Look To The Stars News: Elton John

Sir Elton John's White Tie And Tiara Party Hits The Beach

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Once a year Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish throw open the doors of their exquisite Berkshire home to a sparkling array of celebrities for their annual White Tie and Tiara Ball, and last night was no different as a staggering number of stars filed into the singer’s house for this year’s much-looked-forward-to event.

More than 600 guests turned up to the beach-themed party, each paying around US$6,000 for the dinner, auction, and concert. This year’s performance came from Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, and attendees included Bill Clinton, Elle Macpherson, Denzel Washington, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael Caine, Simon Cowell, Rod Stewart, Mischa Barton, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Gordon Ramsay, Tracey Emin, Roger Federer, Natalie Imbruglia, Kelly Osbourne, and Jemima Khan.

Sir Elton decorated his lavish garden with palm trees and sand for the party, which raised money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Last year’s event raised over $12 million for the cause, and the White Tie and Tiara Balls have made over $50 million since 1998.

Sir Paul Plays For Peace In Kiev

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:36:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

There was thunder, there was rain, but the music still rang loud and true over Kiev on Saturday night, when Sir Paul McCartney played what is being billed as the largest concert ever held in the Ukraine.

The former Beatle – who turns 66 next week – opened with his 1965 song “Drive My Car” in front of 350,000 people who turned up in the city’s Independence Square. The venue was the site of the Orange Revolution in 2004, when peaceful mass protests overturned a fraudulent election and brought a pro-Western opposition leader to power, and the concert reminded attendees of their freedom.

Although the concert was free, organizers asked for donations to be put towards diagnostic equipment for Ukraine’s National Cancer Institute’s children’s department. Many children now seek treatment abroad because the Ukraine lacks the necessary equipment. Contributions have already reached $600,000, with more to come in.

The concert follows a similar concert by Elton John in the city last year which raised awareness for the country’s AIDS problem.

Life In The Fast Lane Gets Even Faster For Kimi Raikkonen

Tue, 27 May 2008 11:25:26 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ferrari’s Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen may be used to life in the fast lane, but things are going to get a whole lot faster thanks to a charity auction held late last week.

The driver paid $315,000 for a 1974 Chevrolet Corvette owned by Hollywood actress Sharon Stone at the Amber Fashion Show and Auction in aid of the Elton John AIDS Foundation on Friday night in Monaco.

The gala, held at the Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel, raised over $1.6 million for the charity, and was attended by a “who’s who” of the motor racing world. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, Honda’s Jenson Button, Red Bull’s Mark Webber, and Renault’s Nelson Piquet were among drivers modelling a collection designed by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s daughter, and many of them looked like they will have a career in high fashion modelling after their racing days are over.

But it was the auction that raised most people’s eyebrows, with a number of high value items going under the hammer. As well as Stone’s Corvette – which only had 4 miles on the clock – billionaire Vijay Mallya, co-owner of the Force India Formula One team, paid $357,000 for a piano used by Elton John to write his “Songs from the West Coast” album in 2001. Mallya also donated a one-week cruise on his 95-metre “Indian Empress”, one of the largest privately-owned yachts in the world, with that going out the door for $592,000.

Icons Of Music Rock On For Charity

Mon, 26 May 2008 11:12:57 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The second annual Music Rising Icons Of Music auction will be held on 31 May at NYC’s Hard Rock Café, and is to broadcast live by the Auction Network.

Music Rising is a charity founded by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, and Gibson Guitars CEO Henry Juszkiewicz to help replace musical instruments that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The auction will feature over 400 exciting lots, including one of The Edge’s famous 1976 Gibson Explorers (with an estimated price of $80,000), a Fender Stratocaster previously owned by David Gilmour, a snare drum signed by John Lennon, and Eric Clapton’s Roland G-505 guitar used on his Behind The Sun album and on tour with Roger Waters.

The evening will also feature a very special performance from four-time Grammy Award winner Aaron Neville, who has helped bring major attention to some of the charity work being done in New Orleans today. Neville lost everything in the storms of Katrina and brings a unique personal experience to Music Rising, giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness his great musicianship when he brings the spirit of New Orleans to the auction.

A limited number of tickets for the event are currently available for $250.00 each through either Ticketmaster or Hard Rock Cafe New York, with all proceeds going directly to Music Rising. Tickets include entry into the evening portion of the event, special catered services, and a complimentary Icons of Music II collectible auction catalog.

Highlights from the Icons of Music II auction have already toured the world, and have been seen at The Museo De La Moda in Santiago, Chile, The Museum of Style Icons in Ireland, and the Celebrity Vault in Beverly Hills. The auction lots will be on display at the Hard Rock Cafe New York from 11am to 10pm daily from Monday, May 26th – Friday, May 30th.

Other items include a hat once owned by Elvis Presley, Madonna’s high school yearbook, Elton John’s toaster, and Jimi Hendrix’s personalized guitar straps. The auction can be accessed at the Auction Network website.

Celebrities Land On Planet Life Ball

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:11:11 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Elton John, actresses Sharon Stone, Kim Cattrall, Rose McGowan, model Linda Evangelista and about 45,000 aliens attended the 16th annual Life Ball last weekend in Vienna, Austria. Many dressed in space costumes to promote this year’s theme of ‘embracing the alien’ in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Organised by Aids Life, the annual benefit gala raises funds for HIV/AIDS charities offering relief projects and, through the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFAR), to international organizations that support the world’s worst affected areas.

After speeches and a fashion show, the party of 4000 ticket-holders headed inside to Vienna City Hall’s ballrooms and dance floors for a modern version of the traditional Viennese Ball and a full night of festivities. The fashion show this year focused on male-female relationships as opposed to last year’s sensual gay clichés.

Life Ball organizer Gery Keszler’s message is that heterosexuals need to be more aware of the dangers regarding HIV/AIDS.

Kim Cattrall supported this notion with: “Do it like Samantha, always have a condom with you,” referring to her Sex and the City character.

Last year’s Ball, celebrating open-mindedness and diversity in the world, raised €1.2 million. This year’s event, fostering humanity, tolerance and understanding and against ignorance and prejudice, was hoping to beat that record.

Madonna To Attend AIDS Charity Cannes Event

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:52:37 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Madonna, the Queen of Pop herself, will join Sharon Stone and Michelle Yeoh at this year’s annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser on May 22, during the 61st annual Cannes International Film Festival.

The event, which will benefit the American Foundation for AIDS Research, will take place at Le Moulin de Mougins and will include a formal dinner and a live auction. In addition, this year’s event will feature a short clip of I Am Because We Are , the Madonna-produced and -narrated documentary about children orphaned by AIDS in Malawi.

The organization’s annual Cinema Against AIDS galas have generated more than $33 million for essential AIDS research since 1993, and have been hosted by Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, and Sir Elton John. Last year’s live auction raised $4 million, making a total of $7 million for the night, and featured a surprise performance by Kylie Minogue.

A full screening of I Am Because We Are is scheduled to take place in Cannes the evening before the gala, and will tie in with amfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS event.

Tables for this year’s Cinema Against AIDS will range in price from $40,000 to $150,000. For event reservations and details, visit www.amfar.org.

Paul McCartney - Back in The USSR... Almost

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:05:26 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sir Paul McCartney is to perform to hundreds of thousands of fans at a free concert in the Ukraine in June, in the spirit of global hope and unity.

The 65-year-old singer has been invited by Ukrainian tycoon Viktor Pinchuk, the son-in-law of the former president Leonid Kuchma, to play in Kiev’s main Independence Square at a show dubbed the Independence Concert.

“The ideology and spirit of The Beatles helped build the democratic aspirations for much of the Soviet society and eventually led to the peaceful collapse of the USSR and the independence of the former Soviet republics,” said a joint statement from Sir Paul and the Viktor Pinchuk Foundation. “For the first time [the Ukraine has] the opportunity to hear the songs that changed the world and created a new culture – the songs that we grew up with and became who we are.”

The concert, to be held on June 14, follows Elton John’s appearance in Kiev last year to promote HIV and Aids awareness. That concert attracted 200,000 people and led to Pinchuk establishing a series of AIDS projects in the country.

“It’s going to be [a] great evening hopefully for the Ukraine,” said McCartney. “Pull together, groove, rock ‘n’ roll — all together. We hope to see you there.”

Elton John Joins The Presidential Race

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:20:30 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Elton John has hit the campaign trail for AIDS… and a new President of the United States.

The 61-year-old singer performed a concert in Missoula, Montana, on Friday, in return for $75,000 raised by the University of Montana for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. And $20,000 of the money will stay in the local community as part of a pledge to the Missoula AIDS Council.

The concert followed a benefit show earlier in the week that the Rocket Man played for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. The performance, which took place on Wednesday at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, raised over $2.6 million for Clinton.

Former President Bill Clinton took to the stage at the start of the concert – minus his saxophone – to introduce the singer, who was facing criticism for donating the proceeds of the show when he is not an American citizen. Questions had been raised beforehand regarding whether John’s fundraiser contravened the Federal Election Campaign Act, which seeks to minimize foreign intervention in US elections and “prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating, or spending funds in connection with any… election in the United States.”

Clinton’s office was quick to respond to the claims: “Foreign nationals may volunteer their time for campaigns on an uncompensated basis,” they said in a statement. “Elton John is simply volunteering his uncompensated time to appear at the concert.”

John made his support for the Clinton campaign clear from the outset.

“There is no one more qualified to lead America,” he said during the show. “I’m amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country… I love you, Hillary, I’ll be there for you.”

Elton's Oscar Party Raises $5.1m

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:50:42 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Sunday night saw the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 16th annual Academy Awards viewing party, which this year raised $5.1 million thanks to its spectacular guest list.

The Pacific Design Center venue saw even more of Hollywood’s glitterati than anticipated, boasting the attendance of “Best Actress” award winner Marion Cotillard and “Best Supporting Actor” nominee Tom Wilkinson. Further top names present included Amy Adams, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, Sean Penn, Patricia Clarkson, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford, Josh Groban, Faye Dunaway, Sean Combs, Seal and Heidi Klum, Prince, Kate Beckinsale, Billy Joel, Courtney Love, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Petra Nemcova, Jeremy Piven, Roberto Cavalli, Minnie Driver, Simon Cowell and Herbie Hancock.

The gala was co-hosted by Elton’s partner David Furnish, and included dinner, a musical performance by Elton himself and a live auction.

Sharon Stone acted as auctioneer, and Elton offered to remove his trousers if it would raise more money. Stone added that she wouldn’t follow suit.

Yet more stars seen at the event included Natasha Henstridge, Larry King, Eric McCormack, Jason Lewis, Jonny Lee Miller, Brett Ratner, Jason Reitman, Rupert Murdoch, Jennifer Coolidge, Russell Simmons, Cheryl Tiegs, John Waters and Ziyi Zhang.

Since its inception in 1992, Elton’s foundation has raised more than $125 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries.

Stars Prepare For Oscar Glory With Charity Parties

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:56:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The next few days will be busy for Hollywood’s elite, as they practice their speeches and iron their gowns in anticipation of the 80th Academy Awards to be held on Sunday, February 24. As always, part of the pizzazz of the event is the glamorous parties in the days leading up to the big night. And although many of these soirees give the rich and famous a chance to be seen in the right places, a few are designed to raise awareness and funds for causes other than fame.

Wednesday, February 20, will see the Fifth Annual Global Green Pre-Oscar Party hit Hollywood between the eyes, with an event formulated to promote “smart solutions to global warming”. The party, to be held at the Avalon in Hollywood, will feature performances by Damien Rice and Michelle Branch, as well as Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the stars of Oscar-nominated musical, Once.

A huge selection of stars are expected to attend the event, including Salma Hayek, Alicia Silverstone, Val Kilmer, Adrian Grenier, Dana Delany, and Josie Maran. There is also a strong possibility that committee members Orlando Bloom and Leonardo DiCaprio may also attend.

Tickets to the party, available from the Global Green website, cost $250 for general admission and $5,000 for “green carpet” access and entry to the Patron Lounge, with all proceeds going to Global Green’s climate initiatives and their efforts to rebuild a green New Orleans.

Another big event in the next few days is the 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party, to be held at the Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, on February 24.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation gala is the most highly visible and successful fundraising event in Hollywood on Oscar night, and over the past 15 years has generated over $15 Million for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“This event is our most important fundraiser of the year,” the Foundation stated in a media statement. “Last year, we raised over $4.3 million, and we expect to exceed that record this year.”

The evening will begin at 4pm, with a special cocktail reception, followed by a formal dinner and a live screening of the Academy Awards. An auction, featuring items such as a vintage Corvette from Sharon Stone’s collection, will also be held, and Sir Elton will perform for guests such as Victoria and David Beckham, Ellen DeGeneres, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, and Elizabeth Taylor.

“With the loyal support of the Hollywood community, the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party has raised significant attention and funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS over the past 15 years,” said Foundation Director Scott Campbell. “This year we hope to set the bar even higher and let the world know that we are as committed as ever to fighting this devastating disease.”

Absentee bids and more information on the event can be found at the Elton John AIDS Foundation website.

Shakira Sheds Threads For Charity

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:11:47 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Although the Northern Hemisphere is still gripped with winter chills, it has not stopped some celebrities from shedding their clothes… for a good cause, of course.

Latin American pop princess Shakira leads the pack by donating more than 40 items of clothing from her 2007 Oral Fixation Tour to a massive internet auction.

There is an impressive list of garments from the hip-shaking performer’s wardrobe, including a lavender skirt with turqoise and coral beading and a blue tank top emblazoned with the words “For Those Who Love To Rock”. And the demand has been overwhelming, with one dress attracting bids of $10,000, and a custom-made bra reaching $1,126.

“We have bids from all over the world,” said Eric Ganzin, president of Auction Cause. “It’s very exciting.”

Proceeds from the auction will go to the singer’s Pies Descalzos Foundation, and the money will be used for the construction of a school for impoverished children in North Colombia.

But bidders had better be quick – the eBay auction ends in just a few hours.

Former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has pushed the envelope a little further by allowing naked photos of herself to be auctioned on eBay.

But before you get too excited, they are not all that they appear: the 30-year-old actress originally posed for the photos in a little black dress that was later removed digitally.

The proceeds from the photos will go to the Coalition of Skin Diseases.

And even Donald Trump is getting in on the act… although thankfully he is keeping his clothes on.

A tie signed by Trump is currently up for auction on eBay, with proceeds going to the Spirit Fund, a fund established by radio station Warm 101.3 to help children in the Rochester area.

The story behind the tie is twisty and, you could say, knotty: When a Kodak executive arrived on set for a recent taping of The Celebrity Apprentice, Trump objected to his tie. He ordered the executive to replace it with one belonging to one of the security guards.

There are only a few hours left in the auction, and bids have already reached $759.

But the biggest celebrity auction on the Net right now is the 50th Grammy Awards Charity Auction on eBay. Over 100 items from some of music’s hottest stars is up for grabs, with all proceeds going to MusiCares.

The auction, which runs until February 21, features exciting and priceless items such as the chance to visit the set of LL Cool J’s next video, a guitar lesson with Joe Satriani, VIP tickets to concerts by Linkin Park, John Legend, and Rihanna, guitars signed by Richie Sambora, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, and Neil Diamond, a microphone signed by Joss Stone, posters and photos signed by Rod Stewart ($167), John Mayer ($170), and Sting ($482), as well as items from Avril Lavigne, Slash, Reba McEntire, Quincy Jones, Beyoncé Knowles, and Snoop Dogg.

The internet auction follows a live auction held on February 8 at Aretha Franklin’s MusiCare’s Person Of The Year Award ceremony. Items that were up for sale on that night included a private painting lesson with Tony Bennett, a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton, sheet music to Stairway To Heaven signed by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, as well as clothing and instruments donated by Elton John, Slash, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.

MusiCares is the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, the group that gives out the Grammys, and focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.

Stars Gather For Cystic Fibrosis Benefit

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:15:01 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A cold London night was made a little warmer on Thursday, when a host of stars came out to raise money for sufferers of a chronic genetic disease.

The “Liv” Gala and Auction was held on January 31, with 420 guests paying up to $2,500 to attend the black tie event. The evening, which included performances by British comedians David Walliams, Matt Lucas, and Jimmy Carr, rasied over $4 million, with proceeds to be split between the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in England and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in America.

Last minute schedule changes by soccer club Barcelona FC meant that host Thierry Henry was unable to attend, but he thrilled the audience by appearing via live video when his match finished. However, English International players Peter Crouch and John Terry did attend, and they were joined by singer Natalie Imbruglia, photographer Sam Taylor-Wood, and British television hosts Trinny Woodall and Davina McCall. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, whose youngest son suffers from cystic fibrosis, also attended the gala.

But the evening’s biggest applause was reserved for Sir Elton John, who received a standing ovation for his performance.

Cystic Fibrosis is one of the world’s most common life-threatening diseases that can be inherited from parents, with over 70,000 sufferers around the globe. It is a debilitating condition that affects internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick and sticky mucus. Sufferers experience difficulties in breathing and digesting food, and the average life expectancy is only 31 years. Money raised from the gala will be used to provide care for sufferers and provide life saving medicines.

Clinton Asks Miners To Dig Deep

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:07:27 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Former US president Bill Clinton and Canadian mining financier Frank Giustra, partners in the new Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI), are asking the mining and financial community to dig deep into their pockets.

Invitations have been sent out for a March 1 event to be held in Toronto, where comedian Robin Williams and musicians Elton John, Shakira, and Burton Cummings are expected to perform. The cost will range between $25,000 and $300,000 per table, and proceeds will help CGSGI assist mining communities long after the industry leaves.

“When Frank Giustra brought forward the idea of having the world’s mining sector pull together in support of alleviating poverty and building sustainable local economies in developing countries, I knew it would only succeed if the industry was serious about being actively involved,” said Mr Clinton.

Donations to CGSGI from mining sector companies have amounted to nearly $350 million, including Giustra’s own pledge of $100 million. Lundin for Africa, the philanthropic arm of the Lundin Group of Companies, has also pledged $100 million.

“The Lundin contribution sends a strong signal that the resource sector is prepared to step up and take the initiative off the drawing board and turn it into a reality for developing countries around the world,” said Mr Giustra. “I firmly believe that this innovative partnership between the Clinton Foundation and the business community – and the mining industry in particular – will have a profound and positive effect on the lives of countless people in the developing world during the months and years ahead.”

Elton John Donates Motorcycles To Africa

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:51:17 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

One of Africa’s poorest countries has received a special gift from one of entertainment’s biggest and most colorful stars.

Elton John took time out from a tour of South Africa on January 17 to visit the nation of Lesotho and donate 120 motorcycles, to be used by doctors and nurses when treating medical emergencies the state’s more remote areas.

“We want to improve the transport system by bringing health care to millions of people living in the most rural areas and thus make a difference in their lives,” said the 60-year-old singer, who handed over the motorcycles to representatives of the Riders For Health program at a ceremony just outside the capital city of Maseru.

“The nurses and doctors will now have transport to follow up patients in the villages, to support community health workers,” added Lesotho Health Ministry spokesperson Tumisang Mokoai. “The motorcycles will be distributed to all health centers in Lesotho.”

Riders For Health has been working on treatment supply problems in Africa for over 15 years, and relies on organizations such as the Elton John AIDS Foundation for support and funding. The program entered Lesotho in 1991, with support from Save the Children, and medical treatment was delivered around the mountainous country’s 1.8 million people on 47 Kawasaki KV175s – which Riders For Health proudly points out ran for 7 years without a breakdown. Service was reduced in 1997, but the new motorcycles will begin a new push for the program in Lesotho in 2008.

Lesotho is a nation completely encircled by South Africa and suffers horrendous poverty and health statistics, with 23% of men aged between 15 and 45 suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Bono's Fishy T-Shirt Benefits African Farmers

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:41:01 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bono has designed a new T-shirt for charity, joining a host of other celebrities in an on-going and major charity campaign.

The 47-year-old singer from U2 is the 25th artist to design a shirt for Hard Rock Café’s Signature Series clothing line, an initiative started in 1990 as a way for musicians to raise money for charities of their choice. Sales from the shirts have raised over $6 million for a variety of causes.

Bono’s creation, available for $26 from the Hard Rock website, features his stylized drawing of a fish soaring past the moon, and is adorned with the words “Fish Can Fly”, as well as his signature. 15% of the proceeds will go to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Conservation Cotton initiative – a scheme designed to lift African farmers out of poverty by providing education on proper land management, organic cotton growing techniques, and wildlife conservation. The shirts will also support the trade for aid ethos of EDUN, the conscious consumerism fashion label founded by Bono and his wife in 2005, by being made from 100% African cotton and manufactured by African garment workers.

Other artists to have designed shirts for the initiative in the past include Green Day, who raised money for Amnesty International’s Campaign To Save Darfur, Shakira who chose to benefit Pies Descalzos, Ozzy Osbourne for the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program, Bruce Springsteen for World Hunger Year, Eric Clapton for the Crossroads Centre, Peter Gabriel for Witness, Sting and Elton John for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Michael Stipe for Artists for a New South Africa, Don Henley for the Walden Woods Project, John Mellencamp for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation, and Stevie Nicks for the Special Olympics. Carlos Santana and Aerosmith have also contributed designs. Many of these shirts are still available from the Hard Rock website.

Bono’s “Fish Can Fly” is more than just a phrase – it is a message that tomorrow can be better than today.

Osbournes Auction A Success

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:06:30 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It was a sight not often seen in an auction room – heavy metal fans battling a bidding duel with art lovers. But this is exactly what was witnessed when Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon auctioned off belongings from their former Beverly Hills mansion over the weekend of November 30 and December 1. Over 600 lots went under the hammer, raising a colossal $800,000 for charity – twice the amount expected.

“We had Ozzy fans bidding against these sophisticated fine art buyers, which you don’t see every day,” said Darren Julien of Julien’s Auctions. “For the most part, the metalheads were outbidding the art crowd.”

Most of the items up for grabs were an eclectic mix of memorabilia from “The Osbournes”, the hit MTV reality show that revealed the bizarre home life of the Rock ‘n’ Roll family. A coat embroidered with bats was snapped up for $3,300, and a pair of sneakers adorned with skulls was sold for over $2,000. One lucky bidder paid over $5,000 for Ozzy’s trademark round glasses.

Some of the more unusual items sold during the auction (as if those listed above were not unusual enough) included an oversized coffee cup that sold for $1,625, and a luxury dog bed given to Sharon by Elton John that went for $2,375.

Ozzy, who is not really known as a softy, thought twice about putting his pool table up for auction, because he cherished the memories of playing with his children as they grew up. But it eventually walked out the door for $11,250.

The fine art lovers, however, did not go home disappointed. A sculpture by French artist Edouard Drouot was sold for $10,500, and a painting by Gabriel Joseph Marie Augustin Ferrier disappeared for over $5,000.

The proceeds from the auction went to the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a facility Sharon set up in 2004 after beating the disease. She had been given a 33% chance of survival.

“For a celebrity garage sale, it was pretty spectacular,” said Julien.

Bid Now For Christmas Gifts

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:21:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The countdown to Christmas has begun, and celebrities are doing their best to make holiday shopping easy this year. Several charity auctions have already kicked off to raise money for good causes, including one that may be eBay’s largest sale of celebrity items… ever!

The Bid 2 Beat AIDS online auction will open on December 1, World AIDS Day, and will feature over 1000 specially signed items, ranging from posters to iPods. The annual auction will raise money for LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS fundraising and service charity, and in the past has raised up to $175,000.

The array of memorabilia up for sale this year is simply colossal, with perhaps the most interesting items being a series of “Lend a Hand to LIFEbeat” cards that feature the handprints of over 100 celebrities. Stars such as Britney Spears, Jack Black, and Kathy Griffin traced around the outlines of their hands and decorated their artworks for the auction, and the finished products will make a unique addition to any Christmas stocking.

Also included in the auction is a selection of signed musical instruments. Rapper 50 Cent has donated the tambourines he used during his performance at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, and Metallica and the Foo Fighters have both donated guitars. There are also over 200 official RIAA gold and platinum record awards up for sale, from artists such as Annie Lennox, Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Green Day. Rare tour crew jackets from Guns N Roses, Cher, George Michael, and Prince are also available.

There are a stack of autographed CDs and DVDs on offer in the auction, from Mariah Carey, Elton John, Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Maroon 5, Amy Winehouse, and Val Kilmer, as well as books signed by Madonna, Bill Clinton, Rosie O’Donnell, Martha Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Ethan Hawke. Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Elijah Wood, and Usher have all signed posters for the auction.

For those people after something a little different, the auction also includes an iPod designed by Yoko Ono, a box of cereal signed by Will Ferrell, Borat’s hat signed by Sacha Baron Cohen, and a Spiderman action figure autographed by Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.

And if nothing mentioned so far whets your appetite, there are also signed items from Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Nelly, Joan Collins, John Travolta, Kanye West, The Cure, Jay-Z, Cameron Diaz, Victoria Beckham, Robin Williams, Hilary Duff, Jason Alexander, Jack Nicholson, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adam Sandler, John Legend, Jessica Simpson, Whoopi Goldberg, Aerosmith, Denzel Washington, Good Charlotte, James Blunt, Jeremy Piven, Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Norah Jones, Razorlight, Wyclef Jean, and many more… far too many to list here.

More information and a full list of items can be found at www.bid2beataids.com.

As if this wasn’t enough choice for Christmas shoppers, there are also several other auctions and events on the go at the moment. The biggest of these is the 10th Annual Collaborating For A Cure Benefit Dinner and Auction, a massive black tie gala to be held on November 29. It also happens to be one of the highest grossing charity events held every year in New York, and last year raised over $4 million for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization that has provided over $55 million in grants to cancer research, and has been instrumental in the development of new cancer drugs.

The gala dinner and live auction will be held at the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue, New York City, and over 1200 guests are expected to attend. The host for the evening is Chevy Chase, and attendees will be treated to a very special performance by Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh, members of 70’s rock group, the Eagles.

Selected items up for auction on the night as well as online include dinner with Chevy Chase, the chance to play tennis with Andre Agassi, and a meet and greet with Aerosmith.

More information can be found at www.charitybuzz.com.

Also on the Charitybuzz website is an auction to raise funding for Stand Up For A Cure, an organization dedicated to lung cancer research and awareness.

The auction runs from November 28 until December 12, and features unique items such as the chance to have Andrea Bocelli perform in your own home, the opportunity to have Patti LaBelle host your cocktail party, and VIP tickets to see Céline Dion at Madison Square Gardens.

And if you still can’t find a suitable gift, have a look at the Have A Heart Auction on Charitybuzz. All proceeds from the auction, which features the chance to meet Avril Lavigne, a copy of “An Inconvenient Truth” signed by Al Gore, and a “Godfather II” DVD signed by Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, will benefit HEART, an organization that aims to foster compassion and respect for all living beings.

But you have to be in quick, as the auction ends on November 29.

Lunchbox Auction Will Help Feed Hungry Children

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:49:04 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

Forget what they say about good things coming in small boxes, better things come in lunch-boxes created by artists, actors, chefs, musicians, photographer, politicians, and fashion designers to shed light on the plight of hungry children in New York City and South Africa. These original artistic efforts are for the Lunchbox Auction.

The artistry is often unique and often indicative of the personality behind the work. World renown chef Bobby Flay’s 2005 lunchbox was decorated with spices. Bono’s lunchbox was simply red signifying his (RED) campaign. The bidding for lunchbox items will commence online on December 6, 2007

Among the other contributors of lunch-boxes for the first online auction included Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, David Bowie and Iman among other famous people. The proceeds help the Food Bank For New York City provide food to more than 1,000 emergency and community food programs throughout the five boroughs.

One in five children in NYC rely on emergency food. Thousands of miles away in South Africa, children face similar hunger oriented plights. Fledgling school programs do not subsidize pre- and high schools, so for many of these children the Lunch box fund feed them their only meal of the day. Moreover, many of the children are AIDS orphans running child-headed households.

To see the full list of lunch-boxes, visit the Charity Folks Website.

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