Look To The Stars News: Julia Roberts

Stars Help Honor Sean Penn's Work In Haiti

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

A host of stars were out in Beverly Hills in the weekend to celebrate Sean Penn and his work with the J/P Haitian Relief Organization.

A swag of celebrities – including Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Kim Kardashian, Mel Gibson, Orlando Bloom, George Clooney, Demi Moore, Diane Lane, Josh Brolin, Petra Nemcova, Emily Watson, Hilary Swank, Harvey Weinstein, James Gandolfini, Rumor Willis and many more – turned out at the Montage Hotel on Saturday to watch Penn be awarded the Cinema For Peace Honorary Award for his work in Haiti.

The event also featured a huge celebrity charity auction that saw one of Angelina Jolie’s rings go under the hammer for $60,000. Damien Rice bought one of Bono’s guitars for $475,000, and Julia Roberts’ husband, Danny Moder, forked out $50,000 for the chance to work with Penn in Haiti.

Julia Roberts Supports World Pneumonia Day

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:45:00 +0000

Julia Roberts, who serves as Global Ambassador of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, has spoken up in recognition of World Pneumonia Day, which falls on November 12.

“This World Pneumonia Day I’m speaking out as a mother about the leading killer of children under the age of 5,” she said. "Pneumonia kills about 1.4 million young children annually, 99% of whom die in developing countries. That’s one child dying every 20 seconds.

“I was inspired to join the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves because its core mission is saving lives – especially children’s lives. Of the 2 million people killed each year from diseases caused by toxic smoke from dirty stoves and open cooking fires, about half are young children who die from acute lower respiratory infections, most commonly pneumonia.

Julia Roberts And Hillary Clinton Team Up For Clean Cooking Charity Campaign

Mon, 09 May 2011 11:30:00 +0000

The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves has announced that Academy Award-winning actor Julia Roberts will serve as Global Ambassador, helping to bring attention to one of the most urgent health problems facing women and families around the world: deadly smoke from unsafe and inefficient cookstoves.

Julia first learned about the Alliance earlier this year while interviewing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a special broadcast on Saturday, May 7, on the Oprah Winfrey Network called “Extraordinary Moms.” Today she also joined with Secretary Clinton to highlight the problems caused by cookstove smoke in an op-ed in USA Today.

Stars Sign Chrysler Car For Charity Auction

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

February 20 will see a Chrysler 300 signed by hundreds of celebrities go under the hammer to raise money for the Red Cross’ relief efforts in Haiti.

The car has been signed by everybody who is anybody in Hollywood, including George Clooney, Oprah, Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, Paul McCartney, Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz, Mariah Carey, Stanley Tucci, Nicole Kidman, Sigourney Weaver, Mark Wahlberg, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Gerard Butler, Seal, Heidi Klum, Kiefer Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Hugh Laurie, Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and many more.

Tulsa’s Leake Auction Company will auction the car at their Collector Car Auction in Oklahoma City.

Hope For Haiti Now Breaks Charity Records

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:45:00 +0000

Friday night’s Hope for Haiti Now telethon, organized by George Clooney, has so far raised more than $57 million for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.

Besides setting a record for the most money raised by a disaster relief telethon, the charity’s Hope for Haiti album – featuring performances on the telethon — became the largest one-day album pre-order in iTunes history.

Performers included: Robert Pattinson, Christina Aguilera, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Keith Urban and Madonna among others.

Paul Newman Honored At Star-Studded Charity Event

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:30:00 +0000

A group of entertainment’s finest turned out to a special evening to raise funds for Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Camps in New York on Monday, June 8.

Hosted by Robert Redford and Julia Roberts, the event featured performances from Jerry Seinfeld, James Taylor, Harry Connick Jr., Yo Yo Ma, Art Garfunkel and Joshua Bell. Attendees also included Bill Clinton and Kristin Chenoweth.

“We’ve done a lot of these galas,” said Julia Roberts. "And I’ve never stood up without my buddy Paul Newman. It seems so much easier to sing and dance and make a fool of yourself when he’s right next to you. He encourages fun, more than any person I’ve ever met. "

Paul Newman Honored With Nature Preserve

Mon, 11 May 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The town of Westport, Connecticut, is to honor the late Paul Newman by creating a 37-acre nature reserve adjacent to his former home.

The new Newman/Poses Preserve will include walking paths, benches, and a ban on development and building. The idea came from Newman’s widow, Joanne Woodward, who wrote to the local council in January.

“The Poses land is a truly beautiful piece of land that Paul, our children, and I have had the privilege of enjoying for many, many years,” she said. “Preserving the Poses property in its natural state is something I very much believe Paul would have loved to see happen. Paul always expressed regret that he was not able to accomplish this himself, so I think if there were to be anything at all done by the town to honor Paul’s memory this would be a very generous and appropriate tribute to him. He would, I believe, be particularly pleased that such a gesture would benefit all of Westport’s residents.”

LTTS Exclusive: Shane's Inspiration Shooting Stars Gala

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ lead host Michele Vink attended the star-studded Shane’s Inspiration gala in LA on Saturday, and met one of the children who benefit from the charity’s efforts.

“I will sing for everybody in the world….Once I see some people. I will walk on stage on my legs!” His brand new robot legs to be exact.

These are the words of the brave young Spencer that I interviewed briefly before he prepared for his musical performance. Tonight he would be singing with some of his other friends from Shane’s Club Children’s Choir. I asked him for a preview of the song from the musical, Wicked, that they were to perform later that night but was denied so I would pay special attention for his important stage entrance.

Bono Faces The Real Deal In Elle Magazine

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

As a rock and roll star, Bono has written some of the most important music of our time, and now, the U2 front man has been asked by ELLE Magazine to turn a page (RED) and address “the greatest health crisis in 600 years: HIV/AIDS.”

In his one page letter, which appears in this month’s edition, Bono shares startling statistics on HIV/AIDS, including the fact that 90% of new cases occur in females aged 15-24. “I can’t get my head around that fact, let alone get it out of my head” he writes. Bono also shares details of his journey to Africa six years ago, where he witnessed the devastating effect the disease has had on the communities, including “orphans raising orphans.”

Bono also writes about the importance of (RED), its products and the pure power of consumer activism. “They have power in their pockets,” he writes, “(RED) raises money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS—$120 million so far. That is enough to buy drugs for more than 750,000 people for a year. (RED) funds prevention and counseling programs as well as treatment, and is now the thirteenth biggest contributor to the Global Fund; it’s giving more than many countries.”

Julia Roberts Shows Respect For Hindus

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Actress Julia Roberts has been applauded by Hindus in America for showing them respect during a recent trip to the sacred Taj Mahal temple in Agra, India.

“Julia Roberts honored the traditions of India by sporting a bindi [the small round mark of vermillion applied in the middle of the forehead] during her recent trip to India, and we are very happy she did. It was a mark of respect that has not gone unnoticed,” Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, told contactmusic.com. “I would personally like to extend an invitation to Ms. Roberts and her family to visit with me if the trip to India has sparked an interest in Hinduism, and other Hindu leaders here in America would be glad to share their knowledge.”

Zed went on to urge Hollywood to follow Roberts’ example.

Signed Movie Posters For Sale In Charity Auction

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:30:00 +0000

A selection of movie posters signed by the original stars is up for sale on eBay to raise money for charity.

Each week, from now until February 27th, a new round of autographed movie posters will be unveiled and put up for bids, with ALL proceeds benefiting the American Cinematheque, an independent, non-profit cultural organization in Los Angeles dedicated exclusively to the public presentation of the Moving Image in all its forms.

To mark the release of the all new step-by-step movie making guide “Filmmaking for Dummies” and to celebrate the movies we know and love, Wiley Publishing will be auctioning off autographed movie posters ranging from hilarious comedies, classic dramas, and every movie in between. Fill your living room with posters signed by George Clooney, Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Tom Hanks, Reese Witherspoon, Brad Pitt, Heath Ledger, Penelope Cruz, Leonardo DiCaprio, the cast of Lord of the Rings and many more.

Bag Ladies To Gather in Beverly Hills

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Lupus LA’s 2008 Hollywood Bag Lady Luncheon is on for this Friday, November 7th, and celebrities such as Daisy Fuentes, Kourtney Kardashian and Toni Braxton are expected to be among the more than 500 women set to attend the spirited handbag auction.

The silent auction will consist of coveted handbags donated by the top boutiques in the city, as well as directly from the collections and closets of Fendi, Chanel, Hermes, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts, and a Kipling white/gold tote designed and signed by Fergie.

The Luncheon will be hosted by Kris Jenner, and include a fashion show by Escada. Carrie Brillstein and Toni Braxton are the events Honorary Chairs, and will be joined by Kelly Stone and Dorothy Ellis as the Luncheon Chairs.

5 Friends Voting Video Makes A Comeback

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:30:00 +0000

Hollywood is a land of sequels – and so be prepared for another one. Hot on the heals of last month’s 5 Friends video organized by Declare Yourself comes 5 Friends 2.

With only days until the US elections, a new video has been produced to encourage people to get out and vote, with stars such as Orlando Bloom, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dogg, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Ben Stiller, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg, Justin Timberlake, Zach Braff, Colin Farrell, Neil Patrick Harris, Scarlett Johansson, Shia LeBeouf, Tobey Maguire, Ryan Reynolds, and Jason Segal making an appearance.

Along with a selection of people off the street, the stars say exactly why they are voting.

Stars Pay Tribute To Paul Newman

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:30:00 +0000

An awe-inspiring array of stars paid tribute to Paul Newman at a benefit gala for one of the actor’s summer camps for sick children in California last night.

Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Billy Crystal were just some of the stars who performed a reading of The World of Nick Adams, an adaptation of a number of Ernest Hemingway’s autobiographical stories at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco.

“We expected Paul to be with us and so this kind of turned into kind of a tribute,” said Danny Glover. “This is the first time we are doing this without Paul — there is a void there, without a doubt.”

Celebrities To Pay Tribute To Paul Newman

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:00 +0000

An awe-inspiring array of stars will pay tribute to Paul Newman at a benefit gala for one of the actor’s summer camps for sick children in California next month.

Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Billy Crystal will perform a stage reading of The World of Nick Adams, an adaptation of a number of Ernest Hemingway’s autobiographical stories, written by Newman’s longtime friend A.E. Hotchner at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco on October 27. Proceeds from the evening will go to the The Painted Turtle, one of Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang camps for ill children.

Founded by Newman and Herb Alpert in 1999, The Painted Turtle provides the 17,000 chronically ill children in California who would otherwise be unable to attend summer camps with an empowering, renewing experience completely free of charge.

Paul Newman - A Life Spent Giving

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Actor and philanthropist Paul Newman leaves behind a legacy modern celebrities will find hard to match.

83-year-old Newman – who passed away after a short illness on Friday – made his movie debut in 1954, and went on to become one of the most well known faces to grace the silver screen, appearing in over 50 films. Born in Ohio, Newman made his acting debut at the age of seven, but didn’t start acting professionally until after serving as a gunner in the Pacific in World War II. When the acting bug did bite, it went on to net Newman 10 Oscar nominations in his five-decade-long career – winning the best actor accolade for his role opposite Tom Cruise in The Color Of Money in 1986 – two Golden Globe awards, a Screen Actors Guild award, a Cannes Film Festival award and an Emmy award.

But it is Newman’s humanitarian and philanthropic efforts that gained him true popularity in the American heart. Much has been written about his Newman’s Own Food Company, the initiative he established in 1982 to manufacture his special salad dressings. Over $200 million were generated by the company for charity over the years, and earlier in 2008 the actor announced he had signed ownership of the company to charity. He wrote a book – titled Shameless Exploitation in the Pursuit of the Common Good – about his work with the company, explaining that the inspiration behind his humanitarian outlook was the death of his son from a drug overdose in 1978, which led him to set up the Scott Newman Center for Drug Abuse Prevention. Much of the money Newman raised went to the Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps he established in 1988. The camps allow ill children to participate in activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, archery, arts and crafts, woodworking, performing arts, horseback riding, overnight camping and group adventures, all while receiving superior 24-hour medical care free of charge. More than 100,000 children from 31 countries have attended the Hole in the Wall camps.

Julia Roberts and Armani Fight AIDS Together

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Julia Roberts has designed a T-shirt to be sold under the Giorgio Armani’s (RED) label.

This is the second time Oscar winning actress has worked with Giorgio Armani to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Fund is the brainchild of Bono and Bobby Shriver, and has received over $110 million in proceeds from (RED)-branded apparel and related events since the its inception in 2006.

Julia Roberts Stands Up For A Cure

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Stand Up For A Cure – a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating lung cancer – is busy with its year-long quest to raise money by organizing concerts, and has just released details of their latest fundraising gig this Fall.

Julia Roberts has been confirmed to introduce the Dave Matthews Band when they play Madison Square Garden on September 10.

“The charity is honored that she will be introducing the band at the concert.,” said a rep for the event. “Her support will make a huge difference.”

Julia Roberts - More Than Just A Pretty Woman

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:17:32 +0000

Julia Roberts may be one of the most instantly recognizable actresses in Hollywood, but as a child she suffered from an affliction shared by over 3 million other Americans. Along with her brother, Heroes star Eric Roberts, the actress was a chronic stutterer. But it was a disorder she fought to overcome, and now she is helping others overcome the frustrating complaint.

Born in Smyrna, Georgia, Roberts wanted nothing more than to be a veterinarian when she grew up. Her father, a professional vacuum cleaner salesman, was a keen amateur actor who met his wife, a real estate agent, through a local theater group. Acting and performing was a big part of family life in the Roberts’ household, and thespian pursuits soon rubbed off on the young Roberts children. The two older offspring soon headed to New York to pursue acting careers, but Julia stayed at home to attend university. However, the acting bug could not be suppressed, and upon graduation, Julia headed to the Big Apple to join her sister, actress Lisa Roberts Gillan.

But before she could break into show business, Roberts had to beat her stuttering problem. She did this through the support of her family and friends, and last week, along with her brother, was asked by the Stuttering Foundation of America to be a spokesperson for the group.

Brad Pitt Joins Bono's (RED) Campaign

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:51:18 +0000

When Brad Pitt does commercials, it is mostly for markets other than the US. But now he is featuring in a homegrown commercial for DELL, in order to join other stars in contributing to Bono’s (RED) campaign.

The highly anticipated DELL computer commercial will be aired during the 2008 Super Bowl in February, and Pitt will donate his entire earnings from it to (RED).

Already in the line up to support (RED) is Joss Stone, who contributed the profits from iTune sales of her video, “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now”, to the initiative. Just ahead of Christmas, Julia Roberts added red leather bracelets she designed with her husband to (RED)‘s product line. Also last month, The Killers donated all proceeds from their Christmas song, "Don’t Shoot Me Santa":http://www.looktothestars.org/news/441-charity-gift-ideas-for-christmas, to the campaign.

Charity Gift Ideas For Christmas

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:02:00 +0000

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about giving, and there is certainly a huge selection of celebrity designed and inspired merchandise on offer this season. A gift that benefits others may be the best gift of all.

Heading up the list of products being released in time for Christmas is a series of bracelets designed by Julia Roberts for fashion giant Emporio Armani. The bohemian style leather bracelets feature an etching of the tree of life, with the words “Revolution, Evolution, Devotion” – to signify the (RED) campaign – weaved in and out of the branches.

(RED) is a global initiative founded in 2006 by Bono and Bobby Shriver to engage the private sector in the fight against AIDS in Africa. They do this by channeling funds from the sale of (RED) products directly into the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Giorgio Armani was a launch partner in the initiative, and has designed a line of clothing, accessories, eye wear, watches, fragrances, and jewellery to benefit the campaign.