Look To The Stars News: Britney Spears

Charity Reigns Backstage At Teenage Choice Awards

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The Teenage Choice Awards held in LA over the weekend were not just a chance for some of today’s hottest stars to show their stuff on stage – backstage there was more fun, all in the name of charity.

Celebrities such as Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, George Lopez, Kat Von D, Lil Mama, Brenda Song, Keke Palmer, Dane Cook, Shawn Johnson, Jennifer Stone, and Taboo, will.i.am and apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas all stopped by to sign backpacks which are to be donated to City of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution that is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, guided by a compassionate patient-centered philosophy, and supported by a national foundation of humanitarian philanthropy.

Stars also played a celebrity version of Bop It – the game that tests a player’s mental and physical skill by having the player follow verbal directions given by the game at faster and faster pace. Celebrities lined up for the challenge, with the winner – Shailene Woodley from ABC’s The Secret Life of an American Teenager – picking up the top prize of $10,000 for the charity of her choice.

Will Ferrell And Jordin Sparks Join Up For Charity Tennis

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

The United States Tennis Association has announced that Will Ferrell and multi-award winner and platinum-selling artist Jordin Sparks will team with former US Open champion Andy Roddick and additional superstar players for the 14th annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.

The popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and families – including interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis clinics – will be hosted by television personalities Susie Castillo and Quddus. The festivities are set for Saturday, August 29 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. The tennis and music festival kicks off the 2009 US Open, which runs from August 31 – September 13.

From 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. kids and families can experience an exciting schedule of interactive tennis games, music and attractions taking place throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Returning to Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day this year is SmashZone, a fan fest located in the National Tennis Center’s new indoor facility, which will run from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Then from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., a live tennis and music stadium show will feature fun exhibition matches and skills competitions with Roddick, Ferrell and other top players and celebrities with musical performances by Sparks, Honor Society and Justin Bieber.

For the stadium show, tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster (1-866-OPEN-TIX), usopen.org and at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office. General admission promenade tickets cost $10 and loge tickets are $20. Kids 12-and-under with stadium show tickets will receive a free Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day hat from the USTA and Hess on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event of inclement weather, ticket holders can log on to usopen.org for the most up to date information.

“Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess is a terrific way to kick off the US Open each year,” said Pierce O’Neil, Chief Business Officer, USTA. “This year’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will again bring together some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment for a fun filled day for all ages. Additionally, this year’s event will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the National Junior Tennis and Learning network, a program that Arthur Ashe co-founded in an effort to bring the sport of tennis to economically diverse audiences throughout the country.”

Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has featured many of music’s biggest acts including the Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Ne-Yo, Cheyenne, The Cheetah Girls, Mario, Sean Kingston, Jesse McCartney, Bow Wow and Kat DeLuna.

Ashton Kutcher Challenges CNN For Malaria Nets

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Earlier this month, Ashton Kutcher used Twitter to encourage his fans to support World Malaria Day on April 25. Now he has challenged CNN to a popularity race to get 1 million followers on the micro-blogging site. And he’ll make a charity donation if he wins.

“I found it astonishing that one person can actually have as big of a voice online as what an entire media company can on Twitter,” Kutcher says in a video. “So I just thought that was just kind of an amazing comment on the state of our media, and I said that, if I beat CNN to 1 million viewers, then I would ding-dong ditch [”Ted Turner":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1300-ted-turner] — because I don’t think it’s gonna happen."

If Kutcher wins the challenge, he has agreed to donate 10,000 mosquito nets to Malaria No More, a charity he encourages his fans to support.

“Malaria No More is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa,” he said. “Malaria No More uses breakthrough communications, global advocacy and smart investments to advance the goals of providing universal access to malaria interventions by the end of 2010 and ending deaths by 2015. Every 30 seconds – the time it takes to send and receive a Tweet – a child dies from malaria, but a simple mosquito net can save lives.”

As of Wednesday, Kutcher had 896,947 followers, putting him in third place behind Britney Spears and CNN. No Twitter user has attracted 1 million followers before.

Bid On Michael Jackson Tickets In Charity Auction

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tickets to three great concerts in England are up for grabs at Buy Once Give Twice, the premiere charity auction site in the UK.

This could be your one and only chance to see the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, when he rocks the O2 Arena on September 23. You and 14 of your friends have the chance to share a private box at the concert by bidding on the auction, with proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a charity that raises money to drive world-class research to prevent, treat and cure type 1 diabetes and its serious and debilitating complications. For 30 years the charity has been fundamentally involved in the delivery of advances in this field; seeking out, assessing and monitoring the best science to drive the breakthroughs that improve management of type 1 diabetes and will ultimately cure the condition.

The auction runs until May 7 and can be accessed here.

If you are more interested in seeing the Princess of Pop, then you can also bid on tickets to see Britney Spears when she plays London’s O2 on June 4. Proceeds from this auction will go to the Charities Trust, an organization that helps charities in the UK raise money. The auction – which runs until April 15 – can be accessed here.

Also up for auction are tickets to see Pink live in concert at the NIA in Birmingham. The concert will take place on October 30, and the auction can be accessed here before April 16.

Britney Brings On The Clowns With Hospital Visit

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Princess of Pop, Britney Spears, made a surprise visit to a children’s hospital in Miami on Saturday to donate to a special initiative.

The singer made a 30-minute visit to 40 sick children at the Miami Children’s Hospital to donate $100,000 to the hospital’s Big Apple Circus Clown Care, a program that brings medically-trained clowns to hospitalized children in at 19 leading pediatric facilities across the United States.

The visit was organized by Pediatric radiologist Ricardo Restrepo and Lee Schrager, Director of Media for Southern Wine and Spirits America, who thought her Circus-themed tour tied in nicely with the Clown Care program.

The Big Apple Circus Care program was established in 1986, and currently engages 97 committed and talented professional artists who conduct clown rounds one to five days a week, year-round, making nearly 250,000 visits to young patients every year. All clown performers are trained in specific hygienic practices and protocols and in special issues related to interacting with hospitalized children. They visit children in both inpatient and outpatient units, including intensive care, emergency room, physical therapy, bone marrow transplant, pediatric AIDS, and hematology/oncology.

More information about the program can be found here.

Celebrities Sign iPods For Charity Auction

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Tonic.com has announced the launch of a new charity auction series. Leading celebrities from the worlds of music, film, television, and fashion have contributed an autographed iPod loaded with their personal playlist to be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 to replace lost or destroyed instruments of musicians in the Gulf Coast Region after the hurricane disasters.

Over seventy celebrities will participate in the auction series including U2’s The Edge, former President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Beyoncé Knowles, Cher, Donna Karan, Warren Buffett, Christy Turlington, Britney Spears, Michael Stipe, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Stevie Nicks, Michael Buble, Ben Affleck, Ellen DeGeneres, Estelle, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson, Peter Wentz, Randy Jackson, will.i.am, Kevin Bacon, Gisele Bundchen, Marc Jacobs, Ed Burns, Samantha Ronson, Nick Lachey, Petra Nemcova, Mandy Moore and many others.

Each celebrity was given a new iPod which they each autographed and Tonic pre-loaded with a playlist of ten to twenty of the celebrities’ favorite songs. Beginning February 12 between one and five separate iPod auctions will simultaneously launch every week on eBay; playlists will be revealed to the public on both tonic.com and eBay when auctions are launched.

“Music Rising is honored to be the charitable beneficiary of Tonic’s innovative iPod auction series,” said Bob Ezrin, Co-founder of Music Rising. “My visits to New Orleans gave me a firsthand look at the devastation which tragically destroyed the lives of thousands. Every person who wins an iPod bid will directly be helping ensure that one of the Gulf Coast’s greatest assets, its music, will rise again.”

“Everyone who has ever wondered what songs their favorite celebrities listen to in their home or on the road won’t have to wonder much longer,” said Pankaj Shah, CEO and Founder of Tonic. “We’ve compiled pre-loaded, autographed iPods from countless iconic celebrities to share with the public. By bidding on an autographed iPod, you’ll be helping to aid in the continued rebirth of the Gulf Coast Region. The Celebrity iPod Auction Series is Tonic’s first major campaign of 2009 to offer consumers an opportunity to create social good and we’re thrilled to rally people behind a great cause.”

Bid2Beat AIDS For Special Christmas Gifts

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

One of the biggest celebrity charity auction events of the year is currently gearing up for its launch on December 1.

Bid2Beat AIDS is an annual event that will feature over 1000 items from top stars such as 50 Cent, Adam Sandler, Adrian Grenier, Aerosmith, Alec Baldwin, Amy Winehouse, Antonio Banderas, Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Common , Death Cab for Cutie, Denzel Washington, P. Diddy, Donny Osmond, Elton John, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Good Charlotte, Green Day, Hanson, Hilary Duff, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Blunt, James Earl Jones, James Morrison, Jamie Foxx, Jay-Z , Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jeremy Piven, Jessica Alba, John Legend, Johnny Depp, Kanye West, Kirsten Dunst, Ludacris , M.I.A., Madonna, Mariah Carey, Neil Patrick Harris, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Collins, Raven Symone, Razorlight, Rihanna , Sacha Baron Cohen, Sharon Osbourne, Victoria Beckham, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Ferrell, Wyclef Jean, and many, many more. Also up for grabs will be VIP tickets to concerts and backstage visits with stars like Bernadette Peters, Jewel, Aimee Mann, Joan Rivers, and Michael Feinstein.

The annual auction will raise money for LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS fundraising and service charity. The first three BID 2 BEAT AIDS auctions raised nearly $250,000, and this year’s looks set to be the biggest yet.

More info about the auction can be found at the Bid2Beat AIDS website, and the auction will go live on World AIDS Day here.

Look To The Stars will keep you posted as the items are announced.

American Idol Gives Back $67 Million

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

David Beckham, Bono, Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood have all accepted cheques from April’s Idol Gives Back event on behalf of the charities they support.

The show raised over US$67 million for charities such as the Global Fund, Malaria No More, the Children’s Health Fund, Save the Children, and the Children’s Defense Fund.

“I saw first hand with my visit to Sierra Leone with [”UNICEF":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/1-unicef] last year how devastating malaria can be to a country," said Beckham, who was presented with US$12 million by Idol winner David Cook on behalf of Malaria No More. “This money will help buy millions of bed nets and also protect many people, particularly the young children who are most vulnerable.”

Annie Lennox was also delighted to receive $500,000 for the Treatment Action Campaign.

“This is just to express my gratitude to everyone on Idol Gives Back, for putting together a show with a difference, and for inviting me to be part of it,” she said in a statement. “Because of this event, and the generosity of the viewers, who donated so kindly, I have been able to hand over a cheque for the amazing sum of $500,000 to Treatment Action Campaign, in South Africa. I can assure everyone that every single dollar contributed will go to excellent use, in the work to educate, assist and support people living on the frontline of the HIV/Aids pandemic, many of whom are women and children. Thank you so much.”

Bono received US$10 million on behalf of the Global Fund For AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“The Global Fund will keep thousands of people safe from HIV/AIDS because American Idol has donated $10 million,” said the U2 frontman. “That’s YOU people, who sent in your hard earned cash.”

The Idol Gives Back show featured appearances and performances by Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Miley Ray Cyrus, Annie Lennox, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Sheila E., Fergie, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Peyton and Eli Manning, and Reese Witherspoon, and pre-taped messages from David and Victoria Beckham, Kiefer Sutherland, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. Britney Spears, who couldn’t be at the event, donate $25,000 to the cause.

Alicia Keys Celebrity Charity Auction To Support Keep A Child Alive

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:25:00 -0000

Alicia Keys and many of her celebrity friends are coming together for a star-studded celebrity charity auction benefitting Keep A Child Alive.

The list of celebrity ambassadors for Keep a Child Alive is as extensive as it is impressive and they are urging others to support the fight against AIDS in Africa. Join Alicia and celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Bill Cosby, Britney Spears, Russell Crowe, Rachael Ray, Kirsten Dunst, Magic Johnson, Forest Whitaker, Jenny McCarthy, Josh Brolin, Denzel Washington, the NY Giants and many more as they come together to raise support and money for an inspiring cause.

The celebrity-inspired auction features numerous items that have been generously donated by some of Hollywood’s most talented and brightest stars with big hearts. Bidders have a chance to win hot items such as VIP tickets to the Black Ball hosted by Alicia Keys and Iman.

This auction package ends Monday, November 10th, so make sure to get your high bid in early. Other auction packages include autographed American Gangster posters and scripts from Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, signed High School Musical poster from Vanessa Hudgens, 2 signed DVD’s of the Nanny Diaries from Scarlett Johansson, a signed Alex Rodriguez jersey, spending a day with Bonnie and Thor, the reigning King and Queen of Tweens, signed Brooks & Dunn jean jacket and photograph, a signed “How I Met Your Mother” script from Britney Spears, and many more items from celebrities such as Marlon Wayans, Mariska Hargitay, Rick Fox, Tyler Perry, Channing Tatum, the Cheetah Girls, Ryan Seacrest, Dwayne Wade, Julian McMahon and others! This group of auction packages and many others end on November 15th.

This auction is crucial for saving the lives of millions of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. AIDS is a growing epidemic in Africa and has left nearly 13 million children orphans, young mothers without children, and husband’s without wives. The proceeds from this auction will help provide communities with life-saving medication, support, and orphan care to keep children and families alive. Keep a Child Alive is a global initiative to help those who cannot help themselves; bidders are urged to take a stand against this fatal disease and help make a difference.

For more information and to view all the lots, visit www.auctionwire.com/keepachildalive.

Get Ready For The Carousel Of Hope This Weekend

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The annual Carousel of Hope Gala will take place this weekend to raise money for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.

Presented by Jay Leno, the gala will take place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, October 25, and will honor Denzel Washington for his charity work.

This year celebrates 30 years of helping children with diabetes through the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. Held every two years, this is the 18th Carousel of Hope. From its inception in 1978, the Ball has raised over $70 million.

The gala will feature performances from Josh Groban, the Jonas Brothers, Katharine McPhee and many more under the music direction of David Foster. The guest list is expected to be huge, with stars such as Tom Arnold, Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas, Halle Berry, Valerie Bertinelli, Lara Flynn Boyle, Bo Derek, Geena Davis, Daisy Fuentes, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammar, Tom Hanks, Taraji P. Henson, Anjelica Huston, Magic Johnson, Dr. Phil McGraw, Holly Robinson-Peete & Rodney Peete, Nicole Richie, Jane Seymour, Nicollette Sheridan, Forest Whitaker and James Woods all expected to attend. Clive Davis, Quincy Jones and Sidney Poitier will take part in Denzel Washington’s presentation.

The evening will feature a silent auction that includes an array of eco-friendly shirts donated by Guess and signed by Jason Bateman, Halle Berry, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Will Ferrell, Harrison Ford, Cuba Gooding Jr., Whitney Houston, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Lee, Jared Leto, Bill Maher, Steve Martin, Jack Nicholson, Ray Romano, Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rod Stewart, Usher and many more. There will also be handbags signed by Joan Collins, Courteney Cox, Cindy Crawford, Dakota Fanning, Mariska Hargitay, Fergie, Susan Sarandon, Britney Spears and Racquel Welch, as well as items from Trace Adkins, P. Diddy, Marcia Cross, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Andie MacDowell, Alyssa Milano, Eva Longoria, Dolly Parton, Priscilla Presley, Denise Richards, Joel Madden, Sharon Stone, John Travolta, Carrie Underwood and many more.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit clinical care and research at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes (BDC) where over 5,000 children and young adults receive specialized care.

Britney Spears Donates To School Music Program

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Britney Spears has donated $10,000 to a school in the Bronx.

The singer paid an surprise visit to John Philip Sousa Junior High School in New York on Wednesday to hand over a cheque from Elizabeth Arden, the cosmetics company behind her perfume range.

The money will be used to support the school’s music program, and Spears was treated to a special performance by the Sousatones, the school’s eight-piece band.

“I really enjoyed the time I spent at the John Philip Sousa Middle School,” said Spears. “I’ve been working with the people at Elizabeth Arden for the last five years, and I know how passionate everyone is about the school. I loved hearing the school orchestra and the children sang so beautifully. The fact that Elizabeth Arden made such a large donation for the school music studio in my name was so generous.”

Britney Spears Donates Portrait To Charity Auction

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Britney Spears has signed a provocative portrait of herself for a new eBay charity auction.

The painting – titled Mixed Media Painting of Britney Spears – was created by Californian artist Daniel Maltzman, and was donated to the Promises Foundation, an organization that provides behavioral health services to low-income women and their children.

“The Spears family gave us this painting out of their generosity,” said Foundation director Lisa Rogg. “It was their idea for the auction.”

The painting – which has a starting bid of $10,000 – comes with a letter of authenticity from Britney’s father that reads: “I hereby verify that the portrait of my daughter, Britney, has been in our home since it was completed by the Daniel Maltman Studio.”

The Promises Foundation is committed to restoring hope for families by creating a safe environment for mothers and their children to grow and develop the tools they require to live meaningful and self-sufficient lives.

The auction runs until September 20 and can be accessed through a link on the Promises Foundation website.

Jenny McCarthy And Jim Carrey Host Autism Fundraiser

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey hosted a celebrity-studded fundraiser for autism research on Saturday night.

The gala raised money for Generation Rescue – an autism support charity established in 2005 of which McCarthy is a board member – and featured a large number of high-profile guests, including Britney Spears, Charlie Sheen, and Rose McGowan.

McCarthy is well known for her work supporting autism research, a cause she became involved with after her son was diagnosed with the condition. As well as supporting a number of organizations dedicated to children with autism, such as the TACA and the HEAL! Foundation, the model-turned-actress also wrote a book called Louder Than Words documenting her struggles to cope with a son who suffers from autism.

Jenny McCarthy will also be appearing at Maria Shriver’s annual Women’s Conference in October.

Britney Hits The Charity Auctions One More Time

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

“Do you want a piece of me?” asked Britney Spears in one of her latest singles. Well, if you answered “Yes”, then now is your chance – the singer is offering up seven pieces of clothing in a new charity auction.

The items include a Mickey Mouse Club T-shirt signed by Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Keri Russell, as well as the blue and white Santa dress she wore in a Pepsi Christmas commercial in 2000; the orange coat and pants she wore to the Billboard Music Awards; costumes from her “Drive Me Crazy” and “Oops, I Did it Again” tours; and a pair of jeans that Marilyn Monroe wore in the film River of No Return – a gift Spears received from Tommy Hilfiger.

Proceeds from the auction, which was provided by Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group on behalf of the singer, will go to a charity of Tri Star’s choosing. The sale is part of online auctioneer “Gotta Have It’s” upcoming Rock & Roll Pop Art Auction, which will run between July 21 and August 6 and feature items from Elvis Presley and Madonna.

The auction can be accessed via Gotta Have It’s website.

Look To The Stars Asks Amy Sewell

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:38:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Amy Sewell is the creator/writer/producer of Paramount’s 2005 crowd-pleasing documentary, Mad Hot Ballroom_. Her directorial debut, "_What’s Your Point, Honey?":http://www.whatsyourpointhoney.com/front, puts a new face on political leadership by introducing seven possible female contenders coming down the pipeline, while revealing inequalities that still exist today. What’s Your Point, Honey? is now showing in theaters across the US in special ‘one-night only exclusive’ events.

Tell us a little bit about What’s Your Point, Honey?

One big premise of the movie is that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’. The idea started when my daughter told me I couldn’t ride a motorcycle because she’s never seen a woman on a motorcycle. And I thought what else is out there that they’re not seeing, that they would never even think possible because its just isn’t in front of them. The movie itself is really like a picture in the moment in time, it’s a mirror on society – about the next generation of women, where we are and where we’re going. It’ll make you laugh, kinda make you cry, it’s not hard hitting, it’s very much like ‘Mad Hot Ballroom’. If you want to get more out of it, it definitely runs deep, you can find all the metaphors that run throughout or you can just go along and look at the portraits of the seven possible future presidential candidates. So it’s light, I always say my style of film making is ‘doc-light.’

What’s idea behind ‘exclusive’ one-night-only screenings?

It’s being released in theaters in these one-night-only exclusive events, where you can also purchase a copy of the DVD, because there’s no reason for us to get involved with box office numbers and compete with ‘Indiana Jones’ or ‘Iron Man.’ We care about reach, and the best reach is to have people watch the DVD and start the conversation in their community.

Six years ago, with the support of the The White House Project, “Cosmo Girl!” launched “Project 2024” to get more young women involved in politics. How has this helped the cause?

When we had the seven young woman through the ‘White House Project’ and ‘Cosmo Girl’ they became more tangible, more achievable role models. Basically on our website we list what their strengths are, and I always think if we put all of them together we’d have an ideal president. But our message is, it’s not about one, each of them bring something to the table – the day we see just as many women on the debate podium is the day we get beyond gender to agenda.

At the recent ‘Women in Entertainment Production Panel’, you mentioned that after the attacks on 9/11, you started covering the kids angle – what third graders would do if they could rebuild the buildings. What, if anything, did you learn from these kids?

Basically, kids just think honestly. One kid wanted to rebuild the buildings out of rubber so the planes would bounce off it next time, and another kid said he wanted to rebuild it with holes in it so the planes could fly through. And at that moment, I realized it’s the best state to be in – a kind of kids state – because they rarely think about obstacles or barriers. They don’t have any filters. It was probably more of an influence than anything on making me think well – we really are prisoners to our own definitions or societies definitions. It’s exhausting to have those things around really, why can’t we just ignore them?

How do you feel about the TV/Media fueling inequalities? For example, ‘Americas Next Top Model’- are we creating the next generation of Paris Hilton’s, or are we empowering young woman?

I think we have to counter that and fight it. So by me putting seven awesome young women up on the big screen and saying these are role models, and not letting my kids read magazines where they make Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears role models, I hope I’m doing my part. But what I think we have to do is celebrate those who are good role models. I’m trying to emphasis the positive people who make positive choices.

Who would you most like young women to look up to or be inspired by?

Gosh, there are so many. I think there are ton of women athletes out there. I think you have to go to some of the different levels – go to the smaller games, not the ‘star’ games. I know they are out there, and I think we always have to be on the lookout to find them. My family and I go to a ton of college games or high school games and we look for the real life heroes. I think the more and more we get our kids into contributing to our society in a healthy way – whatever that means – then they won’t really care about the Britney’s. We [her family] love Angelina Jolie and Natalie Portman. Hanna Montana said she made a mistake and I still think she’s an OK role model, but she gave us an opportunity to talk about it. We love Raven. We love America Ferrera. Any of the younger kids have to be smart enough not to be persuaded to do crazy things by their managers. We also love Kate Hudson, especially when she and her mother speak out about women’s issues.

You mentioned female athletes? Where do sports fit into the equality issue?

The next generation – which we show in the film – includes sports and fathers. Sports teach us how to compete, fall, get up, not cry, and learn to not only lose – which is important – but win really well and triumphantly with no apologies. Fathers – while they may not care if their wives, mothers or sisters are being treated equally – it’s hell or come high water if their daughters are treated differently, and so regardless of the fathers actual involvement, their daughters will pick up that mentality and she’ll bring it into the business world, into the sports world, into the military and into politics.

Tell us a bit about your new book, “She’s Out There! The Next Generation of Presidential Candidates”?

It’s going to be released April 9. It’s about 35 women under the age of 35 who aspire to lead and possibly run for President. They write their own essays and I took a photographer around the country with me and we took pictures of these women doing what they do everyday. So the premise of the book is: you don’t know if she’s sitting next to you, you don’t know if it’s your neighbor down the block – the fact is that there are going to be a lot more women out there who want to run for office, it’s the beginning of the next generation of candidates.

Politics seem to be a sort of ‘men-club’, so I’m curious how receptive the ‘men in charge’ will be– and what effect, if any, have you noticed since Hillary decided to run for President? Are women going to be equal in the political arena?

I think that will happen naturally, it’s happening already. I think if you think about what is happening – there are 75% of women who fill the political positions of their fathers or husbands after they died, those are the women that are in there now. And I think it will be a long time before we see a group of women march forward running for office. We’ll have to see in 2012, I hope it would be sooner, but I actually don’t think that men have a choice about what’s happening now. For the last 40 years we’ve waited to become equal and I think that waiting is over, we’ve realized that they haven’t given it to us. So I think those days are over and that men need to join in because they will be facing female opponants and Hillary was just the beginning of showing us that we can hang with the big dogs.

What are some of the more important issues/problems with inequality?

We need three things. Equal pay. I’m willing to hang out at 77-cents to the white man’s dollar until our black sisters at 67-cents catch up – until our hispanic sisters at 57-cents catch up, and once we are all making 77-cents, we can all march to the block because I don’t want to leave them behind. Feminism is not a white women’s sport, it’s just we don’t have the double whammy of racism. The second thing is ownership of body – the fact and mentality that we are treated like property. If men got pregnant, no governement in the world would tell them what they could do with their bodies. The third thing is child care and elder care. It does fall primarily on women, and we are devalued because of it. If men had these responsibilites fall to them, corporations and government would help. Corporations would come up with perks to keep their men employed – their talent at the office – and the government would help out knowing they didn’t want to lose a valuable sector of the work force. I try to keep it simple on these three things, let’s get that acommplished and then move on.

You are also one of the founders/directors of the nonprofit organization Give It Up for the ARTS! Tell us about more about your involvement and the vision/work of the organization?

It’s to expose children who are at-risk or in a school which may be impoverished… to the arts. It’s dance, drama, music, fine arts, and usually we find a grass roots group, somebody out there working their butt off trying to bring something to a group of kids in at-risk neighborhoods. And that’s who I write a check to every year, and that’s who we look for.

Look to the Stars and Delinda thank Amy Sewell for speaking with us. For more information, please visit What’s Your Point, Honey.

Britney Sheds Threads To Save Planet

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:55:14 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Opps, she’s done it again! But this time Britney Spears is in the news for all the right reasons.

The 26-year-old pop star appeared on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother on Monday night, and followed the airing by auctioning off six items of clothing she wore on the set. Proceeds from the sale are set to go to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a New York City-based environmental advocacy group that regularly lobbies Congress for a public policy that promotes conservation of the environment.

“The general public has a fascination with celebrities and fashion,” said Michel Schneider, Executive Director of Clothes Off Our Back, a website that hosts charity auctions for celebrity attire. “It’s good that they are turning her performance into a positive occurrence.”

The auction, which includes a navy print Juicy Couture dress and a cream Nannette Lepore cardigan, can be accessed at www.seenon.com and closes on March 31.

Bid Now For Christmas Gifts

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:21:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The countdown to Christmas has begun, and celebrities are doing their best to make holiday shopping easy this year. Several charity auctions have already kicked off to raise money for good causes, including one that may be eBay’s largest sale of celebrity items… ever!

The BID 2 BEAT AIDS online auction will open on December 1, World AIDS Day, and will feature over 1000 specially signed items, ranging from posters to iPods. The annual auction will raise money for LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS fundraising and service charity, and in the past has raised up to $175,000.

The array of memorabilia up for sale this year is simply colossal, with perhaps the most interesting items being a series of “Lend a Hand to LIFEbeat” cards that feature the handprints of over 100 celebrities. Stars such as Britney Spears, Jack Black, and Kathy Griffin traced around the outlines of their hands and decorated their artworks for the auction, and the finished products will make a unique addition to any Christmas stocking.

Also included in the auction is a selection of signed musical instruments. Rapper 50 Cent has donated the tambourines he used during his performance at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, and Metallica and the Foo Fighters have both donated guitars. There are also over 200 official RIAA gold and platinum record awards up for sale, from artists such as Annie Lennox, Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Green Day. Rare tour crew jackets from Guns N Roses, Cher, George Michael, and Prince are also available.

There are a stack of autographed CDs and DVDs on offer in the auction, from Mariah Carey, Elton John, Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Maroon 5, Amy Winehouse, and Val Kilmer, as well as books signed by Madonna, Bill Clinton, Rosie O’Donnell, Martha Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Ethan Hawke. Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Elijah Wood, and Usher have all signed posters for the auction.

For those people after something a little different, the auction also includes an iPod designed by Yoko Ono, a box of cereal signed by Will Ferrell, Borat’s hat signed by Sacha Baron Cohen, and a Spiderman action figure autographed by Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.

And if nothing mentioned so far whets your appetite, there are also signed items from Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Nelly, Joan Collins, John Travolta, Kanye West, The Cure, Jay-Z, Cameron Diaz, Victoria Beckham, Robin Williams, Hilary Duff, Jason Alexander, Jack Nicholson, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adam Sandler, John Legend, Jessica Simpson, Whoopi Goldberg, Aerosmith, Denzel Washington, Good Charlotte, James Blunt, Jeremy Piven, Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Norah Jones, Razorlight, Wyclef Jean, and many more… far too many to list here.

More information and a full list of items can be found at www.bid2beataids.com.

As if this wasn’t enough choice for Christmas shoppers, there are also several other auctions and events on the go at the moment. The biggest of these is the 10th Annual Collaborating For A Cure Benefit Dinner and Auction, a massive black tie gala to be held on November 29. It also happens to be one of the highest grossing charity events held every year in New York, and last year raised over $4 million for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization that has provided over $55 million in grants to cancer research, and has been instrumental in the development of new cancer drugs.

The gala dinner and live auction will be held at the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue, New York City, and over 1200 guests are expected to attend. The host for the evening is Chevy Chase, and attendees will be treated to a very special performance by Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh, members of 70’s rock group, the Eagles.

Selected items up for auction on the night as well as online include dinner with Chevy Chase, the chance to play tennis with Andre Agassi, and a meet and greet with Aerosmith.

More information can be found at www.charitybuzz.com.

Also on the Charitybuzz website is an auction to raise funding for Stand Up For A Cure, an organization dedicated to lung cancer research and awareness.

The auction runs from November 28 until December 12, and features unique items such as the chance to have Andrea Bocelli perform in your own home, the opportunity to have Patti LaBelle host your cocktail party, and VIP tickets to see Céline Dion at Madison Square Gardens.

And if you still can’t find a suitable gift, have a look at the Have A Heart Auction on Charitybuzz. All proceeds from the auction, which features the chance to meet Avril Lavigne, a copy of “An Inconvenient Truth” signed by Al Gore, and a “Godfather II” DVD signed by Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, will benefit HEART, an organization that aims to foster compassion and respect for all living beings.

But you have to be in quick, as the auction ends on November 29.

Spears Goes Shopping

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 14:58:56 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Britney Spears treated four Katrina victims, teenage friends aged 13 to 17, to a spectacular day of shopping and dining.

The girls lost everything in the hurricane and Britney wanted to bring them some cheer. She started by taking them to New Orleans’ department store Em’s, where she bought them new wardrobes. After the shopping, Emeril Lagasse opened his famous restaurant, Emeril’s, just for them.

As one last remembrance of their fantastic day, Spears left the girls with fleur-de-lys pins representing rebirth.

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