Look To The Stars News: Christina Aguilera

Celebrities Play Hollywood Dominoes for Peace and Justice

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:57:00 -0000

Celebrities en route to the Academy Awards this year will make a pit-stop beforehand to take part in the 3rd Annual Pre-Oscar Hollywood Domino Gala Benefiting Artists for Peace and Justice.

The much anticipated dominos tournament of the Academy Awards, invites iconic personalities of Hollywood, such as Penelope Cruz, Charlize Theron and Demi Moore, to play at ‘bar210’ in an effort to aid Haiti and its people. This black tie ‘island style’ evening will include specialty Disaronno cocktails and delectable hors d’oeuvres by Executive Chef Marcel Vigneron and music by DJ Jus Ske.

One hundred percent of the donations received at this event will be directed to Artists for Peace and Justice’s relief efforts in Haiti.

Players include: Molly Sims, Rosario Dawson, Camilla Belle, Garcelle Nilon, Christina Aguilera, Malin Akerman, Rachel Bilson, Eric Dane, James Franco, Olivier Martinez, Luke Wilson, Ridley Scott, Aaron Eckhart, Olivia Wilde, Common, Olivia Munn, Thandie Newton, Nicky Hilton, Rose McGowan, Rachel Zoe, Dave Annabel, Jamie King, Gerard Butler, Marisa Tomei and Giannina Facio.
 
Artists for Peace and Justice, established in early 2009, is a fundraising effort founded by Paul Haggis and friends that encourages peace and social justice. It addresses issues of poverty and enfranchisement in communities around the world. The organization’s immediate goal is to build schools to serve the poorest areas of Haiti, providing an education, hot meals, clean drinking water and regular medical treatments to the children living in the slums.

For more information please visit their website.

Help Celebrities Make A Bid To Save The World

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:30:00 -0000

Christie’s International has announced it will hold a new green auction it has dubbed “A Bid to Save the Earth.”

This first-of-its-kind charity auction will take place on April 22, 2010, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The Evening Sale event will be held at Christie’s, Rockefeller Center, New York and be carried live globally via Christie’s LIVE on www.christies.com. Proceeds from the sale will be divided among four leading not-for-profit environmental organizations: Conservation International, Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Central Park Conservancy.

Christie’s is partnering with Charitybuzz, the leading destination for online charity benefit auctions, to present a companion silent auction which will be hosted at www.ABidtoSavetheEarth.org. Christie’s will waive all fees and commissions for the auction. Native Energy, www.nativeenergy.com, a leader in carbon offsetting, will provide carbon offsets for the entire Green Auction. NBC Universal, as part of its ongoing environmental initiative, “Green is Universal,” will serve as the official media partner for the event.

“We are inspired and honored to convene top members of the philanthropic, environmental, business and cultural communities to benefit the environment,” said Edward Dolman, CEO of Christie’s. “We are equally pleased to present a stellar evening auction and to partner with NBC Universal in telling this exciting story with Charitybuzz in building such a compelling silent auction; and of course our four charity partners, who will do what they do best with the proceeds: advocate for the environment.”

The Evening Sale will be a star-studded event with top celebrities serving on the Green Auction Host Committee that includes: Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, Tobey Maguire, François-Henri Pinault, Salma Hayek, Bob Fisher, Candice Bergen, Edward Norton, Evelyn Lauder, Alec Baldwin, Zaha Hadid, Brooke Shields and Matt Lauer.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that our wellbeing as individuals and as a global society hinges on nature,” said Peter Seligmann, CEO and Board Chairman of Conservation International. “With pressure mounting on our shared home, Earth, innovative fundraising strategies are more important than ever. This particular initiative will use the knowledge and resources of a world class auction house to raise much needed funds which will go directly towards the maintenance and protection of the ecosystems, habitats and species that are the framework of a healthy planet where all people can prosper.”

The live auction will include major works from artists including Keith Tyson, Maya Lin, Subodh Gupta, and Olafur Eliasson. Other lots will include coveted celebrity experiences, upscale eco-vacations and exquisite jewelry. Hugh Jackman, Christina Aguilera, and Candice Bergen are just a few of the talented stars offering VIP experiences, with additional luxury items secured daily.

“We anticipate The Green Auction to be a momentous achievement in fundraising to save the earth, and we are excited to help Christie’s reach thousands of online bidders through Charitybuzz” said Coppy Holzman, CEO of Charitybuzz.

The Christie’s Green Auction companion silent auction will use online bidding powered by Charitybuzz, launching at www.ABidtoSavetheEarth.org on April 8, and run through May 6. The silent auction will facilitate global participation like Christie’s LIVE, and carry more moderately priced lots.

Lots for the sale on silent auction will include celebrity packages such as spending a day with Hugh Jackman on the set of his movie "Reel Steel’, VIP tickets to a Christina Aguilera concert, a Californification set visit with David Duchovny, falconry lessons with Bobby Kennedy, and lunch with a major television star.

More info can be found here.

Christina Aguilera Teams With Muhammad Ali For Charity PSA

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Christina Aguilera has teamed up with Muhammad Ali to film a PSA for the World Food Programme.

“I’m devastated by the toll that the earthquake has taken, and as a mom, I am especially heartbroken by the children and families affected,” Aguilera said. “My goal for the PSA is to inspire as many people as possible to donate to the World Food Programme so they can continue to feed the survivors in Haiti and move them from hunger to hope.”

The PSA is being sponsored by World Hunger Relief, Yum! Brands annual campaign to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds to benefit the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies.

“The earthquake and the aftershocks in Haiti are among the worst tragedies of our lifetime,” said Ali. “I urge people from around the world to open their hearts and give anything they can to help the World Food Programme’s relief efforts in Haiti.”

The PSA will be available to view here.

Hope For Haiti Now Breaks Charity Records

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:45:00 -0000

Friday night’s Hope for Haiti Now telethon, organized by George Clooney, has so far raised more than $57 million for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.

Besides setting a record for the most money raised by a disaster relief telethon, the charity’s Hope for Haiti album – featuring performances on the telethon — became the largest one-day album pre-order in iTunes history.

Performers included: Robert Pattinson, Christina Aguilera, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Keith Urban and Madonna among others.

The money will be split between 8 organizations: Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, Yéle Haiti Foundation and the Clinton-Bush Haiti Foundation.

Hope for Haiti is accepting donations for the next 6 months online at hopeforhaitinow.org, by phone at 877-99-Haiti or by texting GIVE to 50555.

Hope For Haiti Now - Muhammad Ali's Plea For Charity

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:08:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

As the stars came out and shone for Haiti last night during George Clooney's Hope For Haiti Now telethon, it was boxing legend Muhammad Ali who spoke loudest about the need for charity in times of hardship.

Appearing on stage in a wheelchair and unable to speak, the former boxer – who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease – looked on as comedian Chris Rock read out a speech he prepared earlier.

“By any name, charity can bring the people of our planet together … charity changes lives and saves lives … we call upon all the good people in every corner of the world to help … please give now,” he said. “In my life I’ve been called by many names. There are many names for the charity of the people of the earth and one of them is Zakat.”

Hosted by Clooney, Wyclef Jean, Anderson Cooper and a number of A-List celebs, the show featured performances from Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift in New York, as well as Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Sting, Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow in Los Angeles. Coldplay, Bono, Jay-Z, The Edge and Rihanna performed from London.

“This is a tragedy that reaches across all borders, all boundaries and demands our attention, our help and our compassion as fellow human beings,” said George Clooney, who – along with Leonardo DiCaprio – donated $1 million to the cause. "At the core of every religion is the belief that we care for one another … we take care of each other, especially in times of need. The Haitian people need our help. They need to know that they’re not alone. They need to know that we still care.

“This is an opportunity to help a neighbor in desperate need and to do it with the swiftness, expertise, generosity and love that resides in the best of who we are.”

George Clooney Brings Hope To Haiti Tonight

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:30:00 -0000

It will be a big night for charity tonight, as George Clooney's Hope For Haiti telethon hits TV screens across America and around the world.

Hosted by Clooney, Wyclef Jean and Anderson Cooper, the show will feature performances from Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift in New York, as well as Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Sting, Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow in Los Angeles. There will even be performances from Coldplay, Bono, Jay-Z, The Edge and Rihanna in London.

All performances will be available for download on iTunes for 99 cents on Saturday. The two-hour program will air commercial-free across ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, the CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 and CMT on Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The special will also air on PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, E! Entertainment Network, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4, Centric, Current TV, Fuse, MLB Network, Epix, Palladia, SoapNet, Style, Discovery Health and Planet Green, as well as Canada’s CTV, CBC Television, Global Television and MuchMusic. It will also air internationally on BET International, CNN International, National Geographic and MTV Networks International, available in 640 million homes worldwide. “Hope for Haiti” will be the first U.S.-based telethon airing on MTV in China. Facebook and Twitter are the official social media partners who will help to drive donations and tune-in to the telethon.

All donations will directly benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF and Wyclef’s Yéle Haiti Foundation. Facebook and MySpace have signed on as official social-media partners to help steer viewers to the telethon and drive donations.

Additionally, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and World Food Programme have joined the list of relief organizations that will benefit from the show, with proceeds to be split evenly among each organization’s individual Haiti relief funds.

“Hope For Haiti Now” will be the most widely distributed telethon in history, internationally and across media platforms, including live streaming globally on sites including YouTube, Hulu, MySpace, Fancast, AOL, MSN.com, Yahoo, Bing.com, BET.com, MTV.com, and Rhapsody, and RightCelebrity.com will be streaming the show live with a donation of 1 cent to the American Red Cross for every person who joins their live blog. The telethon is also available on mobile via Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and FloTV.

Stars Record Songs For Charity

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:31:00 -0000

Written by Ashley Parker

Lupe Fiasco and Jay-Z have taken to the studio to record songs to benefit Haiti after the recent earthquake, which has killed more than 200,000 people.

Lupe, who recently climbed mount Kilimanjaro with Jessica Biel and Emile Hirsch to raise awareness about the world’s water crisis, teamed up with Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda. Jay-Z worked with U2's Bono and Swizz Beatz, a producer.

Guitarist The Edge said that Swizz called Bono, saying he and Jay-Z wanted to do something to help Haitians.

In addition to recording songs for Haiti, Bono will be performing at “Hope for Haiti” on January 22, along with Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera and Sting.

George Clooney Announces Haiti Telethon Stars

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

George Clooney has revealed some of the big names he has recruited for this Friday’s Telethon for Haiti.

The show will be broadcast around the world on January 22, and will be hosted by Clooney in LA, Wyclef Jean in New York, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper in Haiti. Donations will go to Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF and Wyclef’s Yéle Haiti Foundation.

The line-up so far includes U2's Bono, Alicia Keys, Sting, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and many more yet to be announced.

“We’re doing a telethon on all the channels, every network in the country and international as well,” said Clooney. "It’s an unbelievable show. Bono’s written a song for it and songs are going to available on iTunes that night.

“People in Haiti have absolutely nothing. There are times when, as bad as it is for many people in this country, people also realise how much worse it is for them and they are very compassionate.”

Celebrity Women Honored At Humanitarian Awards

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Some of the hottest female stars in show business, including Christina Applegate, Christina Aguilera, Maria Bello and Anne Hathaway, were honored for their charity work at Variety’s first annual Power Of Women Luncheon last week.

Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and hosted by Jane Lynch, the event highlighted the humanitarian work carried out by women in the entertainment business.

“These are very busy, successful women who have found time and a place in their heart to give back to others and make a huge impact,” said Lynch.

Among the honorees, Applegate was honored for her fight against cancer and her establishment of the Right Action for Women organization.

“The women I talk to really inspire me,” Applegate said. “The women who come up to me every day and say, ‘I was high-risk; I thought I had to wait until I was 45 to find out, but I went and got an MRI and I have cancer.’ Hopefully one day we’ll have a system that covers this.”

Maria Bello was also honored, for her work with the Save Darfur Coallition.

“The genocide in Darfur has been going on for the last seven years,” she said. "The violence against women there, rape is a weapon of war and an instrument of genocide. It’s outrageous, something needs to be addressed – not only in Darfur but all over the world.

“What makes a woman powerful is using the gifts that you’ve been given to give back to the world.”

“To be honest, I feel a little weird getting an award for it,” said Anne Hathaway, who was honored for her work with Service Nation. “There are so many people who do so much more than what I do. But I also understand that this is an amazing opportunity for exposure and fundraising.”

Other honorees included Sherry Lansing and Sigourney Weaver.

Christina Aguilera Highlights Hunger In Guatemala

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Christina Aguilera and her husband Jordan Bratman recently traveled with the UN World Food Programme to villages in the Guatemalan highlands near Lake Atitlan, where up to 80 percent of the indigenous children are malnourished. Guatemala has the fourth highest child malnutrition rate in the world.

“I wanted to see with my own eyes what hunger means,” she said. “I don’t think I can ever forget these images. The people of WFP do such a great job helping hungry children and mothers. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful project and incredible team.”

WFP brings life-saving food assistance to some 350,000 people in Guatemala – mostly women and children. It works closely with the Guatemalan government to battle chronic hunger.

“WFP urgently needs donations to keep feeding some 150,000 women and undernourished children – I want to raise awareness and open people’s eyes so they can get the funds they need to keep on working,” said Aguilera.
Many of the children Aguilera saw were much shorter than normal for their age – a consequence of not getting enough healthy food at an early age.

“One of the biggest lessons I’m taking away from this trip is the importance of healthy food. If a child under two doesn’t get the nutrients they need, we can never fix the damage later on,” the singer said.

Aguilera is also raising awareness of the hunger issue by appearing in the World Hunger Relief campaign’s new global public service announcement and advertisement, made possible by KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, that will start airing at the end of September. The black and white PSA captures Aguilera, accompanied by a guitarist, attracting a crowd on a busy corner in Los Angeles as she sings Beautiful to raise money for hunger relief. Graphics illustrate that everyone can do something to help, “all it takes is a dollar and you, hope is in your hands.”

Aguilera will also appear in World Hunger Relief restaurant posters with the quote, “Together, we have the power to save lives and go from hunger to hope” and online efforts, including the campaign’s web site FromHungertoHope.com.

Global hunger has reached epic proportions this year – with more than 1 billion hungry people around the world – due to the convergence of the global economic slowdown; high food prices; increased competition for products that produce energy; severe droughts and floods due to climate change; and increasing demand from growing economies in Asia and South America.

“As a mother, I think it’s unacceptable that a child dies every six seconds somewhere around the world from hunger and I want to do something about it,” said Aguilera. “By lending my voice in the new PSA for World Hunger Relief, I hope to raise even more awareness about the issue and move millions of people from hunger to hope.”

“As a society, we should not tolerate that global hunger is worse than ever this year with more than 1 billion people going to bed hungry every day,” said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. “We are thankful for Christina’s passion to join us in the fight against hunger and help us raise attention to this critical issue and save millions of lives. We believe it is our privilege and responsibility to find a meaningful solution to this problem.”

Novak, the presidents from KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, other senior executives and franchise leaders traveled to El Salvador in August to see WFP’s relief efforts. Yum! is announcing that it will donate the first $1 million it raises this year to El Salvador.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. WFP is currently facing critical funding shortfalls which means it is being forced to reduce, and in some cases, cut food rations to the world’s hungry, making the World Hunger Relief campaign even more crucial this year.

“WFP knows how to reach those most in need and will do what it takes to get a cup of food to any kid in the world,” said WFP’s Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. “But without funding, we can’t reach these kids. It takes just 25 cents to fill a cup with food. The World Hunger Relief campaign helps fill the cup for tens of thousands of kids – and we’re so grateful for it.”

This year, Yum! plans to generate the equivalent of nearly $50 million in awareness of the hunger issue through a PSA, advertising, public relations, web-based communications and in-restaurant posters. The Company’s employees and franchisees will be volunteering their time around the globe at hunger relief agencies, food banks, soup kitchens and launching fundraisers.

World Hunger Relief kicks off its month-long campaign in the U.S. starting Sept. 24 (Long John Silver’s/A&W All-American Food), Sept. 27 (Pizza Hut), Sept. 28 (KFC) and Oct. 8 (Taco Bell). Every U.S. dollar raised will provide four meals for hungry children.

Since World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, more than 1 million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than 9 million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has raised $36 million for WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide approximately 160 million meals and save the lives of about 4 million people in remote corners of the world.

Stars To Come Out For An Evening Of Women

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of celebrities will attend tonight’s (April 24) “An Evening Of Women: Celebrating Art, Music and Equality” at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Presented by the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, the annual event is widely regarded as one of the premier events for women in California and the nation. According to the Center, “It continues to fulfill the purpose of its founder by inspiring women to participate in civil rights and social service causes, by showcasing the accomplishments of women leaders.”

The evening will feature performances by Christina Aguilera and Linda Perry, and a live auction hosted by Sharon Stone that includes items donated by Bette Midler, Pink, Gwen Stefani and Alicia Keys. Cybill Shepherd, Sarah Silverman, DJ Samantha Ronson, Eliza Dushku, Rosario Dawson, Leisha Hailey, Clementine Ford, Perez Hilton and many others are also expected to attend. The host committee includes Cher, Kristen Bell Eric Dane, Jared Leto, Alicia Silverstone, Ben Silverman, Slash and many more. Past presenters have included Kathy Bates, Ellen DeGeneres, Gillian Anderson, Stockard Channing, Lily Tomlin, Melissa Etheridge.

Previously known as Women’s Night, the event raises much-needed funds for the women-specific services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Gay & Lesbian Center programs and services supported by An Evening with Women include women’s health, legal assistance, domestic violence prevention & education, cultural programs, self-enrichment courses, social events and discussion groups.

General tickets to the event cost $300. To purchase tickets or find out more about the event, click here.

Grammy Charity Auction Set To Rock

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

With the Grammy Awards only days away, now is the time to bid on exclusive celebrity items in the annual Grammy Awards Charity Auction and help a good cause.

Going under the hammer this year are VIP experiences with Katy Perry and Kathy Griffin, guitars signed by AC/DC, Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Fall Out Boy and the Jonas Brothers, books signed by Mariah Carey, Slash, and Céline Dion, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the set of a Rihanna music video or photo shoot.

Also on offer are DVDs signed by Flight of the Conchords, drums signed by the Foo Fighters, and memorabilia signed by Sheryl Crow, Katherine McPhee, Jesse McCartney, Tom Jones, Christina Aguilera, Robert Plant, and Sarah McLachlan.

And for the person who thinks they have everything, the auction also offers the opportunity to receive a personal phone call from Aretha Franklin, who will share her favorite recipes with you!

The auction will benefit 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. It runs until February 19 and can be accessed here.

Christina Aguilera Performs At CNN Heroes Event

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pop singer Christina Aguilera joined fellow Grammy Award winners Alicia Keys and John Legend at the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute event that aired on CNN last night.

The event honored the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008, and was taped in front of an audience of 2,500 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Liz McCartney, dedicated to helping survivors of Hurricane Katrina rebuild their homes, was named 2008 CNN Hero of the Year, and will receive $100,000 to carry on her humanitarian work.

“In this time of economic turmoil, it is such a relief to know that there are people like these heroes, people who care more for others than they do for themselves,” said Anderson Cooper, who hosted the show.

Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek, John Krasinski, Forest Whitaker, Meg Ryan, Terrence Howard, Lucy Liu, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale and Selena Gomez were among the stars that attended the event.

Aguilera has also spoken out about the recent Prop 8 decision and leant her support to the same-sex marriage campaign.

“They’re [gay couples] constantly pushing to be heard and given equal rights,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of unfairness that goes along with being gay, so the more I can do to give them a voice, then I’ll do so. But I think we’d be fooling ourselves if we thought that everywhere was accepting of gay rights and marriages. I think it’s unfair there has to be some kind of standard for marriage. Marriage should be about two people celebrating their love for each other. It shouldn’t have anything to do with someone’s sexual preference.”

Celebrity Endorsement Pulls Young Voters

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A new study has revealed how celebrity endorsement can encourage young people to vote.

“Celebrities have the power to motivate civic engagement regardless of their own grasp of the issues at hand,” reported a study by Washington State University published in the Mass Communication and Society journal. “Celebrity endorsed campaigns successfully lowered complacency and helped young people believe in their own impact on the political system. Young people got involved at higher levels and became increasingly aware of societal issues.”

According to the study, initiatives from stars such as Jessica Alba – who recently featured in several ad campaigns for Declare Yourself – as well as Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé Knowles have influenced the youth vote in America. 44% of newly registered voters in 2004 were between 18 and 25.

This year’s voters have been encouraged by a host of celebrity campaigns, such as Death Cab for Cutie's free concert offer and the recent 5 Friends video that featured will.i.am, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Bacon, Maria Bello, Halle Berry, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Connolly, Courteney Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Jonah Hill, Djimon Hounsou, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Kiedis, Ashton Kutcher, Adam Levine, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore, Esai Morales, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, Ethan Suplee, Kyra Sedgwick, Michelle Trachtenberg, Usher, and Forest Whitaker.

About 44 million people aged 18 to 29 are eligible to vote in the November 4 presidential election. If young voter turnout exceeds 50%, it will be only the third time since the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1972.

Colin Powell Gets Funky For Africa

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Christina Aguilera and Seal may have headlined last night’s Africa Rising THISDAY Gala in London, but it was former US Secretary of State Colin Powell who stole the show with his funky Hip Hop dance.

The 71-year-old joined Nigerian rappers Olu Maintain on stage at the Royal Albert Hall for the show, which aimed to highlight the continent’s culture and talents.

“I stand before you as an African American,” he said before joining the group for their item. “Many people have said to me you became Secretary of State of the USA, is it still necessary to say that you are an African American or that you are black, and I say yes, so that we can remind our children. It took a lot of people struggling to bring me to this point in history. I didn’t just drop out of the sky, people came from my continent in chains.”

The musical acts were followed by a fashion show featuring Sudanese model Alek Wek and Tyson Beckford and the latest trends from the House of Momo.

“Asia is expanding, it created jobs for people, and Eastern Europeans are doing the same, in my continent – Latin America, it’s happening also – it’s now Africa’s turn,” continued Powell. “[With] all this wealth creation going on in the world, it won’t happen with just wishing, it will be done with hard work. Africa needs aid, but more than that it needs trade – it needs capital, but it has the same potential as Asia and Eastern European countries. There’s no reason a new Africa can’t be created here and now.”

The concert was the final leg in a four-show series that kicked off in Abuja in July before heading to Lagos and Washington DC, and featured performances from Youssou N'Dour, Jay-Z and John Legend. The shows also raised money for Africa Rising, an organization established in 2006 to reflect the culture and positive attributes of Africa’s social, political and economic progress.

“As Secretary of State, I pushed for support for the continent,” said Powell. “Aid quadrupled during my tenure. We supported the fight against HIV/AIDS with over $15 billion. However, Africans must rise and take the responsibility for the development of the continent. They must end the wars. They must fight corruption.”

John Mayer Explores Arts With Tony Bennett

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

John Mayer joined Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg, and Terrence Howard at a special art’s education benefit on Tuesday night.

The 30-year-old singer/songwriter performed 3 songs – “Waiting on the World to Change,” “Daughters,” and “Find Another You” – at Tony Bennett's Exploring The Arts gala held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Hosted by Goldberg, the evening raised over $1.2 million for Bennett’s charity that supports arts education in public schools. Honored at the event were Reed Hastings, Chairman, President and CEO of Netflix; Sumner Redstone, Executive Chairman of Viacom and CBS Corporation; and Steve Wynn, Chairman of Wynn Resorts. Also in attendance were Katie Couric, Quincy Jones, and Rachael Ray. Tony Bennett closed the evening with trademark renditions of “Watch What Happens,” “For Once In My Life,” “I Got Rhythm,” “Who Cares,” “Fly Me To The Moon” and “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

As part of Bennett’s charity drive for the Exploring The Arts organization, an online auction is also currently running. Items up for grabs include meet-and-greets with Elton John, Katie Holmes, Andre Agassi, Bette Midler, Stephen Colbert, Kevin Spacey, Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire, as well as a dress owned by Christina Aguilera, signed prints and sunglasses from Bono, guitars signed by KD Lang and Sting, and many more items from Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Bruce Springsteen and others.

The auction – which ends on October 1 – can be accessed through the Charity Buzz website.

Jessica Alba Wants You To Declare Yourself

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Jessica Alba has appeared in a new advertisement and public service announcement aimed at energizing young adults to register and vote in the 2008 US election.

The 27-year-old actress – who appears in the adverts naked and wrapped in black electrical tape – is part of the “Only You Can Silence Yourself” campaign being run by Declare Yourself, a non-profit organization initiated in 2004 to energize and empower a new movement of young voters.

“If you don’t register and vote and make a difference, and hopefully change the bad things that are happening in our country, you are essentially just binding and muzzling yourself,” she said. “I really don’t see the point in not registering to vote. We sign up for MySpace pages and Facebook pages, and download music off the internet. The least people can do is register to vote online, actually making a difference in their world, not just making their lives a little bit cooler. It makes more sense to spend your time making a change in society—and it actually doesn’t take that much time! It takes more time to make a music playlist than it does to register to vote.”

According to their website, Declare Yourself registered over one million young people in the 2004 and 2006 elections. Founded by television producer and philanthropist Norman Lear, the campaign has gathered support from a wide range of stars, including Ben Affleck, Christina Aguilera, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore and many more. Declare Yourself aims to empower and encourage every eligible 18-year-old in America to register and vote in the presidential primaries and 2008 presidential election, using the power of media partnerships, celebrity spokespeople, the sports arena, and mobile and Internet technology.

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.

Celebrities Hair the Call of Charity

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:44:09 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

When most people think of Ken Paves, they think of big hair. The “hairstylist of the stars”, dubbed by the world’s media as the “hottest hairdresser in Hollywood”, is the man responsible for taming the locks of celebrities such as Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, and many more of the most beautiful people on the planet.

But now the stylist with the golden scissors has moved from big hair to big give with a new online auction he has organized through the Kompolt Online Auction Agency.

Inspired by the good deeds being achieved by the hit series “Oprah’s Big Give”, Paves has teamed up with a host of his celebrity friends to launch what could be the hottest auction this year, with all proceeds going to the EB Medical Research Foundation. So if it is once-in-a-lifetime celebrity items and experiences you want, hold on to your toupées and read on.

The auction, which can be accessed through eBay, runs until April 7, and features items from stars such as Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Sharon Stone, Marcia Cross, Bette Midler, and the Eagles. There are signed posters from Jessica Simpson, Eva Longoria, Carmen Electra, and John Travolta, and enough autographed photographs to cover the inside of even the biggest make-up trailer, including snaps from Courteney Cox, Jewel, and Christina Aguilera. And if it is clothes you are after, why not bid on a T-shirt signed by David Arquette, Ashlee Simpson, or Pete Wentz, a soccer jersey autographed by David Beckham, or slip into Victoria Beckham's jeans.

If that is not enough to send shivers of anticipation through any star-hungry bidder, there is also the opportunity to snap up concert tickets – including meet-and-greets – to shows by Duran Duran and Céline Dion, as well as the chance to hang out with Ashlee Simpson and to visit the set of Scrubs with Donald Faison. There is even the opportunity to take a trip to Ken Paves’ salon with Eva Longoria.

Paves, who is also a spokesperson for Operation Smile, has chosen the EB Medical Research Foundation to recieve 100% of the proceeds from the auction.

The EBMRF is dedicated to increasing awareness of Epidermolysis Bullosa, a condition that affects the skin and can cause painful wounds, similar to burns, to form over up to 75% of a child’s body. Courteney Cox and David Arquette recently pledged to raise $1 million for the foundation.
More information about the disease, as well as the opportunity to purchase a special necklace designed by Cox and Arquette, can be found at www.ebkids.org.

Celebrity Designed Corsets On Auction

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:06:55 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Some of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities have teamed up to design a series of corsets to be auctioned off in October.

Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, and Jessica Biel are just some of the stars who have submitted designs for the 4th annual Frederick’s Of Hollywood Celebrity Corset Auction. The event, which is being run in conjunction with the internet charity auction site Clothes Off Our Back, will raise money for a variety of children’s charities, including Second Harvest, a non-profit organization that benefits the hungry, The Art of Elysium, which uses art to help the sick, and World Education, a charity that provides training to underprivileged children around the world. Some of the proceeds will also go towards research into autism.

“In previous years, we got $18,000 for Charlize Theron's corset and $10,000 for Nicole Kidman's," said Frederick’s of Hollywood’s Erin Dominguez. “Each year we set the bar higher and hope to get more.”

To create the pieces, the celebrities were each given a special design kit to make a sketch of their creation. It was then up to costume designer Linda Stokes, best known for dressing Gwen Stefani on tour, to produce the garments.

“You get to draw and sketch,” said Eva Longoria about her design. “And I sketched some tulle at the top and it has all of this beading.”

Andy Garcia, star of the Ocean’s 11 movies, was inspired in his design by the flag of his native Cuba. Others took a more fanciful approach, with Ashley Olsen's design dripping black feathers, and Kyra Sedgwick's creation appearing to have garbage trailing off the hem. Other celebrities involved in the campaign include Christina Aguilera, actress and Clothes Off Our Back founder Jane Kaczmarek, Maria Menounos, Gabrielle Union, Ashlee Simpson, Mandy Moore, Debra Messing, Fergie, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.

The event kicked off on October 25, with a live auction hosted at Frederick’s flagship store on Hollywood Boulevard, and the online auction runs until November 5 on www.clothesoffourback.org.

“I think you should bid on any and all of them,” said Oscar nominee Julianne Moore, whose peacock inspired design is featured in the auction. “I love them, and it’s a great cause.”

New CD To Raise Aid For Darfur

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:28:22 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur is a new CD that seeks to raise aid for the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur. It features the music of John Lennon recorded by some of the world’s best known musicians.

U2, Green Day, Christina Aguilera, and Avril Lavigne are some of the 50 musical artists and groups that are included in the Amnesty International project.

The album was released around the world on 12 June by Warner Bros Records, and was put together by Amnesty International’s “Make Some Noise” initiative.

“Make Some Noise” is a global venture that hopes to inspire a new generation to stand up for human rights. It mixes music, celebration and action to protect people wherever freedom is denied. Yoko Ono has been a longtime supporter of the initiative, and donated the rights to the entire John Lennon songbook to the project.

“Music speaks the language of freedom, revolution and solidarity. Without that freedom – without music that is angry, joyful and necessary – we are nothing” she said of the album’s release.

The CD calls attention to the war-torn countries of Darfur and Chad. All proceeds from the album and music downloads will go towards alleviating the risk of starvation and disease in these areas.

Other artists featured on the CD include Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz, Jack Johnson, and Ben Harper. REM is also featured, and drummer Bill Berry came out of retirement to record the track “#9 Dream”. It is the first time the original four band members, including singer Michael Stipe, have been in the studio together since 1997.

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