Look To The Stars News: will.i.am

will.i.am Hosts TRANS4M

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

International recording artist will.i.am amplified his philanthropic side at TRANS4M, a forward-looking conference held Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

The Black Eyed Peas performer co-hosted the first-time, invite-only conference he founded. Urging 250 attendees from various walks of life “to find smart ways to team up,” will.i.am and Brian David Johnson, who served as conference curator, presented an eclectic slate of speakers that ranged from a particle physicist and ethnographer to the CEO of Burberry and co-founder of the Compton Cricket Club.

“TRANS4M is about finding intersections between what you do and what we can do together,” will.i.am said. “Here in the room are brands, businesses, innovators, community organizations, educators and scientists. Sitting next to you are donors, philanthropists, scientists, technology leaders and people who understand how to talk to youth.”

DoSomething.org Announces Top 20 Celebs Gone Good 2011

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:45:00 +0000

DoSomething.org, one of the largest U.S. organizations that helps teens take action on causes they care about, released today its fourth annual ‘Top 20 Celebs Gone Good’ list.

Lady Gaga continues her reign as the star who uses her celebrity to do the most good. Known for her support of gay rights, AIDS, and poverty, she focused primarily this year on bullying, even taking her thoughts to the White House in December. She also announced the creation of her own charity, the Born This Way Foundation, which aims to empower youth and lead them to a brave new society where each individual is accepted and loved as the person they were born to be.

Making a meteoric rise to number two this year is Justin Bieber, up from number 10 last year. His fast rise is due to his prolific work with Pencils of Promise, an organization that builds schools in Laos and Guatemala. Justin is also a consistent supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, raised funds for charity with his fragrance and holiday album, and recently distributed $100,000 to Whitney Elementary School in Las Vegas.

Jackie Chan Meets Americans Promoting Study Abroad

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Earlier this week, Jackie Chan invited a group of Chinese and American students to visit him on the set of his new movie to increase awareness and support for study abroad programs for Americans in China.

The students – participating in a program called Americans Promoting Study Abroad (APSA) – were in Beijing for a special art week and charity concert co-sponsored by the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation. The Booey Lehoo concert will be held at Beijing’s National Stadium on December 17 and will feature will.i.am and apl.de.ap from the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend and leading Chinese pop stars.

APSA and the concert are supported by the 100,000 Strong Initiative, which aims to increase the number of American students studying in China by 100,000 in four years.

Stars Come Out For CNN Hero Of The Year

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

In a star-studded ceremony Sunday night at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Robin Lim was named the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.

Anderson Cooper and Robin Lim

Celebrities Attend First-Ever American Giving Awards

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) was awarded a $1 million grant from Chase at the first-ever American Giving Awards (AGAs) on NBC on Friday.

The program, hosted by 22-time Emmy Award-winner Bob Costas, featured celebrity tributes to five charities selected through online voting. Stars including will.i.am, Miley Cyrus, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 50 Cent, and Rodney Atkins celebrated the accomplishments of the charities.

To Write Love on Her Arms is dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute This Weekend

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:15:00 +0000

CNN, the worldwide leader in news, has announced new show details and additions to the line-up for CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.

Hosted by Anderson Cooper and taking place on Sunday, December 11, the show honors everyday people doing extraordinary things, and will air live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, globally on CNN’s networks including CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International and CNN en Espanol.

Additionally Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the multiple Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent for CNN, will conduct exclusive backstage interviews streamed live on CNN.com during the show with bonus content available on CNN’s mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android.

Ne-Yo And Swizz Beatz To Attend Songs Of Hope VII

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Ne-Yo, Skylar Grey, Sara Bareilles, Swizz Beatz, Desmond Child, Mark Mothersbaugh (co-founder and lead singer of Devo), and other music and entertainment industry giants committed to fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases will tonight take part in Songs of Hope VII, a special event and silent auction presented by Esquire that supports lifesaving research at City of Hope.

Held at the exclusive Esquire Apartment in the penthouse of The Clocktower in DUMBO, Brooklyn, N.Y., the Dec. 1 event will be emceed by Ne-Yo and feature intimate performances by Skylar Grey and Sara Bareilles. Lending their names in support to the host committee are Miley Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, John McEnroe, Patty Smyth, Rob Thomas, and Mary Mary.

Recognizing their amazing careers as songwriters and composers, the Songs of Hope VII award recipients will include the:

Obama Family To Light National Christmas Tree

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation have announced that President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their family will officially light the National Christmas Tree on Thursday, December 1 at the 89th annual holiday tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in President’s Park, one of America’s nearly 400 national parks.

The ceremony will be streamed LIVE online at www.thenationaltree.org beginning at 4:30pm ET with the exclusive National Christmas Tree Lighting pre-show.

Hosted by television and radio personality Carson Daly, this year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony features a talented lineup of performers. Multi-platinum producer will.i.am of six-time Grammy-award winning musical group The Black Eyed Peas, pop sensation Big Time Rush and singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding will join the previously announced platinum selling band OneRepublic, country music star Rodney Atkins and six-time Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius for this extraordinary evening of holiday fanfare. The show will also feature a special appearance by Kermit the Frog, star of The Muppets, and of course, the Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus.

Celebrities To Tell Stories Of CNN Heroes

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

CNN, the worldwide leader in news, has announced that Dancing with the Stars finalist, and longtime friend to CNN Heroes, J.R. Martinez, has been tapped to co-host the live pre-show from the red carpet for CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, which will be broadcast LIVE on CNN Sunday, December 11, 2011 from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA.

The network also announced that the Top 10 CNN Heroes will each have their story told by celebrities, including The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, global maternal health advocate and founder of Every Mother Counts, Christy Turlington Burns, and NFL Super Bowl champ and MVP quarterback Kurt Warner.

CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, hosted by Anderson Cooper, will air live at 8:00 PM ET. The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT @ CNN HEROES pre-show will air immediately beforehand at 7:00pm ET. Additional celebrity presenters will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Stars Take A Vow Of Silence For Charity

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Shaquille O’Neal, Martin Sheen, will.i.am, Joe Jonas, Nina Dobrev, Mia Farrow and many others are part of Free The Children’s social media efforts in support of its Vow of Silence campaign – an annual fundraising and awareness initiative encouraging youth to stand together in solidarity for 24 hours with millions of their peers who have been silenced by poverty, disease and exploitation.

The new video montage showcases each of the celebrities with their hand over their mouth as an act of solidarity and support for the millions of youth silenced for their basic rights.

New Film Highlights Ugandan Children Saved By Hip Hop

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000

This November, Documentary Channel (DOC) will present the US television premieres of the New Orleans-set documentary film Red Bull Street Kings on Thursday, November 3 (8 p.m. ET/PT) and the award-winning Bouncing Cats on Saturday, November 19 (8 p.m. ET/PT).

Produced by Red Bull Media House North America, each film offers an uplifting tale of the power of dance and music, and those using them to change lives.

An eye-opening look at the realities of life for the children of Uganda, Bouncing Cats is the moving story of one man’s attempt to create a better life for the struggling children of the country using the unlikely tools of hip-hop and breakdance. With narration by Common, and interviews with K’Naan and will.i.am, the film follows Ugandan b-boy/rapper Abramz and Crazy Legs, one of the founding members of the legendary Rock Steady Crew, on a journey for positive social change.

Alicia Keys To Honor George Harrison At Celebrity Charity Concert

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Alicia Keys will host her annual Black Ball for charity in New York next month, in honor of former Beatle George Harrison.

Keys’ charity, Keep A Child Alive, will benefit from the concert, which will feature appearances by Usher, Norah Jones, will.i.am and Mary J. Blige, as well as Gary Clark Jr., Jay Sean, Midival Punditz with Karsh Kale and Alicia Keys herself.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of George Harrison’s Concert For Bangladesh, the first time artists came together for a concert to benefit single cause. Today, the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF is a joint undertaking between the Harrison family and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support UNICEF programs that provide lifesaving assistance to children, including health, education, nutrition and emergency relief. In the tradition established by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF continues to support UNICEF programs in Bangladesh while expanding its influence to include other countries where children are in need.

Celebrity-Signed Scooters Go Out The Door For Charity

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Scooters signed by a host of stars – including Khloe Kardashian and the Black Eyed Peas – are up for grabs during Radio Flyer’s celebrity charity auctions this month.

Khloe and Lamar signed scooter

Black Eyed Peas And Sting Raise Millions For Charity

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0000

New Yorkers joined together over the weekend to help millions of their less fortunate neighbors.

Robin Hood – New York’s largest private poverty-fighter – announced today that combined VIP tickets sales and donations made via texts from Friday night’s Black Eyed Peas concert in Central Park, donations on robinhood.org as well as ticket proceeds from Sting’s 25th anniversary/60th birthday concert at the Beacon Theatre on Saturday night, raised more than $7 million to fight poverty in New York City. These funds will be earmarked to support food pantries, homeless shelters, health clinics and will provide jobs training for New Yorkers in need throughout the five boroughs.

“This was an amazing weekend of music, and it’s incredibly gratifying to see New Yorkers come together during difficult times to help their neighbors in need,” said David Saltzman, executive director of Robin Hood. “The Black Eyed Peas and Sting have a long history of giving back to their communities and we’re truly honored that they’ve chosen to help the 1.8 million New Yorkers living in poverty through Robin Hood; we hope to do them proud.”

Sting's 60th Raises Millions For Charity

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

A host of stars – including Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, and Mary J. Blige – helped celebrate Sting’s 60th birthday on Saturday night, and raised $3.7 million for charity in the process.

The stars took part in a massive charity concert at New York’s Beacon Theater in front of an audience that included Trudie Styler, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Jake Gyllenhaal and Melanie Griffith, as well as 32 members of Britain’s Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, who have all completed missions in Afghanistan.

Also appearing on stage at the event were Robert Downey Jr, will.i.am, Chris Botti, Herbie Hancock, Rufus Wainwright, Joe Sumner and Branford Marsalis.

Sting To Host Celebrity Charity Birthday Party

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Sting will be joined onstage by a number of musical legends this weekend at a special charity concert celebrating his 60th birthday.

The concert at New York City’s Beacon Theater on Saturday, October 1, will feature appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Herbie Hancock, Robert Downey Jr, Vince Gill, will.i.am, Rufus Wainwright, Branford Marsalis, Billy Joel, and Chris Botti.

Celebrities Remember 9/11 Ten Years On

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:20:00 +0000

Celebrities from around the world took time out this weekend to reflect on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, using Twitter and other media outlets to commemorate the event.

“There’s so many stories that people don’t know,” Lady Gaga told MTV during her special documentary Inside the Outside. “I watched the towers fall from the roof of my school, holding all my best friends. I don’t know … just, my affinity and my love and the relationship I have with New York City — it’s like the husband I never married.”

The terror attacks have been on the minds of people not only in the US but around the world this weekend as we remembered those who lost their lives and loved ones in the attacks, and the struggles of those left behind.

Sting To Celebrate 60th Birthday With Massive Celebrity Charity Concert

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:15:00 +0000

On October 1, 2011, join Sting at the Beacon Theater in New York City as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his solo career on the eve of his 60th birthday with a very special concert event to benefit the Robin Hood Foundation.

Representing a cross section of Sting’s vast portfolio of work and collaborations throughout his enduring career, special guest performers include Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Herbie Hancock, Robert Downey Jr, Vince Gill, will.i.am, Rufus Wainwright, Branford Marsalis, Billy Joel, and Chris Botti.

Black Eyed Peas Reschedule Charity Concert

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Robin Hood, The Black Eyed Peas, Chase, DAS Communications, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, and the Central Park Conservancy are pleased to announce a rain date for The Black Eyed Peas live concert in Central Park, called the Concert 4 NYC, on Friday, September 30, 2011. The previous concert scheduled for June 9th was canceled due to extreme weather conditions.

Individuals who won or purchased tickets for the June 9th concert who want to attend the September 30th show should watch for an email with instructions on how to claim replacement tickets for the concert. A small number of VIP tickets will be available for sale through blackeyedpeas.robinhood.org.

Black Eyed Peas Open Youth Voices Academy In San Jose

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The Black Eyed Peas unveiled the new Peapod Adobe Youth Voices Academy at MACLA in San Jose on Saturday.

Earlier this year, Adobe Youth Voices and the Peapod Foundation announced Year 2 of their partnership with a new academy opening at the Urban Arts Partnership in New York City.

The new site at MACLA in San Jose is now the 5th in a series of academies that have been launched by Adobe Youth Voices in partnership with the Peapod Foundation, since 2009.

Be On Stage With The Black Eyed Peas For Charity

Fri, 27 May 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Fergie, Taboo, apl.de.ap and will.i.am are pulling out all the stops for two lucky fans this summer in a bid to raise funds for the Robin Hood Foundation.

The Black Eyed Peas have teamed up with luxury charity auction site charitybuzz.com to offer the ultimate concert experience at their Central Park Summerstage show in NYC on June 9th. The auction winner and a guest will meet the band pre-show, as well as enjoy a pre-party including open bar and light food, before being escorted to their ultra VIP seats – on stage for the entire performance! The winner and guest will be on stage as part of the show, which is being filmed in 3D, while 60,000 fans cheer them on.

Black Eyed Peas To Play Charity Concert In The Park

Tue, 03 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The Black Eyed Peas – apl.de.ap, will.i.am, Taboo and Fergie – will perform a special charity concert to benefit Robin Hood, NYC’s largest poverty fighting charity, next month.

The concert will take place on The Great Lawn in Central Park on June 9, and will be joined by some of their celebrity friends (TBA). 54,000 tickets will be given away in a random draw, and a number of tickets will be available in return for a donation to Robin Hood.

Robin Hood holds steadfast to a single mission: fight poverty in New York City. They find, fund, create and nurture programs and schools that generate measurable results for families in New York’s poorest neighborhoods. They work closely with the organizations they support to help them to be more effective, thus helping even more people. In 2010, Robin Hood invested $130 million in 200 programs and schools, helping over 400,000 New Yorkers. A rigorous system of metrics and third-party evaluation of these groups guarantee accountability. Robin Hood’s board pays all administrative, fundraising and evaluation costs, so 100 percent of donations (over $1 billion to date) goes directly to helping poor New Yorkers.

Black Eyed Peas Hold Annual Celebrity Charity Concert

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:30:00 +0000

The Black Eyed Peas held their seventh annual Peapod Charity Benefit Concert in Hollywood on Thursday, and a host of celebrity friends turned out in support.

Held at The Music Box, the show raised much-needed funds for the group’s Peapod Foundation, which aims to give back to the band members’ communities around the world.Founded by will.i.am and Polo Molina of Grassroots Productions, The Peapod benefit concerts date back to the earliest incarnation of The Black Eyed Peas and began as charity toy drives for Los Angeles based children and local orphanages.

The band – including Fergie, will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo – lined up on stage along with John Legend, Jackson Browne, Natasha Bedingfield and Bobby Brown.

Will.i.am Joins Grammy Charity Board Of Directors

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Black Eyed Peas artist will.i.am has announced he is a new director of the Grammy Foundation.

“Now in their 21st year, both MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation are vibrant and mature nonprofit organizations,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Grammy Foundation and MusiCares. “Our Board members reflect this core strength, and we look to them for creativity and stewardship as we continue our growth. The talent and vision of our Board members is truly inspiring, and we are very fortunate to have highly respected individuals working with us.”

The Grammy Foundation “was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with The Recording Academy to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage.”

Will.i.am Launches Charity Foundation For Struggling Families

Fri, 21 May 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am was on Oprah this week to launch a new a new foundation for families in danger of losing their homes in the current financial crisis.

The i.am.home Fund will help struggling families through grants.

“Growing up I dreamt that one day I’d be able to buy my mom a house and take care of my family,” said the musician. “I realized that dream and experienced the positive effect giving back had on my family. Now I am compelled to help others who are in jeopardy of losing their homes and inspire others to join the movement. The collapse of the housing market and the economic crisis has left millions in jeopardy of losing their homes. The crisis awakened a personal mission to create the i.am home fund to save people facing the very real problem of foreclosure and homelessness.”