Look To The Stars News: Tatyana Ali

LTTS Exclusive: Celebrities Bowl For Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Best known as the “Queen of Fashion,” and co-host of the original "It’s Showtime at the Apollo, " for over fifteen years, Kiki Shepard and the K.I.S. Foundation held the Annual Celebrity Bowling Challenge to raise awareness for sickle cell disease last week.

Many of Kiki’s celebrity friends came out to support the former Apollo host at the PINZ Entertainment Center in Studio City, California. Celebrity guests included James Pickens, Jr., Dawn Lewis, Tatyana Ali, Bill Bellamy, Loretta Devine, Jackee, Gina Ravera, Jenifer Lewis, Kristoff St. John, Salli Richardson-Whitfield and DJ MC Lyte among others.

Each year, the Bowling Challenge – which is sponsored by corporations such as Bank of America, Herbalife, Mercedes Benz-Beverly Hills, and Behind the Bench-NBA Wives Association – helps to raise awareness about sickle cell, an inherited, non-contagious blood disease which is life threatening. When asked about why it is important to raise awareness about sickle cell, Ms. Shepard stated, “It is important because it is a disease that is prevalent in the African American, Latino and Asian communities where little is known about its debilitating effects, how to prevent it and the need to get immediate testing.” As a carrier of the sickle cell trait, Shepard believes that the K.I.S. Foundation must, “…inform and educate the public and raise awareness [about] the disease through community outreach programs and educational scholarships,” said Shepard.

Some of Kiki’s close friends have played an active role in the Foundation for many years. James Pickens, Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy), has been involved in the foundation for the past six years. Pickens believes that it is “[his] duty as a citizen of the community to spread the word about the disease and the importance of early detection.” Dawn Lewis (formerly of A Different World), has also been an active member of the Foundation since its inception seven years ago. Lewis, who serves on the Board of Directors, is proud that the Foundation has been able to “…raise enough money in the past year to fund bone marrow transplants for two children.”

When asked how others can get involved in raising awareness about this deadly disease, Gina Ravera (Soul Food/The Fighting Temptations) stated that, “We live in the digital age where the power is not only in the pen, but in the keyboard. People can express their support by blogging to educate others and encourage them to get tested early.” Tatyana Ali, (formerly of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) became involved with the K.I.S. Foundation a few years ago. “I watched my roommates’ sister struggle and suffer from the crippling, painful effects of sickle cell. I’ve watched first-hand the devastating impact of the disease and wanted to get involved to make a difference.”

For more information about the K.I.S. Foundation, visit www.thekisfoundation.org.

Dean Cain To Host Hero Awards

Fri, 29 May 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Actor Dean Cain will host the 2009 Hero Awards on Saturday, May 30, to honor everyday people who have gone out of their way to help others and their community.

Set to take place at Universal Studios in Hollywood, the Awards will be filmed for television broadcast and will benefit Feed the Children. Presenters will include Tatyana Ali, Anthony Anderson, Tom Arnold, Nnamdi Asomugha, Corbin Bernsen, Sharon Case, Erik Estrada, Kelly Hu, Jason London, Willie McGinest, Judd Nelson, Chester Pitts and Efren Ramirez. Musical guests include Gloria Gaynor and Brian McKnight.

Honorees will include:

NANCY DAVIS – Diagnosed with the illness 16 years ago, she founded The Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis and has raised millions in her Race-to-Erase-MS.
KATHY IRELAND – Author, actress, CEO & Chief Designer of Kathy Ireland Worldwide, she continues to give back by dedicating countless hours of personal time and financial resources to philanthropic and non-profit projects.
DR. TODD PRICE – Director and President of International Medical Outreach, he supervises medical and humanitarian aid projects around the world. In this past year alone, his foundation has sent over $70 million dollars worth of resources abroad.
DOROTEA LIGUORI – Compassionate international jewelry designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist; she recently co-funded the ABC Baby Center for Feed The Children in Africa.
JOLANDA & JIOVANNI JONES – This mother and 16-year-old son saved the life of a teenage driver by pulling her from the rubble of a fiery crash seconds before the car exploded.
ZACH SMOTHERS – This 12-year-old rescued his 3-year-old cousin from the bottom of a pool and, repeating what he saw on TV, administered CPR to save her life.
USMC LANCE CORPORAL JEREMY LEPSCH – A Marine who saved the life of a motorcyclist whose leg had been severed in an accident.
MADELYN EAVES – The 3-year-old who called 911 to save her pregnant mother.
HERO- A German Shepherd who saved a stranger from a car wreck and is now being trained as a search and rescue dog.

More information about the event – and tickets – can be found at the official website.

Mayor Villaraigosa To Host Fundraising Gala

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Fatima Fofana

On Friday, May 29th, the Honorable Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa and council member José Huizar will co-host the 3rd Annual Fundraising Gala to benefit the Boyle Heights Music and Arts Program at the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center.

The Center, which first opened in September of 2006, is a 20,000 square foot state of the art full-time learning center, located on a corner that was once plagued by violence and drug trafficking. The center boasts a music recording studio, an accredited alternative high school, recreation areas and plans for a television studio.

The Youth Opportunity Movement of Los Angeles has partnered with the Los Angeles County of Education to operate the center and help at-risk-youth achieve their educational, employment, and personal goals by providing them with opportunities to develop skills that will help them build a viable future.

The Gala will also honor Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard 34th District, Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, and Taboo of Black Eyed Peas for their notable contribution to inner city youths. Other celebrities that are expected to attend include Alfre Woodard – award winning actress, “Desperate Housewives,” Tatyana Ali – “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” LisaRaye McCoy – “All Of Us”, “Beauty Shop,” Sugar Ray Leonard – Boxing Champ, and Esai Morales – “Resurrection Blvd”, “Jerricho.” For more information about the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center, click here.

Hollywood Urges US To Vote

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of the brightest stars in Hollywood have joined forces in a new video encouraging people to vote in the upcoming US elections.

The 5-minute film, which is called 5 Friends and can be viewed here, features appearances from Amy Adams, Tatyana Ali, will.i.am, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Bacon, Maria Bello, Halle Berry, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Connolly, Courteney Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Jonah Hill, Djimon Hounsou, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Kiedis, Ashton Kutcher, Adam Levine, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore, Esai Morales, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, Ethan Suplee, Kyra Sedgwick, Michelle Trachtenberg, Usher, and Forest Whitaker.

The video, which uses a little bit of reverse psychology to get people to the polls, was organized by Declare Yourself, a national nonprofit campaign initiated in 2004 to energize and empower a new movement of young voters.

“If you’re not going to vote I don’t even know what to say to you anymore,” says DiCaprio in the video, which was shot in his home in LA. “You know you have to vote.”

Declare Yourself has also launched a new print and internet advertisement featuring Jessica Alba.

Last month the star appeared gagged and wrapped in plastic in an ad for the organization. In the new campaign, Alba appears wearing only a Hannibal Lecter-type mask called “The Muzzler.”

The advertisement can be seen at the Declare Yourself website.

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LTTS Exclusive: Celebrities Bowl For Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

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