Look To The Stars News: Vince Gill

Keith Urban Gives All For The Hall

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Some of the biggest names in country music will hit the stage in October to raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town are just some of the names who will appear at the All For The Hall show on October 13 at the Sommet Center in Nashville.

The Hall of Fame and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a non-profit educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The Museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture.

“It was hard to get some of the more prominent artists to step up,” said Gill, the Museum’s Board President.

“Country music has this ability to keep it relevant to today, without losing the center of its authenticity and integrity,” added Urban. “We can’t move it forward unless we know where it has come from.”

Tickets for the show are available here, and there is also a ticket auction.

Early Tickets To Farm Aid Go On Sale Today

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pre-sale tickets to this year’s Farm Aid concert are available today, July 17.

The concert will take place on October 4 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The annual event is set to include Farm Aid board members Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews and John Mellencamp, with more acts to be announced soon.

“Just as rock & roll is loud and proud, so is Farm Aid,” said Neil Young. “Farm Aid’s greatest accomplishment, I believe, is in the spirit. It’s the fact that we represent the spirit of the good fight, to keep something good happening. It just keeps getting stronger and stronger….”

Now entering its 24th year, Farm Aid has raised more than $23 million for family farms and organic agricultural initiatives since the first concert in 1985. A plethora of stars have appeared at the concerts to increase awareness of the importance of family farms over the years, including Jon Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Vince Gill, Sammy Hagar, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Charley Pride, and Lou Reed.

Every year Farm Aid funds farm support organizations that assist farmers with services including financial and credit counseling, legal advice, and disaster and emergency services. However, without the nation’s attention and support, Farm Aid’s work could not continue. It is the annual high-profile concert that ultimately keeps Farm Aid alive and running.

Pre-sale tickets are only available to Farm Aid members. General public tickets go on sale July 25. To find out more or purchase tickets, visit the official website.

Scarlett Johansson Goes Barefoot For Charity

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

This week is the Second Annual Barefoot Week, organized by Soles4Souls, and a host of celebrities are stepping forward to support it.

Soles4Souls is an international shoe charity dedicated to providing a free pair of shoes to people in need. This week, the non-profit organization will be distributing thousands of pairs of new shoes in the United States while it also collects “gently worn” shoes from the general public during thousands of concurrent shoe drives at schools, churches and community centers.

The campaign is being spearheaded by Scarlett Johansson, who previously donated 2000 pairs of new shoes from her own line of Reebok footwear, and is lending her name to help raise publicity about Barefoot Week. Antawn Jamison, Jessica Simpson, Brittany Snow, Kellie Pickler, Luke Perry, Riddick Bowe, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Chris Hope, Jeff Fisher and Tim Dunn have also voiced their support for the weeklong series of events.

“If you can’t dig deep in your pockets, than dig in your closet!” said Johansson. “Americans can make a huge difference with Soles4Souls by donating shoes. Souls4Soles gives away a pair of shoes every 13 seconds in over 125 countries, with over 55 percent donated to fellow Americans.”

The full event schedule is:

Monday, June 1st: In Indianapolis, Soles4Souls will be working with Wheeler Mission Ministries to hand out 4,000 pairs of new shoes and 6,000 pairs of flip-flops to people served by the downtown mission. Visit www.wheelermission.org for more information.

Tuesday, June 2nd: In Atlanta, Soles4Souls will be working with City of Refuge, a non-profit organization that offers both life saving resources and life building tools to individuals and families in Atlanta who are living on the margin. They will be handing out 4,000 pairs of new shoes and 6,000 pairs of flip-flops. Visit www.cityofrefugeinc.com for more information on the Soles4Souls partner in Atlanta.

Wednesday, June 3rd: Soles4Souls will be working side-by-side with The Foundry, a Birmingham-area charity focused on rebuilding lives and restoring hope of recovering addicts, ex-inmates and the homeless. They will be handing out 4,000 pairs of new shoes and 6,000 pairs of flip-flops. Learn more at www.thefoundryonline.org.

Thursday, June 4th: Soles4Souls will be at the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles, working with thousands of homeless on Skid Row. The Mission provides a myriad of services to people in need, such as education and job opportunities, drug and alcohol treatment, and medical and legal services. They will be handing out 4,000 pairs of new shoes and 6,000 pairs of flip-flops. Visit www.midnightmission.org for more information.

Friday, June 5th: Soles4Souls will be working with local retailer Shoe Mill (www.shoemill.com), as well as adidas (also headquartered in Portland) to provide 5,000 pairs of new shoes and 3,000 pairs of new socks to the large homeless youth population and families living on the streets. The event will be held in the North Park Blocks (NW 8th and NW Everett Streets). Delivered Dish (www.d-dish.com), a local restaurant delivery service, is catering the event. Janus Youth Programs (www.janusyouth.org), Outside In (www.outsidein.org), Bridgetown Ministries (www.bridgetownministries.com) and other homeless programs for at-risk youth are jointly sponsoring the event.

On Saturday, June 6th, Soles4Souls will return to Los Angeles and appear at the Los Angeles Mission (www.losangelesmission.org) to distribute 2500 pairs of new shoes and 3500 pairs of flip-flops to the needy people served during the annual “Community BBQ” sponsored by the Mission.

Country Stars Decorate Guitars For Charity Auction

Wed, 27 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Guitars decorated by some of country music’s biggest stars will be auctioned for charity next month.

Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Craig Morgan, Dolly Parton, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Pam Tillis, Steve Wariner, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban have contributed guitars to the auction, which will raise money for the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund, an organization that aids people in the country music community with financial and health related issues.

The Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction will take place on Friday, June 12, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. More info can be found here.

Vince Gill To Host Charity Concert

Thu, 21 May 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Vince Gill will join his wife Amy Grant in hosting a concert to launch a new national initiative to support and connect existing programs for disabled veterans.

Challenge America’s mission is to support the development of recreational and occupational programs in willing communities to link new and existing services to better serve returning injured military and their families.

“It’s going to be a very relaxed, comfortable evening,” Gill told People.com. “We’re going to sit in a semi-circle and go around the circle taking turns doing songs. It’ll feel like sitting in a living room. You don’t have any idea where the evening is going to go.”

Performers will include Melinda Doolittle, Alison Krauss, Michael McDonald, Darius Rucker and many more.

“There will be lots of music and laughter,” said Grant. “The evening will bond us together and make us feel what I feel every time I’m in Washington. We are still what George Washington proclaimed us to be: we are the great experiment. We are constantly inventing who we are, and the world is watching. We’ve got to reinvent how we care for our soldiers because they are coming back with lives that need to be led in very vital ways.”

“I’m excited about getting to share what we believe in so deeply,” added Gill. “We want to make an impact on the individuals that have given to us in unimaginable ways. Challenge America 2009 is our way of honoring the men and women who truly are heroes.”

To find out more about the event – which takes place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on June 8 – or to purchase tickets, visit the official Challenge America website.

Julianne Moore Hosts Charity Gala

Wed, 20 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress Julianne Moore hosted Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance's 35th anniversary gala earlier this month, with big names such as Rachael Ray, Amy Grant and Vince Gill also in attendance.

TS Alliance is the leading organisation funding research into the cure for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder that causes tumours to form on organs, which can be life threatening. TSC is also the leading genetic cause of infantile spasms, epilepsy and autism. Surprisingly unheard of in the general population, over one million people are known to have TSC and many more as yet undiagnosed.

Moore, who is now the honorary chair of the charity, was introduced to it through a stranger. She recalls: “A dad and his little boy approached me on the streets of New York. The child’s head was stitched and bandaged. The man explained his son had tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disorder that can cause brain tumours, epilepsy, autism, kidney failure and even death, but not enough is being done to find a cure.”

The $225,000 in proceeds from the fundraising gala will help, but the obscure condition is not getting enough public attention and therefore not enough government funding.

“[The dad] asked for my help,” says Moore. “How could I say ‘No’? How can you?”

Country Stars To Play Softball For Cancer

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The 19th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge is just around the corner, with a host of stars signing on for the chance to play a game for charity.

Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Montgomery Gentry, and Josh Turner are some of the stars already confirmed for the game, considered to be the unofficial kickoff to the Country Music Association’s Music Festival week in Nashville.

City Of Hope is an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution, is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, guided by a compassionate patient-centered philosophy, and supported by a national foundation of humanitarian philanthropy. To date, the Celebrity Softball Challenge has raised over $1.5 million, with all proceeds benefiting City of Hope.

The game takes place on June 10 at Greer Stadium in Nashville. Tickets are available here.

Celebrities Send Messages Of Support For Earth Hour

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

This Saturday, March 28, will mark Earth Hour, an initiative of the WWF in which people around the world are being encouraged to switch their lights off between 8:30 and 9:30pm in a bid to reach the target of one billion people who are committed to fighting climate change.

Earth Hour has grown from a single event in Sydney, Australia, in March 2007 to a global phenomenon that will change the way the world sees climate change. On March 31, 2007, over 2.2 million people and 2,100 corporations in Sydney turned their lights off for an hour, creating an energy saving of 10.2% – that’s roughly the same as taking 48,000 cars off the road!

A number of celebrities have thrown their support behind the initiative and have spoken about its importance:

Edward Norton: “I am encouraging people toturn off their lights for one hour on March 28th at 8:30 p.m. – EarthHour – and join tens of millions of people around the world in the largest call to action on climate change in history. Earth Hour sends a powerful message to the world that we must act urgently before it’s too late. By turning out the lights, Americans will be casting a vote for action.”

Desmond Tutu: “Earth Hour is an opportunity for every man, woman and child from all corners of the globe to come together with a united voice and make a loud and powerful statement on the issue of climate change.”

Jo Dee Messina: “Earth Hour is such a great campaign. It lets something as simple as flicking a light switch become so much more. Earth Hour reminds everyone that if we all put in a little effort, we can achieve big results.”

Gavin DeGraw: “Not only is this going to be great for the environment, but it also shows how powerful an idea can be if people with different backgrounds, cultures, shapes, and sizes all work together. I’m not exactly sure what city, state, or country I will be in on March 28, 2009, but I look forward to sharing this monumental occasion with not only the locals but my friends, family, and all of my wonderful fans around the world.”

KT Tunstall: “In 2009, I’m going to join in for the first time on March 28th at 8.30pm and turn off every light, appliance and pull out all the plugs to support Earth Hour. Experience power to the people – fully off the grid!!”

Wynonna: “I think this hour can give people everywhere a chance to be mindful that we are all in this together and that we can – and will – make a difference.”

Dierks Bentley: “I think it’s an honor for Nashville to be included in the list of flagship cities being asked to help promote Earth Hour. Climate change is for real and I’d like for my daughter to enjoy this beautiful world as much as I have. Personally, I’m hoping to be down in one of the Lower Broadway honky-tonks at 8:30! Acoustic hour at Robert’s…Cool!”

Simple Plan: “Global warming and the devastating effects it has on our planet are among the most urgent and serious issues we face in the world today. It’s up to us to do our share, evolve, adapt and change the way we live. On March 28th, we can all get involved by doing something extremely simple: turn off the lights! It’s easy and a great way to send a message and let the world know that we care about the environment.”

Linkin Park: “Climate change is a crisis affecting the world right now, negatively impacting the Earth’s ecosystems and the strength and frequency of climate-related disasters such as drought, flooding, and catastrophic storms. Earth Hour is an opportunity for individuals to come together with one voice and declare that we are ready to tackle this critical issue head on.”

Backstreet Boys: “The Backstreet Boys are proud and excited to be a part of Earth Hour 2009. It is absolutely inspiring for the four of us to come together with millions of people from all over the globe for such an important and monumental cause. On March 28th at 8:30pm, put in your vote to take action against the climate crisis. Get creative for an hour. Turn off your bedroom lights and light some candles. Unplug the electric and serenade your sweetheart with an acoustic guitar ballad instead. Forget the microwave and indulge on that huge bowl of Captain Crunch you’ve been craving. You know that’s what we’ll be doing. Not necessarily in that order though.”

Other celebrities who have shown their support for the initiative include Coldplay, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond, Larry Flynt, Amy Grant, The Veronicas, Vince Gill, Cate Blanchett, Janeane Garofalo and Alanis Morissette.

To learn more about what you can do to join the campaign on Saturday, visit the Earth Hour website.

Vince Gill To Play Charity Concert

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Country singer Vince Gill will play a special charity concert in Geenville, South Carolina, in April.

The singer – who has won 19 Grammy Awards – will bring his band to the Bi-Lo Center on April 19. Proceeds will benefit The Mac Foundation – a charity established in 2006 by parents Ronnie and Vickie Allen after their 12-year-old son passed away – that aims to create opportunities for children and young adults through sports, the arts, and extra-curricular activities, intent on keeping their minds and bodies focused on positive alternatives to the temptations of life.

The Mac Foundation will use proceeds from the concert to make donations to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Greenville Family Partnership, CESA Top Soccer, and The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.

Tickets tickets cost $29-$39, and are available at the Crown Nissan Ticket Office at the BI-LO Center or at the Bi-Lo Center website. More information about the Mac Foundation can be found here.

World Magic Awards To Feed The Children

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

You can help make the problem of starving children disappear by attending the 2008 World Magic Awards this Saturday, October 11.

Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, the show will benefit Feed the Children, an organization that provides food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty, or natural disaster.

Featuring a host of the world’s best magicians – including Hans Klok – the World Magic Awards will attract John Schneider, Corbin Bernsen, Melora Hardin, Jonathan Schaech, Debbie Matenopolous, Ernie Hudson, Buzz Aldrin, Cristian de la Fuente, Ashley Jones and many others.

Last year’s show was hosted by Roger Moore and was attended by Joan Collins, Pamela Anderson, Marla Maples, John Schneider, Robert Vaughn, and Eric Roberts.

More information about the event – which has an organizing committee that includes Tony Hawk, Vince Gill, Adrian Paul, Montel Williams, Michael Caine, Pat Boone, Monique Coleman, and Jason Alexander – can be found at www.worldmagicawards.com.

Country Stars Unite For New Charity Album

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A group of country music’s biggest names feature on a new album to raise funds for a farm that hosts children affected by cancer.

Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam, Big & Rich, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis, Levon Helm, John Hiatt, and Lucinda Williams are just some of the stars who have donated songs to the Imus Ranch Record, which will be released on September 16.

Imus Ranch is a working cattle ranch in New Mexico, founded in 1999 by long-time radio personality Don Imus as a charitable organization that seeks to ensure the continuity of the lives of children who are afflicted with cancer. The charity’s goal is to provide children with an experience of living life on a functioning cattle ranch and build up their self-confidence and sense of accomplishment, in the company of similar children facing serious illness. It has also recently opened its doors to siblings of SIDS victims.

The 13 tracks on the album boast no less than 8 Grammy winning artists, each singing a cover of a song that means something special to them. One of the most beautiful songs is Patty Loveless’ version of Stevie Nicks' Silver Springs, and Lucinda Williams’ cover of Mama Don’t Let Your Babies grow Up To Be Cowboys is also an instant classic. However, it is Big & Rich’s rollicking version of the Beastie Boys' You’ve Got to Fight For Your Right to Party that makes the album a collector’s piece.

The album will be available on iTunes and wherever good music is sold.

Farm Aid 2008 To Rock New England

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rocker John Mellencamp has unveiled the main acts set to kick up a storm at Farm Aid 2008.

The concert – which will take place on September 20 – will be held for the first time in New England, and will see performances by Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and Willie Nelson, all of which are on the board of directors for Farm Aid. More acts will be announced over the next few weeks.

“We are proud to bring our annual Farm Aid concert to a region that has such strong agricultural roots and to the many people who love to eat the good food grown in New England,” said Nelson, Farm Aid’s president. “I’m looking forward to bringing my friends together on the Farm Aid stage to celebrate and support family farmers.”

Now entering its 23rd year, Farm Aid has raised more than $23 million for family farms and organic agricultural initiatives since the first concert in 1985. A plethora of stars have appeared at the concerts to increase awareness of the importance of family farms over the years, including Jon Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Vince Gill, Sammy Hagar, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Charley Pride, and Lou Reed.

“New England was built on the strength of independent family farmers,” said Mellencamp. “We can honor that independent spirit by joining Farm Aid to grow the movement that is changing the way all of America eats.”

The concert will take place at the Comcast Arena in Mansfield. Tickets go on sale July 28 through Ticketmaster.

Country Singers Promote Dream Home Raffle

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:35:23 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant appeared onstage at a show late last week to raise awareness of the June raffle of the 2008 St Jude Dream Home – a 3,871-square-foot house valued at $650,000.

The show, held in Franklin, Tennessee, also featured performances by the Wooten Brothers and American Idol finalists Melinda Doolittle and Phil Stacey. Over 800 people attended the event, many purchasing tickets for the Dream Home raffle.

The Tennessee Dream Home is one of 34 Dream Homes across America, and organizers of the raffle hope to raise $1.6 million in what has become an annual event. All proceeds from the raffle will go to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centres.

“We’re hoping for a very strong kickoff for the raffle ticket sales,” said Grant. “Some people are already passionate about St. Jude and I feel like this a no-brainer. This is exciting — someone is going to win that house.”

Tickets for the raffle cost $100, and there is a range of exciting prizes up for offer. Tickets are available through www.stjudedreamhome.org, and the homes will be raffled live on WZTV Fox 17 on June 22.

“I like the community spirit of this,” said Gill. “There are so many ways people find to give and to help out. And when you talk about a great project to give to, with St. Jude, you’re reaching out to kids and sick kids. And it just doesn’t get any more godly or kindly. It’s the best.”

Eric Clapton - Standing At The Crossroads Of Addiction

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:00:16 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Although regarded by many as one of the best rock and blues guitarists to ever live, Eric Clapton is a man who has suffered for his art. But the succession of addictions and the tragic personal dramas have not stopped the legend from becoming one of the most successful performers in the world today, and have fueled his desire to help those who face the same problems in their daily struggle to survive.

Clapton was born in 1945, in Surrey, England. He was raised by his grandmother and grew up believing his mother was actually his older sister – she was only 16 when he was born. He eventually found out the truth when he was 9 years old, and he took it hard. He became shy and lonely, and took solace in the only thing he could find stability in – blues music.

A proficiency with the guitar led the young teenager to join a band called The Yardbirds in 1963, and the group started to attract a large cult following when they took over the Rolling Stones’ residency at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond. Clapton played on The Yardbirds first hit record, “For Your Love”, before leaving the band in 1965 due to their pop-orientated musical direction.

Before he left, however, Clapton started his long association with benefit concerts by joining Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page for a series of 12 gigs in support of Action For Research Into Multiple Sclerosis, a cause he has continued to support over the years.

A brief stint in “John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers” was followed by Clapton’s first shot at the big time – he formed “Cream” with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. A string of hits – such as “Sunshine of Your Love”, “White Room”, and “Crossroads” – was unleashed on a music scene where the likes of Jimi Hendrix and The Who were creating a psychedelic stir. Drugs fueled the industry, and Clapton started to feel their attractive lure. It was a relationship that was destined for disaster.

Cream disbanded in 1968, and Clapton spent his time in bands such as “Blind Faith” and “Derek And The Dominos”. He also found a solid friendship with George Harrison, guitarist for The Beatles.

By the time Clapton kicked off his solo career in 1970, he was drinking heavily and was addicted to heroin. His personality became erratic and his live shows suffered as a result. He became reclusive, only leaving his house to secure more drugs and to perform at the occasional benefit concert – during George Harrison’s Concert For Bangladesh in 1972, Clapton passed out on stage.

If something was not done quickly, Clapton’s friends could see that he would go the same way as Hendrix and many other stars caught up in the drug culture. Pete Townshend, guitarist for The Who, organized a comeback for Clapton to help him beat his addictions in 1973. Although Clapton returned to his art for the rest of the decade, releasing some of his greatest hits, he would not truly kick his alcohol and drug habits until the mid-1980s. He contemplated taking his own life on several occasions, but was only stopped by the realization that if he were dead, he would not be able to drink anymore.

“I thought there was something otherworldly about the whole culture of drinking, that being drunk made me a member of some strange, mysterious club,” Clapton told The Today Show recently. “The stuff that happened to me as a child made me totally insular — I thought I could do all of this on my own. It wasn’t until I was quite a bit older that I finally did ask for help.”

Help came through the continuing support of friends such as Phil Collins, who reestablished a love of music and a sense of self-worth in the artist. In 1989, after two decades of struggling to take control of his inner demons, Clapton declared himself sober and released “Journeyman”, a critically acclaimed album that proved he was back at the top of his game.

Throughout the 1990s, Clapton worked quietly to help others who had fallen into the dark world of addiction. In 1998, he opened the doors to the Crossroads Centre, a facility located on the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua, dedicated to helping those who suffer from chemical abuse.

“My vision was to create a centre of the highest caliber to treat people of the Caribbean and throughout the world,” he said. "The centre would be staffed with experienced and internationally recognized professionals. The cost of treatment would be held to the lowest possible level, ensuring affordability and accessibility. And most importantly, this non-profit centre would provide treatment scholarships for people of the Caribbean region and around the world.

“Crossroads is like no other treatment centre. It is the perfect place to begin the road of recovery and utilizes a combination of effective therapies to address addiction and recovery, while capturing the spiritual serenity that many have found unique to Antigua. Within the serene, healing atmosphere individuals participate in a structured 29-day residential 12 step based program that allows clients to experience a whole person wellness approach to recovery.”

Since the Crossroads Centre was opened, Clapton has held two sales of his own guitars to raise money for the non-profit venture – which generated a total of $12 million – and he has also organized two Crossroads Guitar Festivals, featuring stars such as Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill. To kick off 2008, Clapton joined Pete Townshend, Ringo Starr, and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh at a gig held in a bar in Surrey, to raise money for various Alcoholics Anonymous groups.

As a human being, Clapton will never forget the struggle to beat his addictions, but he believes the only way to get through it all is to keep moving forward.

“In the last couple of years there’s been more action in my life, and drama, than I would have wished for. But I think I’ve learned something from it all. I can’t say tangibly what it is, except that I’m happy to be me and to have survived.”

For more information on how to help those who suffer from addictions, visit www.crossroadsantigua.org.

Celebrity Auction Roundup, September 2007

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:27:03 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

September 2007 is shaping up to be a busy month for celebrity charity auctions, with proceeds going towards a variety of causes, including the disadvantaged, the sick, the environment, and an endangered species of seal.

One of the most anticipated auctions of the year, the Chevy Chase Green School Auction, kicked off on September 6, and runs until September 20 on www.charitybuzz.com. This is the fourth year the auction has been running, with proceeds going to the Centre For Environmental Education Online. CEE Online is a non-profit organization set up 17 years ago by actor Chevy Chase and his wife Jayni, and grew out of their belief that for environmental understanding to change, it must begin with the education of children. This year’s fundraising will benefit initiatives involving sustainability, the science of climate change, and the support of healthy food in schools.

There are 43 items on auction, with the most popular being a lunch with Bill Clinton and Chevy Chase for two people. This was expected to raise $35,000, but is already attracting bids of over $45,000. Other popular items are a day on the set of a movie with Cameron Diaz (expected to reach $10,000), and backstage passes to The Rachael Ray Show in New York, including a meet and greet with the star, a personal tour of the studios, and a set of signed cookbooks and Rachael Ray cooking utensils (valued at $2,500). Simon Cowell has donated tickets to American Idol to the auction, and other lots include a tour of Martha Stewart's garden, the opportunity to spend an afternoon filming with Daryl Hannah for her environmental website, and the chance to meet Ben Stiller at the world premier of his next movie.

Another major auction underway on the Charitybuzz website is The Christie Brinkley Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools, Healthy Environment Auction. The 53 items up for sale will benefit the New York Coalition For Healthy School Food and Wellness In The Schools.

Lots include the chance to meet Bill Clinton (valued at $50,000), a backstage meet and greet with Alicia Keys (expected to raise $1,500), VIP packages to see Dr. Phil McGraw, signed photos of celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, as well as a variety of dinner and vacation packages. The auction runs until September 27.

Also on auction at Charitybuzz is a very special chalk drawing of Princess Diana, by Russian born artist, Zohar. This exquisite work of art was commissioned in 1990 by the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own), of which the Princess was Colonel-in-Chief, and is expected to raise $275,000 at auction. Proceeds will go to The People's Princess Charitable Foundation, and will provide support to those suffering from Aids, cancer, and the effects of landmines.

Ebay has several auctions running in September, as part of their Giving Works initiative. The most popular of these is a vehicle belonging to Black Eyed Peas singer, Fergie. The 4 Wheel Drive Hummer H2 has belonged to the singer since 2005, and is expected to reach $65,000 at auction. Proceeds will go to Global Green USA, an organization that works with governments and individuals to create a sustainable and secure future for the planet. More information is available at www.globalgreen.org, and the auction can be viewed at www.ebay.com/fergie.

Five double tickets to a concert featuring Vince Gill and Amy Grant in Tennessee on September 27 are also up for auction. The VIP packages include a pre-show reception, front row seats at the gig, a meet and greet with the stars, and an autographed Hatch Show print commemorating the event. Proceeds are going to Community High School, a facility for teenagers in recovery from alcohol and drug addictions, operated by Creative Recovery Communities. The ticket packages are expected to reach $500 each, and the auction runs until September 18. It can be viewed at www.givingworks.ebay.com.

Finally in September, a special auction is to be held to benefit the plight of the Canadian Harp Seal. Thousands of these creatures are clubbed to death annually for their pelts, and several celebrities have banded together in an effort to stop the slaughter. An auction is to be launched through www.harpseals.org, in association with eBay, and will include a pair of autographed pants worn by Guns & Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist, Slash, as well as Tiffani Amber Theissen’s parasol and signed CDs from KD Lang and Shania Twain.

Lil' Kim Cares About Charity

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:18:10 -0000

Written by Nadia Lias

There’s more to Grammy Award winner Lil' Kim than music; she is also an established philanthropist. Often taking time to give back, she understands her social responsibility to the community and is committed to using her influence to inspire people.

The singer’s Lil' Kim Cares Foundation has announced that Lil’ Kim is teaming up with MusiCares to raise funds through a silent auction being held at the Grammy’s On The Hill ceremony. The ceremony will take place in Washington, DC on September 5, 2007 at the Willard Continental.

The Grammy’s On The Hill ceremony presents awards to outstanding individuals who have improved the environment for the creative community. Among the award recipients are performers Missy Elliott, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Vince Gill and Kelly Clarkson, senators Lamar Alexander, Hillary Clinton and John McCain, representative Mary Bono, and congressman John Conyers.

Tafia L. Allah-Pringle, the publicist for Lil’ Kim Cares stated that, “Lil’ Kim has added her celebrity to the MusiCares Foundation. She joins a list of celebrities in donating a few of their collector’s items for this year’s Silent Auction to benefit MusiCares which is the charitable arm of the GRAMMYs that provides a safety net of critical services and programs to members of the music community facing a medical, financial, or personal crisis.”

Lil' Kim Cares Foundation focuses on programs that provide positive impacts in communities worldwide. The Foundation raises funds, resources and awareness for national programs that assist with issues of homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, transitional living, child neglect and violence against women in impoverished neighborhoods.

Clapton Hits the Right Notes for Treatment Center

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:06:15 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Twenty of the world’s greatest guitarists and musicians are teaming up for the Crossroads Guitar Festival, a charity concert taking place in Chicago on July 28th.

The event has been organized by bluesman Eric Clapton to raise money for the Crossroads Centre, a treatment facility set up by Clapton for those who suffer from alcohol and drug abuse. Popular musicians such as Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, and Willie Nelson will join Clapton on stage for the day long concert, to be held at Toyota Park.

Clapton’s vision is to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can “have fun and jam together for the benefit of a good cause.” It is the second time he has organized a Crossroads Guitar Festival. The first was held in Dallas in 2004.

Also as part of his fundraising efforts, Clapton has joined forces with guitar manufacturer Fender to create a series of limited edition guitars and amplifiers. 100 Crossroads Fender Stratocasters and 50 Crossroads Fender ’57 Twin-Amps have been produced, and all proceeds will go towards the Crossroads Center. The amplifiers are being sold as a set with the guitars, and are priced at $30,000 pair. The remaining 50 guitars cost $20,000 each.

Clapton, who suffered from alcohol and drug dependency for many years, opened the Crossroads Center on the Caribbean island of Antigua in 1998. It takes its name from a line in one of Clapton’s most famous songs – “Standing at the crossroads, trying to read the signs to tell me which way to go to find the answer”.

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.

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