Look To The Stars News: Tom Cruise

The Hiltons Help Out For Christmas

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Paris Hilton’s mother, Kathy, held her annual Christmas auction to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Saturday, December 20.

The auction was broadcast live on the internet and featured over 200 items, such as a meet-and-greet with the Jonas Brothers, shoes and a necklace donated by Elizabeth Taylor, autographed guitars from Melissa Etheridge and Avril Lavigne, a tambourine signed by Brian Wilson and designer clothes taken from the closets of Paris and Nicky Hilton.

Kathy Hilton held her first celebrity auction last year, and raised over $27,000 with items such as Mel Gibson’s jeans, Tom Cruise’s sunglasses, and an Ocean’s Thirteen script signed by the movie’s stars, including George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

The auction isn’t the only good thing Paris and Nicky are doing this Holiday Season. Last week they were spotted distributing toys to disadvantaged children at the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles.

Tom Cruise Shops For Needy Children

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were spotted out and about in New York with daughter Suri earlier this week doing some Christmas shopping – for underprivileged children.

The family headed to FAO Schwarz – the upmarket toy store – to select toys and games for Stockings With Care, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to making sure that families in need have everything they need to create the magic of Christmas morning for their kids.

Every year the charity – founded by television casting executive Rosalie Joseph and producer Tom Fontana (“Oz”, “The Bedford Diaries”) 16 years ago – helps over 2000 children celebrate Christmas while preserving the dignity of parents and caregivers.

Earlier this month the charity held a special celebrity bartending night at Bar 13 in New York that featured appearances by Val Emmich (Ugly Betty, 30 Rock), Connor Paolo (Gossip Girls), Bree Williamson, Bethann Bonner and Tika Sumpter (One Life To Live), Harold Perrrineau (Lost), Grant Bowler (Ugly Betty), Jesse Williams (Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde), Jason Butler Harner (Changeling), Kirk Acevedo (Fringe), Marcy Rylan (Guiding Light), Trevor St. John (One Life To Live), Danny Kennedy, Jeff Branson and Aiden Turner (All My Children), Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson and Jason Jones, Rob Riggle, Wyatt Cenac, John Oliver and Aasif Mandvi of The Daily Show and many others.

People wishing to drop off gifts to Stockings With Care can do so at 450 West 56th Street, New York.

5 Friends Voting Video Makes A Comeback

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Hollywood is a land of sequels – and so be prepared for another one. Hot on the heals of last month’s 5 Friends video organized by Declare Yourself comes 5 Friends 2.

With only days until the US elections, a new video has been produced to encourage people to get out and vote, with stars such as Orlando Bloom, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dogg, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Ben Stiller, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg, Justin Timberlake, Zach Braff, Colin Farrell, Neil Patrick Harris, Scarlett Johansson, Shia LeBeouf, Tobey Maguire, Ryan Reynolds, and Jason Segal making an appearance.

Along with a selection of people off the street, the stars say exactly why they are voting.

Even Sacha Baron Cohen makes an appearance as Borat.

“What you do inside a voting booth is a secret,” he says as only Borat can. “Nice…!”

And they are not the only ones encouraging people to vote. Zac Efron, Monique Coleman, and the rest of the cast of High School Musical 3 have lent their voices to the Declare Yourself organization with a series of voting videos.

All the videos can be found on the Declare Yourself website. But hurry, you’ve only got until November 4 to make yourself heard and be counted.

Madonna And Friends Shine A Light On Malawi

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:23:58 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

If you were to look on a map, you could be excused for missing Malawi completely. Bordered by Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique in South East Africa, the nation of Malawi is shaped like a lightning bolt, with much of its land area covered by a massive lake. But it a country that is in dire need of help, and a host of celebrities turned out to a dazzling evening of fun on Wednesday, February 6, to raise awareness for what is one of the poorest countries in the world.

The gala event was hosted by Madonna on the lawns of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with the $3.7 million raised going to UNICEF and her own Raising Malawi organization. A long list of stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Tea Leoni, Lucy Liu, Billy Joel, Gwen Stefani, and Djimon Hounsou, attended the event, with tickets ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. The evening also featured performances by Alicia Keys, Timbaland, and Rihanna.

“I want to put Raising Malawi on the map,” said Madonna. “I want credibility as a philanthropic organisation. I want to inspire people. I don’t want them to just write me a cheque: I want them to give me a piece of their heart.”

Comedian Chris Rock hosted an auction during the evening, which featured some exciting items donated by celebrity guests. Priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities were up for grabs, such as a dance class with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow (which sold for $600,000), and a trip to Château Latour – including lunch with Salma Hayek – which was sold to Donald Trump for $120,000.

Tom Cruise, who attended the event with wife Katie Holmes, narrowly missed out on buying a sports package that included baseball practice with Yankee Alex Rodriguez and soccer practice with David Beckham.

“It was an extraordinary evening,” said Cruise. “The whole evening was quite moving. [Saving Malawi] is an absolute necessity.”

Saving Malawi was co-founded by Madonna in 2006, after she witnessed the plight of the country firsthand. And it is a plight she hopes to make more people aware of.

Recent UNICEF figures state that almost 1 million people in Malawi (whose total population is 13 million) suffer from HIV/AIDS, including 83,000 children. 267 people are infected with the virus every day, and half of the country’s 1 million orphans have lost their parents to the disease.

It is a country where 48% of children are severely malnourished, and many are subjected to the horrors of exploitation. The infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world, and 133 children out of 1000 die before they reach the age of five. They suffer from lack of food, shelter, clothing, education, clean water and sanitation, as well as basic medical services, and the average life expectancy is only 37 years.

Raising Malawi hopes to ease the suffering of the children of Malawi by providing smart solutions to the most challenging problems. Instead of just throwing money at the nightmare, they provide grassroots initiatives in the way of healthcare, education, and agriculture at a community level. To do this, they have partnered with some of the best organizations that work in the country, including the Millennium Promise Alliance, the Network of Organizations for Vulnerable and Orphan Children, and Spirituality for Kids.

One of Raising Malawi’s greatest initiatives is the Orphan Care Center recently built in the village of Mphandula. Designed to serve 4000 children, it provides a safe haven for orphans, and supplies nutritious meals, basic education, and crucial life skills. Along with programs to introduce solar power, clean water systems, and self-sustenance, Madonna hopes the Orphan Care Center will help Malawi overcome its problems.

“I’ve earned a reputation for many things,” said Madonna during Wednesday’s gala evening. “For pushing the envelope, for being a provocateur, for never taking no for an answer, for endlessly reinventing myself, for being a cult member, a kidnapper, for being ambitious, outrageous, and irreverent. And for never settling for second best. I don’t just want you to write me a check. I’m more interested in your heart. I want to take you on that journey with me tonight. I want you to feel as inspired as I do right now.

“Yes, I want to raise Malawi. But if I can do that – if we can do that – then the sky’s the limit.”

Celebrities' Festive Gifts

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:21:24 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A pledge to walk one of the biggest man-made structures in the world, a successful celebrity auction, a tour of far away places, and a donation of time and energy were just some of the ways celebrities gave to the poor, the sick, and those unable to spend time with their families this Christmas.

Singer Olivia Newton-John met with the founders of Welsh breast cancer charity In The Pink over Christmas to discuss fund raising opportunities, and revealed her plans to walk the length of the Great Wall of China in April. Proceeds from the walk will go to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre in Australia, and the 59-year-old breast cancer survivor will also donate items to In The Pink to auction later in the year.

Meanwhile, socialite Kathy Hilton organized a charity auction over Christmas, featuring a selection of items donated by some of her famous friends. Mel Gibson’s jeans, Tom Cruise’s sunglasses, and an Ocean’s Thirteen script signed by the movie’s stars, including George Clooney and Brad Pitt, raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Christmas is my favorite time of the year,” said Hilton, mother of Paris Hilton. “I have worked with Make-A-Wish before, and I wanted to do something really special. Hopefully… I’ll make it an annual event.”

Robin Williams, Lance Armstrong, Kid Rock, and Lewis Black were also busy over the festive season, and joined current Miss USA Rachel Smith on a 14 show tour with the USO in Afghanistan.

The shows were well received by soldiers from all nations, stationed away from their homes and families this Christmas.

“Afghanistan is sometimes called the forgotten war,” said one soldier who watched the shows. “We don’t get a lot of attention here, and conditions are pretty miserable. So it means a lot.”

The USO organized 52 celebrity tours in 2007 – which included over 300 shows.

And in Los Angeles, Jennifer Love Hewitt joined her new fiancé Ross McCall, as well as Melissa Joan Hart and Melissa Gilbert, to dish out dinners to the needy at the Los Angeles Mission.

“I have made it a point to come to the Los Angeles Mission at Christmas,” said the 28-year-old actress. “There are so many hurting people on the streets of our city, but when I’m here I get to see the smiles of the children and the great food for everyone. I come to give something back, but invariably I get more blessings than I give.”

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.”

Tom Cruise Donates to Jackie Chan's Foundation

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

Written by Myrlia Purcell

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.

Look To The Stars News: Tom Cruise

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