including Arno Carstens, Chris Chameleon, Sipho “Hotstixs” Mabuse, and Kahn Morbee from indie-pop group The Parlotones.

The song, released as a radio-only single, is also included on a new benefit album – “Spirit of the Great Heart” – which will raise money for children affected by South Africa’s HIV/AIDS pandemic.

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