Look To The Stars News: Sarah Jessica Parker

Pete Wentz Named UNICEF Tap Project Ambassador

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:00:00 -0000

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF today announced that musician/entrepreneur and social philanthropist, Pete Wentz will be the national spokesperson for the 2010 UNICEF Tap Project.

Now in its fourth year, the UNICEF Tap Project is a grassroots initiative that will take place during World Water Week 2010 (March 21-27) and invites individuals to donate $1 or more for tap water at participating restaurants to provide clean water to children around the world.

Best known as the bassist for the immensely popular rock band, Fall Out Boy, Wentz has been regularly active—both at home and abroad—in supporting social causes which impact the well-being of children.

“It’s truly an honor to be the national spokesperson for the Tap Project and support efforts to provide clean water to children in the developing world,” said Wentz. “Water is something that we as Americans often take for granted but the reality is, the lack of clean and accessible drinking water kills 4,100 children under the age of five every day and as a new father I have become highly attuned to the needs of children everywhere. Unfortunately, it’s usually when emergencies like Haiti occur, that the importance of clean water really becomes apparent to the rest of us.”

In its four years of existence, the UNICEF Tap Project has become a uniquely hip, award-winning national campaign which has attracted a wide swath of volunteers and celebrity supporters. With a dynamic presence in social media and vibrant advertising creative as a mainstay, the Tap Project has been particularly popular among the college-aged demographic and the young urban professional set.

As national spokesperson for the UNICEF Tap Project, Wentz will be the face and voice of the campaign offering the Tap Project to individuals and restaurants across the nation as a simple and effective way to make a difference in a child’s life. Wentz will not only lend his name and likeness to support the initiative, but will also be available for national media opportunities which allow him to raise awareness of the global water crisis and its impact on children.

Since its inception in 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has raised nearly $1.5 million in the U.S. and has helped to provide clean water to millions of children around the world. Countries slated to receive 2010 funding include: Central African Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Togo and Vietnam.

In 2009 alone, more than 1,500 restaurants from 40 states and more than 3100 volunteers participated in the national campaign, making it the largest volunteer mobilization effort for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Giorgio Armani's men’s fragrance, ACQUA DI GIO FOR MEN, is the 2010 National Supporter of the UNICEF Tap Project.

“Whether it’s supporting the psychosocial needs of children affected by conflict in Uganda, or helping organize American youth to lobby Congress on social justice issues, Pete has been a true and dedicated friend to the world’s children,” said Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “We feel strongly that Pete is the right fit for Tap and we’re thrilled he has agreed to join us in our larger mission to reduce the number of preventable childhood deaths from 24,000 daily to zero.”

This year’s initiative will rely heavily on volunteers expanding their efforts beyond restaurant recruitment to include other grassroots activities like community water walks, dinner parties, fundraisers, concerts and more.

Previous national spokespeople for the Tap Project have included, UNICEF ambassadors: Sarah Jessica Parker (2007), Lucy Liu (2008) and Joel and Benji Madden (2009).

Nearly 900 million people do not have access to clean water and nearly half of those people are children. Young children are the first to get sick and die from waterborne and sanitation-related illnesses including diarrheal diseases and malaria.

UNICEF works in more than 100 countries around the world to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices. Over the past 15 years, more than a billion people gained access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities thanks to UNICEF’s efforts. Every day, 24,000 children die of preventable causes, and UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes to make that number zero. With $1, UNICEF can provide one child access to safe, clean water for 40 days.

For more information or to register as a volunteer, visit www.tapproject.org

Sarah Jessica Parker Stays Away From Sex And The City For Charity

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sarah Jessica Parker is going to stay home for charity – she’s auctioned off her own tickets for the world premiere of Sex And The City 2 at an event to raise money for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual rights.

The actress attended the Human Rights Campaign's 9th annual Speak The Truth gala at NYC’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on February 6, and was one of a handful of stars to donate items to a massive fundraising auction. Among the other items were a dinner date with Ugly Betty star Michael Urie and lunch and shopping with Project Runway’s Tim Gunn.

Sarah’s tickets went under the hammer for $11,000, and the event honored Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth.

Sarah Jessica Parker Blogs For UNICEF

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:30:00 -0000

As reported by Look To The Stars earlier this week, UNICEF counted down the last 12 days of 2008 by posting blogs written by their celebrity ambassadors and supporters about the impact that UNICEF Inspired Gifts are having on children around the world. The very last blog was penned by Sarah Jessica Parker, who has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the organization since 1998.

“The holiday presents I love the most are the ones that mean something special,” she wrote. "And I don’t mean just the gifts I receive, but also the ones I give.

“UNICEF Inspired Gifts are the perfect example of meaningful holiday presents your loved ones will always remember. That’s because the gift you are really giving is the chance for a struggling child to survive.

“Give a UNICEF Inspired Gift of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, high-energy/protein biscuits, or UNICEF School-in-a-Box kits.”

Parker witnessed the benefits that UNICEF Inspired Gifts have on children when she visited Liberia with the organization in 2006.

“The gifts will go directly to children where these vital supplies are needed, and your friend or family member will receive a beautiful acknowledgment that the gift was made in their name.

“It’s a small price to pay, with a big return… to share with those you love the joy and satisfaction of having saved children’s lives.

“If you’ve ever considered supporting UNICEF’s work, this is an inspiring way to help those who need it most.”

The full blog can be read here.

Stars Take Water Campaign South

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:35:13 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A UNICEF campaign launched by Sarah Jessica Parker and Marcus Samuelsson in New York last year has hit the shores of the remote South Pacific.

The Tap Project, established to help UNICEF provide safe drinking water to children around the world, has just been launched in New Zealand – the only country outside North America to take part so far.

UNICEF NZ is inviting restaurants around the country to join the campaign by asking diners to donate a minimum of $1 for the tap water they normally enjoy for free. The initiative will run for 1 week from April 5-11, and a full list of the restaurants can be found at www.tapproject.org.nz.

“We’re very excited and honored to be leading this NZ initiative,” said Dennis McKinlay, Executive Director of UNICEF NZ. “Just $1 can provide a child with safe drinking water for 30 days. Over 1 billion people around the world still do not have access to safe water & sanitation. Every day, 5,000 children die of water-related diseases such as cholera, typhoid and malaria. Clean drinking water means more than protection against disease. It can mean a 50% increase in productivity for a village and, freed from the daily task of collecting water from distant sources, more children are able to attend school.”

Over $100,000 was raised by the campaign in America last year.

Charity Gift Ideas For Christmas

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:02:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about giving, and there is certainly a huge selection of celebrity designed and inspired merchandise on offer this season. A gift that benefits others may be the best gift of all.

Heading up the list of products being released in time for Christmas is a series of bracelets designed by Julia Roberts for fashion giant Emporio Armani. The bohemian style leather bracelets feature an etching of the tree of life, with the words “Revolution, Evolution, Devotion” – to signify the (RED) campaign – weaved in and out of the branches.

(RED) is a global initiative founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver to engage the private sector in the fight against AIDS in Africa. They do this by channeling funds from the sale of (RED) products directly into the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Giorgio Armani was a launch partner in the initiative, and has designed a line of clothing, accessories, eye wear, watches, fragrances, and jewellery to benefit the campaign.

40% of the proceeds from the Julia Roberts designed bracelets will go directly to (RED), and the bracelets will be available in both a men’s ($195) and a women’s design ($175) from www.emporioarmani.com on December 1, World AIDS Day.

“Julia has helped to create a beautiful accessory for both women and men,” said Armani. “These will also be a visible reminder of the part that we can all play in fighting AIDS in Africa.”

Also benefiting the (RED) campaign this Christmas is a new festive single by Grammy nominees The Killers. The multi-platinum selling group is set to release their second Christmas single, “Don’t Shoot Me Santa”, at the end of November, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Global Fund.

The single is a follow-up to last year’s popular release, “A Great Big Sled”, and will be released to radio stations on November 26, with digital downloads available on November 27. The video will debut as part of (RED)’s World AIDS Day celebrations on December 1.

More gift ideas to benefit sufferers of AIDS can be found in the 7th On Sale auction being held on eBay. Over $9 million worth of goods are up for sale in the auction, which runs until December 6, including the dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker to Ralph Lauren’s 40th Anniversary fashion show earlier this year.

Over 30,000 individual items are available in the auction, being organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), with proceeds going to charities that provide care, services, and housing to those who suffer from HIV/AIDS. And in addition to money raised directly by the auction, the M·A·C AIDS Fund will match every dollar raised online up to $500,000.

The 7th On Sale began in 1990 as a partnership between the CFDA and Vogue magazine. This is the fifth time the auction has been run, and in the past the events have raised over $12 million for charities such as the American Foundation for AIDS Research, the AIDS Community Initiative of America, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Greenhope Services for Women, the Harlem United Community AIDS Center, and the HIV Law Project.

Other celebrities to donate clothing and items to the auction include Fergie, Oprah, and Demi Moore. More information can be found at www.7thonsale.ebay.com.

And if you still can’t find the perfect gift, why not visit actor Colin Firth's new eco-friendly store in London?

Called “Eco”, the shop is set to open on December 1 in Chiswick, West London, and will follow the two eco-cafés Firth has already established in Notting Hill and Covent Garden. Described as an “ecological destination store”, the shop will stock a selection of fair-trade and ethical goods, as well as offering customers the services of environmental experts who can assist in “greening” their homes.

“I’m no eco hero,” said the star of Bridget Jones Diary and Pride And Prejudice. “I’m doing the shop because I think it’s a good idea. When you think about global warming, over-consumption, our energy wastage, it makes you want to improve the negative effects of your complicity in it. The thing is, if you have been given the privileges we have, if you have this many perks, surely you can help out. Rather than be a luvvie with a lofty opinion preaching to people, I prefer to do things, to get involved, put my money where my mouth is and learn something along the way.”

Happy shopping!

Hill, McGraw and More Become Cartier LOVECHARITY Ambassadors

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:29:26 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Djimon Hounsou, and Eva Mendes are among the list of 2007 Cartier LOVECHARITY Bracelet Ambassadors.

The Cartier LOVE bracelet was introduced more than 30 years ago, and has risen to be one of the most coveted jewelry designs in the world. In 2006 alone, more than $1.2 million was donated to eight global charities from the sales of its LOVECHARITY bracelet, spurring the company to create a new LOVECHARITY bracelet for 2007. The goal is to exceed last year’s donations as a number of new celebrities join the endeavor.

The 2007 LOVECHARITY bracelet features an 18K white gold miniature LOVE bracelet graced with the word LOVE and accented with two signature screw motifs. It is set into a knotted silk cord available in various colors, with each cord designating support of a unique cause. The bracelet costs $475 with $100 per bracelet benefiting its corresponding charity.

The complete list of the 2007 Ambassadors and their corresponding charities includes:

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have a chocolate brown bracelet for the Neighbor's Keeper Foundation
Djimon Hounsou has a deep copper bracelet for SOS Children's Villages
Eva Mendes has a navy bracelet for The Art of Elysium
Julianne Moore has a lavender bracelet for the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
Rihanna has a sea foam green bracelet for Believe
Usher has a gold bracelet for the New Look Foundation
Rachel Weisz has a lilac bracelet for The Constant Gardener Trust
Elie Wiesel has a yellow bracelet for The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

The 2006 LOVECHARITY Bracelets will also be available through the year, supporting YouthAIDS (Rosario Dawson) ; the Salma Hayek Foundation (Salma Hayek) ; USA Harvest (Scarlett Johansson) ; Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & Television Graduate Division / Tisch School of the Arts/NYC (Spike Lee) ; Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (Edward Norton) ; UNICEF (Sarah Jessica Parker) ; The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (Liv Tyler) ; and Mercy Corps Gulf Coast Recovery Fund (Michael Stipe).

Cartier’s second annual LOVE DAY is scheduled for June 8, and on this day 10% of all sales from the complete LOVE collection will benefit partnered organizations.

Sarah Jessica Parker Plugs UNICEF’s Annual Trick-or-Treat Fundraiser

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:06:38 -0000

Written by Robert Powers

Just days before Halloween, Sarah Jessica Parker appeared on ABC News speaking to Diane Sawyer in support of UNICEF’s trick-or-treat campaign.

The actress spoke of early experiences going door to door on Halloween carrying her own orange-colored cardboard box, soliciting donations in addition to asking for candy: “I am not making this up. My oldest memory is trick-or-treating with UNICEF.”

The renowned UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) trick-or-treat campaign can trace its roots to 1950 when a group of trick-or-treating children in Philadelphia collected $17 to go towards aiding victims of post-World War II Europe. It has since come to raise a total of $132 million in the United States and $80.5 million in Canada.

“What UNICEF does,” Parker said, “is it goes to the children that are most in peril, countries with man-made and nature-made crises, and changes lives.”

And now that Parker has a child of her own – a four-year old named James – she looks forward to passing on what she calls an “American tradition of volunteerism, responsibility [and] commitment to others.”

“I’m so happy to walk around with these UNICEF boxes and with my son and try to go monitor his candy.”

Look To The Stars News: Sarah Jessica Parker

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