Look To The Stars News: Ricky Martin

Stars Sign Hardhats For Charity Auction

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles has launched an online auction at Clothes Off Our Back featuring hardhats signed by celebrity volunteers and supporters of Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity.

The hardhats are signed and decorated by music, television and film stars including: Green Day, Ricky Martin, Linkin Park, U2, Justin Timberlake, The Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Stevie Wonder and many more. The auction will run through March 6 with 100% of the proceeds helping to build more affordable homes in Greater Los Angeles.

“Through our non-profit organization, [”Music for Relief":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/551-music-for-relief], and our ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity we have had the opportunity to not only sponsor homes, but also to go and build the houses ourselves, and to meet the families that were moving into them," said Dave “Phoenix” Farrell of Linkin Park. “We hope this hardhat auction will raise awareness for Habitat’s mission and help raise funds for families in need.”

In 2007 Habitat for Humanity kicked off its “Building a Greater Los Angeles” campaign to build and renovate 250 more homes. In conjunction with the “Building a Greater Los Angeles” Gala held last fall, Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity held a successful online auction with VIP experiences and signed memorabilia donated by celebrity supporters, which raised over $75,000. Following the success of the first online auction, Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity began outreach to high profile supporters, as well as new supporters, who wanted to support Habitat’s mission which resulted in more than 70 signed hardhats. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver were among those who autographed hardhats to help kick off this auction.

“I have had the chance to personally give the keys to several families moving into homes sponsored by the Ricky Martin Foundation in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, an organization I’ve been involved with for many years. I’ve been fortunate enough to see with my own eyes the difference a home makes in the life of a child,” said Ricky Martin. “Now, by simply bidding on an item in an auction, you have the chance to change lives and build hope.”

“Los Angeles continues to rank last in housing affordability and this kind of support helps us raise awareness, as well as much needed funding, to help low income families live in safe, decent homes,” said Erin Rank, president/CEO Habitat for Humanity of Greater L.A. “These hardhats are very special as most were signed the day of an actual build and we are thrilled to receive these fun and generous donations.”

Other stars to sign the hard hats include: Chris Pine, David Archuleta, Enrique Iglesias, Gavin Rossdale, Kate Beckinsale, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, Josh Groban, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Neil Diamond, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Taylor Swift, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron. A complete list of celebrity supporters of this auction can be found at the auction site.

Giorgio Armani Donates To New York Schools

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Wendy Williams

Fashion designer Giorgio Armani donated $1 million to New York City public schools this week. The money will fund the Armani Arts Institute, supporting art education in the city’s disadvantaged neighborhoods.

The donation is a new initiative under the Fund for Public Schools, an organization that has raised more than $240 million since 2003. Armani’s gift is the single largest retail donation to the fund.

Armani announced the gift during the opening of his new flagship Armani/5th Avenue store, coinciding with New York City’s Fashion Week. Speaking in Italian, he described his donation as “an investment in the future generations of New York City. . . we are giving young kids a chance to dream.”

Caroline Kennedy, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Joel I. Klein, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, lauded Armani’s investment in the city during challenging economic times. The fashion designer said, “An entrepreneur shows his true colors in a period of crisis, not in a period when everybody is having success.” Kennedy, vice-chair of the Fund, commented that Armani’s gift was one of the “largest personal donations” to the fund.

Armani and Kennedy traveled to the Bronx visit one of the recipient schools.

Armani explained that because of the economic climate, he toned down the opening of his store, substituting the school donation in place of a fashion show or dinner. But his new 43,000-square-feet glass-cube emporium is hardly drab. Four stories of luxury Armani items, from shoes to chocolate, are connected by a curved staircase lined in white plastic.

Everybody in NYC at Store Opening

During the opening party, editors for top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Town& Country, InStyle Group and Elle jockeyed to get a word with the 74-year-old fashion billionaire. As described by Joanna Coles, editor of Marie Claire, “Clearly, everyone in New York is here.”

Customers of Mr. Armani also turned out for the event, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Liam Neeson, Josh Hartnett, Solange Knowles, Chase Crawford, John Mayer and Natalia Vodianova.

Victoria Beckham, a sometimes model for Armani underwear, was in town for NYC’s Fashion Week to introduce her Victoria Beckham Dress Collection. About her former boss she said, “I have so much respect for Mr. Armani—you know, I can dream.”

It's Business Time For The Flight Of The Conchords

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Grammy award-winning comedy duo Flight of the Conchords are part of a huge new auction being run to raise cash for charity.

The Conchords shot to fame in 2007 when their quirky television series debuted on HBO and immediately received ratings and critical acclaim. Originally from New Zealand, the duo uses a mix of music and comedy to make witty and deadpan observations on society. Their new series starts next month.

Now – as part of the annual Grammy Charities Auction – you have the chance to bid on an acoustic guitar, DVD and CD signed by “New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo.”

The auction is raising money for MusiCares – which works to help those in need in the music industry – and the Grammy Foundation, which works with industries, cultural communities and the public to raise awareness of music and arts education.

Also up for auction are guitars signed by the Jonas Brothers, Slash, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, and John Mayer. But if you don’t know one end of a guitar from another, don’t worry – there are plenty of other great items, such as signed posters from the Dixie Chicks and Robert Plant, clothes from Ricky Martin and Carrie Underwood, and the chance to have lunch with John Stamos or meet Donny and Marie Osmond.

But wait – there’s more!

Maybe you would be interested in handwritten lyrics from Annie Lennox, a sketch by Anthony Kiedis and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or a photo signed by Good Charlotte. There are also a stack of CDs and other items signed by Steven Tyler, Rascal Flatts, Richie Sambora, Avril Lavigne, and many others.

The auction is live right now on eBay and ends on December 11.

Shakira and Latin Singers Unite Against Child Poverty, Again

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:12:26 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The ‘Concert For The Children’ was staged last weekend, simultaneously in Mexico and Argentina, free to the over 300,000 expected viewers.

Packed with Latin stars including Shakira, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Chayanne, Diego Torres, Juanes, Maná and Miguel Bosé, the concerts’ goal was to raise funds that charity ALAS will use to help the millions of children living in poverty throughout Latin America, and where an estimated 350,000 children die from poverty every year.

“People are condemned to poverty because there are no exits or choices,” Shakira said. “And children who don’t receive an opportunity end up as adults being involved with things that they never imagined they would be doing in the first place, like drug trafficking or being recruited into criminal groups. Imagine what Latin America could achieve if we invest in developing the potential of these children.”

ALAS, founded in 2006, has been bringing artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs together to address the social emergency, and focuses on improving nutrition, health and education for children.

32 out of 54 million children in Latin America under the age of five live in poverty.

Shakira, who performed at the Buenos Aires venue, secured $200 million in donations for the performance. Ricky Martin played at the other venue at Mexico City’s main plaza, Zócalo.

“The funny thing is that Latin America produces three times what it needs to feed its population. So, it is doable, we can really eradicate poverty,” Shakira said. “What’s very inspiring is to see Latin America for the first time in charge of its own issues.”

Ricky Martin To Launch Human Rights Hotline

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:56:34 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sultry Latino pop star Ricky Martin will hit the streets of Washington DC today, April 29, to raise awareness of human rights issues.

The singer’s Llama y Vive campaign, which is part of the International Organization for Migration, will hold an event at the Inter-American Development Bank headquarters on New York Avenue at 11am to launch “Call and Live”, an initiative that promotes an anti-trafficking hotline for human trafficking prevention and victim protection.

The campaign aims to reach 100,000 Latinos in the D.C. area with prevention messages about human trafficking, and provide access to legal and social services for victims through a Spanish-language hotline. Call and Live has been implemented in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Peru and Nicaragua, where it has triggered more than 55,000 relevant calls to the national hotlines, 60 police investigations, and the rescue of at least a dozen victims.

Martin, a Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF and five time Grammy Winner, established the Ricky Martin Foundation to advocate for the welfare of children around the world.

Ricky Martin Joins Poverty Campaign

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:03:51 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Latino singing star Ricky Martin met with several other artists in Miami last week to launch a new campaign in the fight against poverty.

The hip-swinging singer joined with fellow Latino heartthrobs Juan Luis Guerra and Juanes to become spokespersons for the Yo Amo America Campaign, an initiative that plans to use the performers’ profiles to raise awareness among policymakers about the importance of making investments in early childhood development, financial services, housing, and safe drinking water. And with over 360 million people in Latin America who live on less than $300 a month, it is an issue that requires immediate attention.

Martin has agreed to promote birth registration as part of the campaign, an area he believes will increase access to education, health, and other public services. Around 8.5 million children in Latin America presently lack any form of identity papers, a fact Martin thinks also contributes to the high proportion of child trafficking. Human trafficking is a major source of concern for Martin – a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF – and he established the Ricky Martin Foundation to combat it.

Martin, Guerra, and Juanes will all be featured in an advertising campaign for Yo Amo America, and will soon embark on a tour to meet with government officials around Latin America. You can see a video about the campaign here.

Ricky Martin Fights Human Trafficking

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:49:29 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

In February of this year, singer Ricky Martin spent three-days at a United Nations conference in Vienna where he learned of Cambodia’s child trafficking problems. This week, he was reduced to tears during a charity trip to a Cambodian shelter where a teenage rape victim performed a song she wrote about her ordeal as a trafficking victim.

“She sings like an angel,” said Martin, a five-time Grammy Award winner.

The sultry pop star was representing his Ricky Martin Foundation in support of the fight against human trafficking when he visited a shelter in Siem Reap in order to spend time with children affected by sexual assaults. The shelter houses 65 victims of human trafficking, and Martin spent time comforting, among others, a 3-month-old girl whose mother was sold into prostitution, as well as numerous children in need of comfort.

After his visit, Martin was obviously touched by the stories from these young survivors.

“I’m not going to stop.” He told the children, “All of you are my heroes. You are a gift of my life.”

 According to the United Nations, about 2.5 million people are involved in forced labor as a result of trafficking, with most victims between the ages of 18 and 24. The US State Department has called Cambodia a country that is ‘a source, destination and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for sexual exploitation and labor.’

“The fact that you have 200 non-governmental groups working in the country working on human trafficking is unheard of,” Martin told Cambodian officials, according to the Associated Press.

Martin isn’t alone on his quest, and has joined actress Emma Thompson and Egyptian first lady Suzanne Mubarak in calling for action. Additionally, in 2005, Martin collaborated with the International Organization for Migration on “Llama y Vive” (Call and Live), a campaign aimed at the prevention of human trafficking, protection of the youngest victims of child trafficking, and prosecution of the traffickers.

Martin has been a vocal activits for years. In September 2002, he received a Hispanic Heritage Award for his humanitarian work through the Sabera Foundation in rescuing three orphan girls from the streets of Calcutta. He also acts as a Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF, and established the Ricky Martin Foundation in Puerto Rico to advocate for the welfare of children around the world.

Martin established the Ricky Martin Foundation in Puerto Rico, to effectively pursue his humanitarian principles and to advocate for the welfare of children around the world. From the outset, Martin and his staff decided to support programs that enhance the well being of children. As facilitators and strong believers in partnerships with international organizations, the private sector, local non-profits, and individuals, the Ricky Martin Foundation continues to evolve. Our voice in alliance with other sectors is committed to defend the most fragile population against modern forms of slavery and to provide them a safer world through wellness initiatives.

To further uphold our principle of social justice, in 2004 the RMF launched People for Children, a global initiative to educate, denunciate, and support the international framework for the elimination of human trafficking, especially minors. This unscrupulous market annually generates $10 billion dollars, and it’s only preceded by the trafficking of drugs and arms.

Shakira Joins Latin American Solidarity Action Foundation

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:53:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Shakira has announced her plan to raise $200 million for the charity América Latina en Acción Solidaria (ALAS).

The singer, who is already a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of Colombian charity Pies Descalzos, will stage four fundraising concerts in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and New York this year.

ALAS is dedicated to aiding impoverished communities throughout all of Latin America, focusing on improved nutrition, health and education for children. “ALAS came about because of a social emergency: 350 thousand children die each year due to avoidable causes; 40 million children work and live on the streets,” Shakira said.

Funding for ALAS comes from businesses, international institutions, NGOs and charity concerts. Other musicians involved since ALAS’s launch last December include Juanes, Alejandro Sanz, Diego Torres, Maná, Wyclef Jean and Daniela Mercury. Shakira said, “Each person has worked on projects or foundations on his own, but only now we are able to work together to develop interesting projects that will benefit everyone.”

Many more artists, such as Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, have since joined the foundation. REM’s vocalist Michael Stipe has confirmed his participation in the ALAS benefit concert cycle in 2008, the dates of which will be officially announced later this month.

Concrete ALAS health care programmes cover mass vaccinations and pre-natal care for more pregnant women. “Let’s not forget that at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America,” Shakira said at a UN award ceremony. The ALAS web site states, “Because we are Latin Americans we are determined to change this reality.”

Look To The Stars News: Ricky Martin

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