Look To The Stars News: Jason Mraz

Guitar String Bracelets Raise Thousands For Charity

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Wear Your Music, the creators of the Original Artist Bracelet, succeeded in donating over 60,000 dollars to charity in 2011. The Original Artist Bracelet is custom-made from the intertwined guitar strings of music icons with profits donated to individual musicians’ charities of choice.

Over 150 artists including modern favorites Jason Mraz, John Mayer and Jack Johnson, classic legends like Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend and Gregg Allman and country music icons like Dolly Parton and Tim McGraw are donating their strings to create The Original Artist Bracelets.

“We created this company in 2007 when we noticed that musicians were just tossing away their used guitar strings,” explains Hannah Garrison, Co-Founder of Wear Your Music. “We wanted to use these guitar strings to make a difference by recycling a piece of rock memorabilia to create bracelets for fans. We took it a step further and decided to donate the proceeds from the sale of the Artist Bracelet to the musician’s charity of choice.”

Jason Mraz Launches Charity Foundation

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Atlantic recording artist Jason Mraz has announced the establishment of the Jason Mraz Foundation, devoted to supporting a number of charities for which he has been a dedicated and impassioned advocate.

The Grammy Award-winning tunesmith heralded the Foundation’s launch on December 3rd with a sold out intimate benefit concert at the famed Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California, near San Diego, where Mraz began his extraordinary career by performing in coffee shops.

Long known for his many philanthropic activities, Mraz created the Jason Mraz Foundation to sustain organizations aligned with his four pillars of service: human equality, environment preservation, arts and education, and recovery and assistance. Among the organizations supported by the Jason Mraz Foundation are Free The Slaves, dedicated to eradicating child slavery around the world; True Colors Fund, which promotes the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality; Surfrider Foundation, dedicated to protecting our world’s oceans, beaches, and waves; the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which works to protect wildlife and wild places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth; youth organizations VH1 Save The Music Foundation and Free The Children ; the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC); and the health/rehabilitation charities MusiCares and Life Rolls On, dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury and utilizes action sports as a platform to inspire infinite possibilities despite paralysis.

Celebrity Charity Gifts That Give Twice

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Looking for a gift to top all gifts this holiday season? Leading charity auction site charitybuzz.com is offering access to hundreds of once-in-a-lifetime celebrity experiences.

The site’s “Gifts That Give Twice Holiday Auction” features lots ranging from the chance to meet Christina Aguilera on set at The Voice to the chance to hang with BB King backstage.

Auction proceeds support the work of hundreds of nonprofit organizations around the world, such as the the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, Tibet House, True Colors Fund, GO Campaign and more.

Katy Perry Joins Celebrity Charity Ambassador Class

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:30:00 +0000

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation has announced its 2012 Ambassador Class, dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in our nation’s public schools.

Since 1997, The VH1 Save The Music Foundation has provided over 1.8 million children with the gift of a complete education that includes music. The Foundation’s Ambassador Program, comprised of prominent musicians, athletes and stars of the film world who have committed to being the Foundation’s most powerful advocates and fundraisers, have helped raise over 1 million dollars to support the Foundation’s cause. Joining Alumni Ambassadors like Beyonce, Colbie Caillat, Jamie Foxx, Natasha Bedingfield and Gavin DeGraw, the 2012 VH1 Save The Music Foundation Ambassador class includes: Katy Perry, Matthew Morrison, Lupe Fiasco, Gavin Rossdale, Jordin Sparks, Vanessa Carlton, AJ McLean and Chris Daughtry.

Throughout the year, the Ambassador Class will continue to raise awareness for The VH1 Save The Music Foundation and deliver key messages about the importance of music education in a young person’s life. They will help increase profits to further the Foundation’s goal of providing instrumental music education programs in U.S. public elementary and middle schools. Ambassadors will even perform at select national events and visit with public school students to share their experiences of how music has impacted their lives, passion and careers.

Surfrider Foundation To Host Celebrity Expression Session

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:05:00 +0000

Join celebrities from film, music and television at Malibu’s Surfrider Beach on Saturday, September 10 as they surf First Point in the Surfrider Foundation’s 6th Annual Celebrity Expression Session presented by Cali Bamboo.

The hour-long free surf gives participants the opportunity to demonstrate their surfing skills on Malibu’s famous wave, while raising funds and awareness for the organization.

This is the fourth year that the Malibu Surfing Association’s MSA Classic is hosting the Celebrity Expression Session, which has attracted supporters such as Jason Mraz, Eric Balfour, Anthony Kiedis and Flea, and has raised more than $25,000 to protect our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. The MSA Classic is the premier contest in the Coalition of Surfing Clubs’ annual series. This year’s MSA Classic celebrates the club’s 50th anniversary, and is expected to draw 300 athletes from some of the world’s elite surfing clubs.

Jason Mraz And Scott Caan To Be Honored By Life Rolls On

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The signature fundraiser for the Life Rolls On Foundation – Night by the Ocean – takes place on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey, CA.

This year, actors Dave Annable, Odette Annable and Jason Lewis will serve as the 2011 Honorary Chairpersons as LRO salutes Hawaii Five-O star Scott Caan and Grammy award-winning recording artist Jason Mraz for their tremendous support of Life Rolls On Foundation. X Games host Sal Masekela will also return as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.

Night by the Ocean is the signature fundraiser for Life Rolls On Foundation and has quickly become one of the most anticipated charity events on the Southern California social calendar. Since its inception, this extraordinary gala has raised more than one million dollars to support quality of life programs for young people affected by spinal cord injury.

No Nukes Celebrity Charity Concert Returns After 32 Years

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0000

On Sunday August 7, an all-star line-up performed a benefit concert for Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. Among the artists to take part were Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jason Mraz, The Doobie Brothers, Tom Morello, John Hall, Kitaro, Jonathan Wilson, Sweet Honey in the Rock and many more.

Proceeds from the concert will be distributed to Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) to support Japan disaster relief efforts, and organizations worldwide working to promote safe, alternative, non-nuclear energy.

The concert follows a massive series of No Nukes shows performed at Madison Square Garden back in 1979, which were organized by Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Graham Nash and John Hall after the Three Mile Island nuclear accident.

Big Stars Align For Farm Aid Celebrity Charity Concert

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Farm Aid 2011- the celebrity charity concert for farmers – will take place at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City on August 13.

Each year, Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews headline a Farm Aid concert to bring together a wide variety of musicians, farmers and fans for one mission: keeping family farmers on their land. Farm Aid is the longest running benefit concert series in America, raising more than $37 million to help family farmers thrive all over the country while inspiring millions of people to learn about the Good Food movement.

“I’m looking forward to bringing my friends together in Kansas for the first time to honor family farmers” said Farm Aid president Willie Nelson. “Farm Aid celebrates the independent family farmers and ranchers who make this country strong, and we know we can only fix the challenges our country faces with the know-how of family farmers.”

Bill Clinton Honored At Celebrity Charity Hope For Children Gala

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Regis Philbin honored Bill Clinton at a special celebrity charity event on Tuesday, June 7, in New York.

The tenth annual Samsung Hope For Children Gala at Cipriani Wall Street saw performances by a number of stars whose charities benefited from the event, including John Legend (The Show Me Campaign), Jason Mraz (The Jason Mraz Foundation), Branford Marsalis (New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village) and Harry Connick Jr. (New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village). Appearances were also made by Jennifer Lopez (The Maribel Foundation), Demi Moore (Demi and Ashton Foundation), Dan Marino (The Dan Marino Foundation), Boomer Esiason (The Boomer Esiason Foundation), Joe Torre (Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation) and Jimmie Johnson (The Jimmie Johnson Foundation) and many more.

Hope for Children is Samsung’s ongoing philanthropic commitment to help children live smarter, healthier and more sustainable lives. Through Hope for Children, Samsung works with its U.S. retailer partners and dedicated network of charitable organizations associated with renowned public figures. Collectively, these partnerships generate broad awareness and propel advancements in children’s education, healthcare and sustainability.

Demi And Ashton Fight Child Sex Slavery With Celebrity Charity Video

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher have been joined by a host of their celebrity friends – including Justin Timberlake, Sean Penn, Jamie Foxx, Drake, Jason Mraz and Bradley Cooper – for a new video initiative to fight child sex slavery.

Demi and Ashton are using their charity – the DNA Foundation – to launch the campaign, with its message that “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls.” According to CNN, 100,000 to 300,000 American children between 11 and 14 are vulnerable to being sold for sex every year.

“The average age of a girl involved in the sex trade is 13,” said Kutcher. "And the average man who buys a girl is 30-years-old, has no prior criminal record, and has a well-paying job.

Annie Duke To Host Charity Poker For Life Rolls On

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Poker legend Annie Duke and Life Rolls On founder, Jesse Billauer, are set to host the 1st Annual “A Night of Poker” on May 7 in Gardena California to benefit Billauer’s Life Rolls On Foundation.

Life Rolls On, a subsidiary of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, was founded in 1996 by Jesse Billauer. On the verge of becoming a professional surfer, Billauer suffered a spinal cord injury while surfing and was rendered a quadriplegic, Jesse’s spirit was not broken, and the phrase “Life Rolls On” was born.

Today, LRO remains dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury and utilizes action sports as a platform to inspire infinite possibilities despite paralysis.

Cyndi Lauper Launches Celebrity Charity Auction

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Between a whirlwind tour, launching a new campaign for MAC cosmetics, and filming a reality show, Cyndi Lauper has had a busy past year.

That hasn’t stopped the talented artist and gay-rights activist from rallying an impressive list of stars from music and entertainment to help kick off the True Colors Winter Charity Auction on charitybuzz.com to benefit the True Colors Fund in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.

Incredible experiences and memorabilia from Ricky Martin, Jason Mraz, Rosie O’Donnell, Dolly Parton, Sarah Silverman, David Gray, U2, Lady Gaga and many more celebrities and artists are up for auction now through February 10th at www.charitybuzz.com/TrueColorsWinter10.

LTTS Exclusive: Join Demi Moore And Ashton Kutcher At Celebrity Charity Freedom Awards

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:30:00 +0000

LookToTheStars.org is proud to support the star-studded Free The Slaves Freedom Awards in California this month, and we are offering our readers an exclusive discount for those wishing to attend.

Free The Slaves have just announced that Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher will be presenters at the Awards, which will also feature a performance by Jason Mraz.

The 2010 Freedom Awards will be a soul-revving, heart-thumping, shout-out-loud celebration! The event will take place on Sunday, November 7th at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center (7 minutes south of Los Angeles International Airport, just off the 405 freeway).

Jason Mraz To Headline Freedom Awards Charity Event

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Jason Mraz will headline a special celebrity charity concert event for Free The Slaves next month.

Free The Slaves works with a wide variety of people, be it Restavek children in Haiti, war children in Uganda, women and children forced into prostitution in Nepal or entire villages in debt bondage in India. Free The Slaves rescues, rehabilitates and educates victims, and also does substantial advocacy on their behalf.

The organization will hold its Freedom Awards on November 7th, awarding those who actively work to eradicate human trafficking and slavery. Previous awards have been attended by Desmond Tutu, Camilla Belle and Demi Moore.

Andre Agassi And Friends Raise $8.5 Million At Charity Grand Slam

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

As reported by LookToTheStars.org last week, Andre Agassi hosted his star-studded Grand Slam For Children on October 9. The event saw a host of famous faces hit the stage, and raised a massive $8.5 million for the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation’s educational work.

Among those to perform were Elton John, Jason Mraz, Jennifer Hudson, Rob Thomas, David Foster and Bill Cosby, and an auction feature items donated by Katie Couric, Michael Phelps, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Robin Williams, Wayne Gretzky and many more.

The live auction saw a personal dinner with Robin Williams go under the hammer for 6 people at $100,000 each. Lars Ulrich’s drum lessons went for $35,000, and a trip with Freida Pinto to India went for $75,000.

Wear Your Music For A Unique Celebrity Charity Gift Idea

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:30:00 +0000

This holiday season, give the gift of rock history while supporting charity! WEAR YOUR MUSIC is offering fans of everyone from Carlos Santana to Avril Lavigne a chance to take home a piece of rock and roll history, while supporting charities such as the World Food Program USA, UNICEF and others.

The New York-based group creates 100% eco-friendly jewelry that rocks—literally, turning used guitar strings from artists spanning the musical spectrum into stylish bracelets, which are sold with a certificate of authenticity. “These are strings that these musicians have used and would normally throw away,” says co-president and designer Hannah Garrison, “It’s great that we can recycle them and also offer people a chance to wear rock n roll on their wrists.” In addition, the fine silver used on each bracelet is also 100% recycled, as is the DVD case each bracelet comes in.

Elton John And Friends To Rock Andre Agassi's Charity Bash

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Elton John, Jason Mraz, Jennifer Hudson, Rob Thomas, David Foster and Bill Cosby will perform at Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam for Children on October 9.

The annual event supports the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation’s efforts to transform education and benefits the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy (Agassi Prep), a K-12 public charter school in Las Vegas that strives to provide children with a first-class education. Hosted by tennis legend and philanthropist Andre Agassi and presented by Genworth Financial, the 2010 Grand Slam for Children will take place Saturday, Oct. 9 at Wynn Las Vegas.

Celebrating its 15th year, the Grand Slam brings together international stars – from music to comedy – each year to build awareness and raise money for the Foundation. Dedicated to transforming education, the Foundation opened the Agassi Academy in 2001; in 2009, the public charter school graduated its first senior class with 100 percent of graduates accepted into college. The Foundation’s work is directly impacting students in Las Vegas, Agassi’s hometown community, but it has broader implications for education nationwide.

Farm Aid Launches Celebrity Charity Auction

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Farm Aid 25 takes place in Milwaukee on October 2, and a number of ticket packages are going under the hammer in an online auction to raise money for the charity event.

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family-farm centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $37 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

This year’s concert will be held in Milwaukee on Saturday, October 2 at Miller Park. The performing artist line-up includes: Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Norah Jones, Jason Mraz, Jeff Tweedy, Band of Horses, The BoDeans, Amos Lee, Robert Francis, Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real.

Christina Applegate To Host Celebrity Charity Surf Session

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:30:00 +0000

On Saturday, September 11, 2010 Martyn Lenoble and Christina Applegate will host the Surfrider Foundation’s fifth annual Celebrity Expression Session at First Point, Surfrider Beach in Malibu.

The 45-minute free surf gives celebrity surfers from music, film and television the opportunity to have some fun demonstrating their skills on Malibu’s famous point, while also raising money and awareness for the Surfrider Foundation.

“The Surfrider Foundation is a fantastic organization doing great things for our beaches and coastlines,” says Martyn Lenoble. “We are extremely excited and honored they approached us to host and surf in the Celebrity Expression Session.”

LTTS Exclusive: Jason Mraz And Friends Talk Charity

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:30:00 +0000

As reported earlier this month by LookToTheStars.org, Jason Mraz was honored by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) as their 2010 Humanitarian of the Year during Liquid Nation Ball 7 in La Jolla, California. Our reporter, Delinda Lombardo, was at the event, and talked exclusively to Jason and some of the other guests about the charities involved.

Mraz is an avid supporter of Jesse Billauer and his organization Life Rolls On, which utilizes the sport of surfing to improve the quality of life of young people affected by spinal cord injury. Jesse was left a quadriplegic after a surfing accident in 1996.

“I want to be like my favorite people that contribute big things to the world, people like Jesse,” Jason told us. “When I met him, I just wanted to know him, know what he was up to, he plays such a big game in the world, he’s up to big things and I wanted to emulate the qualities that he has, in my world.”

LTTS Exclusive: Surf Charity Honors Jason Mraz As Humanitarian Of The Year

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:00:00 +0000

On Saturday night, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) honored Jason Mraz as their 2010 Humanitarian of the Year during Liquid Nation Ball 7 in La Jolla, California.

Liquid Nation is the official fundraiser for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, which benefits more than a dozen surf-related non-profits including Life Rolls On, Surfer’s Healing and Keep-a-Breast.

Jason Mraz Makes Charity Trip To Ghana

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Jason Mraz spent five days in Ghana last week with Free The Slaves, a charity involved in putting an end to worldwide slavery.

Mraz spent his time in the country traveling rescue shelters for slaves – as well as Challenging Heights, a school in Winneba founded by a former child slave, where many students are former slaves.

Founded by Jolene Smith and Peggy Callahan, the organization liberates slaves around the world and helps them rebuild their lives and researches real world solutions to eradicate slavery forever. The charity uses world class research and compelling stories from the frontlines of slavery to convince the powerful and the powerless that slavery can be a thing of the past.

Hayden Panettiere Leads Celebrity PSA To Stop Dolphin Slaughter

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Some of film and television’s biggest stars have joined the makers of Oscar-winning conservation documentary The Cove to create a PSA encouraging fans to help stop the senseless slaughter of dolphins in Japan.

The My Friend Is… PSA features stars such as Hayden Panettiere, Woody Harrelson, Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as they describe the slaughter of over 25,000 dolphins in Taiji every year.

The video has been produced by TakePart.com and explains how most of Japan is not even aware that the slaughter takes place.

Jason Mraz To Be Honored By Surf Industry Charity

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Humanitarian Fund is proud to announce Jason Mraz will be honored as the 2010 Humanitarian of the Year at Liquid Nation Ball 7, the official fundraiser for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, on Saturday, August 14, in La Jolla, California.  

The two time Grammy award winner is known for his selfless dedication to charitable causes, and is an avid supporter of Life Rolls On, an organization that utilizes surfing to improve the quality of life of young people affected by spinal cord injury. Mraz has dedicated himself to promoting Life Rolls On by garnering public support, serving as an honorary chairman for their events, and performing benefit concerts. In addition to his efforts for Life Rolls On, Mraz’s humanitarian work also extends to groups such as the Save The Music Foundation, MusiCares, Free The Children, as well as his hometown arts program, SPARC.   

“The SIMA Humanitarian Fund is honored to recognize Jason Mraz as the 2010 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year,” said Fernando Aguerre, SIMA Humanitarian Fund President and Liquid Nation Ball Chairman and co-founder. “As a fellow surfer who calls the beaches of San Diego home, Jason is one of our own. He not only inspires us and millions of young people around the world with his amazing musical talent, but we are all immensely impressed by his humble and eager heart to help others and make this world a better place.”  

Stars Give A Damn For Equality

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0000

There was so much interest in Cyndi Lauper’s new True Colors Fund campaign this week that the website crashed.

The We Give A Damn campaign features a video with number of stars – including Anna Paquin, Elton John, Eric Roberts, Jason Mraz, Whoopi Goldberg, Kim Kardashian, Wanda Sykes, Clay Aiken, Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne – supporting the Fund’s fight for equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

“I’ve come to realize equality means a lot to people who don’t have it and that, as a straight person, I have a responsibility to stand up for gay and transgender people each and every day,” said Cyndi Lauper.