Look To The Stars News: Education

Tom Cruise Donates to Jackie Chan's Foundation

Sat, 11 Feb 2006 14:51:42 +0000

In January, Tom Cruise donated $20,000 to the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation. The money will be used for 10 scholarships to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing arts.

San Diego School Surprise

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:32:41 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Students at San Diego High School were thrilled at the unexpected arrival of Oprah, Bill Gates, and Gates’ wife Melinda. The visitors were there to film a future segment of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” about an $11 million donation in 2003 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Three large high schools in the area received funds to assist in their efforts to increase the number of college-ready graduates, particularly among low-income and minority students. Some of the money was used to divide the San Diego High School into six smaller schools. Each of the smaller schools specializes in a particular field, such as business, international studies, media or science.

Thirty Years Of Prince's Trust

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 13:49:31 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Celebrities such as Pierce Brosnan and Joseph Fiennes will join the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Prince's Trust.

The Celebrate Success Awards will be handed out today in recognition of exceptional achievements of young people, and as thanks to those who support young people and help them towards a positive future.

Moss Helps Launch Tsunami Charity

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 15:50:37 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Supermodel Kate Moss has helped launch the SamandRuby Charity in remembrance of her friend, Samantha Archer Fayet.

Moss says, “Sam was one of my oldest and closest friends. If my support for the charity helps kids get a better education and start in life, it’s the least I can do in memory of Sam and Ruby Rose.”

Fayet and her six-month-old daughter, Ruby Rose, were lost in the December 2004 tsunami while visiting Takua Pa in Thailand. Fayet’s husband, Patrice, and her parents have since set up the SamandRuby Charity to help the people who opened their arms and homes to those in need, even while they themselves were suffering.

Shakira Honoured For Charity Work

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

Written by Myrlia Purcell

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

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

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

Melua Single Profits Going To Charity

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 11:35:43 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Jazz singer Katie Melua has announced that proceeds from her next single “Spider’s Web” will be donated to charity.

The charity to benefit from the star’s generous move is Save the Children, for whom the 21-year old is an ambassador.

Forbes' "Most Generous Celebrities" List

Fri, 19 May 2006 14:04:00 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Forbes Magazine has published a list of “Generous Celebrities”, highlighting the incredible generosity of some of the world’s most public faces.

The ten celebrities listed are:

Bono supports AIDS charity DATA and many others
Sandra Bullock gave $1m to the American Red Cross after the 9/11 bombings, and has also donated to the Tsunami relief fund
Nicolas Cage supports Chrysalis, an LA charity for the homeless, and gave $1m to Katrina relief
Jackie Chan is a UNICEF ambassador, founded the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation, and gave $100,000 to Chrysalis
Céline Dion is Celebrity Patron for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and donated $1m to the American Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina
Angelina Jolie has given more than $3m to the UNHCR
Paul McCartney supports the Adopt-A-Minefield charity, and he and wife Heather Mills jointly donateed $1.9m to Tsunami relief
Arnold Schwarzenegger supports the Special Olympics, and in 2001 he donated a total of $4.1m to the Twin Towers fund, After-School All-Stars and Nelson Mandela’s children’s fund
Steven Spielberg is a patron of the Righteous Persons Foundation, founder of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, and gave $1.5m to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Oprah gave $52m to charity in 2005 alone, and wrote a personal cheque for $10m to help victims of the Katrina disaster

Ozzy Headlines Prince Charles Charity Gig

Sun, 21 May 2006 10:44:28 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

An all-star music concert was held in London yesterday to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Prince's Trust charity.

Leading the line-up was veteran rocker Ozzy Osbourne, and other music acts included the Bee Gees, Lionel Richie, Annie Lennox, Ronan Keating, Pink and Embrace. Illusionist David Blaine also appeared.

Thanks to the Prince’s position, the 2000-strong audience was able to enjoy the concert in a unique setting: the grounds of the Tower of London.

The Prince's Trust helps disadvantaged children reach their potential.

Gates Open To More Charity Work

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 18:37:07 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

College drop-out turned technology super-star Bill Gates announced that over the next two years he will withdraw from his daily role at Microsoft in order to dedicate himself full-time to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

At 50, Gates is currently the world’s richest man, with a personal
worth estimated at $50 billion. The $30 billion Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation focuses on health and education charities.

The Microsoft founder is one of many philanthropists helping others using wealth gained quickly through the technology boom.

Fellow Microsoft pioneer, Paul Allen, awards nearly $30 million in grants every year through a charitable fund he created.

Other big players include eBay creator Pierre Omidya, who
created a $400 million fund to aid development in poverty-stricken countries, and Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who have dedicated $1 billion to fighting poverty and helping energy consumption.

Warren Buffett Gives 85% of Fortune To Bill Gates' Foundation

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 07:45:03 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

In a stunning move the world’s second richest man Warren Buffett has announced that he will donate around $37bn of his personal fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The sum, which represents 85% of his enormous personal fortune, will be paid in 10 million shares in his Berkshire Hathaway investments firm.

“This has been coming for 50 years,” said Buffett. “There’s never really been any other plan in terms of where the money should go.”

He added, “I am not an enthusiast of dynastic wealth, particularly when the alternative is six billion people having that much poorer hands in life than we have, having a chance to benefit from the money.”

Bill Gates and wife Melinda said in a statement, “We are awed by our friend Warren Buffet’s decision to use his fortune to address the world’s most challenging inequities, and we are humbled that he has chosen to direct a large portion of it to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.”

Buffett said he chose to distribute his wealth to an existing foundation out of respect for its current work, telling Fortune magazine, “Who wouldn’t select Tiger Woods to take his place in a high-stakes golf game? That’s how I feel about this decision with my money.”

Jackie Chan Reveals Charity Will

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:56:08 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

While at a press conference to raise awareness of the endangered South China tiger, Jackie Chan announced that he has bequeathed half of his fortune to charity.

“I admire the efforts by Buffett and Gates to help those in need a lot,” Chan said. “Like Buffett and Gates, I want to help people, but I don’t have as much money as they do.”

The action hero founded the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation in 1988, and it is this charity that will benefit from the will. Originally started to help needy children, the organization has since branched out to help victims of natural disasters, provide special medical care, and support the performing arts.

Earlier this year Chan was named by Forbes as one of the world’s 10 most generous celebrities. Recognising the 52-year-old’s passion for charitable causes, celebrities such as Tom Cruise have contributed funds to the Foundation.

Though constantly busy with film work, Chan also commits a large amount of his time to a number of other charities.

Save China's Tigers founder Li Quan said, “The tigers are very lucky to have the support of Jackie, who cares deeply about the Chinese tiger, which is on the brink of extinction. With less than 100 Chinese tigers remaining urgent action is required. Jackie hopes the poster campaign can raise much needed funds to help the tigers.”

Jackie Chan Meets UNICEF Painting Competition Winner

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:27:00 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Action star and UNICEF Ambassador Jackie Chan took time out of his hectic schedule to visit with the winner of the 2006 UNEP International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment.

The winner, Lau Tsun Ming (age 9) from China, said: "My "picture “:http://www.jackiechan.com/news_view?cid=371 shows two contrasting scenes of Earth. One is desertified and the other can keep its natural beauty. If people continue to ruin the environment, our surroundings will become dull and nasty.”

As environmental protection is very important to Chan, he was pleased to see that children are also concerned about taking care of the planet.

Children in the U.S. have been brightening Chan’s year with the Build a School for a Dollar Campaign.

In July, Chan toured poverty stricken areas of the Guizhou Province to visit more than a dozen schools built by his Dragon's Heart Charity. During his travels he delivered warm coats and school supplies, led an auction which generated over $125,000, visited a rehabilitation center, and met with business associates to plan future philanthropic missions.

After reading about Jackie’s efforts to help poor children in remote areas of China, many kids wrote to him asking how they could help. Jackie’s Kids Corner shows how kids have started helping by drawing pictures of a school using a dollar bill as the centerpiece.

It costs only $9 a year to send a poor child to school in China.

Streisand Donates $1M to Climate Change Initiative

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 19:22:02 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Singer Barbra Streisand announced this week that she will donate $1M to former president Bill Clinton’s favourite charity, the Climate Change Initiative.

The initiative – part of the Clinton Foundation – aims to bring together a consortium of major cities around the world to actively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Streisand has been funding global climate change efforts since the late 80s, and she recently announced an October tour in aid of charity.

Priceless Piano on Auction at the David Foster and Friends Charity Gala

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 11:44:29 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Over 60 superstars have signed David Foster's one-of-a-kind Yamaha grand piano, which will be auctioned live and via the internet during the 2006 David Foster and Friends Gala.

The piano has been used in dozens of major performances including shows in Las Vegas, a recent performance at David’s home by Barbra Streisand, Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night to benefit the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, and Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children benefitting underprivileged and abused children through the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation.

Some of the celebrities who have signed the piano are Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Sting, Tim McGraw, Robin Williams and Donald Trump.

Foster says, “My favourite songs have been performed on this piano by the original artists. It has been with us for some truly great events at some spectacular venues. I am thrilled that its legacy will help improve the lives of families and children in need.”

The piano will be on public display at the River Rock Casino Resort in Vancouver until September 10, the night of the gala. All proceeds go the the David Foster Foundation and will benefit families of children in need of organ transplants.

Eminem Designs Shoes For Charities

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:39:55 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Eminem has created eight different looks for 64 pairs of limited edition Nike Air Max to be auctioned for charity.

The multi-platinum rapper’s own charity, the Marshall Mathers Foundation, and ninemillion.org will benefit from the auction of the numbered and autographed sneakers.

Ninemillion.org aids refugees around the world, and the Marshall Mathers Foundation helps disadvantaged youth in Eminem’s home state of Michigan. All proceeds will be split evenly between the two charities.

“We’re always looking for new ways to try to raise money and awareness for the foundation, so when Nike approached us we jumped at the chance,” explained Eminem. “When we got the info on ninemillion.org, it made even more sense. Who wouldn’t want to design their own line of Nikes? And to do it for charity makes it that much better.”

The shoes will be available for bidding on eBay and at select Nike stores over a period of four weeks, beginning with an event at NikeTown London on August 31.

How a trip to Africa changed Michelle Wright's life

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

Written by Greg Hitchcock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Queensryche Bikes Across America for Charity

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:00:39 +0000

Written by Greg Hitchcock

Fans of the rock group Queensryche will have the totally mind-blowing experience of riding with singer Geoff Tate and guitarist Mike Stone on motorcycles provided by Buell motorcycles as part of a charity event for VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

Queensryche will ride across America for the charity sponsored by VH1 Classis which began in August as part of their U.S. tour.
The 60-plus date tour features a full-stage show, including surround sound, new video imagery and actors playing out both parts of the Operation Mindcrime Saga, the Seattle-based quintet’s concept albums.

Fans that make a donation to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation will be invited to join Tate and Stone as they ride between shows. A full list of start and finish points are available on the band’s website.

Anyone who makes a donation will be eligible to receive a limited edition sticker patch commemorating the Queensryche charity ride. Log onto www.vh1savethemusic.com and click on the Queensryche donation page to contribute.

A nonprofit organization founded in 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation is dedicated to restoring instrumental music education in America’s public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child’s complete education.

“As a band, we’ve always believed in music’s profound power to change lives,” Tate said. “Personally, music has always been my saving grace because it’s given me a positive way to express my emotions.”

“This charity ride alone is a simple way for me to make sure that a new generation will have the same opportunities through music that I had,” he said.

Schumacher is in the Winner’s Circle for Philanthropy

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:53:30 +0000

Written by Greg Hitchcock

Michael Schumacher, the world’s most successful racing driver, announced his retirement after spending years racing and raising millions for charity.

The son of a builder from Kerpen, near Cologne, has donated almost £30 million to projects around the world in the past four years alone and, if motor racing fails to hold its allure when he hangs up his helmet at the end of the Formula One season, it is thought that he might plough his considerable wealth into a full-time foundation.

Ferrari’s seven-time world champion has worked for the United Nations charity since 1995, and his previous donations have helped build schools and clinics.

For instance, Schumacher donated $10 million, which represents about 10 percent of his annual income, to UNICEF to the relief effort following Boxing Day’s devastating tsunami disaster in south Asia. The German’s pledge, announced by agent Willi Weber on a German TV fundraiser for the UN Children’s Fund and German Red Cross, is the biggest so far in the world of sport, and possibly of any individual.

Schumacher has been a substantial donor to charities for the last eight years notably with UNESCO and UNICEF including funding a school in Dakar (Senegal), a clinic in Sarajevo and a centre for street children in Lima, Peru. He has also been involved in work in his role as a UNICEF ambassador.

“If you put them on the right track, everyone will benefit,” Schumacher said earlier this year. “But if they take the wrong road, if they don’t have any opportunities, they’ll have a difficult life and cause trouble for everyone around them.”

Ferrell Helps Friend's Cancer Charity

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:44:30 +0000

Written by Hannah Coone

On September 22nd, Will Ferrell took part in a golf tournament for his favorite charity, Cancer For College. The event was hosted by charity founder Craig Pollard, one of the comedic actor’s former fraternity brothers at University of Southern California.

Cancer for College began with a business plan Pollard wrote up during senior year at University. It was established in 1993 to provide college scholarships to current and former cancer patients. In February 2006, Pollard himself was hospitalized when a bacterial blood infection forced doctors to put him in a sedated coma for 3 weeks. Consequent blood circulation problems led to the amputation of both legs below the knees. After this ordeal, Pollard extended the scholarships to include amputees.

To date, Cancer for College has donated $67,000 in scholarships to 50 students. This year’s 10 new scholars will share $53,000 thanks to Will Ferrell and his wife, Viveca Paulin. Pollard said, “Ferrell did some Sprint commercials and said he would donate the check, thinking it’d be $10,000. He later called saying, ‘I was way off.’” The actual fee donated was $100,000.

Will Ferrell commented on the lighthearted event, “This is such a fun day for everyone. It’s a chance for old friends to get together and badly play golf and celebrate survival. This is the 6th year I have been involved. There’s been some lewd conduct in the past; I shot a guy last year because he picked up my ball.”

Pollard spoke of the benefits of celebrity support, saying, “Our program has increased considerably in the past 4 years especially thanks to Will’s support. Scholarship amounts and the number of winners selected have more than tripled. We’re so blessed to be able to provide this gift to kids and their families who have endured so much in their lives.”

Jackie Chan Auctions Watch for Charity

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:51:33 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Jackie Chan has taken on the role of ambassador for the children’s charity Camp Quality, and in September helped raise nearly $23,000 for them at the Hong Kong premiere of Rob-B-Hood.

Nearly the entire cast of the film attended the event, and Jackie brought attention and funds to the charity by auctioning off a limited edition IWC Dragon watch.

Camp Quality is an international organization which offers support for children suffering from cancer by making it possible for them to get out of hospitals and enjoy themselves in an outdoor environment.

In the same month, Chan started the Jackie Chan Civil Aviation Foundation, a charity which provides program funding for flight personnel and their trainers.

Stars Deliver For Literacy Charities

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 10:43:34 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Kate Winslet, Margaret Atwood, Jonathan Pryce and Phil Collins are among 40 celebrities who have donated their time and artistic skills to the UK Pitney Bowes Pushing the Envelope campaign.

The stars have each decorated an envelope in order to raise funds for the National Literacy Trust, and the unique framed art is available on eBay until the 20th of October.

This is the third year that the campaign has taken place, and organisers are hoping it will be as successful as last year’s auction, which raised over £11,000 for the Trust.

Pushing the Envelope usually involves simultaneous auctions around the world, with the money raised in each country going to support local literacy programs. This year Katie Melua has created an envelope for the auction taking place in France, which benefits Asmae and their work with children in the Phillipines.

In past years Pitney Bowes has sponsored auctions in the U.S. and Canada as well, featuring art from Halle Berry, Mike Myers, Lindsay Lohan and Sharon Stone for the U.S. auctions, and from Alex Trebek and Wayne Gretzky in the Canadian events. The charities to benefit from those auctions included First Book, the National Center for Family Literacy, ProLiteracy Worldwide, Reading Is Fundamental, and ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation.

Natalie Imbruglia to Perform at ROTA Benefit Dinner in Qatar

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 05:49:55 +0000

Written by Robert Powers

Natalie Imbruglia is set to perform at the second annual Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) benefit dinner being held on November 4, in Doha, Qatar’s capital city.

The Australian pop singer certainly won’t be the only celebrity attending as organizers for the event, which is being hosted at the city’s Ritz Carlton Hotel, are hoping for an even more glitzy and successful benefit than last year’s, when it drew in big names like Bill Clinton and Sir Richard Branson and was able to raise over $10 million for charitable causes in Asia.

ROTA’s philanthropic purpose is community development within Asia “with specific emphasis on promoting global responsibility for basic, quality primary education” as stated on the charity’s website.

ROTA has in the past rebuilt schools in a part of Kashmir devastated by the 2005 earthquake that hit Pakistan, and has sponsored a library and rebuilt schools in a part of Indonesia hit by the 2004 tsunami and a more recent earthquake.

CNN International news anchor Richard Quest is slated to act as emcee for the evening’s festivities.

The Hollywood Cookbook Launch Party

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 20:32:59 +0000

Written by Charles Harder

Stars and food converged at Kitchen Academy in Hollywood last night for a party launching The Hollywood Cookbook — a beautiful 271-page hardcover collection of sumptuous recipes, each accompanied by a large photo, from the personal kitchens of 20 celebrities and 6 world-class chefs. Five dollars from each purchase benefits 20 important charities dear to the hearts of the celebrity contributors.

The cookbook covers the spectrum of food and beverage, from appetizers, soups and salads, to main courses, desserts, and even cocktails. Michael J. Fox's Barn Dance Chicken, and Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford's Savory Fall Stew are just two of the 107 creative and simple dishes that can be duplicated in any kitchen regardless of culinary skill level. Chefs Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Joachim Splichal, Nick Stellino, Michael Cimarusti and Rocco DiSpirito also contributed recipes to the book.

At the event, the students of Kitchen Academy prepared and served 20 recipes featured in the cookbook, each one tastier than the last. This reporter’s favorite: Door Knob Sweet Potato Balls (an appetizer) from designer Paige Hemmis of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Yum!

Chef Jamie Gwen’s movie-star looks and talk-show host’s presence kept attendees laughing and entertained as the event’s emcee. The evening included a cooking demonstration by actor Greg Grunberg, and an informal awards ceremony. Eric Close of TV’s Without a Trace gave a heartfelt tribute to his charity, Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, which pairs abused children with rescued horses and adult leaders at 24 wilderness ranches around the U.S. and Canada, to help restore the heart, soul, mind and strength of the kids.

Written by screenwriter Jackie Zabel and actress Morgan Most, and published by Silverback Books, The Hollywood Cookbook is a perfect holiday gift (retails for $35, but presently is featured at Amazon.com for only $23). The event was co-sponsored by Maurice Le Croix Swiss Watches and The Kitchen Academy.

Celebrities & Charities: Thora Birch (Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation), Michael Chiklis (The Children's Lifesaving Foundation), Eric Close (Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch), Mark Dacascos (Reel Angels), James Denton (Cure Autism Now), Michael J. Fox & Tracy Pollan (The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research), Afton Fraser & Brendan Fraser (P.S. ARTS), Greg Grunberg (Pediatric Epilepsy Project), Anne Hathaway (Lollipop Theater Network), Paige Hemmis (Habitat For Humanity), Ron Howard (Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America), Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford (Clothes Off Our Back), Esai Morales (TreePeople), Don Most (City of Hope), Bob Saget (Scleroderma Research Foundation), Marlo Thomas (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital), Kerry Washington (Step Up), Treat Williams (Save the Children), Alicia Witt (The Art of Elysium), and Kelly Wolf & Scott Wolf (Camp Heartland).

"Modfather" Paul Weller Launches Guitar Campaign

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 12:21:00 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Former Jam singer Paul Weller has launched a campaign to build giant guitars for charity.

The Gibson GuitarTown exhibition will build 30 guitar sculptures across London by next summer, ready for 12 weeks of display beginning on 1st June 2007. Each sculpture will be designed and endorsed by famous musicians, including Queen guitarist Brian May.

All 30 Gibson Les Paul guitars will later be auctioned off for The Prince's Trust, Nordoff Robbins and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Speaking about the campaign, Weller said: “I am proud to be associated with the Gibson GuitarTown London campaign as it combines my passion and appreciation for the guitar, whilst raising money and awareness for three very worthy and deserving charities.”

[Update: the website for the campaign is www.londonguitartown.com]

Colbert Show Portrait Prop Nets Money for Children’s Charity

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 17:22:43 +0000

Written by Robert Powers

When The Colbert Report, a half-hour TV-news commentary satire that follows The Daily Show, celebrated its one-year anniversary last month, the show decided to replace a mainstay set prop: the portrait-within-a-portrait of host Stephen Colbert.

The “painting,” which is actually a digital photo of Colbert doctored to resemble a painting, features a cross-armed, stern-looking Colbert standing in front of a picture that depicts a more urbane and suave-looking Colbert. So when the actual Colbert would come to stand by his set’s fake fireplace, he could be seen standing beside two versions of himself, virtually creating a portrait-within-a-portrait-within-yet-another-portrait of the cantankerous commentator.

And now, while another equally humorous portrait in the same vein now graces The Colbert Report set (the new one encapsulates three whole likenesses of Colbert), the old one has been auctioned off for the charity Save the Children on eBay. The charity, as its name suggests, is a globally-linked series of organizations that are involved in efforts to improve the lives of children in need throughout the world.

The auction, plagued early by fake bids, settled on a winning bid of $50,605 by Chad Walldorf and business associates of the Sticky Fingers chain of seventeen barbeque restaurants.

“We don’t know much about art,” said Walldorf, chain owner and business partner, talking to the Associated Press, “but [we] figured any time you can get two portraits for the price of one, then it must be a great deal…”

The portrait can now be seen at the chain’s Charleston, N.C. location. Why Charleston out of sixteen other viable options? The North Carolina capital city can be proud to list Colbert as one of its own — the city is his hometown.

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