Look To The Stars News: Martina McBride

Celebrities Provide Happy Memories for Sick Children and Their Families

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

What do President Barack Obama, Jessica Alba and Martina McBride all have in common? They have all helped kids’ dreams come true through the Kids Wish Network.

The Kids Wish Network is a national charitable organization which works to bring joy to children who are facing difficult or tragic circumstances.

The charity has many programs, from Hero of the Month which recognizes young people facing tough situations, to Holiday of Hope Gift Bank which helps to bring comfort to children feeling alone in hospitals, to Wish Granting which arranges for children’s dreams to come true.

President Obama became one of the charity’s Guardian Angels when he met with Ta’Kiyah, a 12-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007. He gave her a hug and spent time looking through the scrapbook she brought with her.

“I was very impressed. He really took his time and looked at every picture and asked her what each picture represented,” said Cherie, Ta’Kiyah’s aunt. “Thumbs up to everybody who made this possible for Ta’Kiyah.”

Jessica Alba took 9-year-old heart disease patient Adina on a 1 1/2 hour shopping trip in LA. Martina McBride spent time at one of her concerts with Ashley, a girl who was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, and dedicated her song “Butterfly” to the girl on that evening.

Many other celebrities have brightened the lives of sick children through the organization, including Gene Simmons, Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Jessica Simpson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr..

Earnhardt met 4-year-old Mikey, who was born with a serious medical condition called VATERL Syndrome. Mikey was thrilled to meet his hero, and, after overcoming his shyness, dashed over to grab Earnhardt’s leg, stating, “I love you, Junior!”

Earnhardt reached down to pat the boy on the back, and with a warm smile replied, “I love you too, buddy.”

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. Aside from granting wishes, Kids Wish Network also has several other programs which benefit children’s care facilities. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit KidsWishNetwork.org

Tim McGraw And Faith Hill To Perform For Country United

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Aime Pingi

The American Country singer and actor Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill will perform during Country United, a two-day event comprised of the Partnership for Military Medicine Symposium and the Country United Gala. The events will take place on November 6 & 7, 2009, in Washington , D.C., to support the United States’s wounded warriors.

Symposium registration and Gala tickets are both available at www.countryunited.org.

The symposium and gala are supported by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine and the Tug McGraw Foundation.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) for the Advancement of Military Medicine is a private, not-for-profit organization authorized by the US Congress to support military medical research and education at USU (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences) and throughout the armed forces. Country United is an extension of HJF’s ongoing efforts to advance military medicine. (www.hjf.org)

The Tug McGraw Foundation was established in 2003 to enhance the quality of life of children and adults with brain tumors, and in 2009 expanded programs to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. TMF collaborates and partners with other organizations to accelerate new treatments and cures while improving quality of life in areas of physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual impact of those debilitating conditions.

McGraw and Hill are co-chairing the event that will raise money to help advance medical care and improve quality of life for service members and civilians. Hill is also scheduled to provide the keynote address during the Nov. 6 symposium.

“My father, Tug McGraw, proudly served as a Marine, and I’m honored to play a role in this very special event,” Tim McGraw said. “The goal of Country United is aligned with our own mission to accelerate treatment and cures around quality-of-life issues.”

Tim Mc Graw is very involved in social activities. As his success has grown, McGraw has become increasingly interested in giving back to the community. When McGraw first reached fame in 1994, he established his annual Swampstock event. Begun as a charity softball game to raise money for hometown little league programs, the event now includes a celebrity softball game and a multi-artist concert that attracts over 11,000 fans per year. The combined events have funded new little league parks and equipment and established college scholarship funds for students in the Northeast Louisiana area.

From 1996-1999 McGraw also hosted an annual New Year’s Eve concert in Nashville with special guests including Jeff Foxworthy, the Dixie Chicks and Martina McBride. The 1997 show raised over $100,000 for the Country Music Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum. Beginning in 1999, McGraw would pick select cities on each tour, and the night before he was scheduled to perform, would choose a local club and host a quickly-organized show. This tour within a tour became known as “The Bread and Water Tour”, and all proceeds from the show would go to a charity from that community.

In the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina, McGraw and his wife, who was raised in Mississippi, joined groups taking supplies to Gulfport, Mississippi. The two also hosted several charity concerts to benefit those who were displaced by the storm. Later in the year the couple established the Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation, which provides funding for community charities to assist with basic humanitarian services in the event of a natural disaster or for desperate personal circumstances.

McGraw is also a member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, in which various celebrities donate their time, skills, and fame to help the Red Cross highlight important initiatives and response efforts.

McGraw has helped out with charity events held by NFL Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. The Favre Forward Foundation has featured McGraw (and at other times Faith Hill) performing concerts during dinners and auctions that benefit children with disabilities in Wisconsin and Mississippi.

On July 12th, 2007, it was made public that McGraw and his wife Faith Hill, while in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a performance, donated $5000 to Kailey Kozminski, 3 year-old daughter of Officer Robert Kozminski, a Grand Rapids police officer who was killed on July 8, 2007 while responding to a domestic disturbance.

Martina McBride Supports Teen Dating Abuse Hotline

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Country singer Martina McBride is to front a campaign to help teenage victims of violent relationships.

The singer has teamed up with the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (NTDAH) for the campaign – My Time to Shine – which aims to raise awareness of abusive and unhealthy teen relationships. Recent research has shown that one in three girls who have been in a serious relationship say they’ve been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner.

“Young people today have more opportunities to make decisions about their lives, and it places a lot of pressure on them early,” said McBride, a mother of three daughters who is passionate about the need to increase awareness for teens and parents about teen dating abuse, and about how to develop healthy relationships. “If we can help them to form healthy relationships at an earlier age in life, they will make better choices for life partners, and as a mom, I want to be part of that.”

McBride’s new album, Shine, has just been released, and the singer will be selling My Time To Shine merchandise at her upcoming shows to raise funds to benefit the teen helpline.

More information can be found at the Love Is Respect website

Martina McBride To Headline Mercy Charity Ball

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Aime Pingi

There will be a number of changes for the fifteenth annual celebration of the Mercy Health Foundation of Northwest Arkansas’ Charity Ball. The most remarkable change is perhaps the addition of a headline entertainer – RCA recording artist Martina McBride.

“Mercy is grateful to have Martina McBride serve as the headliner for this year’s Charity Ball,” said Clark Ellison, Chief Development Officer for the Mercy Health Foundation of Northwest Arkansas. “The Mercy Charity Ball event is the premier soiree of the year in the Northwest Arkansas, not to mention our primary fundraising event. The changes we are making will only assure that the event offers an unparalleled experience for those who attend and continue to provide support for the mission of Mercy.”

Indeed, Martina McBride works with a variety of charities. She is currently the spokeswoman for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, as well as the National Network to End Domestic Violence and National Spokeswoman for the Tulsa Domestic Violence and Intervention Services. Every year since 1995, she has hosted the Celebrity Auction, for the YWCA of Middle Tennessee. In 2004 she worked with the Kids Wish Network to fulfill the wish of a young girl dying from Muscular Dystrophy. She was awarded the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award in 2003.
Recently, McBride explained that educating girls and women on domestic violence is something she works on at home with her own daughters.

Despite racking up 16 million in sales, 22 top 10 singles—including six number ones with crossover success in multiple genres—numerous CMA and ACM awards and a slew of national television appearances in her illustrious 15-year career, Martina continues to scale new artistic heights. Many performers might hesitate to tinker with such success, but not this one.

As for this year’s Mercy Charity Ball, there will also be a silent auction. Many of the items in the live auction are unique experiences, including:

A Trip To Obama’s Inauguration – On November 4, America voted in a historic election and Barack Obama was elected to the 44th president of the United States of America. The winner of this trip will be the personal guest of U.S. Rep. John Boozman at Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2009. They will also receive a guided tour by the congressman of Washington D.C. landmarks, including the White House and U.S. Capitol building.

Revlon Celebrity Trip for 2 to New York – This trip will include: airfare for two, hotel for two nights , $200 spending cash, two tickets to a Broadway show, makeover with free product by a fashion magazine make-over artist, attendance at the Revlon Run/Walk for Cancer Research (5km run through Central Park), and VIP admittance to the Celebrity tent.

A Trip for 6 People to Napa Valley – This trip will include tours of the Foster Wine Estates and include dinner at one of the castles on their property.

Anheuser-Busch Brew Master Dinner for 8 – This auction item includes a meal prepared by an executive chef with a Brew Master present to explain the beers for each course. Tours of the brewery and Grants Farm will also be part of this one-of-a-kind trip.

Also new this year is an opportunity sponsored by Mercy Health Plans for any participant of the Charity Ball to win two round trip airline tickets on either Delta or American airlines to anywhere in the continental United States or Canada and a stay in a Hotel Hyatt.

“We are looking forward to infusing more excitement than ever before into our Charity Ball,” Linda Phillips, Major Giving Coordinator. “We can guarantee that it will be a night to remember. We are thankful for New Creature and Sony Music Entertainment for working together to bring Martina McBride to our charity event.”

The Mercy Health Foundation Charity Ball will be held at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers on Saturday, December 6, 2008. Tickets and sponsorships are still available by calling the Foundation office at 479-338-2934 or visit www.mercy4u.com/foundation. Tickets are $200 a piece. A table for 10 is $2,000. Sponsorships are also
available.

Country Stars Pucker Up For Charity

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

As reported by Look To The Stars back in August, singer Jewel is spearheading this year’s Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation Kiss For Country campaign, and the auction start date is getting closer.

The singer will unveil a range of lip prints made by country music’s biggest stars at a press conference on November 11 for the auction, which will run online until December 12. Proceeds from the auction will aid domestic-violence centers across America.

Some of the stars taking part include Reba McEntire, Kellie Pickler, Rodney Atkins, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Jennifer Hanson, Emerson Drive, Martina McBride, Clint Black, and many others.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this campaign because domestic violence gets passed through generations, and the only way to stop it is to bring attention to the cause,” said Jewel.

Look To The Stars will have more info on the auction when it is announced.

Celebs Design Bags For Mother's Day

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:19:28 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Yoga bags designed by celebrities such as Courteney Cox Arquette, Martina McBride and Patricia Arquette are up for grabs at eBay Giving Works from May 5-15, 2008, to raise funds for women battling breast cancer. Swarovski has partnered with The Libby Ross Foundation and celebrities to create the decorative yoga bags using Swarovski jewels, with the proceeds going to help the Foundation’s yoga program.

The Libby Ross Foundation offers the “OM Yoga Program” to women who have had, or are undergoing surgery, radiation or chemotherapy for breast cancer in a bid to promote healing and a sense of well being. The program helps women get back in touch with their bodies through breathing techniques and gentle movements.

Other celebrities stretching out their creative talents include Melora Hardin, Kim Raver, Leah Remini, Ali Landry, Brooke Burke, Nancy O’Dell, Hoda Kotb, Debi Mazar, Cheryl Hines, and three mother-daughter teams, Susan Sarandon and her daughter Eva Amurri, Miley Ray Cyrus and her mother Trish Cyrus and Hayden Panettiere and her mother Lesley Panettiere.

The world’s leader in cut crystal is also donating $75,000 to The Libby Ross Foundation’s OM Yoga Program from the sales of its pink ribbon charm and pink heart necklace, which can be purchased at retailers or online.

“Swarovski’s gift this year will help us bring the Yoga Program to more women than ever before. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate Mother’s Day — helping bring peace and strength to mothers, daughters and sisters everywhere who are fighting this disease,” said Lori Ross, co-founder of the Libby Ross Foundation. Ms Ross lost her mother, Elizabeth “Libby” Ross, to breast cancer on July 24, 1998.

Miranda Lambert Gives Cause For The Paws

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:58:14 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

In the last four years, Miranda Lambert has gone from a reality show star to a Grammy-nominated country superstar, but she hasn’t let the success go to her head – in fact, its gone straight to the animals!

On April 20, Lambert hosted her first ever charity event, the ‘Cause for the Paws’ Wine Tasting Festival to benefit the struggling East Texas Humane Society. For years, Lambert has been a huge supporter of the shelter, often encouraging her fans to make donations rather than give gifts to her.

According to Humane Society officials, the organization will actually lose revenue in 2008. Helping to offset the loss, Lambert – joined by country stars Blake Shelton and Kacey Musgraves – appealed to the public to help raise funds during the event, which included silent/live auctions, food and wine tasting, a Meet and Mingle VIP cocktail party, and a concert featuring all three entertainers.

The event also featured a few special VIP guests – adoptable shelter dogs looking for a home, and Delilah, a dog Lambert adopted in 2007.

“Cause for the Paws” was also supported online by Lambert, who kicked off an eBay auction on April 7. More than 40 items were auctioned off to raise money for the Humane Society of East Texas, including items from Lambert, Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, George Strait, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Ray Cyrus, and Merle Haggard among others.

All proceeds from Lambert’s eBay auction and the “Cause for the Paws” event will help care for abused, abandoned and unwanted animals, and for that we thank you Miranda Lambert.

Kissing Violence Good-bye

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:40:52 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Country music artists puckered up to create a collection of kissed cards that are being auctioned off to fans on line until the end of this year. The framed lip prints were displayed earlier this month at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards.

Stars like Reba McEntire, Sara Evans, Jennifer Hanson, Miranda Lambert, Jo Dee Messina, Jennifer Nettles, Tanya Tucker and Wynonna applied their favourite Mary Kay lip product and left their prints on cards that were then analyzed by a “professional kissologist.”

Proceeds are to benefit the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation programs committed to ending domestic violence. The Foundation also funds research on finding cures for cancers affecting women. Says “A Kiss for Country” charity campaign spokesperson and country superstar Martina McBride, “Through the kisses of my fellow Country Music artists, we are hoping to help put an end to domestic violence.”

Mary Kay has also pledged, through the Foundation, a $20,000 grant to a women’s shelter in the name of each artist who donated a kiss, and up to $3 million to women’s shelters around the United States in 2008.
“With one in three women in this country affected by domestic violence, it is important for survivors to know there is help in their neighborhood,” said Mary Kay senior vice president Rhonda Shasteen.

Celebrities Changing the World Through Kisses

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:35:42 -0000

Written by Nadia Lias

Ever wanted a kiss from a celebrity? Good news! The Mario Magro Kiss For A Cause Foundation is now having an auction of beautifully unique, handcrafted crystal “Le Coop” celebrity-kissed handbags.

Sixty celebrities ranging from Emma Roberts, Gary Dourdan, Martina McBride, George Strait, Vince Gill, Rita Rudner and many more have puckered up in order to end child abandonment, suffering and hunger.

The auction runs until June 25th, and money raised goes to helping orphaned, homeless and abandoned children, locally and internationally by providing them with education, food and housing.

For a complete list of celebrity participants and photos visit the Kiss For A Cause Website.

Look To The Stars News: Martina McBride

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