Look To The Stars News: Cedric the Entertainer

Lionel Richie Honored By United Negro College Fund

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Legendary singer Lionel Richie was honored with an Award of Excellence by the United Negro College Fund on Saturday night.

Celebrities such as Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Akon, Katharine McPhee and comedian Cedric the Entertainer attended the 31st annual An Evening of Stars event, held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

“[Richie] is a national treasure and we’re proud to claim him, not only as a graduate of our storied member school, Tuskegee University, but as an artist of international renown and longtime supporter of UNCF and the work we do to make sure that every child in America gets an education that starts in preschool and doesn’t end until college graduation,” said UNCF’s CEO Michael L. Lomax.

“It is such an honor to receive this award from UNCF,” said Lionel Richie. "I am a product of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and that experience has had a tremendous influence on my life. I understand the importance of a college education and the impact it can have on our children and our nation. I am honored to join stars like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls, Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson and Patti LaBelle who have received UNCF’s Award of Excellence and who support UNCF and its students."

The event will air nationwide on January 23rd and 24th, 2010 on BET Networks and WGN and on more than 40 stations in major cities.

Stars Come Out For HollyRod Foundation

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:30:00 -0000

On Saturday, July 21st, the stars came out in support of DesignCare 2007, an annual fundraiser from The HollyRod Foundation to benefit adults and children battling debilitating disease and life circumstances.

Actress Holly Robinson-Peete and her husband, retired NFL quarterback and Best Damn Sports Show Period co-host Rodney Peete celebrated the 9th year of this popular fundraiser, hosting a star-studded couture fashion show, an electrifying musical performance, and both live and silent auctions at a beautiful private residence in Malibu.

The night was a huge success for the HollyRod Foundation, raising more than $350,000 with the help of comedians and live auctioneers, Chris Tucker & Cedric the Entertainer. Holly, Rodney, and celebrity supporters such as Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey, Jenny McCarthy, Angie Harmon, Jason Seahorn, Sanaa Lathan, Quincy Jones, Amy Yasbeck, Blair Underwood and Gayle King were among those who enjoyed the breathtaking designs of Naeem Khan and danced to the funky sounds of Morris Day & The Time.

Cedric the Entertainer provided hilarious commentary for the live auction, where one special guest came away as a proud owner of the new Smart Car, which is not yet available in the U.S. and currently has a huge waiting list. Special honors were also handed out, as Maurice White, of the iconic, Grammy Award-winning music group Earth, Wind & Fire, received the Matthew T. Robinson, Jr. Award of Courage for the inspiration he provides to others as he valiantly battles Parkinson’s. The award is named after Holly’s father, Matthew T. Robinson Jr., who battled Parkinson’s Disease for over 20 years before succumbing in 2002, and inspired the formation of the HollyRod Foundation. Future NFL Hall of Fame inductee Jerome Bettis and television producers Yvette and Kyle Bowser also received awards in recognition of their commitment to providing invaluable aid to underserved individuals and groups.

“We are overjoyed by the show of support DesignCare received this year,” says Holly Robinson Peete of the exhilarating night, which included a check presentation from Anheuser-Busch, who pledged $200,000 in support of the HollyRod Foundation over the next two years. Since establishing the HollyRod Foundation in 1997 with Rodney, the annual DesignCare (formerly DesignCure) and Gridiron Glamour events have kept growing, drawing hundreds of supporters and raising millions to enhance the quality of life for adults and children all over the world facing devastating life circumstances.

The foundation recently expanded its mission to address more children’s issues, creating HollyRod4Kids. This organization is the brainchild of the Peete children, twins Ryan and RJ (9), Robinson (4) and Roman (2), and seeks to improve the lives of children living along the Gulf Coast who were affected by Hurricane Katrina and children in sub-Saharan Africa whose communities have been ravaged by civil war, famine and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Chris Tucker taking the mic from Cedric the Entertainer and donating $100,000 to the HollyRod Foundation. Tucker then put fellow actor/comedian Eddie Murphy on the spot by asking him to match his donation. Eddie complies.

Jim Carrey bidding $30,000 and winning a private dinner at the home of Holly Robinson Peete & Rodney Peete hosted by fellow comedians Chris Tucker, Cedric the Entertainer, Sinbad and Chris Rock.

The fashions of Naeem Khan were such a hit that actress Angie Harmon matched the winning bid of $10,000 to take home a one-of-a-kind Naeem Khan design for herself.

Eddie Murphy and current love, Tracey Edmonds, skipping the red carpet and arriving just in time for the show.

The legendary Quincy Jones showing love and gratitude to Maurice White, the famous lead singer and founder of Earth, Wind & Fire who’s been struggling with Parkinson’s disease since the late 1990’s.

Affleck, Damon and More To Ante Up For Africa

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:30:00 -0000

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Garrett, Mekhi Phifer, and top poker professional Phil Hellmuth have joined the growing list of celebrities who plan to play in the Ante Up For Africa charity tournament July 2 at the 40th annual World Series of Poker.

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are expected to go all in for the 3rd Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) Celebrity-Charity poker tournament.

Annually, the largest celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas, the event is accessible for the public to play with their favorite stars or watch as spectators. A full house of celebrities will join Academy Award Nominee, Don Cheadle and “Celebrity Apprentice Star” and WSOP Bracelet winner Annie Duke at the event taking place during the 2009 WORLD SERIES OF POKER® (WSOP) at Rio in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 2 at 2 PM.

This No-Limit Hold’em poker tournament has an entry fee of $5,000 and provides entrants the opportunity to walk away with a six-figure payday. The event allows players to rub elbows with top Hollywood stars, athletes and poker professionals while contributing to a great cause.

Celebrities and athletes will join poker’s most notable players to raise public awareness and funds to support the victims of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

Among those confirmed to participate, subject to availability, are Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brad Garrett, Cedric the Entertainer, Charles Barkley, Danny Masterson, Hank Azaria, Herschel Walker, Jason Alexander, Kenny Smith, Marlon Wayans, Montel Williams, Reggie Miller, Tia Carrere, Sarah Silverman, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Cheryl Hines, Mekhi Phifer, Rob Schneider; Poker Professionals Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Tiffany Michelle, Erik Seidel and Phil Hellmuth with more to be confirmed.

The tournament will feature a fast-paced structure designed to complete the competition within five hours. Seating for the tournament is open to anyone age 21 or older.

This event, as is every World Series of Poker tournament, is open to the public for viewing and admission is free. The event will take place in the famed Amazon Ballroom in the Rio Convention Center, just one day prior to the start of the WSOP Main Event, the game’s most prestigious poker event.

Cheadle, an accomplished poker player, and Duke, who has more than $4 million in tournament winnings, are committed to raising both public awareness about the tragedy in Darfur and funds to aid its victims. As the world’s richest sporting event, the WSOP awarded more than $180 million in 2008 and attracted participants from a record 124 nations.

In the previous events, many of the in the money finishers volunteered to donate half of their winnings to the charity. Proceeds from the event will go to the ENOUGH Project and Refugees International, organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur.

More information about the tournament is available at www.worldseriesofpoker.com. If you would like more information regarding the organization, please log onto www.anteupforafrica.org and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/anteupforafrica.

ABOUT THE WSOP
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world awarding millions of dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2008, the event attracted 58,720 entrants from 124 different countries to the Rio in Las Vegas and awarded over $180 million in prize money. The creation of the new delayed Main Event final table more than doubled ratings on ESPN year-over-year. In December, 2008 the WSOP was named the 7th most admired sports brand in North America by the Turnkey Team Brand Index trailing only the more established NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and PGA Tour among sports properties. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent in 2007 of the World Series of Poker Europe. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit our website at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

ABOUT ANTE UP FOR AFRICA
Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 by Don Cheadle, Annie Duke and Norman Epstein. We are dedicated to raising money and awareness for Africans in need. To date, Ante Up For Africa has raised close to $2 million for the cause and has donated to organizations such as Not On Our Watch (NOOW), ENOUGH and The International Rescue Committee. For more information, please log onto www.AnteUpForAfrica.org.

10th Annual Design Care Event Attracts Celebrities

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

Actress Holly Robinson-Peete and her husband, former NFL player Rodney Peete, held their 10th annual “Design Care” event benefiting The HollyRod Foundation – which raises money for adults and children battling debilitating disease and life circumstances including Parkinson’s Disease and autism – on July 19.

The Design Care event is an evening of fashion, music and charity. What started as a gathering of 150 people at the home of Holly and Rodney has grown to a guest list of 500 people. To date, DesignCare has raised over $2 million.

This year, the HollyRod Foundation honored Cedric the Entertainer with the 2008 HollyRod Humanitarian Award; businessman James Warsaw with the Matthew T. Robinson Award of Courage; and philanthropist Lisette Ackerberg with the Angel on the Path Award. The first annual Champion Award was presented by hollyrod4kids to Jason “JMac” Mc Elwain – the teen basketball player with autism.

The live auction led by John Salley featured exclusive items such as a Smart Car courtesy of Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills, a trip for two to attend a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago, and a MotoPure H12 diamond encrusted Bluetooth headset among other luxurious items.

Celebrities in attendance included Vanessa Williams, Amy Yasbeck, Lisa Renna, Cheri Oteri, Eric LaSalle, and Regina King, and recording artist Maxwell performed at this year’s event.

The foundation was founded in 1997 in honor of Holly’s father, Matthew T. Robinson, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1982 at age of 46.

Celebrity Auctions For Christmas

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:34:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

As the clock counts down to Christmas, celebrities have been keeping busy and warm by signing as many different items as humanly possible and donating them to a plethora of auctions. The holiday season may be at fever pitch now, but there is certainly a wide range of gift ideas to ease the stress of last minute shopping.

The VH1 Holiday Auction is currently being held at www.vh1auctions.com, and includes a long list of memorabilia from the music industry. All proceeds from the auction will go to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, an initiative dedicated to restoring music programs in schools across the US.

Items up for grabs include a harmonica signed by Alice Cooper (which has already attracted bids of $250), signed photos of Aerosmith and Chris Cornell ($300), and a guitar personally autographed by Ryan Adams ($1500). Signed clothing is also big on the agenda, with a jacket from Snoop Dogg, a vest from Iggy Pop, and sneakers from Amy Winehouse.

Signed guitars are also available as part of the Private Sessions Charity Auction, with all proceeds to benefit the Starlight Children's Foundation. Avril Lavigne, the Goo Goo Dolls, Meat Loaf, the Barenaked Ladies, and Toby Keith are among the stars to sign both an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar for the auction, which also includes movie clapper boards autographed by Queen Latifah, Michael Douglas, and Anthony Hopkins.

But if these items whet your appetite, you have to be quick. The auction ends on December 12.

For those people celebrating Christmas in Australia this year, the Starlight Children's Foundation Australia is auctioning Christmas decorations signed by various celebrities. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, The Rock, Delta Goodrem, Missy Higgins, and rugby league stars Matthew Johns and Benji Marshall have all put their names on baubles to raise money for sick children in the country.

An auction is also being held by Russell Simmons' Diamond Empowerment Fund, to raise money for education programs in African countries where diamonds are a natural resource. A variety of fine diamond pieces are up for sale at www.ebay.com/diamondsgive, including an exquisite diamond-encrusted Ohm watch from the Simmons Jewelry Company. The opportunity to take part in exclusive photo shoots with celebrities such as Petra Nemcova, Naomi Campbell, LL Cool J, and Cedric the Entertainer are also up for grabs in the auction.

Actress and environmental activist Daryl Hannah is also doing her bit to ease the shopping blues this year, and has launched a brand new online store. www.dhlovelife.com offers goods picked with serious consideration of their environmental, social, and animal welfare impact. And if special holiday items such as an organic peace wreath and 100% recycled cards do not excite you, the store also offers compost buckets, surfboards and guitars made from hemp, bamboo snowboards, organic dog treats, and even a solar powered boat. The actress will also sell her personal bio diesel car and home fueling system on the site on December 20.

And finally a little news from the recent Lightspeed Fine Art Celebrity Charity Auction, held in Lake Forest, California, on the weekend of December 1 and 2. Lightspeed specializes in artworks relating to science fiction, and their eighth annual auction attracted guests from shows such as Stargate, Voyager, and Battlestar Galactica.

A surprise guest at the auction was Leonard Nimoy, better known as Mr Spock from Star Trek. Nimoy, who is reputed to have a huge personal collection of Star Trek memorabilia, donated several items to the auction signed by himself and William Shatner, including a plaque awarded from NASA for “inspiring a generation of scientists and explorers”.

Nimoy’s contributions made over $14,000 of the total $40,000 raised during the auction, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society and the Nimoy Foundation, an initiative that gives grants to artists-in-residence programs in museums and galleries around the US.

In the words of Mr Spock – “live long and prosper”.

Look To The Stars News: Cedric the Entertainer

Lionel Richie Honored By United Negro College Fund

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Stars Come Out For HollyRod Foundation

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Affleck, Damon and More To Ante Up For Africa

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10th Annual Design Care Event Attracts Celebrities

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Celebrity Auctions For Christmas

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