Look To The Stars News: Eric McCormack

Celebrities To Attend Annual Night At Sardi's Charity Event

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00:00 -0000

The 18th annual A Night at Sardi’s event – the annual star-studded benefit for the Alzheimer's Association – will honor the entertainment industry’s Marshall family (Penny, Garry and Ronny) and producer Susan Dietz for their contributions in the fight against Alzheimer"s disease.

This year’s highly-anticipated gala is on Thursday, March 18, at the Beverly Hilton. Dozens of movie and television celebrities and entertainment industry leaders will attend. Following the awards presentation and dinner, favorites from television, film, and theater will perform selections from “And the World Goes Round,” the music of Kander and Ebb, including hits from “Chicago,” “Cabaret,” “Funny Lady,” and “New York, New York.”

The cast includes David Hyde Pierce, Eric McCormack, Samantha Harris and Bryan Cranston among many others. Event co-chairs include Laurie Burrows Grad and Peter Grad. Honorary Co-Chairs are David Hyde Pierce and James Burrows.

Individual tickets are $500 and $1,250; Tables and sponsorships are available. Call (323) 930-6250 or email info@sardisla.com. Click here for more info.

Drew Barrymore To Be Honored By Gay And Lesbian Alliance

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:10:00 -0000

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has announced that Golden Globe Award-winning actress and producer Drew Barrymore will receive the Vanguard Award, and Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian Wanda Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 17 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

The GLAAD Media Awards elevate and promote fair, accurate and inclusive stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, people and allies that have increased awareness, understanding and respect for the lives of LGBT people. The GLAAD Media Awards also fund GLAAD’s work to bring stories of LGBT people and issues to Americans.

Actress Drew Barrymore will receive the Vanguard Award which is presented to media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community. In 2009, Barrymore took on the role of the lesbian daughter of a widower played by Robert De Niro in Everybody’s Fine, nominated for Outstanding Film – Wide Release at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards, and in 1995 starred in Boys on the Side which won the Outstanding Film award at the 7th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. She also joined thousands of marriage equality advocates in the streets of West Hollywood when the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, which eliminated marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Past recipients of The Vanguard Award include Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, Sharon Stone, Eric McCormack, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Kathy Griffin and Whoopi Goldberg.

“I was born, bred and raised among diversity, it has defined me and made me the person I am today,” Barrymore said. “I’m honored and humbled to be receiving this award.”

Comedian Wanda Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for our community. In November 2008, Sykes decided to come out at a Stand Out for Equality rally of over 1,000 people in Las Vegas and announced that she legally married her wife in California. She has spoken out about LGBT issues by appearing in LGBT PSAs, performing at LGBT fundraisers and as a Board Member for the Equality California Institute. The Emmy Award-winner became the first openly gay and first African American woman to be the featured entertainer for the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2009 and last year debuted her own late night talk show on FOX. Previous recipients of the Stephen F. Kolzak Award include Rufus Wainwright, Melissa Etheridge, Bill Condon, Alan Ball, Ellen DeGeneres, and Sir Ian McKellen.

“I am truly honored to receive the Stephen F. Kolzak award,” said Wanda Sykes. “I greatly appreciate the work that GLAAD continues to do, promoting equality, fair representation and tolerance for our LGBT community. I just pray that I don’t ruin what GLAAD has achieved with all of my shenanigans.”

Stars Design Necklaces For Charity Auction

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The World Gold Council has launched its charity auction featuring jewelry designed by some of entertainment’s biggest stars.

As reported by Look To The Stars last year, a range of celebrities – including Debra Messing, Christina Applegate, Whoopi Goldberg, Marcia Gay Harden, Samantha Harris, Eric McCormack, Chris Noth (“Mr Big”), Lena Olin, Rachael Ray, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, and Pauletta & Denzel Washington – have designed gold pendant necklaces incorporating a leaf motif. Participants will choose to have proceeds from the sale of their designs benefit their favorite charity or Jewelers for Children, the jewelers industry charity that has invested over $30 million in special programs to reach children whose lives have been devastated by catastrophic illness or life-threatening abuse and neglect.

Other charities to benefit from the auction include YouthAIDS, Right Action for Women, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Waterkeeper Alliance, Project Angel Food, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Hope for Henry Foundation – a charity which improves the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses by providing carefully chosen gifts and specially designed programs to entertain and promote comfort, care and recovery – Yum-o!, and the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen.

The auction runs until May 7, and will be followed by a live gala event in New York City.

To make a bid or view the items, click here.

Celebrity Gift Lounge Aims To Feed LA

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

As Hollywood gets ready for the 22nd Annual Kids’ Choice Award this week, Melanie Segal’s Celebrity Lounge is where celebrities are celebrating before the show.

Located in the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and the brain child of Platinum Publicity’s Melanie Segal, the lounge invites celebrities to enter a lounge where they will receive the latest in gifting while helping out a great cause. For every celebrity guest that attends the lounge, Stouffer’s is donating 1,000 meals to LA’s needy. They are planning to “Feed LA for the Day” by donating funds to pay for approximately 70,000 meals. Feeding America and the LA Food Bank will be on hand at the event. Celebrities will also be asked to autograph an arcade-game from Dream Arcades, which will be auctioned off for charity.

“This is a great time for people to escape from the worries of the economic climate and enjoy themselves!” says owner of Platinum Publicity, Melanie Segal. “We’ve been hearing so much negativity in the news lately — it’s nice to just forget about all of that, be a kid again, receive some fun gifts, and give back to society at the same time! I think it’s what a lot of people really need right now!”

From the moment celebrities enter the lounge they can expect lots of fun and surprises. Guests will play on Dream Arcade games and Dance Dance Revolution. Big kids will try exotic teas at the Tea Bar and little kids can eat from the Candy Bar. Caricaturists, airbrush tattoo artists, Tarot Card readers and Grammy Award winning pianist/composer Charles Segal will entertain guests, and ManiPedi Cutie will be polishing nails.

Guests so far have included Pete Sampras & Bridget Wilson, Wayne Brady, Calista Flockhart, Adam Gregory (90210), Sally Field, Eric McCormack, Patricia Heaton, Don Cheadle, Monica Potter, Katie Price & Peter Andre, Shannon Elizabeth and many more.

Project Angel Food Hosts Celebrity Shopping Spree

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

With the Holidays around the corner, Project Angel Food kicked off their annual DIVINE DESIGN on Thursday December 4th, celebrating style and philanthropy with a big dose of holiday shopping.

David Arquette, Eric McCormack, and Elton John's partner David Furnish were some of the stars who helped out during the weeklong event, in which top designers sold fashion, furniture, beauty and gift items, with proceeds going to provide meals for victims of HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. For every $5 spent at Divine Design, Project Angel Food can cook and deliver a meal to someone facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other debilitating illnesses.

Divine Design kicked off in the heart of Beverly Hills with a special gala evening held at the Beverly Hilton, featuring a runway show presented by Divine Designer honoree, Tadashi Shoji, and an awards presentation. Honors were also given to Man of Style, David Furnish and Woman of Style, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Over 500 celebrities, designers and supporters of Project Angel Food attended the opening night which also included a live fantasy auction and an exclusive night of VIP shopping. Following the awards ceremony, the gala attendees returned to shopping in the marketplace at 9900 Wilshire Boulevard (formerly Robinson’s May building and generously donated by Candy & Candy), where cash registers rang in the holiday shopping season all in the name of love. The Divine Design marketplace opened to the public on Friday December 5th at 11am.

Opening night attendees enjoyed NUVO Cosmopolitans and listened to jazz and blues by KJAZZ.This year’s gala night also featured one-of-a- kind Live Auction items to bid on including a unique BARBIE Holiday Tree donated by Mattel and created by the lead designer for Barbie; a New York Fashion Week package which includes first class airfare for two on American Airlines, front row tickets to the Tadashi Shoji Show at New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park and a dress made especially for you by Tadashi Shoji himself; sponsor a day of meals for Project Angel Food clients. These fantastic auction items and others were auctioned off by the vivacious auctioneer, Ed Beardsley of Bonhams & Butterfields and the beautiful actress and Project Angel Food supporter, Lisa Rinna.

One of the companies that donated items to the event was luxury bag designers Trina, who provided over $20,000 worth of products to the event. For anyone who wasn’t able to make it to the shopping event last week, Trina are currently auctioning off some celebrity-sign bags online, with all proceeds to go to Project Angel Food.

Visit eBay to bid on bags autographed by John Mayer, Adam Sandler, Ryan Seacrest, Neil Patrick Harris, and the casts of Ugly Betty and Lost.

Divine Design was born 16 years ago in response to the devastation the design community was experiencing from HIV/AIDS. Since its inception Divine Design has raised more than $13 million to help fund Project Angel Food’s meal-delivery program throughout Los Angeles County. Founded in 1989, Project Angel Food provides life-sustaining meals and nutritional counseling each day to more than 1,400 men, women and children disabled by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Thanks to a devoted core of 1,500 volunteers, meals are cooked and delivered daily to people’s homes throughout Los Angeles County.

(Photos copyright Alex J. Berliner)

Eric McCormack Sees A Cure For Cancer In Our Lifetime

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:07:11 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actor Eric McCormack – best known for his lead role in Will And Grace – was in his home province of Ontario recently to promote Canada’s largest funder of cancer research, the Canadian Cancer Society, and its annual Relay For Life overnight walkathon in June that aims to raise $50 million for research to eradicate cancer.

The relay is a unique fundraising event, and last year more than 200,000 people all across Canada walked, ran and strolled around tracks illuminated by nearly half a million luminary candles for 12 hours from dusk till dawn. It raised $47 million to be used for research on all types of cancers, support programs for cancer victims and families, and advocating for public policies that prevent cancer.

Even though he lost his mother to bladder cancer after beating breast cancer decades ago, and despite that his father has been fighting prostate cancer on and off for years, McCormack is convinced that cancer, like Polio, can be a thing of the past.

“Everyone has a cancer story,” says McCormack. “It’s way too common and I think it almost feels like it’s always going to be here. We have to think of cancer as something we can eliminate in our lifetime.”

Cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Canada. In its many forms, it will kill over 70,000 Canadians this year.

“My mom was of that generation that didn’t talk about things openly,” said McCormack. “We have to be that generation that fights it together. This is personal; not just for me – for everybody.”

Elton's Oscar Party Raises $5.1m

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:50:42 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Sunday night saw the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 16th annual Academy Awards viewing party, which this year raised $5.1 million thanks to its spectacular guest list.

The Pacific Design Center venue saw even more of Hollywood’s glitterati than anticipated, boasting the attendance of “Best Actress” award winner Marion Cotillard and “Best Supporting Actor” nominee Tom Wilkinson. Further top names present included Amy Adams, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, Sean Penn, Patricia Clarkson, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford, Josh Groban, Faye Dunaway, Sean Combs, Seal and Heidi Klum, Prince, Kate Beckinsale, Billy Joel, Courtney Love, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Petra Nemcova, Jeremy Piven, Roberto Cavalli, Minnie Driver, Simon Cowell and Herbie Hancock.

The gala was co-hosted by Elton's partner David Furnish, and included dinner, a musical performance by Elton himself and a live auction.

Sharon Stone acted as auctioneer, and Elton offered to remove his trousers if it would raise more money. Stone added that she wouldn’t follow suit.

Yet more stars seen at the event included Natasha Henstridge, Larry King, Eric McCormack, Jason Lewis, Jonny Lee Miller, Brett Ratner, Jason Reitman, Rupert Murdoch, Jennifer Coolidge, Russell Simmons, Cheryl Tiegs, John Waters and Ziyi Zhang.

Since its inception in 1992, Elton's foundation has raised more than $125 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries.

Look To The Stars News: Eric McCormack

Celebrities To Attend Annual Night At Sardi's Charity Event

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Drew Barrymore To Be Honored By Gay And Lesbian Alliance

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