Look To The Stars News: Oprah

Chevy Chase Launches Annual GREEN Auction

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Here is your chance to hit the links with Chevy Chase and Bill Murray for a Caddyshack Golf Outing! Chevy & Bill will go on the block once again in support of GREEN Community Schools providing the chance for the lucky winning bidder and a guest to go golfing with these old friends and stars of the beloved Caddyshack film. Who knows what hijinks will ensue out on the links with these two?

Also up for grabs, a chance to join Howard Stern in the studio. The winner of this incredible experience will be able to sit in during a taping of the show and observe all the action. A meet and greet with the entire crew is included in this package. Once again, Chevy Chase will go on the Howard Stern show to talk about his latest acting projects including the acclaimed new NBC comedy, Community.

This year, Oprah Winfrey is also supporting Jayni and Chevy Chase’s Green School project with the lucky winning bidder receiving VIP tickets to a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show including a chance to go backstage and meet the talk-show queen backstage! Dave Matthews Band is in support as well offering lucky fans the chance to meet them backstage after a concert of choice in Summer 2010. Robert Downey Jr has graciously offered a pair of tickets to the premiere of his upcoming film Due Date also starring Jamie Foxx & Michelle Monaghan, and Stephen Colbert and Regis Philbin are offering the chance to meet them backstage of The Colbert Report and LIVE! with Regis & Kelly respectively, and acclaimed actor Dustin Hoffman is offering the chance to join him on the set of an upcoming film. You can also spend a day on the set of Community with Chevy Chase; meet Joel McHale backstage on The Soup; Take a 10 Day expedition to The Galapagos aboard the National Geographic Endeavor; or catch Jimmy Buffett in concert, plus many more being added daily.

The auction is running live at www.charitybuzz.com through November 18, 2009 with new experiences being added each and every day as so many of Jayni and Chevy Chase’s friends are supporting their environmental initiatives.

The GREEN Community Schools mission is to create long-term holistic partnerships between the school, local community residents, stakeholders, available resources and families to ensure that the community is environmentally aware and able to successfully practice and promote sustainability in their lives, communities and globally.   Jayni Chase has over 20 years of experience with Green education and environmental community action. She is tirelessly dedicated to providing underserved communities with the tools and resources necessary to create healthy learning environments and greener neighborhoods. The combined experience of Jayni Chase and the MGR Foundation has proven to be a powerful force for positive change.

You can access the auction here.

Giving Back Fund Releases 2009's Top Celebrity Givers

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look To The Stars is proud to announce that our partners at the Giving Back Fund have announced their third annual Giving Back 30, a list of celebrities who have made the largest donations to charity according to public records.

Readers may have been surprised to learn that Paul Newman replaced Oprah Winfrey as the most generous celebrity of 2008. Oprah had occupied the number one spot by a wide margin for the first two years of the list.

Before his death, Newman made a donation of nearly $21 million to his self-named Newman’s Own Foundation. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were second with a $13.5 million donation to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which distributed $6.4 million to charity, including a $2 million grant to The Global Health Committee for an Ethiopian clinic project, a $1 million grant to the Make it Right Foundation founded by Pitt, and $500,000 to the Armed Services YMCA USA.

Also on the list: Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Mel Gibson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurie and Larry David and Drew Barrymore. Several authors made the list this year, along with representatives from the NBA, NFL and NASCAR. To see the complete list visit The Giving Back Fund’s web site at www.givingback.org.

HOW IT WAS COMPILED
 To compile the most accurate rankings, The Giving Back Fund culled media reports of charitable giving by sports and entertainment professionals; reviewed PF-990 tax-forms; contacted more than 250 publicists, attorneys, agents, agencies, and managers for information about their clients; polled more than 150 charities known for their celebrity associations; and contacted all of the major sports leagues.

The Giving Back Fund did not include grants made by foundations in the list so as to avoid counting the same funds twice - once when the donor gave money to a foundation and again when the donor decided on a beneficiary for that money. The Giving Back Fund did not calculate giving as a percentage of the celebrities’ income because there are no public records documenting income. Re-directed income from sponsorship and merchandising deals to charity made by a celebrity was also not reported as it is not available to the public.

 Donations to private foundations are disclosed in public documents. However, donations to public charities are not publicly disclosed and therefore may not be reported in the Giving Back 30.

UPCOMING: CELEBRITY CHARITIES’ DISTRIBUTION TO CHARITY
 The Giving Back Fund will be releasing a second list in early 2010 reporting on the dollar amount distributed to charities by public and private celebrity foundations, respectively. Charities may submit their 2008 990 reports for review to The Giving Back Fund at GivingBack30@givingback.org.

Stars Sign Books For Charity Auction

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Eyebrows of rare book and signature collectors will rise this fall when an extraordinary collection with a tender mission will be available for an online auction beginning November 9-24, 2009.

Dubbed The Little Auction That Could, the 70+ collection includes signatures from some of the most iconic figures of our time, including President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, JK Rowling and Tiger Woods.

Passionate about education and literacy, volunteer mom Karla Preissman wanted to foster a love of reading among children living at Jensen Beach, Florida-based Hibiscus Children’s Center who have suffered from abuse and neglect. First, she helped create the Reef Library within the shelter and filled it with hundreds of books and resources. But that wasn’t enough…she wanted to make sure that these resources would be replenished and the library maintained and supported by staff that would help make literacy a key component to the healing received at the foster care center.

She came up with an idea. Why not ask famous people what books inspired them as a child and ask them to simply sign their names in a copy that would be auctioned for the benefit of Hibiscus Children’s Center? What started off as a simple request has mushroomed into a wildly varied and fascinating glimpse of what some of the most famous people on the planet believed to be a motivating book from childhood. Other iconic figures, such as President Barack Obama, signed a book symbolic of his time in office—a first edition pop-up White House children’s book.

Author and poet Maya Angelou submitted three signed books, one coming from her personal library called Story of Phillis Wheatley detailing the life of a slave turned poet during the American Revolution. How do you place a value on a collectible item like that?

Other stars who have taken part include Hugh Hefner, Sean Connery, Arnold Palmer, Andy Roddick, Chris Evert, Katie Couric, Jay Leno, Jeff Probst, Bill Cosby, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lee Ann Womack, Tori Amos, Carrie Underwood, Donald Trump and many more.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based antiquarian book dealer and appraiser Robert Hittel believes, “Owning one or more books from this eclectic collection would be the cornerstone of anyone’s collection.”

For the complete listing of signed books and information about bidding, click here. To see the collection firsthand, visit the exhibition at the Elliott Museum in Stuart, Florida beginning November 6 through November 29, 2009.

Founded in 1985, Hibiscus Children’s Center is a non profit organization that addresses abuse and neglect issues throughout the Florida Treasure Coast. Programs include Foster Care, parental support, counseling for families in crisis and services to reunite children with their families, when appropriate. Click here for more info on this charity.

Thandie Newton To Teach Acting In South Africa

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Thandie Newton is to teach acting to girls at Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy in South Africa.

“I am really looking forward to it as it’s such a great scheme and it’s nice to give something back,” said Newton.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls near Johannesburg was established in 2007 after the TV host answered a plea from Nelson Mandela. The school aims to discover, teach and inspire young South African girls to become a new generation of leaders. The academy selects 11-to-13 year-old girls whose family income is less than $700 a month, and Oprah hand-picked the first 75 students in the summer of 2006.

Robert F Kennedy Center Launches Charity Auction For Human Rights

Wed, 13 May 2009 11:30:00 -0000

An exciting new charity auction has been launched featuring an unbelievable number of celebrity experiences.

Ever want to meet Oprah Winfrey? Hop in the pool for a swim lesson from Michael Phelps. Get fashion advice from Project Runway’s Tim Gunn over lunch at Bryant Park Grill? Learn the arts of comedy and paper sales from Steve Carell on the set of the Office. How about talking politics with the most powerful woman in Washington, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, during a tour of the U.S. Capitol or crossing the aisle to discuss backyard BBQ recipes and foreign policy with Senator John McCain? See Iron Chef Bobby Flay in action at Kitchen Stadium? Make your Hollywood debut in Ridley Scott’s new “Robinhood” film, starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. Seek enlightenment and meet Richard Gere with VIP tickets during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 2010 trip to NYC. Or ride in a pace car at the Indy 500 and party with track chairman, Mari George.

Supporters of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights have put together these experiences and much more for their Annual Online Auction. With the help of CharityBuzz, the online auction will raise funds supporting the RFK Center’s human rights work. The auction is open now and runs until December May 28th with new lots continuing to be added each and every day.

Other Auction Highlights include: Visit Ben Stiller or Robert DeNiro on the set of the next installment of the “Fockers” movies. A one hour singing lesson with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Spend a “Day of Fashion” at NY Fashion Week with Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley. Grab lunch at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills with Warren Beatty. Prepared to be mystified during a private magic show from David Blaine. Watch a taping of The Rachael Ray Show and go backstage. Launch your fashion career interning at Diane Von Furstenberg’s NY studio. Hone your blogging skills with an internship at the Huffington Post. Attend the “Dancing With the Stars” finale or catch a dance lesson with former contestant and NFL linebacker, Jason Taylor. Visit the set of “HOUSE” and meet the cast including star Hugh Laurie. Have dinner with Bill Cosby at “Bouley” in NYC and take home signed copies of his recent book and 4 bottles of wine from his private collection. Score tickets to the World Series, Final Four and U.S. Open. VIP tickets to watch the Washington Capitols or Boston Bruins and a catch a ride on the zamboni. Watch the New England Patriots take on the Jacksonville Jaguars from the Owner’s Box. Meet Jennifer Hudson and watch her concert in Nashville. Catch lunch with Regis Philbin, Charles Grodin and Alan Alda. Visit the set of your favorite news shows and meet the hosts including ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 and Larry King Live (and bring home a signed pair of Larry’s trademark suspenders), CNBC’s “Mad Money with Jim Cramer”, NBC’s “Meet the Press”, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and “The Rachel Maddow Show”, Fox News’ “O’Reilly Factor” and HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. Or hang out with David Foster and friends such as Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins and Michael Buble in his recording studio.

To access the auction, click here.

Charice Performs At David Foster Charity Concert

Tue, 12 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Teenage star Charice Pempengco was one of the many performers who appeared at a charity concert organized by David Foster on Saturday, May 9.

The 17-year-old joined Cher, Clay Aiken, Donny Osmond, Brian McKnight and Paul Anka at the David Foster & Friends concert at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas to raise money for the David Foster Foundation, an organization established by the legendary composer and music producer in 1986 to provide financial and emotional help to the families of children needing organ transplants.

During the show, Charice thanked Foster and Oprah Winfrey for their help in her career.

“I would like to mention these people who are very special in my life,” she said. “First, he is my fan, my producer, my mentor. He taught me a lot of things and of course he is my hero — David Foster. And of course I want to thank Oprah for believing in my dreams and of course believing in me. Thank you so much. I love you both.”

Foster has a long history of charitable efforts to help children. In 1997 he was honored with the United States Children’s Choice Award for his work supporting research into children’s cancer, leukemia, and AIDS.

Oprah Gets Behind The Invisible Children

Wed, 06 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

In 2003, three guys from Southern California with a passion for filmmaking took a trip to the Sudan in search of a story. Instead, they ended up in Uganda where they learned that over 30,000 children had been kidnapped to fight for the rebel group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

Their film, Invisible Children, is a moving and powerful documentary about one of Africa’s longest running wars and how thousands of people are being brutally and viciously attacked by the rebel army and fleeing their villages without any sign of hope.

The filmmakers – Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole – first screened ‘Invisible Children’ on June 22, 2004 at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego to friends and family of the filmmakers. Not long after, students across the United States were passing along DVDs of the documentary and wanted to know how to help the children in northern Uganda.

“The world knows that they are just a rebel army, but in truth they are children,” says Poole in the film.

Due to overwhelming public response, the filmmakers co-founded the nonprofit Invisible Children Inc. – an awareness and development organization about the great humanitarian crisis of child soldiers.

And the organization took it to the streets, where last week, what started with one volunteer camped out in front of Oprah’s Harpo Studios, soon turned into a crowd of thousands begging Oprah to hear their voices. And she did.

She’s urged viewers to visit the Invisible Children website and watch the 36-minute film. Activists outside the studio thanked Oprah and cheered as they were given a plug by one of the worlds most powerful and influential women.

The films opening credits explain the title: “They are Invisible because no records are kept of their numbers or age. Their own armies deny they exist. They simply vanish.”

To join the movement, watch the film or simply learn more about how to help the children of Uganda escape this outrageous humanitarian crisis, please visit Invisible Children.com.

Ted Turner Responds To Ashton Kutcher For World Malaria Day

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Following Ashton Kutcher’s Twitter Battle with CNN last week that resulted in Kutcher donating 10,000 mosquito nets to charity, Ted Turner – chairman of the United Nations Foundation – has challenged him yet again.

“Congratulations Kutcher, your Twitter followers really came through for you,” said Turner in his video message. “But World Malaria Day is only the beginning. We need to send more nets and save more lives. And you don’t have to be [”Bill Gates":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/21-bill-gates] or Oprah Winfrey to make a difference – you just need $10. If 10,000 more people joined the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, I’ll have you and Demi over for lunch at Ted’s Montana Grill in Atlanta. Hope you like Bison Burgers…"

Nothing But Nets is a grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. While the UN Foundation has been working with the UN to fight malaria for years, it was a column that Rick Reilly wrote about malaria in Sports Illustrated, challenging each of his readers to donate at least $10 for the purchase of an anti-malaria bed nets — and the incredible response from thousands of Americans across the country — that led to the creation of the Nothing But Nets campaign.

World Malaria Day is on Saturday, April 25. Ted Turner’s video message can be viewed here.

Kutcher Wins Twitter Crown

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Following last week’s Twitter Battle between Ashton Kutcher and CNN, other celebrities have promised donations to Malaria No More via the micro-blogging site.

Within hours of Kutcher becoming the first person to gain 1 million followers on Twitter, CNN matched his donation of 10,000 mosquito nets to the charity. Ryan Seacrest also made pleas to his fellow celebrity Twitter users to make donations – a challenge that was taken up by Oprah Winfrey as she joined the Twitter community with the announcement she would donate money for 20,000 nets.

Kutcher is also using Twitter to raise awareness of World Malaria Day on April 25.

“Let’s rally the troops on World Malaria Day,” he wrote in a series of Tweets earlier this month. “If we all rally we can make malaria a thing 4 history books (so) that we all say, ‘I can’t believe people use to die from that.’ Why focus on malaria? The cure exists. $10 saves a life I know we can do this.”

He also used his official MySpace blog to promote the cause: “On World Malaria Day, we plan to rally the Twitter community to Tweet in support of Malaria prevention and treatment, by asking our followers to go to the [”Malaria No More":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/516-malaria-no-more] Website to learn about how to help end malaria deaths in Africa.

“Supporting World Malaria Day on Twitter is designed to be very simple. Our goal is to secure participation from the Twitter community, to Tweet the following message on Saturday, April 25, 2009: ‘Every 30 seconds a child dies from Malaria. Nets save lives. Support World Malaria Day’.

“By way of background, Malaria No More is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa. Malaria No More uses breakthrough communications, global advocacy and smart investments to advance the goals of providing universal access to malaria interventions by the end of 2010 and ending deaths by 2015. Every 30 seconds – the time it takes to send and receive a Tweet – a child dies from malaria, but a simple mosquito net can save lives.

“Please join us on April 25th in raising awareness of malaria prevention by Tweeting on Twitter in support of World Malaria Day.”

(On a related note, you can follow Look to the Stars on Twitter too!)

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.

Oprah Winfrey Gives $1.5 Million To New Jersey Community

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Oprah Winfrey has donated a total of $1.5 million to a number of non-profit organizations in New Jersey.

The talk show host made the donations to Newark’s North Ward Center, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, the drug-rehabilitation center Integrity House, a shelter for women and children called Apostle House and the community organization Newark Now.

“Oprah Winfrey is a powerful agent of change in our nation and she is a phenomenal friend to Newark,” said Newark mayor Cory Booker. “Her gifts will directly empower hundreds and hundreds of Newark families and help source our city’s success. We rejoice in Oprah’s generosity and celebrate her life commitment to serving others.”

Winfrey selected the groups from a list of organizations needing extra funding that was provided by Newark Now, a community support organization founded by Booker. Newark Now provides a range of services, including a support program for fathers; three centers helping families access services they may need; a financial empowerment center providing free tax preparation services; positive summer time activities for residents, and assistance to grass-roots organizations involved in transforming Newark neighborhoods.

The donation comes nearly two years after Winfrey donated $40 million to build an elite girls school in South Africa.

Forest Whitaker Brings The Dream To Los Angeles

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Forest Whitaker will host a special screening of Kassim The Dream, a multiple award-winning documentary based on the journey of a Ugandan child from child soldier to world champion boxer.

The film is the true life story of Kassim Ouma, the seventh of thirteen children in his Ugandan family, who was abducted at age six along with a class of school children by the National Resistance Army, the rebel gorilla force that took governmental control through a coupe d’etat in 1986. Forced to fight as a soldier, Ouma also joined the army’s boxing club, and excelled. Fourteen years later he was able to obtain a visa to the US for a military boxing tournament and took advantage of the opportunity to defect, an act that cost his father his life but led to Ouma’s world title and a chance to help back home.

Today Ouma still fights professionally, but he also advocates for the plight of the 300 thousand child soldiers around the world today: “My heart is into working with my African people, working with the UN, helping my people in Africa as much as I can.”

Whitaker’s screening should also help – proceeds will go to Hope North, a refuge for orphans and escaped child soldiers in northern Uganda that provides schooling and training to rebuild their lives. The $25 tickets include the 29 January movie screening with VIP seating at ArcLight Cinemas in Los Angeles, and a cocktail reception and question and answer period afterwards.

“There are a lot of groups out there really helping, like [”ONE Campaign":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/3-one-campaign]," Ouma told New York Magazine. “Celebrities like [”Oprah":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/103-oprah] and Madonna have gotten involved in African problems. It’s all part of the same issue, the same fight."

Oprah Winfrey Donates $365,000 To School

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Oprah Winfrey has made an unsolicited donated to a private school in one of Atlanta’s poorest neighborhoods.

The Ron Clark Academy received a cheque for $365,000 from the talk show host late last month after the founder appeared on Oprah’s show.

Ron Clark – who was the subject of 2006’s made-for-TV movie “The Ron Clark Story” starring Matthew Perry – said the money will be used for scholarships. The school has to find private donors to pay the $14,000 annual tuition for each student.

“We teach school all day and fundraise at night,” said Clark. “To have an unsolicited gift come like that is incredible.”

The donation will allow 26-students to attend the 80-student school for one year, and was just one of Winfrey’s many donations to education facilities and programs in 2008 which amounted to over $4 million.

Oprah Named PETA's Person Of The Year

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:31:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Oprah Winfrey has been named Person of the Year by PETA.

PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said that Winfrey “used her powerful voice to defend those without one,” and was selected for using her talk show to raise awareness of issues such as puppy mills and the treatment of chickens and other animals in factory farms. She also went on a vegan diet for a week, and in April dedicated an episode of her show to her late cocker spaniel Sophie.

Previous winners of the PETA award include U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia in 2007 and the founders of the San Francisco-based cleaning product company Method in 2006.

The animal rights group says it will send Winfrey an award plaque and a letter of appreciation in recognition of her compassion towards animals.

To read what else PETA said about Oprah’s award, click here.

Oprah's Chef Wants You To Love Your Veggies

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Author and chef Art Smith is looking for a few good moms – those devoted to getting their kids and their communities to love eating vegetables. Chef Smith – celebrity chef for Oprah and a host of others – will host a Love Your Veggies retreat for winners of the “Search for Veggie Champions Contest.” The goal is to help moms everywhere raise veggie-loving kids.

The campaign is an initiative that has now awarded 51 elementary schools nationwide each with $10,000 grants to help provide students with greater access to fresh vegetables and fruits during school meals. Earlier this year Love Your Veggies published a book by actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley to support their cause.

For a chance to win a spot at Chef Smith’s retreat, moms must complete a simple application at www.LoveYourVeggies.com. Ten winners will enjoy an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago from April 28 to April 29 for two days of fun and educational workshops, field trips, cooking demonstrations and tastings with some of America’s most notable food, gardening and nutrition experts. To ensure a little pampering along the way, winners will receive accommodations for three nights, a spa visit and dinner at Chef Smith’s own Table Fifty-Two restaurant. Each retreat winner will also receive $5,000 to start or improve a vegetable garden in her hometown. The winner must designate a non-profit organization to which the $5,000 prize money will be awarded and with whom the community garden will be planted or improved.

Chef Smith designed the retreat to cover topics that educate moms on how to introduce and involve kids in a healthy eating experience, including vegetable education, gardening, meal planning and shopping, and cooking. The information taught at the retreat will be made available for all parents on LoveYourVeggies.com.

“It’s not enough to simply tell a child to eat her broccoli because it’s good for her and expect her to comply,” said Chef Smith, founder of the non-profit organization Common Threads, which teaches children the importance of fresh ingredients and how to connect with their bodies, their neighbors, and their world in a healthy way. “It’s also not the best idea to attempt to hide veggies in a recipe’s ingredients, so kids don’t realize what they’re eating. Other than the obvious health benefits, vegetables can be some of the most fun and delicious foods your children will ever eat. The best thing you can do is help you kids learn about vegetables so they grow an appreciation and love for them. By making veggie eating educational and fun and involving them in the process, kids will make healthy choices.”

Hilary Swank’s Locks For Looks

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:29:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress Hilary Swank is once again promoting the Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign, which donates real-hair wigs to women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.

This isn’t the first time she’s gone under the scissors for Beautiful Lengths – she grew her hair to have it cut on Oprah last year for a wig. Now, since she had her hair cut for a role in a new movie, she has just donated again.

The statistic of one in three women being diagnosed with cancer has hit Swank’s family hard. She said, “I have lost multiple family members to cancer and witnessed their struggle first hand.”

The struggle, though, is more than just against the disease. Of the 700,000 American women who will be diagnosed with cancer this year, “Eight percent won’t get their potentially life-saving treatment because they don’t want to lose their hair,” said Swank. "Here’s my hair, save your life!

“I hope that my contribution will help to inspire others to get involved in whatever way they can,” she says. “I’m really thankful for my health and I wanted to find a way to give back. You just need to have eight inches to donate.”

Giving Back Fund Announces Top 30 Celebrity Givers

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

The Giving Back Fund has released its second annual Giving Back 30 survey, a ranking of the celebrities who have made the largest donations to charity in 2007 according to public records.

Heading the list was Oprah Winfrey, who donated $50.2 million to the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Oprah’s Angel Network to “support the
inspiration, empowerment and education of women, children, and families around the world and to encourage people around the world to make a difference in the lives of others”. Coming in second was Herb Alpert, who donated a total of $13 million to the Herb Alpert Foundation, followed by Barbra Streisand, who gave over $11 million to the Streisand Foundation.

To compile the most accurate rankings, The Giving Back Fund culled media reports of charitable giving by sports and entertainment professionals; reviewed PF-990 tax-forms; contacted more than 250 publicists, attorneys, agents, agencies, and managers for information about their clients; sent inquiries to more than 150 charities known for their celebrity associations; and contacted the major sports leagues.

“Our hope is that celebrities will begin to become more comfortable sharing information about their charitable giving - perhaps not disclosing everything they give, but sharing enough that they will serve as role-models to their peers and fans,” said Marc Pollick, President and Founder of The Giving Back Fund. “We know that many celebrities re-direct income from sponsorship and merchandising deals to charity, or help to raise funds in other ways. We are researching reliable means to report this information in a separate list.”

The Giving Back Fund did not include grants made by foundations in the list so as to avoid counting the same funds twice - once when the donor gave money to a foundation and again when the donor decided on a beneficiary for that money. The Giving Back did not calculate giving as a percentage of the celebrities income because there is no consistent way to calculate income when taking into account income from sponsorship and merchandise sales.

Donations to private foundations are disclosed in public documents. However, donations to public charities are not publicly disclosed and therefore may not be reported in the Giving Back 30.

The rest of the list included Paul Newman, who gave away over $10 million; Mel Gibson, who gave $9.9 million to the AP Reilly Foundation, the tax-exempt entity named for his late mother, which supports Holy Family Catholic Church in Malibu, California; Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who collectively donated over $8 million to good causes; and Lance Armstrong, who pledged $5 million to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Other celebrities listed included Michael Jordan, Rosie O’Donnell, Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Hefner, and Tiger Woods.

To see the full list of celebrities and their donations, see the Giving Back Fund website.

Interview: Phil Keoghan Talks To Look To The Stars

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

At the age of 19, Phil Keoghan nearly drowned during a dive to a shipwreck. The near miss inspired him to reevaluate his life, and he is now one of the best known reality TV presenters in the world.

Although millions of people know Keoghan as the host of the Emmy Award-winning hit The Amazing Race and CBC’s No Opportunity Wasted, millions more have been inspired by his philosophy of living life to the full. After surviving his diving accident, Keoghan set himself a “wish list” of all the things he wanted to do before he died – he checked off the first item straight away by returning to the shipwreck on the very same day of the mishap. From renewing his marriage vows underwater to changing a lightbulb on top of New York’s 700-foot Verrazanno Bridge to setting world records for group bungee jumping, Phil Keoghan is well on his way to checking off every item on his list.

But the 41-year-old also uses his experiences to inspire others to lead the lives they want to lead, to achieve the things they have always hankered for but “never had time for”. He uses his No Opportunity Wasted (NOW) philosophy to cut through the excuses and get people motivated. He urges that everyone should write their own “wish list” and forget about the excuses – we only have one life, and we should live it NOW. “The more I live, the more I want to live, and the more I want to help others live their once-in-a-lifetime dreams,” he told Oprah in 2001.

Look To The Stars was lucky enough to catch up with Phil recently and ask him about his thoughts on making the world a better place.

You sponsor a cycling team in LA that rides to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. What led you to support TeamVRC and the issue of MS?

I actually bought my wife a cycling program and her coach happened to be one of the founding members of VRC, Eddie Monnier. As we got to know more about the team we loved their mission statement of bringing awareness to MS as well as helping under 23 [year-old] riders, and when an opportunity came up to be the title sponsor we decided that NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) was the perfect fit. The NOW MS team is one of the biggest fundraisers for the annual MS ride. The MS Society is extremely well organized and we always have a great turn out.

What other charities and causes do you support?

I am constantly getting requests for donations for all kinds of charities from all over the world. It would impossible to support all of them. As a professional speaker I have provided my services and spoken to a number of educational groups and institutions. I believe sharing the NOW philosophy is the best way for me to give something back.

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

Look for something that has personal meaning. Focus your energy in one direction.

How could a charity attract your support?

It’s tough for me to commit to every request. I would find a celebrity who has a personal connection to your charity. Perhaps they are from the same state, went to the same school, have a family member who is fighting a particular medical challenge. Connect the dots.

Why do you think it is important to reach out and help others?

We will all need help at some point in our life, in the end it truly is more rewarding to give than take.

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

I feel we have our own charity in NOW. We just financed two international riders to join the NOW MS team in US and sharing the message of NOW is our way of giving back.

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

The biggest issue we face is that we continue to take the world’s resources without giving enough back in return. It’s a little like having a credit card and spending at large without thinking about how to your going to pay the bill. The solution will come from finding financial solutions to our environmental challenges. Right now many of those answers are locked away in the minds of young people. I have faith that we will find a way to create change.

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

Identify your passion. Write your own NOW Life List – a list of the things you want to do before you die. It’s only by bringing your real passion to something that you can be your best. It doesn’t matter whether that is through art, music, charity work, inventing … we have all been put on this earth with a purpose. The Life List will help you identify yours.

Look To The Stars would like to thank Phil Keoghan for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk to us. To find out more about writing your own NOW Life List, visit www.noopportunitywasted.com.

Oprah Winfrey To Auction Cars For South African Girls’ Academy

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Jennifer Beckmann

An auction of three cars from Oprah Winfrey’s personal collection will benefit the annual Arts and Culture Workshop at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls – South Africa.

Talk show host, media mogul, and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey will auction the three cars – a 1954 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing formerly owned by the DuPont family, a 1988 Rolls Royce Corniche II Convertible given to her by John Travolta, and a 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Volante – at Pebble Beach, California, from August 16-17, 2008. Renowned auctioneers Gooding and Company will facilitate the event. Catalogues are available for $100, including auction viewing and admission for two, and general admission is $40 per person. The vehicles will be on display August 13-17.

The three automobiles are expected to fetch a combined total of $700,000-$1 million, with 100% of the proceeds going to the annual Arts and Culture Workshop held at Winfrey’s academy. Winfrey has already donated $40 million towards the establishment of the school, which was founded in January 2007 and is located in a suburb outside Johannesburg.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls – South Africa provides a private learning and residential environment for 450 girls in grades 7-12 who show outstanding promise despite their social circumstances. The academy’s annual Arts and Culture Workshop features a diverse group of creative writers, musicians, actors, dancers, and media and visual artists. The aim of the workshop is to encourage students to pursue opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings.

For more information on Winfrey’s academy, visit www.oprahwinfreyleadershipacademy.org, and to learn more about the auction, see www.goodingco.com.

Time's 100 - Oprah By Michelle Obama

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:11:00 -0000

Michelle Obama, wife of presidential hopeful Barack Obama wrote the tribute to Oprah for this year’s Time 100 list.

“Oprah is a wonderful friend and an incredible force. Her friendship and support have meant so much to Barack and me.

“As Barack often says about his own life, Oprah’s story is one that truly could happen only in America. After the struggles she endured as a young girl, she became a popular talk-show host with a national following. But she didn’t stop there. Using her platform to serve as a global role model, she challenges us to make the world as it is the world as it should be. And she is always the first to show us how it can be done.

“In the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of watching Oprah inspire thousands of Americans to participate in our democracy. She has also reached out to thousands more who might not have known there was a seat for them at the table at all—people who desperately need a voice.

“Over the past 20 years, Oprah, 54, has developed and nurtured a relationship with her viewers and readers built on the recognition that there is more that unites us than divides us—that our shared experiences in work, life and love, in family and community, in our hopes and dreams, know no barriers; that regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status or hometown, we are our brothers’ keepers, our sisters’ keepers.

“For this impact on all of us, I am honored to honor Oprah, the only person to make this list every year since it began.”

Obama, a lawyer, serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Madonna to Build Girls' School in Malawi

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:59:33 -0000

Written by Linda Burton

Following in Oprah Winfrey’s footsteps, pop icon Madonna is planning to finance the construction of a multi-million dollar girls’ school in Malawi for underprivileged children this year.

“A task force of four prominent Malawians has already been formed to head the project which will be on the scale of what [”Oprah Winfrey":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/103-oprah] has in South Africa," Madonna’s lawyer Alan Chinula told Reuters.

“It is a multi-million dollar project and we will get the real costs in the next two weeks.”

Billionaire U.S. television magnate Winfrey has built a $40 million all-girl leadership academy in South Africa which boasts state-of-the-art facilities including laboratories, a yoga studio and beauty salon.

This isn’t Madonna’s first philanthropic foray in Malawi. Malawi’s High Court is expected to approve Madonna’s bid to adopt two-year-old Malawian David Banda on Thursday. Malawi’s government and David’s father – his only surviving parent – have endorsed the adoption.

Pitt and Jolie Among Time's Most Influential People

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:30:24 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

TIME magazine placed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie together in 21st place in its latest annual list of the world’s most influential people, and George Clooney stepped up to write a glowing tribute.

Jolie and Pitt were among the “Heroes and Pioneers” of the list, and the couple’s friend summarises the reasons for their selection:

“There are hundreds of people who could be honored for their good works, but I’ve seen Brad and Angelina firsthand, and their commitment together is truly impressive.”

Clooney praised the pair’s concrete and personal actions, saying, “They brought help to Pakistan in 2005, after a catastrophic earthquake killed tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless. They have tended to the poor and sick in Africa. And they’ve raised global awareness — and contributed $1 million of their own money—for the victims of atrocities in Darfur.”

Pitt and Clooney co-founded Not On Our Watch to address the Darfur crisis, and Clooney was obviously impressed by the charitable integrity his friends demonstrated in helping with the Hurricane Katrina aftermath: “They actually moved to New Orleans and have set about trying to make right what so many have made wrong. Brad established a project [[”Make It Right":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/859-make-it-right]] to finance and build 150 new homes in the Ninth Ward."

Similarly proud of charity poster child Jolie, Clooney writes, “Angelina has worked tirelessly through the United Nations on behalf of refugees around the world, touring border camps in Africa, Asia and Latin America and lobbying on Capitol Hill.”

Other celebrities noted in the TIME 100 list for their philanthropy include Oprah (with a tribute written by Michelle Obama), Mia Farrow (for her work with UNICEF and more), Andre Agassi (with a tribute by Andy Roddick), and Lance Armstrong (at position 26).

Oprah's Big Give Delivers A Surprise Ending

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:55:43 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Stephen Paletta has won the grand finale of Oprah’s Big Give.

The show, which picked up 10 million viewers, featured a special appearance by Jennifer Aniston, who thanked each of the seven contestants for their work and awarded them their cash gifts of $10,000. But what followed took everyone by surprise.
“That just felt too good,” said the 38-year-old. “I personally would like to triple it. So we’re going to go $30,000. Guys, thank you for doing this and inspiring everybody.”

During the final show, the three finalists – Paletta, Cameron Johnson, and Brandi Milloy – worked as a team to pull off a final act of giving in Chicago. Stephen focused on the children of the Chicago Hope Academy, and organized a private performance by the Blue Man Group which raised $100,000 for the school. Meanwhile, Milloy put together a cooking class for children at the Shriners Hospital for Children, and Johnson followed suit and spent money he raised on books, toys, and DVDs for the hospital.

The eight 1-hour episodes of the show, conceived by Oprah Winfrey, featured 10 contestants using their good deeds to change lives and win cash. Paletta took home the $1 million prize for completing a giveaway challenge with zero funds, and will keep half the money and donate the rest to charity.

“I’m in shock,” said Paletta after his victory. “It was such an incredible honor and privilege to be part of this show and to be chosen as the biggest giver with all of these wonderful people.”

The series has seen a number of stars take part, including John Travolta, Jada Pinkett Smith, Andre Agassi, and Tony Hawk, although it was a $1 million donation by Drew Barrymore in the first episode that gained the most attention.

It is unknown whether there will be a second series of Oprah’s Big Give.

Salma Hayek Launches Tetanus Appeal

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:36:24 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Salma Hayek kicked off the North American One Pack = One Vaccine campaign this week in Chicago.

The program, a UNICEF initiative, aims to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus around the world through a special donation scheme set up in association with Pampers diapers. From April 1 to 30, for every specially marked pack of Pampers bought in the US and Canada, Pampers will provide UNICEF with funding for one potentially life-saving tetanus vaccination for a mother in a third world country.

The goal of the North American program is to provide over 27 million vaccinations to mothers in 12 African nations and hopefully wipe out the disease forever. And when Hayek appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday, this goal was brought one step closer – Oprah gifted each of the 350 guests in the audience 100 vaccinations in their names. And if this wasn’t enough, Proctor and Gamble – the company behind Pampers – announced they will donate 1 million vaccinations in Oprah’s name (a donation of around $68,000).

Tetanus has a high fatality rate in Africa – 70 to 100% in some countries – and is spread by spores that pass through the umbilical cord when cut with unsanitary instruments.

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.”

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.

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