Look To The Stars News: Bob Hope

Jerry Lewis Awarded Oscar For Charity Work

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Actor Jerry Lewis was awarded a very special humanitarian award at last night’s Oscars.

The 82-year-old actor received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his untiring work in hosting the annual telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) as an advocate of “Jerry’s Kids” – a role he has taken on every year since 1966.

“For most of my life I thought that doing good for someone didn’t mean you would receive commendation for that act of kindness,” Lewis said in his acceptance speech. “At least until now. This award touches my heart and the very depth of my soul because of who the award is from, and those who will benefit.”

The award – which in the past has been presented to Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Sherry Lansing, Quincy Jones, Bob Hope and many others – is named after screen actor Jean Hersholt, who served as the president of the Motion Picture Relief Fund for 18 years. The honor was a great thrill for the MDA, who are grateful for the support of Lewis.

“MDA always has been immensely proud of its inspiring national chairman, who for more than five decades has personified the Association’s missions of help and hope. He is well deserving of this extraordinary honor,” said Gerald C. Weinberg, MDA president and CEO. “The impact of his humanitarian efforts on people with muscle-wasting diseases is beyond measure.”

The award is not the first honor for the comedy legend. He was presented the U.S. Defense Department’s highest civilian award, the Medal for Distinguished Service, in 1985. In 1996 the American Medical Association presented him and MDA Lifetime Achievement Awards “for significant and lasting contributions to health and welfare of humanity.” He is also one of an elite few to have been made a Commander in the French Legion of Honor. In 2007, Look To The Stars revealed that Lewis had topped a survey of the most effective celebrities for charity causes, with 43% of those surveyed saying he was the best at raising funds and driving change for the issues he supports.

“Jerry is well-known as the ‘face’ of the MDA Labor Day Telethon, which he has hosted without fail for 43 years and counting,” Weinberg said. “The Telethon is the most effective philanthropic event of its kind, so it’s appropriate that the man who makes it all possible has been singled out for his matchless compassion.”

Bob Hope Classic Attracts Celebrity Players

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Thirteen-time Pro Bowler and all-time leading NFL scorer Jerry Rice, legendary guitarist and Rock And Roll Hall of Fame member Stephen Stills, and actors Don Johnson (Miami Vice, Nash Bridges), Kyle Maclachlan (Twin Peaks, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives), William Devane (24, The West Wing) and Bruce McGill (Animal House, The Legend of Bagger Vance) have joined the list of athletes and celebrities committed to playing in the 50th Bob Hope Classic Hosted by Arnold Palmer, Jan. 19-25, 2009.

Other celebrity participants for the Classic, a desert tradition since 1960, include former Major League Baseball and National Football League standout Bo Jackson, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman and 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria, famed musicians Huey Lewis, Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper, Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles), Josh Kelley and country singer Clay Walker, actors Kurt Russell, Chris O’Donnell, Thomas Gibson, Oliver Hudson and Jeffrey Donovan; actor/comedian Kevin Nealon, actor/game show host John O’Hurley, timeless New York Yankees baseball legend Yogi Berra, comedian Tom Dreesen, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and sportscaster Dan Fouts, Hall of Fame sportscaster Keith Jackson, television financial host Joe Kernen, Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and NFL analyst Sterling Sharpe, and former Vice President Dan Quayle. The celebrity field’s schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Jan. 21, SilverRock Resort; Thursday, Jan. 22, Bermuda Dunes Country Club; Friday, Jan. 23, Nicklaus Private at PGA West; Saturday, Jan. 24, Arnold Palmer Private at PGA WEST.

PGA TOUR professional D.J. Trahan will return to defend his 2008 Bob Hope Classic title, which he won by three strokes after firing a final-round, 7-under-par 65 to finish at 26-under 334 over 90 holes. All five days of The Classic will be televised on Golf Channel. At stake is a purse of $5.1 million, $918,000 to the winner.

Palmer, a sporting and Coachella Valley icon, played in the tournament 42 of its 50 years and is the only five-time champion, winning the inaugural tournament in 1960 and again in 1962, ’68, ’71 and ’73. He won a total of 62 PGA TOUR titles. The five-day Classic features 128 top PGA TOUR professionals and 384 amateur contestants, including a stellar list of 30 celebrities.

As it celebrates its 50th anniversary tournament, the Bob Hope Classic’s host course will be the Palmer Private at PGA West. Other courses in the 2009 rotation include Bermuda Dunes Country Club, an original tournament course, La Quinta’s SilverRock Resort, which debuted in 2008, and the Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West, in the rotation for the first time.

In 49 years, the tournament has donated more than $45 million to charities throughout the Coachella Valley, including the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America, Habitat For Humanity and many more. Tickets are only $25 per day, with several packages offering additional savings. For more information, go to www.bhcc.com

Tiger Woods To Host Chevron Golf Tournament

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Aime Pingi

The Chevron World Challenge celebrates its 10th year by once again bringing golf’s finest stars to Southern California. This year’s tournament will be played at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, CA, from December 15 – 21 on a course designed by famed architect and professional golfer Jack Nicklaus.

Tournament host Tiger Woods will lead a field of 16 elite PGA TOUR players including the top 11 available from the Official World Golf Rankings, the Defending Champion, and four special exemption players selected by the Tiger Woods Foundation. The players will be competing for a $5.75 million prize purse in which the winner receives $1.35 million, and the 16th place finisher receives $170,000.

The tournament will help raise money for programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation, including the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Orange County. Programs developed and supported by the Tiger Woods Foundation all share a similar mission of empowering young people to dream big and to set specific goals to achieve their dreams.

The Host

Born on December 30, 1975, Eldrick (Tiger) Woods was just six months old when golf first caught his attention. Intrigued by watching his father putt at their Cypress, California home, it wasn’t long before Tiger would be putting on the “Mike Douglas Show” at age two with Bob Hope.

The son of the late Retired Lieutenant Colonel Earl Woods and his wife Kultida, Tiger shot 48 through nine by age three. He compiled one of the most impressive amateur records in golf history, winning six USGA national championships and the NCAA title, before turning professional on August 27, 1996.

That same year, he and his father Earl founded the Tiger Woods Foundation with the mission of empowering young people to reach their highest potential by initiating and supporting community-based programs that promote the health, education and welfare of all of America’s children.

Since 1996, Tiger has won 86 tournaments, 64 of those on the PGA TOUR, including the 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005 Masters Tournaments; the 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007 PGA Championships; the 2000 and 2002 U.S. Open Championships; and the 2000, 2005 and 2006 British Open Championships.

Off the course, his Foundation has touched the lives of an estimated 10 million young people through career exploration and character development programs, and annual fundraising events like the AT&T National, Tiger Jam presented by AT&T, the TWLC Block Party, and the Chevron World Challenge presented by Bank of America. For more information on the Tiger Woods Foundation and how you can help, visit www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org

The History

The Chevron World Challenge is an offseason golf tournament hosted by Tiger Woods. The tournament takes place each December at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. In 1999, the tournament’s first year, it was played at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The field is comprised of the defending champion, the top eleven available players from the Official World Golf Rankings, and four special invitees chosen by the Tiger Woods Foundation. It is not an official money tournament on any tour, but it is recognized as an unofficial money event by the PGA Tour.

The Chevron World Challenge was established as a charity fundraiser by Tiger Woods, and all the funds raised go to charities with which he is associated. It is an extremely lucrative event for the professionals who take part. In 2007 the prize fund was $5.75 million. Woods donates his prize money to the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Clint Eastwood Honored at 53rd Annual Thalians Ball

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

On Sunday, November 2nd, Oscar Award-winning Actor/Director, Clint Eastwood was honored in grand ballroom fashion reminiscent of classic Hollywood with the Thalians Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Thalians recognized Eastwood for his lifetime of contributions to entertainment as well as his humanitarian accomplishments. In previous years, this annual ball has honored such legendary stars as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sally Field, Liza Minelli and Whoopi Goldberg. Among the celebrities present tonight were: Debbie Reynolds, Cloris Leachman, Jack LaLanne, civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, Elke Sommers, and Donna Mills.

Clint Eastwood has been the subject of much media attention of late for his recent Humanitarian Award by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)—the first award of its kind by the organization. In addition, all the attendees of this week’s Hollywood Film Festival received an enormous surprise when graced by the presence of Angelina Jolie who made the introduction to a tribute to Mr. Eastwood for his incredible contributions to film, television, and the arts.

With a Red Carpet & Cocktail Reception following a Dinner and Show featuring a live performance by Freda Payne, the Thalians’s Co-Founders, Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee presented an All-Star Salute and Shirley MacLaine presented the award. Comedian and actor George Lopez emceed the event.

Every year, this annual award gala at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills raises funds for the Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The Thalian’s organization, founded in 1955, continues to raise over $500,000 annually to support the hospital through events and fundraisers.

Chairman of the Board, Ruta Lee also announced that the Thalian’s are looking for new representatives of Young Hollywood to start getting involved and to help carry on the legacy that began with young actors in 1955. She emphasized the importance of Young Hollywood to be involved in philanthropy and the responsibility of using their celebrity status to give back.

For more information on how to get involved in the Thalians organization and this spectacular annual gala, visit their website at thethalians.org.

Bob Hope's Belongings Auctioned For Charity

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A charity auction featuring over 800 items belonging to the late great Bob Hope was held over the weekend.

More than US$600,000 was raised in the auction, which will be distributed to charities that were important to the comedy actor, who died in 2003.

An autographed photo of Lucille Ball – complete with blacked out teeth – was sold alongside a signed photo of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, cufflinks from Richard Nixon, and a handwritten letter from Bing Crosby. But the most interest was reserved for the executive desk that sat in Hope’s Toluca Lake office for more than 50 years.

“Presidents sat in front of it, Mr. Hope conducted countless meetings from behind it,” said Darren Julien from Julien’s Auctions. “Everyone cheered when it sold. It wasn’t the most expensive item, but it was the most exciting sale.”

One of the eager bidders at the auction was comedian George Lopez.

“They were both fanatical golfers,” said producer Ann Lopez, George’s wife. “George hosted the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic for two years. He wants to wear the hats on the course to keep Mr. Hope out there in spirit, still golfing.”

A large proportion of the proceeds will go to the United Service Organization. Hope was a huge supporter of the USO, and headlined over 60 USO tours for American troops stationed overseas.

Look To The Stars News: Bob Hope

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