Look To The Stars News: Blood, Marrow & Organ Donation

Jennifer Lopez Seeking Bone Marrow Donors For Young Latina

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:23:13 +0000

Jennifer Lopez is urging Hispanics to help save the life of a 29-year-old Latina. Janet Ovalles needs a transplant from a matching donor to survive, but there are no matches among the 10 million donors registered worldwide.

Ovalles hopes that Lopez can inspire people to help her. There will be bone marrow drives in New York on the 24th and 25th of February.

Buffett Auctions Celebrity Dinner For Charity

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 12:58:33 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Businessman and philanthropist extraordinare Warren Buffett is to auction off a meal with himself and celebrity friends.

A similar auction last year raised $620,000 for a business lunch with the world’s second richest man. The dinner now under auction will see the winner join Buffett, Robert Redford, musician Tim McGraw and actor James Denton of “Desperate Housewives” at the home of Buffett’s daughter Susie in Omaha, Nebraska.

The auction is taking place online at charityfolks.com, ending at 6pm on Monday 5th March. Proceeds will go to the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness, which advocates organ and tissue donation.

Charlotte Church’s Urgent Plea for Organ Donation

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:03:31 +0000

Written by Theresa Mills

Singer and TV chat show host Charlotte Church joined the campaign for organ donation after meeting a 20-month-old boy with liver disease.

Finlay Careless was born with the life-threatening condition and his survival depends on a transplant. His name is being added to the long list of children and adults awaiting organs.

Finlay’s parents, who are family friends, appealed to the singer to raise public awareness about the need to register for organ donation.

“If this means one person picks up a donor card, or gives a pound to the liver disease foundation, it’s going to help,” said Finlay’s father, Julian Careless.

A new mother herself, Church knew she had to take action.

She visited the Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, where she met other sick children awaiting transplants.

As she held a six-and-a-half month old baby in need of a liver and bowel transplant she said: “It’s so important. It’s something everyone should do. A baby like this can benefit so much.”

“As soon as you have children you just realize how precious they are.”

“I wanted to get the message across to donate organs. I’m definitely going to do it myself.”

John Oliver from UK Transplant hopes that Church’s support will inspire people to register for organ donation.

“There is a chronic shortage of donated organs,” he said. "The fact that the need for transplantation has touched Church directly, through friends, helps bring home more than anything just how desperate the need is.

  "Organ donation is something we can all do something about.

“We’re delighted Charlotte is highlighting how we all have the potential to save lives.”  

Cindy Crawford To Receive Honor

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:30:49 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The world’s largest marrow donor center will honor Cindy Crawford at a special event in May.

The second annual Linked Against Leukemia Gala will take place on May 7 in New York to raise money for the Deutsche Knochemarkspenderdatei (better known as the DKMS or German Bone Marrow Donor Center), an organization that boasts 1.6 million registered donors and has facilitated over 13,000 transplants. The Center is committed to the fight against leukemia, and recruits donors from every race and ethnicity to help blood cancer patients receive life-saving transplants.

The gala event will be hosted by actor Mario Cantone and will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, and a performance from platinum-selling recording artist Sarah Connor.

“I am thrilled to be part of this evening,” said Crawford, who will be honored for her humanitarian work. “This is a cause that is very close to my heart and I hope we are able to raise awareness and funds for DKMS.”

Last year’s gala featured a performance by Rihanna, who recently helped find a donor for a mother in New York suffering from leukemia and in dire need of a transplant.

“We are excited to be celebrating our second annual gala, and are grateful for the support we continue to receive,” said Katharina Harf, Executive President of DKMS. “More than 140,000 people in the US are diagnosed each year with life-threatening blood diseases, such as leukemia and lymphoma, and leukemia is the most common disease children in the US die of. Our goal is to raise funds so that we can recruit 30,000 new donors this year.”

Ticket prices for the event start at $1,000, and more information can be found at www.dkmsamerica.org.

Angelina Jolie Donates Jacket To Charity Auction

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie is auctioning off clothes she wore in her latest film to benefit a charity established by Morgan Freeman.

Plan!t Now is an organization that provides people, communities, and companies with the information they need to protect their families, homes, businesses, resources, and documents from the effects of storm and hurricane-related disasters, and the new online auction features a range of celebrity-donated items to raise money to help those in need.

Jolie has donated the jacket she wore onscreen during her up-coming feature Wanted to the cause, and Freeman – her co-star in the movie – has put up opportunities to meet him at his latest theatre appearance and also to join him in a round of golf. George Clooney has donated an autographed pair of boots, and there are also chances to attend concerts by Keith Urban and Eric Clapton.

The auction, which runs on the Charity Folks website, runs until July 1.

Fans of the Eagles should also head over to Charity Folks to check out some of the signed merchandise up for grabs from the classic rockers. There’s a signed guitar, poster, and Long Road Out Of Eden CD on offer, with proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation. But be quick, that auction ends tomorrow.

Jennifer Harman To Play Poker For Kidney Foundation

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity poker player Jennifer Harman is to hold a charity poker tournament to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation.

In 2004, Professional poker player Jennifer Harman took a year away from poker to have her second kidney transplant. After receiving a second kidney through organ donation, Harman founded Creating Organ Donation Awareness (CODA), a non-profit organization to raise money and awareness for the cause.

The two-day tournament will be held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno on March 11. A host of celebrities and poker pros have already signed up to play, including Marco Traniello, Howard Lederer, Tiffany Michelle, Linda Johnson, Maria Ho, Todd Brunson, Roy Winston, Lee Watkinson, Brad Booth, Andy Bloch, Olympic snowboarder Ross Powers, X-games snowboard judge Jeff Brushie, Assistant NBA coach Mike Brown and former Sacramento Kings player Doug Lee.

“The Grand Sierra Resort has been very supportive,” said Harman. “I’m excited to be returning to my hometown of Reno in support of the local community and the National Kidney Foundation.”

Harman is no stranger to charity poker tournaments. Last year she raised $130,000 for the SPCA shelter in Las Vegas through a tournament she organized.

For information about how to take part in the event, visit the National Kidney Foundation website.

Rihanna Helps Girl Find Bone Marrow Donor

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Singer Rihanna is to help a sick young girl find a bone marrow donor.

Jasmina Anna Anema is a five year old girl from New York City who suffers from Leukaemia – the often fatal cancer of the blood. Without a donor, Jasmina will die.

“When I saw the video of Jasmina it broke my heart,” Rihanna told PEOPLE. "It is so unfair that for a black patient it’s so much harder to find a bone marrow match. Jasmina has acute leukemia and she needs a bone marrow transplant to live.

“Leukemia is the most common disease children in the U.S. die of and we need to change that. I urge everyone to sign up as a bone marrow donor with DKMS. If we have more donors, we can save more children like Jasmina."

Finding a bone marrow match for African-Americans is extremely difficult, as they are underrepresented on the donor registry. DKMS and Rihanna are urging more African-Americans to step up and donate to save lives.

“Finding a match is our only answer,” said Thea Amena, Jasmina’s mother. “We have to. And we want to bring awareness to this – not just for Jasmina, but for everyone with leukemia. I hope people come forward to help.”

This is not the first time Rihanna has helped find a bone marrow donor. Last February she helped find a donor to save the life of a New York mother, and she also performed at the DKMS gala fundraiser.

“I think DKMS is an incredible charity because you can really see the results,” said the singer.

For more information on how to become a donor, visit the DKMS website.

Jennifer Harman Raises $111,000 In Charity Poker Tournament

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Professional poker player Jennifer Harman hosted two days of fundraising activities in Reno, Nevada last week, raising more than $111,000 for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).

Notable attendees included professional poker players Marco Traniello, Andy Bloch, Howard Lederer, Tiffany Michelle, Lacey Jones, Maria Ho, Linda Johnson, Todd Brunson, Roy Winston, Lee Watkinson, Lee Markholt, David Plastik, Debo DeBernardi, Shawn Van Asdale, Jan Fisher, Jeff Madsen and Marsha Waggoner, and ESPN commentator Lon McEachern, baseball legends Vida Blue and Tido Fuentes, World Champion snowboarder and X-Games judge Jeff Brushie, and NBA veterans Michael Brown and Doug Lee.

“This is the largest field of any charity event I have hosted,” said Harman. “The outpouring of support exceeded any expectations. I can’t thank the poker community enough for its generosity.”

Harman took a year away from poker to have her second kidney transplant in 2004. After receiving a second kidney through organ donation, Harman founded Creating Organ Donation Awareness (CODA), a non-profit organization to raise money and awareness for the cause.

The charity poker tournament attracted more than 300 participants, including 22 ten-player teams participating in a “FullTilt Throw Down” side competition. Though Peppermill Casino donated $8,000 to sponsor four ten-player teams, they were no match for Atlantis Casino’s “Team 2,” accumulating the most points to receive a “FullTilt Throw Down” team trophy and ten team member prize packages. Team Oaks Casino and Team LIPS tied for second place. A “Ro! Cham! Beau!” tiebreaker determined Oaks Casino as the “FullTilt Throw Down” team silver medal winners. LIPS team members each received third place bronze medals.

“We couldn’t be happier with the turnout,” stated National Kidney Foundation CEO Christopher Kelley. “This event raised an enormous amount of awareness around our cause.”

William Roberts of Reno, Nevada was the overall individual winner of the Jennifer Harman Charity Poker Tournament and received a Legacy Alliance custom crystal trophy, a $5,000 World Poker Challenge entry, and a Curtis & Co. Watch. Tom Galusha, Jim fisher, Wei Jin, Armas Schwartz, Troy Wallace, David Imburgia, Sandy Kasinowicz, Kim Rios, and Yarom Limor placed second through tenth, consecutively.

“It’s always great to play poker for a good cause,” exclaimed Roberts after his win. “I was just glad to be a part of it. Jennifer did a great job and everyone had a blast.”

George Lopez Hosts Golf For Kidney Charity

Mon, 04 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Comedian George Lopez is currently hosting a golf tournament in support of The National Kidney Foundation of Southern California’s 30th Annual Gift of Life Tribute Celebration, this year paying tribute to noted philanthropist Stewart Rahr, President & CEO of Kinray, Inc.

Last night, May 3, saw a massive turn out of stars for a special dinner at the Beverly Wilshire, including Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Longoria, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia, Ray Romano, Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, Luke Wilson and Natalie Cole. Today sees many of these stars hitting the golf course at the Lakeside Golf Club in support of the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California’s efforts to further scientific research in preventing kidney disease and ultimately finding a cure to improve the quality of life for patients with kidney disease.

To find out more about this event, visit the official website.

Rihanna And Kylie Support Bone Marrow Gala

Mon, 11 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rihanna attended the annual DKMS gala in New York last Thursday, May 7.

The singer attended the event to support Isabelle Huurman, the 6-year-old best friend of leukemia patient Jasmina Anema, who is in need of a bone marrow transplant.

The singer has been helping Jasmina find a donor since she saw a video of the girl’s story earlier this year.

Rihanna presented Jasmina’s friend Isabelle a special award at Thrusday’s event.

“I am so honored to be here to present the ‘Links of Love’ award to Isabelle for all she has done for her best friend,” she said. “Thank you, Isabelle. Isabelle has spent time with Jasmina— she is awesome and absolutely worth fighting for. I also have to say she is lucky to have you. You’re an incredible best friend. And best friends are very, very, very important, the kind that we all would be lucky to have. You rock, Isabelle!”

Kylie Minogue also attended the event, after flicking the switch to change the lights of New York’s Empire State building red and white in aid of DKMS. The special ceremony honored the Coty-DKMS Linked Against Leukaemia partnership, which aims to encourage more bone marrow donations.

DKMS is an organization that connects bone marrow and stem cell donors with patients in need. With assistance from donors and patients, family and friends, DKMS has become the largest donor center in the world.

30 Rock Spoof To Raise Real Cash For Charity

Wed, 20 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A star-studded charity spoof song recorded for television series 30 Rock is set to raise cash for a real-life charity organization.

He Needs A Kidney is a song written and recorded for the comedy series that features hilarious appearances by Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Michael McDonald, the Beastie Boys, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Mary J. Blige, Cyndi Lauper, Moby, Clay Aiken and many more.

The song is now available for sale as a download on iTunes.com with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation.

The song can be viewed on YouTube.

Annual Buffett Lunch Auction Bidding Hits $75,000

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Each year around June, former World’s Richest Man Warren Buffett auctions off the opportunity to dine with him, and the well-heeled winners’ bids go straight to charity.

In the 6 previous years that Buffett has presented this opportunity, financiers and entrepreneurs keen to share his legendary market wisdom have handed over more than $4.2 million, primarily to Glide, a charity that supports San Francisco’s homeless community.

The 2006 lunch went for $610,000, while 2007’s fetched $650,000, and last year’s pre-market-collapse lunch cost the winner a record $2.1 million.

Just 2 days into the 2009 auction, hosted at eBay, slated to finish on Friday 26th, bidding has reached $75,000, comparable to the 2007 bidding. We’ll report back with the final result.

Buffett also eats other meals for charity, auctioning off his dinner company in 2007 in support of the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness.

In 2006 he sold his town car at charity auction to benefit Girls Inc. The vehicle sported his personalized “THRIFTY” license plate, but the real beneficiary of his thrift that year was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to which he pledged $37bn — the bulk of his fortune.

Adrian Paul Launches PEACE Fund Charity Auction For Haiti

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The PEACE Fund – created by Highlander star Adrian Paul to Protect, Educate, and Aid Children Everywhere – currently has number of one-of-a-kind photos taken over the years by British journalist John Mosby featuring popular genre stars like Nathan Fillion, David Wenham, James Kyson-Lee, Kevin Sorbo, and Anthony Head (with more being added all the time).

Items also include a personal phone call from Adrian Paul and much more.

The actors have autographed their photos with their signatures and the Highlander motto of “There Can Be Only One.” These and other items are up for auction now here.

Rihanna Wants To Refresh Bone Marrow Charity

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Rihanna is the latest star to take part in Pepsi’s Refresh Project, and has appealed to fans to help win funding for charity.

Pepsi has asked people to cast their votes at www.refresheverything.com for the refreshing consumer-generated ideas that they believe will make a positive impact on their communities. This is the first of eleven opportunities for the public to win grants from $5,000 up to $250,000 throughout the year.

Rihanna is asking fans to vote for DKMS – an organization that connects bone marrow and stem cell donors with patients in need – following the death of 6-year-old Jasmina Anema last month. The singer had led a campaign to help find a bone marrow donor for the little girl, and was heartbroken by her passing.

“She was a very free, fun spirited little girl, full of energy, always happy, always energetic,” said Rihanna. "I always remember she wouldn’t sit still. She was always running around, always had a smile on her face.
 
“If we win [the funding], this would really help us recruit 4,000 individual donors.”

The Pepsi Refresh Project, a groundbreaking effort to foster innovation in social good, will award more than $20 million this year to fund great ideas that refresh the world. Joining the campaign are actors Demi Moore and Kevin Bacon, who have generated their own ideas for Pepsi Refresh and are competing for support in the Pepsi Refresh Celebrity Challenge.

Visit the Pepsi Refresh Project Facebook page, to cast your vote by February 28 in the Pepsi Refresh Celebrity Challenge for Moore or Bacon’s idea. Pepsi will grant $250,000 to fund the idea that wins the most votes.

Jackie Chan Supports Young Leukemia Sufferer

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Action star Jackie Chan is using Facebook to appeal to fans to help save a little girl with leukemia.

“I recently found out about an 8 year-old girl who has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant,” he wrote on his official Facebook page. “I recorded a public service announcement to appeal for your help and now I am asking all my Facebook fans to do what they can. Please help!”

8-year-old Natalie was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) in the Fall of 2008. After five rounds of chemotherapy she went into remission and re-enrolled in school this past Fall. But her leukemia returned in January 2010 and now her only chance for survival is to find a lifesaving bone marrow donor as soon as possible.

To find out more about how you can join Jackie and DKMS in helping her, visit her official website or the DKMS website.

Vote For Adrian Paul's Peace Fund In Charity Contest

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Highlander star Adrian Paul's children’s charity The PEACE Fund has been named one of 33 finalists in the Show Us Your Goodness Contest sponsored by Canada’s Snack Alliance Corp. The Peace Fund has an opportunity to win up to $20,000 to help the victims of the Haiti Earthquake.

The general public is being invited to vote for their most inspiring “People’s Pick” award in the Riceworks “Show Us Your Goodness” charity contest, which will award the winners $60,000 in shared prize money.

The company behind the popular contest is Snack Alliance Inc ., the maker of Riceworks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps. The contest is part of a social media campaign that invites consumers to vote online for the charitable program they believe has gone the extra mile to “serve the greater good.”

“The viral aspect was amazing and we unexpectedly received more than 2500 submissions, which meant we had a difficult time to select the most deserving 33 charity semi-finalists,” says Tricia Ryan, Director of Marketing for Riceworks. "Still, we tried to be fair and visit all issues – health, aging, children, animals, homelessness – in our selection process.

“The nominations really opened our eyes to the selfless and generous nature of all those who support causes that are close to their hearts.”

This voting phase continues until April 30, at which time a select panel of six judges will vote for the top three finalists to win $20,000, and $5,000 each respectively, while the remaining 30 semi-finalists will share $1,000 each as part of the Sponsor’s Choice Award.

Click here to cast your vote for The Peace Fund.

Halle Berry Gathers With The Stars At DKMS Charity Gala

Mon, 03 May 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Empire State Building was lit red and white on Thursday night in celebration of a star-studded charity event in New York.

Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson hosted the 4th annual DKMS Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on April 29, which attracted a plethora of guests including Halle Berry, Kylie Minogue, Eva Mendes, Estelle, Solange Knowles and Whitney Port. Entertainment was provided by Jon Bon Jovi.

Halle Berry presented Island Def Jam Chairman Antonio ‘LA’ Reid with the DKMS Linked Against Leukemia Award in recognition of his tireless work in fighting cancer and supporting organizations and charities which do the same. The award has been awarded to Cindy Crawford in the past.

“I am extremely honored to receive the prestigious DKMS Linked Against Leukemia Award,” said LA Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group. “Leukemia affects thousands of people every year and kills more children in the U.S. than any other disease. Many patients could be saved by a bone marrow transplant, but there simply aren’t enough donors to save everyone. I encourage everyone to sign up to save a life.”

Rihanna Supports Cancer Charity’s $250,000 Prize Bid

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

Music star Rihanna is urging her fans to support DKMS Americas in winning a $250,000 Pepsi Refresh Everything grant.

The Pepsi Refresh Project allows for website visitors to nominate and vote for their favorite charitable organizations. Nominees with the highest votes receive grants to extend their services.

DKMS is the world’s largest bone marrow donor center. Every year, through recruitment programs and campaigns, the organization registers new donors for leukemia patients. If DKMS receives the grant, the prize money will be used to finance 4000 new donor registrations.

A long time supporter of the organization, Rihanna also works with the Believe Foundation to further the bone marrow cause.

Voting for the refresh project ends June 30th, 2010. Click here for more info.

Jeff Gordon Partners With Pepsi For Charity

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon recently competed against fellow teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in an effort to win a $100,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant which would benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) at the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital.

Each driver outlined an idea for a project about which they were passionate. The idea with the most votes would then receive a $100,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project to fulfill their initiative. In a very close race among all three drivers, Jimmie Johnson took home the checkered flag winning the grant for the Be The Match Foundation.

Pepsi generously awarded Gordon and Earnhardt. Jr. each a $25,000 grant for participating in the competition, the grants will be used for their respective initiatives. In a recent press conference Gordon announced that he would personally commit $75,000 in conjunction with Pepsi’s $25,000 grant in order to fulfill his project initiative to fund an additional Child Life Specialist to aid physically and sexually abused children at the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital. “When you feel as passionately as I do about funding programs that support the treatment and care of abused children, you have to be proactive” said Gordon

“I am so thrilled that we are able to expand our multidisciplinary team by adding a Child Life Specialist to the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). This opportunity will help aid in minimizing the trauma and provide additional emotional support for our abused children. The Child Life Specialist will also help the child to express fears and concerns; increase the child’s understanding of the medical and investigative process; provide distraction and emotional support during medical procedures; and be an advocate for the child. I am excited about the growth of the CAC’s team in helping abused children and families cope with this horrific event.” Lisa Yates, Child Life Coordinator, Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital.

The Children’s Advocacy Center at the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital treats approximately 400 children a year for physical and sexual abuse in Cabarrus County and outlying areas.

Paddle Jam: Celebrity Charity Ping Pong To Hit Hollywood

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000

George Lopez is the first star to confirm his participation in an upcoming charity ping pong tournament.

On Sunday, September 26, stars from TV, film, sports and music will unite with their favorite Non-Profit Organizations for The Ultimate Slam Paddle Jam.

Taking place at The Music Box in the heart of Hollywood, the 2010 Paddle Jam is a celebrity ping pong tournament which will raise awareness for the crucial issues of multiple non-profits, while educating the public on the many ways to make a positive impact without necessarily reaching into their wallets.

The 2010 Paddle Jam, produced by Keldof Marketing, will unite cause-conscious brands with top talent and connect both with top non-profits in the categories of Education, Health, Environment, Human Rights, Animal Rights, Community, Poverty & The Arts. Sixteen celebrity doubles teams will each play for a different organization including Rock the Vote, Equality CA, The Lopez Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, and The Humane Society of the United States, among many others.

“With eight cause categories, we cover the spectrum of issues affecting our world at present, issues which are inherently connected. We aim to create a playful environment that also acts as a ’one-stop cause shop,” said Paddle Jam Producer Kevin Seldon. “While donations to our prestigious participating Non-Profits are of course welcomed and vital to their survival, Paddle Jam will provide a site which will house a series of actions from each of the participating non-profits – engaging visitors to take immediate action without costing anything more than a few moments of their time.”

The Paddle Jam website, http://paddlejam.com/ will give audiences around the globe the chance to take action, get involved and make an impact. For example, through Rock The Vote, visitors can register to vote quickly and easily, through The Humane Society of the United States, they can pledge to adopt their next pet and through the Ann & George Lopez Foundation they will be able to become an organ donor.

For more information on participating non-profits, celebrity players, brand partners, and to learn about opportunities to attend, follow the Paddle Jam Twitter at http://twitter.com/PaddleJam or visit http://facebook.com/PaddleJam.

Stars Play Charity Ping Pong At PaddleJam

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:30:00 +0000

On Sunday, September 26, stars from TV, Film, Sports and Music united with their favorite non-profit organizations for The Ultimate Slam PaddleJam, a ping pong celebrity doubles tournament to raise awareness for the crucial issues of multiple non-profits.

Taking place at The Music Box in the heart of Hollywood, the 2010 PaddleJam is the launch of an annual initiative uniting stars, non-profits and cause-conscious brands to showcase the many ways to make a difference without necessarily reaching into one’s wallet.

This year’s PaddleJam brought together celebrity participants George Lopez, Zachary Levi, LMFAO, Greg Grunberg, Simon Helberg, Harold Perrineau, David Banner, Taylor Cole, Jesse Williams, Sherri Saum, Aimee Garcia, Josh Henderson, Danielle Dotzenrod, Jessica Sutta, Hal Sparks and Quinton Aaron, and united them with top non-profits including Rock the Vote, Oceana, The Humane Society of the United States, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, The Lopez Foundation, Equality CA and Youth Mentoring Connection.

After an evening of spirited play & music by DJ Eye, DJ Bizzy and the night’s emcee DJ Reflex, TEAM Rock The Vote (with the chart-topping LMFAO) finally beat out TEAM Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (with Chuck’s Zachary Levi and Big Bang Theory’s Simon Helberg) for the title of 2010 PaddleJam Champions. As the prize, Rock the Vote will now receive all the proceeds from the autographed Sears/Joola ping pong table signed by all of the tournament’s celebrity players through an auction launching this week through Clothes Off Our Back.

“While donations to Non-Profits are always welcomed and crucial, I wanted to create a project that celebrated the multitude of opportunities available, across a wide spectrum of cause categories, to make a positive impact on the world no matter your financial situation,” said PaddleJam creator and producer Kevin Seldon.

The PaddleJam website gives audiences around the globe the chance to take immediate action without spending anything more than their time. For example, through Oceana, visitors can sign a petition to demand a clean energy future; for Youth Mentoring Connection, visitors can sign up to be a youth mentor; through The Humane Society of the United States, they can pledge to adopt their next pet, and through the Ann & George Lopez Foundation they can sign up to become an organ donor. The auction items from all the 2010 participating non-profits can be found at www.PaddleJam.org.

George Lopez Donates Concert Proceeds To Charity

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

George Lopez, comedian, actor and host of late-night talk show Lopez Tonight, pledged $20,000 to MALDEF from the proceeds of his January 29 concert in Phoenix, Arizona.

The generous pledge from The Lopez Foundation will allow MALDEF to continue to realize the organization’s mission of serving as the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization.

George Lopez stated “As a comedian, I get paid to find the humor in all sorts of situations. And I love my job – I really do – because I am able to bring laughter to the lives of millions of Lopez Tonight viewers each night. But there is nothing funny about targeting individuals because of their background, ethnicity or race. That’s not the answer to the problems facing our nation. If not stopped, the current assaults on Latinos will negatively impact the possibilities for bright Latino children and youth hoping to better their circumstances through hard work and quality education. I am happy to support Tom and MALDEF because of all the amazing work they are doing to help Latino families overcome the challenges facing them.”

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access

Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel, stated “MALDEF thanks George Lopez for his generous support and for his recognition of the constitutional crisis facing all of Arizona, with a particular impact on the Latino community, as a result of the reckless legislation, such as SB 1070, enacted by elected state leaders. This support will assist MALDEF to continue to defend the Constitution in federal court.”

Linda Small, Executive Director of The Lopez Foundation, stated “We are proud to partner with MALDEF to help provide resources and support to Latino families across the nation. The Lopez Foundation was created to help bring about positive, permanent change for underprivileged children and adults confronting challenges in education and health. Our partnership with MALDEF will help ensure that, together, we can achieve our mission and enrich the lives of communities across the nation.”

30 Rock Star Sounds The Alarm For Kidney Disease

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Grizz Chapman is used to playing a supporting role, in his earlier life as a celebrity bodyguard and in his current role as part of Tracy Morgan’s entourage on the Emmy award-winning NBC hit show, “30 Rock.” But Chapman is taking the lead in the fight against kidney disease in his new role as spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation and Chairman for the Foundation’s 2011 Kidney Walk series.

The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Walk events are held throughout the year in nearly 100 communities nationwide, totaling 75,000 walkers. Chapman will personally attend seven Kidney Walks, helping raise funds through the creation of Walk teams in each city. Local walkers can join his “Team Grizz” by visiting teamgrizz.com and supporting the foundation’s efforts in public education, early detection, advocacy and research.

The alarm was sounded for this father of two when he began spilling protein into his urine a little over two years ago. Uncontrolled high blood pressure damaged his kidneys and ultimately led to kidney failure.

As he walks, Chapman plans to spread the word about the need for early detection for kidney disease and the critical national shortage of donor organs. Chapman, who shot “30 Rock” while undergoing dialysis treatment for kidney failure three times a week and recently received a donated kidney, has a powerful message for the public. He urges Americans to"take care of your health even when you feel good. Especially, keep your blood pressure under control and pay attention to your urine. If it’s foamy, that’s not a good sign and you need to check out your kidneys."

Says Chapman, “I am honored to be teaming up with the National Kidney Foundation to spread the word about risk factors and bring awareness to others about this silent epidemic.”

After shedding over 160 lbs, Chapman underwent a successful kidney transplant last summer. His new kidney was a gift from a 19-year-old altruistic donor, Ryan Perkins, of Phoenix, Arizona.

Chapman and Perkins will team up for the Kidney Walk in Phoenix, Arizona on April 2. Other cities Chapman will participate in the Kidney Walk include: Hempstead, NY, Atlanta, GA, Syracuse, NY, Philadephia, PA, Georgetown, Washington, DC and New York, NY.

The National Kidney Foundation, Inc. (NKF), is the major voluntary health organization dedicated to preventing kidney disease, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by kidney disease and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation. For more information visit kidney.org and to join Team Grizz visit teamgrizz.com. To follow Grizz on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/grizz30rock.

Today, March 10, is World Kidney Day, and the whole of March is National Kidney Month. Find out more here.

Get Your Hands On Adrian Paul's Gear For Charity

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The PEACE Fund – created by Highlander star Adrian Paul to Protect, Educate, and Aid Children Everywhere – has launched an awesome new online auction.

A variety of items from some of Adrian’s movies and TV shows are going under the hammer, including an official Highlander jacket signed by the actor, an autographed PEACE Fund T-shirt, the actor’s personal workout sneakers and much more.

The auction runs until April 21 and can be accessed via eBay.

George Lopez To Host Celebrity Charity Golf Classic

Sun, 01 May 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Host George Lopez will be joined by celebrity golfers for his fourth annual Celebrity Golf Classic benefiting The Lopez Foundation at the Riviera Country Club, 1250 Capri Drive, Pacific Palisades on Monday, May 2.

Celebrity guests teeing off at the event include Aimee Garcia, Andy Garcia, Anthony Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, Billy Bush, Cedric the Entertainer, Cheech Marin, Dave Annable, Don Cheadle, Jack Wagner, Jimmy Jam, Joe Mantegna, Kenny G, Kevin Dobson, Kevin Nealon, Matt Lanter, Michael Bearden, Michael Clarke Duncan, Michael Pena, Michelle Rodriguez, Omarosa, Ray Romano, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tony Dovolani, William Devane, Joe Regalbuto and many others.

The Fourth Annual George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic and 2011 Audi quattro Cup will benefit The Lopez Foundation. The tournament format is “Two Man Modified Best Ball” of fivesomes with full handicap. The Charity’s mission is to create positive, permanent change for underprivileged children and adults confronting challenges in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.

Find more info here.

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