Look To The Stars News: Hayley Westenra

Rugby Legend Jonah Lomu Named As UNICEF Ambassador

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:50:00 +0000

All Blacks rugby legend Jonah Lomu has taken on an important new role as Ambassador for UNICEF in New Zealand.

Hayley Westenra To Perform At Celebrity Charity Gala Dinner In New Zealand

Wed, 04 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

One of the biggest nights on the New Zealand music calendar, the Raukatauri Gala Dinner, is proud to announce another streak of star power to its stellar 2011 line-up.

As part of her long awaited return home, classical star and Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust patron Hayley Westenra will perform at this year’s event. And Kenny Rogers has donated a signed guitar to the evening’s auction.

In one of his first public performances since his recent cycling accident, Don McGlashan’s performance will also be a must-see. Don and Hayley will take the stage alongside some of New Zealand’s finest artists including Tim Finn, Anika Moa, Opshop’s Jason Kerrison, Lawrence Arabia and Nesian Mystik.

Prince William: Grief Is The Price We Pay For Love

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

In a poignant speech during a special memorial in Christchurch, Prince William today remembered the 182 people killed in the earthquake that hit the New Zealand city on February 22 and paid tribute to the bravery of those who helped survivors.

“My grandma once said that grief is the price we pay for love,” William told the thousands of people who gathered in Christchurch’s Hagley Park for the memorial. “Here today we love and grieve.”

He went on to deliver a message of hope, saying that he found it inspiring to see the country’s courage and determination "so starkly demonstrated over these terrible, painful months. Put simply, you are an inspiration to all people.

Hayley Westenra Heads Home To Christchurch For Charity

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

New Zealand-born singer Hayley Westenra is planning to stage a massive celebrity charity concert to raise funds for her hometown of Christchurch, which was devastated by a earthquake last month.

Around 200 lost their lives and thousands lost their homes and livelihoods during the quake.

The singer hopes to invite a plethora of international stars to take part in the concert, which will take place in Auckland in August.

Hayley Westenra Supports UNICEF Campaign

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0000

UNICEF New Zealand ambassador Hayley Westenra is encouraging people to become a Global Parent with the charity.

As a Global Parent, you will help save and transform children’s lives! And you won’t just be helping one child, you will be helping many, many children.

Every month, your generous donation will be put to use where the need is greatest. One month you could help bring safe drinking water to 5-year old Isa in Malawi, the following month you could be help 7-year old Paula in the Solomon Islands go to school for the first time.

Join Natasha Bedingfield And Be A Global Angel For Charity This Christmas

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Global Angels is an international charitable foundation championing the causes of children and young people around the world, developing creative and sustainable solutions.

The charity was set up by Molly Bedingfield (mother of singers Natasha and Daniel Bedingfield) in 2004, and aims to make the world a safer, kinder place for children worldwide. Every donation goes 100% to projects working at grass-root levels – these include child slavery and trafficking, street kids and orphans, and providing sustainable solutions to help impoverished communities e.g ‘water for life’ and ‘feed a child for a year’. Celebrity ‘Angel’ Ambassadors include Bear Grylls, Natasha Bedingfield, Andrew W.K., Hayley Westenra and Sean Kingston.

Global Angels have just launched their brand new Christmas gift range in time for the holidays. This includes a new environmentally friendly e-card facility making it easy to give a donation or buy an Angel gift in someone’s name. Choose from a selection of gifts including a goat for an impoverished family, a school sponsorship for a child, a mosquito net to protect a child from malaria, a bicycle for a young person, a teacher for a school for street kids and orphans or a complete toolbox for a newly qualified carpenter amongst others.

Stephen Fry And Joanna Lumley Recite Poems For Soldiers

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Between them they have an OBE, a Military Cross, two Knighthoods, four BAFTAs and ten No 1 albums; they include a Dame, a Sir, Britain’s “Most Intelligent Man”, the best-selling classical artist of this century and the Forces Songbirds from both the 20th and 21st Centuries.

Now this host of leading talent has teamed up with The Royal British Legion and record label Decca to launch a fundraising CD to help boost funds for the Poppy Appeal. Celebrity readers including Stephen Fry and Joanna Lumley have collaborated on this album of words and music for Remembrance. Entitled “We Will Remember Them”, the album will be the Official Album of the 2010 Poppy Appeal.

“We Will Remember Them”, to be released as The Royal British Legion also launches its 90th anniversary appeal, aptly traces prose, poetry and news readings from the First World War through to texts from the present day written by Service men in Iraq and Afghanistan. All the readings are set to some of the world’s most moving classical music.

Annie Lennox And David Gray Duet For Charity

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Fans of Annie Lennox and David Gray will be excited to learn that the two British music icons will release a charity single after Christmas.

Full Steam will be released on December 28, with all proceeds going to the Children in Need charity.

Children in Need is a BBC charity that provides practical and lasting support to thousands of youngsters aged 18 and under, including those who have experienced homelessness, neglect, abuse or poverty, and those who’ve encountered serious illnesses, disabilities, psychological disorders or addictions.

LTTS Exclusive - The Variety Club 57th Annual Showbiz Awards

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ UK Correspondent Richard Barker was lucky enough to attend the Variety Club’s 57th Annual Showbiz Awards and filed this exclusive report and photos.

I was delighted to spend some time with A-list celebrities from music, film, theatre and television on the Red Carpet. The event was in aid of one of UK’s longest running children’s charities, The Variety Club, as it celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.

Children In Need Benefit From Charity Singles

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

British comedian Peter Kay will unveil a new single to raise money for the BBC’s Children in Need charity at the organization’s annual TV extravaganza on November 20.

Details of the single are being closely guarded, but the charity is promising over 100 faces from Britain and America will be involved in the video.

Also available from HMV and download and benefiting Children In Need is “All You Need is Love” – a reworking of the Beatles classic, recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios, featuring the talents of Terry Wogan, Bill Wyman, Brian May, Bryan Ferry, Sharon Corr, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, Paloma Faith, Lee Mead, Hayley Westenra and more.

Hayley Westenra To Headline Festival Of Remembrance

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

New Zealand-born songbird Hayley Westenra will headline the 2009 Festival of Remembrance in a tribute to the original Armed Forces sweetheart, Dame Vera Lynn.

Miss Westenra will take the spotlight on 7 November at the Royal Albert Hall with a rendition of “We’ll Meet Again” before an audience including Her Majesty the Queen, members of the Royal Family, and Dame Vera Lynn herself.

Narrated by broadcaster Huw Edwards, the Festival of Remembrance is the annual tribute to the sacrifices of British Armed Forces, conducted this year against the backdrop of losses in Afghanistan.

Kiwi Stars Record Charity Song

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Some of New Zealand’s best known international stars have recorded a new song to raise money for children in need.

Anika Moa, and Opshop have joined together for a version of Dave Dobbyn’s award winning song Beside You to raise money for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, a charity that provides music therapy for special needs children of school age and younger in New Zealand.

“Everyone was there with the best of intent,” said Jason Kerrison, lead singer for Opshop. “It’s all about helping children with special needs, and knowing this helps you drive yourself and be there in the best capacity.”

Michael Caine Honored In Charity Showbiz Awards

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:00:00 +0000

The 56th annual Variety Club Showbiz Awards were held in London on Sunday, November 16, to raise money for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

Among the stars to be honored at the ceremony were Sir Michael Caine, who picked up the prize for Outstanding Contribution to Showbusiness, as well as Hayley Westenra, Alan Carr, Noel Edmonds, the cast of the Hairspray musical, Kenneth Branagh and James McAvoy.

“The Variety Club Showbiz Awards are the oldest and most established awards in the UK that recognize the outstanding talent in the field of entertainment,” said Variety Club’s Showbiz Chairman John Sachs. “Due to the generous donations of all our guests and supporters, the vital funds raised tonight will enable Variety Club to continue to support children and young people throughout the UK.”

Hayley Westenra Returns From UNICEF Trip To Ghana

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:30:00 +0000

UNICEF’s youngest ever Ambassador Hayley Westenra has returned from a recent trip to Ghana, where she witnessed the needs of some of the poorest children in the world for safe water and education.

The New Zealand-born international singing sensation recorded a daily video blog of her trip, detailing her trip to some of the programs she supports.

One such program was a Guinea worm containment centre in Savelugu, northern Ghanasaw, where the 21-year-old saw firsthand the terrible impact drinking water contaminated with Guinea worm has on children. Once the water-borne worms get into children’s bodies, they can grow up to a meter in length and create painful swelling and blisters.

Hayley Westenra In Ghana For UNICEF

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:30:00 +0000

UNICEF Ambassador Hayley Westenra is in Ghana this week, seeing for herself the needs of some of the poorest children for safe water and education.

Hayley Westenra – UNICEF’s youngest ever Goodwill Ambassador and an internationally renowned New Zealand singer – is undertaking a four-day program in Ghana from 23-26 September.

In rural Northern Ghana, Hayley will see firsthand the impact on children of drinking water infected with Guinea Worm. Once the water-borne parasites get into children’s bodies they can grow up to a metre in length and create painful swelling and blisters. Water-bourne Guinea Worm is a major problem for children in parts of Ghana. Anyone getting water from a pond or well previously used by a sufferer of Guinea Worm can be infected. Little children are the most common victims, accounting for two thirds of cases. If they’re thirsty, they naturally drink whatever is handy.

Hayley Westenra Records PSA For UNICEF

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:30:00 +0000

New Zealand-born singing sensation Hayley Westenra has recorded a special message for UNICEF.

The 21-year-old shot to stardom in 2003 when her first international release, Pure, went to number 1 on the British charts. Now she is the youngest UNICEF Ambassador in the world, and she has recorded a special public service announcement asking people to join her by becoming a UNICEF Global Parent.

“With UNICEF, your contributions go further,” she says during the advertisement. “[It] helps not just one child, but many, many children all around the world.”