Look To The Stars News: Shakira

Robin Hood Gets Merry For Charity!

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:32:00 -0000

The stars came out for the Robin Hood Foundation’s annual fundraising gala last week, in an evening that shone, sparkled, and made the charity millions of dollars.

About 4,000 people gathered at the event held at the Javits Center in New York, including rapper Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, Tom Brokaw, Miramax boss Harvey Weinstein, and American Idol winner David Cook. The proceeds from the event, which included an auction, will go to more than 240 poverty-fighting programs in the city, including Abraham House in the South Bronx, which offers social services to relatives of prison inmates; the Children’s Defense Fund, which seeks better access to health care for poor children, and Broadway Housing Communities, which provides shelter for the homeless or the mentally ill.

The auction was co-hosted by Conan O’Brien, and the evening also featured performances by Shakira, Sheryl Crow, and John Legend.

“Every single penny raised tonight goes to help people claw their way out of poverty and build better lives for themselves and their families,” said David Saltzman, Robin Hood’s executive director. “Despite what’s going on in the economy, people who are in a position to help others step up, and during tough times they step up even more.”

Shakira and Latin Singers Unite Against Child Poverty, Again

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:12:26 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The ‘Concert For The Children’ was staged last weekend, simultaneously in Mexico and Argentina, free to the over 300,000 expected viewers.

Packed with Latin stars including Shakira, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Chayanne, Diego Torres, Juanes, Maná and Miguel Bosé, the concerts’ goal was to raise funds that charity ALAS will use to help the millions of children living in poverty throughout Latin America, and where an estimated 350,000 children die from poverty every year.

“People are condemned to poverty because there are no exits or choices,” Shakira said. “And children who don’t receive an opportunity end up as adults being involved with things that they never imagined they would be doing in the first place, like drug trafficking or being recruited into criminal groups. Imagine what Latin America could achieve if we invest in developing the potential of these children.”

ALAS, founded in 2006, has been bringing artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs together to address the social emergency, and focuses on improving nutrition, health and education for children.

32 out of 54 million children in Latin America under the age of five live in poverty.

Shakira, who performed at the Buenos Aires venue, secured $200 million in donations for the performance. Ricky Martin played at the other venue at Mexico City’s main plaza, Zócalo.

“The funny thing is that Latin America produces three times what it needs to feed its population. So, it is doable, we can really eradicate poverty,” Shakira said. “What’s very inspiring is to see Latin America for the first time in charge of its own issues.”

Shakira Promotes Global Campaign For Education Action

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:24:54 -0000

Written by Richard Alan Krieger

Pop sensation Shakira was in Washington D.C. yesterday (April 22) to promote the Global Campaign for Education “Action Week”, which runs from April 21-27. As the group’s honorary spokesperson, she appeared with members of Congress along with students from across the United States to promote the Education for All Act of 2007. This legislation will raise up to $3 billion by 2012 for the basic education globally for the 77 million disadvantaged primary school age children who are out of school.

“Universal education isn’t about charity – it’s about investment,” said 31-year-old singer. “By providing vulnerable children with a basic education we can create a better, safer world.”

Shakira was praised by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on April 21 by telephone for her work to help raise the need for educating disadvantaged children. Shakira also praised Brown, who as British Treasury Chief in 2006 pledged $15 billion over 10 years for education in the developing world.

Commenting on Brown’s interest in expanding education programs, Shakira said, “I could feel how passionate and enthusiastic he was about it.”

“She is inspiring people all over the world,” said Brown. “People who are household names help to galvanize public support all around the world on issues like education, or Darfur.”

The Global Campaign for Education charity group also hopes to generate support for some 226 million older children worldwide who lack access to their public school systems.

Annie Lennox And Friends Sing For Africa

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:59:52 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Momentum is building behind Annie Lennox’s Sing Campaign, and the singer is now offering fans the chance to download the song that started it all for free in an initiative to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS problem in South Africa.

US residents will be able to download the song from Amazon MP3 until March 17 and support the Treatment Action Campaign, an orgainization that provides much needed support in the country’s struggle against the deadly virus.

The single, which was made available in the UK through the Body Shop, has sold out in countries such as Ireland and cities such as London. The entire UK has sold half of its stock in only two days, an unprecedented occurrence in the music industry, especially in relation to a charity single.

“One third of pregnant women in South Africa are HIV positive,” said the 53-year-old in a recent CNN interview. “We can prevent their children being born with the virus if we let the women have access to treatment. If you do not allow that to happen, you’re going to have future generations simply being wiped out.”

Lennox was joined by a choir of 23 well-known female performers for the song, which was originally released on her Songs of Mass Destruction album in 2007. The former Eurythmics lead singer believed that a group of female voices would make the message of the song stronger, so she enlisted the talents of Madonna, Céline Dion, Dido, Faith Hill, Joss Stone, Pink, Melissa Etheridge, Fergie, Bonnie Raitt, KT Tunstall, Shakira, Beth Orton, Sarah McLachlan, Anastacia, the Sugababes, KD Lang, Martha Wainwright, Angélique Kidjo, Beverley Knight, Shingai Shoniwa, Gladys Knight, and Isobel Campbell in the recording.

“Because I had written a song called ‘Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves’ in the 80s, which became a fairly well-known feminist anthem really, [I thought] perhaps it would be possible to try to attempt to write another kind of anthemic song for women,” said Lennox. “So I started to write a song and it ended up being called ‘Sing’. I sort of melded the song in with an HIV activist song written by a group of activists living in Khayelitsa in South Africa.”

The Sing Campaign, which Lennox launched in 2007, has also just set up a new video on YouTube, in which the public can leave comments in support of the campaign.

More information about the campaign, visit the Sing Campaign website.

Shakira's Auction A Success

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:05:25 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The auction of Shakira’s clothes that we reported on earlier this week was a resounding success, with over $76,000 raised for the Pies Descalzos Foundation.

The money raised will be distributed through the singer’s Bare Feet campaign, and will be used to build a school for needy children in Northern Colombia.

Several items attracted high bids, with a lavender skirt going for $1,000, and a custom-made bra reaching $3,000. But the most sought after item was VIP tickets, including a meet-and-greet, to Shakira’s upcoming concert in Toronto, which sold for $14,000.

“It was a phenomenal success,” said Eric Gazin, president of Auction Cause. “We had bidders from 10 countries.”

But for those who missed out, there is still a few items left – two guitars autographed by the singer are available on eBay until Sunday, February 17.

Shakira Sheds Threads For Charity

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:11:47 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Although the Northern Hemisphere is still gripped with winter chills, it has not stopped some celebrities from shedding their clothes… for a good cause, of course.

Latin American pop princess Shakira leads the pack by donating more than 40 items of clothing from her 2007 Oral Fixation Tour to a massive internet auction.

There is an impressive list of garments from the hip-shaking performer’s wardrobe, including a lavender skirt with turqoise and coral beading and a blue tank top emblazoned with the words “For Those Who Love To Rock”. And the demand has been overwhelming, with one dress attracting bids of $10,000, and a custom-made bra reaching $1,126.

“We have bids from all over the world,” said Eric Ganzin, president of Auction Cause. “It’s very exciting.”

Proceeds from the auction will go to the singer’s Pies Descalzos Foundation, and the money will be used for the construction of a school for impoverished children in North Colombia.

But bidders had better be quick – the eBay auction ends in just a few hours.

Former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has pushed the envelope a little further by allowing naked photos of herself to be auctioned on eBay.

But before you get too excited, they are not all that they appear: the 30-year-old actress originally posed for the photos in a little black dress that was later removed digitally.

The proceeds from the photos will go to the Coalition of Skin Diseases.

And even Donald Trump is getting in on the act… although thankfully he is keeping his clothes on.

A tie signed by Trump is currently up for auction on eBay, with proceeds going to the Spirit Fund, a fund established by radio station Warm 101.3 to help children in the Rochester area.

The story behind the tie is twisty and, you could say, knotty: When a Kodak executive arrived on set for a recent taping of The Celebrity Apprentice, Trump objected to his tie. He ordered the executive to replace it with one belonging to one of the security guards.

There are only a few hours left in the auction, and bids have already reached $759.

But the biggest celebrity auction on the Net right now is the 50th Grammy Awards Charity Auction on eBay. Over 100 items from some of music’s hottest stars is up for grabs, with all proceeds going to MusiCares.

The auction, which runs until February 21, features exciting and priceless items such as the chance to visit the set of LL Cool J’s next video, a guitar lesson with Joe Satriani, VIP tickets to concerts by Linkin Park, John Legend, and Rihanna, guitars signed by Richie Sambora, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, and Neil Diamond, a microphone signed by Joss Stone, posters and photos signed by Rod Stewart ($167), John Mayer ($170), and Sting ($482), as well as items from Avril Lavigne, Slash, Reba McEntire, Quincy Jones, Beyoncé Knowles, and Snoop Dogg.

The internet auction follows a live auction held on February 8 at Aretha Franklin’s MusiCare’s Person Of The Year Award ceremony. Items that were up for sale on that night included a private painting lesson with Tony Bennett, a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton, sheet music to Stairway To Heaven signed by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, as well as clothing and instruments donated by Elton John, Slash, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.

MusiCares is the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, the group that gives out the Grammys, and focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.

Clinton Asks Miners To Dig Deep

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:07:27 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Former US president Bill Clinton and Canadian mining financier Frank Giustra, partners in the new Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI), are asking the mining and financial community to dig deep into their pockets.

Invitations have been sent out for a March 1 event to be held in Toronto, where comedian Robin Williams and musicians Elton John, Shakira, and Burton Cummings are expected to perform. The cost will range between $25,000 and $300,000 per table, and proceeds will help CGSGI assist mining communities long after the industry leaves.

“When Frank Giustra brought forward the idea of having the world’s mining sector pull together in support of alleviating poverty and building sustainable local economies in developing countries, I knew it would only succeed if the industry was serious about being actively involved,” said Mr Clinton.

Donations to CGSGI from mining sector companies have amounted to nearly $350 million, including Giustra’s own pledge of $100 million. Lundin for Africa, the philanthropic arm of the Lundin Group of Companies, has also pledged $100 million.

“The Lundin contribution sends a strong signal that the resource sector is prepared to step up and take the initiative off the drawing board and turn it into a reality for developing countries around the world,” said Mr Giustra. “I firmly believe that this innovative partnership between the Clinton Foundation and the business community – and the mining industry in particular – will have a profound and positive effect on the lives of countless people in the developing world during the months and years ahead.”

Celebrities On Show For AIDS Relief

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:52:49 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

“A Dollar Saves A Life” is the catchphrase of a new advertising campaign featuring Alicia Keys, Jessica Alba, and Somalia-born model Iman, launched to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

The stars will join actress Lisa Bonet, Indian model Padma Lakshmi, and Zöe Kravitz – daughter of Lenny Kravitz – in a series of advertisements in magazines across America, as part of Keys’ Keep A Child Alive Foundation’s new “Good Cents Initiative”.

The advertisements will see the stars dressed in stylish black clothes, striking simple yet elegant poses surrounded by accessories and props to promote the new campaign. Keys has been photographed clutching a large pink piggybank, and Alba smiles under an umbrella as coins rain down from above.

“Every penny counts,” read the advertisements. “We see every penny as something worth saving. Please join us in helping children in Africa and India get the vital AIDS drugs they need.”

The Good Cents Initiative was launched in September, 2007, when Keys took part in a roundtable discussion on youth activism with Bono, Shakira, Chris Rock, and Bill Clinton. The event was hosted by the Clinton Global Initiative.

Another star to be involved in an HIV/AIDS related project is singer Johnny Clegg, who has reworked his classic song “Great Heart” with an all-star cast of South African musicians as a fundraiser for the Starfish Greathearts Foundation.

Clegg appears alongside 17 other acts on the recording, including Arno Carstens, Chris Chameleon, Sipho “Hotstixs” Mabuse, and Kahn Morbee from indie-pop group The Parlotones.

The song, released as a radio-only single, is also included on a new benefit album – “Spirit of the Great Heart” – which will raise money for children affected by South Africa’s HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Bono's Fishy T-Shirt Benefits African Farmers

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:41:01 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bono has designed a new T-shirt for charity, joining a host of other celebrities in an on-going and major charity campaign.

The 47-year-old singer from U2 is the 25th artist to design a shirt for Hard Rock Café’s Signature Series clothing line, an initiative started in 1990 as a way for musicians to raise money for charities of their choice. Sales from the shirts have raised over $6 million for a variety of causes.

Bono’s creation, available for $26 from the Hard Rock website, features his stylized drawing of a fish soaring past the moon, and is adorned with the words “Fish Can Fly”, as well as his signature. 15% of the proceeds will go to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Conservation Cotton initiative – a scheme designed to lift African farmers out of poverty by providing education on proper land management, organic cotton growing techniques, and wildlife conservation. The shirts will also support the trade for aid ethos of EDUN, the conscious consumerism fashion label founded by Bono and his wife in 2005, by being made from 100% African cotton and manufactured by African garment workers.

Other artists to have designed shirts for the initiative in the past include Green Day, who raised money for Amnesty International’s Campaign To Save Darfur, Shakira who chose to benefit Pies Descalzos, Ozzy Osbourne for the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program, Bruce Springsteen for World Hunger Year, Eric Clapton for the Crossroads Centre, Peter Gabriel for Witness, Sting and Elton John for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Michael Stipe for Artists for a New South Africa, Don Henley for the Walden Woods Project, John Mellencamp for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation, and Stevie Nicks for the Special Olympics. Carlos Santana and Aerosmith have also contributed designs. Many of these shirts are still available from the Hard Rock website.

Bono’s “Fish Can Fly” is more than just a phrase – it is a message that tomorrow can be better than today.

2007 - The Year The Stars Gave Back

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:11:14 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

2007 was a year of giving, both on grand and not-so-grand scales. Celebrities from all fields, be it movies, music, sport or general entertainment, showed compassion beyond the call of duty, and in most cases had a lot of fun doing it.

Without a doubt, one of the biggest events of the year was Live Earth in July, where stars new and old shone in all of the corners of the Earth to raise awareness of the plight of the planet. The shows were generally well-received, and led to organizer Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

But celebrities also participated in smaller, more personal acts of kindness in 2007. Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Melissa Gilbert, and Michael Douglas all donated their time to feed the hungry at the Los Angeles Mission, Fran Drescher launched the Cancer Schmancer Movement, and Ewan McGregor visited UNICEF projects during his epic motorcycle trip across Africa.

In January, Kevin Bacon launched www.sixdegrees.org, a website designed to marry the concepts of social internet networks and charities. The site aims to help people fundraise for their chosen causes, and features celebrities such as Kyra Sedgwick and Ashley Judd.

Bette Midler, founder of the New York Restoration Project, launched the Million Trees NYC initiative with Mayor Michael Bloomberg in October, to get city dwellers to plant more trees. The project plans to increase New York’s urban forest by 20% in the next ten years.

“To walk under the branches of a tree that you have planted connects you to the roots of our past and the aspirations of our future,” said the 62-year-old singer and actress.

Another singer with a sense of community in 2007 was Jon Bon Jovi who, as well as participating in various benefit concerts, also worked with Project HOME to revitalize a deteriorated lot in Philadelphia and transform it into homes for fifteen families.

And then there was Shakira, co-founder of the Latin America for Solidarity Fund and Pies Descalzos, who donated $40 million to victims of natural disasters in Peru and Nicaragua, and another $5 million to benefit education programs for children across Latin America.

The California wildfires that ravaged much of the state in November also spawned a spate of celebrity donations, with Linkin Park, the Eagles, and Gwen Stefani all making substantial contributions to both victims and firefighters.

American Idol gave back in April, with two shows that raised over $60 million to benefit organizations funding relief programs in America and Africa, featuring performances by Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, and others. Organized by Simon Cowell, American Idol Gives Back also led to a $100,000 donation by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

Another talk show host to shine this year was Oprah Winfrey, who opened a state-of-the-art school in South Africa for disadvantaged girls.

“I am creating everything in this school that I would have wanted for myself—so the girls will have the absolute best that my imagination can offer,“ said the 53-year-old, who poured $40 million of her own money into the project.

Brad Pitt took on the mission of rebuilding New Orleans by donating $5 million towards new houses, and also set up the Make It Right Foundation to assist in his work. Meanwhile, his wife Angelina Jolie set out to do what her character Lara Croft does best – save the world. As well as donating $100,000 to build the Duk Lost Boys Medical Clinic in the Sudan in March, Jolie also traveled to Iraq and Syria to raise support for those displaced by war.

Although literally tonnes of articles were written about Jolie’s efforts during 2007, even more was reported on Don Cheadle’s and George Clooney’s work to publicize the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The stars of Ocean’s Thirteen established a charity for the Sudanese region called Not On Our Watch, and personally raised over $9 million to help those affected by conflict in the region. The pair were awarded a special peace prize by Nobel laureates for their efforts.

And no round up of the year’s events can be complete without mention of Bono, who continued being Bono by doing what Bono does best – raising awareness for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the needy, and the disadvantaged.

We at Look To The Stars would like to wish all of our readers a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year, and we look forward to continuing to bring you celebrity charity news in 2008.

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.

Shakira’s $40m Gift

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:31:46 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Columbian pop singer, Shakira, announced recently at Bill Clinton’s conference, Clinton Global Initiative, that Latin America in Solidarity Action (ALAS) is donating $40 million dollars towards relief efforts in Peru and Nicaragua.

Ica, Chincha and Pisco were the regions in Peru hardest hit by an earthquake last August. Hundreds of people were killed and over a thousand injured. A state of emergency was declared initially, as well as a request for medicine, blankets, tents and any other help that could be given in South America’s coldest season.

ALAS’s donations are providing shelter and basic necessities to over 37,000 people. Additionally, donations provide psychological and social support, oversee the supply and quality of water, and work with the community in rebuilding structures.

Nicaragua also needed food, shelter, water and sanitation last month after Hurricane Felix’s 160-mph (260-kph) winds and giant waves hit the Atlantic coast, flattening villages and killing over 100 people. ALAS is answering The United Nations’ emergency appeal for relief and assistance for the more than 160,000 affected people.

Besides that $40 million, Shakira announced that another $5 million will be donated by ALAS to be spent on health and education in Latin American countries. Said Clinton at his conference last month, “The unique collaboration of Latin artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs make ALAS the ideal institution to build a culture of philanthropy throughout Central and South America.”

Gabriel García Márquez, Colombian novelist, political activist, and recipient of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature, set up ALAS with other prominent Latin artists to combat preventable deaths of children. Before joining Márquez in founding ALAS, Shakira had founded her own children’s charity, the Barefoot Foundation, to help Columbian children who are victims of violence. As she is so oft-quoted saying, “Let’s not forget at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America.”  

Damon and Affleck Travel to Africa

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:53:52 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

September has already turned into a busy month for actor Matt Damon, and has seen him hosting a major children’s gala event, attending a screening of the documentary he produced to bring awareness to H2O Africa, and now flying to Africa.

September 10 saw Damon and long time friend, Ben Affleck, traveling to Tanzania to learn about the aid work being carried out in the country.

“We’re just going to observe these programs,” said Damon, who visited Zambia on a similar trip in 2006. “Our job is just to be quiet and take notes and meet people and listen to peoples’ stories.”

The Academy Award winning actor and screenwriter also hoped to spend time in the troubled region of Darfur, but that part of the trip was cancelled due to increasing security alerts.

“I’m still open to going, and I hope to go,” said Damon, who has already raised over $10 million this year for the region with Don Cheadle, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. “There’s clearly an appetite back at home for what the issues are there, but also it’s a very complicated situation there… and it keeps changing.”

Damon also hosted the annual ONE X ONE benefit gala on September 9, the night before flying to Tanzania. The event, held at the Four Seasons Centre For Performing Arts in Toronto, followed the actor’s appearance at a screening of Running The Sahara, a film he produced and narrated, and which hopes to gather support for clean water supply programs in Africa.

“I’ve seen solutions to these very real problems,” said the actor, referring to his work with the film, which screened as part of the Toronto Film Festival. “I’ve seen these things working, and it’s exciting for me.”

The One X One gala aimed to raise money to improve the lives of children in Canada and around the world. The event featured a performance by Shakira, and honored singer Wyclef Jean for his work in Haiti with the Yéle Haiti Foundation, as well as model Petra Nemcova, who was seriously injured in the devastating 2004 tsunami, and used her experience to raise funds for other tsunami survivors. Sarah Fergusson and actor Richard Gere were also honored.

“This event is so great, and it’s such a huge fundraiser,” said Matt Damon. “The people that show up… they’re there to make an impact.”

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are scheduled to remain in Africa for a week.

Shakira Joins Latin American Solidarity Action Foundation

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:53:15 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Shakira has announced her plan to raise $200 million for the charity América Latina en Acción Solidaria (ALAS).

The singer, who is already a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of Columbian charity Pies Descalzos, will stage four fundraising concerts in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and New York this year.

ALAS is dedicated to aiding impoverished communities throughout all of Latin America, focusing on improved nutrition, health and education for children. “ALAS came about because of a social emergency: 350 thousand children die each year due to avoidable causes; 40 million children work and live on the streets,” Shakira said.

Funding for ALAS comes from businesses, international institutions, NGOs and charity concerts. Other musicians involved since ALAS’s launch last December include Juanes, Alejandro Sanz, Diego Torres, Maná, Wyclef Jean and Daniela Mercury. Shakira said, “Each person has worked on projects or foundations on his own, but only now we are able to work together to develop interesting projects that will benefit everyone.”

Many more artists, such as Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, have since joined the foundation. REM’s vocalist Michael Stipe has confirmed his participation in the ALAS benefit concert cycle in 2008, the dates of which will be officially announced later this month.

Concrete ALAS health care programmes cover mass vaccinations and pre-natal care for more pregnant women. “Let’s not forget that at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America,” Shakira said at a UN award ceremony. The ALAS web site states, “Because we are Latin Americans we are determined to change this reality.”

Damon Is Back for ONE X ONE

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:50:34 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Matt Damon will once again host ONE X ONE’s annual Difference Awards ceremony on September 9. Among those being recognized this year for their extraordinary efforts towards fighting child poverty and suffering will be Richard Gere, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine and Petra Nemcova.

ONE X ONE is a non-profit organization that supports children in Canada and abroad. Established less than three years ago, it has already raised over $5 million and created partnerships with major corporations and foundations.

The charity’s projects include providing first-nations kids with breakfast every day, and a ‘doctor exchange’ in which doctors from Haiti and Rwanda will train at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children; in turn, Toronto doctors will travel to Rwanda to repair the heart valves of children damaged by water-borne illnesses.

ONE X ONE is also helping 12,000 children attend school in a Rwandan village, and has created a basket-weaving co-op. “If you’re trying to take people out of poverty,” says charity founder Joelle Berdugo Adler, “you have to give them tools, not handouts.”

The awards will be given at the gala in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, where Shakira, Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, Nikki Yanofsky, the African Children’s Choir and others will perform. Wyclef Jean is also to be honoured for his Yéle Haiti Foundation (Cry Haiti), as are Charlie Engle, Ray Zahab and Kevin Lin, who ran cross the Sahara Dessert earlier this year to raise awareness for H2O Africa, the clean-water initiative founded by Damon and his partners at LivePlanet. Their documentary film of the run, which Damon narrates, will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Annie Lennox Leads Women To Sing For AIDS Projects

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:17:21 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Annie Lennox’s new album, Songs of Mass Destruction, due out October 1 promises “not to be lightweight, easy listening, coffee house kinda stuff.” According to Lennox’s website, Sing, a powerful feminist anthem on the album, will feature 23 of the most recognized and successful female solo artists in the world, including Madonna, Shakira, Joss Stone, Dido and Céline Dion.

Inspired by her involvement with both Nelson Mandela’s 46664 and Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and its vocal group, The Generics, organizations that support health care for HIV/AIDS patients, Annie created Sing to raise funds for TAC’s HIV/AIDS projects. The Generics are also featured in her new album.

Another not-for-profit organization based in South Africa, Life College, has also attracted Lennox’s attention. Life College offers educational and mentoring services to families to substantially improve their levels of success in life. Included in the curriculum is a Life Champion Leadership Programme, which pairs students with people who have achieved high levels of professional success, like Annie Lennox, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, top athletes and prominent business people. It’s said to be one of the best, life changing aspects of the course.

Lennox agrees: “I wish that there could be a Life College in every part of the world, and I wish I could attend it myself! It teaches people the skills to create a positive way forward into leading a constructive and successful life, both personally and professionally.”

Live Earth Rocks the Planet

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:16:25 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

They came, they rocked, they conquered. 07/07/07 saw the Live Earth concerts take place on 7 continents, and the event will go down in history and in people’s hearts as one of the greatest spectacles ever staged.

The nine concerts held around the globe attracted hundreds of thousands of music lovers, and another 9 million internet streams – a world record internet audience. Many more are expected to watch replays over the next few weeks. Concert-goers partied for a total of 22 hours at the events organized by Al Gore to raise awareness of climate change and environmental issues.

“You are Live Earth,” Gore told the crowd in New Jersey, on a stage made from recycled tires. “Today 2 billion of us have come together in over 130 countries… Times like these demand action.”

Despite the rain and low temperatures, 30,000 fans in Hamburg enjoyed stunning and energetic performances by Yusuf – formerly known as Cat Stevens – Shakira, Snoop Dogg, Enrique Iglesias, and former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. German comedian Elton joked about the inclement conditions with the comment “We’re here to fight against global warming in such c—p weather.”

It was also a cold affair in Antarctica, where a previously unknown band Nunatak – made up of polar researchers – played for 17 fellow scientists, allowing Gore to keep his promise to hold concerts in all seven continents.

45,000 people turned out in warmer circumstances in Sydney, where they were treated to performances by Jack Johnson, Toni Collette’s band The Finish, and a newly reformed Crowded House. Sydney was the first of the concerts to open, and was followed by Japan, where thousands rocked to performances by Linkin Park, Rihanna, and a host of local acts.

Johannesburg, experiencing its first snow in ten years, swayed to the rhythms of some of their best known local acts, as well as an intense performance by Joss Stone.

It was a smaller and quieter affair in Washington, where a subdued crowd was entertained by a few lesser known blues and hip hop acts.

The most popular concerts were held in London and New York. The newly refurbished Wembley Stadium was rocking under the weight of 70,000 concert-goers, all enthralled by stellar performances from the Beastie Boys, Kasabian, Metallica, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 1980’s comedy rock act Spinal Tap reformed for the event to perform their new single, “Warmer Than Hell”, and there was also a touching performance by singer/songwriter Terra Naomi. Naomi wrote the track “Say It’s Possible” after seeing An Inconvenient Truth, and was asked personally by Al Gore to perform it at Live Earth.

The finale of the Wembley show was a set by Madonna, which included “Hey You”, the song she wrote especially for Live Earth. She also thanked Gore “for giving the world the wake-up call it so badly needs, and for starting the avalanche of awareness that we are running out of time.”

Over 50,000 people crammed Giants Stadium in New Jersey to join Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, and Kevin Bacon for a night to remember. Cool rhythms from Alicia Keys and the Dave Matthews Band gave way to rockier beats later in the evening from Kelly Clarkson, Melissa Etheridge, and Jon Bon Jovi. The show ended with Sting and The Police performing a duet of their hit, “Message In A Bottle”, with rapper Kanye West . The free show in Rio De Janeiro, almost cancelled over security concerns, drew a crowd of 600,000 to listen to sun-drenched performances by Lenny Kravitz and Macy Gray, and the show in Shanghai was also a success.

The Chinese crowd were made aware of the International Energy Agency warning that China could become the top emitter of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, by later this year.

The Live Earth concerts were a great day’s entertainment for those who witnessed them, and only time will tell if they achieved their goals.

“Thank you for coming to Live Earth,” said Al Gore as the concerts ended. “Harness the energy in your hearts and help us solve the climate crisis.”

Jolie And Shakira Swap Fundraising Tips

Mon, 21 May 2007 13:31:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

UN Goodwill Ambassadors Angelina Jolie and Shakira have reportedly become friends since their charity efforts brought them into contact.

A friend of Jolie said, “They have so much in common, we can’t believe they didn’t become buddies sooner.

“Shakira loves kids and runs a children’s charity in her home country so they have been swapping tips on fundraising.”

Jolie is ambassador of UNHCR, which works to help refugees, and Shakira represents UNICEF, the UN children’s fund.

Shakira’s own charity Pies Descalzos helps children displaced by fighting in Colombia, while the Jolie-Pitt Foundation funds various humanitarean causes, most recently including refugee relief in Darfur.

Shakira and SEAT Design Car to Benefit Charity

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:38:12 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

At a press conference held in Berlin last weekend to kick off her latest European tour, pop star Shakira announced that she had teamed up with manufacturer SEAT to design a unique car as a competition prize to benefit her charity, Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation).

The Leon Cupra “Pies Descalzos” has metallic lilac paint and interior highlights, and its leather trim features the Pies Descalzos logo. The competition will end on 15th May and the €27,300 prize car will be presented to its winner at the Barcelona Motor Show in June.

SEAT’s partnership for Shakira’s tour sees the company supporting both the tour and the singer’s charity work.

“The support for Pies Descalzos is very welcome,” said Shakira. “The need for education and proper nutrition for the children in my home country of Colombia is very big and I trust that SEAT’s initiative will aid a lot.”

“By supporting Shakira’s charity foundation, we show our social responsibility,” commented Erich Schmitt, SEAT’s president. “All European countries visited by Shakira on her tour will incorporate the possibility to donate money to Pies Descalzos.”

Fans can enter the competition by sending an SMS to to a dedicated number in each of the tour’s countries. Entrants will automatically donate one Euro (or one pound in the UK) to the foundation. For more information, or to make a donation for any amount, visit the Shakira/SEAT website at catch-the-fever.com.

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