Look To The Stars News: Eli Manning

Stars Shine for Sick Kids at Diamonds in the Sky Gala

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:17:00 -0000

Who needs Hollywood when stars make Virginia Beach their playground for a memorable black-tie affair?

Musical guest Starship with Mickey Thomas and celebrity emcee Teri Polo of the Meet the Parents movie fame lend their star power to the 4th Annual Diamonds in the Sky Gala hosted by the We Promise Foundation.

The 4th Annual Diamonds in the Sky Gala will be held at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel this Wed., Sept. 2nd, and features silent and live auctions of celebrity memorabilia, athletic event and concert tickets, exotic vacation packages and much more. Event proceeds are used to put smiles on the faces of children in Hampton Roads and across the country who face tremendous adversity as a result of life-threatening illness or severe hardship.

Many other stars who aren’t able to make stage appearances endorse the We Promise Foundation’s efforts with donations to the Gala’s silent and live auctions. From signed posters and books to personal items and priceless collectibles, guests can browse and bid on items from celebrity donors such as Madonna, Richard Petty, Cheryl Tiegs, Peyton and Eli Manning, Derek Jeter, James Earl Jones, Mario Andretti, Leonardo diCaprio and Peter Coyote, just to name a few.

The Gala is complemented by the 11th Annual Charity Golf Classic played at the Signature at West Neck Golf Course on Thurs., Sept.3rd. The afternoon event is a sponsor/patron-only event that toasts more than 20 benefiting children who join the players on the course. For golf and gala tickets or more information, contact Jill Haag at #757-233-7111 or jahaag@chartway.com.

With more than 441 wishes funded for Hampton Roads children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and grants for countless other programs across the country funded since 1999, the We Promise Foundation is making a difference in the lives of its members and their community. Last year’s annual Gala and Golf Classic raised a combined $385,000 for the We Promise Foundation, which benefited charities including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Families of Autistic Children in Tidewater, St. Mary’s Infant Home and others.

The continued success of these events is due, in large part, to the generous commitment and sponsorship of Fidelity National Information Services, Summit Information Systems, VISA USA, GTI Systems, Inc., Harland-Clarke, Pender & Coward, WAVY-TV 10, Hampton Roads Magazine, Professional Printing Center, Summs Skip & Collection, Americomm Direct Marketing and GVA Advantis Construction. A variety of sponsorship packages still are available for the Diamonds in the Sky Gala and Annual Golf Classic.

About the We Promise Foundation®
As the charitable arm of Chartway Federal Credit Union, the We Promise Foundation® is dedicated to making dreams come true for children struggling with degenerative, life-threatening, debilitating or chronic illnesses, or those facing tremendous hardship. The foundation provides funding within the communities the credit union serves with a single goal: to put smiles on a child’s face by making their dreams come true. The foundation was launched in 2005 based on the enduring success of Chartway’s previous charitable events. Since 1999, Chartway and its We Promise Foundation have raised more than $2M in support of numerous Make-A-Wish Foundation chapters, St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, Families of Autistic Children in Tidewater and other Hampton Roads-area charitable groups. For more information, click on www.WePromiseFoundation.com.

Chartway Federal Credit Union, chartered in 1959, is a not-for-profit financial institution headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va. With assets exceeding $1.3 billion, it serves nearly 150,000 members in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia. For more information, visit www.chartway.com.

American Red Cross Announces Celebrity Cabinet

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The American Red Cross is pleased to announce five new additions to its National Celebrity Cabinet, a group of celebrity supporters who promote Red Cross services by donating their time, helping neighbors prepare for emergencies, responding to disasters and lending a helping hand to those in need.

New members to the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet include country singer and professional ballroom dancer Julianne Hough, Tony Award-winner and actress Anika Noni Rose, who lends her voice to the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated comedy adventure “The Princess and the Frog” and appears in the HBO/Anthony Minghella television drama series,“#1 Ladies’ Detective Agency”, Hollywood Records artist and Disney Channel star Demi Lovato, who is supporting disaster relief via a Text 2 Help campaign throughout her summer tour, actress Sally Pressman from Lifetime’s “Army Wives” who will be supporting Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces, and actress Amanda Peet.

Peet has already made a personal commitment to support the Red Cross Measles Initiative. “As a mom, I feel privileged to support the American Red Cross in their efforts to vaccinate millions of children around the world through the Measles Initiative, a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. I commend the American Red Cross for tackling this global health problem in developing countries, where measles remains a leading cause of death, despite the availability of a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine. I am passionate about this cause and look forward partnering with the American Red Cross to ensure children worldwide have this life-saving opportunity.”

“The American Red Cross runs on the valuable service of volunteers to fulfill our mission, and we are grateful that these celebrities are setting an example by volunteering their time and talents to help raise awareness of our work in responding to disasters, providing blood, helping military members and their families and promoting preparedness through first aid or CPR classes,” states Gail McGovern, President and CEO of American Red Cross.

The announcement of these celebrity supporters closely follows First Lady Michelle Obama’s official launch of the United We Serve initiative, a call for nationwide service to begin a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to meet community needs. The initiative spans throughout the summer and will culminate with a National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11. During this time, the Red Cross will promote volunteer opportunities throughout its network of more than 700 chapters to help encourage community service.

“I am honored to be a part of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet and help support an organization that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war and aid to victims of devastating natural disasters. Being part of this amazing organization will provide me with an opportunity to join its efforts to help others and encourage the American public to become involved with their local Red Cross and make a difference,” said Julianne Hough.

The Red Cross benefits from the involvement of public figures and celebrities dating back to World War I. Over the years, actors, artists, and sports figures committing their time and talents to the organization have played an important role in raising public awareness of Red Cross services nationwide.

This group of newcomers joins the National Celebrity Cabinet that also includes Greg Biffle, Pierce Brosnan, Jackie Chan, Chayanne, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, George Foreman, Leeza Gibbons, Amy Grant, Pat Green, Marcia Gay Harden, Dwayne Johnson, Heidi Klum, Patti LaBelle, Peyton and Eli Manning, Marlee Matlin, Dr. Phil McGraw, “Access Hollywood’s” Nancy O’Dell, Masi Oka, Rascal Flatts, Raven Symone, Elisabeth Rohm, Jane Seymour, Jimmy Smits, and Daddy Yankee.

The Red Cross is honored to have Sherry Lansing, former chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Group, Paramount Pictures and former member of the Red Cross Board of Governors, to serve as National Celebrity Cabinet Chair.

Please visit www.redcross.org/celebritycabinet/ to learn more about the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.

Wyclef Jean To Play Phoenix House Benefit

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Musician Wyclef Jean will perform at a charity gala tonight, March 30, to benefit the largest non-profit alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention facility in the US.

The 2009 Phoenix Rising Gala will benefit Phoenix House, the organization established in 1969 that treats more than 5,000 persons in nearly 100 residential and outpatient programs throughout nine states every day. The evening will feature cocktails and dinner, and will honor Lisa Ellis, a record executive whose work in the arts and entertainment has encouraged positive and responsible behavior in young people.

Co-chairs of the event include Eli Manning and Shaquille O’Neal, and the Host Committee includes John Legend and Michael Strahan.

Phoenix House hit the news earlier this year when Beyoncé Knowles donated $4 million to the organization.

The event will take place at The Plaza on Fifth Avenue, New York City, and more information can be found here.

American Idol Gives Back $67 Million

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

David Beckham, Bono, Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood have all accepted cheques from April’s Idol Gives Back event on behalf of the charities they support.

The show raised over US$67 million for charities such as the Global Fund, Malaria No More, the Children’s Health Fund, Save the Children, and the Children’s Defense Fund.

“I saw first hand with my visit to Sierra Leone with [”UNICEF":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/1-unicef] last year how devastating malaria can be to a country," said Beckham, who was presented with US$12 million by Idol winner David Cook on behalf of Malaria No More. “This money will help buy millions of bed nets and also protect many people, particularly the young children who are most vulnerable.”

Annie Lennox was also delighted to receive $500,000 for the Treatment Action Campaign.

“This is just to express my gratitude to everyone on Idol Gives Back, for putting together a show with a difference, and for inviting me to be part of it,” she said in a statement. “Because of this event, and the generosity of the viewers, who donated so kindly, I have been able to hand over a cheque for the amazing sum of $500,000 to Treatment Action Campaign, in South Africa. I can assure everyone that every single dollar contributed will go to excellent use, in the work to educate, assist and support people living on the frontline of the HIV/Aids pandemic, many of whom are women and children. Thank you so much.”

Bono received US$10 million on behalf of the Global Fund For AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“The Global Fund will keep thousands of people safe from HIV/AIDS because American Idol has donated $10 million,” said the U2 frontman. “That’s YOU people, who sent in your hard earned cash.”

The Idol Gives Back show featured appearances and performances by Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Miley Ray Cyrus, Annie Lennox, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Sheila E., Fergie, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Peyton and Eli Manning, and Reese Witherspoon, and pre-taped messages from David and Victoria Beckham, Kiefer Sutherland, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. Britney Spears, who couldn’t be at the event, donate $25,000 to the cause.

New York Giants' Michael Strahan Hosts Charity Golf Tournament

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The Michael Strahan & Dreier LLP Charity Golf Tournament is set to kick off on June 29 with a gala pairings party at TAO Restaurant in midtown Manhattan, which will include a private concert featuring a Grammy Award-winning performer, and auctions to benefit abused and neglected children in the New York area and children suffering from AIDS in Africa.

“Hosting this event is a great way for us to give back and help improve the lives of children,” stated Mr. Strahan. “Helping kids is the most important thing about this event.”

Proceeds from this year’s auction of sports memorabilia and the celebrity golf tournament will benefit Children’s Rights, a watchdog organization that advocates on behalf of abused and neglected children in the United States, and Keep A Child Alive, which provides medical care and life-saving drugs for African children suffering from AIDS.

“Our tournament’s mission is to make a significant difference in the lives of abused, disadvantaged and sick children,” stated Marc S. Dreier, the founder and managing partner of Dreier LLP. “This tournament allows us to both alleviate suffering and to provide children with a chance for a better life.”

The celebrity golf tournament will be held June 30 at the Century County Club in Purchase, New York. Past celebrities who have participated include: Eli Manning, Julius Erving, Warren Sapp, Marcus Allen, Clyde Drexler, Ahmad Rashad, Greg Anthony, Sterling Sharpe, Marshall Faulk, Luis Castillo, and William ‘Captain Kirk’ Shatner among others.

The event, now in its third year, raised more than $300,000 for children’s charities last year.

Idol Gives Back On Wednesday

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:11:53 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It will be raining philanthropic celebrities on Wednesday night when American Idol Gives Back airs on the Fox Network. The “star clouds” are set to burst with a gala of music, fun, appearances, and surprises – all in the name of charity.

Idol host Ryan Seacrest will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event, which was taped in front of a lively audience at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night, and producers expect this year’s event to raise over $100 million for charity.

“Tonight isn’t just about raising money,” said Brad Pitt, one of the many guests to attend the gala. “Sometimes, to help people, we’ve got to travel outside of our comfort zone to really understand another situation.”

Pitt’s Make It Right campaign, which he launched to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, is one of many good causes to benefit from the event, which last year netted over $76 million for charity. Other organizations to benefit this year include the Global Fund, Malaria No More, the Children’s Health Fund, Save the Children, and the Children’s Defense Fund.

“It’s not about self-promoting,” said former Idol winner Carrie Underwood, who will perform on the show. “It’s not about singing your latest single. It’s not about trying to be the most downloaded whatever on iTunes. It’s all about getting people to call in and do something.”

Viewers of the show on Wednesday can expect performances by Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Miley Ray Cyrus, Annie Lennox, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, and Sheila E., as well as a surprise duet between Fergie and Heart. The show will also be sprinkled with appearances from Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Peyton and Eli Manning, and Reese Witherspoon, and pre-taped messages from David and Victoria Beckham, Kiefer Sutherland, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama will also be shown.

American Idol Announces Second Annual Charity Show

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:37:27 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

American Idol fans and readers of Look To The Stars should mark April 9 in their diaries, as that is the date set for the second annual “Idol Gives Back” charity show.

The Fox Network announced the date yesterday, and the guest lineup already includes Bono, Brad Pitt, Miley Ray Cyrus, Fergie, Carrie Underwood, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, John Legend, Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox, Reese Witherspoon, Snoop Dogg, and Chris Daughtry, with more names to be added in the next few weeks.

Last year’s show, emceed by Ellen DeGeneres, raised a phenomenal $76 million to benefit underprivileged children in America and overseas.

American Idol is fast becoming a vehicle for good deeds. In 2007, former Idol winner Carrie Underwood visited children in Johannesburg, Clay Aiken took a trip to Mexico with UNICEF, and Idol judge Randy Jackson toured New Orleans and the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Jackson worked with programs backed by Save the Children, and because of that trip has been named the organization’s first U.S. programs ambassador.

Mark Shriver, managing director of US programs for Save the Children, said “Idol Gives Back” is crucial for raising awareness about children in poverty and quickly provides money to programs that help.

“American Idol is fantastic for raising the visibility of poverty in the U.S.,” he said.

Red Cross Announces The 2008 Celebrity Cabinet

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:36:18 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The American Red Cross unveiled their 7th annual National Celebrity Cabinet yesterday, February 28, with 15 new members from movies, sports, and television.

Skateboard legend Tony Hawk will join former Beverly Hills 90210 and Dancing With The Stars alum Jennie Garth, Heroes’ Masi Oka, Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley, House M.D.’s Lisa Edelstein and Kal Penn, Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz, Grey’s Anatomy’s Sara Ramirez, Scrubs’ Judy Reyes, Everyone Loves Raymond’s Patricia Heaton, Hairspray’s Brittany Snow, two-time NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, New York Yankee Robinson Cano, NFL star Matt Leinart, and Life Coach Iyanla Vazant in the 2008 Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, part of a mobilizing force to urge people to perform extraordinary life-saving acts in dire circumstances through the assistance of the Red Cross.

“I am extremely honored to participate in the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, especially at a time when we have the ability to do so much for people around the world who have endured such tragedies,” said new member Jennie Garth. “The Red Cross brings help and hope to those in need and has done tremendous good for so many different people on a global level. I believe this is a time when we can educate others and the Red Cross allows for the opportunity for each individual to contribute to the effort. I am grateful that I am able be part of this amazing organization.”

The 47 members of the 2008 National Celebrity Cabinet will be “on-call” to donate their time, skills, passion, and energy to help the Red Cross highlight their important initiatives and response efforts. It will be chaired once again by Sherry Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures and member of the Red Cross Board of Govenors.

“This is my sixth year serving as chair for the Celebrity Cabinet,” she said. “It’s an honor to be a part of such a meaningful cause with such talented people.”

The Red Cross has benefited from the involvement of public figures and celebrities since World War I, and over the years actors and artists have played an important role in raising public awareness of Red Cross services nationwide. Cabinet members pledge their support for a one year term, although many members of the current National Celebrity Cabinet, including Heidi Klum and Leeza Gibbons, have been involved for over five years.

“The Red Cross is a volunteer driven organization that provides humanitarian help to those in need,” said Klum. “It is an honor for me to participate in their celebrity cabinet and encourage all individuals to become involved with their local Red Cross.”

Members of the 2008 National Celebrity Cabinet will be involved in one of the country’s largest volunteer networks and will promote awareness of Red Cross services by participating in public service advertisements, as well as donating their time, money and blood, aiding in disaster relief, and lending a helping hand to those in need. Returning members include Jackie Chan, Sara Evans (who recently organized an auction as part of her involvement), Jamie Lee Curtis, Patti LaBelle, Jimmy Smits, Marlee Matlin, Nancy O’Dell, Jane Seymour, Peyton Manning, Jimmie Johnson, Rascal Flatts, Julianne Moore, George Foreman, Marcia Gay Harden, Elisabeth Rohm, Eli Manning, Daddy Yankee, Chayanne, Aisha Tyler, Pierce Brosnan, Amy Grant, Miley Ray Cyrus, Kristen Bell, Pat Green, Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock), Dr. Phil McGraw, Raven Symone, Niki Taylor, Burney Lamar, and Bradley Whitford.

The American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet was developed in 2002 as part of the Entertainment Outreach Program.

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