Look To The Stars News: Animals

Stars Come To The Rescue Of Kittens

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Kitten Rescue, Los Angeles’s largest no-kill animal rescue group, is holding its first annual “Fur Ball” celebration on September 14, 2008 at the Skirball Cultural Center.

The “Fur Ball” marks 10 years of service and dedication to easing the plight of animal overpopulation in Los Angeles County.

“We have come a long way in ten years,” explains Ben Lehrer, President of Kitten Rescue. “We started out as a couple of people intercepting baby kittens as they were being brought into a city shelter and have grown to where we can rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for 1,000 cats and kittens every year.”

Hosted by longtime Kitten Rescue supporter and former volunteer Jenna Fischer (NBC’s “The Office”), the Fur Ball will feature cocktails and dinner, live entertainment, a film presentation about Kitten Rescue, a silent auction, and awards for special members of the Kitten Rescue community, including actress Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”, “Burn Notice”).

“These are difficult times for animal rescue,” says Lehrer. “We are seeing an increase in the numbers of cats and kittens being turned into kill shelters, left behind in abandoned apartments and foreclosed homes, or simply dumped on the street. It seems that when times get tough, people’s pets get the boot, and our services are needed more than ever.”

Funds raised at the “Fur Ball” will go to support Kitten Rescue’s programs and the Kitten Rescue Sanctuary.

Fur Ball Information:

The Fur Ball at the Skirball, September 14, 2008, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Ahmanson Hall, The Skirball Cultural Center. Tickets: $100. Information and ticket sales at www.kittenrescue.org

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Metallica And Ozzy Donate To Charity

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Heavy metal legends Metallica will kick off their latest tour with two charity shows.

The Rock Gods will play a gig at O2 World in Berlin on September 12, to be followed by a concert at the O2 Arena in London three days later, with proceeds going to local charities which will be revealed in the next few weeks. Tickets are only available to the band’s fan club members and subscribers to www.MissionMetallica.com – the band’s website dedicated to their new album, Death Magnetic. The ticket price will be as low as £5 (US$10).

The band – who have performed at a variety of benefit concerts in the past, including Live Earth, the Bridge School concerts, and the Silverlake Conservancy – are no strangers to giving their concert proceeds to charity. Following their performance at Live Earth, the band’s drummer Lars Ulrich announced that fans could download the performance, with all money raised benefiting climate charities hand-selected by the band – including the Sierra Club, Apollo Alliance, WWF, and the Rainforest Action Network.

In other heavy metal news, Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Counting Crows, Black Tide, Kingdom of Sorrow, Devildriver, As I Lie Dying, and The Dillinger Escape Plan are some of the artists who have donated autographed items to the Ride For Dime charity auction. Autographed guitars, posters, CD sleeves and other rock memorabilia are all up for grabs to raise money for Ride For Dime, a charity named after former Pantera guitarist Darrell “Dime” Abbot, who was shot and killed onstage in 2004. The organization gives back to the charities that were of interest to Dime during his life as well as charities he would have been proud to be a part of. Ride For Dime will raise money on behalf of three charities, Little Kids Rock, Covenant House, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

The auction can be accessed via Ride For Dime’s eBay page.

David Spade Digs Deep For Humane Society

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Linda Burton

David Spade, star of the CBS hit Rules of Engagement, is supporting the Humane Society of the White Mountains in Lakeside, Arizona, by donating a much-needed $10,000 to the shelter where his mother is an active volunteer.

The donation, which arrived last week and follows the actor’s visit there last month, will go towards building a new puppy yard and bigger dog park.

The Humane Society of the White Mountains shelter director Anna-Marie Rea addressed reports on websites that the shelter is falling apart and on the verge of closing. “The roof is not falling down,” Rea said. “We just got a fresh paint job outside … and a nice new fence around the perimeter.”

Services currently offered by the shelter include free pet ID Tags, lost and found services, pet adoptions, spay and neutering, animal rescue, as well as discount rabies clinics – you can find more information and view pets for adoption at the White Mountains Humane Society website www.hswm.org.

Spade is known for helping his home state of Arizona in the past. Last year he donated $25,000 to the family of a slain Arizona police officer, as well as donating $15,000 to his alma mater, Saguro High School.

Bernadette Peters Stands Tall On Board

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Standing Tall announced today that two-time Tony award-winning actress/singer/comedienne Bernadette Peters has joined its Board of Directors.

“Standing Tall has created a remarkable program, unique in the area, that supports the most severely disabled children in New York City,” said Ms. Peters. “The children at Standing Tall gain mobility and independence by actively using their bodies to learn to walk and talk as they also learn reading, math, literature, music, science, and art. I am excited to support this innovative and powerful approach to improving the lives of children with significant disabilities.”

“Bernadette Peters is one of Broadway’s greatest stars, a performer of amazing versatility with the gift of a beautiful voice,” said Carol Turchin Monderer, Chairman of the Board of Standing Tall. “We commend her passion for lending her voice to support and raise awareness about children with severe disabilities,” said Carol Turchin.

Throughout her illustrious career, Tony Award-winning actress Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage and television, in concert, and on recordings. Recently, she added author and songwriter to her roster of achievements with her debut children’s book, Broadway Barks, named after the organization she co-founded with good friend, Mary Tyler Moore. Their annual star-studded animal adoption event in the heart of the theatre district benefits animal shelters through the New York City area.

“The entire board of directors welcomes Bernadette Peters to Standing Tall, with great appreciation for her support of our efforts,” said Carol Monderer.

Standing Tall was recently selected to be a Charity Partner for the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE taking place in New York City on July 27, 2008. To make a donation to Standing Tall in the name of Bernadette Peters, or to support a runner in honor of Bernadette in the NYC Half-Marathon, please visit www.standingtall.org or email info@standingtall.org.

Charity Choices Of The Royal Grandchildren

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth’s first granddaughters, are launching into some of the responsibilities that come with their HRH titles – one of those being charity.

It was recently announced that 19-year-old Beatrice will become the first Junior Ambassador for Children In Crisis. Founded in 1993 by her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, the organization provides education to children of the poorest countries in the belief that it is the essential ingredient in lifting children out of poverty.

Beatrice said, “I always remember the old saying, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for life. That’s why I am so keen to help this campaign to educate children. We have the most amazing charity.”

She also is interested in Springboard For Children, whose volunteers help kids that have trouble with reading and writing at inner-city schools. Being dyslexic, Beatrice has a personal interest in the struggle.

Her younger sister, Eugenie – now 18 – is looking at Kids Company, which provides support to vulnerable and traumatized inner-city kids with emotional therapy and education, and which her uncle, Prince Charles, is also involved with.

Princes William and Harry, the Queen’s first grandsons, have already garnered quite some experience at fundraising for charities, near and distant. The latest was a charity polo match, held last month as part of William’s 26th birthday celebrations, to benefit The Countryside Foundation For Education – whose outdoor programs educate hundreds of thousands of UK school children each year through farm visits – and the African wildlife protection charity of which William is Royal Patron, Tusk Trust.

Prince Harry, possibly the most eager of the grandchildren, has gone so far as to co-found the Sentebale charity, which benefits underprivileged, disabled and AIDS-orphaned children of Lesotho. Harry not only heavily promotes the endeavor, he dedicates much of his own time and manpower to the charity’s projects.

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters’ Animal Adopt-A-Thon

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters’ Broadway Barks will hold its tenth annual dog and cat adopt-a-thon July 12 in New York.

An increasingly popular event attended by over 6000 people last year, actors Glenn Close, Mario Lopez and an entourage of Broadway performers will be on hand at this year’s event to present homeless animals for adoption. The animals come from various New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies.

Broadway Barks was originally founded by Moore and Peters to promote pet adoption. However, it has also become a valuable link between the various independent shelters and rescue groups for promotion and fund raising, and is entering into public education on responsible pet ownership, spay/neuter, pet i.d., and to simply inform about the bleak predicament of the city’s homeless dogs and cats.

Besides an afternoon of festivities, an auction of celebrity-autographed memorabilia to benefit attending shelters, and finding permanent homes for so many animals, Peters will be on hand to sign copies of her children’s book, Broadway Barks. The illustrated book, about a dog who finds himself alone in a city park, comes with a reading of the story on CD and an original song performed by Bernadette Peters. Proceeds of book sales go, naturally, to the Broadway Barks organization.

Celebrity Chefs Honored For Chicken Campaigns

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall have received awards from the RSPCA for their work to improve animal welfare.

The pair received the honors at the charity’s AGM in London earlier this week after backing the RSPCA’s Freedom Foods scheme – an initiative that guarantees animals have been raised on farms that meet the charity’s standards. Both chefs released television programs earlier this year – Oliver’s Fowl Dinners and Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Chicken Run – revealing the conditions in which many chickens are farmed. Since then, the pair has continued to campaign for producers and retailers to adopt higher welfare standards… although at least one major supermarket chain in Britain has come out in direct opposition of their ideas.

Fearnley-Whittingstall, who was on hand to accept the award, thanked the RSPCA and insisted that the campaign must continue.

“We are delighted to present both Hugh and Jamie with these awards in recognition of their valuable ongoing work in this area,” said Dr Marc Cooper, RSPCA senior farm animal scientist. “We look forward to carrying on our partnership with the chefs and hope that with their support, the revolution in raising chicken welfare standards throughout the UK will continue.”

Leona Lewis Promotes Sun Safety For Summer

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Singer Leona Lewis has designed a special headscarf to raise funds for a major charity’s new education campaign.

The 23-year-old was made an Ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust’s Sunburn campaign – a program to encourage young people to use sunscreen when out in the sun – in May, and has designed an exclusive limited-edition headscarf decorated with butterflies to celebrate her involvement.

The scarves will be available exclusively from British chain “Superdrug”, and cost £2.99 ($6US). They officially go on sale on July 2, but can be pre-ordered from the Superdrug website from today.

Lewis was also recently named – along with Red Hot Chili Peppers singer, Anthony Kiedis – the “Sexiest Vegetarian of 2008” by PETA. The pair beat opposition from Pink, Natalie Imbruglia, Bryan Adams, and others for the honor. She is also due to play at Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Concert in London this Friday.

Sigourney Weaver Awards Outstanding Women In Conservation

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress and environmentalist Sigourney Weaver played Master of Ceremonies last month at the Audubon Society’s annual Women In Conservation award luncheon in New York.

Among the recipients of Audubon’s Rachel Carson Award was Bette Midler for her extraordinary contribution to conservation and the environment.

Specifically, Midler was being recognized for her New York Restoration Project (NYRP), which she founded in 1995 as a response to her initial disappointment to the visual pollution when she first moved to New York City.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping Magazine, Midler said, “I was so upset, I didn’t sleep for weeks… I’m not used to the kind of carelessness and waste that I was seeing. People were throwing their garbage out the window, leaving their lunches on the ground. Finally, I realized I needed to actually do something, even if I had to pick up the stuff with my own hands.”

In the belief that “clean, green neighborhoods are fundamental to the quality of life and that every community in New York City deserves an oasis of natural beauty,” NYRP accomplishments over the past decade include: the establishment of dozens of gardens and saving others from development; the creation of a park out of a dumping ground and raising millions of dollars to restore and develop under-resourced parks; the removal of nearly 1000 tons of garbage and debris from project sites and cleaning up over 400 acres; funding economic redevelopment of waterfront; and, last Fall, the planting of the first of a million more trees in the city.

The Audubon Society, founded over a century ago, recognizes women who show such leadership, energy and endurance with the Rachel Carson Award. Carson was an environmental maverick in her own right, who contributed to the movement in the early 60s when she proved that toxic chemicals used in agriculture were lethal to wildlife and humans alike.

Daryl Hannah - Saving The Oceans And Their Treasures

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:38:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Passionate about the environment, actress Daryl Hannah is lending her voice and talents to various projects.

Her latest effort is a role in the TV movie Shark Swarm, where her character fights a real estate developer who, in an effort to starve out seaside property owners unwilling to sell, poisons the waters with toxic sludge to kill the fish and unwittingly turns local shark populations into deadly predators who hunt humans in packs.

In an interview with New York Vue, Hannah said she hoped the film would “bring attention to sharks and the terrible things that are happening to them.” Besides warming waters and pollution, sharks must also contend with wasteful fishing practices: “They cut off the fins and throw [the live shark] back in the ocean.”

She also narrated Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Dolphins and Whales 3D, in theatres since February. The film brings the elusive ‘tribes of the oceans” to the big screen, allowing viewers to practically reach out and touch them and become personally involved in their underwater lives, “interacting socially, communicating through their highly complex system of sounds, playing, feeding, breeding, migrating and perpetually fighting for their survival.”

Hannah is also heavily involved with the Reef Check Foundation, an organization dedicated to conserving and restoring tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs by creating partnerships between businesses, universities, government agencies and volunteers.

Due to pollution, illegal fishing, and over-fishing, reefs have been in crisis for over a decade. Reef Check studies have shown that “there is virtually no reef in the world that remained untouched by human impact.”

“Unfortunately, there isn’t enough being done to protect the ocean,” Hannah told Diver Magazine. “It doesn’t factor as large as it should in the climate crisis debate.”

“If reefs are in trouble, so are we,” said Dr Earle, former Chief Scientist of the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. “I think what Reef Check is doing is phenomenal: inspiring and motivating scientists, volunteers and the general public to take care of our ocean.”

Through Reef Check community’s data gathering, partnerships, and management through sustainable use, however, there is clear evidence that rehabilitation of reefs is possible.

Harrison Ford Gets In Behind Tiger Initiative

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:36:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Hollywood giants Harrison Ford, Bo Derek, and Robert Duvall attended an event yesterday to throw their support behind a new global initiative by the World Bank to save tigers from extinction.

The event, held at Washington’s Smithsonian National Zoo, launched the global development agency’s new Tiger Conservation Initiative, a program that will bring together scientists and governments to try to halt the killing and illegal trade in tiger skins, meat and body parts used in traditional Asian medicines.

“I’m here to celebrate the World Bank’s plan to form a global alliance of conservation partners, to work with the tiger range nations in order to secure a future for these magnificent creatures,” said Ford, Indiana Jones star and environmental warrior. “By committing to help wild tigers, the World Bank is sounding its intention to be a global leader in biodiversity conservation.”

The initiative will focus on 13 countries where tiger poaching threatens remaining populations in the wild: Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, India, Russia and Vietnam. World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the decline in the number of tigers was “shocking” – from over 100,000 a century ago to currently less than 4,000.

The program will work with local populations to ensure the species is conserved, and the World Bank will hold a series of discussions with countries, conservationists and the private sector to initiate funding for tiger conservation, and launch studies on how better to protect the cats.

Actress Bo Derek, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s Special Envoy for Wildlife Trafficking, said she will focus her efforts on public awareness of the problem.

“It was very embarrassing for me to find out that the U.S. is number 2 in consuming endangered wildlife,” said the 51-year-old. “I travel often, and so many times someone will tell you ‘you can buy this, it’s made of tortoiseshell, but it’s a safe tortoiseshell. It’s not endangered.’ I think education and awareness is critical.”

Robert Duvall also voiced his concerns.

“I’ve always thought they might be the single most beautiful animal in the world,” Duvall told CNN, adding that “people hunt them like crazy. They’re wacko when it comes to shooting things.”

The World Bank is planning to host a “Year of the Tiger” summit in 2010 to provide a forum for those involved in tiger conservation to review the status of the wild tigers and their habitant.

Pamela Anderson Auctions Viper For PETA

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Auction giants Julien’s Auctions are holding their Summer Entertainment Sale of Hollywood Memorabilia on June 21 and 22 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and one of the lots up for sale is raising money for charity.

Former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson has donated one of her favorite cars – a 2000 Viper – to the auction, with proceeds going to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA. The 40-year-old personally customized the vehicle with white racing stripes, and will oversee the sale to make sure it raises the cash that she hopes it will.

“I’ve been working with PETA for 15 years,” she said. “They’re kind of my ethical advisers. With them, I see actual results.”

The car is featured in the upcoming E! series “Pam: Girl On The Loose”, and will join a range of other merchandise on offer, including an original poster from King Kong, Alfred Hitchcock’s driver’s license, personal snapshots of Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis Jr. and an original “Ben Hur” script signed by Charlton Heston.

To view the auction online, visit Julien’s Auctions’ website. The auction will also be broadcast live on the Auction Network.

Hayden Panettiere Is Saving the Whales, Again

Tue, 27 May 2008 11:18:58 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Passionate about stopping the slaughter of whales, dolphins, and seals, Hayden Panettiere is taking her cause out of her closet and into the American presidential race.

Panettiere is not only auctioning some of her outfits and a whale watching tour for six “through the Channel Islands to witness some of the most spectacular whale feeding grounds and have the chance to see the ever-elusive Blue Whale” to benefit the Whaleman Foundation’s Save The Whales Again, she has also hit the campaign trail.

Hayden has given speeches at American universities and met with political figures to get ‘abolishing the whale hunts’ back onto the political agenda. Following meetings with American congressmen, she then approached representatives of Iceland, Japan, and Norway to challenge their archaic practices.

“Whales face increasing threats from climate change, ship strikes, entanglement in nets, and chemical and noise pollution, yet Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to kill them in increasing numbers,” Panettiere said at a press conference. “Polls show that 59% of Americans would be more willing to vote for a candidate who takes a strong stand on whaling. I want our voice to be heard.”

Although many people think whales were saved back in the ‘70s with the moratorium on commercial whaling, Whaleman Foundation’s president Jeff Pantukhoff says, “nothing could be further from the truth.” Since the moratorium went into effect, over 25,000 whales have been killed.

Pantukhoff – who is also the Director of Save the Whales Again! Campaign – said, “Over two thirds of registered voters want our government to do something about it, yet to this point, little has been done to stop the increasing slaughter. We need the United States to reflect the will of its people and lead the way in taking all necessary actions against Japan, Norway, and Iceland until the killing stops.”

Stars Flock To Farm Sanctuary Gala

Wed, 21 May 2008 10:32:57 -0000

Written by Parrish

What could be better than a fancy evening in downtown Manhattan celebrating a brilliant foundation with some of today’s hottest celebrities? The answer: absolutely nothing!

This past Saturday I had the honor of attending Farm Sanctuary’s annual gala. Farm Sanctuary was started in 1986 and is now considered to be the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. Each year the gala helps raise funds for their noble work and honor those who make a difference.

The evening was pure elegance with beautifully decorated tables, a classy silent auction area and, of course, the second floor VIP loft where all the famous faces mingled. Within minutes upstairs I was surrounded by a goggle of celebrities all sharing one thing – a love for Farm Sanctuary. Swoosie Kurtz told me: “I’m just so blown away by what they do. They are so specific in what they do and their goals and they really get thing done.”

Emily Deschanel, a vegan of 16 years, said that she “loves that Farm Sanctuary works from so many different angles” and “that they do so much like passing laws for the farm animals and educating the public.”

As the evening progressed I hobnobbed with stars like Rory Freedman, Dennis Kucinich, Kevin Nealon, Victoria Moran, Ally Sheedy, Loretta Swit, Russell Simmons and Farm Sanctuary president and co-founder Gene Baur.

The ceremony itself was hosted by Heather Mills, emceed by Melissa Rivers and Susie Essman led the live auction. As the evening closed we were treated to a twilight reception with desserts by Vegan Treats and a musical performance by Grammy Award winner Shawn Colvin.

All and all it was a glorious example of what people can do with a compassionate heart, a willing spirit and a generous pocket. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit www.FarmSanctuary.org.

Parrish is a regular contributor to Ecorazzi, the web’s leading green-gossip site.

(Photo copyright Andrew Ford)

Glenn Close Throws a Bone to Charity

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:17:52 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Glenn Close is a five-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner, but it’s her latest role at Fetchdog.com that’s earned the actress a ‘Golden Bone’ from Look to the Stars.

“I’m in a redemption mode, to get back to my real self,” joked Close, who’s portrayed characters that haven’t always been kind to animals, “The real truth is that I’ve been surrounded by dogs my entire life.”

Last October, Close and her husband David Shaw started Fetchdog.com, a site that sells high-end dog products while raising money for charity. Included on the site is Close’s blog, Lively Licks where she interviews celebrities about their dogs, profiles people who work with dogs and dishes out tips on anything from puppy training to canine health.

The most unique aspect of the site is that Fetchdog.com funnels a portion of its sales to dog-related causes. All you have to do is purchase an item and a percentage of the total will be donated to select dog charities with no added cost to you. Martha Stewart, for example, chose the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. When shoppers place their orders through Stewart’s page, the ASPCA receives roughly 6 percent of the price.

“Our dogs love us and keep us laughing through good times and bad,” writes Close on her blog, “This blog is a tribute to all the fabulous dogs who trot and wag their way through our lives and to the people who they have so successfully trained.”

Close has interviewed many dog lovers such as Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, who directed contributions to Little Angels Pug Rescue, and Dan Zelman and Debra Messing, who selected Animal Rescue New Orleans.

In one of her blogs, there is a great video of Close and her husband taking part in a training exercise with ski patrol member Tracy Christensen and his avalanche rescue dog, Mick. The video, narrated by Close, shows the couple buried beneath 4 feet of snow while Mick catches their scent and leads his handler to their rescue.

Close has more than one furry friend herself, including several canines whose lineage appears to be a mix of cairn terrier, West Highland white terrier and indeterminate other breeds. And wouldn’t you know it, she always brings her ‘kids’ to the set while shooting “Damages,” FX cable network’s critically acclaimed legal drama in which Close plays high-powered attorney Patty Hewes.

“They really change the atmosphere of the set when they come on. People just love it,” Close said. “And as long as they’re in a place where you can’t hear their toenails click when the camera turns on, then we’re fine.”

The Blues Mobile Comes to the Beach

Tue, 06 May 2008 10:24:40 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The Blues Brothers gave a live, oceanside performance last week at the Celebration Of The Sea Music & Film Festival. Jake and Elwood Blues, the only performers officially sanctioned by original Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd and the John Belushi Estate, arrived in the Blues Mobile and performed hits from the Briefcase Full Of Blues album on Miami Beach to raise money for the Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis.

The Buoniconti Fund seeks to raise funds and awareness for The Miami Project, the world’s largest spinal cord injury research center. Both orgaisations were co-founded by NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti after his son Marc’s football accident paralyzed him from the neck down.

“One day I was a normal kid thinking about school, sports and girls,” says Marc Buoniconti from his wheelchair. “The next thing you know I’m out there talking to people about paralysis.” Having raised over $150 million through the Buoniconti Fund, he says, “My goal is to get everyone out of these chairs.”

The April 26 Blues concert, put together in conjunction with the Miami Beach Polo World Cup and The Setai restaurant, began with a fashion show and a presentation by Judy Belushi Pisano, widow of the original Blues Brothers co-creator, John Belushi. The Blues Brothers act followed with a guest performance by sax man Alto Reed of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet band, and then a silent auction that included Blues Brothers memorabilia donated by Ms Belushi Pisano.

“The Miami Project holds tremendous promise for people who are spinal cord injured,” Marc says. “In 1985, the Miami Project was a dream. Today, it’s reality.”

Heather Mills Hosts 2008 Farm Sanctuary Gala

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:51:18 -0000

Written by Dawn Fantasia

Heather Mills is giving hope to animal-lovers everywhere by returning to host this year’s Farm Sanctuary Gala on May 17th, with emcee Melissa Rivers.

Heather and Melissa will be joined by many caring people and well-known celebrities, such as Kristen Bell and Kevin Nealon, who share their dream of bringing public awareness and compassion to the safety of farm animals. This will be a night to remember, full of exquisite vegan cuisine and sensational entertainment provided by Shawn Colvin.

Gift bags featuring vegan foods, cruelty-free items and other unique farm animal-related gifts are to be given out at the event to educate Gala guests about compassionate living, and an auction featuring original paintings, photography, gift baskets, jewelry and more will help to raise funds for the charity.

Guests set to attend this black tie event include Rachel Leigh Cook, Jennifer Coolidge, Emily Deschanel, Christine Ebersole, Lisa Edelstein, Susie Essman, Corey Feldman, Richard Kind, Swoosie Kurtz, Vanessa Marcil, Peter Max, Esai Morales, Eric Roberts, Ally Sheedy, Hal Sparks, Loretta Swit, True Whitaker, Persia White, Debra Wilson Skelton and more.

While volunteer opportunities to help at the event are no longer available, tickets for the Gala are still on sale at $400 each. For more information about purchasing a ticket or making a donation please visit the Farm Sanctuary Gala ‘08 website.

(Photo courtesy of Farm Sanctuary)

Kate Hudson Launches Cruelty Free & Eco-Friendly Hair Products

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:22:06 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Kate Hudson has teamed up with hairdresser David Babaii to launch a new line of cruelty free, environmentally friendly hair care products, with 10% of the profits going to the wildlife charity WildAid.

“I’ve been asked to do a lot of campaigns in the past and this feels like the perfect fit for me,” said Hudson. “And the fact that we can do it in an ecologically responsible and animal-friendly manner that can help preserve wildlife is what makes this truly special.”

Hudson, who spent two years developing the line, decided to create the WildAid range partly out of a concern for the chemicals contained in some hair products.

“All these things we use to penetrate the scalp and our skin – some of them are the worst things we can put on our body,” she told USA Today. “There are a lot of carcinogens.”

The WildAid products are 100% free of sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals and animal products.

“It’s very difficult to make a purely organic product that can pass the sustainability test and that can have a shelf life, but we came up with our shampoos, and we did it. It lathers, it works. I use it, and it doesn’t have all the bad stuff in it.”

The success of the WildAid brand has even prompted Hudson to take on a bigger task – her own line of natural cosmetics.

“I can understand why a lot of people don’t do it. It takes a little more money and more time. I’ve had opportunities to do beauty campaigns, and I’ve always thought, ‘I’m not a model.’ I just felt I was endorsing a product I didn’t know anything about or love — that felt weird to me.”

Jennifer Harman Holds A Royal Flush For SPCA

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:30:42 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Last year, professional poker player Jennifer Harman held her Inaugural Charity Poker Tournament for the Nevada SPCA. Thanks to her efforts, the event raised $130,000 for the shelter in Las Vegas, affording them the opportunity to open two new wings for the no-kill shelter.

“It’s amazing what a difference even the smallest donation can make, let alone $130,000,” said Nevada SPCA Executive Director Doug Duke. “The new section will allow us to rescue and shelter about 1,000 animals.”

But Harmon didn’t fold her cards after the event – instead she doubled-up for the Second Annual Jennifer Harman Charity Poker Tournament which was held on Friday, April 18, inside The Venetian Poker Room, and included live/silent auctions and a first place prize of a seat into the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event.

“I can’t thank The Venetian and my friends enough for the flood of support they have shown the Nevada SPCA,” said Harman. “These animals give unconditional love. This is a chance for all of us to give something back.”

Poker celebrities ‘giving back’ arrived at Venetian to walk the red carpet, but they didn’t walk alone. Each celebrity had a shelter animal with him or her. Former NFLer Shawn King walked the carpet with a cat dressed in feather boa, and poker professional Phil Ivey walked with a kitten in his arms.

“The Venetian Poker Room is honored to host the Jennifer Harman Charity Poker Tournament benefiting the Nevada SPCA No-Kill Animal Shelter,” said Kathy Raymond, director of poker operations at The Venetian. “We are privileged to be a small part of their ongoing success.”

Over 250 poker professionals attended the event, including Johnny Chan, Howard Lederer, Freddy Deeb, Mike Sexton, Joe Hachem, Barry Greenstein, Layne "Back to Back" Flack, Chau Giang, David Chesnoff, David Williams, Huckleberry Seed, Jennifer "Jennicide" Leigh, Lacy Jones, Dan "Who’s Your Daddy" Fleishman, Men "The Master" Nguyen, and many others.

One celebrity poker player really determined to help the animals was Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu was in Monte Carlo playing cards when he decided to fold ‘em, jump on a private jet, and fly to Las Vegas in time to attend.

Poker legend Doyle Brunson was there making friends, when he should have been in Los Angeles filming ‘Poker After Dark.’ His assistant tried to pull Brunson from the event, but he insisted on playing alongside an 80-year-old man who wanted nothing more than to play poker with the legend. When Brunson’s new pal busted out, Brunson didn’t hesitate to donate another $500.00 to keep him in the game.

If that doesn’t convince you that poker players are some of the most generous celebrities around, think again – the event raised an astonishing $320,000, all of which went directly to the Nevada SPCA.

The recommended donation to participate in the tournament was only $300, and the first place prize was a $10,000 seat into the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event. The tournament winner? Seth Duprie. Duprie was at the SPCA in Las Vegas to adopt an animal when he learned of Harmon’s event. “It was his dream to support the animals,” one of the event organizers told me. “He found out about it from the SPCA and he was so happy, he was the perfect person to win.”

The Venetian provided an ideal setting the tournament, donating the space and an extra $5,000 to help out the Nevada SPCA. Full Tilt Poker was the primary sponsor of the event, allowing for 100% of the proceeds to benefit the SPCA.

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

Drew Barrymore Leaves Her Mark For Charity Auction

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:59:12 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Drew Barrymore is being hounded by bidders who are doggedly pursuing an exciting new internet auction. The 33-year-old actress is selling a one-of-kind work of art she created… with her pet dog.

The star has donated a canvas featuring her handprints – and the paw prints of her dog, Flossie – to The Rescue Train, an organization that seeks to reduce the number of animals entering shelters by promoting education through creating unique programs and solutions.

The artwork, which can be viewed via www.charityfolks.com, is the last lot in a series of auctions that featured works of art created by celebrities and their pet pooches. Other stars to create canvases included Jessica Alba, Carmen Electra, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Paula Abdul, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Eric Roberts.

Charity Folks is the leading online marketplace for celebrity charity auctions, and has raised over $6 million for non-profit organizations in the past. The current Drew Barrymore auction ends on April 23.

Stars Pound The Pavement In London Marathon

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:51:45 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

35,000 people set off through the English rain yesterday in the third biggest London Marathon ever held. And a handful of celebrities slipped on their running shoes, polished off their pedometers, and sweated their way along the 26 mile course for charity.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay managed to compete in his ninth marathon with very little of his trademark bad language, and completed the race in just under three hours.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” said the Michelin-star winner, who was raising money for Spina Bifida research. “There were thousands who came out – they were fantastic.”

Actress Amanda Holden – whose show, Britain’s Got Talent, has just returned to TV – also braved the blisters for a good cause. The 37-year-old ran the event to raise money for the Born Free Foundation, of which she is patron. She trained for six months for the marathon, during which she set up a website for people to follow her training and sponsor her effort. She raised over $12,000 from sponsors, including pledges from Simon Cowell ($2,000) and Piers Morgan ($2,002).

Other celebrities puffing their way through the streets of London included Ronan Keating and former Big Brother winner Kate Lawler, who raised thousands for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Look To The Stars Asks Melora Hardin

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:58:03 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

You probably know her as Jan from NBC’s The Office, but Melora Hardin’s face is one that has been gracing our television screens for years. A trained dancer, she is a veteran of all the shows we used to love – The Love Boat, Diff’rent Strokes, Little House on the Prairie, Magnum PI, Friends, Monk … the list could go on and on. And with big screen appearances in films such as Reckless Kelly, The Hot Chick, Absolute Power, Thank You For Smoking, and 27 Dresses, it is almost certain that most people have seen her face somewhere.

As if television and film acting was not enough, Hardin recently made her feature film directorial debut with You, and has released two CDs of her original vocal stylings – a talent that will see her perform the role of Fantine in Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl in August. This will be followed by the release of her latest movie, Seventeen, – alongside Zac Efron (High School Musical) and Matthew Perry (Friends) – in October.

With the new series of The Office set to debut in America on April 10, Melora found a few minutes to talk to Look To The Stars about how people can make the world a better place.

Hi Melora. A few weeks ago you went to the bebe Luncheon and Fashion Show in LA, which was a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tell us a little about the day and what attracted you to it.

I found out about the Make-A-Wish Foundation many, many years ago. I started acting professionally when I was 6 years old, and when I was about 12 my close friend’s mother was volunteering for Make-A-Wish. I had appeared on some show at that time that one of these kids really loved, so I went to the hospital and met this kid about my own age, shook their hand, signed a picture. And I was so moved by that. I felt that I could do something – I could use the celebrity that I have to give back as much as I can.

With the bebe event, Manny [Mashouf] invited me – he’s a really lovely guy – and so I thought it would be a fun day. I offered my support to both him and Make-A-Wish. I had great fun. Lots of yummy food and lots of nice people, and they gave away some great prizes and people won some good things. I think Make-A-Wish is a wonderful charity.

Where do you find your own inspiration to help others?

I feel like we’re all equal, and that some of us are luckier than others – born into situations with more opportunities, more education, more love, more culture, and all those things. But that doesn’t make anyone more important, just because they’ve been born into it. So I really do feel like everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and I really do try to treat people that way. I’m often shocked when people are bad. But I think there are very few really bad people in the world. I’d say most of the people in this world are good people who do the best they can. Unfortunately, the few really bad people can affect the way we see things. So I guess it’s really trying to live and let live.

What would you say to someone who wants to help a cause but doesn’t know where to start?

I would say the first thing is the internet, that is one of the greatest tools we have in our time. Now you can go online and find anything from anywhere across the world, if you try hard enough and keep on searching. And if you don’t have access to the internet, then you can just ask – if you need something, if you’re looking for something, just ask where ever you can. If it’s the internet, great, if it’s friends and family, then start there, then branch out and just go as wide as you can until you can find your way.

How would a charity attract your attention?

Well firstly and obviously I would have to feel aligned with whatever their message is, and then secondly I would want to feel that whatever the money is that they were getting is really going towards the cause, and not just creating more and more paper to send out to people. If they send that out to everybody, then that’s thousands of dollars and hours of time, and thousands and thousands of trees. To me it’s such a waste, and it’s not a great use of money. So when I look at charities that are really successful, like Greenpeace or Make-A-Wish, they’re really using the funds that they’re gathering to do what all of their supporters want them to do. So I would say that would be a very high priority for me.

If you could start a charity, what would it be?

I’ve often said that I wish every graduate from high school would be handed a Euro Pass to go round Europe – that’s what I did when I graduated high school. I traveled around Europe for three months by myself. It was one of the most wonderful and balancing experiences, and I think that if you get out of your own backyard and see the world a little bit, you realize that there are good people everywhere. The conflicts that happen in our world are really based on politics, they’re not based on the things that everybody believes they are based on. I feel that people should get on a plane and fly somewhere, live somewhere, and have to deal with the way the cultures differ, to make friends and start to have compassion and empathy for the different ways of doing and being. That’s one of the greatest gifts you can give a young person, and I really wish there was such a program.

I just think we would have a much better chance of peace if people got the chance to see the world and spend a little time traveling. Even if it’s the only time they ever do it in their whole lives. I think it’s appalling to me that we have a president who never traveled out of this country until he was elected. I don’t know how you can possibly run a country when you haven’t seen other countries and the way they live their lives. You don’t get a sense of that from television. You just don’t.

That would be a charity I would be really interested in if there was such a thing, where young people had the opportunity to see the world and learn a little about other cultures by being immersed in it.

Are there any other charities or causes you support that you think need help?

I’m on the Board of Directors for Victoria Rowell’s Foster Children Positive Plan, which brings fine arts to foster children. It means that if a foster child would like ballet lessons, we get them their lessons and whatever they need. I have found that it really reaps benefits. Victoria Rowell is a soap actress here and was a foster child. She had a great foster family that put her into ballet, and from there she became a successful actress. I find that things like that can really change someone’s life.

What do you think are the biggest problems facing the world today, and how can one person make a difference and help solve them?

I think we are a consumer-driven society, and that really affects all of us. People really don’t know much about it. I just got emailed a video called The Story of Stuff. It’s really wonderful and very informative about where our “stuff” comes from, how it becomes our stuff, and then where it goes. And how that affects the environment to a really drastic and horrible degree. You know, when you look at our stuff today as opposed to the 1930s, things were made to last back then. Now things are made to break, so that you have to buy more. And its really so unfortunate for our planet. The more things we make, the more the planet suffers. It’s really fascinating, and I would encourage everybody to have a look at that video, because it really taught me a lot.

I think there are a lot of simple things people can do. You know, yesterday I was at Whole Foods buying my groceries, and I bought seven cloth bags that from now on I’m going to take my groceries home in and keep using them every time. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time, and finally I said this is something I can do.

The environment is really a serious issue, and it really doesn’t take that much to make a difference. I would just say that people should do whatever they can do – it’s good not to litter, it’s good not to pollute, it’s good to recycle when you can.

Then there are food issues.

In our country, we have more childhood diabetes now than we have had ever before. And that’s because everything is packaged with sugar. So when someone thinks they are giving their child a slice of bread, they are actually giving their child a slice of bread that has sugar in it. Everything that they’re eating has sugar in it. Then we end up putting kids on anti-hyperactive drugs instead of adjusting their diet and realizing that sugar is a drug. I have a real issue with sugar because I really see how it changes my kids’ personalities, and it’s a really tough one because at every single party they go to there’s sugar, it’s just constant sugar for kids. I’m sure it’s different in different parts of the world, where sugar isn’t quite so available or common. But in Western culture it’s a problem, and I’m concerned about that because I do have young kids.

Can you give our readers a final message on how they can make the world a better place?

You have to be aware and conscious. I understand it’s hard, it’s easier to slide through life and pick up what’s there. But it starts with just one person. The more conscious the person can become the better. Whatever they feel they can wrap their brain around and take on and feel responsible for, the world will become a better place.

Thanks for your time, Melora.

Jeremy Piven Urges People To Support Earth Hour

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:29:02 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

On March 29, 2008, twenty cities in over six continents will turn off their lights for Earth Hour, a WWF event to raise awareness about climate change and symbolize that the people of the world can make a difference in the fight against climate change by simply working together. And actor Jeremy Piven is at the forefront of the campaign by narrating a new video about the event.

Earth Hour has grown from a single event in Sydney, Australia, in March 2007 to a global phenomenon that will change the way the world sees climate change. On March 31, 2007, over 2.2 million people and 2,100 corporations in Sydney turned their lights off for an hour, creating an energy saving of 10.2% – that’s roughly the same as taking 48,000 cars off the road!

And according to Piven’s new video, which can be viewed at the Our Planet MySpace page, this year the event is going to be even bigger. Cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane, Manila, Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco have all pledged their support for the “Lights-Off” event.

“In 2008, Earth Hour goes global,” said Piven. “On March 29 at 8pm, join the global movement against global warming by turning your lights off for one hour. Turn out for Earth Hour.”

For more information about the event, visit the Earth Hour website.

Martin Sheen To Receive Two Humanitarian Awards

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:58:45 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Veteran actor and former President of the United States (at least on TV’s The West Wing) Martin Sheen is to be honored for his humanitarian work – not just once, but twice!

It has just been announced that the actor is to collect the Marlon Brando Award for his career and humanitarian efforts at the fourth annual Stella By Starlight gala benefit on March 17, and follows hot on the heels of the news that the 67-year-old is to receive the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal at a ceremony on May 18.

“He has used [his] celebrity to draw the attention of his fellow citizens to issues that cry out for redress,” said University President Rev. John Jenkins. “Such as the plight of immigrant workers and homeless people, the waging of unjust war, the killing of the unborn, and capital punishment”.

As well as donating time and money to many charities – such as PETA, Earth First, and Help Darfur Now – Sheen has also been involved in many protests involving causes he is passionate about. In 1995, while protesting the annual slaughter of Canadian seals with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the actor was attacked by angry hunters. Then, in 2007, Sheen was arrested while protesting against nuclear weapons in Nevada.

Former recipients of the Laetare Medal include John F. Kennedy, former Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, and former US House Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill.

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