Look To The Stars News: JK Rowling

JK Rowling Is Saving Old Forest From Clear Cutting

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:05:00 +0000

Ten years ago, Canada and most of the world’s publishing industry printed on paper made from old growth trees. As entrepreneur Nicole Rycroft stood surrounded by the Clayoquot Sound old forest in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia, she couldn’t understand why.

“Knowing that 800-year-old trees were disappearing into Jackie Collins novels or photocopy paper, it seems ludicrous to me,” says Rycroft. "If you’ve been to a clear cut, it feels like you’ve been to the moon. It really feels like an act of violence. "

It turns out that the reason was economics: recycled paper was more expensive and the demand for it was low. Rycroft decided that increasing demand was something she could effect, starting with author and publisher endorsements for the cause. One of her earliest successes was gaining author JK Rowling’s endorsement.

Light A Birthday Candle For JK Rowling's Charity

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

JK Rowling’s charity, Lumos, is asking people around the world to support its Light A Birthday Candle campaign, a year after changing its name from the Children’s High Level Group.

On and around International Children’s Day, 01 June 2011, the charity is asking people, community groups and organizations to take part in this initiative to help raise vital funds and awareness for the one million children in institutionalized care in Central and Eastern Europe.
  

Get Your Hands On Guitar Signed By Paul McCartney For Charity

Wed, 18 May 2011 11:30:00 +0000

With news of a wedding and a new album in the works, Paul McCartney fans have a lot to look forward to at the moment. And now they have even more – a guitar signed by the former Beatle is going under the hammer to benefit a charity started by a young boy in Scotland.

Shine On Scotland was established by teenager Ryan McLaughlin in 2009 to raise awareness of the importance of Vitamin D in the battle against Multiple Sclerosis. He organized a petition and march that was presented to Scottish parliament that attracted the support of over a thousand people, including Harry Potter creator JK Rowling. He has previously won the Child of the Year Award at the Bighearted Scotland Awards, and also a Pride of Britain Award. Just a few days ago, Ryan was named in Britain’s Top 100 Happy List.

To view the Paul McCartney guitar or make a bid, click here. Auction ends May 31.

Britain's Happy List Honors Those Who Make World A Better Place

Mon, 16 May 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Britain’s Independent on Sunday newspaper has released it’s annual Happy 100 List for 2011, which includes some familiar names for readers of LookToTheStars.org.

The IoS Happy List began in 2008, and lets readers of the paper vote for the people they believe make Britain a better and happier place to live.

Included in this year’s list are:

Russell Brand Surprises Scottish Teenager With Charity Award

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Scottish teenager Ryan McLaughlin, whose Shine on Scotland campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of Vitamin D in the battle against Multiple Sclerosis, has been awarded a Pride of Britain Award by Russell Brand.

The comedian made a surprise visit to the Scottish parliament last week to make the announcement while 15-year-old Ryan was making a speech… although he made a minor mistake of confusing Ryan with his brother Darren.

“What a wonderful person you are and what a wonderful example of how things that are difficult and challenging in life can be turned around if you have a beautiful spirit like you obviously do have,” said Russell Brand.

JK Rowling Makes Massive Donation To New MS Facility

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Harry Potter writer JK Rowling has donated US$15 million to a multiple sclerosis charity in the name of her mother.

“I have supported research into the cause and treatment of multiple sclerosis for many years now – but when I first saw the proposal for this clinic, I knew that I had found a project more exciting, more innovative, and, I believe, more likely to succeed in unravelling the mysteries of multiple sclerosis than any other I had read about or been asked to fund,” she said. "I have just turned 45, the age at which my mother, Anne, died of complications related to her MS.

“I know that she would rather have had her name on this clinic than on any statue, flower garden or commemorative plaque, so this donation is on her behalf, too, and in gratitude for everything she gave me in her far too short life.”

JK Rowling's Charity Celebrates International Children's Day

Mon, 17 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

JK Rowling’s charity – the Children’s High Level Group – has changed its name to Lumos, and the organization is launching a campaign next month to celebrate International Children’s Day on June 1.

The charity officially changed its name earlier this year, but will still carry on its work of putting an end to the systematic institutionalization of disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe. The name Lumos comes from the light that comes from wizards’ wands in Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

“Twenty years ago, as Communist regimes across Europe toppled, harrowing images of Europe’s hidden children began to emerge,” said Rowling. “Thousands upon thousands of children were living in vast, depressing institutions – malnourished and often maltreated, with little access to the outside world. Slowly governments have begun to transform care systems. Real and lasting change takes time, but today we are putting down a marker and calling for significantly more progress in the next twenty years to ensure that eventually no children are living in, or at risk of entering, such institutions.”

Richard Branson To Attend Madeleine McCann Fund Event

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Richard Branson will attend a special event to raise funds for missing children, to mark the 1000th day since the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal in May, 2007.

The event will be held at the Kensington Roof Gardens on January 27, and Harry Potter author JK Rowling has also been invited.

Madeleine was just a few days short of her fourth birthday when she disappeared from a rented apartment in Praia ad Luz, sparking an international search. No trace of her has ever been found.

JK Rowling And Stephenie Meyer Sign Books For Charity

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Signed books by JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Jenson Button, Richard Branson, Ricky Gervais, Michael Parkinson and many more are going under the hammer for charity thanks to the work of a man from Bristol, UK.

Grant Thompson has been collecting the autographed books from celebrities for the last two years, and is now selling them for a local MS charity.

“JK Rowling was my first book which [then] got me started from there,” Thompson told the BBC. “Originally I was trying to keep everything Bristol-based and I knew JK Rowling lived outside Bristol. Also her mum had MS as well, so it started with that really.”

Meet Harry Potter Stars For Charity

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund has waved its magic wand and is inviting bids for the ultimate present for kids this Christmas – a visit to the Harry Potter film set.

This will be the first of a planned series of money-can’t-buy experiences and items to be auctioned on-line through The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund website over the coming months at http://www.mdirfauctions.co.uk

Stars Sign Books For Charity Auction

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Eyebrows of rare book and signature collectors will rise this fall when an extraordinary collection with a tender mission will be available for an online auction beginning November 9-24, 2009.

Dubbed The Little Auction That Could, the 70+ collection includes signatures from some of the most iconic figures of our time, including President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, JK Rowling and Tiger Woods.

Passionate about education and literacy, volunteer mom Karla Preissman wanted to foster a love of reading among children living at Jensen Beach, Florida-based Hibiscus Children’s Center who have suffered from abuse and neglect. First, she helped create the Reef Library within the shelter and filled it with hundreds of books and resources. But that wasn’t enough…she wanted to make sure that these resources would be replenished and the library maintained and supported by staff that would help make literacy a key component to the healing received at the foster care center.

Wanted: Celebrity Supporters For Charity Kilimanjaro Climb

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Last week, Look To The Stars brought you the story of 14-year-old Ryan McLaughlin’s Child Of The Year award, which he won for single-handedly trying to stamp out Mutiple Sclerosis in Scotland with his own charity, Shine On Scotland. We can now reveal that this remarkable boy is planning to climb Mt Kilimanjaro to raise awareness of his charity, and he is looking for celebrity supporters to help him.

Ryan – whose mother suffers from MS – set up the charity to raise awareness of the importance of Vitamin D in the battle against the condition. He organized a petition and march that was presented to Scottish parliament in June that attracted the support of over a thousand people, including Harry Potter creator JK Rowling.

“I am really honored to support Ryan in his fantastic campaign to get Vitamin D for all introduced as a preventative measure against MS,” said Rowling. “Ryan’s mother has MS, as did my own mother. I only wish I had the gumption at 14 to do what Ryan is doing and get such an important issue raised at parliament.”

Shine On Scotland Creator Wins Child Of The Year Award

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:30:00 +0000

In May, Look To The Stars brought you the story of Ryan McLaughlin, a 14-year-old Scottish boy who is single-handedly trying to stamp out Mutiple Sclerosis with his own charity, Shine On Scotland. We can now happily announce that Ryan won the 2009 Child Of The Year award at a major ceremony in his native country last week.

The Stars Come Out For Tilly

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:30:00 +0000

A host of stars were out in the weekend to support a young British girl who contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia as a baby and lost her hands as a result.

Last year, Look To The Stars brought you the story of Tilly Lockey, who contracted a deadly form of flesh-eating meningitis for which there is no vaccination. It was every mother’s nightmare, and for four weeks Tilly fought back in intensive care. After ten blood transfusions later she was finally pronounced out of danger. Unfortunately her hands and toes were already dead, and had to be removed.

Tilly recently received her first set of prosthetic hands. According to her parents, “these need to be replaced as she grows, consultants have told us that they will need to be changed a minimum of once every year if not twice up until she is 18 years old! We received the invoice for the hands and they are costing £23,464.00 a pair. Therefore if we need to have a target of raising approx £800,000.00 to cover the costs up until Tilly is 18 years old.”

JK Rowling's Harry Potter Chair To Go Under Hammer For Charity

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Now is your chance to own the chair on which JK Rowling sat while writing Harry Potter!

The chair has been decorated and signed by the author, and comes with a signed letter. The seat pad bears the Scottish thistle, while the oak side declares “While sitting on this chair I wrote Harry Potter.”

Originally donated by J. K. Rowling and sold in 2002 at a small charity auction which received little publicity, this significant item escaped the attention of the world. It is now offered to Harry Potter fans in every corner of the globe. Historically, it is the most important chair in Muggledom, and probably one of the most exceptional and rare pieces of Harry Potter memorabilia ever likely to be offered for sale.

Harry Potter To Spin Magic For Comic Relief

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Two Harry Potter spin-off books are to be reprinted, with some of the proceeds going to charity.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through The Ages were penned by JK Rowling, and are now back by popular demand – reformatted and with brand new jackets. Both are packed full of fascinating facts and intriguing information – giving new and loyal readers even more background on this magical world. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or brand new to Potter, when you buy one of these novels, you’re doing something amazing.

And the best thing is, Rowling has agreed that £1.15 from the sale of each will go to Comic Relief. The money that Comic Relief receives from the sale of each book will go towards helping people living really tough lives both in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries.

Celebrity Handprints To Be Auctioned For Tilly

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Last year, Look To The Stars brought you the story of Tilly Lockey, a young girl who contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia as a baby and lost her hands as a result.

A number of stars, such as JK Rowling, Linford Christie, David Jason, Cliff Richard, David Prowse and Alan Shearer showed their support for Tilly’s cause by donating handprints and casts for a charity auction to give her new hands. Look To The Stars is now happy to announce that the 2009 Celebrity Handprint Auction will take place on September 5 at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel in the UK.

The gala evening will feature entertainment from Paul Lytton, Michael Donoghue and Richard Fleeshman, as well as a Champagne Reception and 3 course dinner.

JK Rowling Brings A Little Magic To Needy Charities

Tue, 12 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has saved a charity home established to offer holidays to poor families from Glasgow, Scotland, from closure.

Rowling’s charity, the Volant Trust, has made a significant donation to help Braendam House, a facility in Thornhill, keep its doors open. Founded in 1967, the facility issued redundancy notices to its staff earlier this month.

Along with charitable trusts such as the Cattanach Trust, Robertson Trust, Endrick Trust, Mugdock Children’s Trust, and the Balmore Coach House Trust, Rowling’s Volant Trust – set up in memory of the author’s mother – has come up with a package that will allow Braendam House to continue its services until next March.

Bid On Signed Books, Photos And Even C3P0 To Support Children With AIDS

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Celeb2nds.com – a website that specializes in celebrity charity auctions – is currently holding an amazing sale of celebrity-signed items for the Children with AIDS (CWAC) charity.

There is a huge amount of books going under the hammer at the site, including titles signed by Ted Turner, Richard Branson, Michael Parkinson, Geri Halliwell, Piers Morgan, Terry Pratchett, Chris Tarrant, Jeffrey Archer, Maeve Binchy, Bernard Cornwall, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Paul Auster and many others.

For autograph hunters who are looking for signed photos, there is a massive selection including pictures signed by Terry Wogan, Moby, Davina McCall, Lorraine Kelly, Tess Daly, David Gower, Rio Ferdinand, Boris Johnson and a particularly revealing signed shot of Danielle Lloyd.

Bid On Signed Harry Potter Book For Charity

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Fans of Harry Potter are able to bid on a rare first edition of The Deathly Hallows – the seventh book in the series – signed by author JK Rowling.

The auction is being run Celeb2nds.com, a website that specializes in celebrity charity auctions, and will raise money for Children with AIDS (CWAC) – a charity that responds to the specific practical, emotional and educational requirements of children and their families infected and affected by HIV.

Established in 1992 to help the youngest of those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS maintain a good quality of life, CWAC is a UK-based charity that aims to work towards a future without poverty or prejudice for these children and their families.

Catch A Baseball Signed By Five US Presidents For Charity

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:00:00 +0000

A complete set of Harry Potter books signed by author JK Rowling and artworks signed by former president Jimmy Carter are some of the items up for sale in an exciting new auction to raise money for an organization that promotes peace and health worldwide and monitors elections in struggling democracies.

Over 100 items will be up for grabs in the auction, to benefit the Carter Center. One of the most sought-after prizes is a baseball signed by five American presidents – George Bush Sr, George W. Bush Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter. Also raising eyebrows and bids will be a a certificate commemorating the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, signed by Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong. There are also photographs taken on the moon and signed by the astronauts, as well as guitars signed by Crosby, Stills and Nash, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Michael Stipe, Bruce Springsteen and Kid Rock.

The auction will take place during the Carter Center’s annual Winter Weekend celebration Feb. 7 in Port St. Lucie. More information about the auction and how to bid online can be found at the Carter Center website.

Beedle The Bard Breaks Sales Records For Charity

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0000

JK Rowling’s new book, The Tales of Beedle The Bard, has created history by raising over £4 million (US$8 million) for charity in its first week of release.

The Children’s High Level Group – the charity Rowling established in 2005 to improve the well-being, health and protection of vulnerable children – has said that 2,629,000 copies of the book were sold in the first week, generating £4.2 million for the organization.

“I am absolutely delighted that so much money has been raised,” Rowling said. “I would like to thank everyone who has so far purchased a copy of the book. All royalties will be going to help children without families, many of them with disabilities, whose voices have been unheard for many years.”

JK Rowling To Create Magic For Charity Tomorrow

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

Harry Potter fans around the world will have a very restless night as they wait with eager anticipation for JK Rowling’s new book, The Tales Of Beedle The Bard, which is being released tomorrow, December 4.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of five tales first referred to in Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final part in the author’s series of wizarding masterpieces. It was initially produced as seven handwritten copies, six of which were given away by Rowling as gifts, and one was bought by Amazon.com at auction last year for $4 million.

Proceeds from the book will go to Children’s High Level Group, a charity founded by JK Rowling and Emma Nicholson in 2005 to improve the well-being, health and protection of vulnerable children. The charity works at a political and practical level to ensure that UN minimum standards for the care of children are implemented across the whole of Europe and beyond. Their Children’s Voice campaign wants to end the neglect and abuse of children and teenagers that still exists in many countries.

JK Rowling To Hold Beedle The Bard Reading

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Author JK Rowling is to read from one of the original handwritten fairytales she wrote in a special charity tea party.

The Harry Potter creator will read extracts from The Tales Of Beedle The Bard at the event – to be held at the National Library of Scotland on December 4 – being hosted by the Children’s High Level Group. Local school children will be invited to attend the event, with 10 local schools each being able to bring 20 pupils to the party.

December 4 will also see the public release of The Tales Of Beedle The Bard in bookshops around the world, with royalties going to the Children’s High Level Group, a charity established by the author to help vulnerable children in Eastern Europe.

JK Rowling Kept Busy With Charity Work

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:30:00 +0000

A signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows will be the big attraction in a charity auction in Scotland next week.

Author JK Rowling has donated the book to the Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS), to be auctioned off as part of their Touch of Tartan charity ball on August 29.

“We were really excited to receive this donation from JK Rowling and to have her support,” said Helen MacKinnon, marketing and development co-ordinator for the organization. “As the prize is so outstanding and tickets have sold out, we have decided to open up the bidding on the Harry Potter novel to anyone interested.”