Look To The Stars News: Jewel

Jewel Launches Kiss For Country Campaign

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Singer-songwriter Jewel, along with the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (MKACF), kicked off the second annual A Kiss For Country campaign last week, this time to benefit a domestic violence shelter in Nashville.

“[The campaign] involves country music superstars who basically get to kiss a piece of paper, we sign it and auction it off,” explained Jewel. “It helps raise money to end the cycle of domestic violence. I was at the [Country Music Awards] last year and was very impressed with how it was run, and what a great cause it is. Domestic violence really is a cycle that needs to be stopped.”

“We could not be happier to have Jewel as our spokesperson,” said Karen Rogers, MKACF founder’s granddaughter and VP of Board of Directors. “She has had some hardships in her life and so we felt like her generosity and her dedication to these issues would make a perfect spokesperson for us. She’s been terrific.”

“Domestic violence is an important issue to me,” says Jewel, “because one in three women are abused at some point in their life, especially if they’re homeless. I was homeless for a year myself when I was 18 years old. I ended up homeless because I had a boss that asked me to have sex with him, and when I wouldn’t he wouldn’t give me my paycheck and I was kicked out of where I was living. You’re very vulnerable when you’re living on the street. So I actually wrote a single called Stronger Woman to talk about a woman’s responsibility to help herself and her fellow women.”

MKACF has contributed over $11.5 million to domestic violence shelters. See which celebrity puckers are being auctioned for the Kiss For Country campaign here

Johnny's Angels - When Stars Inspire Fans

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:36:32 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

At Look To The Stars we like to bring you news about the ways your favorite stars are making the world a better place, and we strive to inspire you to follow their examples and do what you can to help those in need. We are happy to say that there are some people out there who have been inspired to do good in the name of their idols, and the hard work is now paying off.

Johnny’s Angels is a group set up by fans of Johnny Depp who were inspired by the many good deeds the actor does, including his words of kindness for young cancer sufferers and his attempts to wake up young coma patients. The group now hopes to inspire others to help children, especially young cancer patients, by performing acts of kindness.

“We have been inspired by Johnny Depp, and now we would like to inspire YOU,” says the group’s website. “Johnny’s Angels: Depp Fans for Charity is a meaningful way for Depp fans to honor an actor whose talent and humanity have inspired so many.”

The group focuses on raising awareness and funds for children’s hospices, in particular the Children’s Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition. They raised over $5,000 for the charity in 2007 – through donations, events, and the sale of merchandise – a phenomenal tribute to the actor.

And Johnny Depp himself is impressed with the group. The actor recently wrote a letter to Johnny’s Angels, thanking them for the work that they do in his name, and was blown away by their support and fundraising.

“I wish to express my extreme gratitude to all at Johnny’s Angels, and the wonderful effort made for a cause that is indeed something I hold dear,” wrote the 44-year-old. “Your kindness will benefit those in need at a time when they will appreciate it most… Your generosity of spirit knows no bounds, and for that I am eternally in your debt. I am honored and humbled by you all.”

The group isn’t the only philanthropic fan club out there, fighting for causes in the name of their heroes. The Every Day Angels Foundation was set up by fans of singer/songwriter Jewel to encourage individual awareness of the world and ideas on how people can live their lives to their fullest potential. Established in 1997, the group promotes volunteerism and inspires grass-roots community building through education. Harry Potter fans have also created an inspiring site for actor Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the “Boy Who Lived” in the movie series based on JK Rowling’s books. The group regularly raises money for Radcliffe’s favorite charity, Demelza House, and recieved a message of thanks from the actor in return.

Johnny Depp fans are encouraged to visit www.johnnysangels.org; if you know of any other groups working for causes in the name of celebrities, please contact us.

Celebrities Hair the Call of Charity

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:44:09 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

When most people think of Ken Paves, they think of big hair. The “hairstylist of the stars”, dubbed by the world’s media as the “hottest hairdresser in Hollywood”, is the man responsible for taming the locks of celebrities such as Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, and many more of the most beautiful people on the planet.

But now the stylist with the golden scissors has moved from big hair to big give with a new online auction he has organized through the Kompolt Online Auction Agency.

Inspired by the good deeds being achieved by the hit series “Oprah’s Big Give”, Paves has teamed up with a host of his celebrity friends to launch what could be the hottest auction this year, with all proceeds going to the EB Medical Research Foundation. So if it is once-in-a-lifetime celebrity items and experiences you want, hold on to your toupées and read on.

The auction, which can be accessed through eBay, runs until April 7, and features items from stars such as Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Sharon Stone, Marcia Cross, Bette Midler, and the Eagles. There are signed posters from Jessica Simpson, Eva Longoria, Carmen Electra, and John Travolta, and enough autographed photographs to cover the inside of even the biggest make-up trailer, including snaps from Courteney Cox, Jewel, and Christina Aguilera. And if it is clothes you are after, why not bid on a T-shirt signed by David Arquette, Ashlee Simpson, or Pete Wentz, a soccer jersey autographed by David Beckham, or slip into Victoria Beckham’s jeans.

If that is not enough to send shivers of anticipation through any star-hungry bidder, there is also the opportunity to snap up concert tickets – including meet-and-greets – to shows by Duran Duran and Céline Dion, as well as the chance to hang out with Ashlee Simpson and to visit the set of Scrubs with Donald Faison. There is even the opportunity to take a trip to Ken Paves’ salon with Eva Longoria.

Paves, who is also a spokesperson for Operation Smile, has chosen the EB Medical Research Foundation to recieve 100% of the proceeds from the auction.

The EBMRF is dedicated to increasing awareness of Epidermolysis Bullosa, a condition that affects the skin and can cause painful wounds, similar to burns, to form over up to 75% of a child’s body. Courteney Cox and David Arquette recently pledged to raise $1 million for the foundation.
More information about the disease, as well as the opportunity to purchase a special necklace designed by Cox and Arquette, can be found at www.ebkids.org.

Celebrity Auctions Kick Off The New Year

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:24:10 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The new year has kicked off with a flurry of celebrity charity auctions, with items for sale to benefit a plethora of worthwhile causes and issues.

The American Civil Liberties Union is a national organization that advocates individual rights by litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad range of issues, including free speech, AIDS, human rights, racism, and more. The Southern California branch of ACLU has launched an auction on www.charityfolks.com to raise much-needed funds.

Items up for auction until January 3 include lunch with Jake Gyllenhaal on the set of his new film, a framed and autographed art print by Viggo Mortensen, the chance to dine with Harry Belafonte or Mike Farrell, a signed T shirt and photo from Danny Glover, and original artwork from singer Maria McKee, and an autographed copy of Corinne Bailey Rae’s single, “I’d Like To”.

Also up for auction on the Charity Folks website are 12 twelve very special packages to see Hilary Duff in concert. VIP tickets and the chance to go backstage to meet the young diva are included, and the concerts are being held across the US, Mexico, and Australia.

Proceeds from the auction will go to Blessings in a Backpack, a program run by USA Harvest to generate public awareness of child hunger. The organization will use the money to assist in providing weekend meals to needy children and ensure that their nutritional requirements are met. The auction runs until January 25.

Virgin Unite has put several items up for auction, including a leather jacket designed and signed by Jon Bon Jovi, a guitar autographed by Jewel, and a cymbal signed by members of the Beastie Boys.

Virgin Unite is the non-profit entrepreneurial foundation of the Virgin Group, established by Richard Branson as a catalyst for business based solutions to social and environmental problems. The auction ends on January 3.

Artists for a New South Africa is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 to advance human rights in Africa, and now encompasses a whole raft of issues, including the fight against AIDS, assisting children orphaned by AIDS, and educating and empowering youth. They are offering some incredible items for auction until January 18, including original Star Wars comics signed by Samuel L. Jackson, a signed photo of ex-X Files star Gillian Anderson, and signed CDs from Mandy Moore.

And finally, the Friends and Helpers Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists victims of domestic violence, is auctioning items such as a Red Hot Chili Peppers poster signed by bass player Flea, a signed photo of Donald Trump, a flag autographed by Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan, and a guitar signed by LeAnn Rimes.

2008 looks set to be the year of celebrity giving.

Jewel in the Water

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 11:18:16 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Singer-songwriter and sometime-actor Jewel is refocusing her near decade-long, discrete charitable activities towards a more effective, higher profile partnership with Virgin Unite and its British billionaire boss Sir Richard Branson.

Jewel established Higher Ground for Humanity, whose main focus is Project Clean Water, in 1999. The Project organizes teams of scientists and engineers to bring safe, clean drinking water to impoverished communities throughout the world. It has assisted thousands of people in a dozen countries.

The singer realized through talks with Sir Branson that she could be doing much more for the cause, so she performed last week at a show to benefit Virgin Unite’s charitable projects in Morocco, where clean water is also the central issue. “A lot of clean water around the world is getting bought up privately; it costs more than oil,” she says.

Celebrities sign Lamborghini for Child Safety Network

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 11:46:13 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Italian prestige sportscar manufacturer Lamborghini has donated one of its Gallardos to the Child Safety Network (CSN) for auction. The proceeds will go directly to the 17-year-old charity, which provides child safety information to US families.

To add to the uniqueness of the lot, the car was transported from Beverly Hills through Las Vegas to New York, collecting the signatures of celebrities on its way. Signatories include Ed Asner, Samuel L. Jackson, Jewel, Randy Travis and Jon Voight.

The car will be sold without a reserve. Details of the East coast auction are available at the auctioneers’ web site, kruse.com

Look To The Stars News: Jewel

Jewel Launches Kiss For Country Campaign

Related past articles

Johnny's Angels - When Stars Inspire Fans

Related past articles

Celebrities Hair the Call of Charity

Related past articles

Celebrity Auctions Kick Off The New Year

Related past articles

Jewel in the Water

Related past articles

Celebrities sign Lamborghini for Child Safety Network

Related past articles