Look To The Stars News: Laila Ali

Charlize Theron Kisses For Charity Cash

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

ONEXONE, the charitable organization committed to fighting health issues and preserving the lives of children locally and globally, hosted their 2nd Annual ONEXONE Fundraiser at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco, CA on Thursday, October 22.

Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron, Jeremy Piven, Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, David Arquette, Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra, Laila Ali and more helped raise funds and awareness for charitable causes.

The evening featured keynote speaker Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America, along with a special headline performance from Snow Patrol. Additional entertainment included performances by Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Spencer Day, the local jazz vocalist from San Francisco, and Ethan Bortnick, the 8-year old pianist and composer who wrote his own song “It’s For the Kids” in honor of the event. ONEXONE also welcomed back Jay Bilas for his second year as Master of Ceremonies.

Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron, on behalf of the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project, and 2-time World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Mia Hamm also announced the latest initiative “Home Field Advantage” in partnership with ONEXONE and Academy Award-winner Matt Damon which will bring soccer fields and clean water to the children of South Africa by 2010. The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and the ONEXONE Foundation will work together on this initiative to bolster impoverished rural South African communities with plans to break ground by the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The highlight of the evening came during the live auction when Charlize Theron helped auction off a two-week trip to South Africa for the World Cup plus a kiss from her for $140,000. Jeremy Piven also jumped onstage during the live auction and encouraged two guests to bid $140,000 each for a walk-on roll on the hit HBO show “Entourage” for a total of $280,000.

“The night was a huge success and we’d like to thank the generous people of San Francisco for their continued support,” said Marc Joubert, President of ONEXONE U.S.

The ONEXONE event in San Francisco focuses not only on raising funds and awareness for the issues, but also on producing a top-notch show that entertains and educates the audience at the same time. ONEXONE was founded in 2005 by Diesel Canada President, Joelle Berdugo Adler, and has raised more than $9 million for children around the world since that time.

LTTS Exclusive - The 2009 Noble Awards

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

Written by Michelle Vink

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inaugural Noble Awards Celebrate Hollywood Philanthropy

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Look To The Stars Helps Promote Hollywood Philanthropy At Noble Awards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Actresses To Be Honored For Sports And Charity

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

As previously reported by Look To The Stars, the 2009 Celebrity & Stuntwomen’s Awards and the Diamond in the RAW Foundation have announced two-time Golden Globe winner Jamie Lee Curtis and Super Middleweight Champion Laila Ali among top honorees. Curtis will be awarded the Action Icon Award for her achievements in film and Ali will be awarded the Dare2bDifferent Award for her achievements in sports and her involvement in charity work.

“In its second year, The Celebrity & Stuntwomen’s Awards will honor the fearless and outstanding achievements of action-oriented women within the entertainment industry and stunt community,” stated La Faye Baker, stuntwoman and co-creator of The Celebrity & Stuntwomen’s Awards. “We are excited to have Jamie Lee Curtis and Laila Ali among our top honorees, as well as several other outstanding women from the stunt community.”

The Diamond in the RAW Foundation is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and expose at-risk teen girls to a multitude of careers in the entertainment industry, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Angela Meryl, Taurus World Stunt nominee with credits including “Obsessed”, “Kill Bill”, “Pirates of the Caribbean”, and “Grey’s Anatomy” will be awarded the Diamond in the RAW Award. May Boss will be honored with the Helen Gibson Award for her career as a veteran stunt woman and work in films including “Money Train” “The Story of Will Rogers”, “Blazing Saddles”, and “Police Academy”. The Special Achievement Award will be given to Mary Albee, whose credits include “Crossing Jordan”, “Ugly Betty”, “Seven Feet Under”, and “Murder She Wrote”. Given posthumously, Svetla Krasteva will be honored with the Gone But Not Forgotten Award for her work in films such as “Rush Hour 2”, “Peter Pan”, “The Ring”, and ’Lethal Weapon".

Additional award categories include the Gem Award, Jewel Award, Mentorship Award, “Wow” Stuntwoman Award, and Dynamic DUO Award, which are nominated by the stunt community and members of the Screen Actors Guild.

“Extra” correspondent Jeannie Mai and TV Guide Channel’s Patrick Stinson will serve as co-hosts for the 2009 Celebrity & Stuntwomen’s Awards. Special celebrity guests include, star of such shows as, 2009 Emmy Award Winner-Grey’s Garden,Tony Award Winner and 2009-2010 Screen Actors Guild President Ken Howard, Sean Patrick Flannery, star of the “Young Indiana Jones” film series; Lee Meriwether, best known for her role as Catwoman in the original “Batman” film; Louis Mandylor, co-star of the hit film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”; actress Erica Hubbard from “Lincoln Heights”; Shirly Brener, co-star of “War, Inc.” and “The Dunwich Horror”; actress and stuntwoman Zoe Bell, who worked on the recent box office hit “Inglourious Basterds”; Dale Dye, actor and tactical advisor to Steven Spielberg; pro skateboarder Lauren Perkins; Robin Shou, star of the “Mortal Kombat” films; Diana Lee Inosanto, actress and goddaughter to legendary martial arts legend Bruce Lee..and many more!.

The Celebrity & Stuntwomen’s Awards. will take place Sunday, October 4, 2009 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A reception and silent auction will kick off the event at 11:00 a.m., followed by the luncheon and awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Tickets for the Awards are available for purchase at www.DiamondintheRAW.com.

Noble Awards Set To Honor Celebrity Humanitarians

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

As the film industry has the Oscars, television the Emmys and the music industry the Grammy Awards, the charity community and its most dedicated Hollywood supporters will gain global recognition with the staging of the inaugural Noble Humanitarian Awards, to take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 18. And Look To The Stars is proud to support it.

The two-hour event, produced on behalf of the non-profit Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, seeks to annually honor up to a dozen charities and celebrities who actively support them, elevating awareness of these organizations and the impact of their work.

The organizations to be honored at this first-annual ceremony include The Art of Elysium, Best Buddies International, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, DoSomething.org, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Keep A Child Alive, The Salvation Army, Stand Up To Cancer and Women’s Sports Foundation.

Celebrities who will accept awards on behalf of the charities being honored include Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Jessica Biel (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Alicia Keys (Keep A Child Alive), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org), with others currently being confirmed. During the ceremony, each will be presented with the trophy award, designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Other performers and presenters will be announced closer to the event.

With nearly two decades of experience across entertainment, fashion and charitable projects, Janeen Mansour is creator and executive producer of the Noble Humanitarian Awards. Mansour, who has interviewed many celebrities, was inspired to create a dedicated award show for the charity community after interviewing the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and learning about her significant charitable work.

“Celebrities have long given their time to charity, championing causes they feel passionate about. Their support draws media coverage, and organizations benefit. With the Noble Awards, we aim to turn the spotlight back onto these celebrities and charities in an effort to provide recognition, to educate, to inspire, and to encourage even more support from the Hollywood community and the public at large. It’s an annual celebration of service and volunteerism,” explains Mansour.

A team of entertainment veterans join Mansour in producing the Noble Humanitarian Awards. They include Ziad Batal (Executive Producer), founder of All 4 Media, one of the most prominent film and television production companies and creator and producer of dozens of reality, talk and sports programs in the Middle East; Michael Seligman (Producer), President & CEO of Seligman Entertainment, Inc, whose 35 years of work includes the Oscars, the Emmy’s, AFI’s, Kennedy Center Honors and Stand Up To Cancer; Tisha Fein (Producer), whose three-decade experience includes the Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, World Music Awards, Fashion Rocks, Movies Rock and Stand Up to Cancer.

The Noble Humanitarian Awards are produced on behalf of the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit organization. With the staging of the first annual awards on October 18, 2009, the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation will launch a year-round campaign to better unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, influencers, media and everyday citizens in order to create an effective forum for change and service. For more information, please visit www.thenobleawards.org.

John Wooden Awards Honor Leadership

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Stevie Wonder will be one of a host of celebrities to attend the John Wooden Pyramid of Success Awards presented by the HAX Foundation and McDonalds in Hawthorne, California, tomorrow night, September 12.

John Wooden was one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time, and the 98-year-old will attend tomorrow’s event as an honoree, along with Laila Ali, Paul Pierce and many others. The awards honor outstanding leadership.

The HAX Foundation was set up to provide access to athletic and educational programs to at-need children in the Los Angeles area. The foundation aims to help combat some of the more serious issues facing youth today, including: Childhood/Adolescent obesity via after-school athletic programs, and neighborhood violence by giving local adolescents a place to go after-school.

For tickets and to find out more, click here.

Michael J. Fox Honored For His War On Parkinson’s

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Hollywood honored actor Michael J. Fox last week for his ongoing work to raise awareness on Parkinson’s Disease.

Fox’s commitment goes beyond his Michael J. Fox Foundation that researches treatments and cures for Parkinson’s disease – although the foundation has raised almost $100 million since Fox established it in 2000, ten years after being diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s. He was very pleased when, earlier this year, American president Barack Obama overturned a ban on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, getting “politics out of science.”

But perhaps an even greater contribution, to himself and others who are afflicted with the disease, was when he came out of the closet, helping to overturn taboos and the shame that comes along with the debilitating disease. The books Fox has written on living with Parkinson’s have also been well-received.

TV presenter Laila Ali, daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, is familiar with Parkinson’s since her father also suffers from it. At the celebration, she said: “[Michael] carries himself with such dignity. He doesn’t try to hide his symptoms from the public and I think that’s excellent. He’s a great man.” Hollywood thinks so too.

Stuntwomen To Be Honored For Diamond In The RAW

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:30:00 -0000

The Diamond in the RAW Foundation has announced The Stuntwomen’s Awards 2009 honorees. In its second year, The Stuntwomen’s Awards will honor the fearless and outstanding achievements of action-oriented women within the entertainment industry and stunt community.

“These unsung ‘heroes’ risk their lives daily to help create some of the most memorable moments in film, television and commercials,” stated La Faye Baker, co-founder of the Diamond in the RAW Foundation and co-creator of The Stuntwomen’s Awards. “These talented women perform death defying stunts for the hottest, sexiest actresses in Hollywood and deserve to be honored for their achievements.”

The Stuntwomen’s Awards benefits Diamond In the RAW Foundation, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and expose at-risk teen girls to a multitude of careers in the entertainment industry, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. The Foundation also bestows educational scholarships that are presented to deserving youth annually during The Stuntwomen’s Awards. Through Diamond in the RAW Foundation, exceptional women who have achieved success in stunts, athletics and extreme sports are recognized for their outstanding achievements during the annual Awards luncheon.

This year’s special guests include TV Guide Channel host Patrick Stinson, who will serve as co-host for The Stuntwomen’s Awards, as well as actress Emily Proctor of “CSI: Miami” who will be presenting an award. The 2009 award recipients include Jamie Lee Curtis for the Action Icon Award, Laila Ali for the Dare2bDifferent Award, May Boss for the Helen Gibson Award, Svetla Krasteva-Foley for the Gone But Not Forgotten Award, Angela Meryl for the Diamond in the RAW Award, and Mary Albee for the Special Achievement Award.

“Laila is honored to be offered the 2009 Diamond in the Raw Dare2bDifferent Award. Laila embraces her position as a role model and is thrilled to be part of an organization whose goal is to open the eyes of at-risk teens and young women about the many opportunities and careers that are available,” stated Eric Kaufman, Ali’s manager.

Paula Bond of First Option Entertainment will be producing this year’s event. The Stuntwomen’s Awards will take place Sunday, October 4, 2009 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A reception and silent auction will kick off the event at 11:00 a.m., followed by the luncheon and awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Tickets for the Awards are available for purchase at www.DiamondintheRAW.com.

For more information about the Diamond in the RAW Foundation and The Stuntwomen’s Awards, please visit www.StuntWomensAwards.com.

Stars To Attend Charity Sports Spectacular

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:30:00 -0000

The 24th annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular is to take place in LA this Sunday, June 7.

This year’s honorees are Laila Ali, Ryan Sheckler and Dwayne Wade, and celebrities expected to attend include Snoop Dogg, Joel Madden, Tom Arnold and many more.

The Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular has been heralded by the Los Angeles Times as the premier sports awards dinner in the country. This exciting charity event was established in 1986 in response to the promise of genetic research leading to the understanding of numerous genetic diseases found in children as well as adults.

The Sports Spectacular has provided over $18 million to benefit the life-saving work of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute. The Institute’s focus is to provide expert consultation and cutting edge research to find new and improved methods of diagnosis, prevention and treatment for all types of genetic disorders, including mental retardation, dwarfism, cystic fibrosis, deafness and malformation syndromes, as well as common diseases of adulthood, such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. The event also benefits the Sports Spectacular Fellowship Endowment, which supports the training of five research Fellows in various medical fields at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

One night each year, the Sports Spectacular brings together a sold-out audience of over 1800 guests, including executives from the investment banking, entertainment, legal, and sports communities, with over 80 world-class athletes. It is a time for these athletes to pay tribute to their communities, fans and to all those who suffer from a genetic birth disorder. Together, the table patrons and athletes enjoy an exclusive silent auction followed by a moving awards ceremony in tribute to the event’s chosen honorees. In its 23 year history, the Sports Spectacular has honored some of the most prestigious athletes including Muhammad Ali, Kobe Bryant, Barry Bonds, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, Joe DiMaggio, Tony Hawk, Emmitt Smith, Marcus Allen, Wilt Chamberlain, Joe Montana, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Lisa Leslie, Willie Shoemaker and many more.

To find out more about this event – to be held at The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel & Spa – click here.

LTTS Exclusive: Inside A Night To Make A Difference with Host Michelle Vink

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

Look To The Stars’ lead host, Michelle Vink was on hand as a host of Leeza Gibbons’ A Night To Make A Difference Fundraiser on Oscar night. Read her story below:

“Without hope, life is just not worth living”…

Those were the words from Harvey Milk from the Oscar-winning movie, Milk. Despite the uncertain state of the economy and the lack of faith we keep hearing about on the news, there was an overwhelming resurgence of hopeful optimism at the Oscars this year. Winning storylines like Slumdog Millionaire and Milk captured that very essence.

A new type of Oscar party

I recall reading that Slumdog director Danny Boyle placed the money to be paid to the 3 lead child actors in a trust until they complete grade school, and that the production company set up a driver to take the kids to school every day until they are 16 years old. When the movie was nominated for an Oscar alongside all the Milk nominations, I knew it would be a good year.

Soon after that I learned of a new type of Oscar party that Leeza Gibbons was coordinating, called A Night to Make A Difference. The timing was impeccable, and before I knew it I was invited to help host the event.

Michelle with Leeza and co-host, Russell.

Celebrity organisers with special causes

Leeza wanted to “take the global stage of Oscar Night and use it to put the focus on advocacy, philanthropy and volunteerism.” With a team of volunteers and a production team fueled with the same passion, Leeza did just that. Helped by Olivia Newton-John, music legend David Foster, and several co-hosts, the team created “A Party with a Purpose.” This monumental event not only benefited Leeza Gibbons’ Memory Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, but also raised awareness for philanthropy and inspired a feeling of hope. This inaugural event was streamed live here on LooktotheStars.org, and on other sites including Variety.com , LeezaGibbonsOscarEvent.com, Glam.com and ExtraTV.com.

With the aid of Jessica Biel and her Make The Difference Network, an opportunity was created for viewers to donate to the cause or just open the door for people to get involved in a charity that is close to their own hearts. Check out MTDN.com for more information on Jessica’s charity.

Jessica Biel – photo by Levi Walker

An all-star cast of celebrity givers

Celebrities who came out to support this event and celebrate Hollywood’s big heart included Laila Ali (who uses her celebrity to get kids excited about physical fitness), Mel B., Jessica Biel, Wilson Cruz, Hilary Duff, Teri Hatcher, Tony Hawk, Paris Hilton, Slash & Perla Hudson (who donated a guitar to the auction), Kym Johnson, Mario Lopez, Melissa Gilbert, Jane Seymour & James Keach, Cindy Margolis, Terrell Owens, Holly Robinson-Peete, Suzanne Somers, Dee Wallace, Forest & Keisha Whitaker and many, many others. I was honored to interview Wilson Cruz (He’s Just Not That Into You) immediately following Dustin Lance Black’s win for Milk and I was moved by his passionate desire for change.

Michelle talks to Teri Hatcher during the event.

A responsibility to help

Rex Lee said of using his celebrity status for good, “For whatever reason, people out in the world pay attention to us, and if I say I support Olivia Newton John and building a new cancer center out in Australia, people listen. There is a responsibily in that.”

Michael Buble expressed his feelings on helping others, too, saying, “I think most people hopefully have compassion and empathy. We’ve been blessed, and we should help.”

Michael Buble and Paris Hilton – photo by Levi Walker

Manuela Testolini, founder of In A Perfect World, talked about giving back, saying, “It’s mutually beneficial. The thing that unites us despite our circumstances is the desire to create better world.”

Making a difference with makeovers

Another special touch to the event was the five women that were “hired” as extras from the LA Women’s Shelter. Celebrity hairdresser Ken Paves supervised red carpet makeovers for these women, providing hair, makeup and wardrobe. Shoes were donated by Jessica Simpson. The women were given life coaching lessons and a boost of confidence to help them show others that change is possible, that we can always reinvent ourselves (just like Madonna), and that there is always room for a second chance.

“Help other people”

While on the red carpet, Jane Seymour said, “It’s not just the Oscars, but giving back and helping other people. It’s about what you can do to help other people right now. The more we help other people, the better it will be for all of us. My mum always used to say to me, ‘When life is tough, go out and help other people’ […] Every single person on this planet can make a difference – it’s just an act of kindness.”

David Foster and Jane Seymour – photo by Levi Walker

So despite what we have been hearing on the news, it looks like there are a few of us out there that still believe in hope. Thank you, Leeza — it truly was a party with a purpose.

Leeza Gibbons And Olivia Newton-John Present A Night To Make A Difference

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Look To The Stars is proud to be a sponsor of an exciting event that is set to take Oscar night by storm. Leeza Gibbons, Olivia Newton-John and David Foster are bringing together a host of celebrities for A Night to Make a Difference to focus on advocacy, philanthropy and volunteerism.

The star-studded and inspirational event will be held at Beverley Hills’ exclusive and iconic Mr Chow, which will be transformed into a “living set” as it provides a backdrop for a very special interactive Oscar viewing party. This unique event will bring together stars from film, TV, music, sports and fashion to celebrate the worlds of celebrity and charity. Special Ambassadors of Change who have used their celebrity to make a tangible difference in the world will be on hand to empower the audience to make a difference in their own lives.

The list of Ambassadors of Change is long and includes Laila Ali, Jessica Biel & Make The Difference Network, Cindy Crawford, John Paul DeJoria, Fran Drescher, Hilary Duff, David Foster, Leeza Gibbons, Melissa Gilbert, Erin Gray, Tony Hawk, Slash & Perla Hudson, Larry King, Ali Landry, Mario Lopez, Gloria Loring, Darryl McDaniels, Dr Phil & Robin McGraw, Olivia Newton-John, Holly Robinson-Peete & Rodney Peete, Jane Seymour, and Amy Smart.

“We call it a “party with a conscience” and it happens live on the internet (via EXTRAtv.com and Glam.com)," Leeza Gibbons told Look To The Stars. "Our correspondents are the stars themselves who have been inspired or moved to action by Hollywood’s example and leadership. We will create a “living set” inside Mr. Chow and cut live to our “Glam lounge” where lifestyle reporters will give viewers ways to take Hollywood’s example for confident building looks . We’ll also show how Hollywood beauties (ranging from classics like Audrey Hepburn to contemporaries like Angelina Jolie) have used their beauty to make a difference in the world. We will feature the ways in which Hollywood is leading the charge in the green movement and demonstrate how Hollywood’s huge heart has become a catalyst for good all over the world."

The event will even be carbon neutral, and a tree will be planted in honor of each attendee to erase their carbon footprint.

“Of course , we will have plenty of fun too!” said Leeza. “David Foster is our entertainment director and he is delivering A-list performers. We will have fans interact with our guests to get inspired and learn that together we are stronger than anything than threatens to tear us apart. Favorite Oscar moments, favorite Oscar hosts, and of course, plenty of fashion and flair! It’s all part of our Night To Make A Difference, which is a benefit for the [”Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/402-leezas-place] and Olivia Newton John’s Cancer and Wellness Centre in Australia."

The Night To Make A Difference takes place at Mr Chow, 344 N Camden Drive, on February 22. Dinner guests will be treated to a specially planned and prepared 10-course dinner featuring Mr. Chow’s world famous cuisine while watching the Oscars, and there will also be a special celebrity auction.

The event is expected to sell out. For more information and tickets, visit the official Night To Make A Difference website.

And be sure to stay tuned to Look To The Stars for more coverage of this exciting event.

Celebrity Shoe Auction for Women’s Heart Health

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:42:26 -0000

Spirit of Women Health Network and Carlos by Carlos Santana footwear announce today the opening of bidding for the Spirit of Women Red Shoe Celebrity Auction, an online auction of celebrity-autographed footwear that will benefit several health organizations, including the National Stroke Association and P.A.D. (Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition). Shoes up for auction were autographed by celebrities including Courteney Cox, Nicollette Sheridan and Carlos Santana.

“While women are typically the caretakers of their families, they often fail to take action for their own health,” said Josh Davis, president, Spirit of Women. “We hope this auction will catch women’s attention by encouraging them to take action for their heart health while simultaneously giving them a wonderful opportunity to raise money for important women’s heart health issues.”

The Red Shoe Celebrity Auction is the national cornerstone of “The Red Shoe Initiative”, a national health education and action campaign that aims to encourage women on a local level throughout the year to take important steps for their heart health.

Other stars involved in the auction include Brenda Strong, Felicity Huffman and Laila Ali. Each of the participating celebrities has autographed a single shoe of the six red pairs donated by “Carlos by Carlos Santana” footwear, which will be on display at www.spiritofwomen.com/donate and auctioned in September.

In addition to the online auction, the 2007 The Red Shoe Initiative will include local “Red Shoe” events in communities across the United States. Each event will take on the flair and character of the community that serves as a host. These events will consist of evening receptions, fashion shows, and various activities in skating rinks and other venues that encourage women to take action for their heart health.

An additional auction scheduled to coincide with “Day of Dance for Women’s Health”, which takes place on February 23, 2007, is expected to include shoes autographed by other high-profile celebrities.

Carlos by Carlos Santana

“Carlos by Carlos Santana” fashion forward footwear reflects the dynamic passion and energy that defines the music of Santana. Hip, fun and fashionable, Carlos brand shoes are available in a rainbow of contemporary styles sporting the latest trends in materials, colors, shapes and detailing. The vibrant “Carlos by Carlos Santana” line donates a portion of it proceeds from sales to the Milagro Foundation.

Best known for the legendary group that bears his name, Carlos Santana has been an elemental force in global musical culture for almost four decades. Since Santana’s landmark 1969 debut album and explosive performance at Woodstock that year, Santana has sold over 100 million records and performed for more than 100 million fans internationally. Carlos’ many major awards include a record-tying nine GRAMMYs for a single project for 1999’s Supernatural, as well as three Latin GRAMMYs and scores of other music and humanitarian honors. As central to Santana’s identity as his visionary artistic legacy is his spirit of giving back – in 1998, Carlos and his wife, author Deborah Santana, established the Milagro Foundation, which has granted over $2 million to organizations supporting underserved youth in the areas of health, education and the arts worldwide. For more information, visit www.santana.com

Spirit of Women

The Spirit of Women Health Network is a national coalition of hospitals and healthcare facilities in more than 70 U.S. cities joined together to improve women’s health by inspiring access and action on local, regional and national levels. Utilizing national resources to improve healthcare in local communities, Spirit of Women aims to educate and care for women in a unique way that emphasizes total well-being — body, mind, and spirit – and impacts all aspects of a woman’s life, including family, health and work. Though a variety of means, including educational events, networking opportunities, consumer loyalty programs, national awards, and promotion of research, Spirit of Women addresses health topics such as menopause, cancer, incontinence, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, healthy pregnancy, and many more. For more information, visit www.spiritofwomen.com/donate.

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