Look To The Stars News: AnnaLynne McCord

Stars Flock To T-Shirt Launch For Invisible Children

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

GUESS and Vanity Fair Magazine unveiled special edition organic men’s T-shirts and women’s tank tops to benefit education and economic rebuilding in the war-ravaged African nation of Uganda last Thursday, October 21.

Held at the GUESS store in Beverly Hills, the event was hosted by Kristen Bell, Rachel Bilson and Peter Wentz and attracted stars such as AnnaLynne McCord, Ben McKenzie, Eliza Dushku, Rick Foxx, Chris Lowell, Shenae Grimes, Stephanie Jacobsen, Jeff Probst and many others.

The shirts are now available for purchase in all U.S. Guess stores and online at Guess.com. 100% of the proceeds from shirt sales will benefit Invisible Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting youth education and economic development in war-torn regions of Central East Africa.

Invisible Children was created by Jason Russell, Laren Poole and Bobby Bailey – who also attended Thursday’s event – after the release of their 2004 film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” a revealing documentary about the child soldiers of Northern Uganda. GUESS first partnered with the organization back in October 2006, when the daughters of Maurice Marciano, Olivia, 16 and Caroline, 18, were inspired to become involved in the noteworthy cause after seeing the filmmakers on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

LTTS Exclusive - The 2009 Noble Awards

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

I had the honor of attending “The Noble Awards” on their first annual show honoring charities and their celebrity supporters.

On Sunday, October 18th at The Beverly Hilton, “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush hosted the premiere of this special event honoring Morgan Freeman with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a list of celebrity honorees from Brett Ratner to Teri Hatcher.

Guests were treated to live performances from names like Brian McKnight and Benji Madden and the famed 8-year-old piano prodigy, Emily Bear. The night was supported with a star-studded cast of performers, honorees and guests that all believe in using the power of their voice in the name of philanthropy and charity. No detail was too small for this event. The award sculpture itself was the vision of Antonio Banderas and came to life at The Art of Elysium workshop with personal touches from the children at the Shriners Hospitals for Children with the guidance of The Art of Elysium volunteer/actor/sculptor David Grieco.

The Noble Awards was an inaugural awards show that launched the beginning of a perennial movement that will encourage each and every person to give back and take action in the world today.

Each year they will recognize and honor philanthropic organizations and the celebrities that make considerable contributions to them. Some of this year honorees included Nancy O’Dell for Best Buddies International, AnnaLynne McCord for The Blind Project, Teri Hatcher for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Brett Ratner for DoSomething.org, Billy Bush for Lollipop Theater Network, Whitney Burditt for Playing for Change, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds for Stand Up To Cancer, Laila Ali for Women’s Sport Foundation and a charity very close to my heart, The Art of Elysium honoring Joel Madden.

Jennifer Howell, Founder of The Art of Elysium, presented this award to Joel Madden with Lionel Richie, Allison Beck and Stacey Price: “As both an artist and a father, Joel truly embodies a sincere passion for both music and children. It was evident in his beautiful and humble acceptance speech where he expressed his heartbreak at the thought of a child spending one second inside of a hospital. A moment that was also extremely moving was when his twin brother [”Benji":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1901-benji-madden] (who has spent many days with The Art of Elysium teaching guitar and participating in music workshops) shared his love for his brother with a music dedication. Nicole Richie (who has also dedicated her talents to the charity) looked on lovingly while her Father introduced Joel and thanked him for loving his daughter so much. The love, support and generosity that was shown by all members of Joel’s family are the true roots that can help take The Art of Elysium’s mission to every child that spends that terrifying one second in a hospital."

I was lucky enough to experience the vision of the Founder/Executive Producer, Janeen Mansour, prior to the event and watch it develop from an idea to a reality.

“The goal of the Noble Awards was to highlight the charities there that night and celebrities that champion them,” she said. “Our goal reached far beyond my expectations. The purpose of the Noble Awards is to create awareness and send out a call to action. I feel everyone in the room was inspired and moved and understood the message we were trying to convey. That message is to be a Noble.”

The Noble Awards are a testament to what Hollywood can achieve when it uses its voice to celebrate positive change. This event showcased just a few of the many celebrities and individuals dedicated to making a difference in the world today. It is my hope that it will serve as an inspiration to others to get involved in their charity, community or cause that has meaning to them. Being a volunteer takes less time than your yoga class and can cost you less money than your Latte. But the experience will stay with you a lifetime.

To the children, the volunteers, the unnamed angels, the celebrities, the founders, the team behind this event and to all of the people that donate their time and passion to making a difference on a daily basis, this celebrates you.

Inaugural Noble Awards Celebrate Hollywood Philanthropy

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Look To The Stars was proud to be part of the inaugural Noble Awards on Sunday, October 18 – an event that honored a host of charities and the celebrities that support them, elevating awareness of the significant impact of their work.

Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the event honored Morgan Freeman with a lifetime achievement award, as well as Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org).

Lionel Richie was on hand during the ceremony to present an award to Joel Madden, who attended the event with Nicole Richie and his brother Benji.

“I want to welcome him to our family and present this Noble award to a guy I love very much – Joel Madden!” said Lionel as he introduced Joel to the crowd.

“They are just as much a part of it,” said Madden, paying tribute to Nicole and Benji. “Nicole does just as much as I do with Art of Elysium and all the charities we work with. And so does Benj – Benj actually does more then I do, and he plays the guitar better then I do, so he is a little more entertaining for the kids.”

Madden later Twittered about the emotions he felt as he accepted his award: “Just left the NOBLE awards. Got an award that was really for the people at the Art of Elysium. Awesome folks and I’m humbled to know them. By the way got totally choked up when I got my award. I hate thinking about kids in the hospital, they should be getting the awards not us.”

The award itself was designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Morgan Freeman received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“I think so often we don’t know that our gestures matter,” said Teri Hatcher, who was also honored. “I think when you get involved in your local community charity you really do see you make a difference and it’s empowering for you.”

Look To The Stars was at the awards, and we will bring you more about the fantastic event over the coming days.

Look To The Stars Helps Promote Hollywood Philanthropy At Noble Awards

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look to the Stars is pleased to announce that we will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

The inaugural Noble Awards, taking place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 18, has announced five new award honorees. The Blind Project, The Lollipop Theater Network, Padres Contra el Cancer and Playing for Change will be honored along with six previously announced charities. In addition, Morgan Freeman will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The two-hour event, hosted by “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush, seeks to annually honor up to a dozen charities and celebrities who actively support them, elevating awareness of these organizations and the significant impact of their work.

Celebrities who will accept awards on behalf of the charities being honored include Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org). During the ceremony, each will be presented with an award sculpture, designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Brian McKnight and Julio Iglesias, Jr., along with Emily Bear and Timothy Mitchum will provide live musical performances throughout the evening.

“We are delighted to present these eleven distinguished charities and their celebrity supporters with the inaugural Noble Award,” stated Janeen Mansour, creator and executive producer of The Noble Awards. “With the presentation of The Noble Awards, our goal is to turn the spotlight back onto these celebrities and charities to provide recognition, to educate, to inspire, and to encourage even more support from the Hollywood community and the public at large.”

Morgan Freeman will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“The Entertainment Industry Foundation is pleased to be a part of the inaugural Noble Awards,” said Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of Entertainment Industry Foundation. “We are honored and so proud to present our dear friend and exceptional actor Morgan Freeman with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding charitable work and ongoing contributions to so many important social causes.”

The Noble Awards will kick off the “Be A Noble” Movement, a perennial effort to encourage each and every person to “Be A Noble,” and inspire them to give back and take action with a purpose on a global scale. Some of these initiatives include:

Look to the Stars will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

As part of next year’s Cup with a Cause program, 7-Eleven, in collaboration with The Noble Awards, will produce a series of celebrity-designed coffee cups featured in stores nationwide. A minimum of $250,000 will go towards each participating celebrity’s charity of choice. During The Noble Awards’ cocktail hour, guests will be asked to design cups as part of the program.

Participant Media and Takepart.com, the official “action” platform for the Awards, have partnered with the “Be A Noble” Movement to provide the Foundation with a web platform to showcase the work of all the organizations they are honoring throughout the year.

ONEHOPE Wine has bottled an award-winning varietal of wine to be labeled “NOBLE.” 100% of all proceeds from each bottle will go towards the “Be A Noble” Movement, to be distributed among the honored charities.

Rumblefish Jewelry will design a jewelry line based on The Noble Awards and “Be A Noble” Movement, where a percentage of sales will be donated to Noble charities.

Additional partners include EIF/iParticipate, The Hollywood Reporter, Audi, Beverly Hilton, Mobile Cause, Rosenthal and GoodSearch.

As the film industry has the Oscars, television the Emmys and the music industry the Grammy Awards, the charity community and its most dedicated Hollywood supporters will gain global recognition with the staging of The Noble Awards. Produced on behalf of the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit organization, the first annual awards will take place on October 18, 2009. The Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation will launch a year-round movement to BE A NOBLE to better unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, influencers, media and everyday citizens in order to create an effective forum for change and service. For more information, please visit www.thenobleawards.org.

Celebrities To Attend Chrysalis Charity Ball

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The 8th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball will take place this Saturday, June 6.

Hosted by Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, the event will feature appearances by Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon and Annette Bening. Also expected to attend are Amanda Bynes, AnnaLynne McCord, Courtney Love, Kevin Connolly, Nick Lachey, Ron Howard, Warren Beatty and many more.

Chrysalis is a charity dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities. It currently helps more than 2,000 individuals a year change their lives through jobs.

More info can be found here.

LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With Annalynne McCord

Tue, 12 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Brandy Reynolds

Best known for her portrayals of Eden Lord on Nip/Tuck and Naomi Clark on 90210, AnnaLynne McCord is one of the strongest young female philanthropists standing up in Hollywood and fighting for the charities she believes in.

Those charities include The Blind Project, which works towards partnering with indigenous organizations in South East Asia to protect those vulnerable to human trafficking and to provide restoration through education, life skills training and counseling, and the St. Bernard Project – which rebuilds homes for senior citizens, people with disabilities and families with children who cannot afford to have their homes rebuilt by contractors.

In this interview you’ll get a glimpse of her efforts to reach out to those in dire need for someone to stand up and fight in areas of their lives in which they can’t fight for themselves.

Why do you support The Blind Project and St. Bernard’s Project?

I’m a strong believer in working with organizations and giving back, and working with particular groups that strongly affect a person. As long as it strongly affects you, that’s when you will make a difference.

So I got involved with the Blind Project because I always knew I’d work with children and abuse, I just didn’t know in what capacity. Obviously this is the darkest form of abuse that one can imagine working in, fighting the sex trade.

St Bernard’s Project: I was in New Orleans last year visiting someone and I really wanted to go and see and experience what happened. I really was ignorant at the time as to how much damage was still present, and how very few families have been able to move back home… No one wants to see it, hear about it, it hurts your feelings, it feels bad, it gets your stomach in knots.

I remember being there and feeling the desolation and despair – even now the feeling is still strongly there. It really had a strong effect on me. I really wanted to do something to help. I was at a couple events for the Golden Globes and I met Liz MCartney and Zach Rosenburg from the St Bernard Project and it was so wonderful hearing their story, how they’d just received the CNN Hero’s award, which I think is so incredible and so deserved.

[Annalynne joined volunteers from the St Bernard Project in New Orleans soon afterwards, and worked with them as they rebuilt houses.]

I got to actually meet the family that was going to move into the house I was working on, and I got to go around that Sunday and meet families who had made it through everything. Hearing their stories was heart wrenching, but seeing their resilience was so incredible to me because, even in the midst of something so horrific, they had a smile on their face and they were so thankful for the help… it made them a stronger group of people.

New Orleans families are such close families, the grandmother lives next door and the sister is across the street. And what I heard a lot of is: “It’s really hard for us to move back, though we want to, because half of our families are still in theses FEMA trailers.” These trailers are like the trailers I sit in when I’m on set. When I saw that, it ripped my heart out. I got really emotional and upset about it. Zack and Liz told me that it’s ok, the families are thankful to have something.

The reason I’m speaking out about it now is because time is of the essence – less than 50 % of the families have moved back to St Bernard Parish. In August of this year, FEMA is taking away the housing, leaving many families homeless. I feel that a lot of people rushed to help when the hurricanes first hit – now it’s four years later, no one really remembers it. I would really love for the American people to come together and get these families into homes that are safe and secure and aren’t filled with formaldehyde, like half of the trailers from FEMA are. That makes people sick, and then you have medical bills on top of everything else.

A lot of people may not know that the families who had to move up north or to Alabama or the surrounding stats are still paying property taxes to the government for damaged property. I’m speaking out about this now saying please don’t forget about the Katrina victims.

I believe in being in the position I’m in I have to be a voice to those who don’t have a voice. Right now the victims of the sex trade and Katrina don’t have a voice and I want to be a voice for them.

Since you’ve been working with these two organizations, how have you seen great improvement?

St Bernard: Coming off the St Bernard Project, I see they’re working so hard and they’ve built 204 houses which is incredible for three years. For one single organization to have that many families back into their homes [is amazing].

Blind Project: As far as the Blind Project, it’s been incredible the amount of people that have come on board. On BlindProject.com there’s a United Wall. You click on the United Wall and it goes to a wall of pictures. I remember when I first got involved with the Blind Project a year and a half ago the wall had maybe 10 of us. I think I’m like the 10th or 12th person on the wall. Now we have 100’s of people around the world showing their support, and I have fans from MySpace and such who have contacted me saying we are doing a fundraiser here in Missouri… It’s just been so incredible to see all the support. Time, money etc whatever, it’s that much more than we had yesterday and that’s what has been incredible since I’ve been a part of Blind Project.

It’s been inspiring to me how many people really want to help, but don’t know how to or know that it’s ok. I’m trying to teach [my fans] that you’re more fortunate than some people out there, and there is something you can do. And that’s my spin on it in order to let it be something cool.

For young people out there who don’t have a lot of money, what would you suggest they do to get involved?

What’s incredible to me when I was down in New Orleans is, I was working with a group of girls who would love to be at a sorority party, but instead they’re taking their time and giving back. They’re not in the position to write a check, but they’re able to give there time. Like me when I was growing up: on Saturday nights we’d make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and my dad would bring them to the homeless in Atlanta.

I think a lot of times in Hollywood, people have celebrities come and they go all out and get cars for the celebrities and I’m like I’m sorry, it’s for a fundraiser you can drive yourself. I can tend to be a hard ass, but I really believe if you truly want to be there for charity, get yourself there or I don’t want your time.

Do you think that young female celebrities are shining enough light on world issues or could they be doing more?

No, I don’t think they are at all, and I’ve consistently spoken out about it. I would love to say in this interview what I’d like to say to young Hollywood:clean up your act! Don’t be on the cover of magazines for partying too much and driving down the wrong side of the freeway. Be on the cover of a magazine for something that matters for something that’s important. I know in your twenties you want to be young and beautiful and experience all of that, and I’m all for all of that, but at the same time with privilege comes certain obligations. We as celebrities are in a position in which not a lot of people are …where we make a wonderful amount of money and we’re in the public eye and we have people who follow us and want to do what we do and say what we say. If you are in that position and you take advantage of that – and don’t use it to its fullest – then I think there’s something wrong with you and your position should be taken away. If everyone thinks I’m crazy for it then they can think I’m crazy.

Look To The Stars would like to thank AnnaLynne McCord for taking the time to talk to us.

Kiss A 90210 Star For Charity

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

90210 star AnnaLynne McCord will spice up Santa Monica this weekend at a special Kiss For A Cause event.

Along with Lipstick Jungle’s Robert Buckley, McCord will be part of a kissing booth at the Armani Exchange store on the Third Street Promenade to benefit the National AIDS Fund.

The National AIDS Fund was founded in 1988 to reduce the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS by promoting leadership and generating resources for effective community responses to the epidemic. Through its unique expanding network of Community Partnerships, NAF supports over 400 grassroots organizations annually which in turn provide HIV prevention, care and support services to underserved individuals and populations most impacted by HIV/AIDS including communities of color, youth and women.

As well as raising money for the Fund through the kissing booth, Armani Exchange will also donate a percentage of their sales profits for the day to the organization.

The event takes place on Saturday, February 7, between 2pm and 4pm.

LTTS Exclusive: Celebrity Babes Come Out To PLAY For Charity

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Last weekend in Los Angeles celebrities showed up at infamous Saddle Ranch Chop House on Sunset Boulevard for the second annual ‘Babes on the Bull’ charity event to benefit P.L.A.Y. (Providing Laughter and Amusement for Youth), an organization that collects new toys, books and games and distributes them to children in hospitals, shelters and other organizations.

Guests packed the Saddle Ranch for an afternoon of ’LA’s hottest girls’ riding the mechanical bull for charity with extra entertainment in the form of fire dancers (Fire Groove) and a live auction which included amazing seats at a Laker’s game, VIP booths at LA’s hippest clubs, golf outings, LA Dodgers baseball tickets and others. The best aspect of the auction was that everyone entering the Ranch-including the general public- received a hundred-dollar voucher to use towards auction items.

Celebrities who lent their name and came out to PLAY for the cause included: Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean, actress AnnaLynne McCord (90210), MTV’s ‘Wild N Out’ stars D.J. D-Wrek and Leonard Robinson, Warrant front man Jani Lane, actress Claudia Jordon, David Faustino (Married w/Children, STAR-VING), Gladiator Romeo, Cory & Susie Feldman, Amanda Detmer, Colleen Shannon, Jaimarie Bjorge, model/actress Kaki West, recording artist Oryon, ‘Vacancy 2’ star Lola Davidson, and actress Kelly Monaco.

Warrant front man Jani Lane was all smiles as he arrived and admitted that he’s never ridden a mechanical bull.

Actor David Faustino, who lives within walking distance of the venue, was happy to lend his support for a great cause. “I figured I’d come out today and support the cause” he said on the red carpet, “I live in the neighborhood, so you know, I give a little cheer, a little money and you know-promote, the whole package.”

Corey and Susie Feldman, the power couple who star in the A&E hit show ‘The Two Coreys’, were genuinely excited to take part in the event. “We’re here to support the kids of course,” said Corey. Granted, Corey is no stranger to giving back big-time to the community while also promoting animal rights. He’s a spokesperson for PETA, Farm Sanctuary, The Humane Society, MoveOn, and Greenpeace, and was awarded the Paws of Fame Award by the Wildlife Way Station for his dedication to animal rights.

Inside the venue, the crowd was pumped up as girls took to the bull to raise cash for the kids. And it wasn’t just "babes’ who rode the bull, a few celebrities gave it a try. First to give it a shot was actress Jaimarie Bjorge, who remained in the saddle for the duration of the ride and got the crowd pumped up for the rest of the riders.

All in all, this was a great event for a great cause and no doubt, there are quite a few grateful children in Los Angeles today.

Look To The Stars News: AnnaLynne McCord

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