Look To The Stars News: Lily Tomlin

Madonna And Friends Launch Handbag Auction For Earthquake Relief

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

A host of celebrities have donated handbags to an auction to raise money for victims of April’s devastating earthquake in Italy.

Madonna, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Hilary Swank, Eva Longoria, Dita von Teese, Lucy Liu, Marisa Tomei and Lily Tomlin have autographed and donated a selection of Salvatore Ferragamo handbags to the auction. 100% of the proceeds from the online auction will be donated to GlobalGiving’s Italy Earthquake Recovery and Relief Fund.

On April 6, 2009, the deadliest Italian earthquake in over 15 years struck the Abruzzo mountain region of Italy, with the town of L’Aquila at its epicenter. The toll was grim with nearly 300 people killed, more than 1,000 injured, and as many as 65,000 residents displaced. Many of those who lost their homes are still living in tent cities.

Madonna also reportedly donated money to victims following a plea for help from the mayor of a small hamlet called Pacentro. Madonna’s grandparents lived in the village until 1919.

To take part in the auction – which runs until June 12 – click here.

Stars To Support Anti-Death Penalty Awards Dinner

Tue, 19 May 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Advocacy organization Death Penalty Focus is to hold its annual Awards Gala on Thursday, May 21, with some high profile guests slated to attend.

The 18th Annual Awards Dinner will honor Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico; John Van de Kamp, former Attorney General of California; Nancy Miller, creator of TV series Saving Grace; and several others. Guests will include Six Feet Under’s James Cromwell, Mike Farrell and Amy Brenneman, and the host committee includes Alec Baldwin, William Baldwin, Jackson Browne, Morgan Fairchild, Danny Glover, Lily Tomlin and Noah Wyle.

Founded in 1988, Death Penalty Focus is dedicated to the abolition of capital punishment through public education; grassroots and political organizing; original research; media outreach; local, state and nationwide coalition building; and the education of religious, legislative and civic leaders about the death penalty and its alternatives.

More information about the event, including tickets, can be found at the organization’s website.

Stars To Come Out For An Evening Of Women

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of celebrities will attend tonight’s (April 24) “An Evening Of Women: Celebrating Art, Music and Equality” at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Presented by the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, the annual event is widely regarded as one of the premier events for women in California and the nation. According to the Center, “It continues to fulfill the purpose of its founder by inspiring women to participate in civil rights and social service causes, by showcasing the accomplishments of women leaders.”

The evening will feature performances by Christina Aguilera and Linda Perry, and a live auction hosted by Sharon Stone that includes items donated by Bette Midler, Pink, Gwen Stefani and Alicia Keys. Cybill Shepherd, Sarah Silverman, DJ Samantha Ronson, Eliza Dushku, Rosario Dawson, Leisha Hailey, Clementine Ford, Perez Hilton and many others are also expected to attend. The host committee includes Cher, Kristen Bell Eric Dane, Jared Leto, Alicia Silverstone, Ben Silverman, Slash and many more. Past presenters have included Kathy Bates, Ellen DeGeneres, Gillian Anderson, Stockard Channing, Lily Tomlin, Melissa Etheridge.

Previously known as Women’s Night, the event raises much-needed funds for the women-specific services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Gay & Lesbian Center programs and services supported by An Evening with Women include women’s health, legal assistance, domestic violence prevention & education, cultural programs, self-enrichment courses, social events and discussion groups.

General tickets to the event cost $300. To purchase tickets or find out more about the event, click here.

Ellen DeGeneres Awarded By The Humane Society

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The stars gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, March 28, for The Humane Society’s 23rd annual Genesis Awards, held in tribute of the organization’s ProtectSeals Campaign.

Special guests such as internationally acclaimed photographer Nigel Barker, Corey Feldman, Hal Sparks, Jorja Fox, James Cromwell, “Bones” star Emily Deschanel, former Oakland Raider Jarrod Cooper, Jennifer Coolidge, Carrie Ann Inaba, “Big Love’s” Ginnifer Goodwin and many more were on hand to present awards to a variety of celebrities, shows, and activists who have spent the last year making the world a better place for animals.

The major award of the night – the Wyler Award – went to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi for using their wedding and Ellen’s talkshow as an opportunity to publicize to a broad audience their ethical decision to avoid animal products in the hope of influencing public behavior. After viewing videotaped congratulations from Sir Paul McCartney, both DeGeneres and de Rossi spoke about their journey toward ethical living and the changes they have made in their lives to reduce animal suffering.

“People need to understand that animals are thinking, feeling beings who have a right to a free life,” said DeGeneres.

Also throughout the evening, guests were treated to special video treats from stars such as Heather Mills and Lily Tomlin.

The complete list of prize winners was as follows:

Wyler Award ELLEN DEGENERES & PORTIA DE ROSSI
Feature Film  BOLT
Dramatic Series  GREY’S ANATOMY “Life During Wartime”
Sid Caesar Comedy Award  THE SIMPSONS “Apocalypse Cow”
Children’s Programming  HANDY MANNY “Manny’s Mouse Traps”
TV Newsmagazine – National 20/20 “Elephant PTSD”
TV Newsmagazine – Cable REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL “Hidden Horses”
National News Feature  WORLD NEWS WITH CHARLES GIBSON “Monkey Business,” “Person Of The Week,” “Rescuing Racehorses,” “Saving The Rhinos,” and wolf segment
Local News Series (a tie) KGO-TV (Bay Area) “I-Team Investigation: Battery Cages” & KLAS-TV 8 (Las Vegas) “Elephant Abuse: Life on the Road”
Local News Feature  KHOU-TV Houston “Slaughtergate”
 * TV Documentary  BLINDERS  
Unscripted Televison Series  30 DAYS “Animal Rights”  
Brigitte Bardot International  THE MONG LAH CONNECTION
Talk Show  THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW multiple shows   
Series of Newspaper Articles  USA TODAY multiple articles by Sharon L. Peters
News Magazaine  NEWSWEEK “Extinction Trade” by Sharon Begley
Magazine  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED “The Good News out of The Bad Newz Kennels” by Jim Gorant
Brigitte Bardot Internaional – Print DAILY MAIL (U.K.) multiple articles by Dr. Danny Penman
Special Recognition SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS multiple editorials

Lily Tomlin And Bob Barker Try To Save Elephants

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress-comedienne Lily Tomlin and television personality Bob Barker are campaigning to put a stop to the new elephant exhibit under construction at the Los Angeles Zoo, now in its third phase of construction.

They are also trying to “Save Billy,” the bull elephant who has resided at the zoo for 20 years. Barker has offered $100 thousand dollars to move Billy to a wildlife sanctuary in Northern California.

“How many elephants have to die at the Los Angeles Zoo before the zoo comes to terms with the fact that it is impossible to have elephants in a zoo and remain healthy and happy?” says Barker. “Other zoos – the enlightened, progressive zoos – have already discontinued their elephant exhibits. Sixteen elephants have died in the Los Angeles Zoo. About half of them died before they reached the age of 20. In the wild elephants live 65 or 70 years. In zoos the average lifespan, I have read, is 34 years. But at the Los Angeles Zoo, some elephants are dying before they reach 20 years of age.”

“They not only die early in zoos,” added Tomlin, “The word ‘zoo’ is sort of elephant speak for Guantanamo. They are suffering and being tortured daily just by virtue of their confinement.”

Successful in a campaign to move another LA Zoo elephant, Ruby, to sanctuary, Tomlin was also active in the campaign to have Jenny, a Dallas Zoo elephant for 22 years, moved to a Tennessee sanctuary.

“Elephants are so highly intelligent and so social and they make such deep bonds with other elephants,” says Tomlin. “[In zoos] they suffer; cruelly they suffer.”

Look To The Stars News: Lily Tomlin

Madonna And Friends Launch Handbag Auction For Earthquake Relief

Related past articles

Stars To Support Anti-Death Penalty Awards Dinner

Related past articles

Stars To Come Out For An Evening Of Women

Related past articles

Ellen DeGeneres Awarded By The Humane Society

Related past articles

Lily Tomlin And Bob Barker Try To Save Elephants

Related past articles