Look To The Stars News: June Sarpong

LTTS Exclusive - An Interview With Jack Petchey: Philanthropist

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look To The Stars’ UK correspondent Richard Barker – nominated as Britain’s Most Inspiring Fundraiser – recently met with one of Britain’s top philanthropists and filed this report.

Jack Petchey is a British businessman and leading philanthropist, born and brought up in the East End of London. During the second world war, he served in the Royal Navy and used his Navy discharge pay to start a car hire and car sales business. This grew into a business empire worth close to half a billion pounds.

The Jack Petchey Foundation, formed in 1999, has given over £50 million to youth programs. He started a Young Achiever award scheme recognising “extreme endeavour and to help young people to help themselves”. Over 60,000 young people have received awards since the scheme’s inception.

Jack Petchey was chairman of British football club Watford F.C. for 10 years, buying the club off singer Sir Elton John in 1987. Jack re-sold the club to Sir Elton in 1997. In 2004 Jack Petchey was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty The Queen.

I am one of Jack Petchey’s Young Achievers. They notified me that I had won the award on my seventeenth birthday. I was fortunate enough to meet Jack Petchey at the awards ceremony, a seminal moment in my life. I never knew that people gave so much time and money back to their communities. It was like meeting a rock star! I suddenly realised that I wanted to be in his position. This was definitely a life changing experience. I’ve since launched my own charitable appeal and have helped to raise over £100,000 for good causes.

I recently had lunch with Jack Petchey and Trudy Kilcullen – The Jack Petchey Foundation’s Chief Operations Officer. Jack filled me with inspiring and positive thoughts, so I sent Jack a few questions in order to share his amazing story with you.

What motivated you to create the Jack Petchey Foundation?

I have taken a lot out of life and I believe that it is everybody’s responsibility to give back. That is why I set up the Foundation, particularly to support and encourage young people to achieve their potential, make the most of their lives and give back to society.

What is a Young Achiever?

An Achiever is someone who tries their absolute best and looks for the solutions in life. We reward over 12,000 young people each year, ordinary youngsters who have done their best and made a difference to their lives and their community.

Have you met anyone who has inspired you?

The people who particularly inspired me were those who supported me in my youth. In my life story The 50/50 Man (see www.jackpetcheyfoundation.co.uk for further information) I write about those early influences and how much they affirmed me and encouraged me in life. It is about the relationship and the encouragement that adults give to young people that inspires them to develop their confidence and outlook on life.

Would you encourage young people to become entrepreneurs?

It depends what you mean by ‘entrepreneurs’. Not everyone can become successful business person or an actor or singer. We have to look at our own individual strengths and develop them. I encourage all young people to find their strengths and develop them. I encourage them not to look at problems as blocks but as challenges and to find their own solutions. Try your best and develop to your full potential – in this way you will overcome life’s challenges and in doing this you are an entrepreneur!

Do you think that more businessmen should become philanthropists?

As I said – I think we all have a responsibility to give back to society!

What are your plans for the future?

I try to live life to the full. Everyday I want to continue to encourage and support young people in developing their potential, that is what gets me out of bed in the morning! I also want young people to encourage and inspire other young people. If you have enjoyed reading this – have a look at the Jack Petchey Foundation Fan Page and leave your inspiring message there! Thank you.

These final two questions come from an interview with a young man named Antonio Akue. I think that the final response is particularly inspiring.

What one thing brings you the most joy and, when you retire, what would you like to be remembered for?

 What gives me joy is seeing youngsters achieve more. I want to be remembered as a pleasant fellow who gave back to the young people.

What advice can you give me, as a young person growing up in today’s society?

It’s easier growing up in this society than when I was growing up- there’s more opportunity. When you see an opportunity, take it. Have the guts to go for it and have determination.

The Jack Petchey Foundation has worked with a number of celebrities over the years, including its patrons Helen Mirren, Griff Rhys-Jones and Tim Campbell, as well as Chris Tarrant, June Sarpong and many others. To find out more about the charity and the Young Achievers program, visit the official website.

Get On The Virtual Catwalk With The Stars For Breast Cancer

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sarah Ferguson is one of a number of British celebrities who have taken part in a celebrity modelling campaign to raise money for breast cancer.

Singer and actor Duncan James, Radio One DJ Sara Cox, TV presenter June Sarpong, model Abigail Clancy – girlfriend to England footballer Peter Crouch – Olympic swimmer and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Mark Foster, Britain’s Next Top Model judge Gerry DeVeaux, Leah Wood, Jade Jagger, and singer Bryan Ferry have also signed on to support the Million Model Catwalk campaign of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

The campaign is a unique and exciting example of using cyberspace to raise awareness of a disease. Users can visit millionmodelcatwalk.com to watch themselves model on the virtual catwalk alongside the ten celebrities by simply uploading a photo and choosing clothes from the FTBC range. The actual clothes are also on sale.

“If I’ve only raised breast cancer awareness with one person – then I am happy and the charity photo shoot has been worthwhile,” said Duncan James.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) was established in 1990 in the US by Ralph Lauren after his dear friend and fashion editor of the Washington Post, Nina Hyde, died of breast cancer. FTBC was launched in the UK in 1996 by Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Now in its 13th year, Breakthrough hope this year the FTBC campaign can reach new heights with a brand new fashionable and fun approach.

The money raised from FTBC helps Breakthrough Breast Cancer work towards their vision of a future free from the fear of breast cancer. Breast cancer still remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women and over 46,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK and it sadly claims the lives of 12,000. In the UK the FTBC campaign has raised over £9m for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, supporting vital research, education and campaigning work.

Kylie Minogue Joins Filofax Charity Auction

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Last month, Look To The Stars brought you news about a fantastic charity auction that offers Filofax pocket organizers personalized by celebrities. We can now announce that Kylie Minogue has joined the auction, and fans have a special opportunity to bid on her personally designed Filofax.

Filofax has been working with Breast Cancer Campaign since 2004 when they launched a pink pocket organizer to raise funds for the charity. Since then the range has expanded to include a pink pen, lizard print leather pocket organizer and a matching passport cover, purse and accessory case – Filofax has so far raised over £450,000 for the charity from the sale of these items. Bid for one of these unique celebrity organizers and help Filofax to reach its £500,000 fundraising target this year, which marks five years of fundraising for Breast Cancer Campaign.

Due to Kylie’s involvement, the auction has now been extended to April 13. Other stars to design Filofax’s for the auction include Lily Allen, T4’s June Sarpong, ER’s Alex Kingston, Dancing on Ice’s Holly Willoughby, The Bill’s Louisa Lytton, journalist Natasha Kaplinsky, Emmerdale’s Roxanne Pallett, Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, and ex-Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon.

To view the items and make a bid, click here.

Get Organized With A Celebrity-Designed Filofax

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A range of pink Filofax pocket organizers customized by some of Britain’s favorite celebrities are up for auction in time for Valentine’s Day.

Celebrities who have designed the special Filofax organizers for the auction include Lily Allen, T4’s June Sarpong, ER’s Alex Kingston, Dancing on Ice’s Holly Willoughby, The Bill’s Louisa Lytton, journalist Natasha Kaplinsky, Emmerdale’s Roxanne Pallett, Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, and ex-Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon.

Breast Cancer Campaign’s mission is to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

The auction runs until February 27 and can be accessed through the Buy Once Give Twice charity auction website.

Big Wigs For A Big Cause

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Singer Beverley Knight, former television host June Sarpong and model Naomi Campbell attended the Big Wigs Party last week in London, the annual costume ball/fantasy fashion show where every guest must don, at the very least, big headwear.

The best costumes were modeled on the catwalk and the designer wigs – meant to be works of art – are being auctioned on e-bay for charity. Proceeds from the ticket sales, donations and the auction – with a target of £55,000 – will go to Crusaid’s Point of Light Projects.

The “Points of Light” projects offer the desperate children of Zambia a safe place to go. With over 700,000 AIDS orphans whose daily battle of earning money just for food is often lost, these Projects offer havens with food, shelter, education access, grief counseling, life skills and a place to turn for support.

Crusaid Chairman Rob Kemp said, “We have made grants of over £25 million, bringing help and hope to people in poverty with HIV and AIDS in the UK and southern Africa.”

After 22 years of work, however, there is much left to do. “Crusaid’s work today remains as vital as ever. The alarming rise in the number of people with HIV is testament to the huge task that still faces all charities working in this sector.”

Look To The Stars News: June Sarpong

LTTS Exclusive - An Interview With Jack Petchey: Philanthropist

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