Look To The Stars News: Henry Winkler

Celebrities Select Favorite Poetry For Charity Book

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

A book of children’s poems, selected by famous British personalities including Phil Tufnell, Richard Hammond and Sienna Miller as their ‘childhood favourite’, has been launched in aid of The Children’s Trust, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009.

The anthology of poems at just £4.99 – with £4.50 from each book going directly to the charity – will make a wonderful stocking filler for children.

Amongst other celebrities who have submitted their favourite verses are: award-winning author Jacqueline Wilson, Elaine Paige, Paul O’Grady, McFly, Lorraine Kelly, Quentin Blake, Rebecca Romero, Henry Winkler, Michael Absalom, Penny Smith, Lucy Speed, Simon Shaw, Helen Skelton, Dani Harmer (Tracy Beaker), Andrew Castle, Vic Reeves and Nancy Sorrell, with poetry writing tips from Colin West.   Adding her support to the charity’s commemorative fundraising project, is the UK’s new poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, who has written the foreword.

The book of poetry and illustrations also includes a witty verse – based on a theme ‘Laughter – what makes you laugh?’ – written by 10-year-old Francesca Major from Looe, Cornwall, winner of a recent national, children’s competition aimed at budding young writers. The winning verse is featured with some of the nation’s most famous poems, including The Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll, which has been selected by famous illustrator, Quentin Blake, whose special illustration of the poem appears on the front cover of the book. All the additional illustrations for the book are by children from The Children’s Trust.

Francesca Major’s school – Polperro Primary School, Looe, will also benefit from her success by receiving £500 worth of Walker books. The official poetry book launch, which will be a special celebration for press, celebrities and young people, including children from The Children’s Trust, will be hosted by The Draycott Education Centre and Draycott Nursing and Care in Chelsea at the end of October.

Money from the sale of the poetry books will help to enhance the lives of children with severe disabilities.   The Children’s Trust is a British charity that provides care, education and therapy for children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs, and rehabilitation services to children with an acquired brain injury.

Published in association with Walker Books, the paperback can be purchased on-line from The Children’s Trust at: www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/walrusbook.

Ted Danson To Lead Young Storytellers Festival

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Ted Danson, Henry Winkler, Zachary Levi, Anthony LaPaglia and a host of other stars will host a special outdoor festival to encourage literacy in September.

Storypalooza is a festival featuring children’s storytelling games, musical guests, and a live performance of scripts by an all-star cast. The festival is being organized by the Young Storytellers Foundation, a Los Angeles based non-profit organization dedicated to developing literacy, self-expression and self-esteem in elementary school students through the art of storytelling. The Foundation offers a uniquely engaging and effective arts education and youth development program to targeted elementary schools in Los Angeles where students are at-risk and have little or no access to the arts. Twice a year at more than 30 schools, the program pairs 10 students from 4th or 5th grade with 10 mentors. The mentors volunteer one lunch hour a week for seven weeks to guide and encourage the students as they imagine and develop their own short screenplay. In the eighth week, professional Hollywood actors perform the students’ scripts for a live audience.

Storypalooza – which also features appearances by Ben McKenzie, Tate Donovan, Josh Radnor, Mary Steenburgen and many more – will take place on September 26 at Crossroads Elementary School in Santa Monica. More info can be found here.

Miley Cyrus To Give Her Time For Heroes

Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Miley Cyrus will perform at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s 20th annual A Time for Heroes Celebrity Picnic next month.

Over the last 20 years, A Time for Heroes has earned a reputation as a unique event of exceptional quality and entertainment value. Most importantly, A Time for Heroes is a crucial funding source for the Foundation’s programs — raising more than $30 million since the event began in 1990.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is dedicated to creating a future of hope for children and families worldwide by eradicating pediatric AIDS, providing care and treatment to people with HIV/AIDS, and accelerating the discovery of new treatments for other serious and life-threatening pediatric illnesses.

The picnic will take place at the Wadsworth Theatre Grounds in Los Angeles on June 7 and is expected to attract celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Tom Arnold, Seth Green, Shenae Grimes, Angie Harmon, Tony Hawk, Melissa Joan Hart, Kate Linder, Peter Wentz, Henry Winkler, Kim Kardashian, Kevin Sorbo, Sharon Stone, Seal, Ashlee Simpson and many more.

In past years, guests have been treated to such one-of-a-kind moments as Tom Cruise in the dunk tank and Jack Nicholson reading in the storytelling area. In addition to interacting with their favorite celebrities, guests are treated to an array of culinary treats from some of Los Angeles’ finest restaurants, including Beacon: An Asian Café, Clementine, Crustacean, Drago Ristorante, and, of course, Pink’s Hot Dogs among others. A Time for Heroes is expected to raise approximately $1.5 million to help the Foundation create a generation free of HIV.

The charity is also giving you and three guests the opportunity to meet Miley Cyrus at the event and walk the red carpet as part of an online auction. Be the envy of all of your friends as you make your way backstage for a special meet-and-greet/photo op with superstar Miley Cyrus! To make the day even more special, you and your guests will receive front-row access during Miley’s rockin’ performance!

To be part of the auction, visit the Charity Folks website before May 28.

To find out more about the picnic and purchase tickets, click here.

Henry Winkler Wins Cash For Charity

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Henry Winkler has won £40,000 (US$56,000) for an education charity in a radio competition.

The former Happy Days star was chosen in a public vote for the “Who’s Calling Christian?” competition on Absolute Radio in the UK, in which people had to get stars to call the station in order to win £20,000 for themselves, and £40,000 for the charity of the celebrity’s choice.

“I’m just so grateful to everyone who voted for me… and you can all start your weekend knowing you’ve done a very good thing,” said Winkler on Friday. “The Teaching Awards really deserve it. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to win this for teachers.”

Winkler chose the Teaching Awards Trust – which recognizes inspirational teachers – as the recipient of the prize money. Winkler is a patron of the Trust, and an ambassador for excellence in education.

“It’s the teachers that make the difference; there is nothing more important than getting a good education,” said Sophie Byatt, managing director of the Teaching Awards Trust. “It’s the key to helping young people grow up to lead happy and fulfilled lives and it is the teachers that achieve this. We don’t thank teachers enough for the essential work that they do, the Teaching Awards gives us all a chance to say thank you.”

Winkler was up against celebrities such as Simon Cowell and William Shatner in the competition.

Eat From Your Favorite Celebrity's Plate!

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:35:18 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

“Let them eat cake,” said Marie-Antoinette, the Queen consort of Louis XVI, and now you have the chance to do just that – eat cake from a plate designed and signed by one of Tinsletown’s finest.

The auction, currently underway at the Auction Wire website, features one-of-a-kind plates from stars such as Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, and Carmen Electra, and is raising money for the Parkinson Society Maritime Region – an organization in Canada that aims to be the voice of Maritimers living with Parkinson’s disease. Funds will be used to supply services such as exercise programs, speech therapy, massage therapy, conferences, and workshops, and will also be used towards the National Research Program of the Parkinson Society Canada.

“The Parkinson Society is thrilled that so many celebrities from a variety of backgrounds – movies, television, politics, the arts – have come together to raise awareness of Parkinson’s and raise funds through this auction of celebrity designed plates,” said Paul McNair, executive director of the Parkinson Society Maritime Region.

The auction – which also includes plates from Johnny Depp, Dwayne Johnson, William Shatner, Dakota Fanning, Martha Stewart, Henry Winkler, Jordin Sparks, Stephen Colbert, Sarah McLachlan, Muhammad Ali, Phil Collins, Chris Daughtry, and Rob Lowe – runs until May 11.

Celebrity Doodle Sale For Genetic Disorder

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:48:44 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

One of the most exciting celebrity auctions of the year will take place in May to raise funds for an organization supporting sufferers of a painful and disfiguring condition.

National Doodle Day will kick off on May 8 as part of Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month, and will mark the start of a week-long auction of over 100 celebrity doodles from stars such as Ellen DeGeneres, Scarlett Johansson, and Goldie Hawn. Money from the doodles, which were hand-drawn by each celebrity on a 5" by 8" card, will benefit Neurofibromatosis, Inc., a national organization that supports NF patients, their families, and research into the disorder.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is one of the most common genetic disorders in the Untied States, affecting one in every 2,500 births. It is a disorder of the nervous system that causes tumors to form on the nerves anywhere in the body at any time, and can lead to disfigurement, deafness, blindness, seizures, bone deformities, and cancer. Half of the children born with the condition have no family history of the disorder, so it can strike in any family without warning.

The doodle auction runs from May 8 to 18, and follows a successful auction run by the organization last year that featured one-of-a-kind works of art from Cindy Crawford, Kathy Griffin, Kenny G, Josh Groban, Jay Leno, Rick Springfield, Donald Trump, and The Fonz himself, Henry Winkler. However, the highest bid went to a drawing from Barack Obama, which sold for a massive $2,075.

Funds raised from the Doodle Day auction this year will go to support education, advocacy, coalitions, and research for treatments and a cure. Other stars who have put their drawing skills to good use include Gillian Anderson, Candice Bergen, Jeff Bridges, David Cassidy, Dom DeLuise, Garfield creator Jim Davis, Julia Louis Dreyfus, David Duchovny, Seth Green, and many more. There is also an autographed photo and NCIS call-sheet from Mark Harmon on offer.

To view the doodles for sale, visit the Doodle Day website or www.nfinc.org.

Look To The Stars News: Henry Winkler

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