Look To The Stars News: Robert Redford

Paul Newman Honored At Star-Studded Charity Event

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

A group of entertainment’s finest turned out to a special evening to raise funds for Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Camps in New York on Monday, June 8.

Hosted by Robert Redford and Julia Roberts, the event featured performances from Jerry Seinfeld, James Taylor, Harry Connick Jr., Yo Yo Ma, Art Garfunkel and Joshua Bell. Attendees also included Bill Clinton and Kristin Chenoweth.

“We’ve done a lot of these galas,” said Julia Roberts. "And I’ve never stood up without my buddy Paul Newman. It seems so much easier to sing and dance and make a fool of yourself when he’s right next to you. He encourages fun, more than any person I’ve ever met. "

Many of the stars present at the event talked about their memories of Newman, who passed away on September 26, 2008, from complications resulting from lung cancer. Clinton remembered meeting Newman when he was still a law student, and then visiting the first Hole in the Wall Camp in Connecticut when he became Govenor of Arkansas: “I have watched [the camps] expand to Florida, Ireland – which really touched my heart – France, and soon the Middle East.”

Newman’s Hole in the Wall Camps are the world’s largest family of camps for children with serious illnesses and life threatening conditions. More than 100,000 seriously ill children from 34 states and 31 countries have attended the Camps free of charge.

Paul Newman Honored With Nature Preserve

Mon, 11 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The town of Westport, Connecticut, is to honor the late Paul Newman by creating a 37-acre nature reserve adjacent to his former home.

The new Newman/Poses Preserve will include walking paths, benches, and a ban on development and building. The idea came from Newman’s widow, Joanne Woodward, who wrote to the local council in January.

“The Poses land is a truly beautiful piece of land that Paul, our children, and I have had the privilege of enjoying for many, many years,” she said. “Preserving the Poses property in its natural state is something I very much believe Paul would have loved to see happen. Paul always expressed regret that he was not able to accomplish this himself, so I think if there were to be anything at all done by the town to honor Paul’s memory this would be a very generous and appropriate tribute to him. He would, I believe, be particularly pleased that such a gesture would benefit all of Westport’s residents.”

Westport is not the only group of people honoring the late actor. Julia Roberts and Robert Redford will host a special evening to raise funds for Newman’s Hole In The Wall Camps in New York on June 8.

Entertainment will be provided by Jerry Seinfeld, James Taylor, Harry Connick Jr., Yo Yo Ma, Art Garfunkel and Joshua Bell, and the event will feature a cocktail reception and after party.

Tickets range from $50 to $5,000. The event will take place at the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center. More information can be found here.

Leonardo DiCaprio Busy With Charity Events And Auctions

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Julia Louis Dreyfus is to host the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Gala in Southern California this month, and guests such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Redford have already been confirmed.

The event will take place at the Beverly Wilshire on April 25, and will feature music by Maroon 5 and Rosanna Arquette. A short film featuring DiCaprio and Redford that outlines the accomplishments of NRDC’s Southern California office will also be shown.

“You can be tough doing bad things, and tough doing good things. NRDC, in my opinion, is tough doing good things,” said Robert Redford. The legendary actor, filmmaker and environmental advocate has been an NRDC trustee for more than 30 years. The group’s Southern California office, one of the first LEED Platinum green buildings in the world, was dedicated to Mr. Redford in 2003, which he said “fills me with an enormous sense of pride.”

“NRDC is probably the most effective environmental organization in the world,” said Leonardo DiCaprio, an NRDC trustee. "[They are] willing to take on major corporations and the government itself to hold them accountable for the environmental policy that’s out there.”

More information about the event can be found here.

DiCaprio has also launched an auction to celebrate Earth Day on April 22.

The star is auctioning memorabilia including signed costumes from his films and the chance to accompany him to the premiere of his latest film.

“By bidding on these items at ebay.com/globalgreen, people will help Global Green combat climate change and pursue important environmental imperatives, such as greening our nation’s schools, housing, cities and more,” he said.

The NBA Launches Green Week Initiative

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0000

The National Basketball Association (NBA), in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), has announced that its inaugural NBA Green Week 2009 will tip off on April 2 and run through April 10.

During Green Week, the entire NBA family will team up to generate awareness and funding to protect the environment through special oncourt apparel, auctions to support environmental preservation organizations, hands-on community service projects, and the launch of a public service announcement featuring Hollywood icon, noted environmentalist and NRDC Trustee, Robert Redford. In addition, NBA.com will launch a new micro site, www.nba.com/green, featuring everything from greening tips for fans to interviews with NBA players.

As part of NBA Green Week 2009, adidas will outfit all players with 100 percent organic cotton adidas shooting shirts featuring the NBA Green logo. The Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Bobcats, and the Chicago Bulls will wear green-colored uniforms and socks made from 45 percent organic cotton during select home games throughout the week to raise additional environmental awareness. NBA.com will also host an online auction of Spalding basketballs, made from 40 percent recycled materials and autographed by NBA players. The auction will tip off on April 2 and continue through April 16, with all proceeds benefiting the NRDC.

“The NBA’s commitment to reduce its ecological impact and to help educate basketball fans worldwide about the importance of environmental protection confirms why this league is regarded as one of the world’s most responsible sports organizations,” said NRDC Senior Scientist Allen Hershkowitz, who coordinated the organization’s development of this work. “Besides the tangible public health benefits that this initiative will advance, having the NBA embrace ecological criteria in its operations represents a watershed in our nation’s movement toward environmental progress.”

Each of the league’s 30 teams will encourage fans to participate in greening efforts by hosting community service events, including tree plantings, recycling drives, park clean-up days, the creation of “green” Reading & Learning Centers using environmentally friendly materials, and putting on in-arena Go Green Awareness Nights featuring auctions to support environmental protection programs and promotions to encourage fans to implement green habits.

“With the guidance and support of NRDC, the league and our teams are implementing new and innovative measures to offset energy usage and waste production in our offices and arenas and at all of our events,” said NBA Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs Kathleen Behrens. “NBA Green Week 2009 serves as a reminder to fans that we can all work to reduce our environmental footprint.”

Last season, the NBA and NRDC launched the NBA Team Greening Advisor, www.greensports.org/nba, a Web-based environmental resource guide customized to help teams and arena operators identify ways to employ sound environmental practices. Green modifications are currently underway in many team arenas, including the US Airways Center, Staples Center, AT&T Center and Air Canada Centre. Modifications include installing solar panels and wind-powered energy sources to minimize energy consumption, putting in water-saving fixtures, purchasing energy credits and carbon offsets, and implementing recycling programs. The American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat, is currently being considered by the U.S. Green Building Council for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification. Several other NBA team arenas are in the process of applying for LEED green building certifications.

To further encourage fans to reuse and recycle during NBA Green Week, the NBA Store in New York City will host “Recycling Dreams,” a footwear drive to collect gently worn athletic shoes. Customers who bring in shoes will receive a 20 percent discount on their purchase of new athletic shoes. All donated footwear will go to Hoops 4 Hope, a global not-for-profit organization that supports youth development throughout southern Africa with programs that teach life skills through the game of basketball. In addition, the NBA Store, NBAStore.com, Dick’s Sporting Goods and select team retailers will feature the 100 percent organic cotton adidas shooting shirts, recycled Spalding basketballs, and Team Bean reusable shopping bags made from recycled materials, in addition to more environmentally friendly items, giving fans the opportunity to “buy green.”

This season, the NBA is taking steps to become a more environmentally responsible organization and will continue to explore ways of improving in this area. As part of its greening efforts around its signature events, the NBA recently purchased green energy credits to offset power usage for NBA All-Star 2009 and plans to implement additional eco-friendly measures while in Dallas for NBA All-Star 2010. To learn more about what the NBA and its teams are doing to “Go Green”, please go to www.nba.com/green.

Robert Redford To Receive Environmental Award

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actor Robert Redford will be receiving the Duke LEAF Award to honor his many years of environmental achievements in the fine arts.

A new creation, the Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment established the annual Duke LEAF in homage to “artists whose work inspires environmental awareness and stewardship in others.”

Redford was their first choice. “Robert Redford gained fame as an actor but then used his fame to make major contributions to the social good,” said Duke President Richard H. Brodhead in a press release. “He has also been a powerful champion for the environment, and has galvanized public support for this vital issue. Duke is proud to honor him for a lifetime of service to society.”

The LEAF award, for Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts, is in response to the belief that the world is on an unsustainable course as consumption grows while resources shrink, and that any fundamental change to stop the inevitable result would require people to become motivated. “Artists who have inspired others to work for a more sustainable future through a body of work and advocacy are eligible for the award.”

“I am honored,” said Redford, “to be in the company of a school which has as its mission to train leaders of consequence for a sustainable future. Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment has a particularly unique creative and innovative bent to it, which makes it all the more meaningful to me.”

Redford will receive the award in the Page Auditorium at Duke University on 18 April.

Robert Redford Wants To Preserve Wilderness

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Robert Redford joined members of Congress and a coalition of environmental, preservation and business groups in an effort to stop the Bureau of Land Management from auctioning Utah wilderness to oil and gas companies last month.

The 72-year-old actor joined groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and Earthjustice in announcing that they are taking legal action against the Bureau of Land Management to halt the leasing of more than 110,000 acres of land near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, and Nine Mile Canyon.

“You can’t put a price on silence or solitude,” said Redford, who is also an NRDC trustee. “Future generations deserve to experience the wildness and beauty of these lands, and to leave them as a legacy to generations that follow.”

The Utah Bureau of Land Management has conducted a series of controversial lease sales throughout the Bush administration, but the upcoming sale has been unusually contentious because of the sensitivity of the wilderness lands and because BLM inadequately consulted with the National Park Service.

“Words alone cannot do justice to the beauty of these places, but they do capture the absurdity of the Bush plan,” said Redford. “Oil and gas drilling in Desolation Canyon? Industrial development along the meandering Green River? The thought makes one wince. Utah’s Red Rock country is one of America’s few remaining wilderness treasures. It’s our land, it’s our legacy, but will it still be here for our children and grandchildren?”

Oceana Awards To Honor Clinton And Sting

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bill Clinton, Sting, and Trudie Styler will be honored at the annual Oceana Partners Awards this weekend.

Chaired by Sam Waterston and Ted Danson and hosted by Pierce Brosnan, Ron Howard, and Robert Redford, the event honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions through their personal commitment to the cause of protecting and conserving the environment. Past honorees include Ted Turner, Don Henley, James Cameron, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and Christopher Reeve. Past hosts have included Salma Hayek, Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ron Meyer and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Bill Clinton has been selected as this year’s recipient because his Clinton Climate Initiative – launched in 2006 – works with over 40 of the world’s largest cities to reduce greenhouse emissions. Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, were chosen due to their efforts to raise more than $25 million dollars through 15 benefit concerts for The Rainforest Foundation, which has now expanded to a network of interconnected organizations working in 23 countries around the globe.

The event will take place at the Pacific Palisades home of Jena and Michael King on Saturday, October 18, and will begin with a VIP reception at 5:30PM, followed by a cocktail party at 6:00PM and the awards presentation at 7:00PM.

Ticket information can be found at the Oceana Partners Awards website.

Paul Newman - A Life Spent Giving

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor and philanthropist Paul Newman leaves behind a legacy modern celebrities will find hard to match.

83-year-old Newman – who passed away after a short illness on Friday – made his movie debut in 1954, and went on to become one of the most well known faces to grace the silver screen, appearing in over 50 films. Born in Ohio, Newman made his acting debut at the age of seven, but didn’t start acting professionally until after serving as a gunner in the Pacific in World War II. When the acting bug did bite, it went on to net Newman 10 Oscar nominations in his five-decade-long career – winning the best actor accolade for his role opposite Tom Cruise in The Color Of Money in 1986 – two Golden Globe awards, a Screen Actors Guild award, a Cannes Film Festival award and an Emmy award.

But it is Newman’s humanitarian and philanthropic efforts that gained him true popularity in the American heart. Much has been written about his Newman’s Own Food Company, the initiative he established in 1982 to manufacture his special salad dressings. Over $200 million were generated by the company for charity over the years, and earlier in 2008 the actor announced he had signed ownership of the company to charity. He wrote a book – titled Shameless Exploitation in the Pursuit of the Common Good – about his work with the company, explaining that the inspiration behind his humanitarian outlook was the death of his son from a drug overdose in 1978, which led him to set up the Scott Newman Center for Drug Abuse Prevention. Much of the money Newman raised went to the Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps he established in 1988. The camps allow ill children to participate in activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, woodworking, performing arts, horseback riding, overnight camping and group adventures, all while receiving superior 24-hour medical care free of charge. More than 100,000 children from 31 countries have attended the Hole in the Wall camps.

Newman was also one of the founders of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), an organization of CEOs and corporate chairpersons committed to raising the level and quality of global corporate philanthropy. He regularly donated to causes around the world, including a donation of $40,000 to a Welsh Breast Cancer Center and $10 million to Kenyon College last year, and $250,000 to aid refugees in Kosovo in 1999. At the age of 79, he flew to Britain to entertain sick and disabled children in north London by performing as a clown in a special version of Zippo’s Circus.

Newman was a huge fan of car racing, and competed in the San Jose Grand Prix (where he came in second) in 2004 to help raise money for the Canary Foundation. His love of racing led him to narrate the film Dale – based on the life of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt – in 2007, the last film project Newman was to be involved in.

In 2007, Newman announced he was retiring from acting to concentrate on charity work. Last month he was named as one of the top celebrity givers of 2007 in the Giving Back Foundation’s Top 30, with over $10 million donated to needy causes.

“He was really all about philanthropy, and people caring, and people voting, and that’s really who he was,“ said Newman’s daughter, Melissa. “So many of his ideas were reaching out. That is what he would like people to remember. Reach out, keep doing it. If we all did something for somebody or some organization today, can you imagine the change that would happen?”

Tributes for Newman have poured in from around the world, and many of the actor’s fellow philanthropic celebrities have been quick to praise the man who inspired several generations, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elizabeth Taylor, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Letterman, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, and many others.

“He was purity of heart,” said Taylor. “Working with him was such a joy. Knowing him, being his friend, was as golden as the sunset and a privilege I’ll never forget."

But perhaps the most poignant tribute came from Robert Redford, Newman’s co-star from 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: “There is a point where feelings go beyond words. I have lost a real friend. My life – and this country – is better for his being in it.”

Newman is survived by his wife – actress Joanne Woodward – and their three daughters, Elinor, Melissa and Claire. He also has two daughters, Susan and Stephanie, from his first marriage to Jackie Witte.

Robert Redford Backs Anti Coal Campaign

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:32:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Robert Redford – the original Butch Cassidy and an environmental warrior for more than 30 years – is backing a campaign against plans to build a coal-fired power plant in Kent, England.

The 71-year-old wrote a special letter read out at an environmental awareness meeting organized by the World Development Movement last week, speaking out about E.ON UK’s plans to build two coal-fired units at Kingsnorth.

“To those gathered this evening around the proposed coal fire power plant in your community of Kent, I congratulate all of you for coming together to learn more and to do more,” he said in the letter. “Coal power plants or as you call them, stations, are bad for public health; they are bad for the environment close by in proximity as well as much farther away as pollution is taken by wind and water. They contribute greatly to climate impacts in a highly negative manner; and thus are ultimately very bad for the local and larger economies."

The meeting also featured a screening of a 2008 film narrated by the actor called Fighting Goliath: the Texas Coal Wars, the story of a group of Texas mayors and residents who tried to stop plans to build coal-fired plants in their communities.

Buffett Auctions Celebrity Dinner For Charity

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 12:58:33 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Businessman and philanthropist extraordinare Warren Buffett is to auction off a meal with himself and celebrity friends.

A similar auction last year raised $620,000 for a business lunch with the world’s second richest man. The dinner now under auction will see the winner join Buffett, Robert Redford, musician Tim McGraw and actor James Denton of “Desperate Housewives” at the home of Buffett’s daughter Susie in Omaha, Nebraska.

The auction is taking place online at charityfolks.com, ending at 6pm on Monday 5th March. Proceeds will go to the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness, which advocates organ and tissue donation.

Look To The Stars News: Robert Redford

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