Look To The Stars News: Sherry Lansing

Celebrity Women Honored At Humanitarian Awards

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Some of the hottest female stars in show business, including Christina Applegate, Christina Aguilera, Maria Bello and Anne Hathaway, were honored for their charity work at Variety’s first annual Power Of Women Luncheon last week.

Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and hosted by Jane Lynch, the event highlighted the humanitarian work carried out by women in the entertainment business.

“These are very busy, successful women who have found time and a place in their heart to give back to others and make a huge impact,” said Lynch.

Among the honorees, Applegate was honored for her fight against cancer and her establishment of the Right Action for Women organization.

“The women I talk to really inspire me,” Applegate said. “The women who come up to me every day and say, ‘I was high-risk; I thought I had to wait until I was 45 to find out, but I went and got an MRI and I have cancer.’ Hopefully one day we’ll have a system that covers this.”

Maria Bello was also honored, for her work with the Save Darfur Coallition.

“The genocide in Darfur has been going on for the last seven years,” she said. "The violence against women there, rape is a weapon of war and an instrument of genocide. It’s outrageous, something needs to be addressed – not only in Darfur but all over the world.

“What makes a woman powerful is using the gifts that you’ve been given to give back to the world.”

“To be honest, I feel a little weird getting an award for it,” said Anne Hathaway, who was honored for her work with Service Nation. “There are so many people who do so much more than what I do. But I also understand that this is an amazing opportunity for exposure and fundraising.”

Other honorees included Sherry Lansing and Sigourney Weaver.

American Red Cross Announces Celebrity Cabinet

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The American Red Cross is pleased to announce five new additions to its National Celebrity Cabinet, a group of celebrity supporters who promote Red Cross services by donating their time, helping neighbors prepare for emergencies, responding to disasters and lending a helping hand to those in need.

New members to the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet include country singer and professional ballroom dancer Julianne Hough, Tony Award-winner and actress Anika Noni Rose, who lends her voice to the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated comedy adventure “The Princess and the Frog” and appears in the HBO/Anthony Minghella television drama series,“#1 Ladies’ Detective Agency”, Hollywood Records artist and Disney Channel star Demi Lovato, who is supporting disaster relief via a Text 2 Help campaign throughout her summer tour, actress Sally Pressman from Lifetime’s “Army Wives” who will be supporting Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces, and actress Amanda Peet.

Peet has already made a personal commitment to support the Red Cross Measles Initiative. “As a mom, I feel privileged to support the American Red Cross in their efforts to vaccinate millions of children around the world through the Measles Initiative, a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. I commend the American Red Cross for tackling this global health problem in developing countries, where measles remains a leading cause of death, despite the availability of a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine. I am passionate about this cause and look forward partnering with the American Red Cross to ensure children worldwide have this life-saving opportunity.”

“The American Red Cross runs on the valuable service of volunteers to fulfill our mission, and we are grateful that these celebrities are setting an example by volunteering their time and talents to help raise awareness of our work in responding to disasters, providing blood, helping military members and their families and promoting preparedness through first aid or CPR classes,” states Gail McGovern, President and CEO of American Red Cross.

The announcement of these celebrity supporters closely follows First Lady Michelle Obama’s official launch of the United We Serve initiative, a call for nationwide service to begin a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to meet community needs. The initiative spans throughout the summer and will culminate with a National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11. During this time, the Red Cross will promote volunteer opportunities throughout its network of more than 700 chapters to help encourage community service.

“I am honored to be a part of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet and help support an organization that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war and aid to victims of devastating natural disasters. Being part of this amazing organization will provide me with an opportunity to join its efforts to help others and encourage the American public to become involved with their local Red Cross and make a difference,” said Julianne Hough.

The Red Cross benefits from the involvement of public figures and celebrities dating back to World War I. Over the years, actors, artists, and sports figures committing their time and talents to the organization have played an important role in raising public awareness of Red Cross services nationwide.

This group of newcomers joins the National Celebrity Cabinet that also includes Greg Biffle, Pierce Brosnan, Jackie Chan, Chayanne, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, George Foreman, Leeza Gibbons, Amy Grant, Pat Green, Marcia Gay Harden, Dwayne Johnson, Heidi Klum, Patti LaBelle, Peyton and Eli Manning, Marlee Matlin, Dr. Phil McGraw, “Access Hollywood’s” Nancy O’Dell, Masi Oka, Rascal Flatts, Raven Symone, Elisabeth Rohm, Jane Seymour, Jimmy Smits, and Daddy Yankee.

The Red Cross is honored to have Sherry Lansing, former chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Group, Paramount Pictures and former member of the Red Cross Board of Governors, to serve as National Celebrity Cabinet Chair.

Please visit www.redcross.org/celebritycabinet/ to learn more about the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.

Jerry Lewis Awarded Oscar For Charity Work

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Jerry Lewis was awarded a very special humanitarian award at last night’s Oscars.

The 82-year-old actor received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his untiring work in hosting the annual telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) as an advocate of “Jerry’s Kids” – a role he has taken on every year since 1966.

“For most of my life I thought that doing good for someone didn’t mean you would receive commendation for that act of kindness,” Lewis said in his acceptance speech. “At least until now. This award touches my heart and the very depth of my soul because of who the award is from, and those who will benefit.”

The award – which in the past has been presented to Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Sherry Lansing, Quincy Jones, Bob Hope and many others – is named after screen actor Jean Hersholt, who served as the president of the Motion Picture Relief Fund for 18 years. The honor was a great thrill for the MDA, who are grateful for the support of Lewis.

“MDA always has been immensely proud of its inspiring national chairman, who for more than five decades has personified the Association’s missions of help and hope. He is well deserving of this extraordinary honor,” said Gerald C. Weinberg, MDA president and CEO. “The impact of his humanitarian efforts on people with muscle-wasting diseases is beyond measure.”

The award is not the first honor for the comedy legend. He was presented the U.S. Defense Department’s highest civilian award, the Medal for Distinguished Service, in 1985. In 1996 the American Medical Association presented him and MDA Lifetime Achievement Awards “for significant and lasting contributions to health and welfare of humanity.” He is also one of an elite few to have been made a Commander in the French Legion of Honor. In 2007, Look To The Stars revealed that Lewis had topped a survey of the most effective celebrities for charity causes, with 43% of those surveyed saying he was the best at raising funds and driving change for the issues he supports.

“Jerry is well-known as the ‘face’ of the MDA Labor Day Telethon, which he has hosted without fail for 43 years and counting,” Weinberg said. “The Telethon is the most effective philanthropic event of its kind, so it’s appropriate that the man who makes it all possible has been singled out for his matchless compassion.”

More Stars Stand Up To Cancer

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Stand Up To Cancer has announced another selection of stars that will take part in their television extravaganza on September 5.

Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, and Scarlett Johansson have been confirmed to join Meryl Streep, David Cook, and Christina Applegate in appearing on the primetime television event that hopes to raise funds for cancer research. Lance Armstrong has already filmed a segment that will be shown during the one hour event which will be broadcast simultaneously on ABC, CBS and NBC.

Organizer Sherry Lansing is pleased with the celebrity support the event is getting, and is grateful for their assistance.

“It hasn’t been hard getting celebrity involvement,” she told Look To The Stars. “Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way and they want to stand up, just like everyone else.”

A star-studded PSA for the event – featuring Christy Turlington, Tobey Maguire, Susan Sarandon, Morgan Freeman, Keanu Reeves, and Casey Affleck – can be viewed here.

Stand Up To Cancer: Sherry Lansing Tells Us How And Why

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Jennifer Beckmann

Sherry Lansing was the chair of the Motion Picture Group of Paramount Pictures from 1992 to 2005, where she oversaw the release of more than 200 films including Academy Award winners Forrest Gump (1994), Braveheart (1995), and the highest grossing movie of all time, Titanic (1997).

A pioneering studio executive, Lansing is the first woman in the film industry to oversee all aspects of a studio’s motion picture production. She is currently involved with Stand Up To Cancer, a non-profit organization/website/TV special that hopes to enable cutting-edge research aimed at finding a cure to all types of cancer. Stars from film, television, sports, journalism and music will come together for the September 5th primetime television event to raise funds for cancer research, and it will feature live performances as well as filmed content giving viewers insight into cancer.

Look To The Stars recently caught up with Sherry Lansing to find out more about Stand Up To Cancer and its goals.

Tell us how Stand Up To Cancer started.

SU2C got started when a group of us wanted to do something big for cancer research, so we dreamed… and, as in Hollywood, we dreamed BIG. We dreamed of the networks giving us a simultaneous commercial free telecast in an attempt to educate people about prevention, create awareness, and raise funds for cancer research.

All of us were involved in working in various ways to help scientists stop cancer, focusing on different areas of the disease, but we put our competitive interests aside to create Stand Up To Cancer, just like how the Big 3 networks [NBC, ABC, and CBS] will come together under the same tent to air our September 5th show.

We are patient advocates, we have all been touched personally by cancer, and we want it to end. I lost my mother to cancer, but since then I see it’s become an epidemic, everyday I pick up the telephone and hear of someone else who has been struck by this disease. I just want to help. I hate cancer. I just don’t want it to exist.

What sets SU2C apart from other cancer research fundraisers?

We are raising money for dream teams of researchers and scientists. Regretfully, cancer foundations, scientists, and researchers have all competed with each other for funding due to lack of money and didn’t share research because of intellectual property, which in essence held back breakthroughs. Instead, we are bringing together scientists from all the around the world to form dream teams that will be funded and who will work together in a collaborative way. We’re identifying the most promising opportunities for success and leveraging our resources and knowledge to drive breakthroughs and find cures.

Our show is just the beginning. This is a movement, much like what Al Gore did with An Inconvenient Truth, we hope to be the tipping point for cancer, and we hope cancer will be on the front page much like the economy and the War in Iraq.

There is quite a celebrity-studded Public Service Announcement up on your site. How did you get so many celebrities on board with this cause? Why do you think so many celebrities choose to become advocates for cancer research?

Luckily it hasn’t been hard getting celebrity involvement. Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way and they want to stand up, just like everyone else.

What else are celebrities doing to help this cause?

They are helping in many ways by creating PSAs, donating their time, providing website content, participating in our show – answering phones, performing on air, honoring people with cancer.

The MLB was our first major donor, they gave 10 million dollars and we just launched with them a PSA that Jessica Biel did for us about how to txt to donate, which will be shown throughout the baseball season at stadiums.

I’m very grateful that it hasn’t been hard getting talent, the only thing limiting is that we only have an hour show.

Can you tell us who any of the show’s performers or phone operators will be?

We are still finalizing this, but the names will be big. We already have advocates like Lance Armstrong and Katie Couric… and that’s just the beginning.

How can people get involved with SU2C?

Everyone can be involved, from a company to a third grade kid. People can stand up now by joining teams to fundraise online, email congress to request funding for cancer research, or for just a $1 donation launch a star in memory or dedication to someone with cancer in The Constellation on our site.

In your estimation, how will SU2C contribute to the overall progress of cancer research?

In many ways I think we can make an incredible change. This is the beginning of a movement, and when people start to create a movement – civil rights, women’s rights, the green movement – it’s going to be impactful. This show is unprecedented – except for 9/11, the networks have not banded together like this over a cause, never for a disease. If this constituency is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore that one out of two men and one out of three women will get cancer in their lifetimes – and as a result people become aware of ways to prevent cancer – then that alone will change things tremendously by just getting people to talk about it and wanting the government to fund research.

We’ve never been so close to a cure thanks to technology and science, and we want to create a people’s movement to change their lifestyles, to go out and get the tests needed to catch the disease in time and to also raise money to give scientists what they need to continue the cause. All the tumblers are in place… it all starts with the people.

Tune into Stand Up To Cancer on September 5th, 8:00 pm ET/PT on ABC, CBS and NBC.

Look To The Stars would like to thank Sherry Lansing for taking the time to talk to us about this fabulous initiative.

Red Cross Announces The 2008 Celebrity Cabinet

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:36:18 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The American Red Cross unveiled their 7th annual National Celebrity Cabinet yesterday, February 28, with 15 new members from movies, sports, and television.

Skateboard legend Tony Hawk will join former Beverly Hills 90210 and Dancing With The Stars alum Jennie Garth, Heroes’ Masi Oka, Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley, House M.D.’s Lisa Edelstein and Kal Penn, Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz, Grey’s Anatomy’s Sara Ramirez, Scrubs’ Judy Reyes, Everyone Loves Raymond’s Patricia Heaton, Hairspray’s Brittany Snow, two-time NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, New York Yankee Robinson Cano, NFL star Matt Leinart, and Life Coach Iyanla Vazant in the 2008 Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, part of a mobilizing force to urge people to perform extraordinary life-saving acts in dire circumstances through the assistance of the Red Cross.

“I am extremely honored to participate in the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, especially at a time when we have the ability to do so much for people around the world who have endured such tragedies,” said new member Jennie Garth. “The Red Cross brings help and hope to those in need and has done tremendous good for so many different people on a global level. I believe this is a time when we can educate others and the Red Cross allows for the opportunity for each individual to contribute to the effort. I am grateful that I am able be part of this amazing organization.”

The 47 members of the 2008 National Celebrity Cabinet will be “on-call” to donate their time, skills, passion, and energy to help the Red Cross highlight their important initiatives and response efforts. It will be chaired once again by Sherry Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures and member of the Red Cross Board of Govenors.

“This is my sixth year serving as chair for the Celebrity Cabinet,” she said. “It’s an honor to be a part of such a meaningful cause with such talented people.”

The Red Cross has benefited from the involvement of public figures and celebrities since World War I, and over the years actors and artists have played an important role in raising public awareness of Red Cross services nationwide. Cabinet members pledge their support for a one year term, although many members of the current National Celebrity Cabinet, including Heidi Klum and Leeza Gibbons, have been involved for over five years.

“The Red Cross is a volunteer driven organization that provides humanitarian help to those in need,” said Klum. “It is an honor for me to participate in their celebrity cabinet and encourage all individuals to become involved with their local Red Cross.”

Members of the 2008 National Celebrity Cabinet will be involved in one of the country’s largest volunteer networks and will promote awareness of Red Cross services by participating in public service advertisements, as well as donating their time, money and blood, aiding in disaster relief, and lending a helping hand to those in need. Returning members include Jackie Chan, Sara Evans (who recently organized an auction as part of her involvement), Jamie Lee Curtis, Patti LaBelle, Jimmy Smits, Marlee Matlin, Nancy O’Dell, Jane Seymour, Peyton Manning, Jimmie Johnson, Rascal Flatts, Julianne Moore, George Foreman, Marcia Gay Harden, Elisabeth Rohm, Eli Manning, Daddy Yankee, Chayanne, Aisha Tyler, Pierce Brosnan, Amy Grant, Miley Ray Cyrus, Kristen Bell, Pat Green, Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock), Dr. Phil McGraw, Raven Symone, Niki Taylor, Burney Lamar, and Bradley Whitford.

The American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet was developed in 2002 as part of the Entertainment Outreach Program.

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