Look To The Stars News: Juanes

Shakira Makes Charity Deal For Education

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Colombian pop princess Shakira is donating the proceeds from a new commercial to her charity.

The singer was asked to tape a Christmas television ad for a Spanish sparkling wine, and agreed only if Freixenet – the company behind the ad – paid her Pies Descalzos foundation $660,000. As part of the deal, the company will also produce a video for Shakira’s “Sale el sol” and make a documentary about her charity. The money will be used to build a school in Haiti and another in Colombia.

Also known as the Barefoot Foundation, Pies Descalzos is dedicated to improving education, nutrition, and the lives of the thousands of displaced children living in perilous conditions because of the violent internal conflict in Colombia.

Rage Against The Machine Leads Celebrity Protest In Arizona

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A long list of artists have joined a group actively protesting new immigration laws in Arizona, refusing to play gigs in the state until the laws are changed.

The new law – called SB 1070 – allows police to question any individuals they suspect are illegal immigrants, and all legal immigrants are required to carry registration documents at all times.

Rage Against The Machine singer Zack de la Rocha is spearheading the group, which includes Cypress Hill, Juanes, Conor Oberst, Michael Moore, Kanye West, Joe Satriani, Rise Against, Massive Attack, Sonic Youth, Jack Black’s Tenacious D and many others.

Final Line-Up For FIFA World Cup Concert Announced

Wed, 05 May 2010 11:30:00 +0000

The final line-up of artists to perform at the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert in South Africa has been announced.

Five-time SAMA winners Freshlyground, legendary South African trumpeter and flugelhorn player Hugh Masekela, Soweto-based Mzansi Youth Choir, two-time GRAMMY Award winners and three-time SAMA winners Soweto Gospel Choir, and acclaimed African Hip Hop artist K’NAAN – who recently recorded the uplifting “Wavin’ Flag (The Celebration Mix)” song that serves as the anthem for the entire Coca-Cola FIFA campaign – will perform alongside previously announced African and international artists including Alicia Keys (U.S.), Amadou & Mariam (Mali), Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Black Eyed Peas (U.S.), BLK JKS (South Africa), John Legend (U.S.), Juanes (Colombia), Shakira (Colombia), The Parlotones (South Africa), Tinariwen (Mali), Vieux Farka Touré (Mali) and Vusi Mahlasela (South Africa) – at the historic event taking place the night before the first match at 8 p.m. local time (GMT+2) on June 10, 2010, at the newly-renovated Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg.

Shakira And Juanes Record Charity Single For Chile

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Shakira has joined fellow Colombian star Juanes to record a special charity single for victims of the Chilean earthquake.

Gracias a la Vida will be released in early May, and will benefit reconstruction projects in the South American country organized by Habitat For Humanity.

Organized by Chilean musician Beto Cuevas, the single will also feature Michael Buble, Miguel Bosé and many others.

Shakira Supports Gloria Estefan's Freedom March

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Gloria Estefan led a massive march that attracted thousands of demonstrators in Miami last week, and drew support from Shakira and Juanes.

“Today I join the call to action by Gloria Estefan to support the Ladies In White, who are true heroines of our time, exemplars of female courage and victims of the repression and violation of human rights in Cuba,” Shakira wrote on her website. “I hope that this rising up for the freedom of all political prisoners and respect for human rights will reach the very heart of all the tyrants and that above all, plants seeds of liberty in all the young people of the world, because it is us who justice depends on.”

Estefan led the march to support Las Damas de Blanco – Ladies in White – a campaign group made up of women whose husbands and sons were jailed for opposing the regime of former president Fidel Castro.

FIFA World Cup Kick Off Concert For Charity

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

A stellar line-up of stars has been confirmed for the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert, which hopes to help unite the people of South Africa and raise money for the 20 Centres for 2010 campaign.

Alicia Keys, Amadou & Mariam, Angélique Kidjo, Black Eyed Peas, BLK JKS, John Legend, Juanes, Shakira, The Parlotones, Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Touré and Vusi Mahlasela will perform at the historic event taking place the night before the first match at 8 p.m. local time on June 10, 2010, at the newly-renovated Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg.

Juanes To Perform At Charity Concert For Haiti

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Colombian singing sensation Juanes is to perform at a special charity concert in the Dominican Republic to raise money to build a children’s hospital in Haiti.

The concert – to be held on April 18 at Santo Domingo’s Olympic Stadium – will also feature Spanish artists Alejandro Sanz and Miguel Bosé, Puerto Rican Luis Fonsi and Dominicians Milly Quezada, Maridalia Hernandez and Johnny Ventura.

Proceeds from the show – titled “A Song of Hope for Haiti” – will go to the Sur Futuro Foundation, a charity that promotes the social well being of communities of the southern region of the Dominican Republic.

Wynonna To Headline Charity Soundcheck

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Wynonna is set to perform at a special concert for the GRAMMY Foundation in Texas on December 4.

Prior to her concert at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, forty high school students and Texas Chapter Board members will have the unique opportunity to watch Judd soundcheck before her concert. Afterward, Judd will come down from the stage for an intimate question-and-answer session with students to talk about her career in music. Additionally, students and Board members will receive a discounted ticket price for that evening’s concert.

Throughout the year, the GRAMMY Foundation presents GRAMMY SoundChecks with a wide range of artists on tour in cities across the country. GRAMMY SoundChecks provide young people with a glimpse into the realities of music careers by inviting them to attend rehearsals and concert sound checks of major artists. GRAMMY SoundChecks have featured a host of artists, including Babyface, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Coldplay, the Dave Matthews Band, Destiny’s Child, Macy Gray, Billy Joel, Jack Johnson, Juanes, John Mayer, No Doubt, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, U2 and Kanye West.

Springsteen, Mellencamp, Harper To Perform at Clearwater Concert

Fri, 01 May 2009 14:30:00 +0000

This Sunday, May 3rd, will see star performers such as Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Juanes, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen come out to support Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday bash benefitting the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

The Clearwater Concert: Creating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders is a one night only concert, which raises awareness and funds for continuing Clearwater’s work educating the public and protecting the Hudson river. The event begins at 7pm, at Madison Square Garden, and will feature over 40 artists from a wide variety of musical genres.

Some of the scheduled performers are Joan Baez, Ani DiFranco, Michael Franti, Emmylou Harris, Tao Rodriguez–Seeger, Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck, Keller Williams Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Tom Paxton and Eddie Vedder.

Stars Support YouthAIDS at Company 81 Launch Event

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:30:00 +0000

On November 5, 2008, Adam Gregory (90210) and the trendy Santa Monica boutique, Fred Segal Fun hosted a launch event for the clothing line Company 81 to benefit YouthAIDS.

YouthAIDS is an education and prevention program of PSI, a non-profit organization to improve the health of poor and vulnerable people in the developing world. Youth Aids uses the power of music, media, and pop culture to reach over 600 million young people in more than 60 countries with pop concerts and marketing campaigns featuring Alicia Keys, Diddy, Ludacris, Rihanna and Good Charlotte to name a few.

Ashley Judd is the Global Ambassador for Youth Aids and is supported by her fellow celebrity ambassadors, Emmy Rossum, Josh Lucas, Wynonna Judd, and 12-time Grammy winner Juanes. These celebrities have traveled all over the world visiting schools and clinics, raising funds and awareness and providing student outreach, education, and prevention programs in support of the charity.

Stars To Be BRAVE For Veterans

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Hip Hop stars 50 Cent and Ludacris will perform at a concert to raise awareness of veterans causes next month.

“A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE” is part of MTV’s Choose or Lose campaign, an initiative designed to engage, inform and empower young voters on the political issues that matter to them most. The concert hopes to draw attention to a new petition launched by MTV called the Bill of Rights for American Veterans (or BRAVE) which calls on politicians to support vets’ issues and enact positive legislative changes.

“It doesn’t matter where you stand on the war — we can all agree that young veterans serving our country must receive the benefits they’ve earned for their sacrifices,” said MTV President Van Toffler. “By raising awareness through ‘A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE,’ and by launching the BRAVE petition, we aim to elevate these issues and ensure they’re a top priority for our government officials.”

Shakira Takes Part In Colombian Peace Rallies

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:30:00 +0000

South American pop princess Shakira led nationwide demonstrations in her native Colombia yesterday demanding the liberation of hundreds of hostages held by rebels.

The 31-year-old made a pledge last week to keep fighting for the release of hostages held by Colombian rebels after 15 captives were freed earlier this month. She met with Ingrid Betancourt – a former Colombian presidential candidate and hostage – on Wednesday to raise awareness of the on-going struggle against violence in the country, and agreed to be part of the worldwide rallies that took place yesterday.

Over a million people took to the streets of Colombia for the rallies, and demanded the rebels stop their regime of violence. Many of them – wearing white clothes to symbolize peace – attended concerts held around the country, including one in the city of Leticia, where Shakira performed the national anthem in front of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

Shakira and Latin Singers Unite Against Child Poverty, Again

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:12:26 +0000

The ‘Concert For The Children’ was staged last weekend, simultaneously in Mexico and Argentina, free to the over 300,000 expected viewers.

Packed with Latin stars including Shakira, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Chayanne, Diego Torres, Juanes, Maná and Miguel Bosé, the concerts’ goal was to raise funds that charity ALAS will use to help the millions of children living in poverty throughout Latin America, and where an estimated 350,000 children die from poverty every year.

“People are condemned to poverty because there are no exits or choices,” Shakira said. “And children who don’t receive an opportunity end up as adults being involved with things that they never imagined they would be doing in the first place, like drug trafficking or being recruited into criminal groups. Imagine what Latin America could achieve if we invest in developing the potential of these children.”

Ricky Martin Joins Poverty Campaign

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:03:51 +0000

Latino singing star Ricky Martin met with several other artists in Miami last week to launch a new campaign in the fight against poverty.

The hip-swinging singer joined with fellow Latino heartthrobs Juan Luis Guerra and Juanes to become spokespersons for the Yo Amo America Campaign, an initiative that plans to use the performers’ profiles to raise awareness among policymakers about the importance of making investments in early childhood development, financial services, housing, and safe drinking water. And with over 360 million people in Latin America who live on less than $300 a month, it is an issue that requires immediate attention.

Martin has agreed to promote birth registration as part of the campaign, an area he believes will increase access to education, health, and other public services. Around 8.5 million children in Latin America presently lack any form of identity papers, a fact Martin thinks also contributes to the high proportion of child trafficking. Human trafficking is a major source of concern for Martin – a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF – and he established the Ricky Martin Foundation to combat it.

Colombian Charities Benefit From BeLive 2007

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:36:47 +0000

Six of the largest non-profit organizations in Colombia joined efforts at Karu & Y Restaurant in Miami on November 15 for BeLive 2007, a gala to raise awareness of the problems plaguing the South American country. NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya, his wife Connie, and the charity they founded, the Formula Smiles Foundation, hosted the gala.

“We were planning 300 people, it was maximum 350. Then it went up to 500 and now its up to 600,” Montoya said. “It’s been amazing and overwhelming with how much support we’ve had.”

The red carpet was rolled out for guests as they arrived for dinner, a silent auction, a fashion show by designer Silvia Tcherassi, and an unplugged concert from twelve-time Latin Grammy winner Juanes.

Shakira Joins Latin American Solidarity Action Foundation

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:53:00 +0000

Shakira has announced her plan to raise $200 million for the charity América Latina en Acción Solidaria (ALAS).

The singer, who is already a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of Colombian charity Pies Descalzos, will stage four fundraising concerts in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and New York this year.

ALAS is dedicated to aiding impoverished communities throughout all of Latin America, focusing on improved nutrition, health and education for children. “ALAS came about because of a social emergency: 350 thousand children die each year due to avoidable causes; 40 million children work and live on the streets,” Shakira said.