Look To The Stars News: Jennifer Tilly

Jordin Sparks And Kris Allen To Headline Celebrity Charity Mint Jubilee

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Former American Idol contestants Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen will be headline performers at this year’s annual Mint Jubilee hosted by Bob Costas.

Celebrity guests such as Julie Benz, Jamie Kennedy, Audrina Patridge, Jennifer Tilly, Betsey Johnson, Illeana Douglas, Fred Thompson, Vicki Gunvalson, Linda Davis, Nole Martin, Phil Laak and many others will attend the charity event.

Kentucky Derby weekend will kick-off in high style as Louisville and Hollywood collide for the annual Mint Jubilee celebration the night before the Kentucky Derby. One of the world’s premiere charity events, the Mint Jubilee has helped raise millions of dollars for cancer research and treatment since 1996. The black-tie event will be hosted by Mint Jubilee co-founders Matt Battaglia, Chris Thieneman and Tom Thieneman along with legendary sportscaster Bob Costas. The evening will include a cocktail reception, gala dinner and exciting live musical performances from “American Idol” winners Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen.

Celebrities To Play Charity Poker In LA This Weekend

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A bunch of celebs and famous faces will head to LA this weekend for a charity poker tournament at the Commerce Casino.

The World Poker Tour’s Celebrity Invitational will feature over 100 stars of screen and poker, including Marlon Wayans, Eric Dane, Hank Azaria, Teri Hatcher, Jesse Metcalfe, Michael Vartan, Matt Lillard, Billy Burke, Zachary Quinto, Willie Garson, Benji Madden, Ricki Lake, Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Tilly and many more.

The tournament will hit Los Angeles on February 20-21, and proceeds will benefit Chrysalis, a charity dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities. It currently helps more than 2,000 individuals a year change their lives through jobs.

Jennifer Tilly Hosts All-Star Charity Poker

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

The 2nd Annual All In for ‘Cerebral Palsy’ Celebrity Poker Tournament took place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas last weekend, where a host of celebrities gathered to play Texas Hold ’Em and raise money for the One Step Closer Foundation.

Hosted by Jennifer Tilly, the event attracted actors Dean Cain, Shannon Elizabeth, Glenn Morshower and TV personality Montel Williams, as well as Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, Napster creator Shawn Fanning and poker professionals Jamie Gold, Barry Greenstein, Pam and Todd Brunson, and Phil Laak among many others.

The tournament, created by Jacob Zalewski, aims to help those who, like himself, suffer from Cerebral Palsy.

Celebrities Take A Gamble On Charity

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Over 430 celebrities, VIPs and poker superstars went toe to toe last weekend in the 7th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational poker tournament at Commerce Casino to benefit charity partner, The Vine Group USA (TVG).

In the end, professional player Freedy Deeb bested actor Nicholas Gonzales at the final table to win the event, then donated $34,000 from his first place prize to the charity, bringing the total funds raised for the non-profit organization to more than $112,000.

“This event has become the most popular on the poker circuit, and this year’s record field shows it,” said John Griffo, Director of Poker Operations at Commerce Casino. “Everyone loved that they were able to play while giving back. We look forward to making this an even bigger and better element in years to come.”

The Chips Are Up For Africa

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:30:00 +0000

The Second Annual ‘Ante Up for Africa’ poker tournament was held on July 2nd in Las Vegas, and drew an impressive field of poker pro’s, celebrities and athletes – all of who helped make the event a success by raising over $400,000 for charity.

The event, co-hosted by humanitarian/actor Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke, is already having a positive impact in Darfur – notably in reference to a UN Security Council vote authorizing a peacekeeping force in the area. “It wouldn’t have taken place [without us],” said Cheadle.

“It’s just great to see everybody,” Cheadle said as the event began.

Montel Williams Steadfast In Battle Against MS

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Earlier this month, Montel Williams took over the Golden Nuggets’ newly renovated pavilion in Las Vegas to host his charity poker tournament to benefit the Montel Williams MS Foundation.

60 players donated $1,080 each to play the charity event, including noted poker professionals Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak, Jamie Gold, Marsha Waggoner and Robert Williamson III. John Colville, Poker Operations Manager, also presented a generous donation of $25,000 to the MS Foundation.

The Montel Williams MS Foundation directs its research towards new treatments and ways to make them available to everyone. Montel said, “I’m going to keep on having these fundraisers until a cure is found. Technology is advancing and so are the treatments. One day a cure is going to happen!”

Stars Take A Gamble At Charity Poker Tournament

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:01:58 +0000

Look To The Stars reporter Delinda Lombardo recently attended the star-studded World Poker Tour Invitational in Los Angeles and caught up with some of the celebrities involved.

On March 1-3, celebrities and poker professionals hit the felt for the 6th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. More than 100 celebrities were invited to compete for a seat in the WPT Championships while raising money for charity, including a side pot worth nearly $30,000 that went entirely to charity in the names of the final 13 celebrities in the field. The three title charities of the event, guaranteed to receive at least $2,500 each, were Soles United, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Harbor Private Funds.

Poker professionals, including Phil Laak, Shawn Sheikhan, Allen Kessler, Kathy Liebert, Jennifer Tilly, Billy Baxter, David Pham, Kenny Tran, and Antonio Esfandiari (who was just named the official spokesperson for the WPT) flocked to the highly successful event, which is now in its sixth year.

Coffee and Cookies to Cure Cancer

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:28:19 +0000

Nonni’s Biscotti, maker of traditional Italian biscotti, has taken up cause with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. Nonni’s will auction over 50 coffee mugs, each autographed by a different celebrity, and donate the total proceeds to Komen for the Cure.

Celebrities such as Andie MacDowell, Mimi Rogers, Jennifer Tilly, Montel Williams, James Woods, Sacha Baron Cohen and Lil’ Kim have given their signatures to the mugs for auction. Now, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the eBay Giving Works site has posted the auction items.

Nancy Brinker created Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of her dying sister’s wish to speed up research and, meanwhile, make the treatment process a little more esthetic and feminine friendly. A global breast cancer movement was launched, “fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.”