Look To The Stars News: Brad Pitt

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.

Idol Gives Back Is Back!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

After a one year hiatus, Idol Gives Back is set to rock for charity once again.

The American Idol special will air April 21, 2010, and will benefit national and international charities including Malaria No More, Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation.

“I am very pleased to announce that we will be doing our third Idol Gives Back on April 21, 2010,” said Simon Fuller, Idol creator and CEO of 19 Entertainment. “This is our opportunity to reach out and support the people of America and around the world who need our compassion and generosity to improve or even save their lives. America will undoubtedly prove once again what a remarkable and generous nation it is. For American Idol to be able to facilitate this kind of initiative makes me very proud.”

“Idol Gives Back” has raised over $140 million since its inception in 2007. The event regularly attracts appearances by major stars such as Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and many others – including 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama. The show last aired in 2008.

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.”

Stars Have 1GOAL In Mind At Clinton Global Initiative

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Brad Pitt was honored at the Clinton Global Initiative on Thursday for his humanitarian work in helping rebuild New Orleans.

Former President Bill Clinton presented Pitt with a plaque from the U.S. Green Building Council which said the actor and his Make It Right Foundation had created the “largest and greenest single-family community in the world.”

‘Make It Right’ has exceeded my expectations," said Pitt. "Our criteria from the beginning were at odds, to say the least. We demanded that these homes be sustainable, that they have aesthetic qualities … that they be storm resilient and take safety in mind of the families who live there and that they would be affordable.

“If we had not been so blissfully naive to the potential, we would not be experiencing what we are seeing today and that is the unquantifiable joy of families returning home to the 9th Ward and returning home to something that was better than before. What the team has done here is not so exceptional. All we did was put the right people together and answer the problems as they came along and that is why we’re here today.”

The Clinton Global Initiative attracted a number of high-profile figures this year. Queen Rania Al Abdullah spoke of the need for education, stating that it is an issue many politicians jump on when running for office, but also one they mysteriously forget about once voted into power.

“The benefits of education sometimes don’t fit in with the political cycle because you reap the benefits way down the line,” she said. “What we need to do is realize that sense of urgency when it comes to education, because education is a matter of life and death.”

She also emphasized the importance of the quality of education, saying that there hasn’t been enough focus in the Middle East on teaching young people the skills to get them through life.

“Take young people who are opportunity starved, and there is political conflict around them, and that makes a very dangerous social mix. As you all know, what happens in the Middle East, does not stay in the Middle East. Critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, those kinds of skills are extremely important to empower our young people.”

Rock star Bono and actress Jessica Alba also attended, throwing their support behind 1GOAL, an initiative committed to ensuring that the legacy of the 2010 Football World Cup will provide universal access to education for all children. Clinton told the audience “this is a staggering opportunity” to make a big difference for girls and boys around the world.

To find out more about the 1GOAL campaign, click here.

Brad Pitt Visits Spanish Urban Renewal Project

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Brad Pitt visited an urban renewal project – designed by famed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer – in the industrial city of Aviles in northern Spain last week.

The celebrity took the time to visit the new facilities being worked on in a port area in what was once the centre of the city’s steel industry in the 1950s. The new area will feature an auditorium, a sight-seeing tower, an exhibition centre and a large outdoor square that will serve as a venue for cultural activities when it opens in 2010, and Pitt’s work with his Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans – which has being rebuilding homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina – attracted him to the project.

The city’s mayor, Pilar Varela, said the actor was especially interested in the environmental sustainability of the Spanish project: "This is why Brad Pitt has come to visit the site… He is interested in supporting the project, the cultural as well as the architectural aspects.”

Fourteen families are now living in homes built by Pitt’s foundation in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans. Nineteen homes are currently under construction and 49 families are in the process of becoming homeowners thanks to Pitt’s efforts.

Brad Pitt Parades Gay Marriage Views

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Brad Pitt has spoken to Parade Magazine about his thoughts on the Prop 8 decision.

“I believe everyone should have the same rights,“ he said. "They say gay marriage ruins families and hurts kids. Well, I’ve had the privilege of seeing my gay friends being parents and watching their kids grow up in a loving environment.

“It’s ridiculous that Prop 8 took away gay people’s right to marry! I have no understanding of that kind of hatred. Maybe it’s fear of difference or of the unknown. If you feel belittled, maybe you need someone else to belittle to feel powerful. It’s the only way I know how to explain it. You’ve got religion telling you what to think about homosexuality, about marriage. They say homosexuality is a choice, a lifestyle, something you can be cured of, and that isn’t true. But if you’re tucked away and have no friends who are gay, you’ll believe what the preachers say. Just think of it in terms of being in love–how would you feel if someone told you that you couldn’t be with the person you loved?

“Would it bother me if a child of mine turns out to be gay? No, not one bit. Listen, I want my kids to live the lives they want to live. I want them to be fulfilled. I hope I teach my kids to be who they really are.”

Pitt gave over $100,000 to the Anti-Prop 8 campaign last year.

Bryan Adams Foundation Holds An Evening Of Opera

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:30:00 -0000

The Bryan Adams Foundation held its inaugural fundraising event, An Evening of Opera and Picnic, last month on the lawns of The Royal Hospital, Chelsea in London.

The Foundation was set up by Bryan Adams to improve the quality of people’s lives around the world, and aims to achieve this by providing financial help and support to those people who are committed to bettering the lives of other people, by providing grants to finance specific projects.

A 4 course picnic, donated by Michelin star chef Gordon Ramsay and eaten on rugs to the accompaniment of music by The Pavao Quartet, was followed by a performance of Opera in the hospital’s chapel sung by the Jette Parker Young Artists from the Royal Opera House, who sung pieces by Puccini, Bizet, Mozart, Verdi and others. Critically acclaimed UK violinist, Charlie Siem, also performed on the evening during the second half.

Adams performed as well, opening the concert singing a duet with the soprano Anita Watson: ‘Love Unspoken’ by Lehar. The evening concluded with a performance of ‘All for Love’ by the entire cast.

The funds raised from the event will support two projects. The Chelsea Pensioners’ Appeal, which is raising funds to modernize parts of The Royal Hospital – a home for around 300 veteran soldiers – and Switchback, which helps young offenders rebuild their lives when they come out of prison.

The evening was sponsored by Phonak, a leading and innovative hearing solutions provider, who are committed to supporting events that celebrate music and help emphasise the importance of good hearing.

The Bryan Adams Foundation was established in 2006, and has given grants to IIMPACT – an organization whose aim is to educate more girls in India – as well as to Brad Pitt’s Make It Right, Build It International, Nordoff-Robbins, the Gaza Emergency Appeal, the Breast Cancer Haven in London and many more.

Presently all fundraising is done through Bryan Adams’ photography and with private donations associated with photography. For more information, click here.

Brad Pitt Wears The Shirt For Charity

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Brad Pitt was spotted wearing a shirt bearing the logo of Graft last week, when his bike broke down and the paparazzi had to give him a ride home.

The “Graft” logo on his shirt is a custom logo which is in reference to an international leading architecture firm that Brad Pitt collaborates with on projects around the world. Graft is part of the core team of his Make It Right Foundation that raises money to build new homes for those affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Nice that he is promoting the Make It Right message everywhere he goes!

Find out more about the work Graft does with Pitt’s foundation here.

The shirt is available through the Dickies website.

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.

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.

Interview Brad Pitt To Support Scholarship Program

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

This could be the opportunity of a lifetime: a new online auction is offering you the chance to attend the premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, get exclusive access to the red carpet, and – with your own camera crew in tow – interview stars such as Brad Pitt and Samuel L. Jackson. And if that is not all, you will also mingle with the stars at the official after party.

The auction is raising money for the New York City Public Schools Scholarship at Hamilton College, which provides need-based scholarships to graduates of New York City Public Schools attending Hamilton College. Originally founded in 1793 as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy, Hamilton occupies a 1,300-acre hilltop campus overlooking the New England-style Village of Clinton, New York, and in close proximity to the Adirondack Park. The College’s open curriculum gives students the freedom to shape their own liberal arts education within a research- and writing-intensive framework. The highly selective college enrolls 1,800 students from 49 states and 40 countries.

The auction offers 4 VIP tickets to the premiere in LA, and ends on June 24. The auction can be accessed here

George Clooney Leads UNICEF Donation

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Not On Our Watch, the international advocacy and aid organization founded by actors George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, producer Jerry Weintraub and human rights lawyer David Pressman, has awarded the U.S. Fund for UNICEF a grant of $438,000 to assist at-risk Zimbabwean refugee children living on the South Africa-Zimbabwe border.

The grant will provide critical support for child protection and welfare services for 1,500 unaccompanied and vulnerable children in the border town of Musina, South Africa.

“I’ve seen first-hand how dire the situation is for Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa. Women are being raped, orphaned children have no protection, and thousands of people are without even the most basic supplies. Every-day survival has become a harrowing task,” said Not On Our Watch board member Matt Damon. “As the situation in Zimbabwe remains unresolved, the international community must stop sitting on the sidelines and instead take action to help those who need it most. Not On Our Watch is proud to support UNICEF’s work in this critical time.”

While the formation of a new coalition government in Zimbabwe signals hope for the Zimbabwean people, the situation for women and children in-country remains at crisis levels. In the last six months, unstable economic conditions, coupled with a severe cholera outbreak have contributed to a dramatic increase in the number of Zimbabweans undertaking the dangerous journey of fleeing to neighboring South Africa, particularly children.

Once in South Africa, refugee children live in extreme situations of risk, including physical and sexual abuse, child labor, and psychosocial trauma, with only limited access to basic necessities such as health services, shelter, education, food and clothing. In addition, their lack of documentation and poorly understood legal status in South Africa places many children in danger of detention and deportation, and forces them to lead “underground” lives.

UNICEF and its partners are supporting the South African government’s efforts to improve the care and protection of migrant children. The support from Not On Our Watch will allow UNICEF to provide emergency assistance, prevent and respond to exploitation and gender-based violence, and strengthen the capacity of the South African Department of Social Development to respond to children’s complex needs.

“UNICEF gratefully acknowledges the vital support of Not On Our Watch, which will contribute to the survival needs of Zimbabwean children in Musina,” said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “This charitable donation will impact the lives of 1,500 Zimbabwean children, by providing them with the emergency care they desperately need. Services also help us to achieve our ultimate goal of reducing the number of children around the world who die each day of preventable causes from 25,000 to zero.”

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.

Brad Pitt Donates To Family Event Center

Fri, 22 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Brad Pitt and his brother Doug have generously donated $600,000 to Drury University in their childhood town of Springfield Missouri, to help the school’s O’Reilly Family Event Center.

The donation helped the school win a Gold Leadership award in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED), making it the first arena in the U.S. to land the eco-friendly title. The building uses low-flow water fixtures, holds a recycling area and has a solar reflective roof.

“This is the latest in a string of commitments to sustainability in our community,” says Todd Parnell, President of Drury University. “We are grateful to the Pitt family for helping us reach a higher level in environmental excellence.”

In recognition of the Pitt brothers’ donation, school officials have renamed the playing surface of the 3,100-seat arena after their father, it will now be known as the William A. Pitt Court.

Springfield is home to several LEED certified buildings, including the LEED Platinum Green Circle Shopping Center, the LEED Gold Discovery Center and a LEED Platinum Habitat for Humanity home designed and built by Drury architecture students and faculty.

LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

George Clooney Makes Statement Against Imprisonment Of Nobel Prize Winner

Mon, 18 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

George Clooney joined Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and many others on Friday in calling for the immediate release from prison of Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Along with Bono, Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Nobel Laureates professor Elie Wiesel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright and US Senator John McCain, the group released a statement protesting about the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi – who has been under house arrest for 19 years – has now been moved to a prison facility.

The only Nobel Peace Prize recipient currently imprisoned, and leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, Suu Kyi is a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistance.

“Yesterday Suu Kyi was taken to Burma’s Insein prison to face criminal charges as part of a concerted plan to deny her freedom,“ said the statement. “We must not stand by as she is silenced once again. Now is the time for the United Nations and the entire international community to speak clearly, and with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.”

Aung San Suu Kyi is a remarkable woman – immortalized in the U2 song “Walk On” and the only Nobel Peace Prize winner kept imprisoned anywhere in the world – her crime was her desire to see her people free.

Other stars to sign their name to the statement included Drew Barrymore, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Matthew Broderick, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Ashton Kutcher, Meg Ryan and many more.

To read more about Aung San Suu Kyi’s plight, click here or visit the Not On Our Watch website.

Emma Thompson Blogs On Charity

Thu, 14 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress Emma Thompson, in a contribution to The Times, discusses the pitfalls of celebrity activism, but why it’s worth it.

“When you are famous,” writes Thompson, “working for charity has become almost de rigueur, and while it can be stunningly effective (witness Brad Pitt in New Orleans) it can also be profoundly off-putting.”

So can its overly-used terminology. Thompson notes: “Words such as “charity”, “cause”, “development”, “human rights” and “activism” can all become skewed with misuse. At best, overuse renders them banal. But at worst they become counterproductive. Say “human rights activist” and increasing numbers of people will just slam their hands over their ears. There is cause weariness even before you prefix “human rights activist” with that extra soul-sapping tag “celebrity”.”

Nevertheless, Thompson sees all causes as connected to the human condition – the problem is that people don’t make that connection to their own daily lives. If only they would, they would see the return, not only to victims but to themselves:

“Thinking, and listening, and sometimes acting to help other people who may have survived and endured terrible situations can be (and this sounds very selfish, but it’s true) a fascinating practical investigation into how one can achieve some kind of progress in the business of being human. It takes only a tiny twist of consciousness to make the leap from a save-the-world complex to something much more honest, fulfilling and achievable.”

It’s fundamentally life-enhancing, she says, “how the survivor contributes to the development of human character – how the stories of those who have endured inhumanity can enrich us in the same way that listening to poetry can enrich us.”

Quoting Helen Bamber, who founded the human rights organisation Helen Bamber Foundation, Thompson says, “What she has always said is that the hardest stories to listen to are often the most rewarding stories to hear.”

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.

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.

Brad Pitt Gets Political For New Orleans

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actor Brad Pitt met with the US Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and House Majority Whip, James Clyburn, last week in Washington to discuss the rebuilding of New Orleans’ hurricane-ravaged Lower 9th Ward.

According to reports, Pitt may also have met with Barack Obama to discuss the continuing efforts of his Make It Right foundation, which is building low cost, highly efficient housing for those left homeless since the 2005 disaster.

“I just want to say thank you to the Speaker for opening up the doors for us to come in and discuss the current rebuilding effort going on in New Orleans,” said Pitt at a press briefing, “and how we can expand this idea of affordability and sustainability because we think we have a model that works.”

Pelosi was clearly impressed with Pitt’s efforts: “[Pitt] is a real hero for the people of New Orleans, a real model for the country,” she said. “Not only are these homes wonderful homes for these families, not only are they built to a green standard, but they have a utility bill of under ten dollars a month.”

Clyburn, who chairs the Katrina-Rita Task Force, is also appreciative of Pitt’s foundation: “We’re all neighbors in this great country of ours, and I thank [Brad] so much for his help.”

It isn’t only politicians praising Pitt’s work. Singer and actor Harry Connick Jr., in a recent interview with OK! magazine, thinks Make It Right is invaluable. “I actually wrote [Brad] a letter to thank him for what he’s doing,” said Connick. “I don’t know if he even got it. But if I ever see him again, I’ll thank him again, because the benefit to the city is unimaginable.”

Matt Damon Visits Zimbabwean Refugee Camp, Urges Answer to Humanitarian Crisis

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Isra Shah

Matt Damon visited a Zimbabwean refugee camp in the South African border town of Musina on Tuesday.

The actor and board member of the human rights organization Not On Our Watch invited members of the Associated Press to join him on his trip as a part of a high profile effort to raise awareness about the region’s ongoing humanitarian crises.

Nearly three million people have fled Zimbabwe as a result of the seemingly endless series of catastrophes that have occurred in the country. Political upheaval, state-sponsored violence, and a chronic AIDS epidemic have long plagued Zimbabwe; now an outbreak of cholera and crippling inflation due to the economic crisis have made life nearly impossible for millions of its citizens. 

Making the illegal and dangerous journey across the border to South Africa does not mean the end of one’s hardships, however. While it is estimated that 6,000 people flee the country on a daily basis, many make a return trip within days with groceries and other necessities for their families; the United Nations World Food Programme estimates that nearly half the population, seven million people, are in need of food assistance. For those seeking permanent escape from their native land, the journey means paying exorbitant fees to guides, crossing the crocodile-infested Limpopo River and entering South Africa through holes in the fence that marks the border between the two nations. Aid agencies are reporting an increase in sexual violence against women and are raising concerns over the growing trend of unaccompanied children making the trek into South Africa.

At the crowded camp center that Damon visited in Musina, 5,000 of these refugees have camped out across a sandy strip of land. Some have managed to house themselves in makeshift plastic structures, while others simply sleep on cardboard pieces with their personal belongings scattered about them. The camp is equipped with only a dozen toilets and a few taps to provide running water. Calling the living conditions “untenable,” Damon added that observing camp life at the refugee center was a “testament of the situation across the border in Zimbabwe.”

After listening to a story of a woman who was raped at the home of a taxi driver who promised her a job and a boy who had obtained legal asylum in South Africa but had nowhere to go, Damon emphasized that “action has to be taken” by the world community.

“To know that there are these kids who should be in school, who deserve to be, who didn’t create any of this mess is shocking and sad,” he said.

To this end, Damon has pledged his support by using his “celebrity capital” to raise awareness about the situation in Zimbabwe. Not On Our Watch – the international advocacy group that Damon founded along with George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, David Pressman, and Jerry Weintraub – has a declared mission of “drawing upon the powerful voices of artists, activists, and cultural leaders” to protect the vulnerable, marginalized, and displaced.  "I feel it is morally incumbent, (that) if we who can get coverage, get coverage for something like this, than for the latest shampoo," Damon said. He hopes that his latest efforts will help put public pressure on state leaders to provide support for Zimbabwe to resolve its issues.

Get informed on the latest efforts of Damon’s organization, Not on Our Watch, and learn how to get involved at the official website).

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.”

Signed Movie Posters For Sale In Charity Auction

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A selection of movie posters signed by the original stars is up for sale on eBay to raise money for charity.

Each week, from now until February 27th, a new round of autographed movie posters will be unveiled and put up for bids, with ALL proceeds benefiting the American Cinematheque, an independent, non-profit cultural organization in Los Angeles dedicated exclusively to the public presentation of the Moving Image in all its forms.

To mark the release of the all new step-by-step movie making guide “Filmmaking for Dummies” and to celebrate the movies we know and love, Wiley Publishing will be auctioning off autographed movie posters ranging from hilarious comedies, classic dramas, and every movie in between. Fill your living room with posters signed by George Clooney, Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Tom Hanks, Reese Witherspoon, Brad Pitt, Heath Ledger, Penelope Cruz, Leonardo DiCaprio, the cast of Lord of the Rings and many more.

The auction can be accessed here.

Leonardo DiCaprio Makes Time For Charity

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Leonardo DiCaprio always has time for the environment, and now he can prove it with his new appointment as Ambassador for watchmaker TAG Heuer.

The 34-year-old actor has agreed to take over the role from Brad Pitt, and will wear a US$4,000 Carrera Day-Date watch in new print ads for the company this spring. Proceeds from the photoshoots will go to some of the major environmental causes DiCaprio supports, such as the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation – a non-prof he established to foster awareness of environmental issues through participation with organizations such as Natural Resources Defense Council, Global Green USA, the International Fund For Animal Welfare, and National Geographic Kids.

“It is a great day when a company as respected as TAG Heuer explores a different way to do business—selling products and giving back at the same time,“ he said. “I’m very excited to start this new partnership, and look forward to a long relationship with TAG Heuer… TAG and I will be making donations to some of the most influential and effective environmental organizations around. Each and every day, these organizations are doing important work to ensure our planet’s resources future generations. Hopefully, our donations will help expand their reach and raise their profile.”

DiCaprio has made several films to educate the public about environmental issues, including 11th Hour. He also serves as the Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pacific Palisades-based Reef Check Foundation. Last year he joined forces with Swiss watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre to confront global environmental issues and promote eco-friendly causes by creating the “Time to Care” program to benefit the Leonardo DiCaprio Fund at the California Community Foundation.

Not On Our Watch Donates To Oxfam

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Not On Our Watch has announced a $500,000 grant to international aid agency Oxfam America to support their humanitarian response in eastern Chad, for victims of the violence in the Chad-Darfur region.

Founded by actors Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, producer Jerry Weintraub, and human rights lawyer David Pressman, Not On Our Watch works to focus global attention and resources towards putting an end to mass atrocities around the world. This timely gift supports Oxfam’s lifesaving work on health, hunger and poverty initiatives as the dry season approaches.

“As the conflict in Chad and Darfur continues, victims of violence remain desperately in need of basic support systems. Now more than ever it is critical that the international community work towards putting an end to this crisis,” said Not On Our Watch co-founder Matt Damon.

The grant allows for Oxfam to serve over 200,000 vulnerable people at a time of desperate need. Plagued with continuing violence, a lack of basic services, and depleted food rations, refugees and displaced persons are becoming more vulnerable to hunger, disease and poverty every day.

The funding provided to Oxfam will support immediate action to avert future hunger and provide access to clean water for some of the region’s most vulnerable citizens—displaced families and their host communities. The programs include:

Providing clean water: Communities will have safe access to water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing. They will have access to sanitary facilities and learn safe hygiene practices.

Improving access to land and farming technique: Distributing tools, high yield seeds and fertilizers and improving people’s access to cultivable land, as well as new cultivation techniques to increase agricultural production.

Income generation: Implementing small income generation projects such as mills, rickshaws, handicrafts, and soap making.
Also, providing technical support for more efficient livestock rearing and organizing markets where farmers can sell their goods.

These actions will better equip communities to deal with upcoming challenges. With improved water, sanitation, agriculture and income, more resources will be available in times of need.

Oxfam continues to provide vital assistance to more than 500,000 people affected by the crisis, both in Darfur and eastern Chad. The agency provides essential access to clean water and sanitation, public health education, and livelihoods opportunities and training.

“Living on the brink of disaster, any additional factor could result in a sudden crisis for the people of Chad,” said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America. “The funding from Not On Our Watch helps Oxfam to plan for the future, and will help thousands of people to provide for themselves during lean times.”

The Hiltons Help Out For Christmas

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Paris Hilton’s mother, Kathy, held her annual Christmas auction to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Saturday, December 20.

The auction was broadcast live on the internet and featured over 200 items, such as a meet-and-greet with the Jonas Brothers, shoes and a necklace donated by Elizabeth Taylor, autographed guitars from Melissa Etheridge and Avril Lavigne, a tambourine signed by Brian Wilson and designer clothes taken from the closets of Paris and Nicky Hilton.

Kathy Hilton held her first celebrity auction last year, and raised over $27,000 with items such as Mel Gibson’s jeans, Tom Cruise’s sunglasses, and an Ocean’s Thirteen script signed by the movie’s stars, including George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

The auction isn’t the only good thing Paris and Nicky are doing this Holiday Season. Last week they were spotted distributing toys to disadvantaged children at the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles.

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