Look To The Stars News: Daryl Hannah

Somaly Mam Foundation To Host Star-Studded Charity Event Tonight

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:39:00 -0000

The second annual Evening of Hope and Dreams to benefit the Somaly Mam Foundation will be held in Los Angeles tonight, September 29.

The evening, featuring a special live performance by American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi and inspirational words from Somaly Mam, will raise funds and awareness for the Foundation’s Survivor Services, Advocacy and Awareness programs, and recognize leadership in anti-trafficking. SMF will honor entrepreneurs and activists Jeff & Mei Sze Greene with the Voices for Change Award for their commitment to the cause of human trafficking and their special contribution to helping the Somaly Mam Foundation grow into the organization it is today.

The guest list for the event, to be held at the home of Jeff and Mei Sze Greene in Beverly Hills, includes Bill Maher, Daryl Hannah, Lisa Ling, Jane Seymour, Ron Livingston, Sarah Larson, Donald Faison and many more.

Somaly Mam established the SMF in 2007. At 12 years of age, Mam was sold into sexual slavery by a man who posed as her grandfather. In 1993, after over a decade of rape and torture, she escaped and fled Cambodia. In 1996, she went back. There she created a non-profit organization called AFESIP (Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Precaire or Acting for Women in Distressing Circumstances) to work with local law enforcement to raid brothels and reintegrate trafficked women into society. To this day, despite threats and assaults from traffickers looking to deter her work, Mam continues to fight so that others might be spared the fate she once endured. She has successfully helped more than 4,000 women and children escape the brothels.

To find out more, visit www.somaly.org.

Stars To Host Eco-Film Screening

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Last month, Look To The Stars brought you news about a new eco-film featuring Trudie Styler that chronicles the effects that Chevron’s oil production facilities are having on locals in Ecuador. Now Amazon Watch – which works to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin – invites you to a special benefit party and premiere screening of “Crude” in Los Angeles.

The special screening of Crude will be co-hosted by Benjamin Bratt, Daryl Hannah, Esai Morales, Martin Sheen and many other big names, and will take place on September 17 at Harmony Gold Theater on Sunset Blvd.

Crude is a high-stakes David vs. Goliath legal drama with 30,000 Ecuadorian rainforest dwellers facing down Chevron – the fifth largest corporation on the planet. This special event will benefit Amazon Watch’s Clean Up Ecuador campaign to hold Chevron accountable and bring justice to affected communities, and is being held in association with the Rainforest Action Network.

Seating is limited. Tickets are available for a donation of $100-$1,000. Purchase tickets online at chevrontoxico.com/crude/la or reserve tickets by September 14 via email: lacrude@amazonwatch.org or phone: 415-487-9600 ext. 356.

To find out more about the movie, visit the official Crude website.

Susan Sarandon To Be Honored By Somaly Mam Foundation

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:30:00 -0000

The Somaly Mam Foundation (SMF), dedicated to ending slavery around the world, is pleased to announce two benefit events marking their second year in both New York and Los Angeles.

In New York City, the 2nd annual An Evening of Hopes and Dreams dinner will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 583 Park Avenue. In Los Angeles, the 2nd annual An Evening of Hopes and Dreams gala will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at the home of Jeff and Mei Sze Greene in Beverly Hills, CA. American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi will headline a special live performance at the Los Angeles event.

Both evenings, featuring live musical entertainment, an auction and inspirational words from human trafficking survivor and leading activist Somaly Mam, will raise funds and awareness for SMF’s Survivor Services, Advocacy and Awareness programs, and recognize leadership in anti-trafficking. SMF will honor actress and activist Susan Sarandon in New York, and entrepreneurs and activists Jeff & Mei Sze Greene in Los Angeles, for their commitment to the cause of human trafficking and their special contribution to helping the Somaly Mam Foundation grow into the organization it is today.

The 2009 Honorary Committee includes Susan Sarandon, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Petra Nemcova, Maria Bello, Jane Seymour, Kristen Bell, Laurie Holden and Ron Livingston.

“I’ve committed my life to fighting this horrible scourge on humanity,” says Somaly Mam. “Seeing innocent young women and children whose lives have been forever scarred leaves no doubt that they need a champion who is willing to invest all their time and energy towards eradicating the shameful practice of human trafficking. Susan, Jeff and Mei Sze join me in this fight of great consequence and I thank them for their help.”

Honoree Susan Sarandon adds, “Human trafficking is a vicious crime that claims so many innocent victims each year. To see young innocent children forced into a life of sexual slavery is something that is so profoundly sad that one cannot help but want to do everything in their power to put an end to this crime that is so easily ignored. I have been personally inspired by the work of Somaly Mam.”

Hosting the gala for the 2nd consecutive year, honoree Jeff Greene says, “Mei Sze and I feel honored to be hosting the Somaly Mam Foundation benefit again this year. We have the utmost respect for Somaly and her work. We are a proud to be involved in such an important cause.”

David Carradine's Food 4 Africa Legacy

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Linda St Cyr

David Carradine, star of the television show Kung Fu and a plethora of films, passed away on June 3rd, 2009, aged 72 years old.

A funeral service took place on Saturday June 13 for the beloved late celebrity. Many other stars came out to show their respect for a man who made a name for himself doling out words of wisdom as Kwai Chang Caine on the television series Kung Fu. Among the celebrities in attendance were Jane Seymour, Rob Schneider, Lucy Liu, Tom Selleck, Daryl Hannah and many others.

The sky was gloomy as the white hearse which carried David Carradine’s body delivered the actor to his final resting place.

Carradine was known for his work on television, in movies and also for his support in all aspects of art and entertainment. He was a friend and patron to Food 4 Africa, a charity organization that seeks to give children one vitamin and mineral enriched meal a day while also teaching their caregivers about the importance of nutrition. Donations to the charity can be made here.

The circumstances surrounding his death are still being investigated.

Mr. Carradine will be missed by many because he was a star off stage as well as on. We here at Look to the Stars send the family of David Carradine our deepest sympathies and condolences during their time of bereavement.

Jon Lovitz To Open Comedy Club Tonight

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Comedian Jon Lovitz is set to open his highly anticipated comedy club in California tonight, May 28, with proceeds to go to charity.

The grand opening of the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club at the Universal CityWalk will attract a host of stars, including Heidi Klum, Seal, Dana Carvey, Christina Ricci, Lisa Kudrow, Daryl Hannah, John Stamos, Tia Carrere, Gilles Marini, Scott Foley, Paul Reubens, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brooke Burke, Ed O’Neill, Krista Allen, Gary Marshall and supermodels of the co-sponsoring Next Models agency.

The opening will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, a non-profit organization committed to funding research to find a method of early detection and ultimately a cure for ovarian cancer.

The new 400 seat club will have a beach theme, and will offer two shows a night, drawing upon the wide range of headline comics Lovitz has worked with.

More info can be found at the club’s MySpace page.

Daryl Hannah To Join Whaling Protest In The Southern Ocean

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A major conservation group has announced that they will be getting a little help from the stars when they protest against whaling in Antarctic waters next month.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will have the support of actress Daryl Hannah when she teams up with one of their crews to battle against Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean.

“Daryl is joining our group,” said Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson. “She’ll be on board — she’s joining us at the end of the month.”

The 47-year-old actress will be on board the group’s flagship, the Steve Irwin – named after the Australian conservationist – when it leaves Australia on December 1.

Japan uses a loophole in a 1986 whaling moratorium that allows “lethal research” to kill up to 1,000 whales each Southern Hemisphere summer – a practice hotly opposed by South Pacific nations such as Australia and New Zealand yet seemingly ignored by other parts of the world. Although the US has always been at the forefront of anti-whaling campaigns, its leadership on whale issues has significantly declined in recent years. The American appointed to be chairman of the International Whaling Commission – William Hogarth – has recently announced he is negotiating a deal that could allow for an International Whaling Commission-sanctioned resumption of commercial whaling. Watson claimed earlier this year that the Sea Shepherds’ harassment of the Japanese whalers has saved the lives of 500 of the giant mammals, but the International Whaling Commission has condemned their tactics.

“This is the fourth year [of the Southern Ocean campaign],” said Watson. “That is three years of lost profits [for Japanese whalers]. How much longer can they keep this up? This is really the key to stopping them — to keep making them lose profits.”

Celebrities Attend An Evening Of New Dreams

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The stars were out – clear and bright – on September 16 for An Evening of New Dreams, raising money for the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Susan Sarandon, Daryl Hannah, Petra Nemcova, Jane Seymour, Ashlee Simpson, Kevin Connolly, Kim Kardashian, Kevin Dillon, Seal, Emily Deschanel, Peter Wentz, and Ron Livingston were some of the stars who came together in Beverly Hills for the gala event which featured musical entertainment from Bonnie Raitt. Catered by Tommy Tang and held at the private residence of Foundation supporters Jeff and Mei Sze Greene, the evening raised awareness of global sex trafficking.

The Somaly Mam Foundation is dedicated to combating the global sex slave trade through the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of victims and through raising global awareness on the issue by funding organizations in various parts of the world that are combating sexual slavery in the field. Named after a survivor of the abhorrent problem, the foundation rescues girls from brothels and offers them shelter and safety, basic education, and reintegration into new communities.

Born in Cambodia, Somaly Mam was forced into a life of prostitution at a very young age, sold by her own grandfather for money. However, after witnessing the murder of a fellow prostitute at the hands of a pimp, Somaly broke free of the cycle and dedicated her life to rescuing girls living in similar circumstances. With Mam’s vision and leadership, the foundation – established in 2007 – strives to get to the root of human trafficking. Their global vision of ending the sex trafficking trade will allow their activities currently in the United States and South East Asia to expand to other countries around the world.

For more information about the Somaly Mam Foundation and how to support their efforts, visit www.somaly.org.

Affleck Tops Charity Stars in Denver

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Denver saw an outpouring of celebrity love during last week’s DNC, with Ben Affleck leading the philanthropic pack.

On the Tuesday night, Affleck took part in a poker tournament, along with Richard Dreyfuss and Montel Williams, which ultimately raised over $60,000 for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“A lot of important organizations use this environment and the people who are here, celebrities, members of Congress, to try and raise money. This is not a Democratic or Republican group, this is a group serving our veterans,” Affleck said of the charity.

Wednesday morning, the Pearl Harbor star was down at a local food bank, the Food Bank of the Rockies, to participate in a repack event for America’s Second Harvest. Also on hand for the event were members of the Senate Hunger Caucus and members of the House – all there to see who could pack the most boxes of food in five minutes. Affleck, incidentally, won both the poker and the packing events.

He was joined by wife Jennifer Garner for a book reading at the Starz Green Room. Also set to attend were Charlize Theron, Daryl Hannah, Rosario Dawson, Kerry Washington, Josh Brolin, Kal Penn, Stuart Townsend and Hill Harper.

Jennifer Lopez spoke at a reception sponsored by the Jennifer Lopez Foundation in honor of Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. Fran Drescher, Ashley Judd and Joy Bryant joined Lopez in honoring Edelman.

The Black Eyed Peas performed at the Fillmore Auditorium for the Creative Coalition, and Kanye West performed at a party benefitting the ONE Campaign. Forest Whitaker, Kal Penn and Jamie Foxx were in attendance at the latter.

Moby performed at a private party for DoSomething.org, and Willie Nelson sang out for the people of Darfur at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Daryl Hannah - Saving The Oceans And Their Treasures

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:38:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Passionate about the environment, actress Daryl Hannah is lending her voice and talents to various projects.

Her latest effort is a role in the TV movie Shark Swarm, where her character fights a real estate developer who, in an effort to starve out seaside property owners unwilling to sell, poisons the waters with toxic sludge to kill the fish and unwittingly turns local shark populations into deadly predators who hunt humans in packs.

In an interview with New York Vue, Hannah said she hoped the film would “bring attention to sharks and the terrible things that are happening to them.” Besides warming waters and pollution, sharks must also contend with wasteful fishing practices: “They cut off the fins and throw [the live shark] back in the ocean.”

She also narrated Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Dolphins and Whales 3D, in theatres since February. The film brings the elusive ‘tribes of the oceans” to the big screen, allowing viewers to practically reach out and touch them and become personally involved in their underwater lives, “interacting socially, communicating through their highly complex system of sounds, playing, feeding, breeding, migrating and perpetually fighting for their survival.”

Hannah is also heavily involved with the Reef Check Foundation, an organization dedicated to conserving and restoring tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs by creating partnerships between businesses, universities, government agencies and volunteers.

Due to pollution, illegal fishing, and over-fishing, reefs have been in crisis for over a decade. Reef Check studies have shown that “there is virtually no reef in the world that remained untouched by human impact.”

“Unfortunately, there isn’t enough being done to protect the ocean,” Hannah told Diver Magazine. “It doesn’t factor as large as it should in the climate crisis debate.”

“If reefs are in trouble, so are we,” said Dr Earle, former Chief Scientist of the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. “I think what Reef Check is doing is phenomenal: inspiring and motivating scientists, volunteers and the general public to take care of our ocean.”

Through Reef Check community’s data gathering, partnerships, and management through sustainable use, however, there is clear evidence that rehabilitation of reefs is possible.

Celebrity Auctions For Christmas

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:34:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

As the clock counts down to Christmas, celebrities have been keeping busy and warm by signing as many different items as humanly possible and donating them to a plethora of auctions. The holiday season may be at fever pitch now, but there is certainly a wide range of gift ideas to ease the stress of last minute shopping.

The VH1 Holiday Auction is currently being held at www.vh1auctions.com, and includes a long list of memorabilia from the music industry. All proceeds from the auction will go to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, an initiative dedicated to restoring music programs in schools across the US.

Items up for grabs include a harmonica signed by Alice Cooper (which has already attracted bids of $250), signed photos of Aerosmith and Chris Cornell ($300), and a guitar personally autographed by Ryan Adams ($1500). Signed clothing is also big on the agenda, with a jacket from Snoop Dogg, a vest from Iggy Pop, and sneakers from Amy Winehouse.

Signed guitars are also available as part of the Private Sessions Charity Auction, with all proceeds to benefit the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Avril Lavigne, the Goo Goo Dolls, Meat Loaf, the Barenaked Ladies, and Toby Keith are among the stars to sign both an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar for the auction, which also includes movie clapper boards autographed by Queen Latifah, Michael Douglas, and Anthony Hopkins.

But if these items whet your appetite, you have to be quick. The auction ends on December 12.

For those people celebrating Christmas in Australia this year, the Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia is auctioning Christmas decorations signed by various celebrities. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, The Rock, Delta Goodrem, Missy Higgins, and rugby league stars Matthew Johns and Benji Marshall have all put their names on baubles to raise money for sick children in the country.

An auction is also being held by Russell Simmons’ Diamond Empowerment Fund, to raise money for education programs in African countries where diamonds are a natural resource. A variety of fine diamond pieces are up for sale at www.ebay.com/diamondsgive, including an exquisite diamond-encrusted Ohm watch from the Simmons Jewelry Company. The opportunity to take part in exclusive photo shoots with celebrities such as Petra Nemcova, Naomi Campbell, LL Cool J, and Cedric the Entertainer are also up for grabs in the auction.

Actress and environmental activist Daryl Hannah is also doing her bit to ease the shopping blues this year, and has launched a brand new online store. www.dhlovelife.com offers goods picked with serious consideration of their environmental, social, and animal welfare impact. And if special holiday items such as an organic peace wreath and 100% recycled cards do not excite you, the store also offers compost buckets, surfboards and guitars made from hemp, bamboo snowboards, organic dog treats, and even a solar powered boat. The actress will also sell her personal bio diesel car and home fueling system on the site on December 20.

And finally a little news from the recent Lightspeed Fine Art Celebrity Charity Auction, held in Lake Forest, California, on the weekend of December 1 and 2. Lightspeed specializes in artworks relating to science fiction, and their eighth annual auction attracted guests from shows such as Stargate, Voyager, and Battlestar Galactica.

A surprise guest at the auction was Leonard Nimoy, better known as Mr Spock from Star Trek. Nimoy, who is reputed to have a huge personal collection of Star Trek memorabilia, donated several items to the auction signed by himself and William Shatner, including a plaque awarded from NASA for “inspiring a generation of scientists and explorers”.

Nimoy’s contributions made over $14,000 of the total $40,000 raised during the auction, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society and the Nimoy Foundation, an initiative that gives grants to artists-in-residence programs in museums and galleries around the US.

In the words of Mr Spock – “live long and prosper”.

Natural Heroes' Stories Told By Green Stars

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:14:28 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

“All over the world, ordinary citizens are finding ways to bring clean air and water back to their communities, preserve open spaces, protect endangered species, and ensure that their schools and neighborhoods are healthy.” The show Natural Heroes’ stories is back for its third season, narrated by a host of celebrities, and jointly made by award-winning non-profit organization Green Treks Network and KRCB Public Television.

The show’s stories span all types of environments, across the globe:

Plantations: impoverished coffee farmers gaining little from the increased sale price of coffee, American apple farmers losing their land and others who hold the answers to renewal, and the largest urban garden in the US, the South Central Farm in LA, where Daryl Hannah, Joan Baez, Martin Sheen and Willie Nelson profile the benefits, supporters, evictions, developers and farmers.

Oceans: Papua New Guinea where the Titan people, after 40,000 years, are running out of fish on their coral reefs, the continuing decline of native fish populations all over the world and its impact on the dependant communities, and the threat to Moss Beach, California’s surf and rocky tide pools.

Wilderness: New Zealand looking to the wilderness for answers, and Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula where people, industry and nature seek a way to live in harmony.

Solutions: from pilots in the skies to an outdoor learning centre for urban kids, from the Power Shift, narrated by Cameron Diaz, where homes generate more power than they use, to fourth generation fisherwoman, Diane Wilson, who puts her life at risk to battle the giants of the petro-chemical industry and their toxic waste.

Out to educate people, Green Treks focuses on “the interconnectedness of environmental, societal, economic and individual health,” and KRCB with information and culture in partnership with community.

“People from all walks of life are taking environmental stewardship seriously” — Green Treks and KRCB are bringing those people’s efforts to us.

Celebrity Auction Roundup, September 2007

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:27:03 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

September 2007 is shaping up to be a busy month for celebrity charity auctions, with proceeds going towards a variety of causes, including the disadvantaged, the sick, the environment, and an endangered species of seal.

One of the most anticipated auctions of the year, the Chevy Chase Green School Auction, kicked off on September 6, and runs until September 20 on www.charitybuzz.com. This is the fourth year the auction has been running, with proceeds going to the Centre For Environmental Education Online. CEE Online is a non-profit organization set up 17 years ago by actor Chevy Chase and his wife Jayni, and grew out of their belief that for environmental understanding to change, it must begin with the education of children. This year’s fundraising will benefit initiatives involving sustainability, the science of climate change, and the support of healthy food in schools.

There are 43 items on auction, with the most popular being a lunch with Bill Clinton and Chevy Chase for two people. This was expected to raise $35,000, but is already attracting bids of over $45,000. Other popular items are a day on the set of a movie with Cameron Diaz (expected to reach $10,000), and backstage passes to The Rachael Ray Show in New York, including a meet and greet with the star, a personal tour of the studios, and a set of signed cookbooks and Rachael Ray cooking utensils (valued at $2,500). Simon Cowell has donated tickets to American Idol to the auction, and other lots include a tour of Martha Stewart’s garden, the opportunity to spend an afternoon filming with Daryl Hannah for her environmental website, and the chance to meet Ben Stiller at the world premier of his next movie.

Another major auction underway on the Charitybuzz website is The Christie Brinkley Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools, Healthy Environment Auction. The 53 items up for sale will benefit the New York Coalition For Healthy School Food and Wellness In The Schools.

Lots include the chance to meet Bill Clinton (valued at $50,000), a backstage meet and greet with Alicia Keys (expected to raise $1,500), VIP packages to see Dr. Phil McGraw, signed photos of celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, as well as a variety of dinner and vacation packages. The auction runs until September 27.

Also on auction at Charitybuzz is a very special chalk drawing of Princess Diana, by Russian born artist, Zohar. This exquisite work of art was commissioned in 1990 by the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own), of which the Princess was Colonel-in-Chief, and is expected to raise $275,000 at auction. Proceeds will go to The People’s Princess Charitable Foundation, and will provide support to those suffering from Aids, cancer, and the effects of landmines.

Ebay has several auctions running in September, as part of their Giving Works initiative. The most popular of these is a vehicle belonging to Black Eyed Peas singer, Fergie. The 4 Wheel Drive Hummer H2 has belonged to the singer since 2005, and is expected to reach $65,000 at auction. Proceeds will go to Global Green USA, an organization that works with governments and individuals to create a sustainable and secure future for the planet. More information is available at www.globalgreen.org, and the auction can be viewed at www.ebay.com/fergie.

Five double tickets to a concert featuring Vince Gill and Amy Grant in Tennessee on September 27 are also up for auction. The VIP packages include a pre-show reception, front row seats at the gig, a meet and greet with the stars, and an autographed Hatch Show print commemorating the event. Proceeds are going to Community High School, a facility for teenagers in recovery from alcohol and drug addictions, operated by Creative Recovery Communities. The ticket packages are expected to reach $500 each, and the auction runs until September 18. It can be viewed at www.givingworks.ebay.com.

Finally in September, a special auction is to be held to benefit the plight of the Canadian Harp Seal. Thousands of these creatures are clubbed to death annually for their pelts, and several celebrities have banded together in an effort to stop the slaughter. An auction is to be launched through www.harpseals.org, in association with eBay, and will include a pair of autographed pants worn by Guns & Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist, Slash, as well as Tiffani Amber Theissen’s parasol and signed CDs from KD Lang and Shania Twain.

Celebrities Play Bingo For Charity

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:29:17 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British pop star Robbie Williams is one of a host of celebrities involved with Legendary Bingo, a weekly fundraising event held in Los Angeles. The singer was part of a charity evening earlier in August, held at Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grill, with proceeds going towards breast cancer research.

The evening was a colorful and fun affair, with Williams winning the grand prize – a Diane Merrick leopard-print handbag. The following week, it was Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines’ turn to play the game.

“She asked if we would consider doing a wild bingo night for one of her favorite charities,” said Jeffery Bowman, producer of the Legendary Bingo events. “She was one of the most normal, nicest people I’ve ever met.”

Proceeds from that evening went to the Voice For The Animals Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, advocacy, and legislation. Maines had so much fun that she is already in negotiations to be involved in another Legendary Bingo event for charity.

Legendary Bingo was started by Bowman in 1998, as a fundraising event for AIDS projects in Los Angeles. It proved so popular that within a few months it was benefiting a different charity every week, including Habitat For Humanity, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Caring For Babies With Aids, and the American Cancer Society. Before long, celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Courteney Cox, Daryl Hannah, and Tori Spelling also started to get involved, both as players and ball-callers.

Legendary Bingo has raised over $1.5 million for local and national charities and the arts since its inception.

Richard Branson Attends Virgin Festival in Baltimore

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:55:09 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Soaring temperatures of over 100°F did not stop 80,000 music lovers from attending a massive two-day charity concert held at the Pimlico Raceway in Baltimore on August 4 and 5. The Baltimore Virgin Festival was part of a series of concerts being held this year, partly organized by Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin brand.

Concert goers were treated to performances by 40 groups and artists, including Sting and The Police, Ben Harper, The Beastie Boys, Iggy Pop, and The Smashing Pumpkins. $1.50 from every ticket sold was donated directly to Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of the Virgin Group, dedicated to “tackling some of the tougher social challenges by uniting people and Virgin’s global resources.”

The concert also featured a huge tent village which housed a mall of philanthropy booths, where concert attendees could find out more about non-profit organizations such as Oxfam, The Living Classrooms Foundation (which uses maritime settings to train at-risk youth), StandUp For Kids (which helps homeless children), and Youth Noise (a website where teens can talk about significant issues and raise money for their chosen causes).

Branson joined actress Daryl Hannah at the event, and stated that the festivities were extremely eco-friendly, with 99% of the fuels used to power the concert being the cleanest biofuel available.

The Virgin Festival in Baltimore followed a similar concert held in Vancouver in May, and the next event will be in Toronto in September.

Also rocking out on August 4 and 5 was another huge concert, the Lollapalooza Festival, an annual event founded in 1991. 165,000 people crammed Grant Park in Chicago to see 140 acts, including Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, and Snow Patrol. A portion of every ticket sale went to the Parkways Foundation, a non-profit organization working with the Chicago Park District.

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