Look To The Stars News: Dakota Fanning

Pipeline To A Cure A Huge Success

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Honorary co-chairs and surf legends Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama welcomed guests to the 2nd Annual PacSun Pipeline to a Cure event benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Saturday night, July 18. The evening brought together the surf world to support the direct positive effect surfing has on those afflicted with cystic fibrosis and raised nearly $300,000 for research and patient care in the process. The Pipeline to a Cure campaign was initiated after research showed that young cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who surf had healthier lungs.

The event featured a special headline performance from Shiny Toy Guns which included their popular songs Ghost Town, Le Disko and We Are The One. During the 14-song set lead singer Chad Petree even brought up his close friend and publisher Tim James (along with friends Steve McClintock and Chuck Martin) for a jam session of “The Roadhouse Blues” by The Doors. The night also featured a performance from former American Idol Season 8 contestant Kai Kalama alongside his brother Ryan Kalama as part of the band Off White. Chris Cote, Editor-in-Chief of TransWorldSURF, served as emcee for the evening which included a live auction with radio personality Shawn Parr of Go Country 105. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation honored Mike Sullivan of LAcarGUY as their 2009 PacSun Pipeline to a Cure honoree. For the second year in a row, Mike Sullivan generously donated a new Toyota Prius to the opportunity drawing. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ambassador Emily Haager was the evening’s star guest as she received warm wishes from the night’s biggest guests and gave a moving speech about her battle with CF during the program.

During the silent auction PacSun Pipeline to a Cure auctioned off items including celebrity autographed Havaianas flip flops. Jack Johnson’s signed and designed Havaiansas raised the most money out of signatures from Zac Efron, Eva Longoria, Katherine Hiegl, Selena Gomez, Chris Pine, Kate Bosworth, Dakota Fanning, Hayden Panettiere, Jewel, The Cast of 90210, Alexis Bledel, Brian Grazer, Tony Hawk, Gabrielle Reece, Laird Hamilton and more.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation funds CF research, has 73 chapter and branch offices throughout the country, and accredits a nationwide network of 115 CF care centers, which provide vital treatments and other CF resources to patients and families. To advance the search for a cure, CFF has invested nearly $300 million in promising scientific research in the biotechnology industry since 1998. As a result, the Foundation has more than 30 potential therapies in its drug discovery and development pipeline. Virtually every approved CF drug available today was made possible because of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation support. For more information, visit www.cff.org.

The Surf Is Up For Cystic Fibrosis

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Pro surfers Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama will lead a group of celebrities and surfers – including Andy Irons – at the 2nd Annual PacSun Pipeline To A Cure event benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation this Saturday, July 18, at Huntington Beach, California.

The evening will bring together the surf world to support the direct positive effect surfing has on those afflicted with cystic fibrosis. The event will feature a special headline performance from Shiny Toy Guns, along with former American Idol Season 8 contestant Kai Kalama. Chris Cote, Editor-in-Chief of TransWorldSURF, will emcee the evening which includes a live auction with radio personality Shawn Parr. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has chosen Mike Sullivan of LAcarGUY as their 2009 PacSun Pipeline to a Cure honoree.

During the silent auction, PacSun Pipeline To A Cure will auction off items including celebrity autographed Havaianas flip flops from Zac Efron, Dakota Fanning, Chris Pine, Eva Longoria, Kate Bosworth, Selena Gomez, Hayden Panettiere and more. Shaun White has donated an autographed snowboard in addition to other celebrity items from Kelly Slater, Shia LeBeouf, Ryan Sheckler and more. For the second year in a row, Mike Sullivan has generously donated a new Toyota Prius to the opportunity drawing.

The PacSun Pipeline to a Cure campaign is raising funds and increasing global awareness of the unique bond between the sport of surfing and those with cystic fibrosis. The campaign was initiated after research showed that young cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who surf had healthier lungs.

To find out more about the event, visit the official website here.

LTTS Exclusive: Shane's Inspiration Shooting Stars Gala

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

Look To The Stars’ lead host Michele Vink attended the star-studded Shane’s Inspiration gala in LA on Saturday, and met one of the children who benefit from the charity’s efforts.

“I will sing for everybody in the world….Once I see some people. I will walk on stage on my legs!” His brand new robot legs to be exact.

These are the words of the brave young Spencer that I interviewed briefly before he prepared for his musical performance. Tonight he would be singing with some of his other friends from Shane’s Club Children’s Choir. I asked him for a preview of the song from the musical, Wicked, that they were to perform later that night but was denied so I would pay special attention for his important stage entrance.

“When I was first born I had bending legs. I was walking on them until I felt so much pain. I didn’t want to want to get the pain anymore. So… I cut my legs off. I went to [”Shriners Hospitals for Children":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/823-shriners-hospitals-for-children] and got surgery. I got two shots and I didn’t scream or nothing… they cut off both of my legs and I got the new robot legs."

It is amazing children just like Spencer that were the focus of the 2009 Gala for Shane’s Inspiration at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Guests like Derek Strong, former NBA player and now racecar driver, came out to support this great event and help raise funds for playgrounds and programs that will impact the lives of all children. The Gala Committee includes such stars as Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Emma Roberts, Steve Valentine, Laura Sangiacomo and Julia Roberts. Joe Mantegna’s own daughter has autism and he felt it was an honor for him to be the Master of Ceremony of this annual event tonight.

The mission of Shane’s Inspiration is to “create Universally Accessible Playground and programs that integrate children of all abilities socially, physically and emotionally fostering acceptance, friendship and understanding.” Not only do they make an impact with these new playgrounds, but they also offer free programs including field trips, play clubs and educational programs that reach over 5,000 children a year throughout Southern California.

Imagine taking someone like Spencer to the playground to meet up with his friends and not being able to interact with the other children because they are limited to only a few pieces of equipment on the playground. This creates an immediate obstacle in the benefits of play, keeping the children with disabilities segregated from their peer groups and social circles. By creating these Universally Accessible Playgrounds, it also allows the “typically-able” children the necessary opportunity to interact with children with disabilities. They learn to accept and interact with children that may be different than them and “eliminate bias against children with disabilities.”

So the next time a child like Spencer wants to walk on stage to “sing for everybody in the world”, the world will see his abilities, not his disabilities. If it takes a village to move a mountain, how hard could it be to build a few playgrounds?

Join The Shining Stars At Shane's Inspiration Gala

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A charity that aims to eliminate bias against children with disabilities by creating accessible playgrounds and programs that integrate children of all abilities is to hold a star-studded gala this Saturday, March 14.

Hosted by Joe Mantegna, the Our Shining Stars gala will benefit Shane’s Inspiration, a charity established in 1997 after founders Catherine Curry-Williams and Scott Williams lost their son, Shane Alexander, to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Type I: Werdnig-Hoffman Disease) only a few weeks after his birth.

Expected to attend the gala are Dakota Fanning, Slash, and former NBA Star and current NASCAR racer Derek Strong. Guests will be treated to cocktails, dinner, Rockstar Photobooth, entertainment from comedian Chris Fonseca and a special auction featuring a donated one-of-a-kind collaborative painting. Paraplegic artist Tommy Hollenstein – who paints with the wheels of his wheelchair – created the painting with the collaboration and signatures of sixteen rock stars, including Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh (The Eagles), Slash, and members of Incubus, Santana, The Cars, The Knack, and The Cult.

To date, Shane’s Inspiration has created 22 Universally Accessible Playgrounds in Los Angeles and around the world. It received the first “Heroes for Health Award” by Good Housekeeping Magazine and General Electric, and has been lauded by People Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, L.A. Parent Magazine, L.A. Business Council and numerous others.

The gala will take place at the Beverly Wilshire on Saturday, March 14, starting at 7pm. More information can be found here.

“We Have to Do This:” Stars Urge Answer To Obama’s Call To Service

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Isra Shah

Actors Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore have recorded a star-studded “Presidential Pledge” in collaboration with MySpace and Katalyst Films to encourage Americans to get involved in community service via USAService.org. The move is part of an effort to answer President Barack Obama’s call to begin the “work of remaking America.”

During his inauguration speech on January 20th, President Obama asserted that despite all that “government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.”

“The price and promise of citizenship,” according to Obama, is that “we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world.”

It was this call to duty that inspired Kutcher and Moore to record the commercial. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kutcher explained that, “The truth is it’s going to take millions, hundreds of millions, of people for that [change in the world] to happen.”

“It’s going to be because of what all of us do. He’s the catalyst. It’s his inspiring message that asks us to be of service to each other. "

“Someone came into our office and had the idea of doing pledges for Obama, and instantly it was like, ‘We have to do this’,” he said.

The commercial, aired online and viewable here, features celebrities sharing their personal commitments to service. The pledges range from simple tasks (“I pledge to turn the lights off”) to grand endeavors (“I pledge to find a cure for Alzheimer’s”). Participants included famous faces such as George Lopez, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jason Bateman, Dakota Fanning, Nicole Richie, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Kevin Connolly, Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz, and Molly Sims, amongst others.

In a statement, Kutcher emphasized the interactive nature of the PSA announcement, saying, “We are honored to be working with MySpace to rally the entertainment industry to answer President-elect Barack Obama’s call to service. The ‘Presidential Pledge’ is a platform for people across the nation and throughout the world to make a first-person commitment of service to our new president, articulating a specific intent or action to become an agent of positive change.”

Read the full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address here.

To record and post your own ‘Presidential Pledge,’ visit the MySpace site .

Get Ready For The Carousel Of Hope This Weekend

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The annual Carousel of Hope Gala will take place this weekend to raise money for the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.

Presented by Jay Leno, the gala will take place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, October 25, and will honor Denzel Washington for his charity work.

This year celebrates 30 years of helping children with diabetes through the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. Held every two years, this is the 18th Carousel of Hope. From its inception in 1978, the Ball has raised over $70 million.

The gala will feature performances from Josh Groban, the Jonas Brothers, Katharine McPhee and many more under the music direction of David Foster. The guest list is expected to be huge, with stars such as Tom Arnold, Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas, Halle Berry, Valerie Bertinelli, Lara Flynn Boyle, Bo Derek, Geena Davis, Daisy Fuentes, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammar, Tom Hanks, Taraji P. Henson, Anjelica Huston, Magic Johnson, Dr. Phil McGraw, Holly Robinson-Peete & Rodney Peete, Nicole Richie, Jane Seymour, Nicollette Sheridan, Forest Whitaker and James Woods all expected to attend. Clive Davis, Quincy Jones and Sidney Poitier will take part in Denzel Washington’s presentation.

The evening will feature a silent auction that includes an array of eco-friendly shirts donated by Guess and signed by Jason Bateman, Halle Berry, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Will Ferrell, Harrison Ford, Cuba Gooding Jr., Whitney Houston, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Lee, Jared Leto, Bill Maher, Steve Martin, Jack Nicholson, Ray Romano, Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rod Stewart, Usher and many more. There will also be handbags signed by Joan Collins, Courteney Cox, Cindy Crawford, Dakota Fanning, Mariska Hargitay, Fergie, Susan Sarandon, Britney Spears and Racquel Welch, as well as items from Trace Adkins, P. Diddy, Marcia Cross, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Andie MacDowell, Alyssa Milano, Eva Longoria, Dolly Parton, Priscilla Presley, Denise Richards, Joel Madden, Sharon Stone, John Travolta, Carrie Underwood and many more.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit clinical care and research at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes (BDC) where over 5,000 children and young adults receive specialized care.

Teen Power At Charity Gala

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of Hollywood’s most exciting and energetic teenage stars attended the ‘Target Presents Variety’s Power of Youth’ event held at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. on Saturday night.

The event celebrated the activism of the young Hollywood community with an afternoon full of performances and activities for patients and families of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and “produced an opportunity to harness the enthusiasm and activism of the young Hollywood community in a focused effort to encourage their peers and audiences to get involved in philanthropic and humanitarian causes.” Making an appearance at the gathering were the Jonas Brothers, Hilary Duff, Miranda Cosgrove, Miley Ray Cyrus, Dakota Fanning, Selena Gomez, Angus T. Jones, Demi Lovato, Corbin Bleu, Elle Fanning, Eliza Dushku, Olivia Thirlby, Ashley Tisdale and Emma Roberts.

“Target Presents Variety’s Power of Youth campaign is a powerful one; one that harnesses the energy of more than 150 young performers who are in a position to influence their peers and fans,” said Brian Gott, associate publisher of Variety. “With the support of Target and our other sponsors, the Power of Youth effort has the opportunity to generate millions of dollars to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and create a bedrock of social awareness within the next generation of entertainment.”

As part of the celebration, a public online auction is running to raise funds for St. Jude, the nation’s leading children’s cancer research and treatment hospital, and the only one that covers all of the costs for medicine, treatment, food, travel and lodging. It features items and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities such as a guitar signed by the Jonas Brothers, the chance to interview Coldplay, a walk-on role on Weeds, and many more awesome lots.

The auction runs until October 23 and can be accessed through eBay.

Hollywood Philanthropy: LA GOAL

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Rachel Zeskind

Look To The Stars’ Celebrity Ambassador Rachel Zeskind has been voluteering at L.A. GOAL for several years, and shares her enthusiasm for the work they do in her latest column:

L.A. GOAL is an organization that has developed innovative programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Their vision is ‘to create a more open society where their members and all people with developmental disabilities can achieve their highest level of independence, including employment and full inclusion in the community’.

The organization is a non-profit agency that provides Independent Living Skills training for adults with developmental disabilities. Their programs offer vocational training, counseling, family support, social interaction, sports, and visual/ performing arts that encourage independence and feelings of self-worth. Through its art and outreach activities, L.A. GOAL educates the community about the abilities of people with developmental disabilities.

L.A. GOAL’s programs have changed the lives of many adults living with developmental disabilities. I have had the honor of working on a volunteer basis with their art program, which is filled with an incredibly talented group of paid artists who have moved beyond their disabilities to find, express and bless others with their abilities.

The Director, Petite Konstantin, works very closely with the Hollywood community and acts as a consultant on many script and film projects to ensure the positive and truthful reflection of characters with developmental disabilities that are depicted in television and film.

One such film was I Am Sam, which starred Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer. Two of L.A. GOAL’s members, Joe Rosenberg and Brad Silverman, co-starred in the film as Sam’s friends. Sean Penn spent time at L.A. GOAL in preparation of his role as Sam, a developmentally disabled man who is raising his daughter (played by Dakota Fanning) alone. It was the amazing behind-the-scenes studies at L.A. GOAL by writer’s from day one of writing this emotionally moving story that gave it a strong foundation in truth, which was then conveyed beautifully by the actors. The character of Sam was actually a culmination of many experiences that the members of L.A. GOAL themselves faced as they were learning and living independently within the community.

Next month will mark another tremendous step for L.A. GOAL’s Inside Out Productions’ as it holds it’s 18th Annual Art Exhibition and Sale. In years past I have attended and volunteered at these shows and have seen some of the best and most inspiring artwork Los Angeles has to offer. It is a must see! This year’s show will be held at Koplin Del Rio gallery in Culver City on Sunday, October 26, from 12-5pm.

For more information on L.A. GOAL – or to see and purchase art online – please visit their site at www.lagoal.org.

Fifth Annual First Star Celebration Features Major Star Power

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:40:00 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

A bevy of stars, including Youth Ambassador and actress Dakota Fanning, came out to support the First Star organization’s Celebration for Children’s Rights on June 7, held at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles.

Industry moguls were honored for their extraordinary contributions, such as Ryan Kavanaugh, CEO of Relativity Media, receiving the Humanitarian Award. Additionally, Peter Levinsohn, President of Fox Interactive Media received the Community Award.

Celebrities from the worlds of music, television and film showed their support for the mission of First Star to improve the life of child victims of abuse and neglect. That’s So Raven/Corey in the House star Kyle Massey and his older brother Chris Massey – featured on Zoey 101 – have been involved with First Star since 2005. Kyle expressed, “This is a great organization… It gives the children hope.” He added that he hopes to be a part of the organization for a really long time.

First Star and the Child Advocacy Institute are pushing for changes in state and federal laws. They support changes that would clarify and strengthen disclosure requirements so states know how to comply with the intent of the legislation. Another matter of great concern relates to the release of information about child fatality or near fatality unless a person is criminally charged. The First Star advocacy group believes that disclosures should not be dependent on a district attorney’s decision to prosecute.

When asked how she came to be involved with an organization which deals with such heavy issues, Dakota Fanning replied, “Peter Samuelson is someone that I came to know through [”Starlight Children’s Foundation":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/233-starlight-childrens-foundation]. He told me be about this, and I thought would be another really great organization to be a part of."

Other young stars in attendance included Maria Lark of the hit show Medium, and actress Alexandra Rose Rieger. Before the awards ceremony took place, kids got the opportunity to indulge in play in a carnival environment. Celebrity kids joined in the festivities.

Big time celebrity support also came from Val Kilmer, Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr., Every Body Hates Chris actress Tichina Arnold, actor Robert Knepper of Prison Break, host Spike Feresten of Talk Show With Spike, film & TV star Arlen Escarpeta, and rap artist David Banner.

First Star's Children’s Rights Celebration

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:16:24 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

First Star’s fifth annual Celebration for Children’s Rights takes place on the evening of June 7, 2008 and honors humanitarians and visionaries who are devoted to helping children, and to support First Star’s legislative, public awareness and professional education programs to help abused and neglected kids across the country.

Dakota Fanning has confirmed her spot at the event, which will be held at the Wilshire Ebell in Los Angeles. First Star is a national public charity that has attracted such star supporters as Salma Hayek, Pierce Brosnan, Katherine Heigl, Kristin Davis, Debbie Mazar, Sir Ben Kingsley, Macy Gray, Gary Marshall, and many more.

  The ‘Come Be a Kid Again’ theme will prevail as celebrities turn in their traditional black tie clothing for jeans and tennis shoes for carnival games, live music, and a special performance by members of the original Los Angeles cast of Wicked.

 This years honoree’s include Ryan Kavanaugh, CEO of Relativity Media LLC, Peter Levinsohn, President of Fox Interactive Media and Stephanie Sperber, Executive Vice President of the Universal Studios Partnership Group-all to be recognized for their specific humanitarian efforts on behalf of children.

 The event is open to the public, for more info and to purchase tickets, please visit FirstStar.org.

Eat From Your Favorite Celebrity's Plate!

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:35:18 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

“Let them eat cake,” said Marie-Antoinette, the Queen consort of Louis XVI, and now you have the chance to do just that – eat cake from a plate designed and signed by one of Tinsletown’s finest.

The auction, currently underway at the Auction Wire website, features one-of-a-kind plates from stars such as Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, and Carmen Electra, and is raising money for the Parkinson Society Maritime Region – an organization in Canada that aims to be the voice of Maritimers living with Parkinson’s disease. Funds will be used to supply services such as exercise programs, speech therapy, massage therapy, conferences, and workshops, and will also be used towards the National Research Program of the Parkinson Society Canada.

“The Parkinson Society is thrilled that so many celebrities from a variety of backgrounds – movies, television, politics, the arts – have come together to raise awareness of Parkinson’s and raise funds through this auction of celebrity designed plates,” said Paul McNair, executive director of the Parkinson Society Maritime Region.

The auction – which also includes plates from Johnny Depp, Dwayne Johnson, William Shatner, Dakota Fanning, Martha Stewart, Henry Winkler, Jordin Sparks, Stephen Colbert, Sarah McLachlan, Muhammad Ali, Phil Collins, Chris Daughtry, and Rob Lowe – runs until May 11.

Stars Record Public Service Announcement

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:44:27 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Ben Affleck, Dakota Fanning, Eva Mendes, Garth Brooks, Jeremy Piven, Joaquin Phoenix, Morgan Freeman, and Reese Witherspoon have filmed a Public Service Announcement for all Americans, stating that the country’s health care and financial security crisis is about to explode. But if people on both sides of the issue would start a dialogue, the problems are not insurmountable.

The video is part of the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) “Divided We Fail” project, an initiative that has just garnered support from the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF).

“We need to build a national conversation around these issues,” said AARP CEO Bill Novelli, who is more than happy with the union. “The entertainment industry is uniquely suited to help us do that.”

It is a view shared by MPTF Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. “Hollywood can call attention to these problems and help galvanize the public into taking action,” said the producer of Shrek and head of the organization of entertainment industry leaders dedicated to supporting health and human service needs. “[This] is a key first step in solving them.”

The director of the video, Tony Goldwyn, had a very specific message to get across: “People wind up feeling that the two sides are just too far apart; that these problems are so big and complex that we can’t fix them. What we’re saying is, if we all get together and start talking, we can.”

Americans struggling with financial and health care problems are invited to share their stories at www.aarp.org, and their experiences may be used for the Divided We Fail project. The PSA video can also be viewed on the site. The AARP organization is dedicated to enhancing the experience of aging through advocacy, information, and service, with a focus on the needs for health, financial security, giving back to society, family and social connectedness, and joy in life.

Look To The Stars News: Dakota Fanning

Pipeline To A Cure A Huge Success

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