Look To The Stars News: Paul Simon

Stars Swing For Charity

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Chevy Chase and Alec Baldwin took their chance to swing for charity on Saturday, August 16, when they competed in the annual Artists & Writers Softball Game in East Hampton.

In what started as an evenly matched game, Chase turned the tide in favor of the Artists team when it was down 2-0 to eventually win 4-2, their second win in two years. Baldwin acted as umpire for the game. This year marked the 60th anniversary of the annual game, a tradition started by artists including Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

The event raised $60,000 for three charities – the East End Hospice, the East Hampton Day Care Centre, and Phoenix House – a facility that specializes in drug rehabilitation.

Chase and Baldwin were joined by celebrities such as Kim Stolz, Lori Singer, Mort Zuckerman, Jeffrey Lyons, and Mark Green. They join a long list of stars who have taken part in the game over the last 60 years, including Paul Simon, Christie Brinkley, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Alda, Pelé, and Bill Clinton. This year’s game was played in memory of actor Roy Scheider, a veteran of the Artists team, who died in February at age 75.

Rosie O'Donnell Holds Benefit Show For Broadway Kids

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:41:19 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Rosie O’Donnell has done it again, raising over $1 million for her “kids” in one evening of music and dance entertainment late last year.

Joan Rivers, Caroline Rhea, Jo Anne Worley, and Linda Dano were among the guests who enjoyed Rosie’s Broadway Kids benefit show, in which students from her theatre schools performed Broadway classics, and Paul Simon sang “Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes”, with students joining in song and dance. The evening also included a boisterous live auction that raised over $110,000.

O’Donnell’s dedication to helping kids born into poverty through the support and development of programs and activities that would otherwise be inaccessible to them is persistent. Her Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation has awarded over $30 million in grants to child-related organizations since its inception in 1997. She also created Rosie’s Broadway Kids, which provides free music and dance instruction to over 5100 students, family members, and teachers through 22 New York public schools, and last year the institution built the Maravel Center, a state-of-the-art school for performing arts.

“We started with one school in the theatre district in 2003,” explained Rosie. “And it was right in the heart of Broadway. To me there was something very poetic about the fact that all these kids walk past these theatres everyday and never ever have a chance to go inside. It’s like living in Hawaii and not having access to the beach.

“Over 80% of the children we serve with this program live below the poverty level. When the families came to see the kids it was pretty overwhelming. So many of the parents were crying. They had never seen their kids perform.”

Annie Lennox Leads Women To Sing For AIDS Projects

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:17:21 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Annie Lennox’s new album, Songs of Mass Destruction, due out October 1 promises “not to be lightweight, easy listening, coffee house kinda stuff.” According to Lennox’s website, Sing, a powerful feminist anthem on the album, will feature 23 of the most recognized and successful female solo artists in the world, including Madonna, Shakira, Joss Stone, Dido and Céline Dion.

Inspired by her involvement with both Nelson Mandela’s 46664 and Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and its vocal group, The Generics, organizations that support health care for HIV/AIDS patients, Annie created Sing to raise funds for TAC’s HIV/AIDS projects. The Generics are also featured in her new album.

Another not-for-profit organization based in South Africa, Life College, has also attracted Lennox’s attention. Life College offers educational and mentoring services to families to substantially improve their levels of success in life. Included in the curriculum is a Life Champion Leadership Programme, which pairs students with people who have achieved high levels of professional success, like Annie Lennox, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, top athletes and prominent business people. It’s said to be one of the best, life changing aspects of the course.

Lennox agrees: “I wish that there could be a Life College in every part of the world, and I wish I could attend it myself! It teaches people the skills to create a positive way forward into leading a constructive and successful life, both personally and professionally.”

Lopez, Marc Anthony, Paul Simon United For Children's Health

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:05:27 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Singer Paul Simon, Co-Founder of the Children’s Health Fund, was joined by Honorary Co-Chairs Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez for the charity’s 20th Anniversary Gala. Simon hosted the event, and CHF Advisory Board Member Anthony performed.

The charity advocates policies and public programs that promote quality health care for all children, and it partners with major medical centers to deliver care to disadvantaged children.

Marc Anthony himself benefitted from similar health programs as a child in New York City, and he told Access Hollywood, “This is basic healthcare, healthcare for children who otherwise do not have access … and I’ll support that as long as they need me. It’s a cause that I’m really, really close to.”

Lopez added, “I think it’s our responsibility as human beings to do as much as we can to help each other. And for us, for me, I’ve always had close to my heart the children’s charities.”

Former President Bill Clinton also made a special appearance, and was honored with a Humanitarian Award.

Look To The Stars News: Paul Simon

Stars Swing For Charity

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