Look To The Stars News: Michelle Obama

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.

The photo shows iParticipate celebrity ambassador Carrie Ann Inaba, center, and UnitedHealthcare employees Brian Elkjer, left, and Jay Sivasailam at the Three Square food bank in North Las Vegas during the event.

Photo © Isaac Brekken/UnitedHealthcare

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.

The rate at which Americans volunteer regularly has not increased in 40 years and has generally remained around 26% of the population, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While volunteerism usually declines during periods of economic distress, volunteerism is currently on the rise in America, particularly among young people, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

EIF has also produced a series of public service announcements to reinforce the importance of volunteerism. Through these PSAs, EIF will also recognize and encourage support for five key areas of service: Education & Children, Health & Well Being, Economic Development, Environmental Conservation, and Support for Military Families.

To coincide with the week of programming, hundreds of employees working at entertainment industry companies are answering the call to serve with organized volunteer projects throughout Los Angeles. Planned projects include:

Tuesday, October 20
Paramount Pictures, NBC Universal and United Talent Agency (UTA) will team up to make food packages for families at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Thursday, October 22
Warner Bros. Entertainment employees will be planting trees in Griffith Park, which was devastated by fires last year, in partnership with TreePeople.
WME Entertainment will volunteer at the Lowman Special Education Center with The Art of Elysium, a program that helps children battling serious medical conditions.
Fox Entertainment Group, International Creative Management (ICM) and Screen Actors Guild(SAG) will work side-by-side with CITY YEAR corps members to beautify Carthay Center Elementary School.

Friday October 23
Sony Pictures Entertainment,AEG and Paradigm will build homes for Habitat for Humanity at the first LEED certified housing development in the city of Lynwood.

Saturday, October 24
Disney | ABCTelevision Group and Creative Artists Agency(CAA) will assemble holiday care packages for military troops with Operation Gratitude at the Van Nuys National Guard Armory.

Other entertainment organizations who will volunteer this week include: CBS, Directors Guild of America, Nickelodeon, Producers Guild of America and Writers Guild of America.

Also as part of the initiative, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars judge and iParticipate celebrity ambassador Carrie Ann Inaba will donate her time along with 50-plus volunteers for a day of service at the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas on Wednesday, October 21st at 10:30 AM.

Inaba will join 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. Inaba supports numerous charities along with “iParticipate” including the Face Foundation and Rescue Train.

To find out more about iParticipate, to watch PSAs, or to take part in this amazing revolution of volunteerism, visit the official website here.

American Red Cross Announces Celebrity Cabinet

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The American Red Cross is pleased to announce five new additions to its National Celebrity Cabinet, a group of celebrity supporters who promote Red Cross services by donating their time, helping neighbors prepare for emergencies, responding to disasters and lending a helping hand to those in need.

New members to the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet include country singer and professional ballroom dancer Julianne Hough, Tony Award-winner and actress Anika Noni Rose, who lends her voice to the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated comedy adventure “The Princess and the Frog” and appears in the HBO/Anthony Minghella television drama series,“#1 Ladies’ Detective Agency”, Hollywood Records artist and Disney Channel star Demi Lovato, who is supporting disaster relief via a Text 2 Help campaign throughout her summer tour, actress Sally Pressman from Lifetime’s “Army Wives” who will be supporting Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces, and actress Amanda Peet.

Peet has already made a personal commitment to support the Red Cross Measles Initiative. “As a mom, I feel privileged to support the American Red Cross in their efforts to vaccinate millions of children around the world through the Measles Initiative, a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. I commend the American Red Cross for tackling this global health problem in developing countries, where measles remains a leading cause of death, despite the availability of a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine. I am passionate about this cause and look forward partnering with the American Red Cross to ensure children worldwide have this life-saving opportunity.”

“The American Red Cross runs on the valuable service of volunteers to fulfill our mission, and we are grateful that these celebrities are setting an example by volunteering their time and talents to help raise awareness of our work in responding to disasters, providing blood, helping military members and their families and promoting preparedness through first aid or CPR classes,” states Gail McGovern, President and CEO of American Red Cross.

The announcement of these celebrity supporters closely follows First Lady Michelle Obama’s official launch of the United We Serve initiative, a call for nationwide service to begin a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to meet community needs. The initiative spans throughout the summer and will culminate with a National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11. During this time, the Red Cross will promote volunteer opportunities throughout its network of more than 700 chapters to help encourage community service.

“I am honored to be a part of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet and help support an organization that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war and aid to victims of devastating natural disasters. Being part of this amazing organization will provide me with an opportunity to join its efforts to help others and encourage the American public to become involved with their local Red Cross and make a difference,” said Julianne Hough.

The Red Cross benefits from the involvement of public figures and celebrities dating back to World War I. Over the years, actors, artists, and sports figures committing their time and talents to the organization have played an important role in raising public awareness of Red Cross services nationwide.

This group of newcomers joins the National Celebrity Cabinet that also includes Greg Biffle, Pierce Brosnan, Jackie Chan, Chayanne, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, George Foreman, Leeza Gibbons, Amy Grant, Pat Green, Marcia Gay Harden, Dwayne Johnson, Heidi Klum, Patti LaBelle, Peyton and Eli Manning, Marlee Matlin, Dr. Phil McGraw, “Access Hollywood’s” Nancy O’Dell, Masi Oka, Rascal Flatts, Raven Symone, Elisabeth Rohm, Jane Seymour, Jimmy Smits, and Daddy Yankee.

The Red Cross is honored to have Sherry Lansing, former chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Group, Paramount Pictures and former member of the Red Cross Board of Governors, to serve as National Celebrity Cabinet Chair.

Please visit www.redcross.org/celebritycabinet/ to learn more about the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.

Michelle Obama Shines Light On The Arts

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Once again, America’s first lady, Michelle Obama, cast the public’s attention towards the importance of education and, in particular, on the arts.

The National Design Awards celebration took place at the White House last week, honoring ten designers for their works, and Michelle had much praise to offer the award recipients: “You are scientists and artists; your work is both technical and poetic, educational and inspirational. Thank you for inspiring the next generation.”

A fierce proponent of children’s education, Obama sees art as an integral part of that. “An educational foundation is only part of the equation,” she said at the ceremony. “In order for creativity to flourish and imagination to take hold, we also need to expose our children to the arts from a very young age. We need to ensure that our children have both knowledge and imagination.”

Anchored at the crossroads of science and art, she says, “What I love about design is the artistic and scientific complexity that becomes useful – a laptop, a bridge, an outfit – all drawn from a thousand wells of inspiration yet grounded in the basic principles of math or science.”

Michelle Obama Visits Russian Orphans

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

US First lady Michelle Obama visited a school for Russian orphans and met with volunteer nurses in Moscow earlier this week.

While Barack was busy in a series of meetings, Michelle met with staff and students at St. Dmitry Primary School, where she listened to them recite poems in and sing Russian folk songs. Then she visited the St. Dmitry Cathedral and met with nursing students at the college.

“It’s very important for us that you are doing a lot of charity. You have scored a record in fundraising and attracting volunteers,” the church’s chief priest, Arkady Shatov, told Obama. “It’s very pleasing for us that the first lady does the same thing as we do.”

“The education of the broader public is just as important as taking care of the patients,” responded Obama.

Later, she joined Russia’s first lady, Svetlana Medvedev, for a charity performance by top Russian folk dance groups.

Barack And Michelle Busy With Charity Events

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the Obama family, with both Barack and Michelle attending charity events.

Last Thursday, June 25, Michelle attended the United We Serve volunteer event at the Fort McNair fitness center in Washington DC. The event saw 15,000 backpacks with books, healthy snacks and toys donated to the children of those in the armed forces.

“Economic recovery is as much about what you’re doing in your communities as what we’re doing here in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together,” she said. “So, wherever your interests lie – whether it’s working with young people or caring for the sick and elderly in our hospitals, or helping to make the homes in your neighborhood more energy efficient – or any other issue, the most important thing is for you to get involved.”

Michelle then joined her husband for an event in recognition of LGBT Pride Month in the East Room of the White House on Monday, June 29.

“I want you to know: You have our support,” said Barack. “I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you.”

Michelle Obama Speaks At A UK Girls’ School

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

On her first foreign trip as America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama visited a girls’ school in London to speak about the importance of education and the role that those girls will play in society’s future.

“During my visit I’ve been especially honored to meet some of Britain’s most extraordinary women,” Michelle said to the assembly of girls, “women who are paving the way for all of you. And I’m honored to meet you, the future leaders of Great Britain and this world.”

Reiterating what she mentioned frequently during her husband’s presidential campaign, Michelle spoke of her first date with president Barack Obama, which took place at a community meeting. There, Barack said that too often people accept the distance between the idea of the world as it is and the idea of the world as it should be, and he urged the audience to close that gap.

Michelle gave that same challenge to the girls in her audience. “All of you in this school are very important parts of closing that gap. You are the women who will build the world as it should be. You’re going to write the next chapter in history, not just for yourselves, but for your generation and generations to come.”

And that, says Michelle, is why a good education is so important: “Because communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women. Part of that health includes an outstanding education. The difference between a struggling family and a healthy one is often the presence of an empowered woman…. This school, named after the UK’s first female doctor,… honors women who fought sexism, racism and ignorance to pursue their passions to feed their own souls…. By getting a good education, you too can control your own destiny.”

Nothing in Michelle’s humble beginnings predicted that she would ever be standing on the stage “as the first African American first lady of the United States of America.” It was education that got her there. “I hope in pursuing your dreams that you use your talents…to create the world as it should be, because we are counting on you.”

To see the speech in its entirety, click here

Stephen Colbert Donates His Birthday To Charity

Fri, 08 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Stephen Colbert has donated his 45th birthday to charity!

The comedian and host is one of the first stars to sign up to the new Great Give-Back Birthday campaign being hosted at DonersChoose.com, a website dedicated to addressing the scarcity and inequitable distribution of learning materials and experiences in public schools. The new campaign invites individuals to donate their birthdays to support high-need public school classrooms nationwide.

Here’s how it works: birthday donors create custom birthday giving pages at www.DonorsChoose.org/Birthday, then select their favorite classroom projects, and then invite friends and family to donate to those projects in honor of their birthdays.

The launch of the Great Give-Back Birthday comes with some other exciting news: just two nights ago at the Time 100 Gala in NYC, First Lady Michelle Obama highlighted DonorsChoose.org as an innovative leader in social change. Click here to read more.

To donate your own birthday to the cause, or to donate to the birthdays of Stephen Colbert, Jeff Bridges and more, visit the DonersChoose.com website.

Look To The Stars News: Michelle Obama

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