Look To The Stars News: Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest To Host Ronald McDonald House Event

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities (ARMHC) announces its Hearts and Hands Gala at 7pm on Saturday, October 24, at the World of Coca-Cola.

Atlanta`s own Ryan Seacrest of “American Idol” will serve as host of the sold out black-tie dinner which will feature a special performance by “American Idol” season six finalist Melinda Doolittle and a silent auction. The Coca-Cola Company is the event`s presenting sponsor. The Event Chair is Javier Goizueta, Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company and President of the McDonald`s Division Worldwide. Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company is Honorary Chair.

“The Ronald McDonald House is a cause that is very dear to the hearts of us at The Coca-Cola Company. We are committed to supporting the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities, as we strive to help improve the health and well-being of children and families in need,” says Javier Goizueta.

Proceeds from the Hearts and Hands Gala will support operations of Atlanta`s two Ronald McDonald Houses.

“We are grateful for the generosity and ongoing support of The Coca-Cola Company. And we are thrilled Coca-Cola`s longtime ambassador, Ryan Seacrest, will host the evening. Despite a tough economy, we expect this inaugural event will be successful in raising funds to support families in need at our two local Ronald McDonald Houses. This year marks our 30th anniversary and this new event is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness for Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities and the organization’s important work throughout the area,” says Linda M. Morris, President/CEO of Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Increased demand led to the recent expansion of the local Ronald McDonald House programs. Last year, Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities opened a new state-of-the-art 50-bedroom $15.7 million Ronald McDonald House near Emory University and Children`s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston to meet the growing need. An 11-bedroom Ronald McDonald House on Peachtree Dunwoody Road continues to operate at full capacity to serve families of children receiving medical treatment at Children`s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. Combined, the two local Houses serve more than 2,000 families a year.

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.

David Beckham Joins Shakira At Children's Hospital

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

David Beckham, Shakira, Kellie Pickler and Ryan Seacrest were some of the stars who visited the Children’s Hospital of Orange County for Lollipop Live ’09 on Tuesday.

The celebrities signed autographs, posed for photos and handed out stuffed animals to the patients as part of the fundraiser sponsored by local radio station KIIS FM.

Seacrest broadcast live from CHOC and asked listeners to text in $5 donations in support of Radio Lollipop. Last year, the event raised about $30,000 for the program, which allows patients to go on air and request songs.

To see photos and video of the event, click here.

Stars Gather For Brent Shapiro Foundation Event

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug and Alcohol Awareness will hold a star-studded benefit in Hollywood tomorrow night, September 12.

The private party at an undisclosed residence will be attended by many of the celebrity supporters of the charity, including Larry King, Jessica Alba, Sean Combs, Denzel Washington, Barry Bonds, Rod Stewart, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Lindsay Lohan, Brody Jenner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Karina Smirnoff, Lionel Richie, Sylvester Stallone, Brent Bolthouse, Danny Masterson, Adrian Grenier, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, Bruce and Kris Jenner, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Cheryl Tiegs, Jayde Nicole, Jacquelyn Smith, Nicky Hilton, Carolina Bacardi, Esai Morales, Ashley Hamilton and many others.

Brent Shapiro was the son of Robert Shapiro, who was an attorney on OJ Simpson’s defense team in 1995. Brent – who had battled with addictions most of his life – died in 2005 at the age of 25. It is the vision of the Brent Shapiro Foundation to fight the stigma of addictions through education, and help parents communicate with their children on addiction issues.

To find out more about the organization, visit the official website.

English Stars Invade Hollywood For Britweek

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of British stars – and former British prime minister Tony Blair – invaded Hollywood last week for an event to raise awareness and money for Malaria No More.

Britweek 2009 kicked off on April 21 with a dinner attended by celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Nigel Lythgoe and Ryan Seacrest, who donated $100,000 to the charity.

The brainchild of Nigel Lythgoe, Britweek encompasses a large number of events designed to highlight the rich connections between Britain and Southern California. This year’s events feature LA Galaxy, UB40, Joss Stone, Michael Deeley, Jeff Beck, Tracey Ullman and many others.

To learn more about the events that are taking place, visit the official Britweek website.

Hugh Jackman Splits $100,000 Between Two Charities

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Regina Walton

Hugh Jackman followed through on his April 14th promise to donate $100,000 to charity based on the best 140 character or less message explaining why their chosen charity should get the cash.

Jackman sent out a tweet announcing the recipients, “Thank you for all of your passionate responses. I have chosen charity:water and Operation of Hope. Keep your generous spirit flowing!” He also announced the recipients live on Ryan Seacrest’s morning radio show.

On Seacrest’s show, Jackman said he got so many great tweets about great causes that he was unable to choose just one. The two that recieve the final donation are the two that “really got him.“

Charity:Water is a New York City based non-profit which focuses on bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Charity:Water was founded in 2006 and since then it has helped fund 1,247 projects in 14 countries and has brought 669,045 people clean and safe drinking water. For more information, visit charitywater.org.

Operation of Hope is a non-profit medical foundation started in 1989. Its mission is to donate surgeries to children who have facial deformities. The charity has an all-volunteer medical team. Operation of Hope performs facial surgeries on poor children around the world. All the operations are performed free of charge and all of their surgeons are Board Certified. For more information, visit operationofhope.org.

During the interview Hugh expressed his amazement with the communication potential that Twitter has. “It’s just amazing to me that Twitter has now become a way for people to start talking about things that are really important to them and making a difference.”

We’re glad that Hugh recognized this potential. He not only helped two charities with donations but also helped many good causes spread the word about their efforts.

Listen to the show, courtesy RyanSeacrest.com.

Kutcher Wins Twitter Crown

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Following last week’s Twitter Battle between Ashton Kutcher and CNN, other celebrities have promised donations to Malaria No More via the micro-blogging site.

Within hours of Kutcher becoming the first person to gain 1 million followers on Twitter, CNN matched his donation of 10,000 mosquito nets to the charity. Ryan Seacrest also made pleas to his fellow celebrity Twitter users to make donations – a challenge that was taken up by Oprah Winfrey as she joined the Twitter community with the announcement she would donate money for 20,000 nets.

Kutcher is also using Twitter to raise awareness of World Malaria Day on April 25.

“Let’s rally the troops on World Malaria Day,” he wrote in a series of Tweets earlier this month. “If we all rally we can make malaria a thing 4 history books (so) that we all say, ‘I can’t believe people use to die from that.’ Why focus on malaria? The cure exists. $10 saves a life I know we can do this.”

He also used his official MySpace blog to promote the cause: "On World Malaria Day, we plan to rally the Twitter community to Tweet in support of Malaria prevention and treatment, by asking our followers to go to the Malaria No More Website to learn about how to help end malaria deaths in Africa.

“Supporting World Malaria Day on Twitter is designed to be very simple. Our goal is to secure participation from the Twitter community, to Tweet the following message on Saturday, April 25, 2009: ‘Every 30 seconds a child dies from Malaria. Nets save lives. Support World Malaria Day’.

“By way of background, Malaria No More is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa. Malaria No More uses breakthrough communications, global advocacy and smart investments to advance the goals of providing universal access to malaria interventions by the end of 2010 and ending deaths by 2015. Every 30 seconds – the time it takes to send and receive a Tweet – a child dies from malaria, but a simple mosquito net can save lives.

“Please join us on April 25th in raising awareness of malaria prevention by Tweeting on Twitter in support of World Malaria Day.”

(On a related note, you can follow Look to the Stars on Twitter too!)

Hugh Jackman Tweets Massive Charity Giveaway

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Regina Walton

Hugh Jackman has used Twitter to announce that he will donate $100,000 to the favorite charity of someone who can, in 140 characters or less, make the best case for their favorite cause.

“I will donate 100K to one individual’s favorite non profit organization,” he said in his Tweet. “Of course, you must convince me why by using 140 characters or less.”

He then followed his call for charity related tweets with two more – one to Ryan Seacrest asking if it would be a good idea to announce the winner on Ryan’s show: “Hey Ryan! Should we call the winning charity on your morning show on Friday, 24th?”

And, the second to encourage someone to show passion in their tweet for charity, “The more passion shown for your charity the better! Get the support of your friends and teach them the importance of giving.”

As of early Wednesday morning, Jackman had around 35,000 followers on the Twitter network. So get tweeting now!

Project Angel Food Hosts Celebrity Shopping Spree

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

With the Holidays around the corner, Project Angel Food kicked off their annual DIVINE DESIGN on Thursday December 4th, celebrating style and philanthropy with a big dose of holiday shopping.

David Arquette, Eric McCormack, and Elton John’s partner David Furnish were some of the stars who helped out during the weeklong event, in which top designers sold fashion, furniture, beauty and gift items, with proceeds going to provide meals for victims of HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. For every $5 spent at Divine Design, Project Angel Food can cook and deliver a meal to someone facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other debilitating illnesses.

Divine Design kicked off in the heart of Beverly Hills with a special gala evening held at the Beverly Hilton, featuring a runway show presented by Divine Designer honoree, Tadashi Shoji, and an awards presentation. Honors were also given to Man of Style, David Furnish and Woman of Style, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Over 500 celebrities, designers and supporters of Project Angel Food attended the opening night which also included a live fantasy auction and an exclusive night of VIP shopping. Following the awards ceremony, the gala attendees returned to shopping in the marketplace at 9900 Wilshire Boulevard (formerly Robinson’s May building and generously donated by Candy & Candy), where cash registers rang in the holiday shopping season all in the name of love. The Divine Design marketplace opened to the public on Friday December 5th at 11am.

Opening night attendees enjoyed NUVO Cosmopolitans and listened to jazz and blues by KJAZZ.This year’s gala night also featured one-of-a- kind Live Auction items to bid on including a unique BARBIE Holiday Tree donated by Mattel and created by the lead designer for Barbie; a New York Fashion Week package which includes first class airfare for two on American Airlines, front row tickets to the Tadashi Shoji Show at New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park and a dress made especially for you by Tadashi Shoji himself; sponsor a day of meals for Project Angel Food clients. These fantastic auction items and others were auctioned off by the vivacious auctioneer, Ed Beardsley of Bonhams & Butterfields and the beautiful actress and Project Angel Food supporter, Lisa Rinna.

One of the companies that donated items to the event was luxury bag designers Trina, who provided over $20,000 worth of products to the event. For anyone who wasn’t able to make it to the shopping event last week, Trina are currently auctioning off some celebrity-sign bags online, with all proceeds to go to Project Angel Food.

Visit eBay to bid on bags autographed by John Mayer, Adam Sandler, Ryan Seacrest, Neil Patrick Harris, and the casts of Ugly Betty and Lost.

Divine Design was born 16 years ago in response to the devastation the design community was experiencing from HIV/AIDS. Since its inception Divine Design has raised more than $13 million to help fund Project Angel Food’s meal-delivery program throughout Los Angeles County. Founded in 1989, Project Angel Food provides life-sustaining meals and nutritional counseling each day to more than 1,400 men, women and children disabled by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Thanks to a devoted core of 1,500 volunteers, meals are cooked and delivered daily to people’s homes throughout Los Angeles County.

(Photos copyright Alex J. Berliner)

Exclusive Interview: Jeff Probst Talks To Look To The Stars

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The Survivor: Gabon finale which will air December 14 marks an important milestone for ‘Survivor’ host Jeff Probst and his charity, the Serpentine Project. After the finale, there will be a special charity auction of Survivor memorabilia from this season, with 100% of proceeds going to the Serpentine Project.

In addition to Survivor memorabilia, items up for bids will include: Tickets to American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Deal or No Deal, the WWE, Project Runway, and the season finale of Survivor 18 in New York. Additionally, fans can bid on a once-in-a-lifetime-experience of visiting ‘Survivor’ on location and hang with Probst himself! The auction starts immediately following the reunion show.

In September 2008, Jeff Probst made history when he became the first Emmy receipient for ‘Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competion Program’. The ‘Survivor’ host was kind enough to speak to Look to the Stars about his charitbale efforts on behalf of his ‘Serpentine Project’, foster children, inspiration, his dream of world peace, and his latest reality show, ‘Live Like You’re Dying’.

What was the inspiration was behind the Serpentine Project and what attracted you to helping foster children transition out of the system?

A former girlfriend of mine was adopted but her first few years as a young girl were spent in foster care. I started learning about the foster care system through her stories. The more I learned the more I became interested in wanting to make a difference. As I researched the statistics of children who come up in the foster care world, I began to understand the backpack of advantage that I was provided simply because I grew up in a stable and consistent home environment. All the things you take for granted that your parents and your friends are there to provide. It was quite sobering to imagine being an 18 year-old kid who had grown up with no support, aging out of foster care and into the world completely on their own.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

My childhood dreams ran the gamut from baseball player to rock star. It wasn’t until I was in my first year of college that I really started to find my passion for telling stories.

Tell us about the online auction, how did this come about?

Every season we auction off various items from the show and donate the proceeds to a charity. This year Mark Burnett and CBS were nice enough to make my charity the beneficiary. It’s a really wonderful opportunity for us and we are trying to make the most of it. I called Ryan Seacrest, Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel, and asked them all to donate tickets to their shows and everybody said yes! So the auction is loaded with great items, including a set visit to the next season of Survivor. Two people will get to fly to location and hang out.

Currently, you have a reality show in development called ‘Live Like You’re Dying’? Can you tell us a little bit more about it, and the inspiration behind it?

The idea behind this show is to inspire people to realize that life is meant to be lived now, not tomorrow. Too many of us postpone our real living until “we retire” or “the kids are grown.” I think most of us tend to fall into the trap of believing that there will always be another tomorrow. The truth is there won’t always be another tomorrow. Lives are stopped short every day. We are going to take someone who has a terminal illness and take them on their last adventure as their reunite with old friends, heal old wounds, maybe fulfill a once-in-a-lifetime dream they’ve always wanted to do and finally, share with us how they wished they would have been living now that they know they are dying. If we do it right it should inspire you to get up off the couch and say, ’what am I waiting on?!"

As host of Survivor what’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about human behavior, and how has it personally helped you?

On Survivor, the lesson I learn again and again is that we all tend to justify our ethics to fit the situation at hand. Survivor gives you an excuse to lie, “it’s the game that made me do it” but I have seen that Survivor is no different than normal life. We do what we want to do and then we justify it. It has helped me to see this in myself and I work hard every day to be “in charge” of my decisions and own them, not pawn them off on circumstance.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?

There are so many aspects of my career that are rewarding. From a strictly professional point of view, I’m very proud of the storytelling on Survivor. For 17 seasons we have kept up a standard that has never dipped. We continue to find ways to reinvent the show without deviating from the original premise. That gets tougher to do with each passing season. I’m also so grateful that I am able to parlay a bit of my recognition toward The Serpentine Project. It’s not lost on me that if not for Survivor, it would be much more difficult to raise awareness and money to help the youth in our program. I’m not above trading on the Survivor name if it is a means to an end and will help our youth achieve their dreams.

Do you feel celebrities have a responsibility to use their status in efforts to give back to the community?

I really don’t think you can assign any kind of responsibility to someone merely because they’re famous. People do what they want. If you have a voice and you are inclined to use it for good, you will. If, at the end of the day you’re more concerned with getting free clothes then you’ll probably have a full closet. I would want to be involved with The Serpentine Project whether I was on television or not. Being recognized merely helps the cause.

In terms of charitable giving and awareness, do you think we are reaching the younger generation?

I believe we have to teach each other to take care of each other. If you see someone in need, it should be a natural instinct to share with them what you can afford to live without. It’s a cliché, but this starts with the parents of the world.

Aside from family, who’s been a personal inspiration?

So many people have inspired me in my life, but there is one young woman whose approach to life has impacted me more than anyone else. Ali Mills was an eleven year-old cancer Survivor when we met doing some work for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. We became fast friends and although her cancer returned and Ali passed away at 13, I learned more from her about living than any other person in my life. It was as if she had been given a gift to see ahead and she was trying to share with me what was worth worrying about and what wasn’t. She wrote me a poem that I keep on the mantle of my house and refer to often.

Favorite ‘Survivor’ location?

Palau, Micronesia. The most beautiful water ever.

What trait do you admire most in others?

The trait I most admire in others is the courage to be faithful to yourself regardless of the impact it has on others.

What makes you happy?

Nothing makes me happier than love.

What is your most treasured possession?

My most treasured possession at this point in my life are the memories of the amazing life I have had so far.

Finally, if Santa Claus were real, what would be your ultimate Christmas wish?

Peace. I would give up everything I have or will ever have if we could just find a way to live and let live.

Look to the Stars and Delinda Lombardo would like to thank Jeff Probst for taking the time to speak with us and most importantly, for making this world just ‘that’ much better.

Alicia Keys Celebrity Charity Auction To Support Keep A Child Alive

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:25:00 -0000

Alicia Keys and many of her celebrity friends are coming together for a star-studded celebrity charity auction benefitting Keep A Child Alive.

The list of celebrity ambassadors for Keep a Child Alive is as extensive as it is impressive and they are urging others to support the fight against AIDS in Africa. Join Alicia and celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Bill Cosby, Britney Spears, Russell Crowe, Rachael Ray, Kirsten Dunst, Magic Johnson, Forest Whitaker, Jenny McCarthy, Josh Brolin, Denzel Washington, the NY Giants and many more as they come together to raise support and money for an inspiring cause.

The celebrity-inspired auction features numerous items that have been generously donated by some of Hollywood’s most talented and brightest stars with big hearts. Bidders have a chance to win hot items such as VIP tickets to the Black Ball hosted by Alicia Keys and Iman.

This auction package ends Monday, November 10th, so make sure to get your high bid in early. Other auction packages include autographed American Gangster posters and scripts from Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, signed High School Musical poster from Vanessa Hudgens, 2 signed DVD’s of the Nanny Diaries from Scarlett Johansson, a signed Alex Rodriguez jersey, spending a day with Bonnie and Thor, the reigning King and Queen of Tweens, signed Brooks & Dunn jean jacket and photograph, a signed “How I Met Your Mother” script from Britney Spears, and many more items from celebrities such as Marlon Wayans, Mariska Hargitay, Rick Fox, Tyler Perry, Channing Tatum, the Cheetah Girls, Ryan Seacrest, Dwayne Wade, Julian McMahon and others! This group of auction packages and many others end on November 15th.

This auction is crucial for saving the lives of millions of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. AIDS is a growing epidemic in Africa and has left nearly 13 million children orphans, young mothers without children, and husband’s without wives. The proceeds from this auction will help provide communities with life-saving medication, support, and orphan care to keep children and families alive. Keep a Child Alive is a global initiative to help those who cannot help themselves; bidders are urged to take a stand against this fatal disease and help make a difference.

For more information and to view all the lots, visit www.auctionwire.com/keepachildalive.

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.

Eva Longoria To Join Stars At Cancer Gala

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Padres Contra el Cancer – a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for Latino children with cancer and their families – will celebrate its Eighth Annual Fund-Raising Gala, EL SUENO DE ESPERANZA, on Tuesday, October 7.

Chaired by Eva Longoria, the event has a theme of “An Evening for Celebration and Hope” and will pay tribute to the organization’s extraordinary children and families.

Joining Longoria for the evening will be Padres Ambassadors Yancey Arias, Adrian Bellani, Angelica Castro, Matt Cedeno, Beto Cuevas, Cristian de la Fuente, plus guests such as Jessica Alba, Billy Bush, Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Marcia Cross, Oscar De La Hoya, Jamie Foxx, Terrence Howard, Felicity Huffman, Mario Lopez, Constance Marie, Carlos Mencia, Brittany Murphy, Ana Ortiz, Tony Parker, Ken Paves, Paulina Rubio, Roselyn Sanchez, Ryan Seacrest, Jessica Simpson, and many others.

Tickets to the event – which will take place at Hollywood and Highland’s Grand Ballroom in the Kodak Theatre – cost $1,000 and can be purchased here.

Jeans Engineered For Celebs On Auction

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Anybody walking through Times Square may be surprised to find hundreds of jeans and shirts hanging like laundry from clotheslines above the streets. Don’t be too concerned… it’s all part of the Pair in the Square Celebrity Jeans Auction.

Alison Sweeney, host of The Biggest Loser and cast member of Days of Our Lives, kicked off the auction yesterday by auctioning off Ryan Seacrest’s jeans to benefit the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation. The remaining celebrity jeans from Miley Cyrus, Nick Lachey, Ashlee Simpson, Lauren Conrad, Rachael Ray, Minnie Driver, Debra Messing, Brittany Snow, Terrence Howard, Forest Whitaker, Neil Patrick Harris, and many more are available at www.clothesoffourback.org. A sweepstakes will also be held at www.washingmyjeans.com to win the new GE Profile Frontload Washer and Dryer as part of the auction.

Proceeds from the auction, which runs until September 8, will go to America’s Second Harvest, The Art of Elysium, Hope North, and H.E.L.P. Malawi.

Other stars offering to split their jeans with you include Alan Alda, Maria Menounos, Nancy O’Dell, Chris Rose, John Salley, Toni Collette, Jeff Probst, Kristian Alfonso, Shaun Robinson, John Krasinski, John McCrea, Melissa Joan Hart, Angie Harmon, Jillian Michaels, Christian Slater, Zachary Levi, Tony Shalhoub, Dule Hill, Greg Grunberg, and Coolio.

Reality Cares Helps Dogs in Danger

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:34:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

On Saturday, June 14, reality TV stars and their furry friends will attend the ‘Reality Cares Dogs Next Door’ event benefiting www.DogsInDanger.com, being held at a private estate in Los Angeles and to be hosted by ‘Dogs in Danger’ spokesperson Shana Wall of ‘The Amazing Race.’

“Every four seconds a dog is needlessly euthanized in our country alone, simply due to lack of space in our shelters,” stated Shana Wall. " When I learned about the mission of Dogs In Danger, I jumped at the opportunity to be their national spokesperson. My hope is that our fundraiser brings awareness to this issue so that we can continue to save these dogs from their otherwise tragic fates."

Actor Jai Rodriguez, star of Animal Planet’s “Groomer Has It,” will emcee a Doggy Fashion Show starring some of the dogs that were saved from euthanasia by Dogs In Danger.

“Reality Cares is proud to be supporting Shana Wall in her efforts to raise money and awareness for Dogs in Danger,” states Todd Michael Krim, founder of Reality Cares. “Dogs in Danger is a very worthy organization and one we couldn’t be happier to align with.”

Current confirmed celebrities to attend are: Ryan Seacrest, Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin, lleana Douglas, Kelly Rutherford, Linda Blair, Maria Menounos, Ellen K, James Madio, Ariel Winters, Brittney Gastineau, Karina Smirnoff,Rebecca Cardon, Tian Kitchen, Mike O’Hearn, and Lisa Foxx.

‘The Dogs Next Door’ is a family-friendly event and a limited number of tickets have been made available for the public. Activities include a fortune-teller and cocktails for the adults, as well as an open invitation to swim in the private estate’s pool or mineral bath while rocking out to music by DJ Dimitri Hamlin. Activities for kids include an arcade game room, bowling alley, pool table and more.

So, mark your calendars for Saturday, June 14th! Come out and have some fun from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm all in the name of charity.

Malaria No More Fights A Forgotten Killer

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:55:26 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

When people think of health and welfare in Africa, they think of AIDS, famine, poverty, and hundreds of other killers that bring death and hardship to the continent. But they hardly ever think of malaria. “It’s not a problem anymore,” they say. “We’ve been treating it for over 100 years…”

And yet it is still a problem – a HUGE problem.

The disease, which is spread by mosquitoes, causes a drawn-out and painful death. It destroys red blood cells and clogs the tiny capillaries that carry blood to the brain and other organs – a horrible way to die in anyone’s books. And it is killing as you read this – an African child dies of the disease every 30 seconds. That’s 3,000 children a day… over 1 million a year. In addition to the devastating human toll, the African economy loses over $12 billion in productivity due to the disease annually.

Malaria No More is an organization with one simple mission: to stop all malaria deaths. Established in 2006 at the first-ever White House Summit on Malaria, the organization uses contributions from the public to fund the provision of bed nets, sprays, anti-malaria drugs, education, and also the development of a vaccine to achieve its aim. Founded by a group of organizations such as the American Red Cross, UNICEF, United Way, Millennium Promise, the Global Fund, the United Nations Foundation, and the Global Business Coalition, Malaria No More also supports the President’s Malaria Initiative, a $1.2 billion, 5 year campaign launched by President Bush in 2005 to cut malaria deaths in Africa by 50%.

Malaria No More recently benefited from Idol Gives Back, the special American Idol show that raised money for a variety of organizations both in America and overseas. It is still too early to know exactly how much Malaria No More will get of the $60 million raised by this year’s show, but the music extravaganza donated $9 million to the organization in 2007, and another $8 million to other malaria-related causes. Idol host Ryan Seacrest and Idol judge Simon Cowell, along with Idol performers, have visited Africa and seen the devastation of the disease, and last month 2007 Idol winner Jordin Sparks joined President Bush in Ghana to highlight malaria control efforts.

“I was shocked to learn of the devastation caused by malaria,” said Sparks. “It’s incredible what a difference a simple mosquito net can make in the life of a child.”

The organization, whose spokespeople include David Beckham and Ashley Judd, has also launched an exciting way for schools to join in the fight against malaria and empower students to be active in raising money and saving lives. Stayin’ Alive was created by a group of high school students in Florida, and encourages schools and students to hold fundraising dances. By dedicating a dance, or series of dances, to Malaria No More – and committing to a $1,000 donation from the proceeds – schools everywhere can play a significant role in eradicating malaria.

Malaria No More aims to partner with 10,000 Stayin’ Alive dances throughout America over the next three years. This will provide over $10 million in funds – enough to pay for $1 million bed nets to protect at least 2 million children.

To learn more about the initiative, visit the Stayin’ Alive website.

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.

DeGeneres Returns to Idol Gives Back

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:11:19 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Ellen DeGeneres will once again be joining Ryan Seacrest to host the second edition of the wildly successful Idol Gives Back.

Also joining this year’s previously announced celebrity attendees such as Brad Pitt and Bono will be Maroon 5, Heart, Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men and the Clark Brothers.

The hit fundraising show raised $76 million last year, benefitting charities such as UNICEF, Malaria No More and Second Harvest.

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