Look To The Stars News: Will Smith

DoSomething.org Announces Top 20 Celebs Gone Good 2011

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:45:00 +0000

DoSomething.org, one of the largest U.S. organizations that helps teens take action on causes they care about, released today its fourth annual ‘Top 20 Celebs Gone Good’ list.

Lady Gaga continues her reign as the star who uses her celebrity to do the most good. Known for her support of gay rights, AIDS, and poverty, she focused primarily this year on bullying, even taking her thoughts to the White House in December. She also announced the creation of her own charity, the Born This Way Foundation, which aims to empower youth and lead them to a brave new society where each individual is accepted and loved as the person they were born to be.

Making a meteoric rise to number two this year is Justin Bieber, up from number 10 last year. His fast rise is due to his prolific work with Pencils of Promise, an organization that builds schools in Laos and Guatemala. Justin is also a consistent supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, raised funds for charity with his fragrance and holiday album, and recently distributed $100,000 to Whitney Elementary School in Las Vegas.

Giving Back Fund Announces Top 30 Celebrity Charity Donations For 2011

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:20:00 +0000

The Giving Back Fund (GBF), a nonprofit organization that provides philanthropic management and consulting to the sports and entertainment industries, released its fifth annual Giving Back 30, a list of the 30 celebrities who made the largest donations to charity in 2011 according to public records.

The list includes celebrities from many walks of life including actors, writers, producers, musicians, comedians, and athletes.

Topping the list were actress Jami Gertz and her husband, Anthony Ressler, who donated $10,569,002 to the Ressler Gertz Foundation. Coming in second was musician Herb Alpert, who gave $9,104,829 to the Herb Alpert Foundation – which focuses on the arts, compassion and well being – followed by Mel Gibson, who gave $6,853,020 to the AP Reilly Foundation, which he started to support the Holy Family Church.

Jackie Chan Believes In Love At Charity Event

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Jackie Chan hosted a very special charity event in Beijing during the weekend.

The Believe In Love event on December 17 was co-sponsored by the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation and CCTV, and saw the action star auction a scarf signed by both himself and Will Smith – which raised US$157,000 – as well as a hunting chair, which went for US$315,000. Jackie surprised everyone present by announcing that he would match the auction price for the chair with a personal donation of $315,000.

The event raised $2.3 million to help sick children in China.

Will Smith Replaces Stolen Computers

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Actor Will Smith and his buddy Charlie Mack Alston have donated 29 top-of-the-line Apple laptops to a high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after learning that students had stolen sixty computers from the school.

Smith, who grew up in nearby Wynnefield, West Philadelphia, was prompted to take action after learning of the theft from his pal Charlie Mack-Alston.

According to Philly.com: ‘Alston, who broke into the Hollywood scene by doing security for Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, was so moved by the plight of the students at West Philly High, many of whom don’t have their own personal laptops or Internet connections at home, that he reached out to Smith, who was in New York City filming “Men in Black III,” and told him about the Feb. 21 theft. There was no lengthy discussion – it was just two like-minded pals agreeing to do whatever it took to make sure the students were able to get back online as quickly as possible.

Flashback To The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air For Charity

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Here’s one for all the people out there who remember the 1990’s – an exciting new celebrity charity auction is giving you the chance to have lunch with the original cast of Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, including Will Smith, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Alfonso Ribeiro and James Avery.

Anybody who owned a TV in the 90’s will remember the Fresh Prince – it ran on NBC from September 1990 until May 1996 and launched the soaring career of Will Smith. And who can forget that theme song:

Will And Jada Smith Donate Birthdays To Charity

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

This year, superstar couple Will and Jada Smith are celebrating their birthdays in dramatic style, by asking everyone to help them provide clean water in developing nations via donations to charity:water.

“This year we are going to do something different, something radical,” said Will, “We are going to donate our birthdays. We found a fantastic charity called ‘charity:water’ and they go around the world in developing countries digging wells.”

Jada’s birthday falls on September 18, while Will’s 42nd birthday falls on September 25. He’s asking all his friends, family and fans to donate $42 dollars, and Jada is asking for people to simply donate what they can.

Michael Douglas Takes Part In Stand Up To Cancer Event

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Michael Douglas made an emotional appearance via video at the massive Stand Up To Cancer television event on September 10.

“Cancer doesn’t care how many Oscars you’ve won or how many tough guys you’ve played,” said the actor, who is currently battling stage 4 throat cancer.

A huge number of stars took part in the event – simulcast live and commercial-free on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Bio, Discovery Health, E!, G4, HBO, HBO Latino, MLB Network, mun2, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, The Style Network, TV One, and VH1 – including Elizabeth Banks, Kathy Bates, Sir Richard Branson, Michael Chiklis, George Clooney, Baron Davis, Emily Deschanel, Bill Hader, Dorothy Hamill, Anne Heche, Cheryl Hines, Randy Jackson, George Karl, Dr. Jon Lapook, Rob Lowe, Jane Lynch, Marlee Matlin, Shareen Mitchell, Olivia Munn, Lisa Niemi, Kelly Osbourne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Passmore, Will Smith, Sam Trammell, Denzel Washington, Aaron Yoo, Renee Zellweger, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tatyana Ali, Dave Annable, Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, David Boreanaz, Abigail Breslin, Cindy Crawford, Fran Drescher, Elizabeth Edwards, Donald Faison, Sally Field, Derek Fisher, Michael C. Hall, Alyson Hannigan, Tony Hawk, Jon Heder, Marg Helgenberger, Terrence Howard, Ken Jeong, Rashida Jones, Minka Kelly, Laura Linney, Zachary Levi, Ray Liotta, Seth MacFarlane, Mandy Moore, Apolo Anton Ohno, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Jim Parsons, Aubrey Plaza, Dr. Ana Maria Polo, Yarel Ramos, Naya Rivera, Robin Roberts, Seth Rogen, The Simpsons, Eric Stonestreet, Marcia Strassman, Alison Sweeney, Maura Tierney, Gabrielle Union, Sofia Vassilieva, Sofia Vergara, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Reese Witherspoon and Ethan Zohn.

George Clooney Joins Stand Up To Cancer Lineup

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The extraordinary lineup of actors, musicians, athletes and journalists participating in the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) primetime roadblock television fundraising event (September 10, 2010, at 8PM EST & PST / 7PM CT) continues to grow.

The following supporters have now joined the broadcast: Elizabeth Banks, Kathy Bates, Sir Richard Branson, Michael Chiklis, George Clooney, Baron Davis, Emily Deschanel, Bill Hader, Dorothy Hamill, Anne Heche, Cheryl Hines, Randy Jackson, George Karl, Dr. Jon Lapook, Rob Lowe, Jane Lynch, Marlee Matlin, Shareen Mitchell, Olivia Munn, Lisa Niemi, Kelly Osbourne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Passmore, Will Smith, Sam Trammell, Denzel Washington, Aaron Yoo and Renee Zellweger.

T.I. Travels To Philadelphia For Charity

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Rapper T.I. was in Philadelphia for the July 23 weekend to co-host the Charlie Mack Party 4 Peace Celebrity Weekend to promote peace through the streets where a certain Fresh Prince once roamed.

Hoping to prevent rising violence and crime, Charlie Mack teamed up with longtime friend Will Smith, along with stars Nia Long, T.I., Tim Thomas, and more to participate in a three-day event where they traveled around Philadelphia to rally for an anti-violence campaign as well as raise funds for Mothers in Charge, a community support organization led by Dorothy Johnson-Speight for families who faced experiences with violence.

On Friday, July 23, a music festival was held to prepare for a weekend of peace and pleasantness, followed by the Love for the Kids Luncheon and the White Party the next day. The last day was youth-friendly, with asthma screenings and asthma education scheduled for children, a celebrities meet-and-greet for the kids, and their 13th annual celebrity basketball game.

Jackie Chan Writes About Charity Concert

Tue, 04 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Jackie Chan has blogged about the charity concert he took part in to raise funds for victims of China’s earthquake last month, which left over 1,484 dead, 1297 seriously injured, 11,849 injured and 332 missing.

“When I heard that Hong Kong would be hosting a fund raiser for the earthquake, I quickly changed my plans and made a stop in Hong Kong before all of the Shanghai Expo events,” wrote the star about the April 26 concert. "I told my good friends Chris Tucker, Lionel Richie, Kenny G, Brett Ratner, Will & Jaden Smith, etc about the earthquake and drought. They wanted to record a short clip for the Hong Kong charity show to let everyone know that there is support from America. I had all the tapes that had footage of my trip to Yushu and Yunan expressed delivered to Beijing. Charity has no boundary!

“By the end of the show, all of us got on stage… but I realized that everyone was swaying in all different directions! To avoid drowsiness to the audience at the coliseum and the audience at home, I stood on the chair in the first row and directed the finale. I just wanted to make sure that the show was entertaining and successful! During the show, I received news that there was another earthquake in Taiwan and a sandstorm in a few cities in China. What is going on in the world?!

Jada Pinkett Smith Wins Surfing Lesson In Red Cross Charity Auction

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith attended the American Red Cross of Santa Monica’s Red Tie Gala last weekend, and helped the charity raise some serious cash by buying a surfing lesson as part of a charity auction.

Jada was honored at the event – held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica on Saturday, April 17 – for her humanitarian work, and bid almost $6000 for the surfing lesson with Warren Metcalf and Garrett McNamara. As an added bonus, she was given a life-sized portrait of herself purchased in the auction by South Pacific Surgery Centers’ Simin Hashemizadeh for $25,000.

The evening also included a gourmet dinner designed by celebrity chef Nick Stellino , a private VIP reception, a Casino and live music, as well as the presentation of a very special “Red Cross Spirit Award” to the cast and crew of the hit TV series “HawthoRNe.”

Jackie Chan Jets in Singing to Boost Telethon

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Action hero Jackie Chan is once again flying through the air at high-speed to save the day.

Chan flew from the U.S. to Beijing on Saturday, April 3rd, and immediately recorded a song to raise money for people suffering from the devastating drought in southwestern China. He performed the song at a fundraising event that evening, helping to raise $29 million for victims.

Joining him at Saturday’s fundraising event were stars from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Jiang Wenli, Na Ying, Andy Lau, Elva Hsiao and Chyi Yu. Some of the stars performed, while others volunteered to answer phones and collect pledges.

Ricky Martin Leads All-Star Cast To Raise Charity Cash For Haiti

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

It has been a busy few weeks for Ricky Martin – last Monday he presented government officials in Puerto Rico a study on human trafficking, and now he is fronting a campaign to help victims of the Haitian earthquake.

The She Bangs singer returned to his native country of Puerto Rico last week to urge the government to act on the human trafficking problem. He presented officials with a study carried out by his Ricky Martin Foundation that pinpoints the country as having a major role in the illegal sex and kidnapping trade.

“This is happening on our island,” he said. “We cannot turn our back on the victims.”

Giving Back Fund Releases 2009's Top Celebrity Givers

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars is proud to announce that our partners at the Giving Back Fund have announced their third annual Giving Back 30, a list of celebrities who have made the largest donations to charity according to public records.

Readers may have been surprised to learn that Paul Newman replaced Oprah Winfrey as the most generous celebrity of 2008. Oprah had occupied the number one spot by a wide margin for the first two years of the list.

Before his death, Newman made a donation of nearly $21 million to his self-named Newman’s Own Foundation. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were second with a $13.5 million donation to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which distributed $6.4 million to charity, including a $2 million grant to The Global Health Committee for an Ethiopian clinic project, a $1 million grant to the Make it Right Foundation founded by Pitt, and $500,000 to the Armed Services YMCA USA.

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.

Will Smith To Host Nobel Peace Concert

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Will Smith – along with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith – is to host this year’s Nobel Peace Concert in Norway.

The concert will take place on December 11 and feature performances from Wyclef Jean, Donna Summer and Toby Keith. The Nobel Concert is an annual event televised in over 100 countries, and has in the past been hosted by Kevin Spacey, Uma Thurman, Sharon Stone, Salma Hayek and many others. Last year’s concert was hosted by Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson.

The winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on October 6 and will be bestowed the day before the concert, December 10 – the anniversary of founder Alfred Nobel’s death. Geir Lundestad, secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, was excited to have the Hollywood couple as concert hosts.

Will Smith's Children Support Charity Initiative

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Jaden and Willow Smith – the actor children of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith – have spoken about their support for PROJECT ZAMBI, a charity initiative started by a group of Hasbro employees to help raise awareness and funds for the estimated 15 million children who have lost parents and relatives to the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

“Willow and I joined Project Zambi to represent all the kids out there who want to make the world a better place,” said Jaden. “We want to encourage kids everywhere to lend a hand and join us in spreading the word about how much children who have been orphaned by AIDS in Africa need our help.”

The children have joined a host of stars – including Jessica Biel, George Clooney, Glenn Close, Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joely Fisher & Brad Garrett, Jennie Garth & Peter Facinelli, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys, Heidi Klum, Kathy Najimy, Rhea Perlman & Danny DeVito, Graham Rahal, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Taylor Swift, James Taylor, Barbara Walters, Denzel Washington, and Naomi Watts – in signing toy elephants to benefit charities such as Keep A Child Alive, the African Children’s Choir, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, the Chikumbuso Women and Orphans Project, the Children of Uganda, Global Action for Children, the Global Fund, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages and many more.

LTTS Exclusive: Hollywood Knights Slam-Dunk For Charity

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ Delinda Lombado recently got the chance to talk to the CEO of Hollywood Knights International, whose celebrity basketball team is a leader in charity fundraising.

Back in 1973, David Mirisch was way ahead of the curve. As founder of Hollywood Knights International, he is credited with being the first (or at least most important) person to pair celebrities with fundraising, producing some of the first consecutive tennis and golf charity tournaments in Hollywood.

Now headed by David’s son Michael (who took the reins as CEO in 1992), Hollywood Knights International are still going strong and its Celebrity Basketball Team has become a symbol for fundraising world-wide.

Stars Come Out For Charity The Night Before

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The entertainment industry’s biggest stars are set to shine this weekend at the annual Academy Awards, but the night before the big event they will be partying it up to support the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation.

The 7th annual The Night Before event will take place on Saturday, February 21, at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, and aims to help provide charitable health and community services to entertainment industry people in need.

The first Night Before event was held in 2003 and instantly became one of the most coveted invitations in town kicking off what is now a much-anticipated awards season tradition. Since its inception, the Night Before fundraiser has raised more than $30 million for MPTF.

Madonna Donates Over $3 Million In 2008

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Fox News has revealed Madonna’s charity spending for 2008 – claiming the singer donated over $3 million to charitable organizations.

According to tax filings, the singer gave $250,000 to Mobilization Against AIDS and $15,000 to the TJ Martell Foundation for Leukemia and Cancer Research. Other donations included $23,000 to a group that sets up playgrounds in Russia, as well as to churches and religious groups in California.

But the biggest beneficiary of the singer’s donations was the Kabbalah Center, the religious organization she is part of, which received $2,626,529. Another $4,025 went to Spirituality for Kids from royalties from her children’s books.

Will Smith Donates $1.3 Million To Charity In 2008

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Will Smith gave away over US$1.3 million to charitable causes over the last year.

Along with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the actor donated the money to a variety of religious, civic and arts groups through his Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation.

The single biggest contribution of $250,000 went to the Yesha Ministries of Philadelphia, a born-again Christian-based organization run by Reverend James Robinson. Another $200,000 went to a Christian ministry in Los Angeles called Living Waters. The Church Of Scientology religion also received hefty donations from the couple, with $67,500 going to the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Fund, $50,000 to the group’s Celebrity Centre in Hollywood and $5,000 to ABLE.

Will Smith Wants Fans To Help Each Other

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Will Smith is continuing to promote his latest film ‘Seven Pounds’ with an impressive attitude and an infectious spirit. The film, which opens December 19, is a drama about a man who helps total strangers, and this is precisely what Smith has been doing via hundreds of turkeys he’s been buying for the needy.

“If there’s a message, it’s ‘you gotta help somebody.’ Even if it’s somebody’s car breaking down, use your cell phone. Something little like that,” said Smith, “We gotta help one another to get the quality of life we’re all striving for.”

Fans at various screening locations – including Miami, Dallas, St. Louis, Cleveland, Denver and Charlotte, N.C, – have been asked to donate cans of food for a free pass to the film. Smith has turned these promotional opportunities into charitable events, surprising hundreds of fans by appearing at screenings, schools and hospitals without reporters or photographers because he didn’t want to turn them into publicity stunts.

Will Smith Spreads Joy At Children's Hospital

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Will Smith took time out from the charity premieres of his new movie to spread a little joy at a children’s hospital in Miami this week.

The star of Seven Pounds visited sick children at the Miami Children’s Hospital and handed out toys and DVDs, signed autographs, and also made a generous donation to the hospital’s fundraising foundation.

“We were deeply moved by Will Smith’s donation and the true spirit of joy he brought to the many young patients being treated here,” said the Foundation’s president, Lucy Morillo. “We are very appreciative of his heartfelt support and honored to have such a celebrated figure as part of our Miami Children’s Hospital family.”

Will Smith Brings Turkeys To Movie Premiere

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Actor Will Smith hit South Miami on Monday, November 17, for a charity event premiere of his new film, “Seven Pounds.”

Hundreds of people began lining up early in hopes of catching a glimpse of Smith before the red carpet gala began at 7:00 p.m. at the Shops of Sunset Place.

“I’m at a point in my life where I want all of the work that I do to mean something,” said Smith, “I want there to be ideas and concepts and lessons about things that I believe in.”

5 Friends Voting Video Makes A Comeback

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:30:00 +0000

Hollywood is a land of sequels – and so be prepared for another one. Hot on the heals of last month’s 5 Friends video organized by Declare Yourself comes 5 Friends 2.

With only days until the US elections, a new video has been produced to encourage people to get out and vote, with stars such as Orlando Bloom, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dogg, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Ben Stiller, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg, Justin Timberlake, Zach Braff, Colin Farrell, Neil Patrick Harris, Scarlett Johansson, Shia LeBeouf, Tobey Maguire, Ryan Reynolds, and Jason Segal making an appearance.

Along with a selection of people off the street, the stars say exactly why they are voting.