Look To The Stars News: Lou Gossett Jr

LTTS Exclusive: Aviation Angels

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look To The Stars’ Celebrity Ambassador Rachel Zeskind recently had the chance to find out about Aviation Angels, a philanthropic iniative that has a number of celebrity supporters.

What one passionate man and Hollywood can do in the heart of Los Angeles’ most gang riddled areas to make an impact on the community and the future of Compton’s youth is astounding. In fact, it is almost unbelievable that kids who had no escape from gang violence and drugs have found a safe haven, a realistic hope and a new direction for their future by just looking up to the sky.

Founder, Robin Petgrave

Robin Petgrave, a top Hollywood pilot and successful entrepreneur, changed his aeronautical course drastically after re-evaluating his dreams for the future and the future of the next generation. He had achieved the ultimate success; both financially as well as by reaching the top of his field. That’s when he decided to change his mission. Robin said ‘Why don’t I make my business helping these kids’, and that’s exactly what he has done.

He not only created an after school program – Aviation Angels, where kids ranging from 6 to 18 can use computers, learn about aviation, train as pilots, learn healthy community skills, and even have an opportunity to work towards building up a college fund – but also inspired these kids to explore and go after a whole new future, one that would have never been available to them if it weren’t for Robin and his program. Since it’s start, Robin’s program has had four teens set seven world records in aviation.

Aviation Angels

The program’s goal and message is strong and clear: to empower today’s youth. Today’s youth is faced with many hurdles such as gang and domestic violence, and many other types of dangers, which prevent them from reaching their full potential. The Aviation Angels is a group of advocates that want to help bring these children of tomorrow to a higher ground utilizing tools such as Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum and other types of positive programs that will enrich their lives.

The program is partially financed by Robin’s business, Celebrity Helicopters, which captures some of the most intense aerial shots seen on television and in films today. Turning to the Hollywood community for support, a number of celebrities joined forces with Robin to grow the after school program as well as open a museum, Tomorrow’s Aeronautic Museum, which is dedicated to the history of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Celebrities such as Randy Jackson, John Schneider (Dukes Of Hazard), Michael Dorn (Star Trek), Christine Devine (Channel 11 News), Richard Gant (Rocky V, Nutty Professor, NYPD, Smallville), Frank Lozano (Producer, Director, Videographer), Justin Urik (How High), Lou Gossett Jr (Roots, Iron Eagles, The Punisher), Billy Zane (Back To The Future, Orlando, Posse), and Omarosa (Celebrity Apprentice) have pulled together in order to help these programs gain exposure as well as to roll up their sleeves and pitch in by donating their time to inspire these youngsters.

On any given day, not only do the children of Compton and the public in general have access to the museum, but the Tuskegee Airmen themselves who drop by to help carry on their legacy and history to tomorrows generations. The Tuskegee Airmen who are involved in the Tomorrows Aeronautical Museum are Otis Cowley, Levi Thornhill, Lee Archer, Col. Charles McGee, Edward Tillman, Ted Lumpkin, Burton Lowe, Jerry Hodges, Franklin Henderson, Lowell Stewart, Bob Maxwell

The Tuskegee Airmen

Until recently when both the museum and Robin’s program, Aviation Angels, gained some sponsorship from UPS, Southwest Airways and Boeing it was Robin’s own personal sacrifices that kept the lights on and the propellers spinning. Now, little by little, with the support of Hollywood and the Tuskegee Airmen, not only are lives changed everyday but also the program continues to grow despite all the odds.

For more information on Robin, the Tuskegee Airmen, Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum and these programs visit:
www.tamuseum.org
www.obap.org
www.tai.org
www.nbcfae.org

Hollywood Steps Out For World Kidney Day

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

A host of celebrities will come out for World Kidney Day tomorrow to encourage people get blood tests to check for early signs of kidney disease.

Mario Lopez, Hilary Duff, Brooke Burns, Kevin Sorbo, Constance Marie, Deana Carter, Lou Gossett Jr, Courtney Hansen, Eva Tamargo, Stacy Keibler, George Lopez, Phillip Palmer, Andy Garcia and Anthony Anderson are just some of the stars who will attend KEEP It Hollywood on Thursday, March 12.

The National Kidney Foundation of Southern California’s “KEEP It Hollywood” event is a pre-Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) that includes a mini-screening (blood pressure cuff, finger prick & a few health questions asked by some of the best doctors in the country) allowing numerous celebrities and influential community members to take part in the fight against Kidney Disease through early detection, evaluation, and intervention for World Kidney Day.

World Kidney Day is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. The campaign is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of March in more than 100 countries on 6 continents. Celebrity supporters of the campaign include Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Enrique Iglesias, Maria Petrova and many more.

The KEEP It Hollywood event will raise awareness of chronic kidney disease, a condition suffered by over 26 million American adults. To be part of the event, be at Guy’s North in Studio City, California, between 9am and 2pm tomorrow.

Stars To Flock To Purple Inauguration Ball

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Inaugural Purple Ball will take place on the evening of Barack Obama’s inauguration and will feature a host of celebrities raising money for charity.

Patricia Arquette, Amy Brenneman, Ed Harris, Ashley Judd, Josh Lucas, Amy Madigan, Brad Silberling, Kate Walsh, Angela Bassett, John Cusack, Brendan Fraser, David Alan Grier, Herbie Hancock, Hill Harper, Clifton Powell, and Lisa Marie Presley have been confirmed to attend the Ball, which will feature live performances by Il Divo and Peter Cincotti.

A portion of the proceeds from The Inaugural Purple Ball will benefit the Eracism Foundation, a charity established in 2006 by Academy Award Winner Lou Gossett Jr that aims to better society by addressing the negative impacts of racism. The organization provides programs that foster cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education, and antiviolence initiatives in an effort to eradicate racism. The evening will also honor American troops stationed overseas.

Tickets to the event are $5,000 and are available at the Inaugural Purple Ball website.

"Cover" Story by Bill Duke

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:13:18 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

Actor/director Bill Duke’s film Cover held one of the two coveted spots for closing night film at the close of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Los Angeles. Members of the audience were in awe by the dramatic unfolding of a story which sheds light on the issue of “down low” behavior and the alarming consequences which add up to African American women accounting for up to 70% of all new HIV/Aids cases.

What is “down low”? It is a street term which refers to the secret sexual infidelity on the part of a husband or boyfriend with a man/woman. Usually, the man learns that he has the disease and withholds the truth. Duke implores men to be honest.

The film seeks to save lives with its message. I asked Bill to elaborate on the main message that he hopes to send with his film. He replied emphatically with reference to percentages of Black women contracting AIDS, “For 80% of the women that are infected to be infected by men that know they have the disease something is wrong!” He prefaced the statement with addressing the issue as tragic.

Duke describes the film as a murder mystery yet it is so much more. The film is a masterful blend faith, tolerance and intolerance. It demonstrates the ripple effect of lies, and cautions for safe sex if one knows they are going to cheat. The cast of stars on board for this film project include Oscar winner Lou Gossett Jr, Patti LaBelle, Vivica Fox, Leon, Razaaq Adoti and Aunjanue Ellis. For more information about how to view the film entitled Cover, contact the American Black Film Festival.

Look To The Stars News: Lou Gossett Jr

LTTS Exclusive: Aviation Angels

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