Look To The Stars News: Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas And Friends Feed The Homeless For Thanksgiving

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Despite the economy, joblessness and even homelessness, Skid Row residents received something special on Thanksgiving eve, a gourmet meal served by some of the best known people in the community.

Long-time Los Angeles Mission supporter and Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, along with his wife Anne, namesake of the Anne Douglas Center for Women, hosted the event for the seventh year in a row.

Kirk Douglas Hosts Thanksgiving Meal For The Homeless

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Kirk Douglas will host his annual Thanksgiving meal for the homeless at the Los Angeles Mission today, and some big stars are expected to give him a hand.

Among those expected to help out are Zoe Saldana, Blair Underwood, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilman Dennis Zine, Police Chief Charlie Beck and many others.

The Mission is celebrating its 75th year of service to the community, with special food preparation and demonstrations on the street with Kogi BBQ Chef Roy Choi – best known for the Kogi BBQ Truck (and voted “Best New Chef” by Food & Wine in 2010). Roy has worked to bring a culinary experience to Skid Row unlike any other.

Kirk Douglas To Host Thanksgiving Dinner For The Homeless

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Skid Row homeless men, women and children will gather at the Los Angeles Mission for a traditional Thanksgiving meal on November 23rd, with some new traditions.

Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne, for whom the Anne Douglas Center for Women at the Los Angeles Mission is named, will host the Mission’s Thanksgiving dinner for the 7th year. Volunteers will serve the meal on the closed Fifth Street outdoor dining area starting at 11:00 AM.

Anne And Kirk Douglas Honored By Los Angeles Mission

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:00:00 +0000

It was an evening to remember at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel, September 21st, 2011, as the Los Angeles Mission celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a special gala event.

Wednesday’s black-tie gala was the first of its kind for the Mission, and honored Anne and Kirk Douglas with the inaugural “Anne Douglas Center for Women Award” for their outstanding and continuous work on behalf of the women’s center at the Los Angeles Mission named for Mrs. Douglas. The stunning award was designed, created, and donated by Tiffany & Co.

Los Angeles Mission was established in 1936 as a soup kitchen and Christian outreach to homeless men on Skid Row. During the depression years, the needs of homeless and unemployed men were great on the streets of cities across America. Soup kitchens and bread lines were formed by religious and civic groups to provide food to the needy. One of those soup kitchens was the beginnings of the Los Angeles Mission.

Anne And Kirk Douglas To Be Honored At LA Mission 75th Anniversary Gala

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Los Angeles Mission will celebrate its 75th Anniversary with a gala event at the Four Seasons Hotel September 21, 2011. The event will honor Anne and Kirk Douglas with the inaugural Anne Douglas Center for Women Award for their outstanding and continuous work on behalf of the women’s center at the Los Angeles Mission named for Mrs. Douglas.

There will be a culinary collaboration between Chef Ashley James, executive chef of the Four Seasons, Chef Ben Ford, executive chef of Ford’s Filling Station and Chef Chris Cormier, food service director of the Los Angeles Mission. Entertainment will include Ben Vereen, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., Debby Boone and Deniece Williams. Master of Ceremonies will be Byron Allen.

The Mission has served the Skid Row since 1934 with food, clothing and shelter for the homeless community. Every year, Anne and Kirk Douglas show their support by feeding the hungry at a special celebrity charity event at the Mission at Thanksgiving. This event will celebrate 75 years of service and raise funding for the continuing operation of the agency.

Kirk Douglas Gets Celebrity Charity Help To Feed The Hungry For Thanksgiving

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 11:30:00 +0000

The economy shows no appreciable improvement for the people of Skid Row – and the Los Angeles Mission has seen continued high levels of need over the past few months. But Wednesday was an opportunity for the residents of the area to gather and be thankful for what they do have.

Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, along with his wife Anne, hosted the event for the sixth year in a row. They were joined by hundreds of volunteers from the entertainment industry, government, local businesses, and community members – including Kate Linder, John Schneider, Blair Underwood and many more. Many of the volunteers were from Wells Fargo Bank, who sponsored the event with a $40,000 donation.

Kirk Douglas And Friends To Feed The Homeless For Thanksgiving

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Kirk Douglas will once again lead a host of celebrities as they feed the homeless at the Los Angeles Mission this Thanksgiving.

The economic downturn is evident at the Los Angeles Mission. More men, women and children are coming for assistance – looking for assistance like shelter, clothing and meals. That makes the Thanksgiving event even more necessary and special for people facing the toughest time of their lives.

For the past six years Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne, namesake of the Anne Douglas Center for Women at the Los Angeles Mission, have hosted the Mission’s Thanksgiving dinner. Volunteers from TV, radio and movies, political leaders and others will bring Thanksgiving a day early to thousands of homeless men, women and children. Los Angeles Christian Health Centers will provide foot care and exams at the event.

Anne Douglas To Award Fearless Women For Charity

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:30:00 +0000

The first annual Fearless Women Day luncheon is scheduled to benefit the Anne Douglas Center for Women at the Los Angeles Mission on August 26.

In 2009, Anne Douglas – wife of Kirk Douglas – was awarded the first Fearless Women award for her generous contributions to lift the plight of homeless and destitute women living on skid row. This year she will be presenting the 2010 Fearless Women award to several honorees.

Annual Celebrity Charity Book Auction Kicks Off For SAG Foundation

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Fans of the entertainment world and bookworms will be excited about this charity initiative: a huge number of celebrities have signed books for a special charity auction.

The 2nd Annual Celebrity Charity Book Auction has kicked off to raise money for the Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s literacy programs.

Books autographed by Sting, Sidney Poitier, Kirk Douglas, Valerie Bertinelli, William Shatner, Maria Shriver, Jerry Seinfeld, Lance Bass, Bernadette Peters, Tom Colicchio, Bill Cosby, Tim Allen, Patricia Heaton, Sarah Silverman, Holly Robinson-Peete and Rodney Peete, Jay Leno, Sean Astin, Jenny McCarthy and many more are going under the hammer.

Robert Pattinson's Balloon Design Goes Under The Hammer For Charity

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Twilight’s Robert Pattinson is just one of a group of stars who have donated their artworks to charity for a special celebrity auction.

To commemorate International Missing Children’s Day, the charity PACT (Parents and Abducted Children Together) invited celebrities and dignitaries from around the world to decorate an image of a balloon – the symbol of International Missing Children’s Day.

The vampire heartthrob has joined Roger Moore, Quentin Blake, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Kirk Douglas, Michael Caine, Frederick Forsyth, Neil Sedaka, Arfi Lamba, Christopher Plummer, Zoë Wanamaker and many, many more for the auction of sketches from over 100 celebrities.

Celebrities Help To Feed The Homeless For Thanksgiving

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

A host of stars and famous faces turned out in Los Angeles on Wednesday to give the homeless a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.

California unemployment hit 12.5 percent in October, the US Department of Agriculture says more people are “food insecure” than ever before and more homeless than ever are eating meals at the Los Angeles Mission.

Kirk Douglas Will Feed The Hungry On Thanksgiving

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Veteran actor Kirk Douglas – along with his wife Anne – will once again host his annual Thanksgiving meal for the homeless on Los Angeles’ Skid Row on November 25.

For the past five years Kirk Douglas and his wife have hosted the street dinner at the Los Angeles Mission. Volunteers from TV, radio and movies, political leaders and others will bring Thanksgiving a day early to thousands of homeless men, women and children. The day will feature the traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, served hot and fresh in a friendly family atmosphere. Los Angeles Christian Health Centers will provide foot care and exams at the event.

Already scheduled to help out this year are Corbin Bleu (High School Musical), Booboo Stewart (The Twilight Saga – Eclipse), Carolyn Hennessy (Cougartown), Naya Rivera (Glee), Aldis Hodge (Leverage), Congress Members Maxine Waters and David Dreier, Sheriff Lee Baca, and others.

Celebrity-Signed Books Up For Grabs For Charity

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Whether you are looking for a good book to read while stretched out on the beach, or – for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere – searching for something to curl up with in bed on a frosty winter’s night, there will be something for you in the SAG Foundation’s Celebrity Autographed Book Auction.

The Screen Actor’s Guild Foundation is raising money for it’s literacy programs by auctioning off books signed by your favorite stars. Going under the hammer are titles such as The Olsen Twins’ Influence, Michael J. Fox’s Always Looking Up, Heidi Klum’s Body of Knowledge, Julianne Moore’s Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully, Tom Colicchio’s Craft of Cooking, William Shatner’s Quest For Tomorrow, Alison Sweeney’s All The Days Of My Life, Kirk Douglas’ Let’s Face It, Jenny McCarthy’s Healing and Preventing Autism, Larry King’s My Remarkable Journey, Tori Spelling’s Mommywood, Sean Astin’s There and Back Again, John Lithgow’s The Poet’s Corner and many more.

Proceeds from the auction benefit the Screen Actors Guild Foundation’s literacy effort, which began in 1992 and now includes such programs as:

Kirk Douglas Celebrates Over Slavery Apology

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Veteran actor Kirk Douglas is celebrating after the US Senate issued a formal apology for America’s history of slavery.

The 92-year-old has been behind a long-running campaign for the apology, and earlier wrote on his MySpace page: “As I told you quite some time ago, in my last book Let’s Face It, I wrote about the importance of our country showing the world that we are capable of humility by making an apology for our behavior towards African-Americans before and after the Civil War. I think this action is more important right now.”

The apology received from the Senate reads that it: “acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws,” and “apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws. [The US] expresses its recommitment to the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and calls on all people of the United States to work toward eliminating racial prejudices, injustices, and discrimination from our society.”

Kirk Douglas Encourages School Children

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Veteran actor Kirk Douglas has blogged about his support of the young people who attend the high school named after him in California.

“A few weeks ago, I made a visit to the Kirk Douglas High School,” he wrote on his MySpace page. "I am proud that they asked to name their school after me. One of my pet projects is to try to inspire young people to at least have a high school education. Then, I try to encourage them to go to college. As a small inducement I give every graduate a $500 check.

“When I spoke to the students I was surprised that they each gave me their personal pledge of what they wanted to do in life to improve our world: from volunteering in hospitals and local schools, to supporting our troops by sending letters and care packages. One student has agreed to help the elderly by volunteering at a convalescent center (I wonder if I inspired him).

Stars Sign Posters For Charity Foundation

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Now is the time to deck your walls with a selection of movie posters signed by your favorite stars in a new charity auction being run by ClothesOffOurBack.org.

Going under the hammer are a Brokeback Mountain poster signed by the late Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, a Big Love poster and DVD set signed by Bill Paxton, a Philadelphia poster signed by Denzel Washington, and SAG Conversation Series posters signed by stars such as Kirk Douglas, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Greg Grunberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Holly Hunter, Rob Schneider, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Selleck, Forest Whitaker, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Ben Affleck, Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Tim Robbins, Ali Larter, Jesse Spencer and many more.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the Screen Actor’s Guild Foundation, an organization that offers substantive services to Guild members in its mission to assist, educate and inspire actors in their professional endeavors and to give back to the communities in which they live. Founded in 1985, the non-profit SAG Foundation is governed independently of the Guild and funded through the generosity of grants, donations, volunteering and fundraising efforts.

Philanthropy Spotlight: Harrison Ford

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ Features Editor Tim Saunders takes an in-depth look at the career and philanthropy of Harrison Ford.

Unlike Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford actually likes snakes. In fact he likes a lot of the creatures that most people fear. He even has a Californian spider, Calponia harrisonfordi, named after him, its eight hairy legs enough to give almost anyone nightmares, and a South American ant also bears his name. Snakes of all sorts make their home around the white-painted ranch house he built himself in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and they slither and slide their way in and out of the shrubs and pockets of grass that dot the barren landscape.

The mountains that surround Ford’s house are among the most rugged in the state. Their jagged peaks create a feeling that the whole world exists within their confines, and the arid plains that run between them consistently record some of the most extreme temperatures in the United States. It is an area that conjures up images of America’s pioneers, of Lois and Clarke, of place names such as Owl Creek, Dead Indian Pass, and the Big Horn Mountains, romantic visions of a past long gone.

Gwyneth Paltrow And Courteney Cox Honored For Charity Work

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Gwyneth Paltrow and Courteney Cox were honored at the 14th Annual Saks Fifth Avenue’s Unforgettable Evening benefiting the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund in Beverly Hills last night, February 10.

The annual event raises much needed funds each year for innovative cancer research, and recognizes one remarkable individual for his or her unwavering commitment to the cause.

Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow received the 2009 Courage Award. She, along with her mother, Blythe Danner, and brother, Jake Paltrow, established the Bruce Paltrow Fund in memory of her father who lived with oral cancer for several years. The Bruce Paltrow Fund, set up through The Oral Cancer Foundation and with support from the EIF, works to prevent oral cancer through public education, early detection and patient support. In 2008, Paltrow served as ambassador for EIF and Saks Fifth Avenue’s KEY TO THE CURE Initiative, appearing in a nationwide public service announcement to raise funds and awareness for women’s cancers.

Cindy Crawford Feeds The Homeless

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Cindy Crawford and Jennifer Love Hewitt were among the stars who helped out at Kirk Douglas’ annual Thanksgiving Meal for the Homeless on Wednesday.

“It’s a great cause,” said actor Ross McCall. “What a wonderful thing that you get to deliver a hot meal to someone who needs it.”

Between 2,500 and 3,000 people benefited from the celebrity meal, which also featured free health checks.

Celebrities Expected For Kirk Douglas Thanksgiving Meal

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, Look To The Stars brought you news about Kirk Douglas’ annual Thanksgiving Meal for the Homeless. We can now announce the lineup of stars expected to join the 91-year-old at the Los Angeles Mission.

Making a difference for Thanksgiving this year are Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer), Cindy Crawford, Corbin Bleu (High School Musical III), Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty), Neil McDonough (Desperate Housewives), Rebecca Mader (Lost), James Black (Starter Wife), Wilmer Valderrama (Fast Food Nation), Christopher Knight (Brady Bunch), Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model), Doug Rinehardt (The Hills), Deniece Williams (Singer-Songwriter), Katherine Kelly Lang (the Bold and the Beautiful), Daren Kagasoff (Secret Life of the American Teenager), Nora Zehetner (Heroes), Natasha Alam (the Women), Alaina Huffman (Smallville), Christa Campbell (Day of the Dead), Shirly Brener (Righteous Kill), Kate Linder (the Young and the Restless), Ross McCall (Band of Brothers), Brandon Barash (General Hospital), C. S. Lee (Dexter), Jorge-Luis Pallo (Secret Life of the American Teenager), and Casey Reinhardt (Laguna Beach). And, as in past years, there will be a few more surprises on the day.

The celebrities are expected to gather at the Los Angeles Mission – on the corner of E. Fifth Street and Wall Street – at 10:45am tomorrow, November 26, and start dishing out meals to the city’s homeless at 11am. The event will run until 3pm.

Kirk Douglas To Feed The Homeless For Thanksgiving

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Kirk Douglas will host his annual Thanksgiving Meal for the Homeless on Wednesday, November 26.

Along with his wife, Anne Douglas, and a host of celebrities that will be announced just before the event, the 91-year-old actor will be dishing out meals at the Los Angeles Mission on the corner of Wall Street at 11am.

For over 50 years, the Los Angeles Mission has served the people of Hope Central (known as Skid Row), providing emergency services such as shelter, food, clothing, as well as professional medical and dental services. In addition, the Los Angeles Mission also offers long-term residential rehabilitation programs including education, job training/placement, transitional housing and counseling.

Mandy Moore To Attend Friendly House Awards

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Mandy Moore is just one of the celebrities expected to attend Friendly House’s 19th Annual Awards Luncheon this Saturday, October 18.

Hosted by 8 Simple Rules’ Katey Sagal, the event will honor Candy Spelling – mother of Tori Spelling – as Woman of the Year. Spelling is a well-known civic leader in Los Angeles, as well as a Commissioner for the Department of Recreation and Parks, and a member of the board of L.A.‘s Best, the Mayor’s group that provides reading programs to schools in L.A.

Friendly House is an organization that provides a safe place for women to overcome addictions and be reintegrated into the community. Founded in 1951, the facility was the first treatment center in the US devoted to women recovering from substance and alcohol abuse, and became a model for similar facilities around the world. Over 6,500 women have been treated at Friendly House, with a success rate of 72%. The current location of the facility was donated by William Shatner in 2001, in honor of his late wife.

Kirk Douglas Receives Honor For Playground Work

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Kirk Douglas has been honored for his work improving children’s playgrounds across Los Angeles.

The 91-year-old received the Good News Makers of the Year Award with his wife, Anne, at the annual High Flying Fundraiser luncheon held by the Good News Foundation last week.

The Douglases’ interest in improving LA’s playgrounds started in 1997, when Anne Douglas learnt of the deplorable condition of Los Angeles’ public school playgrounds. Along with her husband, Anne established the Anne & Kirk Douglas Playground Award to provide assistance to the Los Angeles Unified School District to enhance their schools’ outdoor and recreational spaces. The award supports and encourages Los Angeles public school communities in creating playgrounds that will be the keystones of campus revitalization and give the city’s children the fulfilling experiences and opportunities they deserve.

Celebrities, Volunteers Step Up To The Plate

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 09:28:02 +0000

On the eve of Thanksgiving Day, the homeless men, women and children along Los Angeles’ Skid Row were served a holiday dinner in what has become an annual event. The Los Angeles Mission provides the meals while close to 400 volunteers, including Kirk Douglas and wife Anne, Minnie Driver, Leeza Gibbons, Sally Kirkland, and Kevin Nealon help prepare, serve and clear plates. Last year, more than 3,000 people were fed a full course Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings.