Look To The Stars News: Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton Donates To Children's Hospital

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Hotel heiress Paris Hilton has made a substantial donation to a children’s hospital in Los Angeles.

The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles announced on Thursday that the 27-year-old socialite had made an “extremely generous” donation towards the construction of a new building at their facility – a 460,000-square-foot Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, expected to open in 2010.

“I am so happy and fortunate to announce my support for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles,” said Hilton. “The children I have met through my involvement with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have truly touched my heart. I am proud to make a donation and lend my name to the fundraising effort to help children who are facing terribly serious illnesses. The fabulous new hospital facilities at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles will provide a caring, healing environment for children and their families for many years to come.”

Hilton began her association with the hospital following her release from jail last year, and has also donated the proceeds from the launch of her eponymous clothing line last August to the facility. The size of the latest donation has yet to be made public.

Paris Hilton Sees Herself As Role Model

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:24:50 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Socialite and heiress Paris Hilton – whose grandfather Barron Hilton revealed he will to donate 97% of his $2.3 billion wealth to charity earlier this year – has stated that she does not have any hard feelings about his decision, and has announced that she is happy to be a role model for young girls.

“My grandfather is an incredible man,” she said. “He is very generous. And what he is doing is amazing.”

The 27-year-old Hilton is currently in Turkey to judge the 2008 Miss Turkey contest, and said she valued not only beauty but also “good heart” when evaluating the contestants. She also said she sees herself as a role model for young women.

“This is my first time judging anything like this,” she told Reuters. “I’m going to look at how the girls carry themselves, what they look like, the way they dress and what they say.”

Hilton Donates Family Fortune To Charity

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:23:54 -0000

Paris Hilton’s paternal grandfather, Barron Hilton, has announced that he will contribute $1.2 billion of the proceeds from the sale of Hilton Hotels Corporation and Harrah’s Entertainment to a unitrust to benefit the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, a charity established by his father over 60 years ago.

“Speaking for the family as well as the foundation, we are all exceedingly proud and grateful for this extraordinary commitment,” said his son, Steven M. Hilton, President and CEO of the Foundation. “Working to alleviate human suffering around the globe, regardless of race, religion or geography, is the mandate of the foundation set by my grandfather, Conrad Hilton, and now reinforced by my father, Barron Hilton.”

Conrad established his charitable Foundation in 1944, “to relieve the suffering, the distressed, and the destitute” on a global scale. More than half of the grants are given to international initiatives. The Foundation has contributed over $560 million worldwide to date.

In West Africa, the Foundation has worked with partners like World Vision, UNICEF, WaterAid and The Carter Center to increase access to safe water by providing wells, alternative water systems and latrines, resource centers and training on hygiene to reduce the incidence of blinding trachoma and guinea worm. In Mexico, it supports an organization called Alternativas y Procesos de Participacion Social to develop potable water sources.

Other initiatives the Hilton Foundation support include program development and teacher training for the blind, housing for homeless who are mentally ill, social service projects provided by the Catholic Sisters, and care and services for disabled babies and their families.

Additionally, the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, at $1.5 million, brings together leaders to look at solutions to providing aid to needy populations, and is donated annually “to a charitable organization that is doing extraordinary work in relieving suffering.”

Barron Hilton also announced that he will contribute 97 percent of his entire net worth to benefit the Foundation, at whatever value it is at the time of his passing. It is currently estimated at $2.3 billion.

Celebrities' Festive Gifts

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:21:24 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A pledge to walk one of the biggest man-made structures in the world, a successful celebrity auction, a tour of far away places, and a donation of time and energy were just some of the ways celebrities gave to the poor, the sick, and those unable to spend time with their families this Christmas.

Singer Olivia Newton-John met with the founders of Welsh breast cancer charity In The Pink over Christmas to discuss fund raising opportunities, and revealed her plans to walk the length of the Great Wall of China in April. Proceeds from the walk will go to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre in Australia, and the 59-year-old breast cancer survivor will also donate items to In The Pink to auction later in the year.

Meanwhile, socialite Kathy Hilton organized a charity auction over Christmas, featuring a selection of items donated by some of her famous friends. Mel Gibson’s jeans, Tom Cruise’s sunglasses, and an Ocean’s Thirteen script signed by the movie’s stars, including George Clooney and Brad Pitt, raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Christmas is my favorite time of the year,” said Hilton, mother of Paris Hilton. “I have worked with Make-A-Wish before, and I wanted to do something really special. Hopefully… I’ll make it an annual event.”

Robin Williams, Lance Armstrong, Kid Rock, and Lewis Black were also busy over the festive season, and joined current Miss USA Rachel Smith on a 14 show tour with the USO in Afghanistan.

The shows were well received by soldiers from all nations, stationed away from their homes and families this Christmas.

“Afghanistan is sometimes called the forgotten war,” said one soldier who watched the shows. “We don’t get a lot of attention here, and conditions are pretty miserable. So it means a lot.”

The USO organized 52 celebrity tours in 2007 – which included over 300 shows.

And in Los Angeles, Jennifer Love Hewitt joined her new fiancé Ross McCall, as well as Melissa Joan Hart and Melissa Gilbert, to dish out dinners to the needy at the Los Angeles Mission.

“I have made it a point to come to the Los Angeles Mission at Christmas,” said the 28-year-old actress. “There are so many hurting people on the streets of our city, but when I’m here I get to see the smiles of the children and the great food for everyone. I come to give something back, but invariably I get more blessings than I give.”

Stars Keep On Giving

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:28:26 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The giving just keeps on going this holiday season, with a whole bunch of celebrities donating items to charity auctions, and others taking the time to attend events and fork out massive amounts of money for good causes.

Such was the case on December 11, when the husband and wife team of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith paid $50,000 for a pair of artworks by Joan Miro and Salvador Dali at an auction in Chile.

“They bought the two works for a price much higher than their commercial value, because the proceeds of the auction went to UNICEF,” said Denise Ratinoff, head of the auction house that ran the event. “It was virtually a donation to UNICEF, and it helped a lot. Their presence in the auction made many other people also pay steeply for what they purchased.”

The previous day, on the other side of the world, another auction also saw generous donations for a good cause. A classic car belonging to actress Sharon Stone was sold for $400,000 at a charity auction during Dubai’s fourth international film festival, with the money going to the American Foundation for AIDS Research, of which Stone is the Global Fundraising Chairperson.

The 1961 Lincoln Continental was valued at only a fraction of the price it attracted, and went to a mystery bidder. It was the biggest item to be sold at the event, which drew other celebrity guests such as Michelle Yeoh and Hayden Christenson, and raised a total of $3 million for the charity.

Rockers Linkin Park launched their third charity auction through their non-profit organization, Music for Relief, last week, and raised thousands of dollars for survivors of the November 15 cyclone in Bangladesh.

The band donated items such as VIP concert tickets and a customized Xbox to the eBay auction, and were joined by donations from Avril Lavigne, the Smashing Pumpkins, Madonna, Avenged Sevenfold, Slayer, and the Deftones, with all proceeds going to the humanitarian organization, CARE.

Over 3,500 people were killed during the cyclone, and many more were left homeless, with the government seeking $2.2 billion in foreign aid to assist with helping survivors. The auction followed Linkin Park’s auction in November to raise money for victims of the California wildfires.

That auction may have finished, but one still running right now offers bidders a vehicle with a difference – a BugE. If you don’t know what a BugE is (or even how to pronounce it – the advertising information says it is pronounced “Bugeeeeeeeee”), then you are not the only one. However, to enlighten you a little bit, a BugE is a clean, green cross between a motorcycle and a three-wheeled car that draws its power from electricity stored in batteries, instead of from harmful liquid fuels. And this particular BugE up for sale has been signed by nearly 100 different celebrities, such as John Legend, Rodney Peete, Ne-Yo, and Chris Daughtry.

The eBay auction runs until December 20, and 30% of the proceeds will go to Autism Speaks to help people who struggle with this debilitating condition.

Another celebrity stepping into the world of internet auctions this month is Brad Pitt, who is going to part with his favorite gray hat. Pitt and his gray cap have seemed inseparable since he moved to New Orleans, and he has worn it for photos, at the Beowulf movie premier, and even during his recent Larry King Live interview. But now he is going to throw his hat into the ring, so to speak, for charity, with all proceeds going to his Make It Right organization. There will be more information when the auction dates are finalized.

And finally today, Paris Hilton is set to make a splash with her new champagne in a can, Rich Prosecco.

The hotel heiress was in Berlin, Germany, last week to launch her new “bubbly blonde” drink – which comes in original, passion fruit, and strawberry flavors – and to announce that 20% of all sales will go to a charity that provides fresh drinking water to those in need.

“It is the perfect ‘starter drink’ for your night out,” said the 26-year-old. “Or a special pleasure as a reward for the end of your day.”

The drink will be released in the US early next year.

Nicole Richie Founds New Charity

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 10:36:07 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

One of the hottest couples in Hollywood are expecting a baby – and have founded a children’s charity to celebrate.

Nicole Richie and Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden held a baby shower with a difference on November 18, with most of the gifts they received being donated to mothers in need. The couple formally introduced their new charity, the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation, in front of 90 guests at the Wizard Of Oz themed party.

“It’s really sweet,” said Rashida Jones, from NBC’s The Office, who joined guests such as Paris Hilton and Masha Gordon at the party. “With all the swag these days, we’re given so much stuff it’s almost wasteful. It’s kind of nice when we’re giving to each other to give to someone else.”

The Richie Madden Children’s Foundation is being established to help young mothers and families, and plans to donate 100 “Mom-To-Be” kits to the Los Angeles Free Clinic in December. They are currently asking for donations of items such as cribs and mattresses, diapers and liners, strollers and car seats, baby bottles and pacifiers, baby monitors, toys and books, baby carriers, and baby bathtubs to be included in the kits. A website for the new foundation is being planned, which will create and promote an online registry to inspire the purchases of items for families in need.

“We’ve had opportunities and know that we’re very blessed,” said Joel Madden, who is excited about the arrival of the new baby in January. “We couldn’t imagine having a baby and not being as blessed as we are. We’re just trying to help out some other young couples, and the Los Angeles Free Clinic – which provides healthcare, pre-natal care, and job opportunities for free – is the most amazing place I’ve ever seen.”

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Free Clinic, which provides dependable and affordable healthcare and services, celebrated its 40th anniversary. For those who wish to contribute to the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation’s “Mom-To-Be” initiative, the clinic can be contacted via www.lafreeclinic.org.

Paris Heads To Rwanda

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:51:20 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Paris Hilton is to head to one of the poorest countries on the planet to raise awareness of child poverty.

Plans have been confirmed for the 26 year old socialite and heiress of the Hilton Hotel chain to travel to Rwanda next month, as part of her image makeover following her brief stint in jail in June.

“I’ll be going in November, after I get back from filming my movie,” said the star of “A Simple Life”, who is currently making “Repo! The Genetic Opera” with director Darren Lynn Bousman. “There’s so much need in that area, and I feel like if I go, it will bring more attention to what people can do to help.”

The trip is being undertaken in conjunction with Playing For Good, a charity dedicated to children’s issues set up a year ago by Scott Lazerson. Playing For Good was founded as a way to inspire and help businesses and celebrities to get involved in philanthropic work, and has attracted the support of stars such as Eva Longoria, Fran Drescher, and Goldie Hawn. Events organized by the charity in the past year have raised money for Millennium Promise Alliance, Keep A Child Alive, Spread The Net, and The Hawn Foundation. Lazerson plans to film Hilton’s journey to the war-ravaged nation and sell it as part of a new reality show, “The Philanthropist”, which will feature various celebrities on missions to help the world’s poor.

“She’s using her celebrity status and the cameras that follow her for the good of the world,” he said.

Thirteen years ago, the African nation of Rwanda was the scene of one of the worst massacres witnessed in recent history, when the Hutu-led military slaughtered almost a million Tutsis, in a country with a population of only 9 million people. Today, the political situation remains unstable, although President Paul Kagame is currently restructuring the Government to form a more secure country.

“I’m scared, yeah. I’ve heard its really dangerous,” said Hilton, regarding the trip to a country with an average life expectancy of 39 years, and where only 41% of the population has access to safe drinking water. “I’ve never been on a trip like this before.”

Hilton’s trip will last for five days, and is the first step in the shedding of her old persona, a promise she made to herself and the world in June.

“Before, my life was about parties – it was a fantasy,” she said. “But when I had time to reflect, I felt empty inside. I want to leave a mark on the world. I want to visit more countries where poverty and children’s issues are a big concern. I know there’s a lot of good I can do just by getting involved and bringing attention to these issues.”

Also as part of her new image, Hilton plans to make her new home in Beverly Hills more eco-friendly.

“I just bought the house,” she said. “I haven’t been able to work on it yet. But I intend to.”

Celebrities Play Bingo For Charity

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:29:17 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British pop star Robbie Williams is one of a host of celebrities involved with Legendary Bingo, a weekly fundraising event held in Los Angeles. The singer was part of a charity evening earlier in August, held at Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grill, with proceeds going towards breast cancer research.

The evening was a colorful and fun affair, with Williams winning the grand prize – a Diane Merrick leopard-print handbag. The following week, it was Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines’ turn to play the game.

“She asked if we would consider doing a wild bingo night for one of her favorite charities,” said Jeffery Bowman, producer of the Legendary Bingo events. “She was one of the most normal, nicest people I’ve ever met.”

Proceeds from that evening went to the Voice For The Animals Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, advocacy, and legislation. Maines had so much fun that she is already in negotiations to be involved in another Legendary Bingo event for charity.

Legendary Bingo was started by Bowman in 1998, as a fundraising event for AIDS projects in Los Angeles. It proved so popular that within a few months it was benefiting a different charity every week, including Habitat For Humanity, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Caring For Babies With Aids, and the American Cancer Society. Before long, celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Courteney Cox, Daryl Hannah, and Tori Spelling also started to get involved, both as players and ball-callers.

Legendary Bingo has raised over $1.5 million for local and national charities and the arts since its inception.

Paris Hilton Enjoys A Night By The Ocean

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:52:28 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Paris Hilton is making good her promise to be involved in more charities, and was one of over 500 people to attend the 4th annual “Night By The Ocean Charity Gala and Auction” on July 22nd. Celebrities, sports stars, and Hollywood and surfing industry executives all came together at the Beverly Hills Hotel for a night of fun and performances to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries.

The event was co-chaired by champion surfer Kelly Slater and actress Minnie Driver, and raised over $370,000 for the Life Rolls On Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injuries.

The evening featured live performances by Jackson Browne, Miles Doughty of Slightly Stoopid, and Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, and also included an auction. The funds that were raised will go directly into the Foundation’s key initiatives, such as “They Will Surf Again”, an adaptive surfing program for those with spinal cord injuries, and opportunities for able-bodied individuals to get involved with the organization.

“It’s a great organization,” Paris Hilton was quoted as saying in People Magazine. “It gives people hope, and I’m really happy to be here to support Jessie [Billauer, founder of Life Goes On].” Hilton also paid $17,500 at the auction for a personal surfing lesson with Billauer and actor Adam Sandler.

As well as attending the Night By The Ocean Gala, Paris Hilton has recently visited a children’s cancer ward, and is planning to actively support more charitable causes in the future.

“I have met with philanthropists… and we’ll be doing stuff all around the world. I’m excited.”

She has now started giving a portion of all her appearance fees to children’s charities.

Look To The Stars News: Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton Donates To Children's Hospital

Related past articles

Paris Hilton Sees Herself As Role Model

Related past articles

Hilton Donates Family Fortune To Charity

Related past articles

Celebrities' Festive Gifts

Related past articles

Stars Keep On Giving

Related past articles

Nicole Richie Founds New Charity

Related past articles

Paris Heads To Rwanda

Related past articles

Celebrities Play Bingo For Charity

Related past articles

Paris Hilton Enjoys A Night By The Ocean

Related past articles