Look To The Stars News: Robert Redford

Alec Baldwin To Lecture On Arts And Public Policy

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Alec Baldwin will deliver The Americans for the Arts 25th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy on April 16 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The lecture is presented by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, in partnership with Ovation, the only television network dedicated to all forms of artistic expression.

“Government support of the arts has been important to me for the past two decades, and Americans for the Arts has championed the cause for more than 50 years,” said Baldwin. “I am honored to deliver this year’s Nancy Hanks Lecture on behalf of Americans for the Arts and proud to stand alongside them as we work to underscore the positive economic and social impact the arts and arts education have on our country and our citizens.”

Bill Cosby And P. Diddy To Attend Jackie Robinson Charity Awards Tonight

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

The 2011 Jackie Robinson Foundation Annual Awards Dinner will be held tonight – Monday, March 7th – at New York’s Waldorf=Astoria Hotel.

Hosted by legendary entertainer Bill Cosby for nearly three decades, the iconic event pays tribute to individuals who embody the humanitarian ideals of Jackie Robinson and raises funds for the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

The star-studded event promises to be an unforgettable evening as the Foundation honors three philanthropists. The ROBIE Humanitarian Award will be presented to Ingrid Saunders Jones. The ROBIE Achievement in Industry Awards will be presented to Sean “Diddy” Combs and Joseph R. Perella.

Stars Sign Letter Against Iranian Death Sentence

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Stars such as Sting, Colin Firth, Robert Redford and Robert De Niro are among the famous names who have signed a letter calling for the release of an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for alleged adultery.

“Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has suffered enough,” reads the letter, published in the UK’s The Times newspaper. "Forced by international pressure to suspend her execution by stoning for alleged adultery, the Iranian government is now attempting to resurrect the charge that she murdered her husband – a charge for which she has already been tried.

“She has already spent five years in prison, and suffered 99 lashes, while the man who was convicted of her husband’s murder, and with whom she allegedly had an affair, is now free, having been pardoned by Ms Ashtiani’s children. We, the undersigned, call on the government of Iran to release immediately Ms Ashtiani, her son Sajad Ghaderzade, and her lawyer, Javid Houtan Kian, from incarceration.”

Robert Redford And CRUDE Fight For The First Amendment

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Actor Robert Redford is worried about the affect that a recent US court ruling may have on peoples’ freedom to express opinion in civil society – when journalistic privilege disappears, few will be willing to talk to filmmakers on social and human rights issues.

“On May 6, 2010,” Redford wrote in the Huffington Post, “Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ordered filmmaker Joe Berlinger to turn over to Chevron Corporation all raw footage from the making of his documentary, Crude: The Real Price of Oil. Chevron has sued to use this footage to bolster its legal proceedings in the very same case that is the central subject of Berlinger’s film. The potential ramifications of this for the journalist community, film world and society in general are both shocking and profound.”

Iranian Director Released From Jail

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Earlier this month, LookToTheStars.org reported that a number of top Hollywood legends had signed a petition urging the Iranian government to free jailed filmmaker Jafar Panahi. We can now happily report that he has been released on bail.

Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, the Coen Brothers, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Michael Moore all put their signatures to the petition, following the arrest of the filmmaker in March.

Panahi was arrested for his vocal support of Iran’s opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi. His release follows the end of the Cannes Film Festival, of which he was supposed to be a judge.

Filmmakers Unite To Free Jailed Director In Iran

Mon, 03 May 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A host of the film industry’s biggest names have signed a petition to urge the Iranian government to free jailed filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, the Coen Brothers, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Michael Moore have put their signatures to the petition, following the arrest of the filmmaker in March.

Panahi was arrested for his vocal support of Iran’s opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi.

Robert Redford Honored For Social Responsibility

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Veteran actor Robert Redford was honored by the University of Southern California’s School of Theatre with the inaugural Engaged Artist Award on Wednesday, February 10.

“The Robert Redford Award for Engaged Artists honors an individual who has used his or her fame to increase public awareness of issues that are of vital importance to us all,” said Madeline Puzo, dean of the USC School of Theatre. “Robert Redford truly embodies all that an `engaged artist’ represents. He is a distinguished actor, an Academy Award-winning director, and ardent conservationist, philanthropist and environmentalist, a man who stands for social responsibility and political involvement and an artist and businessman who is a staunch supporter of uncompromised creative expression.”

The ceremony was attended by a wide selection of Redford’s peers, including Sally Field, Rene Russo, Tom Skerritt, Alfre Woodard, Robin Wright, Olivia Munn, director Richard Donner and producer Sid Ganis.

Harrison Ford To Host Environmental Charity Awards

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart will host a special event for Oceana this Friday, November 20, to honor Deepak Chopra and Arianna Huffington.

The 2009 Oceana Partners Award Gala honors those individuals who have made outstanding contributions through their personal commitment to the cause of protecting and conserving the environment. Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of 12 books. Dr. Deepak Chopra is the Founder of Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California and Manhattan, New York. He is also the author of many best-selling books.

Joining Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart in hosting the event will be Morgan Freeman, Jeff Goldblum, Trudie Styler, Sting, Robert Redford and Ron Howard. Working behind the scenes are Ted Danson and Sam Waterston.

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. "

Paul Newman Honored With Nature Preserve

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

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.”

Leonardo DiCaprio Busy With Charity Events And Auctions

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

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.”

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.

Robert Redford To Receive Environmental Award

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

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.”

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.”

Oceana Awards To Honor Clinton And Sting

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

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.

Paul Newman - A Life Spent Giving

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

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.

Robert Redford Backs Anti Coal Campaign

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

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.”

Buffett Auctions Celebrity Dinner For Charity

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

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.