Look To The Stars News: Matthew McConaughey

Giving Back Fund Announces Top 30 Celebrity Charity Donations For 2011

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:20:00 +0000

The Giving Back Fund (GBF), a nonprofit organization that provides philanthropic management and consulting to the sports and entertainment industries, released its fifth annual Giving Back 30, a list of the 30 celebrities who made the largest donations to charity in 2011 according to public records.

The list includes celebrities from many walks of life including actors, writers, producers, musicians, comedians, and athletes.

Topping the list were actress Jami Gertz and her husband, Anthony Ressler, who donated $10,569,002 to the Ressler Gertz Foundation. Coming in second was musician Herb Alpert, who gave $9,104,829 to the Herb Alpert Foundation – which focuses on the arts, compassion and well being – followed by Mel Gibson, who gave $6,853,020 to the AP Reilly Foundation, which he started to support the Holy Family Church.

Get Your Hands On Matthew McConaughey's Bongos For Charity

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Did you see Matthew McConaughey play the bongos when he was a guest of Piers Morgan on CNN recently? The actor is now auctioning the drums for charity.

On the show to talk about his current hit, Lincoln Lawyer, where he plays an LA defense lawyer who works out of the back of a Lincoln Town Car defending low-life criminals, Matthew took some time to share one of his passions and favorite pastimes and give Piers a lesson on the bongos. You can see the performance here.

Matthew McConaughey Talks Charity

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Matthew McConaughey has talked about a new partnership between his JK Livin Foundation and Think Together that will see his charity help children in schools across Southern California.

“My whole goal is to get the program that worked, that we started at one school, then we went to two then we went to three, it took three years to do that, and then things got solid and we started branching out in large packs like this,” he told JustJared.com. "So now with this partnership we can grow in larger increments now. That’s the plan – to make it successful here, see how fast it grows as long as it is working, and as long as it keeps working it keeps spreading in more schools, that’s the idea.

“I’ve had the instincts to help since I was a kid. I was raised that way. As a kid I was pushed to go give time in my community and it felt good. You learn as a kid. I learned from my parents that people that have, and people that are in a position that can, then give back in a way you can. The challenge is to find out which way to do that, which way is best for you that makes it personal but yet it’s something people need, because there are a million things people need. What do we do with my organization is something I love doing day to day.”

Generous Stars Join Dora The Explorer For Charity

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Children’s favorite Dora The Explorer has been joined by some of the entertainment world’s most generous stars in a new celebrity charity auction.

Twelve custom-made backpacks designed by Jessica Alba, Sheryl Crow, LeBron James, Heidi Klum, Faith Hill, Drew Brees, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Shakira, Slash and Matthew McConaughey are currently going under the hammer to celebrate the cartoon’s 10th anniversary. All proceeds from the Beyond The Backpack auction will go to the Children’s Defense Fund, an organization whose mission is to ensure the well-being of children everywhere.

The Beyond The Backpack auction campaign kicked off on Tuesday with a special event at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City, which was attend by LeBron James, Uma Thurman, Kelly Rutherford and Dora herself.

Matthew McConaughey's Four Seasons Of Charity

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

At its ninth annual gala earlier this week, Samsung – along with its partners and special guest Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Matthew McConaughey – announced Samsung Hope for Children, the company’s enhanced philanthropic initiative that will replace its existing Four Seasons of Hope program.

The new Samsung Hope for Children initiative increases the company’s cause-related marketing focus to have greater impact on the two areas most affecting children: health and education.

Beginning in 2002, Samsung starting working with several elite athletes including sport legends Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Arnold Palmer, Eli Manning and NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson in addition to civic personalities like Rudy Giuliani and many of Samsung’s business and retail partners to raise more than $25 million for more than 300 schools, community-based foundations, and charities throughout the U.S.

Get Your Hands On Matthew McConaughey's Baby Stroller For Charity

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Actor Matthew McConaughey is auctioning off his son’s stroller. Now, this may seem a bit odd since baby number two is on the way, but he’s doing it for a good cause as proceeds benefit the JK Livin Foundation.

Young Levi’s ‘Baby Jogger Performance’ stroller is listed as being “gently used” by father and son. The ‘Model S-20 – Navy/Metallic Silver’ stroller can be viewed and bid on here. As of this printing, the current high bid is only $197.50, which is a great deal considering it retails for about $350.00.

All proceeds benefit the j.k. livin foundation, a non-profit foundation committed to the health and well being of the youth in our communities.

Carrie Ann Inaba iParticipates At Food Bank

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

ABC’s Dancing with the Stars judge and iParticipate celebrity ambassador Carrie Ann Inaba donated her time – along with 50-plus volunteers – for a day of service at the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas on Wednesday, October 21.

The event was part of the iParticipate initiative that Look To The Stars reported on earlier this week, in which celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Blythe Danner, Morgan Freeman, Faith Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Simon Baker (CBS’ The Mentalist), Emily Deschanel (FOX’s Bones), Eva Longoria Parker (ABC’s Desperate Housewives), Julia Louis Dreyfus (CBS’ The New Adventures of Old Christine), Masi Oka (NBC’s Heroes), Michael Strahan (FOX’s Brothers), Kate Walsh (ABC’s Private Practice) and Rainn Wilson (NBC’s The Office) have joined with the Entertainment Industry Foundation to encourage people to volunteer for good causes.   

Inaba joined her fellow volunteers in sorting and packaging food for distribution to needy residents of Southern Nevada. Three Square is the only food bank in Las Vegas and prepares more than 8 million meals annually for underprivileged families.

Stars Want Fans To iParticipate In Charity Initiative

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The Entertainment Industry Foundation has mobilized the entertainment community around a groundbreaking initiative designed to inspire a new era of service and volunteerism.

Called iParticipate, the initiative aims to show what we can achieve when we all pull together. A number of celebrities have given their support to the campaign, including Michelle Obama, Blythe Danner, Morgan Freeman, Faith Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Simon Baker (CBS’ The Mentalist), Emily Deschanel (FOX’s Bones), Eva Longoria Parker (ABC’s Desperate Housewives), Julia Louis Dreyfus (CBS’ The New Adventures of Old Christine), Masi Oka (NBC’s Heroes), Michael Strahan (FOX’s Brothers), Kate Walsh (ABC’s Private Practice) and Rainn Wilson (NBC’s The Office).

As a centerpiece for this initiative, EIF has enlisted major broadcast networks including, ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, for an unprecedented, week-long television event beginning Monday, October 19. Tune in to seven days and nights of television and watch how your favorite TV shows and personalities shine a light on the power of community service.

Anna Kournikova Pulls On Her Running Shoes For Charity

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Anna Kournikova competed in the Second Annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon in Florida on Sunday, an event that raised money for charity.

The annual event – which last year attracted a host of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey – raised money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This was also the second time Kournikova has competed in the event as part of the K-Swiss team. She ran 4km as part of the three-person team.

The tennis star has also blogged about her recent trip to New York, in which she rang the Stock Exchange Bell for the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America.

Jack Johnson Goes Barefoot For Charity

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Jack Johnson is kicking off his shoes to lead a host of celebrities in a new auction to save America’s shoreline.

The singer is just one of many conservation-minded stars who have donated their footwear to the auction, which benefits the Surfrider Foundation, an organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education.

The Barefoot Wine Rescue Project auction also features shoes donated by Cameron Diaz, Matthew McConaughey, Kelly Slater, Sophia Bush, Andrew Keegan and many more.

Bid 2 Beat AIDS Auction Jam-Packed With Stars

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:30:00 +0000

December 1st marked World AIDS Day. It was also the first day of BID 2 BEAT AIDS’s 4th annual charity auction.

Fans of celebrities in film, music, television, sports and Broadway have 10 days to bid on eBay for autographed items, VIP seats, original art, costumes and props, memorabilia, exclusive events and meet-and-greets from a legion of stars.

Autographs range from CDs by stars like Bon Jovi and Amy Winehouse, books signed by Madonna and Kevin Bacon, posters signed by Jake Gyllenhaal, Owen Wilson, and Matthew McConaughey, DVDs signed by Will Ferrell and Steven Spielberg, and toys, clothes, instruments and other memorabilia.

J-Lo Completes Triathlon For Charity

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Jennifer Lopez has competed in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon and raised $127,000 for charity.

The singer and actress – who completed the event in 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 28 seconds – raised the money for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a facility that provides seriously ill children with medical care from some of the country’s best doctors regardless of their families’ ability to pay.

“I feel really great and so glad I finished and that I made it out of the water – but more amazing than that, I feel really great that we raised $127,000 for the Children’s Hospital and hopefully it’ll go to good use,” said Lopez.

Matthew McConaughey Wants Kids To Just Keep Living

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Matthew McConaughey – recently voted as having one of the best sets of abs in Hollywood – has teamed up with Ebay to auction off a one-of-a-kind 2007 Knockout Motorcycle Co. Commemorative Texas Longhorn Themed Bobber Motorcycle, plus tickets for two to the University Of Texas football game for charity.

“I’m going to be auctioning off my UT motorcycle, and offering you the opportunity to get some of these other goodies,” said the 38-year-old actor, soon to be seen in his upcoming movie, Surfer, Dude. “We’ve got a package for you. It contains UT football tickets, Surfer Dude premiere tickets, signed Just Keep Living T-Shirts, signed Surfer Dude posters, and headshots [photos] if you want ’em. 100% of the proceeds are going to benefit the Just Keep Living Foundation. This Foundation is dedicated to helping boys and girls transform and become good men and women. How? Well, through programs that teach the importance of decision-making, health – mental, physical, and spiritual – education, and good all-round active living.”

McConaughey set up the JK Livin Foundation – the Just Keep Living Foundation – due to his interest in helping young people to live fuller lives. The Foundation has recently partnered with Communities in Schools to implement fitness and wellness programs. The JK Livin afterschool program will give children a healthy start in life and the promise of a healthy future.

Stars Design Ugg Boots For Charity

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:56:14 +0000

It may be cold, and snow may be falling outside your window, but a new charity auction might have just the thing to keep you warm and cosy this winter. A host of celebrities have got together to fight the winter blues by designing a range of sheepskin-lined Ugg boots, with all proceeds going to fight childhood diseases.

Sharon Stone, Penelope Cruz, and John Travolta are just some of the 22 stars trying to keep your toes toasty this holiday season, with a variety of designs on offer in the auction to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, America’s third largest healthcare charity.

St. Jude’s is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases, and offers free treatment to all of its patients. The hospital, based in Memphis, Tennessee, was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas, and shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities all around the world, making it a leader in children’s healthcare.

Celebrity Auctions Tackle The Big Issues

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:29:11 +0000

Thirteen of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood are creating a buzz with an internet auction taking place in October, in order to raise awareness of one of the biggest and most pervasive threats to life on Earth.

Ebay Giving Works, eBay’s program dedicated to charity listings, is hosting an online auction for the WWF, with 100% of the proceeds going to the World Wildlife Fund’s global conservation initiatives, especially those involved in the fight against climate change.

The auction, which runs from October 3 -12, features a series of 100% organic T shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Hotter Than I Should Be”. The shirts, which have created much interest in the media and Hollywood as a unique way to spread the message that the Earth is warming, have all been signed by a multitude of celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Orlando Bloom, Rachael Ray, Harrison Ford, and Cate Blanchett.

Lance Armstrong Party Raises $1 Million

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:57:53 +0000

Lance Armstrong hosted a fundraising party on Friday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his anti-cancer charity, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

A barbeque at the retired cyclist’s home in Austin, Texas drew guests including Armstrong’s ex-fiancée Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett and Matthew McConaughey, and a total of around $1 million was raised for the Foundation.

Armstrong joined Lovett on stage for two songs, and told the crowd, “I hated losing and I hated rivals. And I despise, detest and hate cancer. This foundation is going to continue to be ruthless and relentless in this fight against cancer.”

Matthew McConaughey’s Name Means Big Money

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:08:11 +0000

Actor Matthew McConaughey is helping make Gulf Coast holiday dreams come true. He is lending his name to Communities In Schools of New Orleans, Inc. for an ebay.com charity auction benefiting the organization.

Winning bidder will receive the following autographed items:

McConaughey's Corvette on eBay

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 21:32:58 +0000

Matthew McConaughey has put his 1971 Chevy Corvette up for auction on eBay to help with the ongoing 2005 hurricane relief efforts.

The actor is donating 100% of the auction’s proceeds to Oprah’s Angel Network to aid those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

He says, “I admire and enjoy this car, but it’s a luxury that I’m willing to relinquish at this point because I am fortunate enough to have everythin I need, and the sale of it will help so many with the necessities in life.”

Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend Aims to Raise $500,000

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:33:39 +0000

Over 30 celebrities are expected to attend the Dennis Quaid 2006 Charity Weekend from 4th-7th of May in Austin, Texas, where the actor lives.

Top names such as Hugh Grant, Greg Kinnear and Matthew McConaughey will reportedly be among those aiming to raise $500,000 for local and international children’s charities. Planned events include a celebrity poker challenge, a fashion show, an auction, golf and a benefit concert by Quaid’s band The Sharks.

The Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend has become an annual event since its inauguration in 2003, and has raised $700,000 to date. This year’s event will benefit Any Baby Can, Austin Children’s Shelter, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, and the International Hospital for Children.