Look To The Stars News: Pelé

Pelé To Be Honored By The Littlest Lamb

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Football fans take note: The Littlest Lamb, a non-profit organization building an orphanage in Egypt, is honoring legendary soccer star and social activist, Pelé, at their annual fundraising gala on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at The Battery Gardens in downtown Manhattan.

In addition to the major role he plays in the world of sports, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname Pelé, is a social activist, serving as a voice for the poor, and specifically committed to focusing his energy on improving the conditions of children living in poverty.

“For all that he has given to society, particularly his outreach, dedication and service to the underprivileged, we could not think of a more worthy recipient to pay tribute to,” states board member Mira Riad. “We are truly honored to have the privilege of raising awareness and support for this noble cause with such a legend as Pelé in what promises to be an incredibly magical and memorable evening.”

The Littlest Lamb is a U.S. based non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe, loving and supportive home for children who have lost one or both parents in Egypt. Their vision is simple – provide orphaned children with a good home (both structurally and emotionally), an education, and the proper attention, love and care and prepare them to be leaders of generations to come. They believe that by giving our future children these basic tools, they will have the chance to rise above and break the vicious cycle of poverty and to become contributing members of society.

Very limited seating for this highly exclusive event at $500 a plate which includes fine food and drink, traditional, live Egyptian music and a silent auction. Access to a private cocktail hour with Pelé will be included with Platinum level donations.

For more information, to purchase tickets or to find out how to help, please visit www.thelittlestlamb.org.

Stars Swing For Charity

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

Beckham Presents Award To Pelé At Charity Dinner

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:02:14 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Several hundred people packed into Gotham Hall in midtown Manhatten yesterday, March 19, for a special charity dinner to raise funds for a children’s soccer charity. And the biggest drawcard was the presentation of an award from one soccer legend to another.

David Beckham said he was humbled to present a lifetime achievement award to Brazilian soccer star Pelé at the ceremony, which was held to benefit Harlem Youth Soccer, a recreational league designed to create a safe opportunity for fair and enjoyable play for inner city youth in New York.

“For me to be here to present this to the greatest sportsmen of all time, I feel particularly honored,” said the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder. “This absolutely is a highlight moment for me.”

Pelé is widely regarded as one of the best soccer players to ever grace the field, and has been voted Player of the Century by FIFA and Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee. The 67-year-old helped his native Brazil win three World Cups before moving to North America in 1975.

The $1,250-a-head charity dinner, chaired by former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr, aimed to raise $300,000 for Harlem Youth Soccer, a club that provides an opportunity for youth to have fun and fosters a spirit of good sportsmanship for players, parents, and coaches. Beckham said he became energized about Harlem’s potential when he was the centerpiece of a clinic for Harlem players last August.

“To have the children down there and to see their smiles, that’s why we have an event like this,” said Beckham. “For me to spend the afternoon I did in Harlem, it was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had.”

Proceeds from the evening will go towards a $1 million new field planned for the non-profit club.

“It’s critical for the kids of the inner city to really reach out,” said Bush who, along with Clinton, was unable to attend the dinner. “It will change lives.”

“Harlem is a wonderful diverse community,” added Clinton in a taped message. He went on to say that participating in sports would help children “reach the ultimate goal—to become leaders off the field.”

Yao Ming-Steve Nash Charity Gala & Basketball Game in Beijing

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:52:58 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Two of the NBA’s greatest players joined forces to raise money for various charities in Beijing, and it took just under six-months for Yao Ming and Steve Nash to bring their idea to fruition.

The Steve Nash-Yao Ming Charity Basketball Game and events were held September 12-14 and raised over $2M for needy kids in China.

“I was talking with a friend of mine about the difficulties the children face there,” Nash told Suns.com. “I feel really fortunate that I am in a position where I was able to go to Yao Ming and ask him if he was interested in doing something over there. It’s an exciting opportunity to go to China and hopefully give thousands of kids an opportunity for an education that right now doesn’t exist.”

So, on September 12th, Nash, Yao and nine other NBA players kicked off their collaboration with a press conference that coincidently fell on Yao’s 27th birthday. Yao explained that this was simply a coincidence while thanking his friends for joining him to do something for the kids in China.

Steve Nash has already proven himself a true humanitarian. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who’s got a bad thing to say about the 2-time MVP. Generous, sincere, caring, socially responsible. That’s what Nash is made of. In the off-season, you won’t find him partying in Las Vegas, you’ll find him giving back to the community-whether its raising money by hosting his Steve Nash Charity Classic basketball game or opening an “eco-friendly” sports club in Canada, this guy is good. In fact, he’s so good that he even chartered a plane and flew the players playing for his team to China, namely, Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Baron Davis (Golden State Warriors), Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix Suns), Chuck Hayes (Houston Rockets), Alando Tucker (Phoenix Suns), DJ Strawberry (Phoenix Suns), Amir Johnson (Detroit Pistons), and Paul Davis (L.A. Clippers).

All 9 NBA players attended the Charity Auction Party, which took place at the Diao Yu Tai State Guest House on the 13th. Ironically, this is the same location where the 6-country nuclear talks between North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, USA and China were held, making it an ideal location for NBA good guys to showcase their remarkable intentions. The following 7 items were auctioned during the Charity Gala (winning bids are approximate):

6 VIP tickets for the Charity Gala game on the 14th + 10 autographed jerseys from the Nash Invitational Team (including Yao Ming) + 12 basketballs autographed by the China national team: $39,000.
2 VIP tickets each for the October China Game in Shanghai and Macau + 2 autographed jerseys of Lebron James and Dwight Howard + 5-star hotel accommodation for 2 nights in Shanghai and Macau: $16,000. (Winner bidder Song Tao, former Chinese National team center)
Autographed jerseys of Yao Ming and Steve Nash, 2 VIP tickets (with Les Alexander’s signature/approval to be closest to the court) for Houston Rockets versus Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center + 2 passes to the Rockets players’ locker room + lunch with Yao Ming and Steve Nash: $132,000.
An exclusive VISA platinum card with the imprint of Yao Ming and Steve Nash images on it; the only one in the world. $59,000.
An autographed jersey of soccer legend Pelé + an autographed jersey of Michael Jordan in his 1996 championship campaign + autographed boxing glove of Muhammad Ali + autographed jersey of Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong: $50,000.
2 VIP tickets for the opening ceremony of 2008 Olympics + 1 weeks’ 5-star hotel accommodation in Beijing + 2 round-trip first class air tickets to Beijing from anywhere in the world: $478,000 .
The China Discovery Car which has traveled all over China: $86,000. (Won by Lu Hao, Yao Ming’s China agent)

A total of about $900,000-plus was raised at the auction gala, which was just shy of the original $1M target, but Yao was having none of it and generously kicked in his own money to make up the difference. At one point during the auction, Golden State Warrior Baron Davis even took the stage, performing a few basketball tricks in efforts to bump up the bids.

On Friday, our NBA good guys joined members of the Chinese National Basketball Team to showcase their skills in the star-studded charity game at the Beijing Capital Stadium. The sold-out event gave all 12,000 attendees more than their moneys worth. Team Yao defeated Team Nash 101-92 in a game watched by over 200 million television viewers in China. Prior to the game, Nash pumped up his team and gave a heartfelt speech in the locker room, thanking them for traveling a long distance to join him for this effort. Actor Jackie Chan even made a guest appearance and conducted the ceremonial toss at mid-court to start the game.

SportsBusinessRadio.com’s writer Brian Berger was granted all access for the event, and writes: “Yao Ming came in the locker room after tonight’s charity game and thanked the NBA players who played in tonight’s game. He spoke of how much the effort means to him and to the Chinese people and how impressed he was that these players flew halfway around the world just a few weeks prior to the start of training camp. He told the players in the locker room that if he could ever assist them with their charitable efforts, he’d be happy to do so. It was a really nice moment for these players who play in the most exclusive basketball fraternity on the planet – the NBA. Once Yao finished his speech, the Team Nash players sang a song that the game operations people played whenever Yao scored in tonight’s game. Its a cheesy but catchy song that chants, “Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming……..Yao Ming, Yao Ming”. The Chinese fans love it though.”

In total the charity game and related events raised close to $2.5M for kids in China. Specifically, the funds will be used to support and build more Project Hope schools in the poorer area of China’s Western regions; to help impoverished girls in the Xinjiang Kezilesu Keerkzi Autonomous Region to receive education; to upgrade the facilities of schools for mentally challenged children in Western China and to work with children with AIDS through the Chi Heng Foundation which also supports the Special Olympics and China Youth Development Foundation.

For this, we thank you Yao Ming, Steve Nash and all the NBA good guys who were involved in spreading some much needed love around the world.

90 Minutes for Mandela

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:49:51 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

A host of international football stars, past and present, will play in Cape Town to honour former South African president Nelson Mandela on July 18, the start of his 90th year. This is the second time Mandela has received such an honour and the only person whom FIFA has honoured more than once.

“There is no other former head of state than Mandela who has a grasp of the role of sport in transformation,” says Danny Jordaan CEO for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

Besides standing against apartheid, playing football became a mental and physical diversion for inmates jailed with Mandela at Robben Island. Says Tokyo Sexwale, former prisoner and a high commissioner of FIFA’s ‘Say no to Racism’ campaign, “Football was used to fight for the change we now enjoy, it kept us alive and we forgot we were prisoners. (We) used the power of football as an instrument of resistance against the apartheid regime.”

Pelé, FIFA’s Player of the Century and Brazil’s national treasure, will also be there. Raised in a ghetto where he used a sock stuffed with newspaper as a football, Pelé won his first World Cup at age 17. Now, 30 years in retirement, he once again takes to the field. He’s 67.

Proceeds of the game will go to social programs in South Africa, including Mandela’s 46664 HIV/Aids awareness campaign.

Kylie, Moby and McCartney Give Charity Canvases

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:44:33 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

The Hospital Gallery in London’s Covent Garden is to exhibit a collection of celebrities’ paintings before they are sold at auction to aid Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Celebrity contributors to “The Alive and Well Dog Project” include artist Damien Hirst, and such stars as Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Moby, legendary soccer player Pelé, and comedian Ricky Gervais. Each of the 130 contributed paintings is an interpretation of a doodled dog drawn by the six-year-old son of event organiser Simon Freedman. The auction could raise as much as £300,000 for the children’s hospital.

The exhibition will run from January 29 to February 7, with the auction taking place at the gallery itself on January 31. A book of the project will also be available, in a limited run of 600 copies.

Great Ormond Street Hospital was famously given the rights to “Peter Pan” by author J. M. Barrie.

Look To The Stars News: Pelé

Pelé To Be Honored By The Littlest Lamb

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