Look To The Stars News: Shaquille O'Neal

Hugh Jackman And Mariah Carey Join Made With Pencils Celebrity Charity Campaign

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:45:00 +0000

This holiday season, Pencils of Promise (PoP), a nonprofit whose mission is to build schools in the developing world, is launching their Made with Pencils campaign. The Made with Pencils campaign allows the world’s leading cultural curators and artistic minds to produce original works made from pencils that will be auctioned off to build new schools.

Beginning November 30, these one-of-a-kind creations will be auctioned on the Pencils of Promise website, so supporters can not only purchase an expression of iconic inspiration, but also play an active role in producing schools in the developing world. All funds raised go directly to building schools and educating children around the world.

Participants include leaders across all industries. In the entertainment sector Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Hugh Jackman, Lil’ John, Russell Simmons, Olivia Wilde, Lea Michele and Sophia Bush have all created original works. Sports superstars Shaquille O’Neal, David Freese and Steve Nash have contributed. Fashion gurus and designers Cynthia Rowley, Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan are participating, as are artists Joe Fenton, Jon Burgerman and Stephen Wiltshire. Other noteworthy individuals include television journalist Katie Couric and Chelsea Clinton. Many additional prominent actors, performers and creators are confirmed to participate and will be announced in the coming 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.

Celebrities To Wear Purple For Spirit Day

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0000

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will join millions of lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and allies by participating in Spirit Day and wearing purple on October 20, 2011.

Wearing purple on this day symbolizes support for LGBT people and against bullying of LGBT teens.

GLAAD is working with organizations including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the PACER Center, GLSEN, GSA Network, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), PFLAG and The Trevor Project as part of National Bullying Prevention Month to inspire Americans to wear purple on Spirit Day.

Joe Jonas To Host Star-Studded Charity Day

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Nina Dobrev and Joe Jonas will join stars such as Nelly Furtado, Danny Glover and Patch Adams at a very special charity event in Toronto tomorrow, September 27.

We Day is a charity event being held by Free The Children that will see 36,000 student leaders from 1,500 schools to celebrate social change in Toronto.

We Day is part of an unparalleled educational opportunity called the We Schools in Action program. Throughout the year-long program, young people turn their inspiration into action by committing to take one local and one global action throughout the school year. In the 2010/2011 school year alone, youth volunteered 1.7 million hours in their communities and raised more than $5.4 million to support local and global organizations.

Denzel Washington And Celebrity Friends Launch New Charity PSA

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America (BGCA) have announced a star-studded new Public Service Advertising (PSA) campaign, featuring 21 notable Club alumni dramatically showcasing the impact of the Boys & Girls Club experience in transforming the lives of young people.

The Great Future Start Here PSA made its debut yesterday during an event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

On hand for the release of “Great Futures Start Here” was its director, Academy Award-winner Ron Howard, and Club alumnus Denzel Washington, who secured Howard’s support, along with that of producer Brian Grazer and Imagine Entertainment. The spot was filmed in June in Los Angeles.

Shaquille O'Neal Signs Cookies For Charity

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0000

After 19 years of an exceptional professional basketball career under his belt, the one and only Shaquille O’Neal announced on June 1 in Boston that he’s bidding the league farewell. In celebration of Shaquille’s career, OREO is auctioning-off one package of their yet-to-be-released Triple Double OREO cookies, autographed by Shaquille O’Neal, on eBay.

The winning bidder will receive a case of the new cookies to enjoy, as well. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Newark in O’Neal’s honor.

Aside from his years spent on the court, he has also made a name for himself as a member of the OREO Double Stuf Racing League (DSRL). OREO is proud to count O’Neal, recognized by basketball fans around the world for his larger-than-life presence both on and off the court, as one of the co-stars of the OREO DSRL campaign.

Bret Michaels Thanks Fans

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:09:00 +0000

On January 24th, Poison frontman Bret Michaels went in to surgery to repair a hole in his heart, while his fans got busy showing him some love.

During the time Bret was in surgery, there was a huge influx of donations to one of his favorite charities, the American Diabetes Association, leading him to release a statement through his rep.

“Bret would like to send out a big thank you to all those who donated to the ADA,” his rep told Hollywood Life. “He is extremely appreciative of this incredible support.”

Jennifer Lopez Tells Kids To Be Great For Charity

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Jennifer Lopez was in Times Square yesterday, June 10, to unveil a billboard as part of the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America’s (BGCA) Be Great campaign.

The campaign – which was launched in 2008 – features a collection of celebrity alumni from the BGCA who have donated their childhood photos for advertising. Stars such as Denzel Washington, Martin Sheen, Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Cosby, Muhammad Ali, Swin Cash, Bill Clinton, Cuba Gooding Jr., Michael Jordan, Queen Latifah, Mario Lopez, John Mellencamp, Edward James Olmos, Smokey Robinson, John Singleton, Ruben Studdard, Usher, Courtney Vance, Mark Wahlberg, and Kerry Washington have all been part of the campaign.

Debbie Gibson Launches Celebrity Jeans Charity Auction

Wed, 05 May 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Singer Debbie Gibson has launched a new online charity auction, and a whole bunch of her celebrity friends are helping out.

The Only In My Jeans auction (a play on Deb’s 1987 hit single “Only In My Dreams”) sees jeans signed by celebrities such as the casts of Desperate Housewives and Glee (pictured below), Ryan Seacrest, Rob Thomas, Hilary Duff, Rick Fox, Lance Bass, Chris Angel and many more going under the hammer for the Gibson Girl Foundation – a charity that awards scholarships to qualifying youth who desire to attend an entertainment camp, but are unable to afford camp tuition.

Shaq O'Neal Asks The Nation To Help Charity

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Shaquille O’Neal has teamed up with Be The Match to tell the nation about the critical need for more bone marrow donors. In the Do Something Big campaign, the basketball superstar will challenge Americans to “Be the one to save a life.” Three public service announcements will hit the airwaves and the Internet starting in March.

“There’s nothing bigger than life – not when someone you love is fighting to live,” O’Neal said. “That’s why I’m letting people know they have the power to save a life by joining the Be The Match Registry.”

Stars To Attend Charity Sports Spectacular

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:30:00 +0000

The 24th annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular is to take place in LA this Sunday, June 7.

This year’s honorees are Laila Ali, Ryan Sheckler and Dwayne Wade, and celebrities expected to attend include Snoop Dogg, Joel Madden, Tom Arnold and many more.

The Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular has been heralded by the Los Angeles Times as the premier sports awards dinner in the country. This exciting charity event was established in 1986 in response to the promise of genetic research leading to the understanding of numerous genetic diseases found in children as well as adults.

Usher Urges Youth To Be Great

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

As part of Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America’s (BGCA) new advocacy campaign — BE GREAT — five-time Grammy award winner, philanthropist and Boys & Girls Club alumnus Usher has unveiled a new billboard featuring his childhood picture and a call-to-action — BE ICONIC. Usher joins 25 prominent alumni in the new advocacy campaign to help increase public awareness and understanding about the positive impact of Clubs.

From academic failure and gang violence to poverty, drugs and obesity, America’s youth face a daunting array of problems — with serious consequences and fewer safety nets at home and in the community. According to a 2007 BGCA alumni survey conducted by Harris Interactive, 57 percent of alumni reported, “The Club saved my life,” while another 28 percent credited Boys & Girls Clubs with keeping them in school.

“Growing up in the Club, I had the chance to experience a lot of positive things; it helped reinforce the values I learned at home including good character, leadership and giving back to my community, my country and my world,” said Usher. “It’s where I developed my love of singing and performing, received help with my homework, and it’s where I found a safe place to go after school.”

Wyclef Jean To Play Phoenix House Benefit

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Musician Wyclef Jean will perform at a charity gala tonight, March 30, to benefit the largest non-profit alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention facility in the US.

The 2009 Phoenix Rising Gala will benefit Phoenix House, the organization established in 1969 that treats more than 5,000 persons in nearly 100 residential and outpatient programs throughout nine states every day. The evening will feature cocktails and dinner, and will honor Lisa Ellis, a record executive whose work in the arts and entertainment has encouraged positive and responsible behavior in young people.

Co-chairs of the event include Eli Manning and Shaquille O’Neal, and the Host Committee includes John Legend and Michael Strahan.

LTTS Exclusive: Hollywood Knights Slam-Dunk For Charity

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ Delinda Lombado recently got the chance to talk to the CEO of Hollywood Knights International, whose celebrity basketball team is a leader in charity fundraising.

Back in 1973, David Mirisch was way ahead of the curve. As founder of Hollywood Knights International, he is credited with being the first (or at least most important) person to pair celebrities with fundraising, producing some of the first consecutive tennis and golf charity tournaments in Hollywood.

Now headed by David’s son Michael (who took the reins as CEO in 1992), Hollywood Knights International are still going strong and its Celebrity Basketball Team has become a symbol for fundraising world-wide.

Shaq Brings On The Peanut Butter For Charity

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:30:00 +0000

“You want some peanut butter? I’ll get you some.”

If you were at Church on the Rise in Westlake, Ohio, last week, you would have heard NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal utter these words and more at the church’s PB and Shaq Challenge. O’Neal served as the event’s featured guest and charged an admission of ten jars of peanut butter. The donated goods will be received by Feed the Children and will be included in care packages for Wilmington area families overwhelmed by the recent closing of a DHL center.

The event raised over one thousand jars of peanut butter – all of which will be closely scrutinized in light of the recent salmonella scare.

Shaq O'Neil Records PSA For Childhelp USA

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

NBA great Shaquille O’Neal was in Phoenix, Arizona, this week to record a PSA – directed by Casper Van Dien – for Childhelp USA.

The Phoenix Suns center is the latest in a long line of celebrity supporters and ambassadors for the charity – dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect – including Leeza Gibbons, Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Jane Seymour, Catherine Oxenberg, and John Stamos.

“Everyone said you just have to have Shaq,” charity founder Sara O’Meara told ABC15. “And so we said we’ll get him. These economic times are so bad and people who made pledges in the past and honored them are no longer able to honor them, so when people step up to the plate, like Shaq, it makes a great detail of different to a charity.”

Denzel Washington Urges Kids To Be Great

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Denzel Washington, Martin Sheen, and Shaquille O’Neal have lent their childhood photos to the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America for a new advertising campaign.

The “BE GREAT” campaign launched last week, and aims to encourage volunteers to work at the clubs.

“What’s going on with children doesn’t worry me,” said the Oscar-winning actor. “What’s going on with adults worries me. If we are not more committed to these young people … they will go as far as we take them, so the onus is on us, not on the children. We’ve created this world for them, we are the ones that fall and we are the ones that can rectify it.”