Look To The Stars News: Drew Barrymore

Slash Says No To Proposition 8

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:15:00 -0000

Former Guns ‘N’ Roses guitarist Slash has joined the fight against Proposition 8.

The musician has filmed a new video with his wife – Mrs Slash, AKA Perla Hudson – in which they urge people to protest against the decision that will ban same-sex marriages in California.

In the video, Slash plays the Star Spangled Banner on his guitar while Hudson says, “I married my sweetheart, you should be able to marry yours too. Say no to hate and yes to equal rights. Keep up the fight.”

They also urge people to visit www.jointheimpact.com to help fight against Prop 8.

The couple are not alone in her opposition to Prop 8, with donations being made by Brad Pitt ($100,000), Steven Spielberg ($100,000), TR Knight ($50,000) David Geffen ($50,000), and Peter Wentz, and support from Barack Obama and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ellen DeGeneres, Drew Barrymore, and Fall Out Boy.

Slash’s new video can be seen at his official website.

Drew Barrymore Says No To Propostion 8

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Drew Barrymore joined thousands of protestors in West Hollywood over the weekend to march against Proposition 8, the controversial initiative to ban same-sex marriage in California.

“Thank you for allowing us be a part of this,” the 33-year said to protestors through a megaphone. “So many people that I love are being affected by this, people who have defined who I am. This cannot happen. We have to change this. This is so wrong. With all my heart, I could not feel more passionate about this.”

The actress is not alone in her opposition to Prop 8, with donations being made by Brad Pitt ($100,000), Steven Spielberg ($100,000), TR Knight ($50,000) David Geffen ($50,000), and Peter Wentz, and support from Barack Obama and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ellen DeGeneres, and Fall Out Boy.

“I am honored to be in your presence and I will fight with you,” shouted Barrymore to protestors. “Thank you so much. No on Prop 8! No on Prop 8! No on Prop 8!”

Protests are expected to continue all week.

A video of Barrymore’s address to the protesters can be seen here.

Jessica Alba Wants You To Declare Yourself

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Jessica Alba has appeared in a new advertisement and public service announcement aimed at energizing young adults to register and vote in the 2008 US election.

The 27-year-old actress – who appears in the adverts naked and wrapped in black electrical tape – is part of the “Only You Can Silence Yourself” campaign being run by Declare Yourself, a non-profit organization initiated in 2004 to energize and empower a new movement of young voters.

“If you don’t register and vote and make a difference, and hopefully change the bad things that are happening in our country, you are essentially just binding and muzzling yourself,“ she said. “I really don’t see the point in not registering to vote. We sign up for MySpace pages and Facebook pages, and download music off the internet. The least people can do is register to vote online, actually making a difference in their world, not just making their lives a little bit cooler. It makes more sense to spend your time making a change in society—and it actually doesn’t take that much time! It takes more time to make a music playlist than it does to register to vote.”

According to their website, Declare Yourself registered over one million young people in the 2004 and 2006 elections. Founded by television producer and philanthropist Norman Lear, the campaign has gathered support from a wide range of stars, including Ben Affleck, Christina Aguilera, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore and many more. Declare Yourself aims to empower and encourage every eligible 18-year-old in America to register and vote in the presidential primaries and 2008 presidential election, using the power of media partnerships, celebrity spokespeople, the sports arena, and mobile and Internet technology.

Oprah's Big Give Delivers A Surprise Ending

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:55:43 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Stephen Paletta has won the grand finale of Oprah’s Big Give.

The show, which picked up 10 million viewers, featured a special appearance by Jennifer Aniston, who thanked each of the seven contestants for their work and awarded them their cash gifts of $10,000. But what followed took everyone by surprise. “That just felt too good,” said the 38-year-old. “I personally would like to triple it. So we’re going to go $30,000. Guys, thank you for doing this and inspiring everybody.”

During the final show, the three finalists – Paletta, Cameron Johnson, and Brandi Milloy – worked as a team to pull off a final act of giving in Chicago. Stephen focused on the children of the Chicago Hope Academy, and organized a private performance by the Blue Man Group which raised $100,000 for the school. Meanwhile, Milloy put together a cooking class for children at the Shriners Hospital for Children, and Johnson followed suit and spent money he raised on books, toys, and DVDs for the hospital.

The eight 1-hour episodes of the show, conceived by Oprah Winfrey, featured 10 contestants using their good deeds to change lives and win cash. Paletta took home the $1 million prize for completing a giveaway challenge with zero funds, and will keep half the money and donate the rest to charity.

“I’m in shock,” said Paletta after his victory. “It was such an incredible honor and privilege to be part of this show and to be chosen as the biggest giver with all of these wonderful people.”

The series has seen a number of stars take part, including John Travolta, Jada Pinkett Smith, Andre Agassi, and Tony Hawk, although it was a $1 million donation by Drew Barrymore in the first episode that gained the most attention.

It is unknown whether there will be a second series of Oprah’s Big Give.

Celebrities Bring Attention To UN Efforts

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:11:03 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

With the press watching their every move, more and more stars are making their moves count by sharing the spotlight with United Nations missions.

In the past months alone, actress Drew Barrymore pledged $1 million to the United Nations’ World Food Program to bring attention to rising food prices; actress and Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon began raising money for the United Nations Development Fund For Women for education, job training and better laws for underprivileged women; Bono raised an impressive $42 million at his (RED) charity auction for the United Nations Foundation AIDs programs; and actress and UNICEF spokeswoman Salma Hayek promoted her anti-tetanus campaign on Oprah.

Outspoken actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow uses her celebrity in ways that politicians might not, relentlessly reminding us of the tragic details of Dafur. Farrow says, “I’m completely free to say anything I want. I have no trade agreements with anyone.”

George Clooney, the latest to be named Messenger of Peace by the United Nations for his efforts in Chad, Congo and Dafur, told ABC News, “I think what they’re looking to gain from [awarding me] is cameras following me to places that they’re trying to get attention to and that’s fine. That’s a good use of celebrity if you ask me.”

Celebrity faces fronting causes may help attract broader attention or raise bigger money more quickly, but it may also do something for the celebrity.

Actress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, who is pushing governments to plan an Iraq refugee relief effort, told ABC News, “[Activism] gives celebrity some reason. Celebrity is very weird… So when you’re doing something good and you can bring attention to that or discuss that, then it feels like you have some sense in your life.”

Drew Barrymore Leaves Her Mark For Charity Auction

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:59:12 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Drew Barrymore is being hounded by bidders who are doggedly pursuing an exciting new internet auction. The 33-year-old actress is selling a one-of-kind work of art she created… with her pet dog.

The star has donated a canvas featuring her handprints – and the paw prints of her dog, Flossie – to The Rescue Train, an organization that seeks to reduce the number of animals entering shelters by promoting education through creating unique programs and solutions.

The artwork, which can be viewed via www.charityfolks.com, is the last lot in a series of auctions that featured works of art created by celebrities and their pet pooches. Other stars to create canvases included Jessica Alba, Carmen Electra, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Paula Abdul, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Eric Roberts.

Charity Folks is the leading online marketplace for celebrity charity auctions, and has raised over $6 million for non-profit organizations in the past. The current Drew Barrymore auction ends on April 23.

Drew Barrymore Donates $1 Million To Charity

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:21:12 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Viewers of Oprah Winfrey’s new show, Oprah’s Big Give, on Sunday night got a special surprise when Drew Barrymore announced she is donating $1 million to the United Nations World Food Program.

The 33-year-old actress has been an Ambassador Against Hunger for the organization since last year, and said that this is by far the biggest donation she has ever made, but “nothing has ever felt this good.”

“I have seen with my own eyes what a difference a simple cup of nutritious porridge can make in a child’s life,” said Barrymore. “It helps them learn, stay healthy, and sets them on track for a bright future. I urge everyone – everywhere – to help WFP ‘Fill the Cup’ for hungry children, and make hunger history.”

The donation kicks off the World Food Program’s $3 billion “Fill The Cup” campaign that aims to feed 59 million hungry school children in over 80 developing countries for a year. The agency hopes the U.S. will be able to donate enough money to feed 10 million of those children.

“We have a dream … to feed another 10 million hungry school children in Africa by Thanksgiving Day,” said World Food Program Executive Director Josette Sheeran. “Just $50 fills a child’s cup for a year, and we call on everyone to click on www.wfp.org and make a donation.”

The Rome-based agency said it needs $500 million more than anticipated this year due to a rise in food and energy prices. A spokesperson for the agency said that last year the organization provided more than 20 million school children with a daily cup of porridge, rice, or beans and also gave many girls a monthly ration to take home to their families. Up to 70 percent of its food used for school meals is bought from farmers in developing countries.

“I’m able to make this incredible donation — this has changed my life,” said Barrymore. “But I encourage everyone to give.”

Madonna And Friends Shine A Light On Malawi

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:23:58 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

If you were to look on a map, you could be excused for missing Malawi completely. Bordered by Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique in South East Africa, the nation of Malawi is shaped like a lightning bolt, with much of its land area covered by a massive lake. But it a country that is in dire need of help, and a host of celebrities turned out to a dazzling evening of fun on Wednesday, February 6, to raise awareness for what is one of the poorest countries in the world.

The gala event was hosted by Madonna on the lawns of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with the $3.7 million raised going to UNICEF and her own Raising Malawi organization. A long list of stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Tea Leoni, Lucy Liu, Billy Joel, Gwen Stefani, and Djimon Hounsou, attended the event, with tickets ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. The evening also featured performances by Alicia Keys, Timbaland, and Rihanna.

“I want to put Raising Malawi on the map,” said Madonna. “I want credibility as a philanthropic organisation. I want to inspire people. I don’t want them to just write me a cheque: I want them to give me a piece of their heart.”

Comedian Chris Rock hosted an auction during the evening, which featured some exciting items donated by celebrity guests. Priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities were up for grabs, such as a dance class with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow (which sold for $600,000), and a trip to Château Latour – including lunch with Salma Hayek – which was sold to Donald Trump for $120,000.

Tom Cruise, who attended the event with wife Katie Holmes, narrowly missed out on buying a sports package that included baseball practice with Yankee Alex Rodriguez and soccer practice with David Beckham.

“It was an extraordinary evening,” said Cruise. “The whole evening was quite moving. [Saving Malawi] is an absolute necessity.”

Saving Malawi was co-founded by Madonna in 2006, after she witnessed the plight of the country firsthand. And it is a plight she hopes to make more people aware of.

Recent UNICEF figures state that almost 1 million people in Malawi (whose total population is 13 million) suffer from HIV/AIDS, including 83,000 children. 267 people are infected with the virus every day, and half of the country’s 1 million orphans have lost their parents to the disease.

It is a country where 48% of children are severely malnourished, and many are subjected to the horrors of exploitation. The infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world, and 133 children out of 1000 die before they reach the age of five. They suffer from lack of food, shelter, clothing, education, clean water and sanitation, as well as basic medical services, and the average life expectancy is only 37 years.

Raising Malawi hopes to ease the suffering of the children of Malawi by providing smart solutions to the most challenging problems. Instead of just throwing money at the nightmare, they provide grassroots initiatives in the way of healthcare, education, and agriculture at a community level. To do this, they have partnered with some of the best organizations that work in the country, including the Millennium Promise Alliance, the Network of Organizations for Vulnerable and Orphan Children, and Spirituality for Kids.

One of Raising Malawi’s greatest initiatives is the Orphan Care Center recently built in the village of Mphandula. Designed to serve 4000 children, it provides a safe haven for orphans, and supplies nutritious meals, basic education, and crucial life skills. Along with programs to introduce solar power, clean water systems, and self-sustenance, Madonna hopes the Orphan Care Center will help Malawi overcome its problems.

“I’ve earned a reputation for many things,” said Madonna during Wednesday’s gala evening. “For pushing the envelope, for being a provocateur, for never taking no for an answer, for endlessly reinventing myself, for being a cult member, a kidnapper, for being ambitious, outrageous, and irreverent. And for never settling for second best. I don’t just want you to write me a check. I’m more interested in your heart. I want to take you on that journey with me tonight. I want you to feel as inspired as I do right now.

“Yes, I want to raise Malawi. But if I can do that – if we can do that – then the sky’s the limit.”

Barrymore Becomes Ambassador Against Hunger

Wed, 16 May 2007 09:34:20 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Actress Drew Barrymore has been named an Ambassador Against Hunger for the World Food Programme. She and fellow WFP ambassador, world marathon record-holder Paul Tergat, will focus their advocacy efforts on school feeding programs. Tergat, hailing from Kenya, is a former school feeding recipient.

Barrymore points out that for just pennies a day a child can receive the nutrition necessary to boost enrollment, attendance and academic performance, leading to a brighter future for poor countries around the world.

“Feeding a child at school is such a simple thing – but it works miracles. I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” she said.

“We are delighted to have Drew Barrymore join our team,” said WFP’s Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. “Her passion and commitment to changing the world for the better – and of course the respect and admiration she commands – will make her a wonderful champion for school feeding.”

The World Food Programme fed 19.4 million children in 71 countries through school feeding programs last year.

Barrymore Raises Funds For Food

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 12:43:50 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Drew Barrymore recently travelled to Kenya in an effort to help some of the 11 million people in East Africa who are suffering from poverty and drought.

Photos the actress took while visiting the affected people of the area were sold in an auction that raised nearly $20,000 for the World Food Programme. One dollar will feed five hungry children for a day. Fellow filmstars Lucy Liu and Hugh Grant were among the winning bidders supporting the cause.

Barrymore has also designed a locket that will be sold through Marie Claire Magazine and on the internet. Some of the proceeds go to feed schoolchildren as a part of Marie Claire’s Shop For Charity World Hunger Campaign.

Look To The Stars News: Drew Barrymore

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