Look To The Stars News: Yao Ming

Call To Ban Shark Fins Gains Support Of Some Big Fish

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0000

On both sides of the world, the movement to ban the trade and sale of shark fin products has gained an impressive roster of noteworthy supporters including Leonardo DiCaprio, James Cameron, Wolfgang Puck, Gordon Ramsey, Richard Branson, Yao Ming, Mario Batali, Edward Norton, and Chinese billionaire Zhang Yue.

In California, WildAid, NRDC, and The Humane Society of the United States worked with DiCaprio, Norton, and Yao to write a joint letter to Governor Jerry Brown, urging him to sign California’s Assembly Bill 376, which will ban the import, trade, and possession of shark fin in California. AB 376 has already passed both legislative bodies with bi-partisan support – and currently awaits the Governor’s signature. The letter, also signed by over 50 additional notables including James Cameron, musician Jackson Browne, and actress Rosario Dawson, asserts that the ban is “absolutely necessary if we are to conserve sharks and, in effect, our entire ocean ecosystem.”

Yao Ming And Richard Branson Say No To Shark Fin Soup

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

International conservation organization WildAid, Chinese basketball star and WildAid Ambassador, Yao Ming, and leading Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yue have joined forces with British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson and his non-profit foundation Virgin Unite, in a global campaign to save sharks.

Branson and Yao have filmed public service announcements in support of WildAid’s shark campaign drawing attention to the increasing demand for shark fin soup and the devastating effect this demand is having on global shark populations. The messages will broadcast across national and international media via WildAid’s pro-bono media network, beginning today and are available at wildaid.org/sharks.

Yao Ming committed to stop eating shark fin soup in 2006 after learning of the cruel and wasteful practice of "’finning"’ and the threat of extinction facing many shark populations as a result of demand for their fins. He has been an Ambassador for WildAid’s shark campaign ever since. Yao says, “I urge China to lead by banning shark fin soup, and I urge business leaders to end the consumption of shark fin soup at business events. Unless we act now, we will lose many shark populations, impacting our oceans worldwide.”

Yao Ming Commits To Charity Following Basketball Retirement

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Yao Ming may have retired from basketball, but that won’t stop his charity work.

The Chinese basketball star – who created the Yao Ming Foundation to build schools in China after the May 2008 earthquakes – officially announced his retirement from the game this week.

“I will keep devoting myself to social charity work,” said Ming at a press conference in Shanghai. “Yao Foundation, launched three years ago, is a project named after me. I promise here that it will keep going on.”

Leonardo DiCaprio Wants Shark Fin Sales Banned In California

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Leonardo DiCaprio has penned a letter to members of the California State Senate in support of Assembly Bill 376, which would prohibit the sale of shark fins in California.

“The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has concluded that a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction of some kind,” reads the letter, which has also been signed by the CEO of The Humane Society, the Executive Director of WildAid and the President of the Natural Resources Defense Council . “And recent estimates state that up to 73 million sharks are killed each year for use in shark fin soup and other products. Traditionally shark fin was affordable only to the elite, and consequently the issue of decimation of species was not a concern. But with the explosion of the world’s population, and an increasing number of wealthy consumers, this can no longer be considered true, as has been evidenced by the decimation of shark populations worldwide. Despite fisheries attempts at regulation, the inhumane practice of finning continues unabated too, as does the illegal capture of sharks from marine reserves and sovereign waters.”

The bill is an effort to save sharks and the oceans by banning the possession, sale, trade and distribution of shark fins in California. In addition to DiCaprio, AB 376 is supported by a host of prominent celebrities, including Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson, Ke$ha, Kristen Bell, Paul Rudd and Chinese basketball great Yao Ming

Jackie Chan Honorary Host Of WildAid Celebrity Charity Gala

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:30:00 +0000

The first annual WildAid Charity Gala will take place in San Francisco this week, honoring celebrity NBA legend Yao Ming and featuring honorary hosts such as Jackie Chan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Edward Norton and Bo Derek.

The event will celebrate the organization’s global conservation work, and will honor Ming for his help in reducing the consumption of shark fin soup in China.

Edward Norton Supports Bill To Stop Sale Of Shark Fins

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:30:00 +0000

California Assembly Members Paul Fong and Jared Huffman have introduced a bill to prohibit the sale of shark fins in California to the State Assembly, with the support of Edward Norton.

California is one of the largest sources of demand for shark fin outside Asia and this bill would represent a major step towards reducing pressure on shark populations. Furthermore the bill complements the ban introduced in both Hawaii and the Commonwealth of North Mariana Islands (CNMI) as well as restrictions established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

Yao Ming To Be Honored At WildAid Charity Gala

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The first annual WildAid Charity Gala will take place in San Francisco in May, honoring celebrity NBA legend Yao Ming.

The event will celebrate the organization’s global conservation work, and will honor Ming for his help in reducing the consumption of shark fin soup in China.

The basketballer fronted a PSA campaign in China in 2010 to raise awareness of the fact that up to 70 million sharks are stripped of their fins and left to flounder on the sea bed every year to supply soup in the country.

Yao Ming Fundraising For More Schools In China

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

According to Xinhua News Agency, basketball star Yao Ming is headed to China to fundraise for the Yao Ming Foundation, the charity he founded after China’s devastating earthquake in 2008.

Besides banquets, the fundraising activities will include two basketball games – one against China’s national team and one against the Shanghai Sharks team, which Ming reportedly now owns. Although Ming won’t be able to play due to his ongoing recovery from foot surgery, he’s bringing several other NBA players along to participate in the games.

Ming said in the interview with Xinhua that his Foundation has finished three of the six schools it committed to build in the quake-stricken area, and is almost finished the other three. Monies raised will go towards finishing the schools by September, and towards scholarships and youth sports development.

Michael Bay And Jerry Bruckheimer To Host Super Bowl Charity Fundraiser

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Giving Back Fund’s annual Super Bowl Fundraiser, “Big Game-Big Give,” is just a week away!

Last year’s highly successful inauguaral event was hosted by Ashton Kutcher (with wife Demi Moore). This year’s event promises to be one of the most exclusive and hardest-to-get tickets at the Super Bowl. The event will be hosted by Transformers’ Director Michael Bay at his private Miami Beach estate. Mega-Producer Jerry Bruckheimer will join Micheal as a co-host.

“Big Game-Big Give” is a very intimate and exclusive event focused on athletes, celebrities, recognized business leaders, and on the importance of giving back. More than 100 A-List celebrities and athletes are expected, including several who have foundations at The Giving Back Fund.

Yao Ming Calls For An End To Shark Fin Soup

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Basketball star Yao Ming’s new public service announcement for WildAid is asking people in China to think twice before ordering shark fin soup.

Many shark species are nearing extinction as sharks are being stripped of fins and left to flounder helplessly until they die on the ocean floor. “If you could see, each year, how up to 70 million sharks are killed to end up in soup, could you still eat it?” goes the PSA.

Besides the disturbing aspect of de-finning, the loss of shark populations has some serious repercussions. Sharks play a key role in the marine ecosystem from fish populations to carbon-dioxide-consuming phytoplankton to healthy reef systems. Without sharks, former prey flourishes and this affects everything down the food chain line.

Pamela Anderson Steps Up For The Apes In Florida

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Pamela Anderson was in Florida on Saturday, March 14, to celebrate the 20th anniversary for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) – an event hosted by Bob Barker – after writing an open letter to Florida governor Charlie Crist about ‘road-side zoos’ in the state, in which she says chimpanzees and other animals are kept in less-than-adequate enclosures.

“With so many frustrated great apes stewing in squalid facilities in Florida, it is only a matter of time before a similar tragedy strikes your state,” she wrote. “PETA and I appeal to you to take action to prevent Florida’s roadside zoos from keeping great apes and to ensure that these intelligent primates are transferred to approved sanctuaries to live out the remainder of their lives in suitable surroundings.”

Held at the Broward County Convention Center in Ft Lauderdale, the event featured delicious vegan food, entertainment, an awards ceremony, speeches, book signings, an open bar featuring organic Floridian wine and a silent auction that included items such as an “LA Confidential” poster signed by Kim Basinger and a jersey signed by Yao Ming.

Katy Perry Performs While Stars Shoot Hoops For Charity

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:30:00 +0000

T-Mobile USA, Inc. launched the T-Mobile myFaves Shot of a Lifetime with an exclusive celebrity shoot-out in Phoenix to benefit charity. Eliza Dushku, Jermaine Dupri, Donald Faison, Bill Simmons and Zachary Levi joined Dwyane Wade in the challenge to benefit the charity of their choice during the weekend.

T-Mobile created the charity shoot-out to officially launch the Shot of a Lifetime national sweepstakes, which gives one lucky winner and their fave five the opportunity to play HORSE against Dwyane Wade during the Eastern Conference Finals for a chance at $50,000. More information on the sweepstakes can be found at www.t-mobile.com/nba or text “MYSHOT” to 72579 to enter.

Stars including Yao Ming and Gabrielle Union joined T-Mobile to witness Dwyane Wade, Eliza Dushku, Jermaine Dupri, Donald Faison, Bill Simmons and Zac Levi square off against each other on a custom myFaves half-court. Emcee Sal Masekela was on the mic, getting the crowd to cheer in support of each participant, who each stepped onto the court for three shots at the basket to win up to $50,000 for the charity of their choice. The charity challenge concluded with an astonishing $170,000 donated to Camp Hale Alumni Association, Global Exchange Uganda Trauma Center, the Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta, Global Green, The Jimmy Fund and Operation Smile.

Join Ashton Kutcher For The Super Bowl

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Looking for someone special to watch the Super Bowl with this year? Why not try Ashton Kutcher or Jenny McCarthy?

Kutcher is hosting a VIP Super Bowl party on January 31 to raise money for the Giving Back Fund. The event will be held at a private house in Tampa – to be revealed when you purchase tickets – and the ticket price is $1000.

Established in 1997, The Giving Back Fund provides professional philanthropic management, consulting, and mentoring to athletes, entertainers and others. In the past they have worked with Ben Roethlisberger, Yao Ming, Sam Madison and many more.

Yao Foundation and the Bush & Clinton Fund Are This Year’s Rocket Recipients

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:30:00 +0000

The Rocket’s 13th annual Tux & Tennies Charity Gala, coming in February, will award the event’s proceeds to the Bush Clinton Coastal Recovery Fund and the Yao Ming Foundation.

The basketball team wanted to help local communities rebuild after the effects of last autumn’s Hurricane Ike. But team player Yao Ming has another passion as well – his Yao Ming Foundation, created last spring in his country of origin, China.

Rockets.com quoted team owner Leslie Alexander: “There is still much work to be done in China to recover from the devastation that was caused by the earthquake there last May. Because these two natural disasters have affected so many lives in areas close to our hearts, I wanted to find a way to provide assistance to both causes.”

Nicole Richie Wants To Give You A Fruitcake For Christmas

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Tony Hawk, Nicole Richie and Fall Out Boy are on a mission to “re-gift” the classic fruitcake this Christmas with a new charity application on Facebook.

“The fruitcake has always been a bad gift. You never eat it or keep it. You just always end up re-gifting it,” said skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. “This year we’re changing the fruitcake and making it a symbol of giving and charity.”

Two-pound fruitcake bricks will be given away through a PayPal application on Facebook to benefit the stars’ favorite charities. Recipients will be invited via a personal video to contribute through PayPal to the charities and “re-gift” the fruitcake to friends and family all across the world.

Yao Ming To Raffle Olympic Tickets For Earthquake Relief

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is raffling a trip to the Beijing Olympics to raise money for the Yao Ming Foundation, which he launched to help victims of the May 12 earthquake in China.

Tickets to the raffle, which can be accessed via www.netraffle.org, cost $2 each, and will give one lucky winner round-trip airfare from a US city to Beijing, a seven day stay at a hotel in Beijing from Aug. 7-14, two tickets to the China-USA basketball game at the Olympics, $1,500 cash, a guided tour of the Great Wall of China, two Houston Rockets jerseys autographed by Ming, two tickets to a Rockets game, and a chance to meet Ming after a Rockets game.

“I’m so proud that my country is hosting the 2008 Olympics,” said Ming. “I am thrilled that I can help fans visit China, experience the Games and, at the same time, help raise money for the Yao Ming Foundation as we begin our campaign to rebuild schools in the earthquake damaged provinces.”

Yao Ming To Build Schools In China

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Following the devastating earthquakes last month in China’s Sichuan and Gansu provinces, Yao Ming – Chinese center for the Houston Rockets basketball team – felt compelled to do something and to do it quickly… so he created the Yao Ming Foundation.

In the long term, the Foundation will “raise funds and awareness of children’s wellness and welfare issues in China and the United States.” But more importantly in the short term, it will address the immediate needs of the children in China affected by the quake, specifically the need for earthquake-proof schools.

“It is very hard to put into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction,” said Yao. “My thoughts and actions are now focused on helping to rebuild the schools that were destroyed in this tragedy and I hope that others around the world will join in our efforts.”

Yao Ming Steps Up Donation for Disaster Relief

Mon, 19 May 2008 10:55:44 +0000

NBA player and Rockets Center Yao Ming has filmed several Public Service Announcements in conjunction with the Red Cross to appeal to fans to help with earthquake relief in his native China after the devastating 7.8 magnitude struck the country and killed thousands of people.

The PSAs were filmed in both English and Mandarin Chinese. The English version will run during the NBA Playoffs television broadcasts, and the Mandarin Chinese will run on NBA Playoffs broadcasts in China.

NBA Senior VP/Community & Player Programs Kathy Behrens: “It is a straightforward appeal to direct people to the Red Cross. His personal appeal will be the tone.”

Yao Ming-Steve Nash Charity Gala & Basketball Game in Beijing

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:52:58 +0000

Two of the NBA’s greatest players joined forces to raise money for various charities in Beijing, and it took just under six-months for Yao Ming and Steve Nash to bring their idea to fruition.

The Steve Nash-Yao Ming Charity Basketball Game and events were held September 12-14 and raised over $2M for needy kids in China.

“I was talking with a friend of mine about the difficulties the children face there,” Nash told Suns.com. “I feel really fortunate that I am in a position where I was able to go to Yao Ming and ask him if he was interested in doing something over there. It’s an exciting opportunity to go to China and hopefully give thousands of kids an opportunity for an education that right now doesn’t exist.”