Look To The Stars News: Geena Davis

Ashley Judd To Receive Hollywood Hero Award

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Accomplished film, television and Broadway actress and philanthropist, Ashley Judd will be honored November 10 as the recipient of the fourth annual USA TODAY Hollywood Hero Award being presented by USA TODAY President and Publisher David Hunke. The award recognizes her work as Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS, the education and prevention program of Population Services International (PSI).

Judd will be feted at a private award gala on the evening of November 10 at The Montage Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Guests will enjoy special celebrity tributes to Ashley Judd, dinner, a silent auction and an exciting live auction, with all proceeds to benefit PSI.

“I am honored to receive the USA TODAY Hollywood Hero Award. I accept it on behalf of the world’s poor, vulnerable, and exploited, who in my capacity as global ambassador for YouthAIDS and board member for PSI, I am committed to serving. I am grateful to PSI and its grassroots mission of providing basic health products, services, and the care necessary to empower people to lead healthier lives, which is the basis for all sustainability and is vital for what we are all working toward: stability and peace,” said Ashley Judd.

“We are very pleased to present our fourth annual USA TODAY Hollywood Hero award to Ms. Judd. Her work as an ambassador for YouthAIDS is an inspiration to us all and should be celebrated,” said USA TODAY President and Publisher David Hunke.

In what has become a USA TODAY signature event, the USA TODAY Hollywood Hero Award is presented annually to an entertainment industry humanitarian who has made remarkable contributions of time and energies with a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life for others. The USA TODAY Hollywood Hero Award recipient is unique in that his or her efforts extend far beyond charitable contributions or lending one’s celebrity to enhance a cause or concern.

Previous winners of the USA TODAY Hollywood Hero Award have been film and TV producer, entertainment entrepreneur and sports legend Magic Johnson, for his work with the Magic Johnson Foundation in providing HIV/AIDS prevention and health care education to adults and children throughout the minority community; Academy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress/producer Geena Davis, honored for the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media in breaking stereotypes and improving gender portrayals in all media produced for children; and United Nation’s Medaille d’Excellence award-winning actress/choreographer Zina Bethune and her Infinite Dreams program, which has introduced more than ten thousand physically-challenged children across the country into actively participating in the performing arts.

Stars For A Cause To Raise Charity Funds Tonight

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A selection of items designed and decorated by some of Entertainment’s biggest stars will go under the hammer at Bonhams and Butterfields Auction House in Los Angeles tonight, May 28.

The Stars For A Cause Auction features a wide range of rare and collectable items, such as posters signed by Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anna Paquin, David Duchovny, Rumer Willis, Jonas Brothers, P. Diddy, America Ferrera, Hayden Panettiere, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Anne Hathaway, Steve Carell, Emma Thompson, Marisa Tomei, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Tina Fey, Steven Spielberg and many more.

There are also shoes from William Shatner and Ludacris, and bags adorned with kisses from Al Roker, Nancy O’Dell, Nicollette Sheridan, Marcia Cross, Hugh Laurie, Phillip Seymore Hoffman, Geena Davis, Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher, Reese Witherspoon, Kelly Clarkson, Green Day, Keira Knightley, Paula Abdul, John Legend and many more.

And if that is not all, there are also cufflinks from Miley Cyrus and Trace Adkins, and jewelry from many others.

A public preview of the lots will take place between 12pm and 5pm today, at the Bonhams and Butterfields Auction House at 7601 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles. The auction will begin at 8pm.

Half of the proceeds of the auction will go to charities chosen by the participating stars, such as the The Art of Elysium, Keep A Child Alive, Red Cross, Elton John AIDS Foundation, UNICEF and many many more. The other half will go to the Prince’s Trust, which helps young people develop confidence, motivation and skills to find work.

More information can be found here.

Get Ready For The Carousel Of Hope This Weekend

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The annual Carousel of Hope Gala will take place this weekend to raise money for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.

Presented by Jay Leno, the gala will take place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, October 25, and will honor Denzel Washington for his charity work.

This year celebrates 30 years of helping children with diabetes through the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. Held every two years, this is the 18th Carousel of Hope. From its inception in 1978, the Ball has raised over $70 million.

The gala will feature performances from Josh Groban, the Jonas Brothers, Katharine McPhee and many more under the music direction of David Foster. The guest list is expected to be huge, with stars such as Tom Arnold, Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas, Halle Berry, Valerie Bertinelli, Lara Flynn Boyle, Bo Derek, Geena Davis, Daisy Fuentes, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammar, Tom Hanks, Taraji P. Henson, Anjelica Huston, Magic Johnson, Dr. Phil McGraw, Holly Robinson-Peete & Rodney Peete, Nicole Richie, Jane Seymour, Nicollette Sheridan, Forest Whitaker and James Woods all expected to attend. Clive Davis, Quincy Jones and Sidney Poitier will take part in Denzel Washington’s presentation.

The evening will feature a silent auction that includes an array of eco-friendly shirts donated by Guess and signed by Jason Bateman, Halle Berry, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Will Ferrell, Harrison Ford, Cuba Gooding Jr., Whitney Houston, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Lee, Jared Leto, Bill Maher, Steve Martin, Jack Nicholson, Ray Romano, Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rod Stewart, Usher and many more. There will also be handbags signed by Joan Collins, Courteney Cox, Cindy Crawford, Dakota Fanning, Mariska Hargitay, Fergie, Susan Sarandon, Britney Spears and Racquel Welch, as well as items from Trace Adkins, P. Diddy, Marcia Cross, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Andie MacDowell, Alyssa Milano, Eva Longoria, Dolly Parton, Priscilla Presley, Denise Richards, Joel Madden, Sharon Stone, John Travolta, Carrie Underwood and many more.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit clinical care and research at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes (BDC) where over 5,000 children and young adults receive specialized care.

Take a Walk With Jamie Lee Curtis

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:16:13 -0000

Written by Dawn Fantasia

Do you have what it takes to be a mentor? Two-time Golden Globe-winning actress, Jamie Lee Curtis certainly knows what is essential for dreams to become a reality. On Friday, October 5th, (6:30 am – 9:00 am), she will be mentoring the women who participate in the Oxygen Mentor Walk at Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles, CA.

Curtis’ success as a mentor is not only because she is among the best in her field, but more importantly because she finds enjoyment from teaching and motivating young women who aspire to be like her. Successful women in areas such as Advertising, Public Service, Media & Entertainment, and Fashion also plan to attend.

Each of the mentors will have the opportunity to answer questions, inspire, and make a difference in a woman’s life. Oxygen’s CEO Geraldine Laybourne plans to walk, as well as Cathy Benko, managing principal of talent and leader of Deloitte’s Women’s Initiative (WIN), and Debi Picciolo, President of the LA North Division of Time Warner Cable. Geena Davis, Janice Dickinson, Leeza Gibbons, Rikki Klieman, and Tanika Ray, among others, have participated in past walks with the organization.

For more information about becoming a mentor or if you would like to register to walk go to the Oxygen Walk webpage.

Love Our Children USA Recognizes Mother's Who Make A Difference

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:37:50 -0000

Love Our Children USA announced today the Third Annual “Mothers Who Make A Difference List.”

What is the most difficult job in the world? Parenting!!

As Mother’s Day nears on Sunday, May 11th, and at a time when violence against children affects over 3 million children in our country, Love Our Children USA recognizes mothers throughout the country who truly do make a difference.

This year all of the moms who made the list are celebrities, with the exception of one. Yet, what they share in common are their busy careers and the way they balance their lives to be loving and nurturing mothers who make a difference!

Ross Ellis, Chief Executive Officer of Love Our Children USA said “For the third year we are delighted to honor and celebrate these selfless and caring women who contribute so much to their children, families, society and to various causes.”

Ellis also stated “At a time when our country’s youth are plagued by bullying, cyberbullying, Internet dangers and the latest teen danger of beating down other teens to post on the Internet …not to mention those parents in need of more positive parenting solutions, these mothers serve as role models for others, as their children are their first priority.”

The 2008 Mothers Who Make A Difference List include

Ashleigh Banfield, Cate Blanchett, Marcia Cross, Geena Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Salma Hayek, Jill Hennessey, Finola Hughes, Holly Hunter, Iman,
Vanessa Mathison, Nancy O’Dell, Kim Raver, Melania Trump, Naomi Watts and Kate Winslet.

Love Our Children USA salutes the Mothers Who Make A Difference in 2008 and wish them a Happy Mother’s Day!

See Mothers Who Made The List In 2006 And 2007.

In its ninth year, Love Our Children USA is the leading national nonprofit that honors, respects and protects children. Its mission is to break the cycle of violence against children. Love Our Children USA has become the go-to prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect against children in the U.S. It works to eliminate behaviors that keep children from reaching their potential. It redefines parenting and creates kid success by promoting prevention strategies and positive changes in parenting and family attitudes and behaviors through public education. It works to empower and support children, teens, parents and families through information, resources, advocacy, and online youth mentoring. Its goal is to keep children safe and strengthen families — Its message is positive … one of prevention and hope.

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.

Geena Davis, Role Model and Advocate for Our Children

Thu, 03 May 2007 20:19:29 -0000

Written by B. Todi

Geena Davis was celebrated for her work off screen – founding and promoting the See Jane program of Dads & Daughters – in Beverly Hills, California on May 1, 2007 at the USA TODAY Hollywood Hero Awards.

The evening, hosted by Kevin Nealon and Natasha Henstridge, began with a silent auction to benefit the See Jane program. It then moved onto a dinner and numerous speakers praising Ms. Davis for her genius starting the program (after the birth of her first child, a girl), her ability to inspire others, and for her passion advocating for all our children. Craig Moon, President and Publisher of USA TODAY, and father of one boy and four girls, spoke generously of Ms. Davis at the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel, saying she was rewriting the very definition of the word “hero”.

Peter Coyote, actor, activist and single father of a grown daughter, wished the See Jane program had existed sooner. Though he joked, he hadn’t done too badly since his daughter is now a PhD and has a daughter of her own.

Nina Tassler, President of CBS Entertainment and long-time friend, stressed the importance of the See Jane program because “the media is where young girls get their first role models”. She also said of Ms. Davis “you are my blessing”.

And Kathy Najimy, mother of a ten-year old girl, thanked “Auntie Geena” because “girl-power stories are not easy to find”. In closing, Ms. Najimy was greeted with applause of agreement when in reference to Ms. Davis as a role model in her show Commander in Chief said, “let’s write her name in for ’08”.

Finally, Geena Davis took the stage, thanking everyone for his or her kind words and restating the program’s mission statement “By making it common for our youngest children to see everywhere a balance of active and complex male and female characters, girls and boys will grow up to empathize with and care more about each others’ stories”. Ms. Davis recognized Ms. Najimy as one of the early supporters of See Jane and joked that she couldn’t be the “auntie” since they were the same age.

Ms. Davis also thanked the See Jane program director, Crystal Allene Cooke and Dr. Stacy Smith of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication for the ongoing in-depth research—to paraphrase—proving her instincts were right.

To learn more about the See Jane program and see what you can do to
make a difference, visit the See Jane website.

Look To The Stars News: Geena Davis

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