Look To The Stars News: Clint Eastwood

Ben Stiller Joins Artists For Peace And Justice Board Of Directors

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:30:00 -0000

Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) has announced that it will merge with Ben Stiller's Haitian school initiative (HSI).

The two organizations, both of whom were committed to improving living conditions in impoverished Haiti prior to the devastating earthquake, will combine their shared passion in helping build essential schools for the children of Haiti. Together they have engaged Global Philanthropy Group (GPG) to help develop and manage their philanthropic efforts. In partnership with an interim Country Director in Port-au-Prince, GPG will coordinate the day-to-day efforts of APJ.

“Ben Stiller understands the important role of schools in the lives of Haitian children. Together we share a mutual passion and determination to be as effective as quickly as possible,” says Paul Haggis, founder of Artists for Peace and Justice. “For the children of Haiti, schools provide so much more than education. They provide their only hot meals, their only clean drinking water and medical attention. These are critical elements for children, especially in a time of crisis.”

Established in early 2009, Artists for Peace and Justice is a fundraising effort founded by Paul Haggis and friends that encourages peace and social justice and addresses issues of poverty and enfranchisement in communities around the world. Over the past year, APJ has focused on raising funds to support essential street schools in Haiti. Following the devastating earthquake APJ has expanded its efforts to include emergency aid. To date, APJ has raised nearly $6.3 million including an impressive $3.5 million in long-term commitments through 2014.

Ben Stiller’s Haitian school initiative

Ben Stiller funded a community school in the rural village of Cérévrine, Haiti in 2009 and launched the Haitian school initiative in January, 2010 in an effort to help provide temporary schools for Haitians displaced by the earthquake.

Ben’s humourous STILLERSTRONG campaign, which was launched prior to the earthquake, included viral videos with high-profile participants such as Robert De Niro and Bill Clinton. As a result of this campaign, Ben generated the $300,000 in fundraising needed to complete the school and achieved an increased awareness of the needs of the impoverished Haitian people.

“If there is one way we can help Haiti emerge from this crisis, putting our efforts into building temporary and permanent schools is a step in the right direction,” says Ben Stiller. “When I heard about APJ’s initiatives and the difference they’re making in the country and spoke with Paul Haggis about their fundraising efforts, I knew we could accomplish more together.”

Given the shared goals and interests of Artists for Peace and Justice and the Ben Stiller Haitian school initiative, a merging of forces seemed a natural progression. As part of the merge, the Haitian school initiative will become a core program of Artists for Peace and Justice with Ben Stiller continuing to provide funding. Ben Stiller will join the APJ Board of Directors that includes Paul Haggis, Dr. Reza Nabavian and Dr. Bob Arnot. The Board of Directors is supported by an Advisory Board that includes a number of influential voices: Simon Baker and Rebecca Rigg, Javier Bardem, David Belle, Maria Bello, Josh Brolin, Jackson Browne, Gerard Butler, Jim Clark, Daniel Craig, Russell Crowe, Penelope Cruz, Dina and Clint Eastwood, Frances Fisher, Dr. Henri Ford, James Franco, Gale-Anne Hurd, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Natasha Koifman, Diane Lane, Michael Stahl-David, Lekha Singh, Madeleine Stowe, Charlize Theron and Olivia Wilde.

Andy Garcia Wins Charity Golf Tournament

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Ashley Parker

The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is a 72-hole PGA TOUR golf championship that started in the 1930s. Top PGA professionals team up with Hollywood celebrities, athletes and world-renowned musicians.

The Celebrity Challenge is a part of the tournament, and a fan favorite. Teams play only five holes, each of which as a specific purse. Players who win each hole receive the purse, and then give whatever they win to charity. This year’s winners were Jeffrey Donovan and Andy Garcia, who each gave 11,000 to the charities of their choice. Donovan chose to give to the Amesbury Educational Foundation, while Andy Garcia gave to First Tee of Monterey County. The total amount given to charity was $29,000.

This year the tournament was held from February 8-14. Players rotated to different golf courses, and the championship round took place at Pebble Beach.

Other celebrities who competed include Josh Duhamel, George Lopez, Kenny G, Tony Romo, Kelly Slater and Don Cheadle. Clint Eastwood chairs the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, which organizes the tournament.

Keith Urban Building Schools In Haiti

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Country singer Keith Urban spoke on the radio recently about a project he and his wife, actress Nicole Kidman, are involved in – building schools in Haiti.

“We’re going to be funding a school down there for the next five years,” he told CatCountry 96. “The kids will also have one hot meal a day. They’ll have all of their medical taken care of by the school, and clothing as well.”

Several other celebrities have joined the same Artists for Peace and Justice school building project, including Javier Bardem, Jackson Browne, Gerard Butler, Daniel Craig, Russell Crowe, Penelope Cruz, Clint Eastwood and Sean Penn, each committing $50,000 a year for the next five years. The schools will be attended by children living in slums and camps around Port-au-Prince.

Stars Make Long-Term Charity Donations To Help Haiti

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:45:00 -0000

Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) is proud to announce the support of an impressive roster of Hollywood celebrities who have pledged their long-term support to Haiti through annual donations.

The stars are lending their financial support and influential voices to help rebuild Haiti by funding street schools for the children living in the slums and in the burgeoning camps around the city of Port-au-Prince. Getting children back to school – often the only place they receive clean drinking water, their only food for the day, medical attention, clothing and hope – has become a top priority. APJ remains committed to long term sustainability in the ravaged country.

The following donors will each contribute $50,000 annually for the next five years ($250,000 total). Each donation will fully sustain a street school in Port-au-Prince including providing clean water, meals, medical supplies and educational material to the children: Jackson Browne, Gerard Butler, Daniel Craig, Russell Crowe with wife and musician Danielle Spencer, Penelope Cruz, Clint Eastwood with wife Dina, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Sean Penn and more.

“Emergency relief is still very important — with the help of Operation USA, last week we trucked in another $150,000 in food and supplies to sustain the St. Luke’s program and the children and families of the slums that rely upon its outreach programs,” says Paul Haggis, Founder of APJ. Schools right now might not seem like the most important thing to reestablish but it just isn’t true. The children may not be in urgent need of an education, but they desperately need physical and psychological support. They need a daily meal and water and medical care that comes with our schools. These thousands of children need a safe place to gather, where they can find hope, and even joy and beauty. The issues on the rise right now are gangs, violent crime, prostitution and child slavery. Schools are more important now than ever."

When built, the street schools will assist thousands of children living in the slums of Port-au-Prince. Prior to the earthquake, APJ had been committed to sponsoring a number of these schools in Haiti and supporting the work of Father Rick Frechette, a doctor and community organizer who works out of St. Damiens Pediatric Hospital in Port-au-Prince, the only free pediatric hospital in the country. Donors to APJ have an opportunity to contribute to long term sustainability in a country that so desperately needs it.

Clint Eastwood Endorses New Charity

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:11:00 -0000

Newly launched Image of Change plans to bring like-minded leaders together in the sports, entertainment and corporate industries that support a diverse scope of programs to empower and change local communities around the world.

“I founded Image of Change in response to the growing need for a professional philanthropic agency,” announced Jodie Blum, the organization’s founder and president. “Too often I have seen the best intentions fall short of their goals. It has become obvious that many individuals who are looking to partner with great causes do not always have the resources, time or expertise to initiate a charitable foundation. Image of Change will remove the overwhelming aspect of operating a charitable foundation and therefore give the full attention to the partnership of these humanitarians and the causes they support.”

Image of Change will serve as a philanthropic brand-management agency and collective platform to bring together high-profile humanitarians. Their personal, as well as shared commitments, to be positive examples, role models, models, mentors and activists in global change will transform the way that society identifies giving back.

“Everything Jodie does is completed with dedication and care,” says veteran actor Clint Eastwood. “Image of Change is sure to be a success with her at the helm.”

Forest Whitaker Gets Behind Mandela Day

Fri, 15 May 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Forest Whitaker joined a host of celebrities at an event yesterday to raise awareness of Mandela Day, an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and a global call to action for people to recognize their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them.

Yesterday’s event was held in Los Angeles and was attended by stars such as Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, Marisa Tomei, Sharon Stone, Noah Wyle, Alfre Woodard and Viola Davis.

Nelson Mandela has been making an imprint on the world for 67 years, beginning in 1942 when he first started to campaign for the human rights of every South African. The annual celebration is being created to inspire others to embrace Nelson Mandela’s values as they seek to improve their lives through service to their communities. 46664 and the Nelson Mandela Foundation are calling on people around the world to support the creation of an official Mandela Day, to be held annually on July 18, Mr. Mandela’s birthday.

This year, the celebration includes a series of special events in New York City involving many of the charity’s global ambassadors from the worlds of entertainment, music and film.

46664, the campaign that bears Mr. Mandela’s Robben Island prison number, was originally launched to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Working alongside the other Mandela organizations, it is now expanding its focus to champion Mr. Mandela’s broader humanitarian work. A centerpiece of 46664’s activities will be the celebration of Mandela Day each year, and funds raised from Mandela Day will support the ongoing work of 46664 and the Nelson Mandela charitable organizations.

For more information, visit MandelaDay.com or follow at http://twitter.com/mandeladay.

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.

Lint Roller Party Picks Up Big Names

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:38:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

An impressive list of stars will be turning into party animals at the newly restored Hollywood Palladium on Thursday, November 13th, for the 15th annual Lint Roller Party.

Lisa Edelstein along with Eric and Tania Idle are Honorary Co-Chairs for the night, which supports the Best Friends Animal Society. The party’s honorary committee includes animal lovers such as Adrian Grenier, Charlize Theron, Nicollette Sheridan, Bill Maher, Dan Aykroyd and Willie Nelson, to name but a few.

The event raises funds for the Society’s programs in LA, which improve and save the lives of animals, including: A Puppy-Store-Free LA, Pet Adoption Festivals, Date with a Dog, Indie Rescue, Catnippers, Best Friends Brigade, Pup My Ride Transport Program.

A Founders’ Reception starts the event off at 6, with the party beginning in earnest at 7 P.M. Guests will enjoy an evening of celebrity presenters, live entertainment, live and silent auctions, special guests, an open bar and great veggie food, as well as meet some of the Founders of Best Friends and the stars of National Geographic Channel’s hit series DOGTOWN.

Emmylou Harris will be the feature entertainer for the evening, with the gourmet dinner cooked up by Wolfgang Puck Catering. Those taking part in the auction could win getaways, walk-on-parts, premiere tickets, jewelry, sports and hollywood memorabilia and fine art, among other items. An online auction is currently being held on eBay, which includes autographed items, such as one of Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves, Simspons and Star Wars memorabilia, and one lucky person will win a walk on part in a Clint Eastwood film.

For more information, visit the Lint Roller Party website.

Matt Damon Hosts ONE X ONE Gala In San Francisco

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean, Carlos Santana, Josh Groban, David Arquette, and the African Children's Choir came together in San Francisco on Thursday night for a fundraising extravaganza to benefit ONEXONE.

The evening raised money to be distributed between organizations such as H2O Africa, Feeding America, Water Partners, and the Yéle Haiti Foundation, and featured an auction that included lots such as the chance to feature Damon on the set of his next movie, The Human Factor. The film – which will be directed by Clint Eastwood – will tell the story of Nelson Mandela's struggle for freedom, and three people paid $20,000 for the opportunity to visit the set.

“If Eastwood doesn’t like the idea of having a lot of people around the set,” Damon said, “I guess my trailer’s going to be pretty crowded with a lot of people playing video games.”

Damon, Arquette, and Jean also took the time to visit the San Francisco Food Bank and help out by filling bags and boxes of food for the city’s underprivileged.

Damon’s philanthropic attitude is something he is interested in passing on to his own children: “It’s a hard thing to explain to a kid,” he told People Magazine, referring to poverty. “And it is also unbelievable the way other kids are forced to live. The way you have to parent them is to show them the world. Explaining the world can only go so far. You can read about devastation every morning – it’s on the front page of the newspaper – but when you actually go there and see it, you realize this isn’t something you can turn the page on.”

Get Ready For The Carousel Of Hope This Weekend

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The annual Carousel of Hope Gala will take place this weekend to raise money for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.

Presented by Jay Leno, the gala will take place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, October 25, and will honor Denzel Washington for his charity work.

This year celebrates 30 years of helping children with diabetes through the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. Held every two years, this is the 18th Carousel of Hope. From its inception in 1978, the Ball has raised over $70 million.

The gala will feature performances from Josh Groban, the Jonas Brothers, Katharine McPhee and many more under the music direction of David Foster. The guest list is expected to be huge, with stars such as Tom Arnold, Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas, Halle Berry, Valerie Bertinelli, Lara Flynn Boyle, Bo Derek, Geena Davis, Daisy Fuentes, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammar, Tom Hanks, Taraji P. Henson, Anjelica Huston, Magic Johnson, Dr. Phil McGraw, Holly Robinson-Peete & Rodney Peete, Nicole Richie, Jane Seymour, Nicollette Sheridan, Forest Whitaker and James Woods all expected to attend. Clive Davis, Quincy Jones and Sidney Poitier will take part in Denzel Washington’s presentation.

The evening will feature a silent auction that includes an array of eco-friendly shirts donated by Guess and signed by Jason Bateman, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Will Ferrell, Harrison Ford, Cuba Gooding Jr., Whitney Houston, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Lee, Jared Leto, Bill Maher, Steve Martin, Jack Nicholson, Ray Romano, Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rod Stewart, Usher and many more. There will also be handbags signed by Joan Collins, Courteney Cox, Cindy Crawford, Dakota Fanning, Mariska Hargitay, Fergie, Susan Sarandon, Britney Spears and Racquel Welch, as well as items from Trace Adkins, P. Diddy, Marcia Cross, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Andie MacDowell, Alyssa Milano, Eva Longoria, Dolly Parton, Priscilla Presley, Denise Richards, Joel Madden, Sharon Stone, John Travolta, Carrie Underwood and many more.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit clinical care and research at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes (BDC) where over 5,000 children and young adults receive specialized care.

Look To The Stars News: Clint Eastwood

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