Look To The Stars News: Anna Kournikova

Andy Roddick And Elton John Help Each Other For Charity

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Tennis star Andy Roddick held his yearly charity event for the Andy Roddick Foundation and this year he received a little help from good pal Sir Elton John.

During the event, Sir Elton offered a lucky bidder the opportunity to pick his set list for the evening, and winning songs included “Tiny Dancer” and “Crocodile Rock.”

Guests in attendance included Brooklyn Decker, John Legend and his gal Chrissy Teigen among others, and according to guests “Andy was the first to stand up for ovations after Elton’s songs, and the last person to sit down.”

Proceeds from the event were given to Roddick’s foundation, so it seems only fair that a few days later, Roddick in turn lent his support to Elton John for the WTT Smash Hits charity event in Baton Rouge.

The WTT Smash Hits event raised more than $640,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Baton Rouge area AIDS charity, thanks to the incredible line-up of tennis stars involved.

Guests enjoyed some hard hitting tennis action compliments of Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas, Billie Jean King, Anna Kournikova, Serena Williams and others, in an event that has raised more than $9.6 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local charities throughout the U.S.

Captained by longtime friends Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John, the Smash Hits players formed two teams and faced off in a modified World TeamTennis match, but before the action, players took to the stage to raise more than $120,000 via a live auction.

Items sold included a pair of tennis lessons with Roddick for $12,000 each; Anna Kournikova and Serena Williams helped add $12,000 to the total by auctioning off a Super Bowl package to a room full of Saints fans; and the top auction item of the night was two Wimbledon packages featuring Billie Jean King’s personal Center Court tickets which went for $20,000 each.

Teri Hatcher Completes Triathlon For Charity

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher was one of several stars to compete for charity in the 2009 Nautica Malibu Triathlon during the weekend.

“I’m still standing , yeah yeah yeah,” blogged the star. "What a great experience I had doing my first official triathlon. Many many thanks to all those who donated! I couldn’t have had more generous support from friends, family and fans. I couldn’t have been with a nicer more supportive team than Team Disney. We raised funds for Children's Hospital Los Angeles in record numbers. I am proud and grateful and humbled by all the efforts put forth by the thousands of contestants and spectators.

“I have a new article posting on Modernmom.com on finishing the triathlon called “To compete or not to compete” and an earlier written one called “How is motherhood like a triathlon.” Please visit their site for some light fun reading."

Other stars that competed in the triathlon for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles included Felicity Huffman and actor husband William H. Macy, Anna Kournikova and Saved By The Bell star Mario Lopez. The event was kicked off by David Hasselhoff.

Anna Kournikova Pulls On Her Running Shoes For Charity

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Anna Kournikova competed in the Second Annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon in Florida on Sunday, an event that raised money for charity.

The annual event – which last year attracted a host of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey – raised money for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This was also the second time Kournikova has competed in the event as part of the K-Swiss team. She ran 4km as part of the three-person team.

The tennis star has also blogged about her recent trip to New York, in which she rang the Stock Exchange Bell for the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America.

“The purpose of my trip was to promote Cartoon Network’s “Get Animated / Red Rubber Ball” campaign during National Boys and Girls Club Week," she wrote. "Basically, I appeared on some TV shows in order to encourage kids to stay active, get outside and play, and to socialize with each other in person. These days, kids have so many gadgets that it’s hard to get them to put down the video games and go outside to play; but we all know the amazing benefits of physical activity! All together, I made 5 press appearances. Each show was fun to do in its own way, and I was even able to do some of them with kids from the local Boys and Girls Clubs. They were all very excited to be on TV and were constantly texting their friends about it.

“Ringing the Opening Bell at The New York Stock Exchange was a very educational experience. It was interesting to see how everything works on the trading floor, especially nowadays with everything that’s going on with the global economy.

“Overall, the trip went really well and hopefully I was able to get out the message of encouraging kids to stay active, socialize, and just be kids, to the audiences of each of the shows.”

Anna Kournikova Rings The Bells Of Charity

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tennis star Anna Kournikova was in New York yesterday to ring the opening bell on the stock exchange for charity.

The 27-year-old attended the event on behalf of the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America, an organization she has been involved with since 2004. First established in 1860 and affiliated in 1906, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America can be found in over 4,300 locations around the US and help over 4.8 million children and young adults to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

“I’m proud to be associated with a group like Boys & Girls Clubs of America who recognizes this need and is proactively providing resources to make this happen,” she said.

Last month, Kournikova undertook a charity mission of another kind when she visited Haiti for Population Services International's Five and Alive/Youth AIDS programs, initiatives that help improve the lives of kids around the world, ages five and under, by educating and helping their families to prevent causes of death such as AIDS, malaria, malnutrition and diarrhea (caused by unsafe drinking water).

In her official blog, Kournikova wrote: "As I’m sure most of you are aware, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and it’s been extremely difficult to try to describe and express what I saw while I was there. You can read all the statistics on paper, see pictures of the kids and families that are there and see pictures of all the destruction that occurred during last year’s hurricane season, but all that information fails to tell the real story of the people that live through it every day. It is completely devastating and difficult to process in one’s mind. It becomes even harder to understand when you realize that Haiti is only about 2 hours away from Florida (by plane) and how close it is to the prosperity that we enjoy here in the United States.

“For me personally, I’ve seen poverty before, that wasn’t what shocked me the most. Having grown up in Russia, where 20% of the population lives below the poverty line, I’ve seen kids running around barefoot because their families couldn’t afford shoes. What shocked me about Haiti, where 70% of the population lives on less than $2 a day, was just the complete lack of basic human needs, and the amazing amount of disease and sickness that is so prevalent within the population. Diarrhea is rampant and is a major cause of infant deaths, simply due to the lack of clean drinking water. I’ve never seen so much trash and waste, on every street, on every single road. They don’t have the systems to get rid of the waste in a proper way, not to mention recycling, so they have to burn it in the streets. There’s no infrastructure or programs of any kind, whether it’s plumbing, waste control, sewers, clean water, etc. It was so difficult to see those conditions with my own eyes.”

Destination Fashion Attracts Big Names For Charity

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Destination Fashion 2009, presented by Stewart Rahr, was a memorable night of music, fashion and philanthropy under the stars at South Florida’s Bal Harbour Shops on Saturday night, March 7, when more than 2,000 of Miami’s finest came out for the star-studded fundraiser to benefit The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis and raise in excess of $3.8 million.

Multi-platinum recording artist Seal delivered a rockin’ show and The Pointer Sisters performed on the same stage earlier in the evening and wowed the crowd. American iconic designer Michael Kors treated the fashionista crowd to a spectacular runway presentation of his newest collection that was straight from New York’s Fashion Week, with a little Miami fine-tuning. The runway extravaganza was presented by Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour.

Highlights of the evening included The Barth A. Green Spirit Award presented to golf legend Jack Nicklaus and The Buoniconti Fund Award given to Stanley Whitman of Bal Harbour Shops. Event presenting sponsor Stewart Rahr thrilled the crowd as he announced a donation of $1 million to the Buoniconti Fund. Also included in the evening’s program was the presentation of the Women of Substance & Style Honorees, introducing 40 of South Florida’s most notable women.

The list of notable attendees is an impressive line-up that included honorary co-chairs Tommy Lee Jones and wife Dawn and event chairs Nick Buoniconti, Marc Buoniconti, Dr. Barth Green, M.D., Gretchen Jordan, Suzie Sayfie and Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard. Other celebrities and special guests included Gloria Estefan, Anna Kournikova and Jerry Rice among others.

Destination Fashion 2009 guests partied through the “Decades: 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and Today” in the dazzling Bal Harbour Shops and enjoyed international cuisine, delicious libations, live music and interactive entertainment, which included a stunning silent auction offering and the Tiffany & Co. “Chances for a Cure Wall” loaded with luxury items. Some memorable auction items that were the big –ticket draws were Saks Fifth Avenue package for 2 to attend Michael Kors show at New York Fashion Week with 2-night stay at The Plaza and a one-of-a-kind white crocodile Fendi bag.

The Buoniconti Fund is the fundraising arm of The Miami Project.

Stars Raise Megabucks At ICAP Charity Day

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

ICAP (IAP.L), the world’s premier interdealer broker, raised $16.3 million (£11 million) worldwide on its 16th annual Charity Day, beating the $13.7 million (£9.2 million) raised in 2007. The money raised will be donated to over 100 charities worldwide.

“To raise over $16 million in one day is an incredible achievement, particularly in the current environment,” said Michael Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of ICAP. “It is the efforts of our customers, staff and supporters that made Charity Day 2008 such a fantastic success. Many needy people around the world will benefit from their efforts.”

In New York, ICAP hosted many celebrity spokespeople from the various charities it gave to this year, including: Boomer Esiason, Gary Carter, Anna Kournikova, Don Zimmer, Amy Adams, Joe Montana, Matt Dillon, Jeff Gordon, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, and Julianne Moore.

“I was thrilled to be involved in ICAP’s charity day,” said Julianne Moore. “They were so generous and so excited to be helping so many. It was really wonderful, in a year where there has been so much economic distress, to be with a group that focused on giving so whole heartedly. Every one of us at the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance was so thankful to be included in their tremendous generosity. Thank you, thank you ICAP!!”

The charities the celebrities raised cash for included the Boomer Esiason Foundation, the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America, Communities in Schools, Four Rings Family Foundation, Goal USA, Refugees International, The Jeff Gordon Foundation, Partners in Health, Equality Now, Robin Hood Foundation, and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.

“It’s disheartening to see and hear all the bad news that’s going around these days, and that’s why we can’t change the way we look at the world and interact with others, especially those groups like ours, which focus on an illness or disease and really change it for the better,” said Boomer Esiason, veteran NFL quarterback and founder of BEF. “I want to send a heartfelt thanks to all my new friends at ICAP and their customers for such a wonderful and supportive day.”

ICAP has raised a total of $79.2 million (£53 million) for Charity Day since it was started in 1993. A full list of the charities ICAP supported this year as well as more information about how ICAP’s donation will make a difference to the many lives receiving this aid can be found at www.icapcharityday.com.

Charity Day Stars Announced

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

As reported by Look To The Stars last week, ICAP – the world’s premier interdealer broker – will hold its 16th annual global Charity Day on Wednesday, 10 December. On this day, all company revenues will be donated to over 100 charities around the world. We can now reveal some of the stars confirmed to make appearances.

Heading the lineup will be Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. They will be joined by tennis ace Anna Kournikova, race car champion Jeff Gordon, and football legends Joe Montana and Boomer Esiason.

The stars will be appearing at Harborside Financial Center, Plaza 5, Jersey City between 9am and 5pm to rally employee enthusiasm and interact with clients to help boost trading volumes.

Charities that will benefit from the ICAP Charity Day – which has raised over $84 million for charities around the world since ist inception – include Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America, Communities in Schools, Equality Now, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Center; Partners In Health; Stop Hunger Now; The Boomer Esiason Foundation; Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance; and the Four Rings Montana Family Foundation.

There will be more surprise guests on the day, so stay tuned to Look To The Stars for more information.

Team Elton John Wins Charity Tennis Event

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Team Elton John has won the 16th annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits event and raised over $400,000 for charity.

Held at the Kennesaw State University on Sunday, October 12, the event was organized by John and tennis legend Billie Jean King to raise cash for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund.

Sir Elton – a huge sports fan – kicked off the tennis action in a Battle of the Sexes match with Andy Roddick against Anna Kournikova and Martina Navratilova, winning easily 3-1.

Over $171,000 of the event’s total was raised in a live auction held before the games, with top items including two Wimbledon packages with Billie Jean King’s personal Center Court seats – which sold for $21,000 each – as well as Elton John’s autographed piano bench and a Super Bowl package. Roddick surprised other bidders by successfully acquiring a $17,000 artwork made by Martina Navratilova and Slovak artist Juraj Kralik, created when Navratilova hit a paint-soaked tennis balls onto a blank canvas.

“All of the money raised here today will stay here in the Atlanta market and in Georgia,” said Sir Elton during a press conference. “Forty six percent of AIDS cases are now being reported in the South. We are distinctly aware of the problems here and the South will continue to be a priority for the foundation.”

Stars Hit The Catwalk For St. Judes

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A bevy of stars stepped out on the catwalk on Saturday night for the 5th annual Runway For Life benefit in Beverly Hills.

Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ross McCall, Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, Jonny Lee Miller, Daisy Fuentes, Jason Alexander, Nancy O'Dell, Cybill Shepherd, Natasha Henstridge and Jaime Pressley were among the stars to show their fashionable sides in the fundraiser for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and William Shatner was spotted in the audience.

Over 1,000 guests attended the event – held at the Beverly Hilton – which raised well over $1 million for St. Judes. Runway for Life is one of the biggest fundraising events of the hospital’s calendar, and has netted over $6.5 million since it was first staged.

Past events have included appearances by Cindy Crawford, Anna Kournikova, Alison Sweeney and many more.

Annie Lennox Honored By YouthAIDS

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:45:00 -0000

Annie Lennox was honored at the 2008 YouthAIDS Gala last week, an event honoring individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Hosted by Ashley Judd, YouthAIDS Global Ambassador, the ceremony – held on October 3 at the Ritz-Carlton in Virginia – also honored Bob Geldof and MTV CEO Judy McGrath.

This year’s event – dubbed The Power Of Music and voted by Washingtonian magazine as one of the top five social events in Washington, D.C. – included a gathering of musicians, artists, health professionals, celebrities, business and political leaders, and media who share YouthAIDS’ commitment to protecting young people from HIV/AIDS.

MC for the evening was Sharon Osbourne, and the event featured a musical performance by John Mellencamp. Former tennis star Anna Kournikova was spotted in the crowd, as was Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza.

Music plays a powerful role in educating populations, breaking-down cultural barriers, reinforcing behavior change and informing low-literacy populations about available products, services and care provided by YouthAIDS in more than 60 countries around the globe. Net proceeds from the gala directly benefited YouthAIDS programs and approximately 90 cents of every dollar donated to YouthAIDS supports their programs in the field.

More information on YouthAIDS can be found at their website.

Look To The Stars News: Anna Kournikova

Andy Roddick And Elton John Help Each Other For Charity

Related past articles

Teri Hatcher Completes Triathlon For Charity

Related past articles

Anna Kournikova Pulls On Her Running Shoes For Charity

Related past articles

Anna Kournikova Rings The Bells Of Charity

Related past articles

Destination Fashion Attracts Big Names For Charity

Related past articles

Stars Raise Megabucks At ICAP Charity Day

Related past articles

Charity Day Stars Announced

Related past articles

Team Elton John Wins Charity Tennis Event

Related past articles

Stars Hit The Catwalk For St. Judes

Related past articles

Annie Lennox Honored By YouthAIDS

Related past articles