Look To The Stars News: Hugh Grant

Lap Of Honour To Support British Forces

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

A Mini is being driven around the UK in support of the British Forces Foundation, collecting the signatures of 50 top British celebrities.

The car began its 10-month-long “Lap of Honour” journey on June 11, with an inaugural signature from opera star Katherine Jenkins, and has so far collected further signatures from Hugh Grant, Michael Caine, author Frederick Forsyth, Dame Judi Dench and James Blunt.

The Lap of Honour will culminate in the BFF’s 10th anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall next April. The concert line-up will feature the stars who have entertained British troops overseas, including Blunt, Jenkins and seasoned rockers Status Quo.

Following the concert, the car and an accompanying signed photo album will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Foundation.

Hugh Grant Supports New Charity Funding

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Hugh Grant has openly welcomed the British Government’s decision last week to increase funding to Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses by £4.5 million (US$9 million).

An Ambassador for the charity, Grant has made a moving tribute about the work of Marie Curie nurses who provide care to terminally ill cancer patients – including his own mother.

“I am one of those people who came into contact with Marie Curie just because someone in my family died,” said the 47-year-old. “In my case it was my mother; she died of cancer in 2001. She wanted to die at home as most people do and not many people can for various reasons. Marie Curie came out to my brother’s house and enabled my mother to have a very dignified and quite cosy and loving last three weeks – not just because they are brilliant nurses, but they are just really great people to have around. I was very impressed. I operate in a world that’s full of scumbags and it’s very odd to come across nice people, people who actually do good.”

Marie Curie Cancer Care, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this week, provides free end-of-life care for around 27,000 cancer patients who want to end their days at home every year.

The Spy Who Loved Me For Charity

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ever fancy a kiss with James Bond? Or a cuddle with Hugh Grant? One lucky bidder did on Tuesday night, when they won the chance to do exactly that at a charity auction in London.

The Great British Movie Event, a dinner and auction to raise cash for the National Film and Television School, attracted a host of famous faces, including Richard Attenborough, Christopher Lee, Rowan Atkinson, Honor Blackman, Bill Nighy, and Richard Curtis. Hosted by Jonathan Ross, the evening raised over $800,000 for the school, which specializes in high-end media training.

The chance to kiss three living legends – Hugh Grant, James Bond actor Daniel Craig, and Harry Potter’s Robbie Coltrane – sold for a whopping $39,000, with the honor going to Barbara Broccoli, producer of the James Bond film franchise.

And although they didn’t have to fight over the girl, Craig and Grant did enter into a bidding war over some Harry Potter memorabilia, with Craig eventually paying $36,000 for the chance to own some of the famous wizard’s belongings. Hugh Grant was later outbid again, this time for two walk-on parts in one of his own films…

Other items up for auction on the night included the dinner jacket worn by Daniel Craig in the most recent Bond film ‘Casino Royale’, which sold for almost $20,000, and a signed copy of JK Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’, which fetched $39,000.

Orlando And Bono Attend Gorbachev Gala

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:36:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev hosted a glittering charity gala at Hampton Court on Saturday night that saw a stunning array of celebrities show up to support the fight against cancer in children.

Kate Beckinsale, Orlando Bloom, Tracey Emin, Petra Nemcova, Kevin Spacey and Joan Collins were just some of the stars that turned out for the dinner, auction and dance to raise money for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation – a charity established by Mr Gorbachev following the death of his wife in 1999.

A three course dinner was followed by an impressive selection of items up for auction, including a private night at Annabel’s nightclub in Mayfair for 160 people, clothes from designer Giles Deacon, a new Bentley Continental Flying Spur, and a private high-speed drive with British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton.

This was followed by a moving speech made by Hugh Grant, whose mother died from cancer in 2001, and a special performance from Bono.

“We are delighted Hugh is so involved this year,” said one of the organizers. “He is a very important part of the charity. For him to stand up and talk about his late mother is very special. It’s a night where people really do go to incredible lengths to raise money for an amazingly worthwhile charity.”

Last year’s Gala was also an exciting event.

Hugh Grant Blooms For Charity Appeal

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:06:43 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British actor Hugh Grant, best known for his roles in a series of romantic comedies, has pledged his support for the annual major fundraising campaign of one of Britain’s most well known cancer charities.

The 47-year-old actor is the face and voice behind this year’s Daffodil Day Campaign, the flagship fundraising event for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Grant has recorded radio and television advertisements to highlight the campaign, which runs throughout March, as part of the organization’s 60th anniversary.

Marie Curie Cancer Care provides nurses to terminally ill patients who want to die at home, and Grant first came into contact with the organization when his mother, Fynvola, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer eight years ago. She was under the care of Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses when she passed away in 2001.

“Mum was very determined – as apparently most people are in her situation – to die at home and it simply wouldn’t have been possible without them,” said Grant in an interview in the Daily Telegraph. “She was in quite a lot of pain and very weak and needed 24-hour care. They were just incredibly discreet and good humored, and above all, astonishingly kind.”

The Marie Curie Cancer Care Daffodil Day campaign is due to launch on March 2, and the advertising will focus on the things people want to do when they have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The organization hopes to encourage as many people as possible to wear Daffodil badges during March, or to purchase other Daffodil Day merchandise such as umbrellas, dog tags, “wellies” (boots), and of course flowers. Merchandise will be available from street sellers all over Britain, as well as online.

Idols To Give Back On TV Special

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:21:10 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, and Forest Whitaker will be appearing on the two-night special, Idol Gives Back on April 24th and 25th. The stars hope to raise awareness and funds for relief programs helping children living in extreme poverty in America and Africa.

Other celebrities who plan to appear include the original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, Helena Bonham Carter, Daniel Radcliffe, Teri Hatcher, and Rowan Atkinson.

The show on the 25th will include entertainment by Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Pink, Michael Buble, Annie Lennox, Il Divo and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Viewers will be encouraged to make donations on toll-free lines and the Internet, with the funds being distributed via the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund to Save the Children, UNICEF, and other organizations dealing with poverty, health and education in the U.S. and Africa.

The event is inspired by Red Nose Day, part of the UK’s Comic Relief, which has raised over $800 million in its history of entertainment fundraisers.

Celebrity Kissing Booth

Wed, 17 May 2006 20:51:57 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Supermodel Kate Moss sold a one-minute kiss to wealthy businessman Philip Green for £60,000 ($108,000) at a recent charity auction to benefit the Hoping Foundation.

Choosing not to exercise his kissing rights as winning bidder, Green made the UK popular press’ day by ceding the honours to second highest bidder Jemima Khan, girlfriend of Hugh Grant.

The Hoping Foundation provides grants to community projects working with children in Palestinian refugee camps.

Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend Aims to Raise $500,000

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:33:39 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Over 30 celebrities are expected to attend the Dennis Quaid 2006 Charity Weekend from 4th-7th of May in Austin, Texas, where the actor lives.

Top names such as Hugh Grant, Greg Kinnear and Matthew McConaughey will reportedly be among those aiming to raise $500,000 for local and international children’s charities. Planned events include a celebrity poker challenge, a fashion show, an auction, golf and a benefit concert by Quaid’s band The Sharks.

The Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend has become an annual event since its inauguration in 2003, and has raised $700,000 to date. This year’s event will benefit Any Baby Can, Austin Children’s Shelter, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, and the International Hospital for Children.

Barrymore Raises Funds For Food

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 12:43:50 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Drew Barrymore recently travelled to Kenya in an effort to help some of the 11 million people in East Africa who are suffering from poverty and drought.

Photos the actress took while visiting the affected people of the area were sold in an auction that raised nearly $20,000 for the World Food Programme. One dollar will feed five hungry children for a day. Fellow filmstars Lucy Liu and Hugh Grant were among the winning bidders supporting the cause.

Barrymore has also designed a locket that will be sold through Marie Claire Magazine and on the internet. Some of the proceeds go to feed schoolchildren as a part of Marie Claire’s Shop For Charity World Hunger Campaign.

Look To The Stars News: Hugh Grant

Lap Of Honour To Support British Forces

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