Look To The Stars News: Andy Garcia

Stars Give The Spotlight To Children

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:49:24 -0000

A growing list of celebrities are offering time and attention to individual children, and even sharing the spotlight with them, in answer to a call from A Star For The Night, a charity that makes dreams come true for underprivileged, disabled, and homeless children.

Singers such as LeAnn Rimes and Rick Springfield have had Stars’ children on stage and even singing with them during concerts, and actors Nikki Cox, Andy Garcia, Mike Myers, Mandy Moore, and Ben Stiller have given radio interviews to them – as has music legend Neil Young. A Star For A Night aims to fulfill the wishes of about 450 kids per year to participate in fashion shows, appear on the sets of television shows, and attend sports events.

Founder Dejra Turley said, “We give these children a night that emphasizes hope, inspiration, and acknowledgement.”

Created in 1998 in memory of Turley’s sister, A Star For The Night contacts celebrities chosen by the children and co-ordinates the event. On the special night, the kids are given a makeover, a new outfit and dinner, and ride to the event in a luxury limousine.

And then they get to be a star, for a night they’ll never forget.

Joe Mantegna Tees Off For Special Needs

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:39:31 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

This summer Joe Mantegna will hold his eighth Celebrity Golf Classic tournament benefiting Home Ownership Made Easy (H.O.M.E.), an organization that provides housing for the disabled in California.

As the father of a special-needs child, Mantegna understands the anxieties and the barriers for disabled adults in finding self-sufficiency.

“What these individuals face is a lifetime of worry and uncertainty as to what the quality of their lives will be,” said the 60-year-old Tony Award-winning actor. “The lifelong concern of safe and affordable housing for those whose specific disabilities puts them out of reach of housing opportunities the rest of us have is a daunting one.”

Founded in 1989, H.O.M.E. helps developmentally disabled people and their families achieve independence. Through their two programs, H.O.M.E. either rents apartments to individuals at an undervalued rate to allow that the balance of their income is enough to provide for themselves, or walks first time home buyers through the planning, purchase, and ownership processes providing key advice, counseling, education, and contacts at every step.

Having seen H.O.M.E.’s programs at work, Mantegna is looking forward to the June tournament, as are actors and golf aficionados Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia, Joe Pesci, and Gary Sinise. The annual event, which includes a day of golf, a cocktail party, and both silent and live auctions, provides over 10 percent of H.O.M.E.’s annual budget.

Celebrity Designed Corsets On Auction

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:06:55 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Some of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities have teamed up to design a series of corsets to be auctioned off in October.

Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, and Jessica Biel are just some of the stars who have submitted designs for the 4th annual Frederick’s Of Hollywood Celebrity Corset Auction. The event, which is being run in conjunction with the internet charity auction site Clothes Off Our Back, will raise money for a variety of children’s charities, including Second Harvest, a non-profit organization that benefits the hungry, The Art of Elysium, which uses art to help the sick, and World Education, a charity that provides training to underprivileged children around the world. Some of the proceeds will also go towards research into autism.

“In previous years, we got $18,000 for Charlize Theron’s corset and $10,000 for Nicole Kidman’s,” said Frederick’s of Hollywood’s Erin Dominguez. “Each year we set the bar higher and hope to get more.”

To create the pieces, the celebrities were each given a special design kit to make a sketch of their creation. It was then up to costume designer Linda Stokes, best known for dressing Gwen Stefani on tour, to produce the garments.

“You get to draw and sketch,” said Eva Longoria about her design. “And I sketched some tulle at the top and it has all of this beading.”

Andy Garcia, star of the Ocean’s 11 movies, was inspired in his design by the flag of his native Cuba. Others took a more fanciful approach, with Ashley Olsen’s design dripping black feathers, and Kyra Sedgwick’s creation appearing to have garbage trailing off the hem. Other celebrities involved in the campaign include Christina Aguilera, actress and Clothes Off Our Back founder Jane Kaczmarek, Maria Menounos, Gabrielle Union, Ashlee Simpson, Mandy Moore, Debra Messing, Fergie, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.

The event kicked off on October 25, with a live auction hosted at Frederick’s flagship store on Hollywood Boulevard, and the online auction runs until November 5 on www.clothesoffourback.org.

“I think you should bid on any and all of them,” said Oscar nominee Julianne Moore, whose peacock inspired design is featured in the auction. “I love them, and it’s a great cause.”

Look To The Stars News: Andy Garcia

Stars Give The Spotlight To Children

Related past articles

Joe Mantegna Tees Off For Special Needs

Related past articles

Celebrity Designed Corsets On Auction

Related past articles