Look To The Stars News: Helen Mirren

A Wave Of Charity Auctions Hit The Web

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:47:04 -0000

The surf’s up for those interested in celebrity internet auctions this week, with three major auctions being run for good causes.

First up is a selection of exclusive tickets to the fifth annual Kokua Festival to be held in Honolulu on April 19. The sold-out concert will feature performances by Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews, and proceeds will go to the Kokua Hawaii Foundation – an organization founded by Johnson and his wife, Kim, that supports environmental education in the schools and communities of Hawaii. The funds raised from the Kokua Festival will be used to further support school recycling on Oahu and sponsor field trips to provide students with opportunities and experiences that will enhance their appreciation of the environment.

The two pairs of tickets are available through the Dave Matthews Band website for another four days. Other acts expected to appear at the gig include Tim Reynolds, Paula Fuga, and Brushfire Record’s latest signing, Mason Jennings.

Another auction budding bidders must be quick to get to is raising money for Sense, the UK’s largest organization for children and adults who are both deaf and blind.

The auction features a selection of clothing donated by some of Britain’s biggest stars, including Ewan McGregor, Shirley Bassey, Helen Mirren, and Harry Potter stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. There is also a Versace jacket signed by Kevin Spacey up for grabs, as well as a bra signed by former Page 3 girl Samantha Fox.

“When Sense asked me to give them the clothes of my back – I was only too happy to hand over my bra,” said Fox. “These clothes are a charity auction with a difference. All the money raised from the celebrity items in store will raise vital funds for deafblind people, helping them to lead independent lives.”

Sense was founded in 1955, and is passionate about changing the lives of those affected by deafblindness and advocating for them to be accepted into the community. The auction can be accessed through eBay Giving Works, but the opportunity ends in the next few days.

Finally today, fans of the FX Network’s hit series The Riches will be excited to hear that season two of the show begins on March 18. But what may excite them even more is the new auction being run in conjunction with the premiere.

As well as a selection of awesome items up for auction – including lunch and a photo opportunity with The Riches star Minnie Driver, authentic props from the set, tickets to FX premieres, and a swag of autographed posters, DVDs, and scripts – the big drawcard is the chance to win $100,000 just by bidding.

“On The Riches it is all about the big score, but this show has heart,” said Stephanie Gibbons of the FX Network. “With this auction we’re able to tie in both themes, giving someone the chance to get the win money while making a difference. We couldn’t be more excited to work with eBay and see this auction come to fruition.”

All of the proceeds will go to Oxfam America, and the auction can be accessed through eBay. Bidding opens on March 13 and runs until March 23.

Oxfam Auctions Celebrity Experiences

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:57:21 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

“If you are the kind of person that always wanted to see middle aged men in tight spandex trying to sing, then this is the film for you…”

These are not the kind of words you would expect to come from one of Britain’s leading actors, but Colin Firth is talking about Mamma Mia, his upcoming movie based on the hit stage musical. And two lucky people have the chance to see the spandex clad actors stretch their vocal cords at the world premiere in July.

International relief and development agency Oxfam America has launched a series of exciting celebrity auctions to benefit their poverty relief and advocacy efforts around the world. Six of the hottest celebrities on the planet have put a wave of once-in-a-lifetime experiences up for bid on eBay, with 100% of the proceeds going to Oxfam. But eager fans had better be quick – each celebrity will only list their items for 10 days.

Colin Firth is kicking off the fundraising initiative by auctioning two VIP passes to the World Premiere of Mamma Mia in London, including the opportunity to attend the after party with a chauffeured car service and a meet-and-greet with Firth.

The 47-year-old actor has worked with Oxfam for over five years, and in 2006 was nominated for European Campaigner of the Year. Firth has also traveled to Ethiopia and co-founded the fair trade coffee chain Cafe Progreso with Oxfam.

Firth is also auctioning a special personalized video birthday greeting to one lucky bidder, as well as tickets to the Mamma Mia premieres in Berlin and Stockholm. Several signed DVDs are also on offer, and the auction can be accessed through eBay Giving Works. For more information, Firth has posted a personal message on YouTube.

The Colin Firth auction will be followed by a similar auction featuring Scarlett Johansson on March 2. The 23-year-old starlet and Oxfam Ambassador is auctioning two tickets to be her guest at the June premiere of He’s Just Not That Into You, including hair and makeup services and a chauffeured car. This will be followed by an auction spotlighting Kristin Davis on March 12.

Davis, who has worked with Oxfam for two years and has traveled to South Africa and Mozambique as an Ambassador, is placing a “Sex and the City” experience up for bid. The package will feature two VIP passes to the Sex and the City movie premiere in New York in June, including a unique photo opportunity with Davis, hair and makeup services, Jimmy Choo shoes, and a chauffeured car service.

The celebrity auctions will run through to April 1, with auctions featuring Djimon Hounsou, Helen Mirren, and Felicity Huffman. More information can be found at Shop Victoriously.

Kristin Davis Supports Oxfam on Rachel Ray Show

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:57:59 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis is set to appear on the Rachael Ray Show today, with an adorable miniature donkey by her side.

The donkey will be there to help Kristin introduce Oxfam America Unwrapped. The Oxfam program supports poverty relief around the world, and allows gift-givers to purchase unusual items such as camels ($175 each), gender rights training ($90), one year’s irrigation for a farm ($120) or a can of worms ($18). The gift’s recipient receives a photo card of the gift, and information on how it is helping someone in need.

Oxfam America Unwrapped is mirrored across the Atlantic by Oxfam Unwrapped. Supported by Dame Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham Carter, and Will Young, the British Oxfam Unwrapped site allows givers to purchase 100 school lunches (£6/$12), teach a teacher (£24/$48) or provide safe drinking water (£18/$36).

Oxfam America strives to provide lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and social injustice in the US and around the world.

Johnny Depp and Daniel Radcliffe Items Raffled for Charity

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:11:19 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The Northampton Welfare Rights Advice Service is holding its annual Christmas raffle on Saturday, but this year the prizes will include contributions from celebrities like Johnny Depp, Daniel Radcliffe, Dame Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet.

Around 70 prizes, such as a theatre programme from Dame Judi Dench and an exclusive signed photo from Johnny Depp, are hoped to bring in additional funding for the organization to help raise awareness about the service it provides, which is advice about what state benefits are available to families, the disabled and people over 60. EastEnders, Holby City and The Bill have also donated momentos for Saturday’s event.

While Northampton is collecting celebrity possessions for raffle, NBC is collecting character and set items for auction. Starting Monday, NBC will auction up things like The Office character Michael Scott’s (Steve Carrell) watch and lucky tie, original paintings from the Heroes set, a poker game, props and clothing used by the cast of 30 Rock, and various other collectable pieces from Friday Night Lights and Las Vegas.

This first NBC auction will run from November 19 through December 3, with part of the proceeds benefiting United Way.

Oxfam Unwrapped For Christmas

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:39:20 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Dame Helen Mirren says “it’s ever so sad”. Singer Will Young invites people to look into his tear-filled, “weepy” eyes. And comedian Rob Brydon urges people to “give a loo [toilet] to the world”. Confused? Well, don’t be. It is all part of a new television advertisement for Oxfam Unwrapped, a fun campaign that aims to encourage people to buy presents with a positive impact this Christmas.

The advertisement, which has just gone to air in England, pokes fun at the traditional charity appeal ads that appear on our screens every Christmas, by stating how millions of people in Britain suffer every year from receiving gifts they do not want. It is a tongue-in-cheek way of raising awareness of the Oxfam campaign.

“Oxfam Unwrapped is a novel idea where you can buy friends and relatives presents that really make a difference to other people’s lives,“ said Helena Bonham Carter, who appears in the advertisement weeping over a novelty fish. “Why buy someone something they don’t want or need – like a flapping, singing fish? Oxfam’s gifts are life-changing – that’s serious – but Oxfam Unwrapped is fun, too.”

Oxfam Unwrapped was launched in 2004, and has since gone on to sell over 1.2 million gifts to help people in 49 countries. The campaign seeks to improve the lives of poverty-stricken people around the world by allowing consumers to purchase a wide selection of items needed by communities in developing countries. The buyer can choose from items such as fertilizer, toilets, condoms, essential medicines, and school books , which are then donated to countries where they are needed. The buyer receives a gift card and fridge magnet to say what they have bought and where it has gone.

“Oxfam Unwrapped has proven itself as the ultimate way of giving unusual presents,” said Oxfam Director, Barbara Stocking. “Presents that are thoughtful and fun, but far-reaching at the same time.”

All of the items in the Oxfam Unwrapped campaign have been identified as the things that will make the biggest difference to help individual communities escape the effects of poverty. Categories include emergency relief, farming, health, and education, and individual items include sheep, mosquito nets, protect women packs, and rainwater harvesting systems. However, if you buy a sheep, you do not need to worry that it will be wrapped up, ears and all, and shipped off to Africa. Instead, the money from a purchase will go towards funding the program the item represents. For example, by purchasing a sheep or a pig, a donation will be made to an agriculture program, and the purchase of condoms will fund one of Oxfam’s health programs.

“Original presents are hard to find – we’re offering interesting and novel gifts that will help tackle poverty at the same time,” said Oxfam Australia’s Executive Director, Andrew Hewett. “They have been carefully chosen, and are tried and tested aspects of Oxfam’s everyday work to help communities in more than 40 countries. Every gift makes a difference whether you spend $10 or $200.”

More information about the campaign, including links to Oxfam Unwrapped programs around the world, is available at http://www.oxfam.org/en/donate/unwrapped, and to view the television advertisement, see http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/.

Celebrity Portraits Up For Auction

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:25:15 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Autographed portraits of some of Hollywood’s brightest stars are up for auction on the internet this month, as part of the “Stars For A Cause”: charity Gala to be held in September.

George Clooney, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are just some of the legends who have been immortalized in the works by acclaimed artist, Nicolosi. Painted using acrylic on canvas, these pop-art style portraits are both colorful and dynamic, and have been exhibited in London and Los Angeles, as well as at the Cannes Film Festival and on the cruise liner, the Queen Mary II.

Proceeds from the auction will go to The Prince’s Trust, a UK based charity that helps young people overcome barriers by providing training, mentoring, and financial assistance. Joanna Lumley, an ambassador for the Trust, is one of the stars featured in the collection. The Hollywood Museum will also benefit from the auction.

The pictures were personally autographed by the stars during Entertainment Tonight interviews held backstage at events such as the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards, and the 58th Primetime Emmys.

“We are always eager to support the charitable endeavors of celebrities,” said Linda Bell Blue, executive producer for Entertainment Tonight. “So we readily embraced the opportunity to get involved with Stars For A Cause.”

The online auction will run until September 27, when a VIP Gala will be held at The Hollywood Museum. Many of the stars featured in the portraits are expected to attend the event, and the evening will bring bidding on the paintings to a close. Other celebrities whose portraits are for sale include Angelina Jolie, Alan Alda, Mariska Hargitay, Kyra Sedgwick, Jane Kaczmarek, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Geena Davis, Candice Bergen, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Debra Messing, Forest Whitaker, Kiefer Sutherland, Meryl Streep, Charlie Sheen, Jack Nicholson, Eddie Murphy, Helen Mirren, Penelope Cruz, Daniel Craig, Beyoncé Knowles, and Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen. Bids start at $500, and can be viewed at www.juliensauctions.com.

Johansson, Mirren, Firth and Hounsou Join Oxfam's Global Ambassador Team

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:44:22 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Oxfam launched their Global Ambassador programme this week, and Scarlett Johansson was the latest celebrity to join. Oxfam International, founded in 1995, is a league of 13 organizations working with thousands of partners in over one hundred countries, aiming to find long-term solutions to economic and social injustice.

Ms Johansson recently accompanied Oxfam on a trip to India and Sri Lanka to meet young Dalit girls in a rural school, women campaigning against domestic violence and humanitarian workers. She said, “Once you’ve met amazing people like the Dalit girls I met on my trip you just can’t turn your back. I was shocked by a lot of what I saw, but seeing the fantastic work Oxfam was doing I also felt that there was hope.”

Other Ambassadors in Oxfam’s programme include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Colin Firth, Dame Helen Mirren, Minnie Driver, Gael Garcia Bernal and Annie Lennox.

“I’m in this fight for the long term,” says Lennox. “The outcomes of the G8 this year are a disappointment and we must not allow politicians and governments to get away with breaking promises around health and education, which are essential for developing nations.”

Supporting Oxfam’s maxim ‘we work with poor people, we influence powerful people, we join hands with all people’ actor Gael Garcia Bernal says, “We have to help small-scale farmers to have a voice and then – together with millions of others – exert huge pressure on decision makers to change the trade rules.”

Actor Djimon Hounsou says, “As an African, born and raised in Benin, where cotton is the main source of income for farmers, it is important for me to join forces with Oxfam, an organization that works to fight against the unfair trade laws that keep farmers poor and unable to provide for their families. Subsidies in developed countries are killing the chances of hardworking farmers in Africa of earning a decent wage. It is an honor to be able to represent Africa and Oxfam when I’m meeting with the powerful politicians that create these laws.”

Oxfam’s International Artist Liaison Manager, Claire Lewis, says of the new Global Ambassador programme, “Our Ambassadors are listened to across the world, and their support helps to give a voice to people who would not otherwise be heard. Through their work, Oxfam’s campaigning messages can reach a much wider audience and have a huge impact on decision makers. We are delighted to have so many credible and passionate Ambassadors from across the globe.”

The name “Oxfam” comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942 during World War II. Today, Oxfam International is involved in development programs, emergency work, research and lobbying, and campaigning to raise awareness.

Stars Support Oxfam's Darfur Appeal

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:22:59 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Oxfam has launched an online celebrity and public auction to raise funds for its $10 million appeal to help victims of the violence in Darfur and Chad.

Actors, musicians and artists are showing their support for Oxfam’s work with donations of autographed items, clothing, art and concert tickets. Available items include a Dolce & Gabbana jacket worn by Chris Martin on Coldplay’s Rush of Blood Tour which is signed by the band members, Sir Elton John’s tailor-made Donatella Versace suit, gold Roger Vivier Shoes signed by Sienna Miller, and a script from The Queen signed by Dame Helen Mirren.

According to UN figures, four years of ethnic strife in Darfur have resulted in at least 200,000 deaths and left more than two million people displaced. Oxfam provides aid to 470,000 people in Sudan’s Darfur and 60,000 in neighboring Chad, which has been affected by the years of unrest.

Oxfam’s work in the area costs $10 million each year, and the charity hopes this auction will raise at least $500,000 towards those costs. The public is invited to either donate items to the auction or simply make a monetary donation.

To see a full list of available items or make a donation, go to the Oxfam Shop on eBay.

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