Look To The Stars News: Kate Beckinsale

Judd Apatow To Be Honored By Fulfillment Fund

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann will be honored at the Fulfillment Fund’s annual STARS Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel on October 26.

Each year, the Fulfillment Fund’s STARS gala honors a leader in the entertainment industry for extraordinary generosity and philanthropic involvement.

STARS has been recognized as one of the top five most successful annual fundraising events in Southern California, raising up to $2 million each fall to support programs offered through the Fulfillment Fund.

Judd is a leading force in the world of comedy and has been recognized for his work as a producer and writer on many critically acclaimed television shows. Leslie has been making audiences laugh for years, starring in recent hits such as “17 Again.” Together, Leslie and Judd have demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy through their support of organizations for the homeless and 826 LA, a writing and tutoring center for disadvantaged youth.

The STARS 2009 Gala will also include a special presentation of the Gitnick Visionary Award to Jana Waring Greer, President and CEO of SunAmerica Retirement Markets.

The Fulfillment Fund has three main goals: 1) Help disadvantaged students graduate from high school; 2) Increase the number who go on to college; and 3) Help them successfully complete college and transition into the working world.

Leading celebrities and comedians have served as entertainers and presenters at STARS including Christian Bale, Warren Beatty, Kate Beckinsale, Annette Bening, Jamie Foxx, Kate Hudson, Salma Hayek, Quincy Jones, Steve Martin, Tim McGraw, John Mellencamp, Mike Myers, Sidney Poitier, Chris Rock, Seth Rogen, Sinbad, Will Smith, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Denzel Washington and Stevie Wonder.

STARS 2008 raised over $1.6 million to benefit the Fulfillment Fund’s programs.  The event honored Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures and included award presentations to Wells Fargo Regional President Shelley Freeman and Fulfillment Fund Founding CEO Andrea Cockrum. Special guests included Ryan Seacrest who served as Master of Ceremonies, as well as Christian Bale and Kate Beckinsale who both made special appearances.

To find out more about this year’s event and how you can attend, click here.

Elton John Dedicates Song To Michael Jackson At Charity Bash

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Elton John held his 11th annual White Tie & Tiara Ball to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation on Thursday, June 25.

Held at his Windsor mansion, “Woodside”, the party featured entertainment by Justin Timberlake and attracted guests such as Sam Taylor Wood, Damien Hirst, Elizabeth Hurley, Kate Beckinsale, Shirley Bassey, Lily Allen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Natalie Imbruglia, David Walliams, Geri Halliwell, Lily Cole and Erin O’Connor.

The annual ball has raised over £27 million since its inception, with last week’s event raising £4 million.

Sir Elton reportedly was told about the death of Michael Jackson during the evening, and dedicated a version of Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to the singer.

Stars Sign Hardhats For Charity Auction

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles has launched an online auction at Clothes Off Our Back featuring hardhats signed by celebrity volunteers and supporters of Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity.

The hardhats are signed and decorated by music, television and film stars including: Green Day, Ricky Martin, Linkin Park, U2, Justin Timberlake, The Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Stevie Wonder and many more. The auction will run through March 6 with 100% of the proceeds helping to build more affordable homes in Greater Los Angeles.

“Through our non-profit organization, Music for Relief, and our ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity we have had the opportunity to not only sponsor homes, but also to go and build the houses ourselves, and to meet the families that were moving into them,” said Dave “Phoenix” Farrell of Linkin Park. “We hope this hardhat auction will raise awareness for Habitat’s mission and help raise funds for families in need.”

In 2007 Habitat for Humanity kicked off its “Building a Greater Los Angeles” campaign to build and renovate 250 more homes. In conjunction with the “Building a Greater Los Angeles” Gala held last fall, Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity held a successful online auction with VIP experiences and signed memorabilia donated by celebrity supporters, which raised over $75,000. Following the success of the first online auction, Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity began outreach to high profile supporters, as well as new supporters, who wanted to support Habitat’s mission which resulted in more than 70 signed hardhats. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver were among those who autographed hardhats to help kick off this auction.

“I have had the chance to personally give the keys to several families moving into homes sponsored by the Ricky Martin Foundation in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, an organization I’ve been involved with for many years. I’ve been fortunate enough to see with my own eyes the difference a home makes in the life of a child,” said Ricky Martin. “Now, by simply bidding on an item in an auction, you have the chance to change lives and build hope.”

“Los Angeles continues to rank last in housing affordability and this kind of support helps us raise awareness, as well as much needed funding, to help low income families live in safe, decent homes,” said Erin Rank, president/CEO Habitat for Humanity of Greater L.A. “These hardhats are very special as most were signed the day of an actual build and we are thrilled to receive these fun and generous donations.”

Other stars to sign the hard hats include: Chris Pine, David Archuleta, Enrique Iglesias, Gavin Rossdale, Kate Beckinsale, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, Josh Groban, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Neil Diamond, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron. A complete list of celebrity supporters of this auction can be found at the auction site.

Elton John Charity Oscar Party Attracts Big Stars

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Elton John attracted more than a few big names to his annual charity Oscar party last night, February 22, with Victoria Beckham, Gordon Ramsay, Katie Price and Kate Beckinsale among the 650 guests.

The party is held every year to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, an organization established and overseen by the singer that funds educational programs targeted at HIV/AIDS prevention and the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS, and for programs that provide services to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Last year’s party raised over $5 million for the charity, and this year is expected to have topped that, with a guest list that included Kiefer Sutherland, Sharon Stone, Elle Macpherson and Natasha Bedingfield.

“We give them the best that they can possibly afford,” said Sir Elton before the lavish party kicked off at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. “It’s beautiful inside the tent, the food’s great, everyone will be served the best wines, but they need to be because they’ve paid an awful lot of money for a seat.”

Tickets to the event reportedly sold for $3,500.

Stars Heal Patients With A Kiss

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Marie Gorrettie

Medicinema is a registered charity that has partnered with the Health Sector and the Film Industry, installing state-of-the-art cinemas on site in hospitals around the United Kingdom.

By creating purpose built cinemas in hospitals, Medicinema provides a much needed escape for the patients – it’s a welcome break from the hospital ward. Each cinema is specially designed to cater for beds and wheel chairs and nursing staff on duty throughout every Medicinema screening.

With nurses instead of usherettes, Medicinema harnesses the magic of the Silver Screen to help enrich the quality of life for patients. By screening the latest releases for patients young and old – including those in beds and on wheelchairs – patients and their families are able to escape the reality of hospital life.

As the lights dim and the film starts, with the big screen filled and Dolby Surround sound bursting into life, patients can be forgiven for thinking they are spending a night in the West End – apart from the occasional bleep of a patient’s monitor, you could be in a cinema!

Everyone needs a little escapism in their lives, especially if they’re in hospital. There is often not very much to look forward to so a visit to the cinema can give a much-needed boost to the spirits, providing the sort of family outing that is otherwise difficult in hospital. With the help and active support of the leading film distributors, Medicinema screens a wide variety of feature films from action and adventure to romantic comedies. Some films are even screened to Medicinema audiences before they go on general release.

As part of a new initiative, stars of the Silver Screen have donated kisses to celebrate ten years of Medicinema to help enhance therapeutic care for patients in hospitals around UK. To mark their 10th Anniversary, MediCinema is auctioning the HEALED WITH A KISS COLLECTION. The collection contains over 50 original signed lip prints from some of the biggest names in the Film Industry. The following are the stars who have donated Healed With A Kiss Lip Prints to help bring magic of the Silver Screen to hospital patients across UK: Madonna, Catherine Zeta Jones, Dame Helen Mirren, Sigourney Weaver, Ewan McGregor, Kate Winslet, John Hurt, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Helena Bonham Carter, Dame Judi Dench, Joan Collins, Glenn Close, Shirley MacLaine, Dame Diana Rigg, Kate Beckinsale, Thandie Newton, Nickolas Grace, Tim Roth, Jeremy Irons, Ben Stiller, Jeff Goldblum, Jim Broadbent, Honor Blackman, John Travolta, Claire Bloom, Martine McCutcheon, Greta Scacchi, Saffron Burrows, Geraldine Chaplin, Mariella Frostrup, Juliet Stevenson, Robbie Coltrane, Zoë Wanamaker, Cathy Tyson, Jason Isaacs, Anthony Andrews, Tommy Steele, Mark Addy, Kenneth Branagh, Alice Eve, and Dwayne Johnson.

The Auction party will be held in April 2009 and the complete Healed With A Kiss collection will be auctioned at the Medicinema Private Auction Party at The Movieunm, London’s biggest Film Memorabilia Museum.

The Healed With A Kiss Auction party will offer you the opportunity to own these highly collectable pieces of film memorabilia and the chance to rub shoulders with Movers and Shakers of the film industry. Hugh Edmeades, Christie’s International Auctioneer, will chair the auction in support of MediCinema. An exclusive drinks reception, live entertainment and a private tour will be followed by the auction of the healed with a kiss collection in support of MediCinema.

Here are some of the quotes from patients and their families whom MediCinema has touched:

“Really happy at the thought that I was not going to have to spend an evening on the ward, staring at a blank wall with no neighbours and chewing my lips to avoid being in pain”. Niamh.

“I completely forgot that I was in hospital, and that I had loads of needles in my arm, and when the film ended I thought “right, time to go home; and it was only when the lights came back on and I saw all the other beds and steelchairs that I remembered that I was in hospital”. Jesica, St Thomas patient.

If you would like to Bid for Original Signed Lip prints from the Stars of the Silver Screen and attend the Auction Party and bid in person please contact MediCinema: Tel:+44(0) 20 7188 3697 or email medicinema@gstt.nhs.uk.

If a celebrity lip print has caught your eye, you can make an advance bid before attending the Auction event in writing, on line or by telephone.

If you are unable to attend the Auction Party in person, you can secure an original signed lip print by placing “ABSENTEE” Bid, in writing, on line or by telephone. Please register your bid/s in the Healed with a Kiss Auction by contacting medicinema@gsst.nhs.uk or telephoning +44 (0) 20 7188 3697.

Once you have registered interest in placing an “Absentee” or advance bid, you will be contacted to confirm your bid and contact details.

For more information about the Auction Party please contact MediCinema on +44 (0) 20 7188 3697 or email medicinema@gstt.nhs.uk.

Slip Into Kate Beckinsale's Cat Suit For Charity

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The skintight black cat suit Kate Beckinsale wore in Underworld is to be auctioned for charity.

The item will join a selection of props and costumes from the series of vampire movies in an auction to be held at Premiere Props in El Segundo, California, on February 7. Proceeds from the auction will go to the Entertainment Industry Foundation, an organization that raises awareness and funds for important causes such as childhood hunger, cancer research, creative arts, education, cardiovascular research, and much more.

“Fans and movie collectors will be truly amazed with the rare hero costumes and movie memorabilia from all three ‘Underworld’ movies that will be up for bid,” said Dan Levin, Vice President of Marketing for Premiere Props.

Other items from the films up for auction include a medical book, a serum vial and a serum injector.

More info can be found here.

Christina Aguilera Performs At CNN Heroes Event

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pop singer Christina Aguilera joined fellow Grammy Award winners Alicia Keys and John Legend at the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute event that aired on CNN last night.

The event honored the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008, and was taped in front of an audience of 2,500 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Liz McCartney, dedicated to helping survivors of Hurricane Katrina rebuild their homes, was named 2008 CNN Hero of the Year, and will receive $100,000 to carry on her humanitarian work.

“In this time of economic turmoil, it is such a relief to know that there are people like these heroes, people who care more for others than they do for themselves,” said Anderson Cooper, who hosted the show.

Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek, John Krasinski, Forest Whitaker, Meg Ryan, Terrence Howard, Lucy Liu, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale and Selena Gomez were among the stars that attended the event.

Aguilera has also spoken out about the recent Prop 8 decision and leant her support to the same-sex marriage campaign.

“They’re [gay couples] constantly pushing to be heard and given equal rights,“ she said. “I think there’s a lot of unfairness that goes along with being gay, so the more I can do to give them a voice, then I’ll do so. But I think we’d be fooling ourselves if we thought that everywhere was accepting of gay rights and marriages. I think it’s unfair there has to be some kind of standard for marriage. Marriage should be about two people celebrating their love for each other. It shouldn’t have anything to do with someone’s sexual preference.”

Fulfillment Fund Attracts Big Names For Annual Gala

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:30:00 -0000

The stars came out on October 13 for the Fulfillment Fund’s annual benefit gala.

Look To The Stars Celebrity Ambassador Rachel Zeskind was lucky enough to be on the red carpet for the event, which was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featured appearances by Kate Beckinsale, Sinbad, Christian Bale, John Fogerty and many more.

The Fulfillment Fund is dedicated to helping promising yet disadvantaged students graduate from high school and complete college, and honored Legendary Pictures Chairman and CEO Thomas Tull at this year’s STARS 2008 Benefit Gala.

Each fall, Hollywood and the Los Angeles community provide almost $2 million in critical support at the annual gala event, which has been recognized as one of the top five most successful annual fundraising events in Southern California.

“This might have been the worst week in memorable history to have a fund-raising dinner, but we’ve always been blessed with strong support from the entertainment industry,“ said Fulfillment Fund founder Dr. Gary Gitnick.

Rachel Zeskind, who last month attended the 60th annual Emmy Awards on behalf of Look To The Stars, had the chance to catch up with several of the guests at the gala, including Superman Returns’ Brandon Routh, who revealed that he is a huge supporter of the Christopher Reeve Foundation, and Sean Thomas, who supports the Young Storytellers Foundation – a Los Angeles based non-profit organization dedicated to developing literacy, self-expression and self-esteem in elementary school students through the art of storytelling.

(Photos copyright Jesse Brunt)

Rachel’s dress and jewelry by Tal Sheyn and Creative Brazil.

Orlando And Bono Attend Gorbachev Gala

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:36:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev hosted a glittering charity gala at Hampton Court on Saturday night that saw a stunning array of celebrities show up to support the fight against cancer in children.

Kate Beckinsale, Orlando Bloom, Tracey Emin, Petra Nemcova, Kevin Spacey and Joan Collins were just some of the stars that turned out for the dinner, auction and dance to raise money for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation – a charity established by Mr Gorbachev following the death of his wife in 1999.

A three course dinner was followed by an impressive selection of items up for auction, including a private night at Annabel’s nightclub in Mayfair for 160 people, clothes from designer Giles Deacon, a new Bentley Continental Flying Spur, and a private high-speed drive with British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton.

This was followed by a moving speech made by Hugh Grant, whose mother died from cancer in 2001, and a special performance from Bono.

“We are delighted Hugh is so involved this year,” said one of the organizers. “He is a very important part of the charity. For him to stand up and talk about his late mother is very special. It’s a night where people really do go to incredible lengths to raise money for an amazingly worthwhile charity.”

Last year’s Gala was also an exciting event.

Courteney Cox and David Arquette in a Race for Research

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:04:39 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The clock is ticking for actors Courteney Cox and David Arquette, who have pledged to raise $1 million in two weeks to benefit the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation (EBMRF).

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a genetic condition that causes skin and linings to break and blister at the slightest touch. Sufferers battle daily with fluid loss and infection of the open wounds. In worst cases, they’ll die of skin cancer before the age of 40, many in infancy.

“Now is such an important time to put the spotlight on EB and ensure that research can continue at a fast pace,” Cox told the Associated Press.

Both Cox and Arquette are honorary board members of the foundation, as are actors Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Jackie and Adam Sandler and singers Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani. Kate Beckinsale, Orlando Bloom, Rashida Jones, Eva Longoria and James Marsden have also joined the challenge to bring much needed attention to the painful disease.

Cox and Arquette have a personal link to EB as someone close to them suffers from it. To raise funds for EBMRF on an ongoing basis they have co-designed a necklace with a butterfly, a symbol for hope and freedom, etched onto a small silver pendant, on sale at SATYA boutique in New York and online at www.satyajewelry.com.

Elton's Oscar Party Raises $5.1m

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:50:42 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Sunday night saw the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 16th annual Academy Awards viewing party, which this year raised $5.1 million thanks to its spectacular guest list.

The Pacific Design Center venue saw even more of Hollywood’s glitterati than anticipated, boasting the attendance of “Best Actress” award winner Marion Cotillard and “Best Supporting Actor” nominee Tom Wilkinson. Further top names present included Amy Adams, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, Sean Penn, Patricia Clarkson, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford, Josh Groban, Faye Dunaway, Sean Combs, Seal and Heidi Klum, Prince, Kate Beckinsale, Billy Joel, Courtney Love, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Petra Nemcova, Jeremy Piven, Roberto Cavalli, Minnie Driver, Simon Cowell and Herbie Hancock.

The gala was co-hosted by Elton’s partner David Furnish, and included dinner, a musical performance by Elton himself and a live auction.

Sharon Stone acted as auctioneer, and Elton offered to remove his trousers if it would raise more money. Stone added that she wouldn’t follow suit.

Yet more stars seen at the event included Natasha Henstridge, Larry King, Eric McCormack, Jason Lewis, Jonny Lee Miller, Brett Ratner, Jason Reitman, Rupert Murdoch, Jennifer Coolidge, Russell Simmons, Cheryl Tiegs, John Waters and Ziyi Zhang.

Since its inception in 1992, Elton’s foundation has raised more than $125 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries.

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