Look To The Stars News: Angelina Jolie

Stars To Attend Coma Patient's Gala

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0000

A gala to raise funds for charity in the name of a 17-year-old British coma patient will take place this Saturday.

Sophie Wilkinson has been in a coma since she was involved in a car accident last October, and her plight has attracted a wide range of celebrities to step forth and help raise the funds needed to provide her with care. Earlier this year her parents set up the Sophie’s Gift Fundraising Program on behalf of the Southampton Hospital Trust to raise the £250,000 (US$500,000) needed to provide Sophie with a Mobile CT Scanner. As well as receiving a video and words of encouragement from Johnny Depp, Sophie has also got support from the likes of Sharon Osbourne, Top Gear’s Richard Hammond, and Chris Tarrant.

Sophie’s parents, Andrew and Alison Wilkinson, have also established a database of celebrity voices to help wake up other coma patients. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Amanda Holden are just some of the names who have already committed to the initiative.

The Sophie’s Gift Gala Dinner will take place on the 5th July at the Macdonald Botley Park Hotel, with proceeds to go to the Southampton Hospital Charity. Tickets are still available from www.sophies-gift.com for £65 each. Attendees can expect live entertainment and a spectacular auction and gala dinner, with several celebrities – such as Chris Tarrant and Mike Osman – scheduled to make an appearance.

Jolie-Pitt Foundation Donates To War Children

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million to support the education of war-affected children through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict will distribute the donation to four organizations working with children who have lost parents and homes in Iraq, and children in the United States who have lost parents in the conflict will also benefit.

“These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal,” said Jolie, who co-chairs the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.

“We hope to encourage others to give to these great organizations,” added Pitt.

$500,000 will go to the Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program, which will provide educational tutors and counseling to 2,500 children affected by the war in America. The remainder will be split between three organizations operating in Iraq: Women for Women International, which provides books, school supplies and other basic necessities to Iraqi women and children; the International Rescue Committee, which will repair three schools and offer classes for more than 2,500 students; and www.NineMillion.org – a UNHCR campaign – which will donate learning materials to more than 2,000 displaced Iraqi children.

Aid will also go to refugee children and school rehabilitation programs.

Angelina Jolie Donates Jacket To Charity Auction

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie is auctioning off clothes she wore in her latest film to benefit a charity established by Morgan Freeman.

Plan!t Now is an organization that provides people, communities, and companies with the information they need to protect their families, homes, businesses, resources, and documents from the effects of storm and hurricane-related disasters, and the new online auction features a range of celebrity-donated items to raise money to help those in need.

Jolie has donated the jacket she wore onscreen during her up-coming feature Wanted to the cause, and Freeman – her co-star in the movie – has put up opportunities to meet him at his latest theatre appearance and also to join him in a round of golf. George Clooney has donated an autographed pair of boots, and there are also chances to attend concerts by Keith Urban and Eric Clapton.

The auction, which runs on the Charity Folks website, runs until July 1.

Fans of the Eagles should also head over to Charity Folks to check out some of the signed merchandise up for grabs from the classic rockers. There’s a signed guitar, poster, and Long Road Out Of Eden CD on offer, with proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation. But be quick, that auction ends tomorrow.

Brad And Angelina's Baby Photos To Be Sold For Charity

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:20:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The hottest couple in Hollywood, Brad and Angelina, are reportedly selling the photo rights to their unborn twins to the highest bidder – with the money going to charity.

The bidding war is said to be up to $15 million, which will bring a lot of smiles to the couples’ chosen charity (yet to be named publicly, but we’ll let you know when it is). And it looks like the only mags left standing in the fight are OK! and People.

“We’d love to see the photos in People,” said one of the publication’s reps. “We wish the family well.”

Alliance for the Lost Boys Nominated for a ‘Stevie Award’

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:11:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The 6th annual Stevie Awards will be presented on June 12 in New York City, and the Alliance for the Lost Boys of Sudan has been named as a finalist in the Public Relations category for its fundraising/awareness campaign video: “Mission SSS.”  

The Stevie Awards were created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of companies and business people worldwide. More than 2,600 entries from companies in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories, including Best Overall Company, Best Executive, Best New Product or Service, Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program, and new categories including Best Management Team and Best Corporate Environmental Responsibility Program.

Alliance for the Lost Boys of Sudan will be competing in the Public Relations category with their “Mission SSS” awareness and fundraising video that was launched in schools across the US this year.

  “We are extremely honored to be named as finalist in the prestigious 2008 Stevie Awards. It’s incredible to think that we made this video with a budget of zero dollars, and yet, we are being honored among finalist of the most prominent corporations in America,” Ms. Hecht, Founder and President of the Alliance for the Lost Boys of Sudan, said. “We hope that the national exposure from this esteemed honor will bring us a broader support base and recognition for our foundation and the people that we serve. I am extremely thankful for the  commitment and dedication of our Board of Directors, local Lost Boys, and everyone who has contributed their time and talents to make our foundation and this campaign a huge success.”

Celebrities who have supported the Lost Boys’ cause include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Manute Bol, and Luol Deng among others.

The ‘Mission-SSS’ campaign video was written, directed, and co-produced by Joan Hecht along with assistance from a local production specialist.  

“Because of the Alliance for the Lost Boys of Sudan, lives are being changed and, in many cases, saved due to the selfless efforts and compassion of everyday people who have joined their hands and hearts to help those in need.”

  The Stevie Award winners will be announced during the annual gala on Thursday, June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Look to the Stars congratulates and applauds the Alliance for the Lost of Boys of Sudan for their hard work and dedication. Hopefully, they bring home the ‘Stevie statue,’ which was designed by R.S. Owens, the same company that makes the Oscar, Emmy, and Clio Awards. The Stevie trophy is a 16 inch tall, hand-cast 24-karat gold statuette, holding aloft a crystal pyramid that represents the hierarchy of human needs, a system developed in the 1960s by psychologist Abraham Maslow, who observed that after their basic needs are met, human beings seek the esteem of their peers. Details about The American Business Awards and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at www.stevieawards.com/aba.

 Established in 2004, Alliance for the Lost Boys of Sudan is an all-volunteer 501 C-3 foundation that assists with the health and educational needs of Lost Boys/Girls. To date, the Alliance has assisted  over 50 Lost Boys and Sudanese refugees with college tuition and books and has provided life changing surgeries and medical treatment for numerous Lost Boys and their families, both in the US and Africa. They support numerous projects in Southern Sudan, such as the building of hospitals, schools and orphanages. In addition to educating Lost Boys and Sudanese refugees in the US and Sudan, Alliance president Joan Hecht and local Lost Boys speak at schools and organizations around the US in an effort to educate the American public on the atrocities occurring in Southern Sudan and Darfur.

The Stevie Awards created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of companies and business people worldwide. Their mission is to raise the profile of exemplary companies and individuals among the press, the business community, and the general public.

Time 100 - Tribute to Brad and Angelina by George Clooney

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:20:52 -0000

As previously mentioned, this year’s “Time 100 List” is out. We would like to share with our readers some of Time’s chosen Heroes & Pioneers, celebrities who are making a difference. Below is the full tribute to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, written by George Clooney, and we’ll feature further tributes in the coming days:

“It is one thing to talk about the problems of the world and quite another to actually try to change things.

“As a team, actors Brad Pitt, 44, and Angelina Jolie, 32, have served as our goodwill ambassadors worldwide. They brought help to Pakistan in 2005, after a catastrophic earthquake killed tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless. They have tended to the poor and sick in Africa. And they’ve raised global awareness—and contributed $1 million of their own money—for the victims of atrocities in Darfur. Brad co-founded Not On Our Watch, an organization set up to focus global attention on Darfur and other hot spots.

“In the U.S., Brad and Angelina didn’t just talk about, or even just throw money at, the tragic fallout from Hurricane Katrina. They actually moved to New Orleans and have set about trying to make right what so many have made wrong. Brad established a project to finance and build 150 new homes in the Ninth Ward.

“Angelina has worked tirelessly through the United Nations on behalf of refugees around the world, touring border camps in Africa, Asia and Latin America and lobbying on Capitol Hill. The couple cares for three adopted children, from Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam, in addition to their biological daughter.

“There are hundreds of people who could be honored for their good works, but I’ve seen Brad and Angelina firsthand, and their commitment together is truly impressive.”

Clooney himself is well-known for philanthropic work, and is actively engaged in trying to resolve the Darfur crisis.

Pitt and Jolie Among Time's Most Influential People

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:30:24 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

TIME magazine placed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie together in 21st place in its latest annual list of the world’s most influential people, and George Clooney stepped up to write a glowing tribute.

Jolie and Pitt were among the “Heroes and Pioneers” of the list, and the couple’s friend summarises the reasons for their selection:

“There are hundreds of people who could be honored for their good works, but I’ve seen Brad and Angelina firsthand, and their commitment together is truly impressive.”

Clooney praised the pair’s concrete and personal actions, saying, “They brought help to Pakistan in 2005, after a catastrophic earthquake killed tens of thousands of people and left millions homeless. They have tended to the poor and sick in Africa. And they’ve raised global awareness—and contributed $1 million of their own money—for the victims of atrocities in Darfur.”

Pitt and Clooney co-founded Not On Our Watch to address the Darfur crisis, and Clooney was obviously impressed by the charitable integrity his friends demonstrated in helping with the Hurricane Katrina aftermath: “They actually moved to New Orleans and have set about trying to make right what so many have made wrong. Brad established a project [Make It Right] to finance and build 150 new homes in the Ninth Ward.”

Similarly proud of charity poster child Jolie, Clooney writes, “Angelina has worked tirelessly through the United Nations on behalf of refugees around the world, touring border camps in Africa, Asia and Latin America and lobbying on Capitol Hill.”

Other celebrities noted in the TIME 100 list for their philanthropy include Oprah (with a tribute written by Michelle Obama), Mia Farrow (for her work with UNICEF and more), Andre Agassi (with a tribute by Andy Roddick), and Lance Armstrong (at position 26).

Celebrities Bring Attention To UN Efforts

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:11:03 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

With the press watching their every move, more and more stars are making their moves count by sharing the spotlight with United Nations missions.

In the past months alone, actress Drew Barrymore pledged $1 million to the United Nations’ World Food Program to bring attention to rising food prices; actress and Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon began raising money for the United Nations Development Fund For Women for education, job training and better laws for underprivileged women; Bono raised an impressive $42 million at his (RED) charity auction for the United Nations Foundation AIDs programs; and actress and UNICEF spokeswoman Salma Hayek promoted her anti-tetanus campaign on Oprah.

Outspoken actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow uses her celebrity in ways that politicians might not, relentlessly reminding us of the tragic details of Dafur. Farrow says, “I’m completely free to say anything I want. I have no trade agreements with anyone.”

George Clooney, the latest to be named Messenger of Peace by the United Nations for his efforts in Chad, Congo and Dafur, told ABC News, “I think what they’re looking to gain from [awarding me] is cameras following me to places that they’re trying to get attention to and that’s fine. That’s a good use of celebrity if you ask me.”

Celebrity faces fronting causes may help attract broader attention or raise bigger money more quickly, but it may also do something for the celebrity.

Actress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, who is pushing governments to plan an Iraq refugee relief effort, told ABC News, “[Activism] gives celebrity some reason. Celebrity is very weird… So when you’re doing something good and you can bring attention to that or discuss that, then it feels like you have some sense in your life.”

Angelina Jolie Calls For Education Awareness In Iraq

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:08:19 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie attended a major meeting last week and called for the education of Iraqi children to be given more attention.

The 32-year-old actress, who has visited more than 20 humanitarian disaster zones – including Iraq and Darfur – since becoming a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in 2001, joined a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington to talk about her recent trip to Iraq and her views on the status of refugees in the region. She also spoke at length about her mission to help in the education of children affected by conflict.

“It is a fact that the best way to heal children in conflict and their trauma is to focus their minds on their future and give them an education,” she said. “It’s also a fact that an educated population is the best guarantee for a stable and properous future.”

Jolie has witnessed some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and has visited refugee camps in countries such as Tanzania, Pakistan, Thailand, Ecuador, Kosovo, Kenya, and Namibia. During last week’s Council, the actress recalled visiting a camp in Burma where a group of school children gave her a list of the simple things they lack but need for a basic education – grammar books, dictionaries, and pens.

“They are desperate for these things,” she said. “They’re desperate for an education.”

Jolie is known to cover all of her own costs when visiting countries in need, and always insists on sharing the same living and working conditions as field workers. In 2003 she published Notes From My Travels, a compelling collection of journal entries from her field missions.

Jolie has the experience and firsthand knowledge to know what she is talking about in regards to refugees, and can see the importance of educating children in Iraq.

“We need them to grow up and be doctors and lawyers and engineers and teachers,” she said during the Council. “We need them to rebuild their country, stabilize their country, and eventually lead their country.”

John Legend Buys Himself At Charity Auction

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:30:11 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation held its first Miami Gala on Saturday night, with a huge celebrity turnout to celebrate the occasion.

The Art For Life event was held at Miami Beach and honored John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and Suze Orman for their efforts to help improve the lives of others. Chaired by Sean ‘P.Diddy’ Combs and hosted by actress Nia Long, the event was co-organized by a legion of well-known names, including Dwayne Johnson, Petra Nemcova, and Rush founder Russell Simmons.

The main attraction of the evening was a massive celebrity auction, which featured a large selection of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and items. However, the auction took on a slightly skewed course when John Legend spent $19,000 on the very item he donated – a Happy Birthday serenade over the phone from… well, from John Legend! Quite how he is going to ring himself up and sing is anyone’s guess.

Legend also pledged a further $10,000 to the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, which was followed by $10,000 from Sean Combs and another $10,000 from former NBA player Larry Johnson. And although they couldn’t attend, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie pledged $5,000 in honor of Wyclef Jean.

The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation was established in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny, and Joseph Simmons to provide funding for non-profit organizations that give disadvantaged urban youth exposure and access to the arts. Although based in New York, a large percentage of the proceeds from Saturday’s gala will go directly to programs in Miami, including One Art, the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, and the Theatre Institute of South Florida.

This is the third year the event has been held in South Florida – in previous years it was held at Palm Beach – and last year’s event raised over $2 million.

Angelina Jolie Explains The Iraqi Refugee Problem

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:27:57 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Back from her latest trip to war ravaged Iraq as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie has a sense that the time is right to do something about the humanitarian crisis there. In her recent editorial to the Washington Post, Jolie explained the risks of non-action.

“We not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis,” wrote Jolie. “Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won’t explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?”

Since the US invasion of Iraq, more than 2 million Iraqi civilians have been driven from their homes into perilous conditions, seeking shelter in abandoned buildings and primitive huts without food, clean water, or electricity. Over half of them are under the age of 12. Another 2.5 million have fled the country altogether, looking to Syria and Jordan for refuge. So great was the influx that the borders are now closed to refugees.

However, Jolie also sees opportunity. The actress has met with several key people in the US, UNHCR, and Iraqi government who all appear ready to do something. The army has offered protection to UNHCR staff and new efforts to address the humanitarian crisis, and UNHCR’s High Commissioner has promised to assess the conditions required for the return of refugees and providing humanitarian relief. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is also committed to overseeing issues related to internally displace people and financial support for the effort.

As for the refugee families, Jolie believes that all they want is “the chance to return to their homes and get back to their lives.” Even the troops “want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible.”

Because 4 million refugees will not be fast or easy to absorb, Jolie is adamant that the progress and momentum not be lost. “I would like to call on each of the presidential candidates and congressional leaders to announce a comprehensive refugee plan with a specific timeline and budget as part of their Iraq strategy. It seems to me that now is the moment to address the humanitarian side of this situation. Without the right support, we could miss an opportunity to do some of the good we always stated we intended to do.”

Angelina Jolie - Helping Her Heroes

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:34:29 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

She may be known for her various roles on the silver screen that have earned her Golden Globes and an Academy Award, but perhaps Angelina Jolie’s greatest role is that which she plays in real life – Global Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. And it is exceedingly clear that the dedication that she shows in her acting is reflected in her work for humanitarian causes around the world.

The 32-year-old actor has just returned from a visit to Iraq, in which she met with top political officials to discuss people displaced by the war.

“There are over two million displaced people and there never seems to be a real coherent plan to help them,” she told CNN on her return. “There’s lots of goodwill and lots of discussion, but there seems to be a lot of talk at the moment and a lot of pieces that need to be put together.”

The trip was a follow-up to her visit to the country six months ago, and marks Jolie’s commitment to displaced persons and refugees in war-ravaged nations, and confirms her dedication to implement solutions wherever possible.

“Of the two million internally displaced, it’s estimated 58 percent are under 12 years old. It’s a very high number of people in a very, very vulnerable situation and a lot of young kids,” said Jolie. “So far, the different US officials I met with and different local people I’ve met with all have shared concerns, very, very strongly. They have spoken out about the humanitarian crisis, but there seems to be a block in.”

Jolie traveled to Baghdad with Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, and Refugees Minister Abdel Samad Rahman Sultan. As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie is well known for using her status as a superstar to generate media coverage about the plight of refugees and the conditions under which they live, and this trip to Iraq proved no different.

“This trip is to get a better picture of the internally displaced people and to discuss [the situation] with the local government, with our government, with the NGOs and with local people,” said Jolie. “I’m not good at policy and fixing all this and saying what’s wrong, but I do know that, for example, U.N.H.C.R. needs to be more active inside Iraq… I know that this is one thing that needs to be addressed and solved because there does need to be a real presence here to help count the people and register the people. Also, the prime minister here needs to empower the government that deals with migration and displacement to be able to address the concerns for these people, and that hasn’t happened in a significant way yet.”

Born in Los Angeles in 1975, Jolie’s acting career has already spanned two decades. Her first feature role was in Lookin’ to Get Out in 1982, a film co-written and co-produced by her father, the acclaimed actor Jon Voight. Since then, she has received Golden Globe Awards for the television movies George Wallace (1997) and Gia (1998), and her film credits include Hackers (1995), The Bone Collector (1999), Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), and Mr and Mrs Smith (alongside her partner, Brad Pitt, in 2005).

It was while filming the first Tomb Raider movie in Cambodia, a country stricken by poverty, that Jolie began to become aware of humanitarian issues around her. She approached the UNHCR for more information, and was sent to Sierra Leone, a small African country that – like the Democratic Republic of the Congo – had been devastated by years of brutal civil war. Seeing firsthand the enormous challenges that refugees face was a life-altering experience for the actress, and she was named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in August 2001.

Over the next few years, Jolie witnessed some of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. She visited refugee camps in Tanzania, Pakistan, Thailand, Ecuador, Kosovo, Kenya, and Namibia, covering all of her own costs and insisting on sharing the same living and working conditions as field workers.

In 2003 Jolie published Notes From My Travels, a compelling collection of journal entries from her early field missions. She now publishes her latest journal entries on the UNHCR website.

Since 2003, Jolie has traveled to refugee camps in Sri Lanka, Russia, Jordan, Beirut, and Egypt, and has also visited detained asylum seekers in Arizona. In 2005 she filmed an MTV special entitled “The Diary of Angelina Jolie and Dr. Jeffrey Sachs in Africa”, portraying her trip to a remote group of villages in Kenya, and has visited Chad and Darfur several times since fighting erupted there in 2004.

In recent years, Jolie has been joined by Brad Pitt on many of her trips. In 2005 the pair witnessed the devastation of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan, and in 2006 they visited a school in Haiti supported by Wyclef Jean’s Yéle Haiti Foundation.

Also in 2006, the pair founded the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which made initial donations of $1 million to Doctors Without Borders and Global Action for Children. This was followed by a $100,000 donation to the Daniel Pearl Foundation, another to the Duk Lost Boys Medical Clinic in the Sudan, and $1 million to help refugees in Chad and Darfur.

Angelina Jolie’s generosity seems bottomless, and her heart is clearly as big as her stardom. In 2005, she announced the founding of the National Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Children, an organization that provides free legal aid to asylum-seeking children, and personally funded it with $1 million over 2 years. She also co-chairs the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, a program established at the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative that has pledged to help with the education of over 1 million children affected by conflict around the world.

Her missions to the most dangerous troublespots in the far-flung corners of the world look set to continue well into the future.

“It’s always hard to see decent people, families, living in such difficult conditions,” she said. “What is most upsetting is how long it is taking the international community to answer this crisis… You go to these places and you realize what life’s really about and what people are really going through. These people are my heroes.”

2008 Golden Globes Roundup

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:54:19 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

There may have been no red carpet, acceptance speeches, or flash of cameras for the winners of the 2008 Golden Globe Awards, but Look To The Stars takes this golden opportunity to recognize some of those who were honored and nominated.

Johnny Depp won his first Golden Globe after being nominated seven times since his career began, picking up the Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical award for Sweeney Todd. Despite his dark performance, there really is a lighter side to the actor. In the past, Depp’s charitable work garnered him the Courage to Care Award for his contributions to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The Best Actress Award went to veteran Julie Christie, who was up against heavyweights such as Angelina Jolie, an outstanding supporter and contributor to charitable causes. Some of the charities she has supported include the Afghanistan Relief Organization, the Alliance For The Lost Boys, Fran Drescher’s Cancer Schmancer Movement, Doctors Without Borders, and the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

Daniel Day Lewis won Best Actor for his performance in “There Will Be Blood”, beating out celebrity humanitarians George Clooney and Denzel Washington. Like Jolie, Clooney is a major force in trying to make the world a better place, and he is a noted supporter of Cinema For Peace, Make Poverty History, Rock For Darfur, United Way, and the World Food Programme. Washington has spent time visiting wounded soldiers at Fisher Houses, hospitals which provide housing for injured soldiers’ families at little or no cost, and once made a large donation to the Fisher House Foundation. He is also the spokesperson for the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America, honorary chairperson for Save Africa’s Children, and a founding member of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

Australian-born Cate Blanchett took home the gold in the category for Best Supporting Actress. Charities Blanchett supports include the Australian Conservation Foundation, Kids Help Line, and SolarAid. In the past, Blanchett filmed a special appeal for SolarAid that was screened at the Hay Festival. The video is available to view on YouTube.

Queen Latifah took home the Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a TV Movie/Miniseries, for her role in “Life Support”. A supporter of several charities, Queen Latifah once helped design a pair of shoes for the Stuart Weitzman charity shoe auction benefiting ovarian cancer awareness and research, and has been involved with Citymeals On Wheels and the Harry Holmberg Memorial Foundation.

Jeremy Piven beat his “Entourage” co-star Kevin Dillon to win his second award for Best Supporting TV Actor. Piven once hosted the fourth annual Fashion Rocks event, which benefited Alicia Keys’ Keep A Child Alive Foundation.

Congratulations to all the winners and the nominees for all the work that you do in front of the camera and behind the scenes to inspire a better world.

NBA Stars Support The Lost Boys Of Sudan

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:33:22 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

One by one, celebrities have stepped up to take action against the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, and now Chicago Bull Luol Deng can be added to the growing list of sports-stars lending their name to this worthy cause.

On January 6, Deng joined the Chicago Association for the Lost Boys of Sudan to host the ‘Hope for Sudan Celebration’ at Truman College in Chicago. The celebration marked the third anniversary of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and doubled as the official birthday of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” refugees (immigration paperwork marks January 1 as the birthday of all Sudanese boys). Guest speakers included NBA legend and humanitarian Manute Bol, Mr. Kenneth Elispana (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Army, Chapter of Illonois) and Dr. Wayne Watson (Chancellor City Colleges of Chicago). Guests were also treated to live music and cultural performances by the Sudanese Womens’ Dance Group and the Lost Boys Musicians-SEDC Team.

“I’m from a nation where my whole lifetime and the life before me have been struggling,” said Deng in USA Today, when asked why it was important to give back to the community. “To be blessed and to do what I’m doing puts a smile on everybody’s face. It’s not just me that’s blessed. It’s all of us. The little things that Americans see every day, we don’t see that often. [Manute Bol’s] time was before me, so I just try to make things special for all the kids from Sudan instead of them hearing negative all the time.

“Playing in the NBA is a dream come true. Charity work is something that is a lot more powerful. I enjoy basketball, but giving back is something a lot of people can’t do.”

Sudanese-born Deng moved to Britain at the age of nine when his family fled civil war. He spent his formative years in the United Kingdom before moving to the States at aged 14 to play basketball on a scholarship.

In addition to the Chicago event, the Arizona Lost Boys Center will hold their Journey of Hope Fundraiser Dinner on February 9th, at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas. The event’s honorees are two of the original “Lost Boys”, Yai Atem and Jany Deng (no relation to Luol).

“I was seven when we began the walk,” said Atem, referring to his 13-year, 1,000-mile odyssey that took him from the Sudan to Ethiopia, back to the Sudan, and eventually to a refugee camp in Kenya as he and fellow “Lost Boys” escaped a bloody civil war. “We ate tree leaves and drank our own urine to survive one more day.”

Their story is one of hope, and both Atem and Deng have earned U.S. citizenship and received degrees from Arizona State University. “As some of the first graduates of a major university, Jany and Yai are perfect role models of how to get an education while working. And, despite their past, they are optimistic, hopeful, friendly and forward-seeking,” said Ralph Serpico, executive director of the Arizona Lost Boys Center.

The “Lost Boys of Sudan” is the name given by aid organizations to refer to the more than 27,000 boys who were displaced and/or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War, where over 2 million people were killed. In 2001, approximately 3,800 Lost Boys were granted refugee status in the United States. While Arizona has the largest population of Lost Boys, others have settled elsewhere, including Chicago and Florida. In 2007, Brad Pitt produced a documentary about the refugees, and along with Angelina Jolie donated $100,000 towards a medical center for the “Lost Boys” in the Sudan.

Since 2001, over 600 “Lost Boys” have found their way to Arizona and made it their home. The Arizona Center is the only one of its kind in the US, providing a home base for the boys to gather, receive support from one another, and acquire the skills and resources they need to thrive in America. The center is currently seeking donations for silent auctions, live auctions, and raffle prizes for their Journey of Hope Dinner. For additional information, visit the website at http://www.azlostboysbenefit.org.

Currently, there are 135 Lost Boys living in Jacksonville, Florida, which is home to the Alliance For The Lost Boys. Founder and President of the Alliance, Joan Hecht, recently wrote a book, “The Journey of the Lost Boys”, which tells the story of the thousands of boys who fled refugee camps in Ethiopia. It also illustrates the incredible compassion of NBA legend and humanitarian, Manute Bol.

As told by one of the Lost Boys to Joan Hecht: “We were starving, many of us were dying from the lack of food, water and medicine or attacks by enemy soldiers and wild animals. One day, a famous athlete from America came to visit our camp. His name was Manute Bol, and he had been born and raised in Southern Sudan. When he saw us he bowed his head and cried for a really long time. He was very sad to see us that way.” Before leaving, Manute promised to return to help the young children, vowing to tell the world about their suffering and that of his people. A short time later, helicopters appeared in the sky, and landed inside their camp. It was Manute Bol, making good on his promise, bringing food and medicine for the children and reporters to tell their story.

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, visit www.allianceforthelostboys.com.

2007 - The Year The Stars Gave Back

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:11:14 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

2007 was a year of giving, both on grand and not-so-grand scales. Celebrities from all fields, be it movies, music, sport or general entertainment, showed compassion beyond the call of duty, and in most cases had a lot of fun doing it.

Without a doubt, one of the biggest events of the year was Live Earth in July, where stars new and old shone in all of the corners of the Earth to raise awareness of the plight of the planet. The shows were generally well-received, and led to organizer Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

But celebrities also participated in smaller, more personal acts of kindness in 2007. Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Melissa Gilbert, and Michael Douglas all donated their time to feed the hungry at the Los Angeles Mission, Fran Drescher launched the Cancer Schmancer Movement, and Ewan McGregor visited UNICEF projects during his epic motorcycle trip across Africa.

In January, Kevin Bacon launched www.sixdegrees.org, a website designed to marry the concepts of social internet networks and charities. The site aims to help people fundraise for their chosen causes, and features celebrities such as Kyra Sedgwick and Ashley Judd.

Bette Midler, founder of the New York Restoration Project, launched the Million Trees NYC initiative with Mayor Michael Bloomberg in October, to get city dwellers to plant more trees. The project plans to increase New York’s urban forest by 20% in the next ten years.

“To walk under the branches of a tree that you have planted connects you to the roots of our past and the aspirations of our future,” said the 62-year-old singer and actress.

Another singer with a sense of community in 2007 was Jon Bon Jovi who, as well as participating in various benefit concerts, also worked with Project HOME to revitalize a deteriorated lot in Philadelphia and transform it into homes for fifteen families.

And then there was Shakira, co-founder of the Latin America for Solidarity Fund and Pies Descalzos, who donated $40 million to victims of natural disasters in Peru and Nicaragua, and another $5 million to benefit education programs for children across Latin America.

The California wildfires that ravaged much of the state in November also spawned a spate of celebrity donations, with Linkin Park, the Eagles, and Gwen Stefani all making substantial contributions to both victims and firefighters.

American Idol gave back in April, with two shows that raised over $60 million to benefit organizations funding relief programs in America and Africa, featuring performances by Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, and others. Organized by Simon Cowell, American Idol Gives Back also led to a $100,000 donation by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

Another talk show host to shine this year was Oprah Winfrey, who opened a state-of-the-art school in South Africa for disadvantaged girls.

“I am creating everything in this school that I would have wanted for myself—so the girls will have the absolute best that my imagination can offer,“ said the 53-year-old, who poured $40 million of her own money into the project.

Brad Pitt took on the mission of rebuilding New Orleans by donating $5 million towards new houses, and also set up the Make It Right Foundation to assist in his work. Meanwhile, his wife Angelina Jolie set out to do what her character Lara Croft does best – save the world. As well as donating $100,000 to build the Duk Lost Boys Medical Clinic in the Sudan in March, Jolie also traveled to Iraq and Syria to raise support for those displaced by war.

Although literally tonnes of articles were written about Jolie’s efforts during 2007, even more was reported on Don Cheadle’s and George Clooney’s work to publicize the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The stars of Ocean’s Thirteen established a charity for the Sudanese region called Not On Our Watch, and personally raised over $9 million to help those affected by conflict in the region. The pair were awarded a special peace prize by Nobel laureates for their efforts.

And no round up of the year’s events can be complete without mention of Bono, who continued being Bono by doing what Bono does best – raising awareness for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the needy, and the disadvantaged.

We at Look To The Stars would like to wish all of our readers a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year, and we look forward to continuing to bring you celebrity charity news in 2008.

Angelina Jolie Seeks Accountability

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:11:50 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Angelina Jolie, Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has a dream – she is hoping for a year of accountability. Jolie’s essay in The Economist’s “The World in 2008” pulled no punches as she gave evidence on what accountability is needed for and how it can change, and has changed, the destructive spiral of vengeance around the world.

Jolie wrote that the convictions of heads of state for crimes against humanity from places like Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone are recognized by refugees, including those from Cambodia, Chad and Darfur who have also been witness to murder, rape, destruction and displacement.

In support, she revealed one of her experiences that occurred during a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo five years ago: “In the Ituri region, where Mr Katanga’s reign of terror had been most intense, our group attended a meeting of rebel leaders. They had gathered in a field to discuss the prospects for a peace agreement—which were not looking very good. The conversation turned hostile and the situation grew extremely tense. At that point, one of my colleagues asked for the name of one of the rebels, announcing, perhaps a bit recklessly, that he was going to pass it along to the International Criminal Court [in the Hague].

“It was remarkable: this rebel leader’s whole posture changed from aggression to conciliation. The ICC had been around for only five months. It had tried no one. Yet its very existence was enough to intimidate a man who had been terrorizing the population for years.”

Set in her belief, Jolie states, “Accountability is perhaps the only force powerful enough to break the cycle of violence and retribution that marks so many conflicts. Only through justice will we achieve peace.”

Kite Runner Auction Raises Afghan Hopes

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:38:15 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Madonna, Will Ferrell and Angelina Jolie are among the many celebrities who have joined the Kite Runner Auction, which runs until the 15th of December.

The auction corresponds with the theater release of The Kite Runner on December 14th. Based on the book of the same name, the film explores the world of Amir, who returns to Afghanistan after 20 years in America to set right his past mistakes.

The book’s author Khaled Hosseini is joined in the auction by tail-signers Edward Norton, Steve Nash, Cher and Halle Berry. 75% of the auction’s proceeds will be donated to the Afghanistan Relief Organization.

Other items on the auction block include a visit to the set of the new James Bond film with director Marc Forster, who also directed The Kite Runner film, dinner with Khaled Hosseini, or the chance to name a character in one of his future works.

To see the full list of celebrities, or to bid on kites and tails signed by Jessica Biel, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal or Reese Witherspoon, go to The Kite Runner Auction page.

Jolie Commits To War Affected Children

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:58:56 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

An organization founded by an award-winning actress has pledged to help with the education of over 1 million children affected by conflict around the world at this year’s annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Angelina Jolie addressed the conference, attended by participants from a variety of business, academia, entertainment, and environmental organizations, on September 27 in New York. As part of the three day meeting, she told the audience how the members of the Education Partnership For Children Of Conflict have contributed to the education of war-affected children in over 10 different countries since she founded the Partnership in 2006. Along with Partnership co-founder, Gene Sperling, who is also Director of the Centre For Universal Education at the Council for Foreign Relations, Jolie outlined the commitments that they have made for the coming year.

“Education can transform the lives of children in conflict, giving them the tools to create a better future for their families and their nations,” said Jolie to the 1,000 members of the Global Initiative, who were gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities of education, climate change, global health, and poverty. “This Partnership is putting words into action, and demonstrating that even in the most difficult circumstances, every child can and should have a chance to learn.”

The Education Partnership For Children Of Conflict was founded from a commitment made at the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative, a yearly meeting of world leaders launched by Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation in 2005. Its mission is to help the world move beyond its current state of globalization to a more integrated global community of shared benefits, responsibilities, and values. It provides a catalyst for action by “bringing together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.” Since its inception, and through the commitments made by over 100 world recognised organizations, the Initiative has provided over 3.2 million people with clean energy services in the developing world, provided 1.2 million patients in Sudan, Chad, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo with emergency care, and assisted with providing life-saving services to 857,300 children under the age of 5 in 25 countries.

Jolie and Sperling started the Education Partnership to help fund new education projects for children in conflict, post-conflict, refugee, and emergency situations. During her address at the meeting, she outlined the future for the Partnership, and its goals for the next year. She revealed they have received an investment of $148 million from 19 world organizations in 15 countries to reach their goals, which include:

Provide schooling to 350,000 children in conflict affected areas around the globe.

Improve the learning environment, safety, materials, and teacher quality of a further 690,000 children.

Assist 200,000 Iraqi refugee children.

Assist 300,000 youths affected by the conflict in Darfur.

“These are children who need a safe place to learn; a place to heal; a place to learn reconciliation and a place to just be children,” said Jolie. “All they have left is their minds. We don’t want them to grow up and feel they have nothing to live for.”

The three day meetings follow another high profile meeting held in New York earlier in the week, in which two heavy weights in the fight to stop climate change addressed the United Nations.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Vice President Al Gore took part in the 8 hour discussion on September 24, which hoped to spur global negotiations on climate change.

“The time has come to stop looking back at the Kyoto Protocol,” said Schwarzenegger. “The consequences of global climate change are so pressing it doesn’t matter who was responsible for the past. What matters is who is answerable for the future. And that means all of us.”

The gathering, which included UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, sent a strong political message about the urgency of lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

“The time to act is now,” said Al Gore at the conclusion of the meeting.

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