Look To The Stars News: Ted Turner

Star-Studded Event Honors CNN Everyday Heroes

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

This year’s CNN Heroes event featured a host of famous presenters including Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson, Greg Kinnear, George Lopez and Julia Louis Dreyfus.

Presented by Anderson Cooper, the third annual event honored the top 10 CNN Everyday Heroes of 2009, and was taped in front of an audience of 2,500 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Performances by Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood and R&B singer Maxwell enhanced the evening, which took place on November 21 and will be broadcast on CNN on November 26.

The winners of the awards were selected by a panel that included Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, Malaak Compton-Rock, Kirk Cameron, Masi Oka, Shakira, Ted Turner and Colin Powell.

The honorees – as listed by CNN – were:

Brad Blauser is providing hope and mobility to disabled children and their families in Iraq. Since 2005, his Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids program has distributed nearly 650 free pediatric wheelchairs to children in need.  
Roy Foster started Stand Down House to help veterans struggling with addiction and homelessness in Florida. Since 2000, his program has provided life-changing services to nearly 900 veterans. 
Doc Hendley is providing clean water to communities worldwide. Through creative fundraising, his nonprofit Wine to Water has brought sustainable water systems to 25,000 people in five countries. 
Breast cancer survivor Andrea Ivory is bringing early detection to the doorsteps of uninsured women. With mobile mammography vans, her group has provided more than 500 free screenings in Miami, Florida. 
Zimbabwe native Betty Makoni founded the Girl Child Network to provide a haven for young victims of sexual abuse. The organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls since 2001.  
 School bus driver Jorge Munoz is helping hungry New Yorkers make it through tough times. Since 2004, he has handed out more than 70,000 meals from his mobile soup kitchen in Queens — for free.  
Efren Peñaflorida gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. His Dynamic Teen Company’s 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums. 
 Budi Soehardi founded a children’s home in one of the poorest areas of Indonesia. Today, Roslin Orphanage in West Timor provides food, shelter and education to more than 45 children.  
 Derrick Tabb started The Roots of Music to give young people an alternative to New Orleans’ streets. His music education program provides free tutoring, instruments and music instruction to more than 100 students. 
Jordan Thomas, 20, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, lost both of his legs in a boating accident in 2005. Since then, his Jordan Thomas Foundation has raised more than $400,000 to provide prosthetics for children in need.

Each of the top 10 Heroes receives $25,000, with the top Hero – Efren Peñaflorida – winning $100,000.

“With the recognition they receive on our stage,” said Anderson Cooper, “they’ll be able to help thousands and thousands of people. Through their efforts, lives will be changed and lives will be saved.”

To find out more about the winners, visit the CNN Heroes website.

Toni Braxton To Be Honored By Charity

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation is to hold its annual Breakthrough Spirit Awards on October 20.

Following the success of last year’s event, the organization will once again host the event at New York’s Plaza Hotel.

The event will honor Grammy Award-winning singer Toni Braxton, actor, writer and commentator Charles Grodin, and media entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner, each of whom has dedicated their time, energy and resources to philanthropic endeavors on behalf of children in need. The evening will feature a special performance by Toni Braxton and a live auction led by Jamie Niven, Vice Chairman, Sotheby’s.

“Our research and clinical staff are the best in the world, and we are on the cutting edge of developing cures and the best treatments for children suffering from a range of cancers and blood diseases,” said Foundation chairperson Les Lieberman. “The money we have raised has gone to building a new state-of-the art laboratory, funding new fellowship positions for young scientists and doctors, and has helped develop new treatments for these serious diseases. These funds also ensure that no child or family is left behind regardless of ability to pay, and that is very important to all of us at CCBF.”

Proceeds from this benefit will ensure that the CCBF continues its exceptional mission to provide the very best up-to-date treatments for young people, as well as engage in breakthrough research that will hopefully lead to improved care and cures.

Email info@childrenscbf.org for more information about this event.

Usher Supports Nothing But Nets

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

R&B artist Usher is the latest celebrity to lend his support for the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign.

“I am proud to be a part of an exciting partnership with the United Nations Foundation and its Nothing But Nets campaign,” he said, urging underprivileged youths to become more pro-active in global issues. “This initiative sends an important message: youth, regardless of their backgrounds, can make a difference in this world by taking action through service to save lives. Anyone can make a difference. All it takes is $10 to send a net and save a life.”

Chaired by Ted Turner, the Nothing But Nets campaign aims to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Last week, in anticipation of World Malaria Day on April 25, Turner challenged more people to join the campaign.

Ted Turner Responds To Ashton Kutcher For World Malaria Day

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Following Ashton Kutcher’s Twitter Battle with CNN last week that resulted in Kutcher donating 10,000 mosquito nets to charity, Ted Turner – chairman of the United Nations Foundation – has challenged him yet again.

“Congratulations Kutcher, your Twitter followers really came through for you,” said Turner in his video message. “But World Malaria Day is only the beginning. We need to send more nets and save more lives. And you don’t have to be [”Bill Gates":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/21-bill-gates] or Oprah Winfrey to make a difference – you just need $10. If 10,000 more people joined the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, I’ll have you and Demi over for lunch at Ted’s Montana Grill in Atlanta. Hope you like Bison Burgers…"

Nothing But Nets is a grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. While the UN Foundation has been working with the UN to fight malaria for years, it was a column that Rick Reilly wrote about malaria in Sports Illustrated, challenging each of his readers to donate at least $10 for the purchase of an anti-malaria bed nets — and the incredible response from thousands of Americans across the country — that led to the creation of the Nothing But Nets campaign.

World Malaria Day is on Saturday, April 25. Ted Turner’s video message can be viewed here.

Ashton Kutcher Challenges CNN For Malaria Nets

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Earlier this month, Ashton Kutcher used Twitter to encourage his fans to support World Malaria Day on April 25. Now he has challenged CNN to a popularity race to get 1 million followers on the micro-blogging site. And he’ll make a charity donation if he wins.

“I found it astonishing that one person can actually have as big of a voice online as what an entire media company can on Twitter,” Kutcher says in a video. “So I just thought that was just kind of an amazing comment on the state of our media, and I said that, if I beat CNN to 1 million viewers, then I would ding-dong ditch [”Ted Turner":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1300-ted-turner] — because I don’t think it’s gonna happen."

If Kutcher wins the challenge, he has agreed to donate 10,000 mosquito nets to Malaria No More, a charity he encourages his fans to support.

“Malaria No More is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa,” he said. “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.”

As of Wednesday, Kutcher had 896,947 followers, putting him in third place behind Britney Spears and CNN. No Twitter user has attracted 1 million followers before.

Annual Charity Gathering Attracts Rich And Famous

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

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The ‘Fortune Forum Summit’ is an annual charity gathering that brings together heavy hitters from the world of the rich and famous. And earlier this month, the gathering attracted the likes of billionaire philanthropist Ted Turner, singer Joss Stone, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, actress Milla Jovovich, easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, former Rolling Stones member Bill Wyman and Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens.

Held at the Dorchester hotel in Mayfair, London, the event was a virtual who’s who of giving, and was basically a ‘philanthropy party.’ According to the invitation, it was billed as a “a deep humanitarian experience.”

Ted Turner spoke about his $1B donation to United Nations causes.

“I’ve given a billion and a half away,” Turner told the Guardian before taking to the stage. How did it feel? “I enjoyed it. Better than just sitting on it.”

Also mingling in the crowd was Saudi Prince al-Walid Bin Saud al-Saud, whose fortune is estimated at about $17B; Vincent Tchenguiz, an Iranian property tycoon worth an estimated £200m; and Daily Express Publisher Richard Desmond, who’s net worth hovers around £1.9bn.

The super rich weren’t there to compare each other’s wealth, but to raise money and help launch a campaign to persuade the Treasury to provide a 50% tax break for donations to the UN millennium development goals.

“Tonight is about galvanizing awareness for the tax scheme and convening some of the most powerful philanthropists, billionaires, celebrity activists and major NGOs,” said Renu Mehta, the events organizer.

Turner apparently stole the show, advising the millionaires and billionaires to “give while you still have something to give.”

Bid On Signed Books, Photos And Even C3P0 To Support Children With AIDS

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celeb2nds.com – a website that specializes in celebrity charity auctions – is currently holding an amazing sale of celebrity-signed items for the Children with AIDS (CWAC) charity.

There is a huge amount of books going under the hammer at the site, including titles signed by Ted Turner, Richard Branson, Michael Parkinson, Geri Halliwell, Piers Morgan, Terry Pratchett, Chris Tarrant, Jeffrey Archer, Maeve Binchy, Bernard Cornwall, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Paul Auster and many others.

For autograph hunters who are looking for signed photos, there is a massive selection including pictures signed by Terry Wogan, Moby, Davina McCall, Lorraine Kelly, Tess Daly, David Gower, Rio Ferdinand, Boris Johnson and a particularly revealing signed shot of Danielle Lloyd.

And for Star Wars fans, the auction also gives you the opportunity to pick up a C3PO toy signed by Anthony Daniels, who played the droid in all six films.

Also up for offer – and reported by Look To The Stars last month – is a rare copy of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows signed by JK Rowling.

The items were collected by Richard Barker, who was inspired by the stories of young people that had been infected and affected by HIV, and was nominated as Britain’s Most Inspiring Fundraiser in 2008. Barker created The Make A Child Smile Appeal and has raised over ten thousand pounds for CWAC. As a Non-Executive Director of Celeb2nds he’s able to raise money for lots of worthy causes.

Children with AIDS Charity (CWAC) was set up in 1992 to help the youngest of those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS maintain a good quality of life. It is a national UK charity with the aim of working towards a future without poverty or prejudice for these children and their families. Patrons include George Michael, Diana Rigg, and Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon.

Celeb2nds.com was set up in 2006 by Steve Howell to specifically raise much needed funds for charities using authentic celebrity memorabilia.

“Celeb2nds.com is an exciting new concept that allows users to get their hands on money can’t buy items from their celebrity idols, whilst raising money for some very worthy charities,” he said.

To view the items on auction, visit Celeb2nds.com by clicking here.

Oceana Awards To Honor Clinton And Sting

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bill Clinton, Sting, and Trudie Styler will be honored at the annual Oceana Partners Awards this weekend.

Chaired by Sam Waterston and Ted Danson and hosted by Pierce Brosnan, Ron Howard, and Robert Redford, the event honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions through their personal commitment to the cause of protecting and conserving the environment. Past honorees include Ted Turner, Don Henley, James Cameron, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and Christopher Reeve. Past hosts have included Salma Hayek, Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ron Meyer and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Bill Clinton has been selected as this year’s recipient because his Clinton Climate Initiative – launched in 2006 – works with over 40 of the world’s largest cities to reduce greenhouse emissions. Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, were chosen due to their efforts to raise more than $25 million dollars through 15 benefit concerts for The Rainforest Foundation, which has now expanded to a network of interconnected organizations working in 23 countries around the globe.

The event will take place at the Pacific Palisades home of Jena and Michael King on Saturday, October 18, and will begin with a VIP reception at 5:30PM, followed by a cocktail party at 6:00PM and the awards presentation at 7:00PM.

Ticket information can be found at the Oceana Partners Awards website.

Captain Planet Fights For The Environment

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:52:43 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Captain Planet is back! And thanks to Ted Turner, the super hero who has battled eco-villains such as the radioactive Duke Nukem and toxic waste polluter Sly Sludge is once again fighting for the very Earth that we inhabit.

The cartoon hero made an appearance at a special auction held last week to celebrate Earth Day that featured guitars signed by Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan, trips to Costa Rica and Turner’s Vermejo Park ranch, as well as a dinner with Turner himself. The auction was hosted by Chevy Chase, who set up the Centre For Environmental Education with his wife 18 years ago to strive for environmental understanding.

Proceeds from the auction went to the Captain Planet Foundation, an organization established by Turner in 1991 and inspired by his successful, educational, and entertaining cartoon series. The Foundation provides a unique opportunity for schools and organizations around the world to present their environmental projects to the Captain himself to receive the seed money to grow their ideas into community service learning projects.

Look To The Stars News: Ted Turner

Star-Studded Event Honors CNN Everyday Heroes

Related past articles

Toni Braxton To Be Honored By Charity

Related past articles

Usher Supports Nothing But Nets

Related past articles

Ted Turner Responds To Ashton Kutcher For World Malaria Day

Related past articles

Ashton Kutcher Challenges CNN For Malaria Nets

Related past articles

Annual Charity Gathering Attracts Rich And Famous

Related past articles

Bid On Signed Books, Photos And Even C3P0 To Support Children With AIDS

Related past articles

Oceana Awards To Honor Clinton And Sting

Related past articles

Captain Planet Fights For The Environment

Related past articles