Look To The Stars News: Angelina Jolie

Brad And Angelina Design Jewelry For Children Of Conflict

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have put their design skills to work for charity by creating a serpent-inspired range of jewelry.

The pair have designed the jewelry with Asprey, designers of fine jewelry. All proceeds of the pieces will go to Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, founded by Jolie three years ago, which raises awareness and funds to educate child victims of war, conflict and natural disasters.

The pieces – which start at $525 and include rings, baby spoons and more – will go on sale at Asprey stores in London, New York, Beverly Hills, Tokyo and Dubai later this week.

“These are the children who most need a safe place to learn, a place to heal, a place to learn reconciliation, a place to build a better future and a place — to just be children,” said Jolie of the cause. “Yet the education for these children is often forgotten. Tens of millions of children and adolescents in conflict are not in school.”

Giving Back Fund Releases 2009's Top Celebrity Givers

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look To The Stars is proud to announce that our partners at the Giving Back Fund have announced their third annual Giving Back 30, a list of celebrities who have made the largest donations to charity according to public records.

Readers may have been surprised to learn that Paul Newman replaced Oprah Winfrey as the most generous celebrity of 2008. Oprah had occupied the number one spot by a wide margin for the first two years of the list.

Before his death, Newman made a donation of nearly $21 million to his self-named Newman’s Own Foundation. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were second with a $13.5 million donation to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which distributed $6.4 million to charity, including a $2 million grant to The Global Health Committee for an Ethiopian clinic project, a $1 million grant to the Make it Right Foundation founded by Pitt, and $500,000 to the Armed Services YMCA USA.

“Our hope is that celebrities will begin to become more comfortable sharing information about their charitable giving - perhaps not disclosing everything they give, but sharing enough to enable them to serve as role-models to their peers and fans,” said Marc Pollick, President and Founder of The Giving Back Fund.

Also on the list: Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Mel Gibson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurie and Larry David and Drew Barrymore. Several authors made the list this year, along with representatives from the NBA, NFL and NASCAR. To see the complete list visit The Giving Back Fund’s web site at www.givingback.org.

HOW IT WAS COMPILED
 To compile the most accurate rankings, The Giving Back Fund culled media reports of charitable giving by sports and entertainment professionals; reviewed PF-990 tax-forms; contacted more than 250 publicists, attorneys, agents, agencies, and managers for information about their clients; polled more than 150 charities known for their celebrity associations; and contacted all of the major sports leagues.

The Giving Back Fund did not include grants made by foundations in the list so as to avoid counting the same funds twice - once when the donor gave money to a foundation and again when the donor decided on a beneficiary for that money. The Giving Back Fund did not calculate giving as a percentage of the celebrities’ income because there are no public records documenting income. Re-directed income from sponsorship and merchandising deals to charity made by a celebrity was also not reported as it is not available to the public.

 Donations to private foundations are disclosed in public documents. However, donations to public charities are not publicly disclosed and therefore may not be reported in the Giving Back 30.

UPCOMING: CELEBRITY CHARITIES’ DISTRIBUTION TO CHARITY
 The Giving Back Fund will be releasing a second list in early 2010 reporting on the dollar amount distributed to charities by public and private celebrity foundations, respectively. Charities may submit their 2008 990 reports for review to The Giving Back Fund at GivingBack30@givingback.org.

Brad Pitt Joins Angelina Jolie In Syria For Refugees

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were in Syria last week to meet with Iraqi refugees to raise awareness of their plight.

“Most Iraqi refugees cannot return to Iraq in view of the severe trauma they experienced there, the uncertainty linked to the coming Iraqi elections, the security issues and the lack of basic services,” said Jolie, who was in Damascus for the UNHCR. “They will, therefore, be in need of continued support from the international community.”

It was the actress’ second visit to Syria in two years. On Friday, she visited Damascus’ poorest suburbs where she was welcomed by two Iraqi families and – along with Brad Pitt – discussed the Iraqi refugee crisis with Syrian President Bashar Assad.
UNHCR has stated that more than 4.2 million Iraqis have left their homes since the beginning of the conflict in 2003.

“It is clear that the Syrian people, no matter the challenges or difficulties they may face, have always shown generous hospitality to people in need,” said Jolie. “I hope that the rest of the world recognizes that we all have to share this burden and continue to take care of Iraqi refugees.”

Angelina Jolie Visits ‘Dire’ Kenyan Refugee Settlement

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Emily Ray

Angelina Jolie has spoken about visiting ‘one of the most dire’ refugee camps on the Kenyan–Samali border.

Jolie is a Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an organization that seeks to help refugees into a ‘normal environment’.

On a visit to the refugee settlement, Jolie was heartbroken about the residents’ plight, where 285,000 people live in a cramped space designed for just 90,000.

With children and adults alike showing signs of malnutrition, and families living amongst rubbish, Jolie’s visit took on an extra disbelief when she learnt that fifteen people are surviving on 100 liters of water every two days, when the recommendation is 20 liters per person per day. Cholera outbreaks are common place, and Jolie said the next occurrence might be impossible to contain.

UNHCR Kenya Representative Liz Ahua warned, “If we don’t get more land, it will be impossible to avert a major humanitarian crisis”. The UN High Commissioner called for a massive injection of funds from the donor community, and UNCHR will provide an extra $20 million for refugees and the community in Dadaab.

Jolie spoke poignantly: ‘I wish more people could meet them, then they would have a stronger desire to help.’

To find out more about the work of UNHCR, click here

Jude Law Launches Peace Day Video Contest

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Peace One Day’s annual International Day of Peace will take place on September 21, and actor Jude Law is encouraging people to enter a new video competition to celebrate the initiative.

World Peace Day has been held on September 21 annually since 2001, when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted September 21 as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. The initiative came from an idea by Jeremy Gilley, who founded his non-profit organization – Peace One Day – in 1999. Since then he has amassed an impressive list of supporters, including Chris Martin, Sir Richard Branson, Angelina Jolie, Alan Rickman, and Michael Douglas.

This year’s World Peace Day will be preceded by a concert featuring Lenny Kravitz and Kasabian in Paris, and the organization has launched the video competition to help spread the word of peace. All you have to do is create a video showing how you will be making a difference on World Peace Day, no matter how big or small the action whether it’s bringing people together; making amends with someone; organizing a football match; doing something in the home, the workplace, the community; or simply offering your take on what peace means to you.

“Show us what Peace means to you,” said Jude Law. “It doesn’t have to look professional, just have a go. Share it with the world on Peace One Day’s YouTube channel. We’ll select the most inspirational finalists and then you’ll decide the winner. The prize is a state-of-the-art HD camera and a day with Jeremy Gilley learning the art of documentary filmmaking.”

The competition ends on September 30, and more info can be found here.

Angelina Jolie Sculpture Raises Awareness Of Breastfeeding

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A bronze statue of Angelina Jolie breastfeeding two babies is to be unveiled in Oklahoma City.

The sculpture – titled Landmark For Breastfeeding – was created by artist Daniel Edwards and will be unveiled on September 11 at MainSite, a contemporary art gallery. An official copy of the sculpture is expected to be auctioned by Sotheby’s on October 6 for the New York Academy of Art’s annual Take Home A Nude art auction.

“Landmark for Breastfeeding” was inspired by last year’s cover of W magazine featuring Angelina Jolie feeding her new babies.

“Hopefully, my sculpture inspires an increase of wetnurses to assist women who have concerns about mastitis, or passing HIV to their infant,” said artist Daniel Edwards.

From 1-7 August 2009, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 150 countries worldwide will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for the 18th year. For more information, click here.

Angelina Jolie Visits The Displaced In Iraq

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie has made her third trip to Iraq to visit people displaced by the war.

The actress used her latest visit to the Middle East to visit the country, where she witnessed a settlement on the outskirts of Baghdad where 20,000 Iraqis live, unable to return to their homes because of violence.

“It is lacking in all of the basic things that you would need,” Jolie told CNN. “They just started to have clean water. They’re sleeping on dirt. They have built these areas out of brick by hand. They don’t have job opportunities.”

Jolie – a UN Ambassador for the UNHCR – met four families whose children could not go to school and could not afford to pay for medical treatment.

“This is a moment where things seem to be improving on the ground, but Iraqis need a lot of support and help to rebuild their lives.

“There are still three million people displaced, innocent families. We have still many young men and women from our country who are fighting every day, there are men and women from all countries who have lost their lives, and this is a time to try to make some positive change.

“The UNHCR has been doing everything it can. It’s been building houses. It’s having funding issues. It’s only half-funded this year. It takes six months to be able to build a house.

“So they’re not going to get enough money to be able to build all the houses that they want to build, to be able to facilitate anybody that does want to come home. They’ll be able to do something, but not as much as they could if they were given all the support.”

UNHCR has stated that 1.6 million Iraqis were displaced within the country by sectarian violence.

Angelina Jolie To Be Honored In Jordan

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie is to be honored at the Arab Children’s Congress.

The actress flew out to Jordan yesterday to attend the 24th annual Arab Children’s Congress. Founded by Queen Noor of Jordan following the 1980 Arab Summit Conference in Amman, the event is considered to be the longest uninterrupted cultural gathering of Arab youth. According to the official website, Queen Noor wanted to “give youth age 14-16 the same opportunity as Nations Leaders to express their needs and aspirations and to be heard by decision makers in the Arab world in a program that gathers 4 youth from each Arab and European country for a week of visiting, learning and cultural interaction especially designed to promote peace, understand. For the past 24 years the Arab Children Congress is held regularly in July of every year under the patronage and care of Her Majesty Queen Noor. It brings together children age 14-16 from throughout the Arab world.”

This year’s event is to take place July 23-29 at the Noor Al Hussein Foundation’s Performing Arts Center.

Angelina Jolie Speaks At World Refugee Day Event

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0000

At an event marking the launch of activities in the United States for World Refugee Day, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie appeared alongside UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres to call on the world to recognize millions of victims of conflict around the world not as a burden but as a potential gift.

“I know the strength that diversity has given my country – a country built by what some would now dismiss as asylum-seekers and economic migrants – and I believe we must persuade the world that refugees must not be simply viewed as a burden,” said Jolie. "They are the survivors. And they can bring those qualities to the service of their communities and the countries that shelter them.

“The refugees I have met and spent time with have profoundly changed my life,” Jolie added. “Today . . . I want to thank them for letting me into their lives.”

Jolie was speaking at a World Refugee Day event at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C. hosted by UNHCR and moderated by NBC television anchor Ann Curry. The event included a live feed from the Djabal refugee camp in eastern Chad, where a UNHCR staff member on the ground spoke to the assembled audience. The event comes two days before World Refugee Day, but will be UNHCR’s main WRD activity in the US.

High Commissioner Guterres spoke of the increasing difficulties and dangers facing the world’s more than 42 million uprooted people as well as those trying to help them. He said the situation was particularly challenging in internal displacement situations which can involve a multiplicity of actors – rebel factions, politically or ethnically linked militias, bandits, government troops and international forces. If people are unable to flee across borders, then humanitarian agencies must try to get help to them inside or near conflict zones.

“This is a dangerous and changing world,” he said. “One of the worrying trends is people’s inability to cross borders. It’s harder and harder for UNHCR to get access to them. The international community faces difficulties today – it is difficult to balance the sovereignty of states with the sovereignty of the human being. This is a huge challenge for us in UNHCR.”

With the changing nature of conflict, the “humanitarian space” within which his agency and its partners must work is shrinking, Guterres said. In some situations, humanitarian workers are seen as legitimate targets. Two UNHCR staff members have been killed in the past five months in Pakistan, most recently in the June 9 bombing of the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar.

“Humanitarians are becoming more and more a target,” he said, and this poses a terrible dilemma – how to balance the urgent needs of innocent civilians with the responsibility to ensure the safety of those trying to help them. “But UNHCR staff never ask me how to leave,” he said. “They always ask me how to stay.”

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was scheduled to speak on Thursday but was forced to cancel after fracturing her elbow in a fall Wednesday on the way to the White House.

The event in Washington kicked off several days of activities around the world designed to draw attention to the plight of refugees and others uprooted by violence. The theme of this year’s events is “Real People, Real Needs,” underscoring the fact that while the world struggles to cope with the fall-out from the global financial crisis, millions of people in poorer countries are in need of help and attention in order to survive.

Events on Saturday will include a concert at Washington’s Kennedy Centre by legendary Congolese vocalist and bandleader Samba Mapangala, a football match between refugees in Australia, a musical performance by Kurdish refugees from Iran in northern Iraq and a film festival in Japan. On Saturday, from 9am to 9pm EST in the United States (2pm to 2am GMT) a new web site, www.refugeedaylive.org, will feature live streams from Iraq, Pakistan, a refugee camp in Africa and a settlement for the displaced in Colombia.

At Thursday’s event, UNHCR awarded a refugee from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rose Mapendo, who had started her own NGO for victims of conflict, with its US Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Meanwhile, Jolie pointed out that forced displacement is a fact of life. "Whether it be from Darfur, Myanmar or the Swat Valley [in Pakistan]; or some as yet unknown crisis, mass migrations will be a feature of our future. “We must look beyond the simple numbers,” she said, “and look instead at the individual.”

Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie Donate To Refugees In Pakistan

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million to help refugees in Pakistan.

According to People.com, the celebrity couple made the donation through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which they established to assist with humanitarian crises around the world.

People.com reports that the head of the UNHCR, António Guterres, thanked the foundation for its assistance, calling Pakistan’s plight “the most challenging humanitarian crisis of the past decade.” More than 2 million people are currently displaced in the country.

Angelina Jolie initially created the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation (MJP) for the conservation of Cambodia’s endangered Cardamom Mountains’ northern territory. As more resources became available, MJP’s operations expanded into other areas such as reforestation, community protected area, park management and humanitarian crises. In 2007, the organization changed its name to Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation and now donates to those in need around the world.

Angelina Jolie Wants The UNSC To Stand Up To The Task

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

As we await the determination of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in response to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation of Omar al-Bashir – the president of Sudan who has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity – Angelina Jolie has this reminder for the members to consider:

“[The UNSC’s] response will determine whether there is going to be an international standard of justice that holds perpetrators accountable for the worst crimes in the world,” she wrote in a recent article published in TIME.com

Frustrated that the humanitarian crisis in Darfur is falling off the radar, Jolie says, “the intensity of the crisis has not lessened for those who are struggling to survive. More than 250,000 people from Darfur have lived destitute lives in refugee camps in Chad for six years now. Camps with more than 2 million internally displaced persons inside Darfur are even worse. Thirty percent of those displaced are school-age children. Girls leaving the camps are raped; boys leaving the camps are killed. They want an education; they want to go back to their villages, to their land; they want peace. But they also want justice.”

Although Bashir has been indicted, he has not been arrested and continues to travel throughout Sudan and non-ICC countries with impunity. Some African ICC members have even discussed a withdrawal from the court in protest to the arrest warrant. It is hoped that the UNSC and other countries will press for Bashir’s extradition, nevertheless.

“The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will stand in front of the U.N. Security Council,” says Jolie. “With painstaking detail he will report that Omar al-Bashir – a man who should protect his citizens – has attacked Darfuris relentlessly and methodically for five years and continues to do so. According to the UN Charter, the Security Council exists ‘to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security.’ If the results of the Darfur investigation, which they ordered, don’t merit their active engagement, what does?”

The UNSC did not issue a statement after the hearing. Whether they decide to “embrace impunity or to end it,” Jolie points out, “as they are considering Bashir’s fate they are also considering their own.”

Angelina Jolie: World Refugee Day PSA

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie has recorded a PSA for World Refugee Day urging people not to ignore the plight of those forced to leave their homelands.

Speaking for the UNHCR, the actress speaks about the millions of refugees without homes or identities around the world: “Please don’t turn away. Refugees are the most vulnerable people on earth. Every day, they are fighting to survive. They deserve our respect.”

World Refugee Day will be held on June 20 and aims to raise awareness of the 34 million people of concern to UNHCR who face a shortage or lack of the essentials of life – clean water, food, sanitation, shelter, health care and protection from violence and abuse.

The UNHCR says: "A comprehensive assessment of the needs of refugees and other people cared for by the UN refugee agency revealed that 30 percent were unmet – a third of them in basic and essential services. Improvements in nutrition and water supplies, access to primary health care, strengthened child protection programmes, better protection for women from sexual violence and abuse, and improvements in living conditions and sanitation facilities are just some of the needs that are not being met worldwide.

“This World Refugee Day we ask you to remember the millions of forcibly displaced and stateless people under our care who are struggling with their day-to-day lives. One thing connects them all: basic needs that must be met so they have a chance to rebuild their lives.”

To find out how you can help, and to watch Jolie’s PSA, visit the UNHCR website.

“Please do not forget them. Remember them on this day. World Refugee Day.”

Naomi Watts Plants Trees In Israel

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Naomi Watts took a break from filming Salt with Angelina Jolie earlier this week to join her husband Liev Schreiber in planting trees in Israel.

The celebrity couple – along with their two children – planted a pistachio sapling in Galilee with the Jewish National Fund, an environmental organization that was established in 1901 and has planted 240 million trees, built over 200 reservoirs and dams, developed over 250,000 acres of land, created more than 1,000 parks, provided the infrastructure for over 1,000 communities, brought life to the Negev Desert and helped in educating students around the word about Israel and the environment.

“This particular area is called Galilee,” explained Schreiber. “And in this area, approximately 750,000 trees were destroyed in missile attacks. So what we are doing here today is called Project Renewal.”

The Fund is currently looking for donations to help them replant trees. To find out how you can help, visit their website.

In the pictures: Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, and their two children Sacha and Kai, helped green the land by planting a tree at Jewish National Fund Park in the Galilee on June 14th. Photo Credit: Ronn Torossian, 5W PR

Pitt Family Donates $1 Million To Hospital

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million to a hospital in Missouri to fund children’s cancer specialists.

The couple made the donation – along with other members of the Pitt family – to St John’s Hospital in Pitt’s hometown of Springfield over the weekend.

Along with Pitt’s brother, Doug, the couple have made the donation to fund a treatment unit to be named the Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center in honor of their mother. The new facility will include a new pediatric unit, a 10-bedroom hospice and larger neonatal and pediatric intensive care units.

Once completed, it will become one of the six affiliates of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Stars For A Cause To Raise Charity Funds Tonight

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A selection of items designed and decorated by some of Entertainment’s biggest stars will go under the hammer at Bonhams and Butterfields Auction House in Los Angeles tonight, May 28.

The Stars For A Cause Auction features a wide range of rare and collectable items, such as posters signed by Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anna Paquin, David Duchovny, Rumer Willis, Jonas Brothers, P. Diddy, America Ferrera, Hayden Panettiere, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Anne Hathaway, Steve Carell, Emma Thompson, Marisa Tomei, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Tina Fey, Steven Spielberg and many more.

There are also shoes from William Shatner and Ludacris, and bags adorned with kisses from Al Roker, Nancy O’Dell, Nicollette Sheridan, Marcia Cross, Hugh Laurie, Phillip Seymore Hoffman, Geena Davis, Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher, Reese Witherspoon, Kelly Clarkson, Green Day, Keira Knightley, Paula Abdul, John Legend and many more.

And if that is not all, there are also cufflinks from Miley Cyrus and Trace Adkins, and jewelry from many others.

A public preview of the lots will take place between 12pm and 5pm today, at the Bonhams and Butterfields Auction House at 7601 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles. The auction will begin at 8pm.

Half of the proceeds of the auction will go to charities chosen by the participating stars, such as the The Art of Elysium, Keep A Child Alive, Red Cross, Elton John AIDS Foundation, UNICEF and many many more. The other half will go to the Prince’s Trust, which helps young people develop confidence, motivation and skills to find work.

More information can be found here.

Stars For A Cause On Display

Mon, 04 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A selection of celebrity designed/autographed jewelry, footwear and other unique items will be on display at auction house Bonhams in New Bond Street, London, tomorrow before being auctioned at Bonhams and Butterfields in Los Angeles on May 28.

Half of the proceeds of the auction, organized by Stars For A Cause, will go to charities chosen by the participating stars, such as the The Art of Elysium, Keep A Child Alive, Red Cross, Elton John AIDS Foundation, UNICEF and many many more. The other half will go to the Prince’s Trust, which helps young people develop confidence, motivation and skills to find work.

Celebrities taking part in the campaign include Kate Winslet, Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz, Ricky Gervais, Charlize Theron, Goldie Hawn, Miley Cyrus, Colin Farrell, Susan Sarandon, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks, Sigourney Weaver and more.

To learn more about this amazing auction, visit the official website.

BBC Interviews LookToTheStars.org Founder

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:45:00 -0000

LookToTheStars.org founder Myrlia Purcell was invited by the BBC’s World Today show to take part in a radio interview on the subject of celebrity philanthropy.

Myrlia explains what the site is trying to accomplish, and responds to the suggestion that celebrities undertake charity work mainly for publicity.

The segment includes soundbites from George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Mia Farrow, and other celebrities mentioned include Paris Hilton, Forest Whitaker, John Hurt, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Lucy Liu, and Run DMC frontman Darryl McDaniels and his Felix Organization.

Audio: BBC World Today interview (approx. 4 mins).

E! Donates To Jolie-Pitt Foundation

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It has been revealed that E! Entertainment Television made a significant donation to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation last year.

According to Fox News, the media giant made a donation of $250,000 to the foundation established by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to assist with humanitarian crises around the world. The donation was one of four large contributions made to the fund in 2008, including $1,194,911 from Jolie, $956,961 from Pitt, and $5,000 from Jerry Weintraub.

The Jolie-Pitt Foundation has donated over $4 million to causes since it was established, including $1,364,320 to Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation, $100,000 to help build The Duk Lost Boys Clinic medical centre in the Sudan, $1 million split evenly among three organizations working with war-affected children, $1m to help Sudanese refugees of the Darfur crisis, $1 million to the Human Rights Watch’s work in Burma, $100,000 to Global Action for Children, $400,000 to Cambodia’s children’s causes and $150,000 to the Maddox Chivan Children’s Center.

Stars Come Out For Charity The Night Before

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0000

The entertainment industry’s biggest stars are set to shine this weekend at the annual Academy Awards, but the night before the big event they will be partying it up to support the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation.

The 7th annual The Night Before event will take place on Saturday, February 21, at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, and aims to help provide charitable health and community services to entertainment industry people in need.

The first Night Before event was held in 2003 and instantly became one of the most coveted invitations in town kicking off what is now a much-anticipated awards season tradition. Since its inception, the Night Before fundraiser has raised more than $30 million for MPTF.

“This event raises more money to help the entertainment industry than any other single event we do,” said Ken Scherer, CEO of the Motion Picture & Television Fund Foundation. “The money raised here during the past six years has changed the lives of countless people in the entertainment industry, through the various services and programs offered by MPTF.”

MPTF Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg added: “This year, more than any other, we are asking the entertainment industry to come out and help those in the business who are facing some type of hardship, financial or otherwise. There are people who are losing their cars and homes; the need has never been greater. The money raised from this event will enable MPTF to keep up with the increasing requests for help and hopefully we wont have to have to say ‘no’ to anyone.”

Celebrities on this year’s hosting committee include: Jennifer Aniston, Tanya Haden Black & Jack Black, Kate Capshaw & Steven Spielberg, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Luciana & Matt Damon, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, Jennifer & Tobey Maguire, Jada Pinkett Smith & Will Smith, Christine Taylor & Ben Stiller, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Weisz, Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks, Kate Winslet & Sam Mendes, Reese Witherspoon, Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta Jones & Michael Douglas.

The non-profit Motion Picture & Television Fund, headquartered in Woodland Hills, Calif., was founded in 1921 to provide “relief” for those in the film industry who had fallen on hard times. Today, 85 years later, MPTF is a major service provider supporting the health and well being of the entertainment community. Healthcare, childcare, retirement living and social/charitable services are offered with compassion and respect for the dignity of the whole person. Care is offered through the MPTF 250-bed hospital, five outpatient health centers, charitable financial assistance and community outreach programs, a full-scale retirement community and a children’s day care center. More information is available here.

Wyclef Jean Plans School For Haiti

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Wyclef Jean plans to build a school in Haiti to help children in his native country.

“I want to start working on building a school,” he told Hollyscoop.com. “It’s going to be called the Yéle Center. Hopefully I can start the fundraiser in six months… Right now we’re just focusing with Yéle Haiti, it’s the start of a new year. The next goal is to try to raise money so we can build a physical facility. I want something that’s sustainable for kids. One person got me out of Haiti, my parents got me to America. I took the dream back to Haiti. If I could just save one kid from that school and get the next Wyclef Jean or next Shakira, I’ll be satisfied.”

Jean established the Yéle Haiti Foundation in 2005 to use music, sports and the media to reinforce projects that are making a difference in education, health, environment and community development in Haiti. With celebrity supporters such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the organization creates small-scale, manageable and replicable projects to contribute to Haiti’s long-term progress.

“Haiti is my native country, one I know as the first black nation to gain independence in 1804,” said Jean. "Most other people seem to know Haiti only by the statistics about how bad things are there. The majority of its 8 million residents live on less than $1 per day. Unemployment is close to 80 percent, and more than half the population is under 21 years old. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

“The objective of Yéle Haiti is to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and force that is part of our heritage.”

Angelina Jolie Calls For Refugee Relief In Thailand

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie was in Thailand this week as part of a UNHCR visit to discuss refugees. During her visit, she made an emotive plea to the Thai government, urging them to free thousands of Burmese refugees who have been held in camps for up to 20 years.

“I was saddened to meet a 21-year-old woman who was born in a refugee camp, who has never even been out of the camp and is now raising her own child in a camp,” she told reporters. “With no foreseeable chance that these refugees will soon be able to return to Burma (Myanmar), we must find some way to help them work and become self reliant. As with all people, they deserve to have their human rights respected.”

Jolie visited the Ban Mai Nai Soi refugee centre in Northern Thailand on Wednesday, and witnessed the living conditions of the refugees firsthand. She spent time talking to the refugees, and was able to give out soccer balls donated by the UNHCR to children in the camp.

Over 111,000 registered Burmese refugees live in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. They are not allowed to venture outside the camps to work or receive higher education.

“I hope we can work with the Thai authorities to speed up the government admissions process and that you will not be forced to go back to Burma if danger remains,” she told the refugees she met.

Jolie is well known for her hands-on approach to working with refugees and wrote a book titled Notes From My Travels about her experiences. The book is available here.

Angelina Jolie Tops Celebrity Charity Poll

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie has been voted top celebrity humanitarian for the second year running in a Reuters AlertNet poll.

The actress received almost a third of the votes in the poll for her charity work this year, which included a $100,000 grant to Global Action for Children, a $1 million donation to Human Rights Watch, another $1 million to to four organizations working with children who have lost parents and homes in Iraq, $2 million towards a new children’s hospital in Ethiopia, and a trip to Afghanistan to visit poverty-stricken refugees who have returned to their homes.

“She manages to raise the issues on the plight of refugees and IDPs in ways that are very human, simple but poignant,” said UNHCR spokeswoman Marie-Noelle Little-Boyer. “I’m not surprised she won. She has a way of reaching people that is something particular to her. I think she is so moved by the situation herself that it really comes from the heart.”

Second place in the internet poll went to Mia Farrow, who protested for Darfur, visited storm-ravaged Haiti, and called for help in The Congo. Third place was scoped by Bono, who was awarded the Man Of Peace Award by Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

To read some of the views of the people who voted in the poll, click here.

Brad And Angelina Donate $100,000 To Vulnerable Children

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have made a large donation to a charity that supports orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries.

Global Action for Children has announced that it has received a $100,000 grant from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to support its efforts on an Emergency Presidential Initiative for the World’s Children (EPIWC) to ensure children are not left off the agenda during the growing financial crisis, as well as its mission to make every taxpayer dollar more efficient in U.S. foreign assistance for children.

The donation is the second time the couple has given money to the organization – in 2006 they donated $1 million to improve living conditions in poverty-stricken areas around the world.

“GAC is honored to receive a second grant from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and we greatly appreciate the Jolie-Pitt Family’s continued commitment to and support of our work,” said Jennifer Delaney, Executive Director for Global Action for Children. “With the holiday season upon us, we hope the generous gift from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation inspires others to give and focus on assisting orphans and highly vulnerable children around the world. Each and every donation can truly make a difference in the life of a child.”

More information about the organization – whose aim is to ensure that all children have access to essential health care, education, food and nutrition, and social protection – can be found at www.globalactionforchildren.org.

Clint Eastwood Honored at 53rd Annual Thalians Ball

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

On Sunday, November 2nd, Oscar Award-winning Actor/Director, Clint Eastwood was honored in grand ballroom fashion reminiscent of classic Hollywood with the Thalians Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Thalians recognized Eastwood for his lifetime of contributions to entertainment as well as his humanitarian accomplishments. In previous years, this annual ball has honored such legendary stars as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sally Field, Liza Minelli and Whoopi Goldberg. Among the celebrities present tonight were: Debbie Reynolds, Cloris Leachman, Jack LaLanne, civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, Elke Sommers, and Donna Mills.

Clint Eastwood has been the subject of much media attention of late for his recent Humanitarian Award by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)—the first award of its kind by the organization. In addition, all the attendees of this week’s Hollywood Film Festival received an enormous surprise when graced by the presence of Angelina Jolie who made the introduction to a tribute to Mr. Eastwood for his incredible contributions to film, television, and the arts.

With a Red Carpet & Cocktail Reception following a Dinner and Show featuring a live performance by Freda Payne, the Thalians’s Co-Founders, Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee presented an All-Star Salute and Shirley MacLaine presented the award. Comedian and actor George Lopez emceed the event.

Every year, this annual award gala at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills raises funds for the Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The Thalian’s organization, founded in 1955, continues to raise over $500,000 annually to support the hospital through events and fundraisers.

Chairman of the Board, Ruta Lee also announced that the Thalian’s are looking for new representatives of Young Hollywood to start getting involved and to help carry on the legacy that began with young actors in 1955. She emphasized the importance of Young Hollywood to be involved in philanthropy and the responsibility of using their celebrity status to give back.

For more information on how to get involved in the Thalians organization and this spectacular annual gala, visit their website at thethalians.org.

Angelina Jolie Visits Afghanistan

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie has returned home after visiting poverty-stricken families in Afghanistan last week.

The 33-year-actress spent last Wednesday and Thursday (October 22-23) in the country as part of her duties as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and visited with refugees who have returned to the country and are attempting to build new homes.

“Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 more than five million Afghans have returned home,” she said. “Afghanistan has been struggling to absorb these massive returns. These families have been displaced for nearly 30 years and many of them face difficulties including food, shelter and basic services such as healthcare and education. They have suffered so much yet they remain gracious.”

Jolie spent her time in Nangarhar and Kabul, and raised awareness of a conference in Kabul next month to discuss the issue of the repatriation of refugees.

“The courage, resilience and quiet dignity of returnee families rebuilding their lives against the kind of adversity few of us can imagine shows the human spirit at its best.”

Angelina Jolie Helps Kids In Need Of Defense

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie appeared at a symposium on international law and justice at the Council on Foreign Relations headquarters in New York on Friday to announce the launch of a new initiative to provide legal assistance for immigrant children.

The star has joined with Mircosoft and 25 other firms to establish Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), which aims to provide pro bono legal counsel to unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States so that they are treated fairly and compassionately in the immigration system.

“These children often have nothing; no money, no support and no family, yet they come to America seeking its promises of a better life,” she said. “But many end up becoming lost, traumatized, and ultimately forgotten. KIND provides each of them with the ability to have their legal rights protected and their voices heard.”

Currently, U.S. law provides no appointed counsel for unaccompanied children in immigration court proceedings. The new initiative will help guide them through proceedings which would normally be beyond their understanding.

Jolie also took the opportunity to urge politicians to rethink their laws regarding refugees.

“I’ve seen refugees return to live among the same people who attacked them,” she told the symposium. “They are returning to the same lawlessness that sent them running in the first place. I’ve seen aid workers tear up as they put ladies on a bus and say, ‘I don’t know what we’re sending them back to.’ No mother who had her children killed in front of her, no young girl sold into slavery, no boy kidnapped and forced to be a child soldier and no young girl like the three-year-old I met in Sierra Leone who had her limbs cut off, should be expected to simply forget.”

More information on KIND can be found at their website.

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