Look To The Stars News: Chris Tucker

Stars Come Out For HollyRod Foundation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

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

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

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

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

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

Chris Tucker To Host Charity Run/Walk

Fri, 29 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

The race against childhood cancer at the 4th Annual Brittiana “Smile For Life” 5k Run/Walk May 30, 2009 at Pacific Palisades High School, will bring the loving legacy that 13–year-old Brittiana Henderson left with the many people who knew her and her story.

Host, actor/comedian Chris Tucker, adored Brittiana’s courage and her love for others – he often refers to her as his “little sister”. Co-host Keke Palmer – star of “True Jackson, VP” – is excited about participating in this year’s event and ecstatic to be racing against childhood cancer.

At the age of 10 Brittiana was diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Courageously, she fought this disease and was like any other cancer patient, subdued to the confinements of the hospital. She painfully underwent chemotherapy and partial knee replacement surgery, in which never stopped her love from shining through the hospital walls. Remaining optimistic about her own struggle, Brittiana would visit other children in the hospital offering hugs, smiles, love and reading stories (her favorite).

With the help and support of Brittiana’s parents Jamie and Shirell Henderson, they organized a non–profit organization called BrittiCares International with that same infectious love to help others. Brittiana was able to attend the 1st annual Brittiana “Smile For Life” 5k run/walk in 2006, as her battle with cancer came to an end January 31, 2007. Her legacy lives on two years later as celebrities, communities, family, friends and organizations, all gear up for the race to help children stricken with cancer, leukemia, sickle cell anemia and other serious blood diseases.

The “Smile For Life” 5k run/walk proceeds go toward BrittiCares’ uplifting programs which focus on improving the quality of life for children battling for a chance at life. Before the race begins, an opening ceremony will take place, including a song, dance, and dedication lap with all patients, survivors and Angelinos that have succumb to cancer. For those participating in the competition race, chip timers will be provided. Following the race will be family fun, games, raffles, performances, shopping and much more.

Other celebrity guest appearances will be former NBA player and NASCAR racer Derek Strong of Strong Racing, along with his speedy race car. NFL’s Chester Pitts of the Houston Texans and NBA’s Bryon Russell of the Utah Jazz will also attend. Teen celebrities lending their support include Chelsea Tavares, Tyler Williams (“Everybody Hates Chris”), Kofi Siriboe (“The Longshots”), Kwame Boateng (“Not Easily Broken”), Kwesi Boakye (“I Can Do Bad All By Myself” & “Men of a Certain Age”) and many more.

More info can be found at the BrittiCares Website.

Katy Perry Performs While Stars Shoot Hoops For Charity

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:30:00 -0000

T-Mobile USA, Inc. launched the T-Mobile myFaves Shot of a Lifetime with an exclusive celebrity shoot-out in Phoenix to benefit charity. Eliza Dushku, Jermaine Dupri, Donald Faison, Bill Simmons and Zachary Levi joined Dwyane Wade in the challenge to benefit the charity of their choice during the weekend.

T-Mobile created the charity shoot-out to officially launch the Shot of a Lifetime national sweepstakes, which gives one lucky winner and their fave five the opportunity to play HORSE against Dwyane Wade during the Eastern Conference Finals for a chance at $50,000. More information on the sweepstakes can be found at www.t-mobile.com/nba or text “MYSHOT” to 72579 to enter.

Stars including Yao Ming and Gabrielle Union joined T-Mobile to witness Dwyane Wade, Eliza Dushku, Jermaine Dupri, Donald Faison, Bill Simmons and Zac Levi square off against each other on a custom myFaves half-court. Emcee Sal Masekela was on the mic, getting the crowd to cheer in support of each participant, who each stepped onto the court for three shots at the basket to win up to $50,000 for the charity of their choice. The charity challenge concluded with an astonishing $170,000 donated to Camp Hale Alumni Association, Global Exchange Uganda Trauma Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta, Global Green, The Jimmy Fund and Operation Smile.

Following the celebrity shoot-out, Katy Perry took to the stage to the delight of the crowd, which included stars such as Sarah Chalke and Chris Tucker.

Now is the Hour For Chris Tucker

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:23:09 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

He’s a movie star, a comedian, and now, as his new film Rush Hour 3 is released around the world, Chris Tucker has revealed a philanthropic side to his persona as well.

The 35 year old comedy actor recently talked about his activities during his 6 year break from movie making, which has included several trips to Africa and the formation of a non-profit organization.

“People are used to the normal thing,” he said. “Make as much money as you can, work as much as you can. I wanted to travel the world and meet interesting people. I took advantage of being a celebrity.”

The actor first traveled to Africa in 2001 to publicize Rush Hour 2. However, he was both shocked and horrified at what he found there.

“I saw different situations in Africa – kids and orphans in villages with no clean drinking water because an animal had died in the water system, and they didn’t have $1500 for a new pump.”

This experience had a profound effect on Tucker, and really opened his eyes to the plight of the African population. The following year he visited the continent again, this time to make an MTV documentary with U2 singer Bono and former Treasury Secretary, Paul H O’Neill. The film, Diary of Bono and Chris Tucker: Aiding Africa, looked at how US money could help African countries deal with Aids, unsanitary living conditions, and hunger.

“I remember going to Ethiopia with Bono. It was to this orphanage. Little babies were crying. Six months old. Some were blind. I was, like, ‘What can I do?’ These people are helpless.”
What he did was set up the Chris Tucker Foundation in 2005. The non-profit organization aims to provide clean water to villages in Ghana, as well as to fund projects that help fight Aids in Africa.

“It’s in a young stage,” said Tucker. “I want to focus on kids. I teamed up with [”US Doctors for Africa":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/708-us-doctors-for-africa] to work with hospitals there. And I want to get into education. I saw what Oprah did with a school for girls. I want to be part of opening a boys school."

Tucker has made several more trips to Africa over the last few years, some of them with his close personal friend Bill Clinton. This has led to meeting other world leaders, many of whom now lend their support to Tucker’s charity work.

One such leader is Nelson Mandela, who hopes the Chris Tucker Foundation will assist the needy in South Africa. Tucker clearly remembers their first meeting.

“He was coming into the room saying ‘My Grandkids want to meet Chris Tucker’. So I went up to him and said ’I’m Chris Tucker’. I got a picture of me sitting between Bill Clinton and Mandela. It’s just like Forrest Gump, man. My life has been like Forrest Gump.”

Tucker and his Rush Hour 3 co-star, Jackie Chan, hope to attend some charity premieres of their new film, and he already has a few new movie ideas in development.

“I’m happy to be back making films,” said Tucker in a recent interview, but it is clear that Africa is never far from his thoughts.

Look To The Stars News: Chris Tucker

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