Look To The Stars News: Brendan Fraser

Dick Van Dyke Steals The Show At Charity Gala

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

The stars came out to play at the annual Geffen’s Stage For Any Age gala earlier this week.

Helen Mirren, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson (who was honored with the Distinction in Theater Award), Martin Short, Dana Delany, Carol Burnett, Christine Lahti and Brendan Fraser were all in the crowd that helped raise over $500,000 for the charity, but it was 83-year-old Dick Van Dyke’s renditions of songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that stole the show.

The seventh annual Backstage at the Geffen Gala was held at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, and raised money for Geffen’s Stage for Any Age – a non-profit organization that seeks to make the cultural resources of the Geffen Playhouse available to all of Los Angeles’ diverse communities. Their programs for students, seniors, and underserved populations are designed to stimulate the intellect, imagination, and creative spirit. To increase access to the theater experience, activities are carried out on site as well as in neighborhoods, schools, social service agencies, and community centers throughout Los Angeles.

More information about the Stage For Any Age program can be found here.

Stars To Flock To Purple Inauguration Ball

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Inaugural Purple Ball will take place on the evening of Barack Obama’s inauguration and will feature a host of celebrities raising money for charity.

Patricia Arquette, Amy Brenneman, Ed Harris, Ashley Judd, Josh Lucas, Amy Madigan, Brad Silberling, Kate Walsh, Angela Bassett, John Cusack, Brendan Fraser, David Alan Grier, Herbie Hancock, Hill Harper, Clifton Powell, and Lisa Marie Presley have been confirmed to attend the Ball, which will feature live performances by Il Divo and Peter Cincotti.

A portion of the proceeds from The Inaugural Purple Ball will benefit the Eracism Foundation, a charity established in 2006 by Academy Award Winner Lou Gossett Jr that aims to better society by addressing the negative impacts of racism. The organization provides programs that foster cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education, and antiviolence initiatives in an effort to eradicate racism. The evening will also honor American troops stationed overseas.

Tickets to the event are $5,000 and are available at the Inaugural Purple Ball website.

Journey To The Center Of The Earth For Charity

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Journey To The Center Of The Earth is the new film from former Xena:Warrior Princess director Eric Brevig, and a special charity preview is to be held in Knoxville.

The preview will be held on June 24 at the Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Stadium 18, and will be attended by two of the film’s stars: Brendan Fraser and Josh Hutcherson. Proceeds from the event will go to the East Tennessee chapter of Variety – The Children’s Charity.

Tickets will be available only at the Pinnacle 18 for $50 each from 9am this Friday, June 6, and the evening includes catering by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.

More information about the film can be found at www.journeymovie.com.

The Hollywood Cookbook Launch Party

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 20:32:59 -0000

Written by Charles Harder

Stars and food converged at Kitchen Academy in Hollywood last night for a party launching The Hollywood Cookbook — a beautiful 271-page hardcover collection of sumptuous recipes, each accompanied by a large photo, from the personal kitchens of 20 celebrities and 6 world-class chefs. Five dollars from each purchase benefits 20 important charities dear to the hearts of the celebrity contributors.

The cookbook covers the spectrum of food and beverage, from appetizers, soups and salads, to main courses, desserts, and even cocktails. Michael J. Fox’s Barn Dance Chicken, and Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford’s Savory Fall Stew are just two of the 107 creative and simple dishes that can be duplicated in any kitchen regardless of culinary skill level. Chefs Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Joachim Splichal, Nick Stellino, Michael Cimarusti and Rocco DiSpirito also contributed recipes to the book.

At the event, the students of Kitchen Academy prepared and served 20 recipes featured in the cookbook, each one tastier than the last. This reporter’s favorite: Door Knob Sweet Potato Balls (an appetizer) from designer Paige Hemmis of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Yum!

Chef Jamie Gwen’s movie-star looks and talk-show host’s presence kept attendees laughing and entertained as the event’s emcee. The evening included a cooking demonstration by actor Greg Grunberg, and an informal awards ceremony. Eric Close of TV’s Without a Trace gave a heartfelt tribute to his charity, Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, which pairs abused children with rescued horses and adult leaders at 24 wilderness ranches around the U.S. and Canada, to help restore the heart, soul, mind and strength of the kids.

Written by screenwriter Jackie Zabel and actress Morgan Most, and published by Silverback Books, The Hollywood Cookbook is a perfect holiday gift (retails for $35, but presently is featured at Amazon.com for only $23). The event was co-sponsored by Maurice Le Croix Swiss Watches and The Kitchen Academy.

Celebrities & Charities: Thora Birch (Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation), Michael Chiklis (The Children’s Lifesaving Foundation), Eric Close (Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch), Mark Dacascos (Reel Angels), James Denton (Cure Autism Now), Michael J. Fox & Tracy Pollan (The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research), Afton Fraser & Brendan Fraser (P.S. ARTS), Greg Grunberg (Pediatric Epilepsy Project), Anne Hathaway (Lollipop Theater Network), Paige Hemmis (Habitat For Humanity), Ron Howard (Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America), Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford (Clothes Off Our Back), Esai Morales (TreePeople), Don Most (City of Hope), Bob Saget (Scleroderma Research Foundation), Marlo Thomas (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), Kerry Washington (Step Up), Treat Williams (Save the Children), Alicia Witt (The Art of Elysium), and Kelly Wolf & Scott Wolf (Camp Heartland).

Look To The Stars News: Brendan Fraser

Dick Van Dyke Steals The Show At Charity Gala

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