Look To The Stars News: Randy Travis

Jewel And Friends Donate Song Lyrics To Charity Auction

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Singer/songwriter Jewel has joined with a huge group of other musicians in donating handwritten lyrics to a new charity auction.

The 34-year-old has donated signed lyrics to some of her most well known songs – including Foolish Games, You Were Meant For Me, Hands, and Who Will Save Your Soul – to raise money for Project Clean Water, a charity she established in 1998 to improve the quality of life for millions of people by helping to provide clean water on a global scale.

The singer has been joined by some of her celebrity friends for the auction, with handwritten lyrics also being donated by the Pussycat Dolls, Trace Adkins, Katy Perry, Garth Brooks, Josh Groban, REO Speedwagon, David Foster, John Rich, Five For Fighting’s John Ondrasik, Carrie Underwood, Randy Travis, John Mellencamp, Jason Mraz, Gretchen Wilson and many more.

Project Clean Water is part of Jewel’s Higher Ground for Humanity organization, and has been involved in building wells and filtration systems in South America, Central America, India, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.

The auction – which ends on December 18 – can be accessed through www.jeweljkauction.com.

Jonas Brothers To Launch the 2008 Red Kettle Campaign

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

On November 27th, the Jonas Brothers will become the latest in the long line of artists to kick off The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Christmas Campaign.

The band is excited to perform at halftime during the Dallas Cowboys’ nationally televised Thanksgiving Day game against the Seattle Seahawks, with Nick Jonas saying, “I was born in Dallas, which makes performing with my brothers at the Cowboys’ halftime on Thanksgiving an incredible honor.”

“This year, more than ever, the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign will make a huge impact for families at Christmas and throughout the year. It’s very important for us to give back,” Joe Jonas added.

The campaign has raised more than $1 billion since its partnership with the football team began back in 1997. Funds raised help the Salvation Army serve 30 million people each year nationwide, with last year’s campaign raising a record $118 million.

Previous artists to perform include Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny’s Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Jessica Simpson, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.

Country Stars Unite For New Charity Album

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A group of country music’s biggest names feature on a new album to raise funds for a farm that hosts children affected by cancer.

Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam, Big & Rich, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis, Levon Helm, John Hiatt, and Lucinda Williams are just some of the stars who have donated songs to the Imus Ranch Record, which will be released on September 16.

Imus Ranch is a working cattle ranch in New Mexico, founded in 1999 by long-time radio personality Don Imus as a charitable organization that seeks to ensure the continuity of the lives of children who are afflicted with cancer. The charity’s goal is to provide children with an experience of living life on a functioning cattle ranch and build up their self-confidence and sense of accomplishment, in the company of similar children facing serious illness. It has also recently opened its doors to siblings of SIDS victims.

The 13 tracks on the album boast no less than 8 Grammy winning artists, each singing a cover of a song that means something special to them. One of the most beautiful songs is Patty Loveless’ version of Stevie Nicks’ Silver Springs, and Lucinda Williams’ cover of Mama Don’t Let Your Babies grow Up To Be Cowboys is also an instant classic. However, it is Big & Rich’s rollicking version of the Beastie Boys’ You’ve Got to Fight For Your Right to Party that makes the album a collector’s piece.

The album will be available on iTunes and wherever good music is sold.

Look To The Stars Asks "The Real World's" Greg Halstead

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:40:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

We recently caught up with Greg Halstead, from the current season of the hit MTV show The Real World Hollywood to talk about charity work, the environment, and more.

Greg will be at the Knoxville Center (formerly East Town Mall) on Saturday, May 31, from 1pm – 3pm signing autographs and taking pictures with fans for a charity fundraiser benefiting the Damon and Stella Foundation. For a $10 donation, you will receive a personalized autographed picture of Greg, signed in person, and for a $15 donation you will receive a personalized autographed picture of Greg and get your photo taken with him with your camera.

Suicide survivors Damon Ivey and Stella Barrett founded the DAS Foundation in 2006. It is an alliance of artists and health care professionals dedicated to expanding cultural awareness of mental disease and led by celebrity spokesperson Randy Travis.

Greg is the first Real World cast member to be selected by a viewer poll, and cast members have criticized him for his apparent ‘standoffish’ behavior. But Look to the Stars spoke to Greg and learned that there is much more to him than meets the eye. He is educated, articulate, confident, and sincere in his efforts to raise awareness about mental health.

Anthony Embry of A.E. Entertainment Public Relations, a DAS Board Member, confirmed Greg’s sincerity. During the filming of the Real World Hollywood, one of the cast members, Joey, was drinking in excess and exhibiting troubling behavior. “I remember watching the show and [Joey] said things like ‘I dont wanna live anymore’, and ‘you’re going to wake up one day and I wont be here’”, said Embry. “So I called Greg and spoke to him about it. He said he was upset but more concerned about other people ‘who don’t have a producer or someone looking out for them.’ When I spoke with him later, he told me that he wanted to use his time on the Real World with some kind of purpose, he wanted to do something bigger and this was when I brought him onto the Foundation. He was personaly touched and offered to lend his time to help others.”

I spoke to Greg recently about charity and making the world a better place.

Hi Greg. On your blog, you described yourself as “having the distinct ability to brighten the moods of those around you.” It seems fitting that you would endorse a foundation dedicated to expanding awareness of mental disease. Is that part of the reason you were attracted to the DAS Foundation?

I was attracted to it for several reasons. On the show, I was around a cast member who basically said that we would wake up one day and he wouldn’t be there. He mentioned stuff like suicide, and it was a very, very trying thing to experience. It was the first time I experienced something like that… when Anthony (Embry) called, he said he was watching the episode where the housemates were expressing their views on his behavior, and he called me and asked how I felt about that. I said it was weird, I never experienced anything like that aside from seeing it on TV. When he mentioned the DAS Foundation, I felt it was important to educate people and erase the stigma associated with mental illness because I had been experiencing it in the house and was having difficulty knowing how to deal with it, so I asked if I could help.

When you lost your father in 2006 to cancer, you used the word “dumbfounded” to describe your state of mind. Do you feel that you can draw from this personal experience to help others cope with the guilt or loss of a loved one?

In my father’s situation, I almost felt like – in a way it was almost something I had no control over. He had cancer, and I felt he had the control. We all expressed that we wanted him to stop smoking, but he just couldn’t muster the fortitude to quit, so it really wasn’t in my power to help him.

On your blog, you also mentioned that you took part in, and won, a global gala show that pit contestants in a competition to see who can provide the most awareness about a culture in a creative way. If you were to take part in a similar competition, how would you provide the “most awareness” about or inspire others to support the Damon and Stella Foundation?

I’d probably make a presentation – let’s say you have a person with a mental health issue… I would try to dispel that sitgma associated with it. I’d have a skit that shows how someone is trying to deal with their problems, and how people just, you know, push it aside like ‘oh, they’re just having a bad day’ or ‘it’s not that serious, they’ll wake up tomorrow and be fine’ – we can’t just sweep it under the rug. I’d try to give people help in spotting the behavior and not assuming its just gonna pass, just get the word out.

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

Yes, I do honestly. It’s the community who makes you what you are – you wouldn’t be a movie star if no one watched your movies, you wouldn’t be making CDs if people weren’t buying them – the people make you who you are. They are the ones that go to your movies, they are the ones who buy your CDs, so it’s important to give back through donations or time.

When you were a child, is there anyone in particular, aside from family or God, who personally inspired you?

Yes, I had a teacher in high school, by the name of Charles Brinkerhoff, he was my 11th grade history teacher. He was Caucasian and I’m Black. It wasn’t an all Black school, but I was one of the few Blacks in his class, so he used to always challenge me. A lot of African American males would sometimes use their race as a crutch – not that I did that – but he always pushed me to not focus on my race as a factor, so he was just always pushing me to excel, excel, excel, and to believe that I was competent. He influenced me to realize that I am very competent and it doesn’t matter what my race is, and I admire him very much.

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

‘Venus is a Boy’ by Bjork, because it has a narcissistic theme to it and a lot of people think I’m a bit narcissistic.

The Real World Hollywood was filmed in an Eco-friendly house?

Yeah, very much so, we had a microwave, refurbished furniture, glass counter tops, even a computer that was powered by a bicycle, which was very unique and challenging.

Based on your experiences, what do you feel is the biggest threat to the environment?

Basically, I would say the water supply. I mean it’s drying up and we need it to sustain life. There are a lot of great videos out there to illustrate what’s going on, and I hope people are watching them and educating themselves.

I know you’re a sports junkie-what’s your favorite sport?

Favorite sport participating in would be basketball – watching would be football…I was a big Cowboys fan for many years in the 90’s.

What was the most important thing you learned on the show?

Don’t take it seriously. It’s a show, its not the real world!

Look to the Stars would like to thank Greg Halstead for his time and commitment to the cause, as well as Anthony Embry of A.E. Entertainment Public Relations who made this interview possible.

MTV's Greg Halstead To Make Appearance For Charity

Fri, 23 May 2008 10:51:37 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

The Real World’s Greg Halstead is set to attend a benefit in Knoxville, TN later this month. Halstead, the first housemate ever to be chosen by viewers, will be at the Knoxville Center Mall on Saturday, May 31 for a meet-and-greet benefitting the Damon and Stella Foundation.

The Damon and Stella Foundation For Mental Health was founded in 2006 by survivors of suicide, and is an alliance of artists and health care professionals dedicated to expanding cultural awareness of mental disease. The charity strives to raise awareness of the issue through public service announcements, and has had three such PSAs made with country singer Randy Travis.

In exchange for a $10-15 charitable donation, fans will have the opportunity to get autographs and have a picture taken with the model/aspiring comedian. Halstead’s appearance, from 1-3 next Saturday, will help raise funds to make and air more PSA’s. He is quoted as saying in a press release, “I like doing charity work and any time that I can use my celebrity status to bring attention to a wonderful charity like the Damon and Stella Foundation, I like that even better.”

For more information Greg’s appearance or how to get involved with the Damon and Stella Foundation, visit www.thedasfoundation.org.

Celebrities sign Lamborghini for Child Safety Network

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 11:46:13 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Italian prestige sportscar manufacturer Lamborghini has donated one of its Gallardos to the Child Safety Network (CSN) for auction. The proceeds will go directly to the 17-year-old charity, which provides child safety information to US families.

To add to the uniqueness of the lot, the car was transported from Beverly Hills through Las Vegas to New York, collecting the signatures of celebrities on its way. Signatories include Ed Asner, Samuel L. Jackson, Jewel, Randy Travis and Jon Voight.

The car will be sold without a reserve. Details of the East coast auction are available at the auctioneers’ web site, kruse.com

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