Look To The Stars News: Rape/Sexual Abuse

Celebrities Customize Jeans for Charity Auction

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:41:14 +0000

Jeans manufacturer J&Company has given stars pairs of jeans and the necessary bling to decorate them for their Bling Your Blues Campaign.

Beginning August 28th, fans will be able to bid on jeans created by celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Eva Longoria, Ben Affleck, and Jennifer Garner.

All proceeds go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The Forecast Shows RAINN On The Web

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 21:24:00 +0000

Written by Jill Marie Elliott

With Tori Amos on the advisory board, Rachel Bilson & Kevin Smith lending their support, being named one of “America’s 100 Best Charities” by Worth Magazine, and having just honored the first one million callers who have received help from the National Sexual Assault
Hotline, I’d say RAINN is definitely on the radar!

Now the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is proud to launch
the pilot phase of their National Sexual Assault Online Hotline. This is an essential lifeline for sexual assault survivors who may not be ready or have restrictions making a connection via a telephone line.

After months of collaboration with leading security software designers, RAINN developed a privacy-protected instant messaging format for online communication. Survivors can communicate in real-time with trained crisis support volunteers with the confidence of knowing that no trace or transcripts are stored. Furthermore, a tutorial is given on clearing private data from their personal computer after an online visit.

During its pilot phase the online hotline hours are Monday through Friday, from 4pm to 6pm ET, eventually becoming a 24/7 sanctuary. For
more information regarding their online counseling, how you can volunteer and other ways RAINN offers support, visit their website at
www.rainn.org.

Hilary Duff Dishes It Out at Homeless Shelter

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:03:34 +0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Singer Hilary Duff served up chicken and stew for hundreds of homeless and working poor men last week at Hope Mission's Herb Jamieson Center, a shelter in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. She stopped by the Center as part of her campaign to raise awareness about poverty and hunger.

“It’s nice when someone who makes a lot of money will look you in the eye and treat you like a real person,” Hope Mission spokeswoman Janelle Aker said, adding that Duff’s efforts could also help raise awareness with a younger demographic.

The pop star was in town as part of the Canadian leg of her North American Dignity tour, which kicked off last weekend. Duff is once again asking concert-goers to bring along non-perishable food donations to be collected at concert gates by The Salvation Army and distributed by food charity Harvest. Harvest chapters “collect surplus food from restaurants, grocery stores, and other food producers and immediately deliver it to missions, shelters, soup kitchens and food banks.” During her previous two Canadian tours, Duff raised over 125,000 pounds for Alberta Harvest. Harvest founder Stan Curtis says each concert can bring in as many as 3,000 cans of food, enough for 6,000 meals.  

Last November Duff bought 200,000 meals through USA Harvest for Hurricane Katrina refugees still in shelters over a year after the disaster. Curtis says, “Hilary has set an extraordinary example with her generous contributions to the Gulf Coast victims of (the) tragic hurricanes. With her current contribution, Hilary will have donated over 2.7 million meals to the victims who still need these generous donations.”

Even so, Duff says, “A big misconception of charity work and celebrities is that it takes a lot of money. It doesn’t take a lot of money. Your time is the best thing you can give.” She feels that with compassion, homelessness and hunger are simple to solve.

Duff plans to meet with fans before her August 25 concert in Louisville, Kentucky, and is asking her fans to help her raise 1,000 cans of food at the event.

Scarlett Johansson, Green Day and Goo Goo Dolls are also contributors to USA Harvest.

Emma Thompson’s Sex Slave Journey

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:25:22 +0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson has lent her face and time to support the Journey installation, which recently appeared in front of London’s National Gallery and is now headed to other locations.

Journey’s seven rusty shipping containers, the kind also used for trafficking people, lined Trafalgar Square for a week last month. Each container was curated by a different artist, and each depicts elements in the life of a London sex slave, Elena, sold for £500 ($1,000 US) in Lithuania to traffickers, and then forced to serve 20 to 30 clients a day. Visitors to the installation leave at least disturbed, if not unnerved.

Created to bring attention to the work of the Helen Bamber Foundation, an organization that offers therapeutic treatment to those traumatised by violence and abuse, the installation came from Thompson’s friendship with Elena, one of Bamber’s clients. Thompson offers her studio for yoga and pilates to clients from the foundation.

“They come through a lot, and we have volunteers who teach drums and guitar. It’s part of their physical rehabilitation. I get to know people and we talk, and some people you make friends with,” Thompson says. “Our engagement with people who have suffered is full of riches. Our curiosity needs to be engaged instead of pity. We need engagement rather than charity.”

It is the goal of Journey to raise awareness about sex trafficking, and the fact that the UK has become the prime destination for trafficked women and girls. Its other goal, of course, is to raise funds for the Helen Bamber Foundation for the rehabilitation of victims. The foundation in particular wants the UK to sign up to the Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking.

Journey is due to go on tour to Glasgow, Liverpool, and hopefully eastern Europe.

Corinne Bailey Rae - A Rising Star

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:25:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

If one word can be used to describe the rise to fame of English R&B singer Corinne Bailey Rae, it would be “meteoric”. In the space of two short years, from the release of her debut EP “Like A Star” in October 2005, to three Grammy Award nominations for her eponymous first album in 2007, the 28-year-old soul singer has made a lasting effect on people all over the world. And it’s not just fans who are benefiting from the star’s talents. Bailey Rae has quickly proven herself to be one of the most philanthropic and human-minded artists in the industry today.

Born in the English city of Leeds to a West Indian father and a Yorkshire mother, Bailey Rae found her love of music early.

“I started off singing in church,” said the singer, whose voice drips with shades of Billie Holiday. “People always think it must have been a gospel church… but it wasn’t gospel at all. It was just your regular brethren church, very middle class, where we would sing these harmonies every Sunday. It was always my favorite part of the service, the singing.”

A classically trained violinist and English Literature graduate, the singer was passionate about music from a young age, and although she would later become famous for her soulful R&B style, her early forays into music were not what you would expect – her first influence was Led Zeppelin.

“I loved that band during my teens,” she laughed when remembering her early influences. “I wanted, somehow, to follow in their footsteps, and to create music of my own.”

Her involvement with a short-lived but popular Indie band, Helen, led the young artist to develop her songwriting skills and move into the genre of soul, a style it seems she was born to sing.

“I am a huge fan of jazz, but not the muso kind,” she said. “I hate all the noodling, which is why I love classic songs – they are so pure and succinct. That’s what I tried to do with my own songs. They are short and sweet, to the point. I like the idea of leaving people wanting more, not less.”

Her first album, “Corinne Bailey Rae”, was released in February 2006, and features the hit singles “Like A Star” and “Put Your Records On”. It went triple platinum in Britain, and created history by entering the Billboard chart at number 17 – the highest ever chart debut for a UK artist in the US.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” said Bailey Rae, describing the album. “It’s chilled out, acoustic, kooky, atmospheric, and soulful.”

But with all of the awards and accolades, Corinne Bailey Rae has managed to keep both feet on the ground, and her name has already become synonymous with good causes and charitable enterprises. Earlier in 2007 she had a song included on Amnesty International's “Instant Karma” CD, and in June she played at the Live Earth concert at Wembley Stadium. In September, the singer played a stunning and heartfelt set at the Peace One Day concert held at the Royal Albert Hall.

On November 20, Bailey Rae headlined the third Together For Peace Festival in Leeds, and played to a packed house at The Wardrobe. The thrilling set, which was performed acoustically and included some new songs from her forthcoming second album, was both delicate and vibrant, and highlighted the many vocal talents of the young singer. The concert raised funds and awareness for a variety of organizations that deal with vulnerable women, especially those who suffer from domestic violence and sex trafficking. Charities that benefited from the event included Together For Peace, The Truth Isn't Sexy, Joanna, Leeds Women’s Aid, Sahara, and the STOP Project. During the evening, stories of women who had been helped to escape life-threatening violence were told, which brought to life the concert’s meaning.

Bailey Rae’s involvement with benefit concerts looks set to continue, and the singer has agreed to perform at Nelson Mandela's AIDS Day concert in Johannesburg on December 1. The concert will support Mandela’s charity 46664 in its campaign against the HIV virus in Africa, and Bailey Rae will join other performers such as Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, the Goo Goo Dolls, Ludacris, Razorlight, and Jamelia at the event.

“I’m very honored to be invited to perform at the 46664 concert,” she said. “Nelson Mandela is someone who I have admired since I was a child. His application of forgiveness and justice is an example to the world, and I hope the concert will go a long way to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS.”

Bailey Rae’s interests in the plight of those in need has also led her to become an ambassador for CORD – the UK’s leading Christian charity working exclusively with refugees and people affected by conflict around the world.

“I am delighted to be involved in promoting CORD’s peace building role to a global audience,” said the singer. “People need to be made aware of the vital job that CORD is doing with those who have had to flee from war and violence, often losing everything – their families, their homes, and their belongings. Many are young people, a large number are orphans, and CORD helps them get back on their feet, to build a new life, which is why I want to lend them my support in any way I can.”

And with Christmas just round the corner, Corinne Bailey Rae is now helping to fight poverty and global hunger with a new website being launched in time for the holiday season.

www.generouspour.com is a partnership between Clos du Bois Wines and Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization that has raised over $200 million in the past to combat poverty. The website offers consumers the chance to host holiday parties to help the hungry, and also offers a free and exclusive music download from Corinne Bailey Rae.

Visitors to the sight can download party invitations, menu templates, recipe cards prepared by some of America’s best chefs, music playlists, and tips for entertaining – basically everything a “host with the most” needs to put on a party. The Party Pack also contains Share Our Strength donation cards, which can be printed out and mailed in with money collected from party guests.

A remixed version of Corinne Bailey Rae’s song, “Like A Star”, is also available, and for every download of the song, Clos du Bois Wines will give $1 to Share Our Strength.

“Clos du Bois Wines have long been a part of holiday traditions for many families,” said winemaker Erik Olsen. “This holiday season, we are asking consumers to take five for hunger – if you have five minutes, download the song. If you have five hours, host a Generous Pour party. And if you have five days, spread the word by getting your friends to host their own generous gatherings.”

If “meteoric” is the word that best sums up Corinne Bailey Rae’s rise to fame, then her comment about her involvement with Amnesty International is the best way to sum up her outlook on life:

“The reason I am a member of Amnesty is because it acts as a conscience for the world. It campaigns and screams and weeps and protests against injustice; it shames unjust governments, sets prisoners free, and promotes true freedom.”

And with a voice and talent to match her passionate and generous soul, the world is a much brighter place.

Emma Thompson Speaks Out for the Forgotten

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:23:12 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

The Helen Bamber Foundation is holding a Candlelight Vigil to Remember the Forgotten in London this evening. The charity works with survivors of genocide, torture, trafficking and rape, offering them the support they need to rediscover their strength and security. The Foundation also works towards an end to human trafficking, offering hope to the living disappeared.

Their website says of the vigil: “It’s a small thing to light a candle but its meaning for those who remain lost in the dark is immeasurable.”

Speaking at the vigil will be Emma Thompson, an active Helen Bamber Foundation supporter, and actress/poet Eve Pearce. Music will be provided by Jazz trumpeter Guy Barker and vocalist Ian Shaw.

For more information on tickets or to make a donation, visit the Helen Bamer Foundation’s website.

2008 Golden Globes Roundup

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:54:19 +0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

There may have been no red carpet, acceptance speeches, or flash of cameras for the winners of the 2008 Golden Globe Awards, but Look To The Stars takes this golden opportunity to recognize some of those who were honored and nominated.

Johnny Depp won his first Golden Globe after being nominated seven times since his career began, picking up the Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical award for Sweeney Todd. Despite his dark performance, there really is a lighter side to the actor. In the past, Depp’s charitable work garnered him the Courage to Care Award for his contributions to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The Best Actress Award went to veteran Julie Christie, who was up against heavyweights such as Angelina Jolie, an outstanding supporter and contributor to charitable causes. Some of the charities she has supported include the Afghanistan Relief Organization, the Alliance For The Lost Boys, Fran Drescher's Cancer Schmancer Movement, Doctors Without Borders, and the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

Daniel Day Lewis won Best Actor for his performance in “There Will Be Blood”, beating out celebrity humanitarians George Clooney and Denzel Washington. Like Jolie, Clooney is a major force in trying to make the world a better place, and he is a noted supporter of Cinema For Peace, Make Poverty History, Rock For Darfur, United Way, and the World Food Programme. Washington has spent time visiting wounded soldiers at Fisher Houses, hospitals which provide housing for injured soldiers’ families at little or no cost, and once made a large donation to the Fisher House Foundation. He is also the spokesperson for the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America, honorary chairperson for Save Africa's Children, and a founding member of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.

Australian-born Cate Blanchett took home the gold in the category for Best Supporting Actress. Charities Blanchett supports include the Australian Conservation Foundation, Kids Help Line, and SolarAid. In the past, Blanchett filmed a special appeal for SolarAid that was screened at the Hay Festival. The video is available to view on YouTube.

Queen Latifah took home the Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a TV Movie/Miniseries, for her role in “Life Support”. A supporter of several charities, Queen Latifah once helped design a pair of shoes for the Stuart Weitzman charity shoe auction benefiting ovarian cancer awareness and research, and has been involved with Citymeals On Wheels and the Harry Holmberg Memorial Foundation.

Jeremy Piven beat his “Entourage” co-star Kevin Dillon to win his second award for Best Supporting TV Actor. Piven once hosted the fourth annual Fashion Rocks event, which benefited Alicia Keys' Keep A Child Alive Foundation.

Congratulations to all the winners and the nominees for all the work that you do in front of the camera and behind the scenes to inspire a better world.

Mel B Gets Spicey For Charity

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:17:07 +0000

Written by Regina Walton

Spice Girl and Dancing With The Stars sensation Melanie Brown has taken Girl Power one step further – she has posed nude for a campaign to benefit the Helen Bamber Foundation, a charity that campaigns against sex trafficking and works to benefit victims of the sex slave trade.

“I’m curvier now I’ve had kids but I like the way I look,” said the singer. “Women’s bodies are beautiful and any charity helping women is important.”

In addition to Mel B, Scottish television presenter Jenni Falconer has also contributed nude photos to the campaign.

“I posed to confront my fears of being naked,” said the 32-year-old. “Unlike victims of trafficking, I have a choice.”

Celebrities To Attend V-Day In New Orleans

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:01:03 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

April 11 and 12 will mark a special celebration in New Orleans – a celebration of hope, of vision, of spirit, of response, and of action. It will see a gathering of united attitudes and a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. The tenth annual V-Day festival is set to bring a change to the way the world thinks and acts, and it has gathered the support of a host of celebrities to help get its message heard.

V-Day is a non-profit organization that distributes funds to grassroots national and international initiatives and programs that work to stop violence against women and girls. Named one of Worth Magazine’s 100 Best Charities and one of Marie Claire Magazine’s Top Ten Charities, the V-Day movement has raised over $50 million in the last 9 years. And for their 10th anniversary, they have chosen New Orleans to host their star-studded gala event.

New Orleans Arena will come alive on April 12 for V To The Tenth, an evening set to open hearts and minds and raise awareness and money for groups working to end violence around the world. The evening will see international performances of The Vagina Monologues and musical performances, as well as speeches from V-Day activists from across the globe, including Kenya, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eastern Europe. Already confirmed to attend the event are Salma Hayek, Oprah Winfrey, Faith Hill, Jane Fonda, Jessica Alba, Glenn Close, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Hudson, Julia Stiles, Ali Larter, Marisa Tomei, Calpernia Addams, and many more.

Tickets to the event are available for $25 from the Ticketmaster website.

But if you miss out on tickets to that event, why not try to attend the V-Day Superlove festival over at the Louisiana Superdome? Entry is FREE, and the festivities include two days of revolutionary conversations, poetry, singers, performers, storytelling, art, free massages, support groups, yoga, massage, meditation, makeovers, and much more.

More information can be found at the V-Day website.

Big Names Flock To End Violence Against Women

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:38:00 +0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The tenth annual V-Day V To The Tenth festival arrives next weekend – and it is expected to be the biggest V-Day gala yet, with a huge outpouring of support from celebrities. Stars such as Salma Hayek, Oprah Winfrey, Faith Hill, Jane Fonda, Jessica Alba, Glenn Close, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Hudson, Julia Stiles, Ali Larter, Marisa Tomei, Calpernia Addams, and many others will be in attendance.

Over $50 million has been raised by the charity, which supports local and global groups’ efforts to eradicate violence against women and girls. New Orleans was chosen to stage the event this year to honor “Katrina Warriors for their strength and resilience in the face of devastating loss.”

The founder of V-Day, Eve Ensler, said, “Although we cannot prevent such events as Hurricane Katrina, we can be there with and for each other when they occur. We can extend our hand; we can remember those who have lost their homes, their jobs, their minds and their way.”

The April 11-12 gala will hold musical performances, speeches from activists, and a performance of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, which first opened in New York in 1997. Performed in cities all over the world, it is a series of monologues of female perspectives on a varied ‘female experience.’ With few props, actresses use shock and humor to break down the barriers of tradition, shame, ignorance, and political correctness.

With the spotlight on New Orleans, the funds raised at this year’s campaign will support “education and grassroots projects that economically empower the women of the Gulf South.”

Buy George Clooney's Gift Bag For Darfur

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:19:08 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

If you just can’t resist George Clooney -and let’s face it, who can – then you definitely won’t be able to resist checking out the new charity auction featuring the chance to pick up some of his unwanted bits and pieces.

The actor and UN Messenger of Peace has put his Oscar Nominees Gift Bag up for auction to benefit Not On Our Watch, the charity he set up with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Jerry Weintraub to end genocide in Darfur. The gift bag is filled with a range of elegant items such as a Personal Heineken Beer Tender, Marilyn Monroe ‘Classic Series’ wine goblets, exclusive spa packages including a gift certificate for a two night stay at La Costa Resort and Spa, Oscar Gold Havaianas, a Swarovski Crystal Pet Collar, and more.

The auction, which ends on May 4, is one of several currently being run at www.myqlu.com to raise funds for celebrities’ favorite charities. Also on offer, actress Mariska Hargitay has invited her friends in the field of arts and entertainment to join her in an auction to benefit her Joyful Heart Foundation, a charity she established to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.

“I am very excited to be partnering with QLu to raise funds and awareness for my organization, the Joyful Heart Foundation,” she said. “In keeping with Joyful Heart’s groundbreaking programs, designed to help survivors of sexual assault recover lives of joy, possibility, and freedom, we are always looking for partners who take an innovative and impassioned approach to making a difference in the world.”

The auction features items from a range of stars, including Sharon Stone, Maria Bello, Courteney Cox, Marcia Cross, Hilary Swank, Dana Delany, Julia Louis Dreyfus and more. Sharon Stone’s 100 piece couture shoe and gown auction – along with fabulous designer pieces, designer comp gifts and everyday fun pieces belonging to these talented women – began April 10 and will run continuously through May or until all pieces are sold.

Fans of country singer Tim McGraw might also want to head over to the QLu auction site to bid on a suede jacket the star has donated. The proceeds from the sale will go to the Tug McGraw Foundation, set up in 2003 to enhance the quality of life of children and adults with brain tumors and their families by stimulating and facilitating research that addresses the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual impact of the disease. The auction ends May 2.

Don Cheadle and Warner Take On The Darfur Genocide

Mon, 19 May 2008 10:55:52 +0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Warner’s documentary release, Darfur Now, is now on video priced at $4.99 – Warner Home Video is donating a portion of the proceeds to the Jewish World Watch's Solar Cooker Project.

The Solar Cooker Project provides solar cookers to families in refugee camps, usually made up of widows caring for orphans, so that women do not have to leave the safe confines of the camp to search for cooking firewood. These women, who have managed to escape the genocide in Darfur and make their way to Chad, often become victims of rape, beatings and mutilation while searching for wood in the desert. In under two years, the Project is already being recognized for reducing the incidence of attacks on women refugees along Sudan’s border.

This is yet another example of the point Darfur Now is trying to make. Although it was filmed in and about the war-ravaged region in Sudan, it is not a movie of despair. Rather, in an effort to motivate people around the world to take notice and get involved, the film is one of hope as it follows the stories of six individuals who are working to combat the genocide in different ways: One helps financially, another by persecuting war criminals in the Hague, others by getting food to the starving, joining a rebel group to fight, running a refugee camp, and Don Cheadle, attempting to explain genocide and informing how to stop it.

Producer Cathy Schulman told Rotten Tomatoes in an interview: "[We] wanted to make a movie that was about making a difference as opposed to doing an exposé; a movie that had hope. For Don [Cheadle] and I, [it] was so important to us to answer a certain question. In our own lives we ask, “Why, when we hear tragedies happening on other sides of the world, do people say, ‘Well, that’s too bad but it’s so far away and so complicated, what can I possibly do?’” So the question was, ‘Can we make a film that brings the conflict closer?’"

The answer, it seems, is yes.

A $30 donation to the Solar Cooker Project will provide a family with two solar cookers, two pots, two pot holders, a year’s supply of plastic bags and skills training for refugee women and girls.

Anna Nalick Auctions Tickets and More

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Shine singer Anna Nalick is auctioning off concert tickets and more to one of any of the locations on her upcoming tour.

The winning bidder will receive a “VIP experience” that will include two on-stage seats at any of the tour’s shows, a private meet and greet with Nalick, tour merchandise, and an autographed copy of her latest CD, Shine.

Nalick will donate the auction proceeds to PEACE for families, which offers services to victims of sexual assault and family violence. With the belief that “every woman, man and child has the basic right to live in a violence-free life,” PEACE provides a 24-hour crisis line, a 24-hour emergency shelter for battered women and children, crisis intervention, a hospital escort, and counseling in Placer County, California.

Nalick says, “Thanks to PEACE for families, victims of domestic violence or sexual assault have someone they can rely on.”

Just past the $400 mark, the eBay auction ends this Friday.

Find out more about contributing, or how to contact celebrities.

Celebrities Love 2 Love T-Shirts

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Teen stars Miley Cyrus and Vanessa Hudgens have designed T-shirts for a charity lifestyle brand.

Launched in 2003, 2 LOVE is an initiative that endorses “a message of love while benefiting charities that elevate lives through a range of celebrity-designed products. The company inspires young women to love themselves, and in turn spread the love to others. Their unique marketing initiative – designed to empower women and promote philanthropy – has struck a chord among Hollywood’s A-listers, who have signed on in droves to join the 2 LOVE mission”.

Those A-listers include Monique Coleman, Alyssa Milano, Ashanti, Molly Sims, Mischa Barton, Jessica Alba, Brittany Murphy, Mariska Hargitay, Alison Sweeney, Mena Suvari, and Michelle Branch, all of whom have designed products to raise money for charities such as Best Buddies International, the 1736 Family Crisis Center, UNICEF, the Starlight Children's Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Joyful Hearts, Step Up, and more.

As well as celeb-designed T-shirts, 2 LOVE is also soon to launch celeb-designed cosmetics, and next year will feature a fashion collection designed by costume designers from Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and many more hit shows.

To view the T-shirts currently on offer, visit the 2 LOVE website.

Jessica Simpson Performs For Rape Crisis Center

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jessica Simpson raised her voice at a special rape support charity concert in Las Vegas last night, September 18.

The 28-year-old singer performed songs from her new country album, Do You Know, at the Nina’s Night Out concert in Las Vegas’ Palms Pearl Theater to raise money for the local Rape Crisis Center. Organized by news anchor Nina Radetich, the annual event has raised over $350,000 over the last four years, which has been used to assist local victims of sexual assault.

“To be involved with the cause of this organization is extremely important,” said Simpson before the show. “I think this will be more of a passionate performance than most. It’s important to make a stand for women’s rights. If I can get up there and be any inspiration to women, I am blessed to have that opportunity.”

According to the Rape Crisis Center, it costs an average of $756 to provide one victim with assistance, including an advocate, replacement clothing, support groups and more – and over 800 victims were treated last year.

“The great thing about Nina’s Night Out is it’s a message of prevention,” said Simpson. “I think it’s important as a woman to lend a hand to other women and just try to encourage people that everything’s going to be OK.”

Part of this year’s proceeds will go into the center’s building fund for future construction of a treatment center.

Celebrities Attend An Evening Of New Dreams

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The stars were out – clear and bright – on September 16 for An Evening of New Dreams, raising money for the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Susan Sarandon, Daryl Hannah, Petra Nemcova, Jane Seymour, Ashlee Simpson, Kevin Connolly, Kim Kardashian, Kevin Dillon, Seal, Emily Deschanel, Peter Wentz, and Ron Livingston were some of the stars who came together in Beverly Hills for the gala event which featured musical entertainment from Bonnie Raitt. Catered by Tommy Tang and held at the private residence of Foundation supporters Jeff and Mei Sze Greene, the evening raised awareness of global sex trafficking.

The Somaly Mam Foundation is dedicated to combating the global sex slave trade through the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of victims and through raising global awareness on the issue by funding organizations in various parts of the world that are combating sexual slavery in the field. Named after a survivor of the abhorrent problem, the foundation rescues girls from brothels and offers them shelter and safety, basic education, and reintegration into new communities.

Born in Cambodia, Somaly Mam was forced into a life of prostitution at a very young age, sold by her own grandfather for money. However, after witnessing the murder of a fellow prostitute at the hands of a pimp, Somaly broke free of the cycle and dedicated her life to rescuing girls living in similar circumstances. With Mam’s vision and leadership, the foundation – established in 2007 – strives to get to the root of human trafficking. Their global vision of ending the sex trafficking trade will allow their activities currently in the United States and South East Asia to expand to other countries around the world.

For more information about the Somaly Mam Foundation and how to support their efforts, visit www.somaly.org.

Celebrity Apprentice 2 To Feature Annie Duke

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

NBC will aim to repeat the success that was Celebrity Apprentice when a new series of the show premieres in January 2009.

Although most of the contestants cannot be named or have yet to commit, professional poker player Annie Duke confirmed her involvement during the weekend.

According to a statement made on www.ultimatebet.com on Friday, ""Annie Duke wasn’t able to attend… the Aruba Poker Classic because, as you may have heard, she was selected to be on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice this season. She had to fly to L.A. for the premiere party and she’ll be competing for the Ante Up for Africa charity. Annie and Donald Trump in the same boardroom… that should make for some interesting TV."

Duke is well known for her work with Ante Up For Africa, a celebrity poker tournament she organizes annually with Don Cheadle that aims to raise money and public awareness for the crisis in Darfur. Participants are asked to contribute half of their tournament winnings to the ENOUGH Project and the International Rescue Committee, organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur.

The first series of Celebrity Apprentice, which was won by Piers Morgan, raised over $1 million for a range of charities.

Flockhart, Ford to Attend Peace Over Violence Benefit

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:29:00 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Calista Flockhart is set to host the 37th Annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner benefitting Peace Over Violence this Friday night, November 7th.

Flockhart, who is the National Spokesperson for the charity, will be joined by special guests Harrison Ford, Bo Derek, Jane Seymour, James Keach and many others. Honorary Co-Chairs for the event include Cheryl Burke and Eve Ensler.

The event, to be held at The Beverly Hills Hotel, begins at 6 P.M. with a Festive Cocktail Reception and a Silent Auction, followed at 7 by Dinner and the Awards Ceremony. Guests are asked to bring old wireless phones for the Verizon Wireless Hopeline program, which works to help curb domestic violence.

The awards recognize people who are working hard to build a world of healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence.

This year’s Verizon Wireless Hopeline Corporate Award is going to Southern California Edison and Frank J. Quevedo, Vice President of Equal Opportunity, and Gloria Romero, the California State Senate Majority Leader, will be receiving the Public Service Award. The Leadership Award is going to Elise Buik, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Also to be recognized are Art Blair, Jennie Campbell, Jeri Elster, Lucinda Guarino, Robbie Rutstein, Christina Stevenson, Lora Luczywo, Rebecca Tomasini, Anabella Vara, Amara Wilson and Michelle Yee, who will be receiving the Empowerment Award as part of the Voices Over Violence:Survivors Who Speak Out initiative.

For more information on the event, and how you can help, visit PeaceOverViolence.org.

Buy Halle Berry's Favorite Bag For Charity

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Halle Berry is donating some love this holiday season after teaming up with Coach Leatherware for a special promotion: Coach Cares.

Coach developed Coach Cares as a way to support the philanthropic causes of various celebrity fans by donating a percentage of the sales from handbags and accessories to charity.

Now through December 31, you can help Berry’s charity of choice, the Jenesse Center – which aids victims of domestic violence – by purchasing the suede ‘Halle Berry Style Coach Bag’ where 20% of the proceeds will benefit Jenesse Center.

This unique viral campaign allows celebrities to highlight their charitable interests and raise awareness and funds for their favorite causes. Participants include Jessica Alba, Evangeline Lily, Eva Longoria, Mandy Moore, Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson, Rebecca Romijn, Ali Larter, Kerry Washington and many others, and charities include Peace Games, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Eva's Heroes, the SPCA, The Art of Elysium, V-Day and more.

Coach Cares will be featured on www.coach.com and www.facebook.com, the popular social networking Web site, and will run now through Dec. 31st. The products can be purchased here.

Stars Tee Off To Help Missing And Exploited Children

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The 10th Annual National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Celebrity Golf Tournament sponsored by Canon was recently held in Las Vegas, where a host of celebrities turned out to support the event and raise $455,00 for the charity.

Celebrity golfers who teed up for the cause included Alice Cooper, Heidi Hayes, Michael Storm, Rudy Gatlin, Kevin Sorbo, Sean Dobson, Chris McDonald, Kurt Bevaqua, John Daly, Davy Jones, Steven Weber, Alan Thicke, Rollie Fingers, Eddie Payton, Ed Marinaro, Robert Hayes, Willie Gault and Richard Karn.

“Canon’s continued commitment to protecting children is echoed in our corporate philosophy, Kyosei – all people, regardless of race, religion, or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future,” said Emily Reynolds, vice president and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A. “We are extremely proud to commemorate our 10th year as a sponsor of NCMEC and will continue to help protect children and raise awareness about the worldwide issues of child abduction and exploitation. To date, Canon’s support of NCMEC has contributed to the recovery of 291 missing children.”

Each year, the NCMEC Celebrity Golf Tournament Sponsored by Canon helps NCMEC to raise awareness and funds for its programs to help find missing children and prevent the exploitation of children. To date, Canon has helped NCMEC raise and invest more than $5 million through product, service and monetary donations.

Anil Kapoor And The Real Slumdog Millionaire Support India’s Children

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actor Anil Kapoor has pledged to donate his earnings from Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire to Plan India, a charity that supports vulnerable children in India.

Although Kapoor describes his own beginnings as modest, it wasn’t the level of underprivilege that he’s witnessed since becoming involved with Plan India in 2006. The abuse and exploitation of children that he has seen over the past couple of years has affected him deeply: “There are many who are sold and forced into prostitution, begging, labour and other such activities. Lack of education and functional skills has made trafficking of these children the prime source of income for the people.”

Plan India attempts to combat this through various measures, both directly and through community and governmental organisations. Better education for girls has reduced the number of early marriages, and vocational training to improve economic conditions deflects the exploitation of children. The charity is working on projects in both rural and urban communities, as well as directly with street children, child labourers and orphans.

Kapoor sites one particularly poignant success story of Plan India, where a man had sold his daughters into the sex trade since they were residents of the red light area: “He felt it was a quick way of getting good money and saw no harm in doing so! He was still thinking of selling his youngest daughter into the trade when he came across [Plan India’s] staff members working in the area. They were able to convince him to send [her] to school. With help from the donors, Plan was able to support [her] education.”

A real-life Slumdog Millionaire, Harsh Nawathe, who won 10 million rupees ($198,000) on a television contest in 2000, also has his eye on the welfare of children. He’s devoting his time to expanding his tutoring programs for children growing up in slums of Mumbai where, he says, education is the only currency that pays.

Encouraging others to support the children of India, Kappor says: “It is time we stop these people from robbing their innocence!”

Hillary Clinton Receives Vital Voices Award

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Several celebrities attended the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards ceremony earlier this month in order to present awards to five of the world’s outstanding female leaders. Speakers such as actresses Candice Bergen and Sally Field were among the award presenters, but the speakers weren’t all female.

Actor Ben Affleck took the stand to point out that, because it is women that hold society together, the problems women face are relevant to men: “As long as violence against women – sexual or otherwise – remains strictly and exclusively a ’women’s issue’, it will always be an issue. We men must own this and we must recognize that it is vital to our own survival and we must help our brothers see it as such.”

Vital Voices, which aims to empower women leaders, gave their final award – the ‘Global Trailblazer’ – to the organisation’s co-founder, America’s Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to honor “her passionate commitment to promoting women’s rights and securing justice for all people around the world.”

Accepting the honor, Clinton said, “No nation can be successful if it invests only in or listens to only half of the population. So for all of those women who aren’t here tonight, who are enduring unspeakable abuse, who are labouring under unbearable burdens, who are wondering whether there is a future for themselves and their children, we pledge that we will do all we can to ensure that America is not only an example of the best values that humanity has to offer, but that we pursue every chance we can to give every woman a vital voice on behalf of herself, her family, her community and her country.”

LTTS Exclusive: Calista Flockhart Joins The Stars For V-Day

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Written by Michelle Vink

Look To The Stars’ Lead Host Michelle Vink attended the annual V-Day event – a global movement to stop violence against women and girls – in Santa Monica last week and filed this report.

Imagine having your life or the life of a family member threatened simply for crying for help against unspeakable violent sexual crimes violated against you. This is what so many of the women in the Democratic Republic of Congo are going though today. This year for V-Day, the monumental performance of The Vagina Monologues had a new monologue written by the original playwright, Eve Ensler, that was inspired by her personal awareness of the situation of the women in the Congo.

For those of you that don’t know, this V-Day is a different kind of Valentine’s Day. Every year between Feb 1st and March 31st, thousands of performances across the world are set in motion to raise funds and awareness as part of “A Global Movement to End Violence Against Women & Girls.” Rosario Dawson, Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek and Kerry Washington are just a few of the powerful Hollywood forces that are all members of the V-Board.

The Vagina Monologues – originally performed by Ensler (also adoptive mother of Dylan McDermott) – now has had celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, Oprah Winfrey and more all star in the Obie Award winning play. It has also been translated into 45 different languages, performed in over 119 countries, become a television production, book and is now the benefit performance for this global non-profit that has raised over $50 million dollars for women’s anti-violence groups, shelters and crisis centers.

Proceeds from this particular Santa Monica event benefit Peace Over Violence (for which Calista Flockhart is the national spokesperson) as well as the V-Day Global Fund. Calista was not only representing her cause this night but also actively involved as one of the actresses in this sensational celebrity reading. Among the star-studded cast were Oscar-winner Christine Lahti, Emmy-winner Doris Roberts, Penny Johnson Jerald from 24, Fairuza Balk, comedian Debra Skelton (formerly known as Debra Wilson), Tricia Leigh Fischer of 7th Heaven, and author/actress Elaine Kagan. The cast also features Zoi Katas, theater artist D’Lo, and V-Day Santa Monica producers Wendy Hammers and Deborah Kagan. Veteran actress Iona Morris directed The Broad Stage production.

“I believe all women should enjoy their lives as their full, authentic selves,” states V-Day Santa Monica producer and Sacred Interiors owner Deborah Kagan. "This means celebrating your body, your sexuality, and your prowess. For many victimized women, the by-product of sexual abuse and domestic violence is a disassociation from their own bodies. They don’t feel safe in their own skin.

“I’ve been a fan of Eve Ensler since 1998 when I saw The Vagina Monologues at the Wiltern and I followed her career. When I heard about V to the 10th last year, I had to go. I found myself standing in the New Orleans Superdome with 30,000 people completely inspired and I knew it was time to do something. It was time for a VDAY Santa Monica.”

For more information about V-Day and how to donate or get involved, visit here. V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops…. 94 cents of every dollar you give goes straight to ending violence against women and girls.

For more information on Peace over Violence, click here. Formerly known as the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women, Peace Over Violence is a social service agency dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. Now expanding into the prevention of youth violence and child abuse among other programs.

Nicole Richie Raises Awareness About Atrocities

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Nicole Richie has posted a video on her website encouraging people to support two charities in their work raising awareness of atrocities in the Congo.

“I’m about to tell you a true story about a place where babies and grandmothers are being raped on a daily basis, and the reason they are being raped is directly connected to the purchases of our cell phones, of our laptops and of our iPods,” she says in the video.

Richie also interviews John Prendergast from the ENOUGH Project and Kinberly Pinkson from the EcoMom Alliance about the fact that mining of minerals we use in our lives every day is escalating violence in the country towards women and children.

“The number one weapon out there is not guns, its not knives, it is rape,” said Richie. “They are raping these women. Not only is it rape, they are being raped in front of their husbands and children, their children are being killed… they’re being told to eat their children. This stuff is really inhumane. This is the worst stuff that I’ve ever heard in my life.”

Richie has set out four things you can do to help stop the violence in the Congo:

1. Join the Movement at www.raisehopeforcongo.org.
2. Text “CONGOPLEDGE” (one word, no spaces) to ACTION (228466) or visit www.raisehopeforcongo.org/special-page/conflict-minerals to endorse the Conflict Minerals Pledge.
3. Send emails to the industry leaders and ask them to be a leader on this issue by signing the pledge. Visit www.raisehopeforcongo.org/special-page/conflict-minerals to send your emails now.
4. Call the White House switchboard at 202.456.1414 or write to President Obama at www.whitehouse.gov and ask him to appoint a special envoy for the Great Lakes region.

To watch Richie’s video in full, click here.

Stars To Hit The Tables For Ante Up For Africa

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

PokerStars is proud to be hosting the first Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) Europe charity poker tournament, being held as part of the EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final tonight, April 27.

The event has attracted a star-studded field of celebrities and pro players, all helping to raise money and awareness for the crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

Confirmed celebrities include: Nelly, Boris Becker, Jason Lewis, Benji and Joel Madden, ‘Heroes’ star James Kyson Lee, boxer Vladimir Klitschko, Christina Milian, The Dream, Daniel Negreanu and Joe Hachem.

The tournament will take place April 27, the day before the start of the Grand Final. All prize money will be donated to Not On Our Watch and the ENOUGH Project – both of which provide valuable aid and assistance for victims of the Darfur crisis.

More info available at PokerStars.com.

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