Look To The Stars News: Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama To Talk School Nutrition Standards

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

On Wednesday, January 25, First Lady Michelle Obama will be joined by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at Parklawn Elementary School in Alexandria, VA to speak with parents about USDA’s new nutrition standards for school lunches.

These new standards seek to ensure kids are offered fruits and vegetables every day of the week, increase the offerings of whole grain-rich foods, offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties, as well as focusing on proper portions.

Celebrity cook Rachael Ray will be serving a healthy, delicious meal that meets new and improved nutrition standards for school lunches. Following their remarks, Mrs. Obama and the Secretary will then join students for lunch.

Jill Biden Pens Children's Book For Charity

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers announced today plans to publish an illustrated children’s book by Second Lady of the United States, Jill Biden. The book will be titled Don’t Forget, Nana, God Bless Our Troops and will be illustrated by award-winning artist Raul Colon.

The book will go on sale June 5, 2012.

Dr. Biden will donate all net author proceeds to charities to support military families and children, and will not accept an advance for the book. In honor of the book’s publication, Simon & Schuster will make a contribution to a charity that supports military families and children.

Michelle Obama Joins iCarly For Military Families

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Nickelodeon and the White House are joining forces to bring awareness to ways kids can support U.S. military families with a special episode of iCarly, featuring the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, premiering Monday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Leading up to the debut of iCarly “iMeet the First Lady,” the stars of the hit series will appear at four screening events for military families across the country.

Obama Family To Light National Christmas Tree

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation have announced that President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their family will officially light the National Christmas Tree on Thursday, December 1 at the 89th annual holiday tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in President’s Park, one of America’s nearly 400 national parks.

The ceremony will be streamed LIVE online at www.thenationaltree.org beginning at 4:30pm ET with the exclusive National Christmas Tree Lighting pre-show.

Hosted by television and radio personality Carson Daly, this year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony features a talented lineup of performers. Multi-platinum producer will.i.am of six-time Grammy-award winning musical group The Black Eyed Peas, pop sensation Big Time Rush and singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding will join the previously announced platinum selling band OneRepublic, country music star Rodney Atkins and six-time Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius for this extraordinary evening of holiday fanfare. The show will also feature a special appearance by Kermit the Frog, star of The Muppets, and of course, the Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus.

Michelle Obama Joins Forces With NASCAR To Honor Troops

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:45:00 +0000

As part of their Joining Forces initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will visit Homestead-Miami Speedway as it hosts the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale, the Ford 400, and join NASCAR in honoring America’s troops and military families on November 20.

NASCAR, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will recognize service members and military families from the local community at a special BBQ lunch prior to the race. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will also invite a military family to join them as they serve as Grand Marshals for the championship race to lead the pre-race ceremony and offer the most famous words in racing: “Gentlemen, start your engines.”

“We are honored that First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will be joining us as we crown the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Most importantly, we are pleased that they are both coming to Homestead-Miami Speedway to personally thank the men and women who sacrifice so much to ensure our freedom and allow us to enjoy events like Ford Championship Weekend.”

Steven Spielberg, Oprah And Tom Hanks Join Forces For PSAs

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Hollywood heavyweights have come together for Michelle Obama and Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative in a new series of PSAs.

Steven Spielberg joins Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hanks in the three PSAs to bring attention to the unique needs and strength of America’s military families.

“The entertainment community answered the Joining Forces call and has done what they do best — bring to life stories that move us,” said Obama. “Through this PSA campaign, Americans will learn more about the unique challenges and needs of our military families, see their strength, resilience and service, and find out how they can give back to these extraordinary troops and families who have given us so much.”

John Legend To Perform At Alvin Ailey Dance Benefit

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will kick-off a five-week New York season on November 30th with a star-studded gala benefit at New York City Center that begins an exciting new era led by Artistic Director Robert Battle. Honorary Chairs for the special evening are First Lady Michelle Obama and the legendary model Iman.

Nine-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend will join Ailey’s Alicia Graf Mack in an exclusive live performance of “If It’s Magic,” choreographed by Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison to the timeless music of Stevie Wonder. Legend, a long-time Ailey fan, stated, “Like millions of others, I’ve always been moved by Ailey’s performances and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of bringing this touching dance to life through the music of one my greatest inspirations, Stevie Wonder.”

Celebrity-Signed Scooters Go Out The Door For Charity

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Scooters signed by a host of stars – including Khloe Kardashian and the Black Eyed Peas – are up for grabs during Radio Flyer’s celebrity charity auctions this month.

Khloe and Lamar signed scooter

Celebrities Commemorate 9/11 Tenth Anniversary

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0000

This weekend marks ten years since the 9/11 terror attacks, and celebrities are joining the rest of the world in commemorating the anniversary.

Flight 93 National Memorial
Bill Clinton will join George W. Bush, Laura Bush and Sarah McLachlan at the September 10 dedication ceremony of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m. The memorial service will take place at the newly-opened memorial plaza surrounding the site where Flight 93 crashed at 10:03 a.m. on September 11, 2001. President Obama is expected to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial later that day.

Miley Cyrus: 10 Ways To Get Ur Good On For Back To School

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Youth Service America (YSA) and Get Ur Good On have compiled a list of “10 Ways to Get Ur Good On for Back to School” – encouraging youth on how to stay engaged with community service when the summer ends and school starts.

The Back to School list includes ways for young people to make a difference with the cast of Glee, Justin Bieber, First Lady Michelle Obama, and many more. Young people actively engaged in their communities not only learn the importance of giving back, but also life and workforce skills.

Its time to Get Ur Good On for Back to School! Miley Cyrus and her partners at YSA want to make sure YOU kick-off the school year by making a difference. Read this list of ten ways to Get Ur Good On for Back to School with Glee, Pencils of Promise, Pretty Little Liars, and much more.

Jeff Bridges And Stevie Nicks At Bob Woodruff's Charity Concert

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0000

The inaugural American Thunder Music Festival, a benefit concert for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, made history in front of an audience of 50,000 fans this past weekend (August 13) when Jeff Bridges hosted and performed along with Stevie Nicks and John Fogerty.

Bob Woodruff, Stevie Nicks, and Jeff Bridges

Pamela Anderson Writes To Royal Family In Denmark About Fur

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Pamela Anderson has just sent a letter on PETA’s behalf to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark over the royal family’s use of fur.

In the letter, Anderson – who heard that the Royal family gets their fur from a “trusted source” – respectfully tells Her Majesty that fur production is cruel worldwide and encourages her to join public figures such as Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in going fur-free.

“I had the great pleasure of visiting your beautiful country this month and was thrilled to hear from my friends at PETA that Denmark banned cruel fox-fur farms not long ago,” writes Pam in the letter. "During my visit, I learned that the royal family gets its fur from a “trusted source.” May I ask, who is the supplier? Undercover investigations into fur farms have shown cruelty to animals across the board, from Denmark to the United States. Most fur comes from China, where animals – including dogs and cats – are bludgeoned and even skinned alive for their fur, as seen in this short video. Minister Eva Kjer Hansen of Denmark stated, “Mink breeders break animal welfare rules. And that is unacceptable.” Animals trapped in the wild are no better off: Many suffer for hours and even chew off their own limbs to escape.

Michelle Obama Talks Charity In AARP Magazine

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

First Lady Michelle Obama graces the September/ October cover of AARP The Magazine and talks candidly about her charity work.

On being a role model for African American girls:

William And Kate Create Care Packages For Military Children

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, better known to Royals watchers as William and Kate, took part in a care package stuffing event at the Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles during their trip to the US. In partnership with the USO and Blue Star Families, the Royal Couple helped to create 1,000 care packages for military children as part of their highly anticipated North American trip.

The kits that were produced focus on the children of military families who have parents deployed. Conceived and created by the Trevor Romain Foundation, “With You All the Way” kits help children and their families prepare for deployment, stay connected during the separation and plan for reintegration upon their return home.

Sesame Street Characters To Visit Guam And South Korea With The USO

Tue, 31 May 2011 15:30:00 +0000

The characters from Sesame Street are set to visit Guam and South Korea next month as part of their special USO tour to help US military families deal with the challenges of deployment and homecomings.

The tour kicked off in Columbus, Ohio, in April at a special event featuring Michelle Obama, and has already toured Alaska and Hawaii.

Let's Move With Beyoncé For Children's Health

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Beyoncé is to help First Lady Michelle Obama in her initiative aimed at curbing childhood obesity.

Beyoncé will be the exclusive featured performer for the Let’s Move! Flash Workout, an initiative that will see middle school students across the US participate in a pre-choreographed “Let’s Move!” dance exercise routine at an identical time — Tuesday, May 3, at 1:42 p.m. Eastern Time.

The 16-time Grammy winner has re-written and re-recorded one of her songs and is providing an instruction video demonstrating the dance/exercise routine. The Beyoncé video will then be distributed to participating schools.

Jessica Alba And Michelle Obama Read Across America

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Jessica Alba joined Michelle Obama at a special celebration of reading at the Library of Congress in Washington DC on Wednesday.

The event marked the launch of Read Across America Day, an initiative of the National Education Association. NEA’s Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every com- munity to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

NEA’s Read Across America also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year.

Michelle Obama To Appear Via Video At Hall Of Game Awards

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, will make a special taped appearance at Cartoon Network’s upcoming Hall of Game Awards.

As national spokesperson and co-founder of the Let’s Move! initiative, Mrs. Obama will appear onscreen to announce a set of schools that have most successfully created healthier school environments through the promotion of nutrition and physical activity through the USDA HealthierUS School Challenge.

The announcement comes this week as the First Lady also celebrates the one-year anniversary of Let’s Move!

Party with Jimmy Fallon on Grammy's Eve

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Jimmy Fallon is set to host this year’s Roots Jam Session on Friday, February 12th, benefitting OpportunityNation, and you could be there, too!

Every year, award season brings the usual array of star-studded parties, but rarely do any of these become a celebrated institution. The Legendary Roots Crew, named one of the greatest live bands around by both Spin and Rolling Stone, have created the ticket to one of the most coveted and exclusive experiences of the season, delivering an innovative and unforgettable mix of musicians performing under one roof.

Jimmy Fallon will act as this year’s host, following in the footsteps of Don Cheadle, John Legend, Jada Pinkett Smith and Dave Chappelle, while Hennessy Artistry will serve as presenting partner. The announcement comes on the heels of The Roots’ 6 GRAMMY nominations, which are split between their two 2010 releases, Wake Up! (with John Legend) and How I Got Over.

Maria Shriver Remembers Father as "Legendary Public Servant"

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:12:00 +0000

Sargent Shriver was laid to rest surrounded by family and friends, and dignitaries including Vice President Biden, former President Clinton, First Lady Michelle Obama and Shriver’s son-in-law, former CA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It was 8 years ago that the brother-in-law of former President John Kennedy and the late Senators Robert and Edward Kennedy, announced that he had Alzheimer’s disease. He died on January 18, at the age of 95.

Attending the funeral were Clint Eastwood, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Muhammad Ali. Bono, Vanessa Williams and Wyclef Jean sang at the funeral.

Michelle Obama Spreads Christmas Cheer

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:00:00 +0000

First lady Michelle Obama visited a Toys for Tots distribution centre in Washington DC in the days leading up to Christmas, and helped sort some of the gifts donated to the needy.

Toys for Tots is a program run by the U.S. Marine Corps reserve that has distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children over the past 62 years.

And if that wasn’t enough, she then helped keep an eye on Santa as he flew through the skies as part of NORAD’s Track Santa service.

Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi Wants Healthier School Lunches

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi is America’s newest advocate for healthy school lunches.

Lakshmi is urging Congress to support legislation that will help schools serve healthier lunches and fight childhood obesity. The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act (H.R. 5504) would help schools serve more fruits, vegetables and low-fat plant-based meal options.

Laila Ali Launches The Healthy Schools Challenge

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Nearly 1 in 3 young Americans is overweight or obese, but in the words of First Lady Michelle Obama, “We need to quit quoting statistics and get going!” Parents, teachers, and administrators aren’t the only ones who can make an impact in schools.

DoSomething.org announced today a national campaign to combat this growing issue through the teens and students themselves, empowering them to make their schools and communities healthier.

Hugh Jackman Wants Healthier School Lunches

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Hugh Jackman is ripping into the problem of unhealthy school lunches.

He has written to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asking her to make sure H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, is voted on and passed this month.

Jennie Garth Wants Healthier School Lunches

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Jennie Garth, star of Beverly Hills, 90210, thinks greasy school lunches are not so cool—and the mother of three wants Congress to help students get better options.

In a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Garth urges Rep. Pelosi to throw her support behind a House bill that would fight childhood obesity by assisting schools in serving healthier choices.