Look To The Stars News: Joel Madden

Stars Come Out For March Of Dimes

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Halle Berry and Nicole Richie were among the stars at the March Of Dimes’ Fourth Annual Celebration of Babies luncheon.

The event recognizes prominent individuals who are celebrating the birth of their children, and who are role models for March of Dimes commitment to improve the health of babies.

As part of the March of Dimes November Prematurity Awareness Month campaign, celebrities and special guests were urged to join the fight for preemies!

Held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, the Celebration of Babies luncheon honored Dr. Robert Katz M.D., obstetrician to the stars, with the Golden Rattle Award for his commitment to the March of Dimes mission. The March of Dimes Community Award was presented to Donna Holloran, MSW; Allison LaTona, MFT; and Shelley Reicher-Lawrence, CPE of BABYGROUP.

The event also highlighted March of Dimes Stork Club: a group of celebrities and prominent individuals who have welcomed a baby or who are expecting a baby in 2009. This year’s Stork Club, sponsored by Stride Rite, includes: Actor Hank Azaria & Katie Wright, Actress Julie Bowen & Scott Phillips, Musician Howie Dorough & Leigh Dorough, Marketing Director Mitchell Davis & Clare Davis, Lucky Magazine W. Coast Bureau Chief Marlien Rentmeester & John Phelps, Actress/Producer Nicole Richie & Singer Joel Madden, Actress Nicole Sullivan & Actor Jason Packham, Producer Jennifer Todd & Actor Chris Messina. March of Dimes celebrity volunteer parents who also attended the luncheon were Julie Bowen, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Kellie Martin, Elisabeth Rohm, Nicole Sullivan, Alimi Ballard, and Sean Patrick Thomas

 More than 300 guests were greeted with a luxury boutique shopping experience, which included the finest selection of designer clothes, accessories and gifts from vendors: Homemade Baby, Mustela, Heather Moore Jewelry, Bella Inspired, Terri Michele Fragrances, Dr. Peter’s Child Identity Kit, Petit Bijou by Garcelle, Tough Cookies Boutique, Baby Eggi, The Silly Wagon and Dr. Fresh. Fundraising continued with a live and silent auction where guests bid on lavish gifts and luxurious vacations donated by the event’s committee volunteers. News anchor Lauren Sanchez hosted the luncheon program and auction.

Through research, education, advocacy and community programs, the March of Dimes is a champion for the health of all babies. For more than 70 years the March of Dimes has enjoyed a rich history of Hollywood celebrity support. Stars like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and many others have volunteered for March of Dimes lifesaving campaigns. Proceeds from the Los Angeles Celebration of Babies luncheon benefit March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. November is Prematurity Awareness Month, when the March of Dimes calls on everyone who cares about babies to “Fight for Preemies.” Premature birth, the leading cause of newborn death, has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., affecting more than half a million babies each year. Hollywood moms and dads are joining March of Dimes to celebrate their healthy babies and raise funds to ensure all babies have a healthy start. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

To view video clips from this event, click here.

LTTS Exclusive - The 2009 Noble Awards

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

I had the honor of attending “The Noble Awards” on their first annual show honoring charities and their celebrity supporters.

On Sunday, October 18th at The Beverly Hilton, “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush hosted the premiere of this special event honoring Morgan Freeman with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a list of celebrity honorees from Brett Ratner to Teri Hatcher.

Guests were treated to live performances from names like Brian McKnight and Benji Madden and the famed 8-year-old piano prodigy, Emily Bear. The night was supported with a star-studded cast of performers, honorees and guests that all believe in using the power of their voice in the name of philanthropy and charity. No detail was too small for this event. The award sculpture itself was the vision of Antonio Banderas and came to life at The Art of Elysium workshop with personal touches from the children at the Shriners Hospitals for Children with the guidance of The Art of Elysium volunteer/actor/sculptor David Grieco.

The Noble Awards was an inaugural awards show that launched the beginning of a perennial movement that will encourage each and every person to give back and take action in the world today.

Each year they will recognize and honor philanthropic organizations and the celebrities that make considerable contributions to them. Some of this year honorees included Nancy O’Dell for Best Buddies International, AnnaLynne McCord for The Blind Project, Teri Hatcher for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Brett Ratner for DoSomething.org, Billy Bush for Lollipop Theater Network, Whitney Burditt for Playing for Change, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds for Stand Up To Cancer, Laila Ali for Women’s Sport Foundation and a charity very close to my heart, The Art of Elysium honoring Joel Madden.

Jennifer Howell, Founder of The Art of Elysium, presented this award to Joel Madden with Lionel Richie, Allison Beck and Stacey Price: “As both an artist and a father, Joel truly embodies a sincere passion for both music and children. It was evident in his beautiful and humble acceptance speech where he expressed his heartbreak at the thought of a child spending one second inside of a hospital. A moment that was also extremely moving was when his twin brother [”Benji":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1901-benji-madden] (who has spent many days with The Art of Elysium teaching guitar and participating in music workshops) shared his love for his brother with a music dedication. Nicole Richie (who has also dedicated her talents to the charity) looked on lovingly while her Father introduced Joel and thanked him for loving his daughter so much. The love, support and generosity that was shown by all members of Joel’s family are the true roots that can help take The Art of Elysium’s mission to every child that spends that terrifying one second in a hospital."

I was lucky enough to experience the vision of the Founder/Executive Producer, Janeen Mansour, prior to the event and watch it develop from an idea to a reality.

“The goal of the Noble Awards was to highlight the charities there that night and celebrities that champion them,” she said. “Our goal reached far beyond my expectations. The purpose of the Noble Awards is to create awareness and send out a call to action. I feel everyone in the room was inspired and moved and understood the message we were trying to convey. That message is to be a Noble.”

The Noble Awards are a testament to what Hollywood can achieve when it uses its voice to celebrate positive change. This event showcased just a few of the many celebrities and individuals dedicated to making a difference in the world today. It is my hope that it will serve as an inspiration to others to get involved in their charity, community or cause that has meaning to them. Being a volunteer takes less time than your yoga class and can cost you less money than your Latte. But the experience will stay with you a lifetime.

To the children, the volunteers, the unnamed angels, the celebrities, the founders, the team behind this event and to all of the people that donate their time and passion to making a difference on a daily basis, this celebrates you.

Inaugural Noble Awards Celebrate Hollywood Philanthropy

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Look To The Stars was proud to be part of the inaugural Noble Awards on Sunday, October 18 – an event that honored a host of charities and the celebrities that support them, elevating awareness of the significant impact of their work.

Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the event honored Morgan Freeman with a lifetime achievement award, as well as Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org).

Lionel Richie was on hand during the ceremony to present an award to Joel Madden, who attended the event with Nicole Richie and his brother Benji.

“I want to welcome him to our family and present this Noble award to a guy I love very much – Joel Madden!” said Lionel as he introduced Joel to the crowd.

“They are just as much a part of it,” said Madden, paying tribute to Nicole and Benji. “Nicole does just as much as I do with Art of Elysium and all the charities we work with. And so does Benj – Benj actually does more then I do, and he plays the guitar better then I do, so he is a little more entertaining for the kids.”

Madden later Twittered about the emotions he felt as he accepted his award: “Just left the NOBLE awards. Got an award that was really for the people at the Art of Elysium. Awesome folks and I’m humbled to know them. By the way got totally choked up when I got my award. I hate thinking about kids in the hospital, they should be getting the awards not us.”

The award itself was designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Morgan Freeman received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“I think so often we don’t know that our gestures matter,” said Teri Hatcher, who was also honored. “I think when you get involved in your local community charity you really do see you make a difference and it’s empowering for you.”

Look To The Stars was at the awards, and we will bring you more about the fantastic event over the coming days.

Look To The Stars Helps Promote Hollywood Philanthropy At Noble Awards

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Look to the Stars is pleased to announce that we will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

The inaugural Noble Awards, taking place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 18, has announced five new award honorees. The Blind Project, The Lollipop Theater Network, Padres Contra el Cancer and Playing for Change will be honored along with six previously announced charities. In addition, Morgan Freeman will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The two-hour event, hosted by “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush, seeks to annually honor up to a dozen charities and celebrities who actively support them, elevating awareness of these organizations and the significant impact of their work.

Celebrities who will accept awards on behalf of the charities being honored include Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org). During the ceremony, each will be presented with an award sculpture, designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Brian McKnight and Julio Iglesias, Jr., along with Emily Bear and Timothy Mitchum will provide live musical performances throughout the evening.

“We are delighted to present these eleven distinguished charities and their celebrity supporters with the inaugural Noble Award,” stated Janeen Mansour, creator and executive producer of The Noble Awards. “With the presentation of The Noble Awards, our goal is to turn the spotlight back onto these celebrities and charities to provide recognition, to educate, to inspire, and to encourage even more support from the Hollywood community and the public at large.”

Morgan Freeman will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“The Entertainment Industry Foundation is pleased to be a part of the inaugural Noble Awards,” said Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of Entertainment Industry Foundation. “We are honored and so proud to present our dear friend and exceptional actor Morgan Freeman with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding charitable work and ongoing contributions to so many important social causes.”

The Noble Awards will kick off the “Be A Noble” Movement, a perennial effort to encourage each and every person to “Be A Noble,” and inspire them to give back and take action with a purpose on a global scale. Some of these initiatives include:

Look to the Stars will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

As part of next year’s Cup with a Cause program, 7-Eleven, in collaboration with The Noble Awards, will produce a series of celebrity-designed coffee cups featured in stores nationwide. A minimum of $250,000 will go towards each participating celebrity’s charity of choice. During The Noble Awards’ cocktail hour, guests will be asked to design cups as part of the program.

Participant Media and Takepart.com, the official “action” platform for the Awards, have partnered with the “Be A Noble” Movement to provide the Foundation with a web platform to showcase the work of all the organizations they are honoring throughout the year.

ONEHOPE Wine has bottled an award-winning varietal of wine to be labeled “NOBLE.” 100% of all proceeds from each bottle will go towards the “Be A Noble” Movement, to be distributed among the honored charities.

Rumblefish Jewelry will design a jewelry line based on The Noble Awards and “Be A Noble” Movement, where a percentage of sales will be donated to Noble charities.

Additional partners include EIF/iParticipate, The Hollywood Reporter, Audi, Beverly Hilton, Mobile Cause, Rosenthal and GoodSearch.

As the film industry has the Oscars, television the Emmys and the music industry the Grammy Awards, the charity community and its most dedicated Hollywood supporters will gain global recognition with the staging of The Noble Awards. Produced on behalf of the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit organization, the first annual awards will take place on October 18, 2009. The Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation will launch a year-round movement to BE A NOBLE to better unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, influencers, media and everyday citizens in order to create an effective forum for change and service. For more information, please visit www.thenobleawards.org.

Friends Stars Revive Smelly Cat For Charity

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of the long-running TV show Friends were in for a treat earlier this week when two of the sitcom’s stars performed “Smelly Cat” at a charity concert to raise money for Feeding America.

Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow were onstage at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 29, to announce Sheryl Crow, who was performing at the Rock a Little, Feed a Lot concert. But when the audience started calling out for the Smelly Cat song – a classic ditty sung regularly by Phoebe (Kudrow) in the show – the two stars couldn’t resist.

The concert – which also featured Ben Harper, Benji and Joel Madden and many others – aimed help raise awareness and funds for the 35 million people who are at risk of hunger in America.

“It is so important for everyone across the country to dare to be conscious and aware of the struggles of those around them—even if those struggles are not the same as their own. Feeding America does just that, and it’s a great privilege for me to unite with them in their cause,” said Sheryl Crow.

“Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” is one of many initiatives in the works for Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month and benefited both Feeding America and its local member, the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.

To watch a video of Lisa Kudrow singing Smelly Cat at the concert, click here.

Noble Awards Set To Honor Celebrity Humanitarians

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

As the film industry has the Oscars, television the Emmys and the music industry the Grammy Awards, the charity community and its most dedicated Hollywood supporters will gain global recognition with the staging of the inaugural Noble Humanitarian Awards, to take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 18. And Look To The Stars is proud to support it.

The two-hour event, produced on behalf of the non-profit Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, seeks to annually honor up to a dozen charities and celebrities who actively support them, elevating awareness of these organizations and the impact of their work.

The organizations to be honored at this first-annual ceremony include The Art of Elysium, Best Buddies International, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, DoSomething.org, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Keep A Child Alive, The Salvation Army, Stand Up To Cancer and Women’s Sports Foundation.

Celebrities who will accept awards on behalf of the charities being honored include Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Jessica Biel (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Alicia Keys (Keep A Child Alive), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org), with others currently being confirmed. During the ceremony, each will be presented with the trophy award, designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Other performers and presenters will be announced closer to the event.

With nearly two decades of experience across entertainment, fashion and charitable projects, Janeen Mansour is creator and executive producer of the Noble Humanitarian Awards. Mansour, who has interviewed many celebrities, was inspired to create a dedicated award show for the charity community after interviewing the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and learning about her significant charitable work.

“Celebrities have long given their time to charity, championing causes they feel passionate about. Their support draws media coverage, and organizations benefit. With the Noble Awards, we aim to turn the spotlight back onto these celebrities and charities in an effort to provide recognition, to educate, to inspire, and to encourage even more support from the Hollywood community and the public at large. It’s an annual celebration of service and volunteerism,” explains Mansour.

A team of entertainment veterans join Mansour in producing the Noble Humanitarian Awards. They include Ziad Batal (Executive Producer), founder of All 4 Media, one of the most prominent film and television production companies and creator and producer of dozens of reality, talk and sports programs in the Middle East; Michael Seligman (Producer), President & CEO of Seligman Entertainment, Inc, whose 35 years of work includes the Oscars, the Emmy’s, AFI’s, Kennedy Center Honors and Stand Up To Cancer; Tisha Fein (Producer), whose three-decade experience includes the Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, World Music Awards, Fashion Rocks, Movies Rock and Stand Up to Cancer.

The Noble Humanitarian Awards are produced on behalf of the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit organization. With the staging of the first annual awards on October 18, 2009, the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation will launch a year-round campaign to better unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, influencers, media and everyday citizens in order to create an effective forum for change and service. For more information, please visit www.thenobleawards.org.

Stars Gather For Brent Shapiro Foundation Event

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug and Alcohol Awareness will hold a star-studded benefit in Hollywood tomorrow night, September 12.

The private party at an undisclosed residence will be attended by many of the celebrity supporters of the charity, including Larry King, Jessica Alba, Sean Combs, Denzel Washington, Barry Bonds, Rod Stewart, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Lindsay Lohan, Brody Jenner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Karina Smirnoff, Lionel Richie, Sylvester Stallone, Brent Bolthouse, Danny Masterson, Adrian Grenier, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, Bruce and Kris Jenner, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Cheryl Tiegs, Jayde Nicole, Jacquelyn Smith, Nicky Hilton, Carolina Bacardi, Esai Morales, Ashley Hamilton and many others.

Brent Shapiro was the son of Robert Shapiro, who was an attorney on OJ Simpson’s defense team in 1995. Brent – who had battled with addictions most of his life – died in 2005 at the age of 25. It is the vision of the Brent Shapiro Foundation to fight the stigma of addictions through education, and help parents communicate with their children on addiction issues.

To find out more about the organization, visit the official website.

Crow, Harper, Madden and Lang Will Rock a Little, Feed a Lot

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:44:00 -0000

Feeding America has announced that Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte and Jonny Lang will all perform at their “Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” concert.

The concert will take place on Tuesday, September 29th at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, to help raise awareness and funds for the 35 million people who are at risk of hunger in America. Tickets for “Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

Celebs confirmed to be a part of the event include David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and others. Adam Shankman, producer and director of “Step Up,” “Hairspray,” “Bringing Down the House,” and “17 Again” is directing the event. Proceeds of the concert will go to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank and Feeding America.

“Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” is one of many initiatives in the works for Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month and will benefit both Feeding America and its local member, the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. Hunger Action Month, formed to help those in need, bloomed from a day of service into a month-long campaign as the economy has taken a turn for the worse and the demand for food assistance has increased.

“Many Americans are unaware of the great demand for food assistance throughout the country. The need for food assistance nationwide has increased 30 percent throughout the last year and in many communities the increase is much higher,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “We are excited to team up with so many talented artists to shed light on Hunger Action Month and the issue of hunger in America.”

“We are so grateful for the generous support of these artists — and residents of Los Angeles — for their time and efforts to raise awareness about hunger in America,” said Michael Flood, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. “The agencies we serve are experiencing unprecedented demand for food assistance and this event will help shine the bright spotlight of the entertainment community on the issue of hunger in America.”

To take part or learn what is going on in your community during Hunger Action Month, please visit: www.FeedingAmerica.org

About the Los Angeles Area Foodbank
The Los Angeles Regional Foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 1973 and is one of the largest food banks in the United States. Through a network of 900 charitable agency sites, the Foodbank distributes more than 1 million pounds of food every week in Los Angeles County. The Foodbank is affiliated with Feeding America. For more information, visit www.lafoodbank.org.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Our mission is to feed hungry Americans through a nationwide network of 205 food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. Each year Feeding America provides food assistance to more than 25 million people, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors, distributing more than 2 billion pounds of donated food annually. The Feeding America network supports approximately 63,000 local agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafes and Backpack Programs.

Celebrities Raise Hope For Congo

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Linda St Cyr

Selena Gomez, star of Disney Channels Wizards of Waverly Place, is busy with many other stars in the hope of raising awareness for the Congo. They are doing so through charity events and fundraising efforts for RAISE Hope For Congo.

RAISE Hope For Congo is hoping to raise awareness about the violence perpetuated against Congolese women, increase news coverage and protect and empower women in the Congo.

Selena Gomez is just one of the many stars becoming an activist for RAISE Hope. Robin Wright Penn is another activist for RAISE Hope. Her moving letter is printed on RAISE’s website and details why she involved herself in the campaign to end the violence against Congolese women and girls. Other stars who have become activists include Mia Farrow, Emile Hirsch, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Javier Bardem, Joel Madden and many more.

RAISE Hope For Congo wants to raise awareness but would also like to wipe out sexual violence, torture and other atrocities by using the 4P method; Peace, Protection, Punishment and Prevention. This is the four ingredients needed to stop the massive violence happening in the Domestic Republic of the Congo.

The motto of RAISE Hope For Congo – which is an initiative of the ENOUGH Project – is “Enough is Enough! Congo is not hopeless. There are solutions. Together, we can stop the violence. Where there is hope there can be peace.”

Joel Madden And Rosario Dawson Pen Charity Articles

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Joel Madden and Rosario Dawson have put pen to paper and authored articles for the latest issue of Los Angeles Confidential magazine about the causes they support.

Rosario Dawson is a board member of V-Day, a non-profit devoted to ending violence against girls and women. In Los Angeles Confidential she opens up about the abuse taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as soldiers work to destroy and take over communities in order to obtain rich natural resources—the same resources being used to manufacture cell phones, ipods, etc. Dawson hopes to provide awareness “about these atrocities” in order to “pressure our electronic provides into buying only ‘conflict free’ products.”

“At the Panzi Hospital in the city of Bukavu in the DRC, Dr Denis Mukwege sews up a dozen women and girls every day, some of whom have walked 40 miles to reach him,” wrote Dawson. "Many patients need several surgeries and years to recover – if they ever do… Please join me and take action. Let’s reclaim the mantra “women and children first,” and protect Africa’s truest and greatest resource. Help these women and girls heal their wounds. Together, we can stop this violence and make change happen."

Joel Madden talks about the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation and how he hopes to impact not only his own children but those around the world and “hopes to give these children the opportunity to dream along with us.”

“In the two years since we launched the foundation, [”Nicole":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/903-nicole-richie] and I both feel we’ve gained more than we’ve given. The children we’ve met all over the world have touched us in ways money can’t buy. From neighborhoods in Los Angeles and villages in Africa to an orphanage in Russia, these children have become dear to our hearts and as important to us as our own children."

Los Angeles Confidential is available now.

Stars To Attend Charity Sports Spectacular

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:30:00 -0000

The 24th annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular is to take place in LA this Sunday, June 7.

This year’s honorees are Laila Ali, Ryan Sheckler and Dwayne Wade, and celebrities expected to attend include Snoop Dogg, Joel Madden, Tom Arnold and many more.

The Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular has been heralded by the Los Angeles Times as the premier sports awards dinner in the country. This exciting charity event was established in 1986 in response to the promise of genetic research leading to the understanding of numerous genetic diseases found in children as well as adults.

The Sports Spectacular has provided over $18 million to benefit the life-saving work of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute. The Institute’s focus is to provide expert consultation and cutting edge research to find new and improved methods of diagnosis, prevention and treatment for all types of genetic disorders, including mental retardation, dwarfism, cystic fibrosis, deafness and malformation syndromes, as well as common diseases of adulthood, such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. The event also benefits the Sports Spectacular Fellowship Endowment, which supports the training of five research Fellows in various medical fields at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

One night each year, the Sports Spectacular brings together a sold-out audience of over 1800 guests, including executives from the investment banking, entertainment, legal, and sports communities, with over 80 world-class athletes. It is a time for these athletes to pay tribute to their communities, fans and to all those who suffer from a genetic birth disorder. Together, the table patrons and athletes enjoy an exclusive silent auction followed by a moving awards ceremony in tribute to the event’s chosen honorees. In its 23 year history, the Sports Spectacular has honored some of the most prestigious athletes including Muhammad Ali, Kobe Bryant, Barry Bonds, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, Joe DiMaggio, Tony Hawk, Emmitt Smith, Marcus Allen, Wilt Chamberlain, Joe Montana, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Lisa Leslie, Willie Shoemaker and many more.

To find out more about this event – to be held at The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel & Spa – click here.

Stars To Hit The Tables For Ante Up For Africa

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

PokerStars is proud to be hosting the first Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) Europe charity poker tournament, being held as part of the EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final tonight, April 27.

The event has attracted a star-studded field of celebrities and pro players, all helping to raise money and awareness for the crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

Confirmed celebrities include: Nelly, Boris Becker, Jason Lewis, Benji and Joel Madden, ‘Heroes’ star James Kyson Lee, boxer Vladimir Klitschko, Christina Milian, The Dream, Daniel Negreanu and Joe Hachem.

The tournament will take place April 27, the day before the start of the Grand Final. All prize money will be donated to Not On Our Watch and the ENOUGH Project – both of which provide valuable aid and assistance for victims of the Darfur crisis.

More info available at PokerStars.com.

Stars Call On Their Heroes To Join Rally

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden has joined a video campaign organized by the Invisible Children organization to raise awareness of The Rescue, a global rally that takes place on 25 April.

The campaign allows people to upload videos to YouTube and call on their role models to take part in the rally, which aims at drawing attention to the issue of kidnapped child fighters in Uganda and the Congo.

“Of all the people that I could think of, I thought Emile Hirsch,” said Madden in his video. “He actually really cares about Africa. He means it.”

Madden joins a host of stars who are lending their support to the rally, which will feature events in over 100 cities around the world. Kirsten Dunst and Kristen Bell are both due to appear in events in LA, while Ryan Gosling will appear in New York and Peter Wentz is due to take part in Washington DC.

To find out about events near you or to upload your own video, visit the Rescue IC website. Or to view videos made by Madden, Kristen Bell and others, click here.

Nicole Richie Donates Clothes To Help Others In Fashion And Life

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

Ever want to deck your baby out in designer duds? Now is your chance, courtesy of Nicole Richie.

Nicole has donated some of her daughter’s hand-me-downs to the charity handmedowns.com. Some of the items your child could soon own include a Richie signed Maclaren Lacoste stroller, a Ralph Lauren romper, a rainbow striped cashmere sweater and infant moccasins.

The auction runs through Friday April 17. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation.

Nicole Richie is well known in the charity spectrum. She created The Richie Madden Children’s Foundation with her boyfriend Joel Madden. The Foundation works in union with the Los Angeles Free Clinic to provide support to disadvantaged families. Richie is also a supporter of UNICEF.

Nicole Richie And Joel Madden Write Charity

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Nicole Richie has launched her official website and included a few words about why she started the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation.

“Joel and I always say we feel so blessed to live the life we live. We also realize that Harlow is blessed to get to live a life about one percent of all the children in the world get to live,” she writes on the site, launched this weekend. “We think it’s so important that every child has the opportunity to experience the absolute best in health care and education. And that’s why we started Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation. We got to thinking about all of these issues when I was pregnant with Harlow, when we launched the foundation. Joel travels all over the world, including Africa, for the organization. For the past two years, I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding, so I tend to stay closer to home. However, I did take a magical and moving trip to Moscow, Russia, about which I will write more soon! Whenever we decide on a new project or endeavor, Joel and I pick the things that our closest to our hearts.”

The statement coincides with the work Richie’s partner, Joel Madden, is currently doing to raise awareness of UNICEF’s Tap Project.

“Did you know that nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water?,” he wrote in a statement. "That’s 4,200 children dying, every single day, from waterborne disease. As a UNICEF Ambassador and Tap Project spokesperson, I am committed to helping UNICEF get that number down to zero. I want to encourage everyone to do your part during World Water Week, March 22-28, 2009 to help UNICEF put an end to the preventable deaths of children due to a lack of clean water.

“I’m going to be spreading the word throughout World Water Week on Larry King Live, People Magazine, E! News and more to let everyone know why the Tap Project is such an important lifesaving campaign. Just $1 provides a child with safe drinking water for 40 days! All you have to do is find a participating restaurant online at tapproject.org, dine out during World Water Week, and pay $1 or more for the tap water you usually enjoy for free. Every single dollar raised supports UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene programs. Even if you can’t dine out, you can still donate online at tapproject.org or text the word TAP to 864233 (UNICEF) to make a $5 donation.”

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.”

Each year, Commerce Casino puts up a $200,000 prize pool for participants to win. This year, WPT and Commerce Casino added a new twist by allowing players to “re-buy,” or make a donation to The Vine Group USA and receive additional chips to keep playing and increase their chances of winning a piece of the prize pool. The new element was a hit, with almost 90 percent of the field opting to participate. One hundred percent of the re-buy proceeds will help provide scholarships, textbooks, and technological equipment to academic institutions in various English-speaking countries in Africa.

“This is huge,” said Mekhi Phifer, Chairman of The Vine Group USA. “The funds raised will allow us to complete the Mekhi Phifer Research Center we are currently building in Nigeria, which will service more than 100,000 students as well as neighboring universities. Our goal is to save millions lives by providing the tools for education and the ability to build a future full of possibilities.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled about the positive impact this will have,” said Steve Lipscomb, WPT Founder, President and CEO. “To be able to give back in times like these is a very good feeling, and what makes it even more exciting is that it was the collaborative effort of hundreds of people who learned about an important cause while having fun and playing the game they love.”

Don Cheadle, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Nicky Hilton, Jon Hamm, Michael Vartan, Jennifer Tilly, Oliver Hudson, Danny Masterson, Camryn Manheim, supermodel Helena Houdova, Jose Canseco, Ricki Lake, Marlon Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, Tia Carrere, Lou Diamond Philips, Vanessa Branch and Shanna Moekler were among the many celebrities at the tables trying their hand against poker pros like Mike Matusow, Mike Sexton, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Chip Jett, Andy Bloch, Gavin Smith, Jaime Gold and Erik Seidel.

The WPT Invitational will air in two-part one-hour episodes on Fox Sports Net May 24 and May 31. Check your local listings or visit www.worldpokertour.com for more information.

The Vine Group USA is a non-profit organization established in 2000 to provide educational resources to tertiary institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa in order to alleviate poverty and help in building a workforce necessary for a sustainable economic development.

Stars Come Out For The Congo

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

On Wednesday, February 18, the stars came out to join Children Mending Hearts for an event honoring International Medical Corps for their dedication in supporting the women and children victimized by war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The event was hosted by writer/producer Grant Heslov – of “Good Night and Good Luck” – and his wife Lysa at the House of Blues on Sunset Blvd. With Oscar week at a fever pitch, the A-list crowd was in town to support a good cause and listen to the musical styling of Sheryl Crow. Anderson Cooper was also honored for his work

In attendance for the event were Alyssa Milano – looking stunning in red satin – Ben Affleck, Joel Madden, Hank Azaria and many others.

When asked about his show of support for the event, Affleck replied: “I am involved because I spent some time with the international medical corps in the refugee camps they work in Goma and North Kebo which is in the Eastern Congo as well as a little bit in Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan. I got a chance to see what their work was like…I have personally seen them save lives and I was so struck by it that the least I could do was come to a party.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered 20 years of continuous fighting which has led to an estimated 5.4 million deaths. Lysa Heslov, has personally traveled the DR Congo in January of 2009. She filmed her efforts to raise awareness.

While on the red carpet, actor Hank Azaria admitted that events like this one help to raise awareness for him.

Actress Andie MacDowell was also in attendance and shared her thoughts with The Associated Press: “I want to participate in education and teaching people about what’s happening in the Congo, because I think unfortunately we don’t know. And I think knowledge is everything and once people understand what’s happening and start voicing their opinions about what’s happening – to women particularly in the Congo, about all these women being raped – we can make a change. People are powerful.”

Charlie Sheen To Hold Charity Baby Shower

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Charlie Sheen and his wife, Brooke, will hold a baby shower this weekend and donate many of the gifts to charity.

The couple is expecting twin boys in April, and told People.com about their decision to donate the gifts.

“I am invited,” said Sheen. “Apparently, I don’t have to do anything, just show up and collect gifts. But there will be more stuff that goes to charity. People that don’t need it get the most stuff, and that’s what’s wrong with the world.”

They are not the first celebrity couple to hold a charity baby shower. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden did a similar thing before the birth of their baby in 2007.

Nicole And Joel Take Kids For A Ride At Magic Mountain

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity couple Nicole Richie and Joel Madden kicked off the new year on Saturday, January 3, with a special party for children from the Beyond Shelter organization.

The pair had fun with their young fans at California’s Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, joining them for rides and much more.

Beyond Shelter is a non-profit organization that provides permanent housing and support services for homeless families with children. Richie and Madden raised money for the organization in September last year through a texting initiative that collected $10,000 for a new playground. Their Richie Madden Children’s Foundation is also active in raising cash for Beyond Shelter.

Celebrities Blog In The New Year For UNICEF

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

For the final 12 days of 2008, UNICEF’s celebrity ambassadors and supporters have been blogging on their site about the impact UNICEF Inspired Gifts are having on children around the world.

“Thanks to lifesaving vaccines, measles is mostly history in our country,” wrote Al Roker. "But in working with UNICEF, I was shocked to learn that this terrible disease still affects hundreds of thousands of children every year. In fact, it steals the future of 540 children around the world every day.

“Not one child should die needlessly, and UNICEF is giving us a chance to help those remaining few whose lives could be saved with simple vaccines. For just $26.30, you can give the gift of health to children in need, providing 100 doses of anti-measles vaccination. This year, let’s celebrate the New Year together by resolving to make measles a thing of the past.”

UNICEF Ambassador Lucy Liu, who was recently honored with the prestigious Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award in recognition of her tireless work on behalf of the world’s most vulnerable children, also took part.

“Of the 25,000 children who die every day from preventable causes, many of those children lack the most basic nourishment needed to survive,” she wrote. "On my recent trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, I witnessed firsthand how something so simple could save so many lives.

“High-energy/protein biscuits (a kind of nutritious “cookies”) were specially developed to help children in emergency situations and are crucial to their survival. For only $40.26 you can purchase two cartons of biscuits, full of the vitamins and micronutrients needed to improve children’s health and prevent them from developing severe malnutrition, which can be deadly."

Tea Leoni – a board member of the US Fund for Unicef – had this to say: "A mother will always do whatever it takes to protect her child from danger. And no mother would intentionally put her child in harms way. Yet every minute of every day, somewhere in the world, a child dies of AIDS-related causes and another child becomes infected with HIV—usually contracted during pregnancy, labor or delivery.

“Your gift of $100.00 will provide 100 HIV/AIDS tests so expecting mothers can be sure they are doing whatever it takes to save their child.”

Other stars to blog on the UNICEF site include Benji Madden and Joel Madden from Good Charlotte, Nicole Richie, Mia Farrow, Ne-Yo, Marcus Samuelsson, and Alyssa Milano. The full celebrity blogs can be read here.

Nicole Richie And Joel Madden Support UNICEF-Inspired Gifts

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity couple Nicole Richie and Joel Madden have written blogs on the UNICEF website about the impact that UNICEF-inspired gifts have on children around the world.

“Imagine not being able to take a bath or a shower,” wrote Madden. "Imagine not being able to turn on the tap for a glass of water, or to wash your hands… your dishes… your clothes. Imagine that the water you drink everyday has the power to kill you and all those you love.

“Can you imagine this? No, probably not. I know I couldn’t, but I saw it firsthand not too long ago when I visited the Central African Republic. Clean and accessible water is a luxury for more than half the world’s children. Having sat, talked and sung with, and also hugged some of the children living this nightmare, I will not stop until all children have this simple thing that we take for granted—clean water.”

The blogs are part of a campaign UNICEF has been running in the lead up to the New Year featuring blogs from the organization’s Celebrity Ambassadors and supporters. Madden became a UNICEF Ambassador earlier this year, and recently returned from a UNICEF trip to Africa.

“Right now you can help bring clean water to children in need by purchasing a Water Well Hand Pump. For $500, this reliable, durable hand pump can give children the gift of life.

“I know the economy is really tough right now, so please consider pulling together your family and friends and all chipping in to buy a gift for a child whose life you can change forever.”

Madden’s partner, Nicole Richie, joined him in lighting the UNICEF Snowflake in Beverley Hills last month and has also penned a blog for the organization.

“Armed conflict, war and natural disasters can cause such chaos in a child’s life,” she wrote. "Families are torn apart, homes are destroyed and a feeling of security is no longer a reality. The simplicity of a wool blanket can provide a child with the warmth and sense of safety that every child, everywhere should feel.

“For the cost of one specialty coffee or latte you can let a child in need know they are loved, by providing them with a warm blanket this holiday season. Just $3.80 can do that. In fact, you can provide 10 wool blankets to children in emergency or conflict situations for only $38.00!”

More information about UNICEF-inspired gifts can be found here.

Paris Hilton Parties For The Art Of Elysium

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A plethora of stars turned out at the grand opening of the new Dolce & Gabbana Boutique in Los Angeles this week in support of The Art of Elysium.

The Who’s Who of the entertainment world included Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden and Benji Madden from Good Charlotte, Lauren Conrad, Rumer Willis, Gabrielle Union, Josh Brolin, Kelly Ripa, and many others.

The evening was hosted by former OC actress Rachel Bilson, and at least 15% of sales from the Robertson Boulevard store will go towards the Art of Elysium, which develops creative projects for children battling serious medical conditions.

“This is a strategic opening for the group on a global scale. Locating a D&G store in a very important street both for its positioning and visibility allows us to speak directly to our public,” said Gabbana.

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.

“We’re trying out different kinds of technology and approaches to get people involved and learn about causes,” said Joel Madden. “This time, it’s a fruitcake.”

Celebrities will kick off the fruitcake’s virtual voyage starting with 10 friends each. As the fruitcakes make their way across Facebook, recipients can choose to donate to the celebrity’s cause or continue the fruitcake’s journey simply by re-gifting to friends for free. The Re-gift the Fruitcake program is presented by PayPal, which will make a $20,000 donation to each celebrity charity.

The charities that will benefit from the initiative include the Tony Hawk Foundation, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, the Yao Ming Foundation, the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, and Invisible Children.

“By re-gifting this fruitcake you will help build more than 8,000 Classrooms and give children the education they deserve,” said Houston Rockets’ Center Yao Ming.

The initiative can be accessed through http://apps.facebook.com/regiftthefruitcake or www.regiftthefruitcake.com.

Rihanna To Light Up New York For UNICEF

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Grammy Award-winning singer Rihanna and Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini will light the UNICEF Snowflake at the Grand Army Plaza in New York City today, November 19.

R&B artist Ne-Yo will perform live during the ceremony before Rihanna and Frida flip the switch to illuminate the huge Snowflake, which measures 23 feet in diameter, 28 feet in height, and weighs 3,300 pounds. Adorned with 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms, the snowflake has become an iconic fixture during the holiday season as a reminder of UNICEF’s commitment to do whatever it takes to save a child.

“We are thrilled to have Rihanna take part in the lighting ceremony in New York City,” said Caryl Stern, President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “She has tremendous enthusiasm for helping those in need and is the ideal person for spreading the UNICEF Snowflake’s message of hope, peace, and compassion for children around the world.”

Also attending the UNICEF Snowflake will be Sesame Street Muppet and UNICEF’s global “Champion for Children” Kami, a five-year old, HIV-positive Muppet who appears regularly on the South African co-production of Sesame Street called Takalani Sesame. Kami teaches children about literacy, respect and understanding, and also helps promote age-appropriate messages concerning HIV/AIDS.

Following the lighting ceremony, the Gucci 5th Avenue flagship store will hold a cocktail party to celebrate the launch of the 4th annual Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF. This year, Frida Giannini has designed a special white version of the Tattoo Heart Collection and will donate 25 percent of sales to support education, healthcare, protection and clean water programs for orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Los Angeles Snowflake will be lit up by Nicole Richie and Joel Madden on Saturday, November 22.

Nicole And Joel To Light Up Beverly Hills For UNICEF

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity couple Nicole Richie and Joel Madden will host UNICEF’s 2008 Beverly Hills Snowflake Lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 22, in Los Angeles.

As part of the ceremony, the pair will flick the switch to light up the UNICEF Snowflake and the 20 Baccarat chandeliers that grace Rodeo Drive, which will be illuminated for the entire holiday season to serve as beacons of hope, peace and compassion.

“We are honored to have Joel and Nicole participate in the Beverly Hills lighting ceremony,” says Caryl Stern, President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “With their tremendous commitment to UNICEF’s child survival mission, Joel and Nicole are the perfect people for UNICEF to share this meaningful tradition with.”

Festivities for the day begin at 3pm, with a ton of family activities and a visit from Santa Claus along Rodeo Drive. There will be live entertainment from The 88 and Kreesha Turner, and the evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display atop the Beverly Wilshire.

The lighting ceremony takes place at 6pm at the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard.

Joel Madden Visits Africa For UNICEF

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Rocker Joel Madden has just returned from a weeklong visit to the war-torn Central African Republic (CAR) observing UNICEF programs and visiting vulnerable children.

“I see 25,000 fans in stadiums we play to regularly,” said Madden, who fronts the rock band Good Charlotte and was named a UNICEF Ambassador this summer. “I can visualize that number, and it gives me chills to think that many children under five die every day from preventable causes. One major way we can tackle this and help reduce that number to zero is by making sure schools and communities get better access to safe water and sanitation facilities.”

Madden visited CAR – which is bordered by Chad and Sudan – with his brother and fellow band member Benji Madden.

Outside the capital city of Bangui, in the village of Sam Ouanda, the pair met with the families of 47 children who had succumbed to water-related illnesses. The village borders the Darfur region of Sudan and has been attacked by rebels twice in the past year.
In addition to diarrhea cause by intestinal parasites found in dirty water, young children and their families who do not have bed nets are susceptible to malaria carried by mosquito vectors bred in stagnant pools of water.

“Without access every day to clean water, sustainable development is impossible,” said UNICEF Representative in CAR Mahimbo Mdoe. “We are facing a huge infrastructure deficit and we are struggling to get more and more support.”

Madden’s trip comes at a timely moment, highlighting the situation of an overlooked country with some of the worst health indicators for children in sub-Saharan Africa. The mortality rate for young children in CAR is 175 per 1,000, meaning that nearly one in five children does not live to see his or her fifth birthday. The lifetime risk of death for women who become mothers is 1 in 25, and an HIV prevalence rate of 6 per cent continues to wreak havoc among populations made vulnerable by chronic poverty and ongoing conflict.

Though Madden is a veteran activist on behalf of children, this was his first mission as a UNICEF Ambassador. Along with Nicole Richie, he recently founded the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation to raise awareness about issues facing children around the world and to inspire the public – especially young people – to get involved.

Madden will also serve as the 2009 national spokesman for UNICEF’s clean-water campaign, the Tap Project. Now in its third year, this grassroots US-based initiative aims to provide safe water to children worldwide by inviting patrons to donate $1 for the tap water they normally get for free at participating restaurants.

“Around the world, in places just like CAR, nearly 900 million people don’t have access to safe water – but it’s the kids, like the ones I met on this trip, who are the first to get sick and die from dirty water,” he said. “The good news is that we can stop this now. I believe in zero. We can reduce that 25,000 to zero.”

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