Look To The Stars News: Ben Affleck

Toronto Film Festival To Host Cinema Against AIDS

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0000

On September 15, 2009, amfAR – The American Foundation for AIDS Research – and Dignitas International will partner on the first-ever Cinema Against AIDS event during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and amfAR Ambassador Michelle Yeoh will serve as chairs of the evening, along with amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, John Demsey, Milutin Gatsby, Trudy Grant, amfAR Founding Chairman Dr. Mathilde Krim, Dignitas co-founder Dr. James Orbinski, and Kevin Sullivan. Grammy Award-winning musical artist Sarah McLachlan will deliver a special performance.

The black-tie gala will take place at the acclaimed Carlu in Toronto, and will include cocktails, dinner prepared by renowned Canadian chef Jamie Kennedy, and a luxury live auction. amfAR and Dignitas will share all proceeds from the event, funding that will benefit crucial AIDS research initiatives and efforts to improve quality of life for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Over the years, amfAR has awarded 52 grants to HIV/AIDS organizations in Canada, totaling more than US$2.6 million, making Canada the recipient of more amfAR funding than any countries except the U.S. and Australia.

amfAR’s first Cinema Against AIDS benefit was held in Cannes during the 1993 Cannes International Film Festival and was hosted by Dame Elizabeth Taylor, amfAR’s Founding International Chairman. Since then, this annual black-tie gala has established itself as the most consistently exciting and well-publicized party held during the Cannes festival. In addition to Dame Elizabeth, who has hosted the benefit on seven occasions, amfAR Global Fundraising Chairman Sharon Stone has been a chair and auctioneer since 1995.

Cinema Against AIDS has also been held on various occasions during the Venice, Sundance, Rome, and Dubai film festivals, and in all cases these events have attracted a stunning guest list of top celebrities, entertainment industry elite, and international society. Traditionally, celebrities in the room assist with the live auction. Participants have included Ben Affleck, Prince Albert of Monaco, Lance Armstrong, Mary J. Blige, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Sofia Coppola, Penelope Cruz, Matt Damon, Catherine Deneuve, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sheryl Crow, Carla Fendi, Andy Garcia, Richard Gere, Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Anjelica Huston, Elizabeth Hurley, Iman, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, Wyclef Jean, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Kline, Diane Kruger, Diego Luna, David Lynch, Madonna, Sienna Miller, Liza Minnelli, Kylie Minogue, Clive Owen, Robert Pattinson, Sean Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Lionel Richie, Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, Kurt Russell, Claudia Schiffer, Julian Schnabel, Monica Seles, Mira Sorvino, Sylvester Stallone, Rod Stewart, Quentin Tarantino, Charlize Theron, Sigourney Weaver, Harvey Weinstein and Robin Williams, among others.

The film and entertainment communities have been committed and generous supporters of amfAR and the fight against AIDS since the start of the epidemic, and the Cinema Against AIDS galas have proven to be among the most high-profile and successful AIDS benefits worldwide. Since 1993, these signature amfAR events have played a pivotal role in focusing attention on the continued fight against AIDS, and have generated more than US$48 million in support of the foundation’s AIDS research programs.

Ticket info can be found here.

Ante Up For Africa To Hit Las Vegas Tomorrow

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:33:00 -0000

Ante Up For Africa will support Refugees International’s efforts for the displaced people of Darfur and all of Sudan as part of its charity celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas on July 2, 2009.

The event is hosted by WSOP Bracelet Winner and Celebrity Apprentice Star Annie Duke and Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle, with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Brad Garrett planning to attend. Professional poker players and Refugees International supporters Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, and Phil Hellmuth will also be participating.

“We are grateful to Ante Up For Africa for shining a spotlight on the ongoing crisis in Darfur and generating such significant support for the people who have been forced from their homes by this conflict,” said Ken Bacon, President of Refugees International. “An event like this makes it possible for Refugees International to continue to demand action from the world’s leaders to provide basic assistance and protection to refugees in Sudan and around the world.”

Ante Up for Africa is a non-profit organization that raises funds for the survivors of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan and to support activism dedicated to resolving this crisis. Its successful charity poker event has raised over $2 million since it began in 2006. Beneficiaries of this year’s tournament include Refugees International, the ENOUGH Project and others. ESPN will televise the 2009 Ante Up For Africa Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament on August 11.

“It is important to me to show people that it is possible to make a difference for the people of Darfur,” said Annie Duke, one of the founders of Ante Up for Africa. “I am thrilled that this event has become such a success and that it will generate support for efforts by Refugees International, the Enough Project and others to end the crisis in Darfur.”

In 2009, Annie Duke played for Refugees International on NBC’s hit reality show “Celebrity Apprentice.” As a contestant on the show, she raised $700,000 for Refugees International.

“We have been privileged to work with Annie Duke and her friends and to witness the incredible generosity of the professional poker community,” continued Bacon. “We can’t thank Annie enough for her commitment to refugees around the world and for her work for peace and justice.”

Refugees International is a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises. The organization does not accept any government or UN funding to strengthen the independence of their advocacy. For more information, go to www.refugeesinternational.org.

Ante Up For Africa is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 by Don Cheadle, Annie Duke and Norman Epstein dedicated to raising money and awareness for Africans in need. For more information about Ante Up For Africa, please visit www.anteupforafrica.org.

Affleck, Damon and More To Ante Up For Africa

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:30:00 -0000

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Garrett, Mekhi Phifer, and top poker professional Phil Hellmuth have joined the growing list of celebrities who plan to play in the Ante Up For Africa charity tournament July 2 at the 40th annual World Series of Poker.

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are expected to go all in for the 3rd Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) Celebrity-Charity poker tournament.

Annually, the largest celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas, the event is accessible for the public to play with their favorite stars or watch as spectators. A full house of celebrities will join Academy Award Nominee, Don Cheadle and “Celebrity Apprentice Star” and WSOP Bracelet winner Annie Duke at the event taking place during the 2009 WORLD SERIES OF POKER® (WSOP) at Rio in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 2 at 2 PM.

This No-Limit Hold’em poker tournament has an entry fee of $5,000 and provides entrants the opportunity to walk away with a six-figure payday. The event allows players to rub elbows with top Hollywood stars, athletes and poker professionals while contributing to a great cause.

Celebrities and athletes will join poker’s most notable players to raise public awareness and funds to support the victims of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

Among those confirmed to participate, subject to availability, are Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brad Garrett, Cedric the Entertainer, Charles Barkley, Danny Masterson, Hank Azaria, Herschel Walker, Jason Alexander, Kenny Smith, Marlon Wayans, Montel Williams, Reggie Miller, Tia Carrere, Sarah Silverman, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Cheryl Hines, Mekhi Phifer, Rob Schneider; Poker Professionals Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Tiffany Michelle, Erik Seidel and Phil Hellmuth with more to be confirmed.

The tournament will feature a fast-paced structure designed to complete the competition within five hours. Seating for the tournament is open to anyone age 21 or older.

This event, as is every World Series of Poker tournament, is open to the public for viewing and admission is free. The event will take place in the famed Amazon Ballroom in the Rio Convention Center, just one day prior to the start of the WSOP Main Event, the game’s most prestigious poker event.

Cheadle, an accomplished poker player, and Duke, who has more than $4 million in tournament winnings, are committed to raising both public awareness about the tragedy in Darfur and funds to aid its victims. As the world’s richest sporting event, the WSOP awarded more than $180 million in 2008 and attracted participants from a record 124 nations.

In the previous events, many of the in the money finishers volunteered to donate half of their winnings to the charity. Proceeds from the event will go to the ENOUGH Project and Refugees International, organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur.

More information about the tournament is available at www.worldseriesofpoker.com. If you would like more information regarding the organization, please log onto www.anteupforafrica.org and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/anteupforafrica.

ABOUT THE WSOP
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world awarding millions of dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2008, the event attracted 58,720 entrants from 124 different countries to the Rio in Las Vegas and awarded over $180 million in prize money. The creation of the new delayed Main Event final table more than doubled ratings on ESPN year-over-year. In December, 2008 the WSOP was named the 7th most admired sports brand in North America by the Turnkey Team Brand Index trailing only the more established NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and PGA Tour among sports properties. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent in 2007 of the World Series of Poker Europe. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit our website at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

ABOUT ANTE UP FOR AFRICA
Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 by Don Cheadle, Annie Duke and Norman Epstein. We are dedicated to raising money and awareness for Africans in need. To date, Ante Up For Africa has raised close to $2 million for the cause and has donated to organizations such as Not On Our Watch (NOOW), ENOUGH and The International Rescue Committee. For more information, please log onto www.AnteUpForAfrica.org.

Matt Damon Seeks Support With Petition

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Matt Damon is encouraging people to join him in signing a petition asking senators to cosponsor the Durbin-Corker Water for the World Act of 2009.

The Act will help 100 million people gain access to clean water and sanitation by 2015, but currently needs at least 15 more cosponsors to move forward.

“On my trip with the [”ONE Campaign":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/3-one-campaign] to Zambia, I walked two miles with a 14-year-old girl to a well—the closest water source to her village," said Damon. "I asked if she wanted to stay in her village when she grew up, and her face exploded into a huge smile. The translator said, “she is being very shy…she says that she wants to move to big city, Lusaka, and that she wants to be a nurse.”

“Women and girls, like the one I met in Zambia, bear most of the burden of lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Women are more than twice as likely as men to be responsible for water collection, and on average, women in the developing world walk three and a half miles each day to collect water—time that could be spent in school or at work.

“Economically, water is one of the smartest poverty-fighting investments we can make. My friend [”Ben Affleck":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/17-ben-affleck] and I met with the World Bank and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Tanzania, and we saw how a lack of good water infrastructure is holding back businesses. We talked to Prosper Mbarewoai of Allied Chemicals, who estimated his detergent-production business is operating at only 60% capacity because he spends anywhere from two hours to an entire day just getting water.

“The MCC in Tanzania is working to revamp the water treatment and supply infrastructure in two major cities, decreasing the risks of water-borne illness and enabling business productivity. In fact, every $1 spent on water and sanitation generates a return of $8 in saved time, increased productivity and reduced health costs in Africa.

“Improving access to clean water and sanitation is also an investment in women, making possible the dreams of young girls in Zambia and beyond. To help make this change happen for her and 884 million others worldwide who live without clean water, please ask your senators to cosponsor the Water for the World Act.”

To sign the petition, click here.

Hillary Clinton Receives Vital Voices Award

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Several celebrities attended the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards ceremony earlier this month in order to present awards to five of the world’s outstanding female leaders. Speakers such as actresses Candice Bergen and Sally Field were among the award presenters, but the speakers weren’t all female.

Actor Ben Affleck took the stand to point out that, because it is women that hold society together, the problems women face are relevant to men: “As long as violence against women – sexual or otherwise – remains strictly and exclusively a ’women’s issue’, it will always be an issue. We men must own this and we must recognize that it is vital to our own survival and we must help our brothers see it as such.”

Vital Voices, which aims to empower women leaders, gave their final award – the ‘Global Trailblazer’ – to the organisation’s co-founder, America’s Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to honor “her passionate commitment to promoting women’s rights and securing justice for all people around the world.”

Accepting the honor, Clinton said, “No nation can be successful if it invests only in or listens to only half of the population. So for all of those women who aren’t here tonight, who are enduring unspeakable abuse, who are labouring under unbearable burdens, who are wondering whether there is a future for themselves and their children, we pledge that we will do all we can to ensure that America is not only an example of the best values that humanity has to offer, but that we pursue every chance we can to give every woman a vital voice on behalf of herself, her family, her community and her country.”

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck Head Back To The Charity Poker Table

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are heading back to the poker table to raise money for charity.

The Cannes Charity Poker event, which is being sponsored by 888.com, will coincide with the Cannes Film Festival and is being held to raise money for Ben Affleck’s and Matt Damon’s charities – Not On Our Watch in aid of the children in the Darfur region, and One Voice For Freedom, the children’s anti-slavery charity whose patrons include Michael Caine, the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu.

The Cannes Charity Poker event is a privately run affair and the final 60 places will have been vetted by the organizers in an attempt to attract only the very top ‘A’ list celebrities.

Poker site 888.com is offering its customers the chance to play poker live at the Cannes Film Festival on 19th May with the stars. 888.com has secured one highly sought after place for one its customers on this final table, as the official gaming partners of the Cannes Charity Poker Event. Customers can win that place by playing at 888poker over the coming weeks.

To win an entry into the free roll event 888poker’s players will have to have accrued 1200 points from March 1st to May 6th. Once they have achieved this they will take part in a free roll poker tournament on May 9th.

The Cannes Charity Poker Event Final will have seven tables, each with at least one ‘A’ List celebrity such as Matt Damon or Ben Affleck on each table. The black tie occasion promises to be one of THE events of the two week Cannes Film Festival and the lucky 888.com winners not only have a chance of winning great prizes but also helping charity.

Stars Sign Posters For Charity Foundation

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Now is the time to deck your walls with a selection of movie posters signed by your favorite stars in a new charity auction being run by ClothesOffOurBack.org.

Going under the hammer are a Brokeback Mountain poster signed by the late Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, a Big Love poster and DVD set signed by Bill Paxton, a Philadelphia poster signed by Denzel Washington, and SAG Conversation Series posters signed by stars such as Kirk Douglas, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Greg Grunberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Holly Hunter, Rob Schneider, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Selleck, Forest Whitaker, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Ben Affleck, Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Tim Robbins, Ali Larter, Jesse Spencer and many more.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the Screen Actor’s Guild Foundation, an organization that offers substantive services to Guild members in its mission to assist, educate and inspire actors in their professional endeavors and to give back to the communities in which they live. Founded in 1985, the non-profit SAG Foundation is governed independently of the Guild and funded through the generosity of grants, donations, volunteering and fundraising efforts.

The auction runs until March 23 and can be accessed here.

Have Your Favorite Star Record Your Voicemail Message

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Now is your chance to bid on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a celebrity record your outgoing voicemail message – with proceeds going to charity.

A range of stars have put their voicemail recording talents under the hammer for this very special charity auction, including Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Cindy Crawford, Billy Crystal, Joe Mantegna, Isla Fisher, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Sacha Baron Cohen, Felicity Huffman, Jennifer Garner and many more.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the International Medical Corps and their work in supporting the women and children victimized by war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered 20 years of continuous fighting which has led to an estimated 5.4 million deaths.

The auction follows the star-studded event held last week honoring the organization.

To take part in the auction – powered by AuctionCause and ending very soon – visit eBay Giving Works.

Stars Come Out For The Congo

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

On Wednesday, February 18, the stars came out to join Children Mending Hearts for an event honoring International Medical Corps for their dedication in supporting the women and children victimized by war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The event was hosted by writer/producer Grant Heslov – of “Good Night and Good Luck” – and his wife Lysa at the House of Blues on Sunset Blvd. With Oscar week at a fever pitch, the A-list crowd was in town to support a good cause and listen to the musical styling of Sheryl Crow. Anderson Cooper was also honored for his work

In attendance for the event were Alyssa Milano – looking stunning in red satin – Ben Affleck, Joel Madden, Hank Azaria and many others.

When asked about his show of support for the event, Affleck replied: “I am involved because I spent some time with the international medical corps in the refugee camps they work in Goma and North Kebo which is in the Eastern Congo as well as a little bit in Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan. I got a chance to see what their work was like…I have personally seen them save lives and I was so struck by it that the least I could do was come to a party.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered 20 years of continuous fighting which has led to an estimated 5.4 million deaths. Lysa Heslov, has personally traveled the DR Congo in January of 2009. She filmed her efforts to raise awareness.

While on the red carpet, actor Hank Azaria admitted that events like this one help to raise awareness for him.

Actress Andie MacDowell was also in attendance and shared her thoughts with The Associated Press: “I want to participate in education and teaching people about what’s happening in the Congo, because I think unfortunately we don’t know. And I think knowledge is everything and once people understand what’s happening and start voicing their opinions about what’s happening – to women particularly in the Congo, about all these women being raped – we can make a change. People are powerful.”

Ben Affleck To Address Celebrities At Charity Event

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

This Wednesday, February 18, will see some of Hollywood’s biggest stars turn out at the House of Blues in Los Angeles to honor International Medical Corps (IMC) and support its life-saving work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Expected to attend the event are George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Diane Keaton, Felicity Huffman, Forest Whitaker, Tobey Maguire, Kate Walsh, Heather Graham and Brooke Shields, with entertainment to be provided by Sheryl Crow.

The evening is to be hosted by writer/producer Grant Heslov (“Good Night & Good Luck”) and his wife Lysa, who founded the arts exchange organization, Children Mending Hearts, and traveled to IMC’s programs in the Congo last month. A special humanitarian award will be presented to CNN’s Anderson Cooper for his reporting in Africa.

Featured speaker at the event will be Ben Affleck, who has made several trips to the Congo and this week published an article he wrote about his experiences in TIME Magazine.

“I’ve been traveling to Congo since 2007,” he wrote in the article, titled A Glimmer Of Hope In Africa. “The picture of the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has grown tragically familiar: a region with great natural wealth, riven by war, racked with hunger and traumatized by a long history of colonial abuse, postcolonial kleptocracy and plunder. In the past 10 years alone, millions have died here, and more die each day as a result of the conflict. Most die not from war wounds but from starvation or disease. A lack of infrastructure means there is little medical care in the cities and none in rural communities, so any infection can be a death sentence. The most vulnerable suffer the worst. One in five children in Congo will die before reaching the age of 5 — and will do so out of sight of the world, in places that camera crews cannot reach, deep in a vast landscape and concealed under a canopy of bucolic jungle.”

Established in 1984, International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.

Celebrities Sign iPods For Charity Auction

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Tonic.com has announced the launch of a new charity auction series. Leading celebrities from the worlds of music, film, television, and fashion have contributed an autographed iPod loaded with their personal playlist to be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 to replace lost or destroyed instruments of musicians in the Gulf Coast Region after the hurricane disasters.

Over seventy celebrities will participate in the auction series including U2’s The Edge, former President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Beyoncé Knowles, Cher, Donna Karan, Warren Buffett, Christy Turlington, Britney Spears, Michael Stipe, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Stevie Nicks, Michael Buble, Ben Affleck, Ellen DeGeneres, Estelle, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson, Peter Wentz, Randy Jackson, will.i.am, Kevin Bacon, Gisele Bundchen, Marc Jacobs, Ed Burns, Samantha Ronson, Nick Lachey, Petra Nemcova, Mandy Moore and many others.

Each celebrity was given a new iPod which they each autographed and Tonic pre-loaded with a playlist of ten to twenty of the celebrities’ favorite songs. Beginning February 12 between one and five separate iPod auctions will simultaneously launch every week on eBay; playlists will be revealed to the public on both tonic.com and eBay when auctions are launched.

“Music Rising is honored to be the charitable beneficiary of Tonic’s innovative iPod auction series,” said Bob Ezrin, Co-founder of Music Rising. “My visits to New Orleans gave me a firsthand look at the devastation which tragically destroyed the lives of thousands. Every person who wins an iPod bid will directly be helping ensure that one of the Gulf Coast’s greatest assets, its music, will rise again.”

“Everyone who has ever wondered what songs their favorite celebrities listen to in their home or on the road won’t have to wonder much longer,” said Pankaj Shah, CEO and Founder of Tonic. “We’ve compiled pre-loaded, autographed iPods from countless iconic celebrities to share with the public. By bidding on an autographed iPod, you’ll be helping to aid in the continued rebirth of the Gulf Coast Region. The Celebrity iPod Auction Series is Tonic’s first major campaign of 2009 to offer consumers an opportunity to create social good and we’re thrilled to rally people behind a great cause.”

Ben Affleck To Testify At Congressional Hearing About Congo

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ben Affleck has accepted an invitation to testify at a congressional hearing about a documentary film he made in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Gimme Shelter is a four minute documentary set to the music of the Rolling Stones and focusing on humanitarian issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The actor – who recently welcomed a new baby into his family – is excited by the prospect, but is refusing to name the senator who invited him.

“He asked me to do it … and I said ‘yes,’ and he said, ’I’ll let you know when it is,’” said Affleck. He is unsure when the hearing will take place, but feels that his visits to the Congo will help raise awareness of the problems there.

“When awareness is raised, when constituencies start to pay attention, they are more likely to pay attention to that one thing than another,” he said. “What I can do is care about something. What I can do is make it important to my elected officials. Diplomacy is free.”

The UNHCR Gimme Shelter campaign hopes to raise $23 million in 2009 for emergency humanitarian assistance kits to help displaced persons in the Congo

Stars Play Poker For Paralyzed Veterans

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Some of the biggest names in poker and entertainment have been invited to participate in two-charity poker tournement benefiting the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

The ‘All In’ events will take place at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on February 26, and the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capital Hill, Washington D.C. on March 25. Invited guests include Committee Chairs: Ben Affleck, Andy Bloch, Lee Childs, Senator Alfonse D’Amato, Richard and Kyle Petty, Mike Sexton, and Montel Williams.

Both events include an opening reception, poker clinic and silent auctions, as well as prizes such as a seat at the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational or a VIP Race Weekend with Richard Petty.

Your sponsorship will help Paralyzed Veterans of America to continue supporting the tens of thousands of veterans who rely on their services and programs. Through your support, you will become a partner with an organization fondly considered the “voice” of the paralyzed veteran in the White house, on Capitol Hill and throughout America. Contact: For more information, please contact Meredith Magwire at (703) 288-8686 or mmagwire@hayespr.com

Ben Affleck Premieres New Film For The United Nations

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ben Affleck attended the premiere of his new short film about the crisis in the Congo on Wednesday.

Gimme Shelter is a four minute documentary set to the music of the Rolling Stones and focusing on humanitarian issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“It’s an issue that I care a lot about – which is what’s going on in the Congo,” Affleck told Access Hollywood. “So, I made this film for the [”UNHCR":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/5-unhcr], which is the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. I really am passionate about the humanitarian situation in the Congo, so I made a film about refugees – kind of centered around what’s happening in the Congo."

Affleck addressed the UNHCR at the UN Headquarters in NY following the premiere.

The UNHCR Gimme Shelter campaign also hopes to raise $23 million in 2009 for emergency humanitarian assistance kits to help displaced persons in the Congo. The film will be distributed worldwide through the Internet, television, mobile phones, cinemas, and hotel chains.

To view the new film, click here.

Ben Affleck Shows Gratitude For The Troops

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ben Affleck and Patricia Heaton were on hand at the California National Guard Armory on Sunday, December 14, as part of Operation Gratitude.

The pair joined thousands of volunteers as they helped put together over 100,000 care packages for troops stationed overseas.

Operation Gratitude started out as a small operation but has now become one of the largest military support organizations in the world, with over 400,000 care packages delivered to troops deployed in combat zones. Each package costs $10 to prepare and ship, and contains food, toiletries, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation.

Affleck is also excited that his short film about the Congo is to be shown at UN Headquarters this week.

“I made a film for the U.N.,” Ben told Access Hollywood. “It’s an issue that I care a lot about – which is what’s going on in the Congo. So, I made this film for the [”UNHCR":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/5-unhcr], which is the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. I really am passionate about the humanitarian situation in the Congo, so I made a film about refugees – kind of centered around what’s happening in the Congo. I’m screening it at the U.N. on the 17th of December, as the opening to a discussion that they’re doing there about refugees."

Affleck also got some very special celebrity help for his film: "The film is set to the Rolling Stones song, “Give Me Shelter,” which was donated by the Rolling Stones. It’s another step of being active in the humanitarian space and I’ve been really honored that the U.N. has asked me to make this film and is allowing me to participate in their discussion about refugees which will follow the screening of the film."

Anne Hathaway Joins Celeb Friends To Feed America

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest) – the largest hunger-fighting charity in the US – has joined forces with Netflix, the world’s largest online movie rental service, to create a new charity initiative with the help of Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Ben Affleck and Scarlett Johansson.

The four celebrities have each created artworks for the new campaign that will adorn Netflix gift subscriptions this Christmas. The pictures will also appear on limited-edition Netflix Holiday Gift Boxes – red, velvet-lined commemorative showcases featuring an individually signed and numbered print and a lifetime membership to Netflix. Only 100 boxes have been produced and will be gratefully given, until the supply is exhausted, to those making a $5,000 donation to Feeding America at http://www.netflix.com/holidaygiftbox. One hundred percent of the $5,000 donation will go to Feeding America and is equivalent to providing 80,000 meals to those in need this holiday season. The commemorative boxes are only available until December 29.

“Netflix is honored to continue to support the efforts of Feeding America by finding innovative ways to raise the profile of the significant issue of hunger in America,” said Leslie Kilgore, chief marketing officer for Netflix. “Through our joint efforts, we hope to provide help to many individuals and families in need this holiday season, as well as throughout the year.”

To help launch the campaign, Anne Hathaway visited the St Aloysius School in Harlem yesterday, December 15, to help prepare healthy snacks with 25 school-age children as part of Feeding America’s Kids Cafe program, which provides free meals and snacks to low-income children through a variety of community locations, such as after-school programs, churches and public schools.

“It would not be possible for us to feed over 25 million people each year without generous corporations such as Netflix,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “As millions of Americans turn to Feeding America and its network of food banks for food assistance this holiday season, we couldn’t be more grateful for their incredible support.”

Ben Affleck Visits Refugee Camps In Congo

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Ben Affleck has been visiting refugee camps in war-torn eastern Congo this week, where at least 250,000 people have been displaced by recent fighting.

The visit is Affleck’s fourth trip to the African nation, and the 36-year-old said he first became interested in Congo when Hollywood began to focus on the crisis in Darfur. He was shocked to learn about Congo’s four-year war, during which an estimated 5 million people died.

“I’m not an expert in international affairs or diplomacy, but it doesn’t take that to see the tremendous suffering here,” he told The Associated Press. "It’s not something that we as human beings can, in good conscience, ignore.

“I’m really glad that more people are paying more attention to [Congo] now but I’m really saddened that it’s taken this uptick in violence to make that happen. My hope in being here is primarily to bring attention to the fact that there’s a real lack of [aid agencies] here, a real lack of money going to these folks.”

Fighting has escalated in the past year after disputes between the army and loyalist of rebel leader Laurent Nkunda broke out, and Affleck believes his celebrity status will bring attention to the region.

“I think that, for better or worse, people with some profile in the arts have some currency to spend as celebrities,” he said. “And for a time, I didn’t spend that in any particularly productive way. And I got to a point where I thought, this is wasteful… this is a place where I can have a really big impact.”

Jessica Alba Wants You To Declare Yourself

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Jessica Alba has appeared in a new advertisement and public service announcement aimed at energizing young adults to register and vote in the 2008 US election.

The 27-year-old actress – who appears in the adverts naked and wrapped in black electrical tape – is part of the “Only You Can Silence Yourself” campaign being run by Declare Yourself, a non-profit organization initiated in 2004 to energize and empower a new movement of young voters.

“If you don’t register and vote and make a difference, and hopefully change the bad things that are happening in our country, you are essentially just binding and muzzling yourself,” she said. “I really don’t see the point in not registering to vote. We sign up for MySpace pages and Facebook pages, and download music off the internet. The least people can do is register to vote online, actually making a difference in their world, not just making their lives a little bit cooler. It makes more sense to spend your time making a change in society—and it actually doesn’t take that much time! It takes more time to make a music playlist than it does to register to vote.”

According to their website, Declare Yourself registered over one million young people in the 2004 and 2006 elections. Founded by television producer and philanthropist Norman Lear, the campaign has gathered support from a wide range of stars, including Ben Affleck, Christina Aguilera, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore and many more. Declare Yourself aims to empower and encourage every eligible 18-year-old in America to register and vote in the presidential primaries and 2008 presidential election, using the power of media partnerships, celebrity spokespeople, the sports arena, and mobile and Internet technology.

Affleck Tops Charity Stars in Denver

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Denver saw an outpouring of celebrity love during last week’s DNC, with Ben Affleck leading the philanthropic pack.

On the Tuesday night, Affleck took part in a poker tournament, along with Richard Dreyfuss and Montel Williams, which ultimately raised over $60,000 for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“A lot of important organizations use this environment and the people who are here, celebrities, members of Congress, to try and raise money. This is not a Democratic or Republican group, this is a group serving our veterans,” Affleck said of the charity.

Wednesday morning, the Pearl Harbor star was down at a local food bank, the Food Bank of the Rockies, to participate in a repack event for America’s Second Harvest. Also on hand for the event were members of the Senate Hunger Caucus and members of the House – all there to see who could pack the most boxes of food in five minutes. Affleck, incidentally, won both the poker and the packing events.

He was joined by wife Jennifer Garner for a book reading at the Starz Green Room. Also set to attend were Charlize Theron, Daryl Hannah, Rosario Dawson, Kerry Washington, Josh Brolin, Kal Penn, Stuart Townsend and Hill Harper.

Jennifer Lopez spoke at a reception sponsored by the Jennifer Lopez Foundation in honor of Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. Fran Drescher, Ashley Judd and Joy Bryant joined Lopez in honoring Edelman.

The Black Eyed Peas performed at the Fillmore Auditorium for the Creative Coalition, and Kanye West performed at a party benefitting the ONE Campaign. Forest Whitaker, Kal Penn and Jamie Foxx were in attendance at the latter.

Moby performed at a private party for DoSomething.org, and Willie Nelson sang out for the people of Darfur at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Matt Damon Heads Back To Toronto For ONE X ONE

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Matt Damon will host the annual ONEXONE Difference Awards for the third year in a row.

Also returning this year is Wyclef Jean, who appeared at last year’s event when Richard Gere, Sarah Ferguson, and Petra Nemcova were all honored for their humanitarian work.

The ceremony, which raises money for domestic and global charities, will take place on September 8 at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. ONEXONE is a non-profit organization that supports children in Canada and around the world, and has raised over $5 million to fight child poverty. Last year’s fundraiser netted a massive $3.2 million for the foundation, with more than $7 million being raised since the first awards ceremony in 2005.

Earlier this year, the foundation held its inaugural benefit gala in Calgary, hosted by Ben Affleck. The organization now plans to expand to the US, with its first benefit gala there to be held in San Francisco on October 23.

The recipients of this year’s Difference Awards are yet to be named, but are guaranteed to be people who have dedicated their lives to fighting child poverty and suffering around the world.

The Chips Are Up For Africa

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The Second Annual ‘Ante Up for Africa’ poker tournament was held on July 2nd in Las Vegas, and drew an impressive field of poker pro’s, celebrities and athletes – all of who helped make the event a success by raising over $400,000 for charity.

The event, co-hosted by humanitarian/actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, is already having a positive impact in Darfur – notably in reference to a UN Security Council vote authorizing a peacekeeping force in the area. “It wouldn’t have taken place [without us],” said Cheadle.

“It’s just great to see everybody,” Cheadle said as the event began.

The mood was comical at some tables,“All the tournaments I’ve ever won have been for charity,” said actor Jason Alexander. “When there’s no actual money for me, I’m very good.”

Adam Sandler cracked his first joke as the first hand was dealt, “I just want to hurry up and lose my money and go home to my wife.”

Matt Damon busted out of the tournament early, while seasoned poker pal Ben Affleck made it all the way to the final table before losing to John Hennigan.

Affleck said he remains optimistic about the situation in Darfur, “I do think that [Sudan’s leaders] are afraid of the next administration being tougher, and are probably a little bit more willing to be more cooperative. But I’m optimistic about what’s going to happen.”

Other celebrities who kicked in the $5k for a spot at the felt included Charles Barkley, Jennifer Tilly, Shannon Elizabeth, Ray Romano, Casey Affleck, and poker pro Phil Helmuth among others.

The tournament benefited two charities: ENOUGH, a project co-founded in 2007 by the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress; and Not On Our Watch (NOOW), a group co-founded by Cheadle, Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

Ben Affleck Gets The Whole Picture About The Congo

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Ben Affleck took a Nightline crew along on his third trip in a year to the Democratic Republic of Congo in an effort to raise awareness about the plight of its people.

In a place where 1,200 people die every day from things like preventable disease (over five million dead in the past 10 years of internal conflict, 16 times as many as in Darfur’s ongoing genocide); in a place where boy children are used as soldiers and girls as militia wives and where two of every three women have been raped; in a place that visually more resembles scenes from the Road Warrior, Affleck says this failing state needs the world’s attention.

Aired last week on ABC, it was not necessarily a Nightline report nor was Affleck acting as its correspondent. The airing was simply meant to record Affleck’s journey to understanding. According to ACB News spokesperson Emily Lenzner, “We basically went with a camera… and followed [Affleck] around. It was his observations, his journey that we documented.”

Determined to get the whole picture, Affleck tried to examine each perspective. In his introductory essay he wrote, "My trip brought me to camps for people displaced from their homes, to rural hospitals, to gold mines, and even to remote operations with the United Nations designed to “sensitize” the most violent and vicious of the foreign-born militia in an effort to encourage them to return to their country of origin. I met with warlords and peacemakers, survivors and aid workers."

Clear in the understanding that his Nightline piece would not turn the Congo around overnight, he is hopeful it may plant some seeds into the consciousness of Americans. “The connected human chain which binds us demands that we contribute, even if only in some small way, to the betterment of the world. Congo is a place that deserves, at the very least, our eyes and our ears.”

Celebrities To Raise Stakes For Africa Again

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The 2008 ‘Ante Up For Africa’ Poker Tournament at the World Series of Poker will be held on July 2 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The tournament is the brainchild of actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, who created the event to raise money and awareness for the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan.

“After the success of last year’s tournament, we are looking forward to another exciting year while raising awareness for an ongoing crisis,” Duke said. “It is exciting to bring the world of poker and entertainment together, and we are once again asking players who win prize money to donate half of their winnings to our charities.”

Last year’s inaugural event raised more than $700,000, thanks in part to the stellar list of celebrities, athletes, and poker professionals who participated.

Confirmed to participate in this year’s event are Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Sandler, Ray Romano, Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, Kevin Pollack, Cheryl Hines, George Lopez, Joe Trohman from Fall Out Boy, and more.

“The poker community has a unique opportunity to help ease the suffering in Darfur,” said Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP commissioner. “The stars are coming out for this special event once again and we encourage everyone to register early before we sell out.”

Two charities will benefit form this year’s Ante Up For Africa showdown – the ENOUGH Project and Not On Our Watch.

ENOUGH is joint initiative of the International Crisis Group and the Center for American Progress, which aims to end crimes against humanity in Darfur, Northern Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The organization also hopes to prevent future mass atrocities around the world.

Not On Our Watch, which was founded by George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt, strives to focus global attention and resources on putting an end to mass atrocities around the world. It takes its name from the book authored by Cheadle and John Prendergast, and draws on the voices of celebrities, cultural leaders and activists to help bring the crisis to the public’s attention and generate humanitarian assistance for the nation.

The tournament is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on July 2.

Ben Affleck Attends One X One Fundraiser

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:34:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity crusader Ben Affleck was among the stars at the ONEXONE fundraising gala in Calgary, Canada, on Saturday night.

Over 300 people attended the event to raise funds for various children’s charities and recognize the OneXOne 2008 Difference Award recipients: Canadian hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser, the Calgary Flames, and five-year-old Jack Yeilding, who raised $14,000 for ailing children. And despite a few mishaps earlier in the night – the sponsorship backdrops fell onto the red carpet and caused chaos prior to the guests arriving – the event was a resounding success.

“You have to extend your hand to those who have fallen down,” joked Affleck. “Like our backdrop that keeps falling down, you see the good people from OneXOne continue to raise it back up. All of this [work for ONEXONE] has kind of served to remind me of how lucky that I have been, how much I’ve kind of benefited and how much I owe . . . to the world to try to give back as much as I can.”

Affleck also said he was throwing his support behind the charity – which raises money and awareness for impoverished children – because he is impressed with the work they have been doing. Last year’s benefit function in Toronto raised $3.2 million for the charity.

“I’ve spent a lot of time working in Africa and actually met up with ONEXONE a couple of months ago in Rwanda,” said Affleck. “They said ‘Hey, we’re doing this event in Calgary, would you come do this? Whether it’s being a father, or just feeling connected to people, or having a sense of maturity, I’ve been spending a lot of time trying to learn about Africa and the developing world.”

ONEXONE founder Joelle Berdugo Adler was also in attendance, and was more than pleased with the evening.

“When you see what’s going in this world and you see the problems in this world you want to shake people sometimes and make them understand,” she said. “You have to be patient and understand everybody has different things going on in their lives.”

Ben Affleck To Host One-X-One Fundraiser

Thu, 01 May 2008 10:59:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

For the past three years, Ben Affleck has watched his buddy Matt Damon host the ONEXONE fundraiser in Toronto. This year, the Oscar-winning activist actor will take centre stage as he hosts the OneXOne Gala (June 14) from a new location – Commonwealth Hall in Calgary.

“We are delighted to add an additional gala to our schedule this year, and look forward to bringing the ONEXONE message to Calgary,” said Joelle Berdugo Adler, founder of OneXOne, in a statement. “Our objective is to improve children’s lives here and abroad, and we have been deeply touched by the support and dedication of our guests, sponsors, and award recipients.”

The addition of a second event in a new location reflects a growing awareness of the charity.

“When they asked if I’d do Calgary, I said, ’Sure. As long as Matt is not dragging me down!” said Affleck, referring to the fact Damon will be serving as the evening’s ambassador.

Now in its fourth year, the children’s charity has raised roughly $7 million for impoverished children around the globe. Their September 8 fundraiser, hosted by Damon in Toronto, is already one of the most coveted tickets during the Toronto Film Festival.

“They’re a great organization that is not pinned down by huge overhead,” said Affleck. “When ONEXONE sees something they feel deserves their merit, they move quickly. You can tell a lot about an organization by the people they’ve cultivated to come back and work with them over and over again. I was struck by the energy and drive of this group.”

ONEXONE Calgary will also feature Grammy winner George Benson, the African Children’s Choir, and the Canadian Tenors.

In the fall, ONEXONE will add a third benefit to its 2008 schedule, with a gala in San Francisco on Oct. 23.

Stars Record Public Service Announcement

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:44:27 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Ben Affleck, Dakota Fanning, Eva Mendes, Garth Brooks, Jeremy Piven, Joaquin Phoenix, Morgan Freeman, and Reese Witherspoon have filmed a Public Service Announcement for all Americans, stating that the country’s health care and financial security crisis is about to explode. But if people on both sides of the issue would start a dialogue, the problems are not insurmountable.

The video is part of the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) “Divided We Fail” project, an initiative that has just garnered support from the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF).

“We need to build a national conversation around these issues,” said AARP CEO Bill Novelli, who is more than happy with the union. “The entertainment industry is uniquely suited to help us do that.”

It is a view shared by MPTF Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. “Hollywood can call attention to these problems and help galvanize the public into taking action,” said the producer of Shrek and head of the organization of entertainment industry leaders dedicated to supporting health and human service needs. “[This] is a key first step in solving them.”

The director of the video, Tony Goldwyn, had a very specific message to get across: “People wind up feeling that the two sides are just too far apart; that these problems are so big and complex that we can’t fix them. What we’re saying is, if we all get together and start talking, we can.”

Americans struggling with financial and health care problems are invited to share their stories at www.aarp.org, and their experiences may be used for the Divided We Fail project. The PSA video can also be viewed on the site. The AARP organization is dedicated to enhancing the experience of aging through advocacy, information, and service, with a focus on the needs for health, financial security, giving back to society, family and social connectedness, and joy in life.

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