Look To The Stars News: Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom Becomes UNICEF Ambassador

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Actor Orlando Bloom has been appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of his commitment to the rights of children around the world.

“Advocacy from UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors helps build momentum to improve the lives of children around the world,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman. “We are proud to have Orlando Bloom as one of the strong voices for vulnerable children.”

Bloom has already seen the work UNICEF is doing in Nepal, Russia, and Sarajevo. And he is committed to supporting UNICEF’s efforts: “I look forward to working with UNICEF as they continue to make the world a better place for children.”

Bloom said he wants to be an active Ambassador for the children’s organization. He will follow in the footsteps of such luminaries as Audrey Hepburn, Danny Kaye, Shakira, Sir Roger Moore, David Beckham, Jackie Chan, Mia Farrow, Vanessa Redgrave and many others. These ambassadors devote their time to raising awareness of UNICEF, and influencing global policy on behalf of children around the world.

Bloom has supported UNICEF’s work since 2007, when he first visited schools in the remote western districts of Kaski and Chitwan, two of the poorest areas of Nepal. He was able to see how UNICEF’s water and sanitation programmes benefit local families. In Nepal, Orlando spoke about the importance of education; and when asked by the children, he agreed to perform a small role in their local school radio production.

Bloom went to Nepal again in June 2008 to see how UNICEF and its partners are working to provide clean water for children and families. He has also visited the Krasnoselsky centre in Moscow, a shelter for children from economically vulnerable families.

“UNICEF doesn’t just deliver humanitarian aid, which is what they are known for all over the world,” he said. “They also educate and provide tools which help women and children face challenges specific to their own lives. I responded to how UNICEF works as much as I did to the work itself. I look forward to learning more and to supporting UNICEF any way I can.”

GOSH, What Auctions!

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:26:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

The Great Ormond Street Hospital is set to benefit from many current and recent celebrity charity auctions, including a date with Orlando Bloom, which brought in £9,000 ($14,600) just last week.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star was on hand at the Victoria and Albert museum with Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton, British TV presenter Vernon Kay and Jade Jagger to help raise over £450,000 ($730,000) for the children’s charity.

Hamilton and other F1 stars, such as Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel, Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen have all signed unique displays for an auction benefitting the children’s hospital. The auction will run at Starcards.org until June 30th.

And, starting today, tennis fans can also visit Starcards.org to bid on the only WTA Tour No.1 Jersey signed by nine former World Number one’s, including Kim Clijsters, Amelie Mauresmo, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Justine Henin, Tracy Austin and Maria Sharapova. Also up for grabs are Serena Williams signed designer Nike shoes, and 30 other items. This auction runs until July 5th.

As if that wasn’t enough, also currently on the auction block is an exclusive signed collector’s image from Empire’s 20th Birthday Portfolio which captures Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. To bid, visit EmpireOnline.com.

The Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) was the first hospital in the UK dedicated to children, and since its start in 1852, its pioneering work has caught the attention of many well-known people. Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens and author J M Barrie – who donated the copyright to his famous play Peter Pan – were among the first to pledge their support. More recently, Johnny Depp became a supporter of the hospital, after the staff counted his daughter into the more than 100,000 children treated there annually – children who are suffering from the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions.

To learn more about how you can support GOSH, visit gosh.org.

Miranda Kerr Gets Bare For The Bears

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Orlando Bloom’s Australian model girlfriend Miranda Kerr appears on the cover of the latest edition of the Aussie edition of Rolling Stone magazine naked and tied to a tree to raise awareness of the plight of koalas.

The 26-year-old is the face of the Australian Koala Foundation’s No Tree, No Me campaign. Established in 1986 by two veterinary scientists, Barry Scott and Steve Brown, the Australian Koala Foundation aims to eradicate the threats to the survival of koalas, of which there are only 100,000 left in the wild.

“Having grown up with koalas in my backyard, it would be truly devastating for me to see them disappear,” said Kerr, who grew up in Gunnedah NSW, which is known as the koala capital of the world. “I feel strongly about the need to protect our natural environment because it supports our life – it really is that simple. It’s a sad thing – there are only about 100,000 koalas left in Australia. Something like 80 per cent of the koalas’ habitat has been destroyed since Europeans arrived in Australia. The great thing about having people recognize you is you can try to make a positive difference – that’s what I’m trying to do, especially for young women.”

To find out more about the Australian Koala Foundation and the campaign, click here.

Orlando Bloom Sings For The Great Ormond Street Hospital

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of special guests from the worlds of music and fashion came together in London to celebrate the role of mothers and to support Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity on Wednesday, March 18.

Kate Moss, Orlando Bloom, Sadie Frost, Tamara Beckwith-Veroni, Jenny Frost, Trinny Woodall, Jamie Hince, Amber Aitken, Melissa Odabash, Charlotte Tilbury, Serena Rees and The Clash’s Mick Jones were just some of the stars that attended the event, with proceeds going to the facility that treats more than 100,000 patients each year – children who are suffering from the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions.

The evening raised over £50,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and included an incredible celebrity auction that featured an exclusive Stephen Webster 18ct White gold, White Diamond and Ruby ‘Mummy Rocks’ locket, lunch with Stephen Fry, a meet and greet with Simon Cowell with tickets to Britain’s Got Talent, and a kiss from Kate Moss – which sold for a massive £5000.

But perhaps the highlight of the night was when Orlando Bloom climbed up on stage to join Mick Jones in singing The Clash’s hit ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go.’

The evening was a big step in helping to raise the £50 million needed this year to help rebuild and refurbish Great Ormond Street Hospital, buy vital equipment and fund pioneering research.

Stars Set To Shine At Global Green Pre-Oscar Party

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Environmental organization Global Green USA will hold their annual pre-Oscar party this week and have invited some stellar performers and hosts.

Entertainment at this year’s party will include Sheryl Crow and Gavin Rossdale and co-hosting the event are stars such as Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio, Penelope Cruz , Rosario Dawson, Marisa Tomei, Kate Bosworth, Sebastian Copeland, Lyn & Norman Lear, Damien Rice, Heather Graham, Roland Emmerich, Dominic Monaghan, Matt Petersen, Neil Patrick Harris, Sharon Lawrence and Esai Morales.

Proceeds from the evening – which includes drinks and a gift bag – will go to Global Green USA’s Green Schools Initiative. Green Schools are community facilities that are designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green schools protect occupant health, provide a productive learning environment, connect students to the natural world, increase average daily attendance, reduce operating costs, improve teacher satisfaction and retention, and reduce overall impact to the environment.

General tickets to the party – which will be held on Thursday, February 19, at Avalon in Hollywood – range from $125 – 250. VIP tickets are available for $1000 and give you access to exclusive VIP lounge with hosted bar, unreserved seat in VIP balcony area for the musical performance, an eco gift bag, & access to the after party.

More info and tickets are available from the Global Green USA website.

Olivia Newton-John Sends Message Of Hope To Fire Victims

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Olivia Newton-John has sent a message of hope and love to the victims of the Australian bushfires. Speaking exclusively to Look To The Stars, the multi Grammy winning artist has urged people to donate to disaster relief funds

“My heart goes out to [the victims],” she said. “My heart hurts for my country and the animals and people of Australia and I just can’t imagine the horrors they’re going through. I send my love, I wish I was there to do more at this moment. I’ve been really touched by the generosity of the Australian people because they are an amazing resilient people that have always dug deep to help. I ask everybody to dig even deeper because this is just an unprecedented catastrophe. I send out my love and light to everybody affected.”

The singer’s words come the day after a massive benefit concert/telethon was held in Australia to raise money for the cause. Australia Unites featured a host of celebrities including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Rachel Griffiths, Naomi Watts, Ellen DeGeneres, Anthony La Paglia, Shane Warne, Rove McManus, and Australian Olympic legend Cathy Freeman. Manning the phones for the evening were Orlando Bloom and girlfriend Miranda Kerr. Among the performers were The Living End, Jessica Mauboy, Jimmy Barnes, Lee Kernaghan, Shannon Noll, Kate Ceberano, and John Williamson.

Hosted by Eddie McGuire on Channel 9, the telethon raised over $20 million for Red Cross relief efforts.

“Our hearts go out tonight to all the families that are dealing with the loss of loved ones and having to rebuild their lives again,” said Nicole Kidman, who appeared via satellite with husband Keith Urban and donated $500,000 to the cause. Canadian singer Michael Buble donated a further $50,000, as did Australian actor Anthony La Paglia.

The Red Cross Fire Appeal has already raised over $75 million, but much more is needed to help the thousands of victims who have lost their homes, possessions and even their families in the disaster. Over 180 people have been confirmed dead, with the toll expected to rise above 200. To donate to the appeal, contact your local Red Cross, or visit the Australian Red Cross website.

Be sure to click back to Look To The Stars early next week for an exclusive interview with Olivia Newton-John.

Kate Bosworth Is Gorgeous And Green

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Kate Bosworth shared hosting duties with former Melrose Place star Daphne Zuniga and American Idol’s Elliot Yamin at Global Green’s Gorgeous And Green event on Tuesday, December 2.

The 4th annual benefit gala was held in San Francisco and included organic cocktails and eco-chic fashion, and focused on green solutions to the world’s problems.

“The more I learn about how far we have come, the more I am inspired and grateful to be a part of [Global Green] to help find solutions and to inspire other people,” said Bosworth.

Global Green USA – whose supporters include Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, and Charlize Theron – has a plethora of environmental aims, such as creating green buildings and cities, eliminating weapons of mass destruction that threaten lives and the environment, and providing clean, safe drinking water for the 2.4 billion people who lack access to clean water.

“There’s a lot of what people call ‘green washing.’ A lot of people get on a bandwagon because it profits them,” said Zuniga. “You can go to Global Green’s shop in Santa Monica and see how you can green your own home. They get stuff done and that’s so important right now.”

Entertainment during the evening was provided by Yamin, who was placed third in the fifth series of American Idol.

“I’ve been more socially conscious since I’ve been in the business,” said the 30-year-old singer. “I have a better platform to do things like this. I try to do everything I can to contribute to this movement.”

Orlando Bloom Visits Russia For UNICEF

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Actor and heartthrob Orlando Bloom made a surprise trip to Russia recently, to visit the Krasnoselsky social shelter in Moscow on behalf of UNICEF.

The shelter works with children from vulnerable families who are unable to provide for them. Many of the children at the facility have been neglected or forced out onto the streets and exposed to physical and psychological abuse.

“I was very impressed with my visit to the UNICEF-supported shelter,” said Bloom. “I wanted to understand for myself some of the crucial work being done for those children who really need help. Every child has the right to food and to live in a family environment. I was amazed by the strength and courage of the children and how the centre was trying to enable the children to return to their original families.”

Earlier this year, the 32-year-old star of “Lord of the Rings” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” spent four days touring the western districts of Nepal with UNICEF, visiting programs run by the organization.

“I like the fact that UNICEF does not simply provide people with the humanitarian aid, but also elaborates on methods and tools to solve problems and improve the life of children and women,” he said.

UNICEF supports a number of institutions in Moscow and St. Petersburg that offer rehabilitation and support to at-risk children, and also promotes social programs that provide intervention, support and reintegration services.

“UNICEF is pleased to see that in Russia, much more priority is now being placed on minimizing these situations in the first place either by supporting vulnerable families or developing alternative family based care when it is not in the best interest of the child to grow up in its biological family,” said UNICEF’s Representative in Russia, Bertrand Bainvel.

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.

Rare Queen Memorabilia Up For Grabs For Charity

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Queen fans are in for a big treat this weekend as a special piece of merchandise goes under the hammer for charity.

As part of the Smile4Rich charity auction, a framed copy of Queen’s 1976 album A Day At The Races – signed by the entire band, including Freddie Mercury and Brian May – will be sold at a gala later tonight, October 24.

The auction will also feature a DVD of Pirates of the Caribbean 3 signed by Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, and a framed Formula One picture and cap signed by Lewis Hamilton.

“We had some signed Elvis memorabilia up for grabs at last year’s ball and we never imagined we would match that, but this is phenomenal,“ said Neil Westbrook, who is coordinating the auction. “I’m totally blown away by the quality of the items and we really want to raise as much as possible so we’re inviting sealed bids from any fans out there.”

Smile4Rich is the fundraising arm of the Wessex Neurological Centre, the provider of specialist neurological services to over 3 million people across central southern England. More information on the gala – which will be held at the NV Restaurant & Cabaret Lounge in Southampton – can be found at their website.

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.

Stars Prepare For Oscar Glory With Charity Parties

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:56:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The next few days will be busy for Hollywood’s elite, as they practice their speeches and iron their gowns in anticipation of the 80th Academy Awards to be held on Sunday, February 24. As always, part of the pizzazz of the event is the glamorous parties in the days leading up to the big night. And although many of these soirees give the rich and famous a chance to be seen in the right places, a few are designed to raise awareness and funds for causes other than fame.

Wednesday, February 20, will see the Fifth Annual Global Green Pre-Oscar Party hit Hollywood between the eyes, with an event formulated to promote “smart solutions to global warming”. The party, to be held at the Avalon in Hollywood, will feature performances by Damien Rice and Michelle Branch, as well as Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the stars of Oscar-nominated musical, Once.

A huge selection of stars are expected to attend the event, including Salma Hayek, Alicia Silverstone, Val Kilmer, Adrian Grenier, Dana Delany, and Josie Maran. There is also a strong possibility that committee members Orlando Bloom and Leonardo DiCaprio may also attend.

Tickets to the party, available from the Global Green website, cost $250 for general admission and $5,000 for “green carpet” access and entry to the Patron Lounge, with all proceeds going to Global Green’s climate initiatives and their efforts to rebuild a green New Orleans.

Another big event in the next few days is the 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party, to be held at the Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, on February 24.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation gala is the most highly visible and successful fundraising event in Hollywood on Oscar night, and over the past 15 years has generated over $15 Million for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“This event is our most important fundraiser of the year,” the Foundation stated in a media statement. “Last year, we raised over $4.3 million, and we expect to exceed that record this year.”

The evening will begin at 4pm, with a special cocktail reception, followed by a formal dinner and a live screening of the Academy Awards. An auction, featuring items such as a vintage Corvette from Sharon Stone’s collection, will also be held, and Sir Elton will perform for guests such as Victoria and David Beckham, Ellen DeGeneres, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, and Elizabeth Taylor.

“With the loyal support of the Hollywood community, the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party has raised significant attention and funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS over the past 15 years,” said Foundation Director Scott Campbell. “This year we hope to set the bar even higher and let the world know that we are as committed as ever to fighting this devastating disease.”

Absentee bids and more information on the event can be found at the Elton John AIDS Foundation website.

Orlando Bloom Visits Nepal

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:25:30 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor and heartthrob Orlando Bloom has just returned from a trip to Nepal, where he visited several UNICEF programs working to help the impoverished nation and its children.

The 31-year-old star of “Lord of the Rings” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” spent four days touring the western districts of Kaski and Chitwan, as well as visiting Lumbini, birthplace of Lord Buddha.

During the trip, Bloom had his forehead smeared red with “tika” and was presented with the traditional garlands of flowers, which he wore around his neck. He spoke with young mothers at the Sayapatri Community Organization in the village of Dibyanagar, and learnt about the ways that UNICEF works to promote safe hygiene and sanitation practices in the country.

Nepal, with an estimated population of 29 million, is currently recovering from a decade-long civil war that left 13,000 people dead. The conflict hampered the delivery of basic services to many of the more remote villages, and malnutrition became rampant, accounting for over 60% of child deaths. Even today, 48% of children are grossly underweight, maternal mortality is high, and many people suffer needlessly from treatable medical conditions. As of six years ago, only 84% of children received a formal education, but thanks to work by UNICEF and the Himalayan Trust, that figure is now closer to 100%.

“Previously, only 25% of the households were taking iodized salt [to prevent iodine deficiency disorders such as goiter],” said Chali Subedi, who facilitates over the village of Kalika. “The figure has now increased to 38%. Similarly, women’s workloads have decreased from 17 hours per day to 14 hours a day.”

Bloom also spent time with over three dozen blind children who attend a special school in the village of Pokhara, deep in the Pumdi Bhumdi hills, and learned about their studies, ambitions, and the world in which they live.

“I may be disabled, and might need assistance from others for everything I do,” said 10th-grader Sujan Dhakal. “Yet the world I see for myself is one where I can be of assistance to others and work for the betterment of my society and country.”

Bloom joined the students in recording a UNICEF-supported radio program entitled “Saathi Sanga Manka Kura” (Talking With My Best Friend). The drama dealt with the plight of a group of girls in a hostel with no female warden, and Bloom played a guest who offers advice to the girls.

“Talk about your problems,” he said during the program. “There’s no need to feel shy. It’s always good to talk about issues that concern you.”

Lunchbox Auction Will Help Feed Hungry Children

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:49:04 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

Forget what they say about good things coming in small boxes, better things come in lunch-boxes created by artists, actors, chefs, musicians, photographer, politicians, and fashion designers to shed light on the plight of hungry children in New York City and South Africa. These original artistic efforts are for the Lunchbox Auction.

The artistry is often unique and often indicative of the personality behind the work. World renown chef Bobby Flay’s 2005 lunchbox was decorated with spices. Bono’s lunchbox was simply red signifying his (RED) campaign. The bidding for lunchbox items will commence online on December 6, 2007

Among the other contributors of lunch-boxes for the first online auction included Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, David Bowie and Iman among other famous people. The proceeds help the Food Bank For New York City provide food to more than 1,000 emergency and community food programs throughout the five boroughs.

One in five children in NYC rely on emergency food. Thousands of miles away in South Africa, children face similar hunger oriented plights. Fledgling school programs do not subsidize pre- and high schools, so for many of these children the Lunch box fund feed them their only meal of the day. Moreover, many of the children are AIDS orphans running child-headed households.

To see the full list of lunch-boxes, visit the Charity Folks Website.

Celebrities Lend Their Hands To Charity

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:58:29 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Over 40 celebrities from around the world are featured in a special new book to be released in time for Christmas.

“Celebrity Handprints", set to be published on December 1, is the culmination of two years work for author James Preston. Since November 2005, Preston has scoured the globe in search of famous names who were willing to dip their hands in ink and leave a lasting mark on paper. And his peculiar pursuit opened doors to some of entertainment’s biggest stars, including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Matt Damon, and Keira Knightley.

Over the course of his travels, Preston collected more than 100 handprints and accompanying photos of some of the brightest stars in film, television, music and sports, 42 of which are to be included in the new book. All of the proceeds from the publication will go to benefit two British children’s charities – Children in Need and the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Also available is a series of limited edition prints of the handprints, suitable for framing. The cost for each print, which also includes a photograph of the star involved, is $100. 30% of the total will go to both charities.

Other stars involved in the project include David Beckham, Robbie Williams, Will Smith, Joss Stone, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Tom Jones, Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne, Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson, Wyclef Jean, the Kaiser Chiefs, the Smashing Pumpkins, Snow Patrol, Star Wars creator George Lucas, and many more.

The book will be available for $40 from bookstores and Amazon, and both the book and the prints will be able to be purchased from www.celebrityhandprints.org.

Celebrity Auctions Tackle The Big Issues

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:29:11 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Thirteen of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood are creating a buzz with an internet auction taking place in October, in order to raise awareness of one of the biggest and most pervasive threats to life on Earth.

Ebay Giving Works, eBay’s program dedicated to charity listings, is hosting an online auction for the WWF, with 100% of the proceeds going to the World Wildlife Fund’s global conservation initiatives, especially those involved in the fight against climate change.

The auction, which runs from October 3 -12, features a series of 100% organic T shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Hotter Than I Should Be”. The shirts, which have created much interest in the media and Hollywood as a unique way to spread the message that the Earth is warming, have all been signed by a multitude of celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Orlando Bloom, Rachael Ray, Harrison Ford, and Cate Blanchett.

“Global warming is the single biggest threat to our environment today,” said John Donoghue, Senior Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund. “We’re thrilled with the overwhelming celebrity support we’ve received, and we are confident this auction will not only garner funds for our work, but will encourage individuals to take action in their own lives to stop climate change.”

The WWF is a leader in the field of climate science, and is a strong and persuasive advocate for the reduction of harmful greenhouse emissions and the increase of energy efficient technologies. For more than 45 years, the non-profit organization has been working to protect nature, and now provides cutting edge scientific research into areas of concern. With a dedicated team of experts in over 50 countries, the WWF focuses on 4 particular areas of impact: creating responsible global warming policies, working with businesses to reduce carbon dioxide levels, implementing adaptation plans to help the planet respond to climate change, and protecting the forests that help mitigate climate change.

The “Hotter Than I Should Be” online auction looks set to provide some much needed funding to the WWF’s ongoing research. Many of the shirts have already reached bids of over $300, with Orlando Bloom’s attracting bids close to $800. Other celebrities who have lent their signitures to the cause include Candice Bergen, Gisele Bundchen, Kevin Bacon, Paul Newman, Charlie Sheen, Cindy Crawford, and Susan Sarandon.

Unsigned “Hotter Than I Should Be” T shirts are also available with donations of over $50 to the WWF, and more information about the auction can be found at www.worldwildlife.org.

Also up for auction on eBay Giving Works in October is a series of pink rubber bath ducks, signed and decorated by celebrities such as Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Lucy Liu, and Matthew McConaughey.

The auction has been organized by Munchkin Inc, the makers of award winning infant and toddler products, as part of their Project Pink breast cancer awareness program, and runs from October 1 to November 4. All proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a non-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas, dedicated to education and research into the causes, treatment, and the search for a cure to breast cancer.

Other celebrities to design and sign rubber duckies include Brooke Shields, Desperate Housewives’ Marcia Cross, Charlie’s Angels’ Jaclyn Smith, and former First Lady Barbara Bush. The auction is hoped to raise over $30,000, and more information can be found at www.munchkin.com/projectpink.

KT Tunstall - Globally Cool

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:25:48 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

She is Scottish, she is a rock star, she has sold millions of albums all around the world, and yet she does not own a car or even a television. Her new recording studio has been built using 100% reclaimed wood, sheep’s wool insulation, and solar panels, and her house is the same. When it comes to being environmentally friendly, singer/songwriter KT Tunstall is almost as revolutionary as her music.

September saw the release of Tunstall’s third album, Drastic Fantastic, which quickly climbed to the top of the charts in many countries. It has already outsold her 2006 release, “Acoustic Extravaganza”, and is set to reach the lofty levels of 2005’s “Eye To The Telescope”.

But music is only one of Tunstall’s passions, the other being the state of the environment. When not performing or recording, Tunstall is usually found hard at work supporting ecological causes. In 2005, she planted 6000 trees in Scotland to offset the environmental cost of her first CD. And July 2007 saw her perform an extremely energetic set at the Live Earth concert held at Giant’s Stadium in New Jersey.

“I feel responsible because I am making money out of it,” said the 32 year old singer, whose hits include Suddenly I See and Black Horse And The Cherry Tree. “I use bio-diesel fuel on my buses and carbon-neutralize the audience’s journey to the gigs. With this next album, a portion of the money is going towards investing in renewable energy sources in developing countries.”

Tunstall has recently involved herself with Global Cool, a ten year campaign which plans to inspire one billion people to each reduce their personal CO2 emissions by one tonne. She joins a long list of celebrities involved with the initiative, including Stephen Fry, Josh Hartnett, Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Pink, the Kaiser Chiefs, Orlando Bloom, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

“Stop completely twatting your planet,” she said on the Global Cool website. “We haven’t got anywhere else to live.”

The start of September also saw Tunstall return to her roots when she went busking in Glasgow. But this time it was for charity, with a street side performance in front of the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre that raised $550 for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.

“Music is a really special way of helping disabled children,” said Tunstall. “I have a deaf brother who loves playing drums because he can really feel it and gets a lot out of it. I had heard of Nordoff-Robbins and they asked if I would be interested in raising a little money for them when I was in town. It was so different to when I first busked. In between every single song, I felt like I had to say the money wasn’t for me.”

More information on KT Tunstall’s new album and ecological beliefs can be found at www.kttunstall.com, and to work out your own personal CO2 usage and what you can do to lower it, visit www.globalcool.org.

Bon Jovi Shows True Colors Through Homeless Charities

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:48:00 -0000

Written by Greg Hitchcock

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi has a tender spot for the homeless and recently showed his true colors through working with homeless charities.

In August, Kenneth Cole New York announced that Kenneth Cole and Jon Bon Jovi have partnered to design a limited-edition outerwear collection that will be made available at Kenneth Cole New York retail stores and Saks Fifth Avenue stores this November.

Proceeds of the exclusive offering will benefit HELP USA, a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to empower the homeless and others in need to become and remain self-reliant. Through the development of quality housing with on-site support services, HELP USA provides resources for its residents to become independent and productive.

Jon Bon Jovi recently wore one of the jackets on the red carpet of this year’s Fashion Rocks event on September 7th.

Also in August, Bon Jovi placed four autographed Philadelphia Soul Jerseys on eBay for auction to raise money for Project HOME in Philadelphia. Three of the jerseys contain celebrity signatures from Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Rainn Wilson, Scarlett Johansson, Tommy Lee, and “Extra’s” Mark McGrath – all of which were gathered by the nationally syndicated entertainment newsmagazine show “Extra” throughout several days of superstar interviews.

The organization provides a full range of services for chronically homeless people with mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders, including street outreach, safe havens, permanent supportive housing and a range of services to supplement housing.

Robbie Lines Up Maradona For Soccer Aid Match

Wed, 24 May 2006 22:39:58 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Retired superstar footballer Diego Maradona is set to join Robbie Williams in the Soccer Aid celebrity football match to beneft UNICEF.

Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium will be the venue for the televised match on Saturday 27th May. Confirmed celebrity players include Jude Law, Orlando Bloom, TV chef Gordon Ramsay and Formula One racing driver Michael Schumacher.

Maradona is said to be keen to captain one of the two teams.

Football Match For UNICEF

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 20:20:31 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Robbie Williams is set to lead the British football team in this summer’s charity tournament, Soccer Aid.

Williams has invited Jude Law and Orlando Bloom to join him in training for the match, which is scheduled for next May. His team will be taking on celebrities from around the world at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium to raise money for UNICEF.

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