Look To The Stars News: Black Eyed Peas

Black Eyed Peas Singer Performs Benefit Concert

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Black Eyed Peas member apl.de.ap has performed a benefit concert in the Philippines to aid to victims of last month’s devastating Typhoon Ketsana.

 The rapper, who is of Filipino ancestry, sent out an appeal to his fans after the typhoon killed 712 people and caused more than $20 million in damage.

“My heart is broken to see so many of my Filipino brothers and sisters hurt by this disaster,” he said. “We must all bond together and move forward to restore the city we hold dear. I’m asking the global community for their support and donations to assist the thousands of Filipinos affected by this tragedy.”  

The star held the event at the Skydome in Manila.
 
“It’s important for me to go back to help out,” he said. “I donated money and also we bought a couple of boxes of food, canned goods and stuff like that. I just want to tell everybody that my heart goes out to you guys and I will try my best to help out.”

Black Eyed Peas Singer Seeks Help For Typhoon Victims

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Black Eyed Peas singer and founder of Jeepney Music apl.de.ap has pledged immediate aid for victims of the typhoon that swept through Manila recently, and is asking people from around the world to assist the thousands affected.

Apl, a native to the Philippines and the creative ambassador to country, requests those interested in helping victims to donate through the Apl Foundation relief fund by logging onto www.jeepneymusic.com.

Apl.de.Ap says, “My heart is broken to see so many of my Filipino brothers and sisters hurt by this disaster. We must all bond together and move forward to restore the city we hold dear. I’m asking the global community for their support and donations to assist the thousands of Filipinos affected by this tragedy.”

Christina Applegate's Charity To Benefit From Celebrity T-Shirts

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Actors, musicians and athletes have designed and autographed one-of-a-kind “I Love. . .” t-shirts to be auctioned off to benefit Christina Applegate’s foundation Right Action For Women.

The auction is in connection with Lee National Denim Day on October 2, one of the largest single day fundraisers for breast cancer in the country.

Celebrities who have lent their support include: Fergie, apl.de.ap & Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas, the cast of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” Ashley Tisdale, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, Jennifer Morrison, Carrie Ann Inaba, Gabrielle Union, Fran Drescher, Tiffani Thiessen, Tim Daly, and Melissa Gilbert. The tees will be auctioned off on charityfolks.com. Bidding begins today and will end on October 2. Proceeds will benefit Right Action for Women.

“I’m overwhelmed by so many familiar faces who have designed a t-shirt to help Right Action for Women which is all about getting high-risk women screened appropriately for breast cancer,” said Applegate. “I’ve been honored to be this year’s Lee National Denim Day ambassador and this t-shirt embodies the spirit and power of the campaign.”

Applegate is currently serving as ambassador for Lee National Denim Day which benefits the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF). The campaign encourages people to wear their jeans on Friday, October 2, in exchange for a $5 donation to support crucial breast cancer research. Visit denimday.com to sign up.

“Christina is such a powerful leader in the fight against breast cancer, it’s no surprise her peers are standing up to show their support for her and the fight to end this disease once and for all,” said Liz Cahill, VP of Marketing and Communications for Lee Jeans. “We’re thrilled to see the positive response and hope to see Americans follow her lead by joining us for Denim Day this October 2.”

As part of the fundraising campaign, the limited edition “I love life” t-shirt is available for purchase on denimday.com. denimday.com/. Five dollars of every $19.99 purchase will benefit Right Action for Women.

Since its inception in 1996, Denim Day has raised more than $75 million to fight breast cancer.

Charity Reigns Backstage At Teenage Choice Awards

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Teenage Choice Awards held in LA over the weekend were not just a chance for some of today’s hottest stars to show their stuff on stage – backstage there was more fun, all in the name of charity.

Celebrities such as Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, George Lopez, Kat Von D, Lil Mama, Brenda Song, Keke Palmer, Dane Cook, Shawn Johnson, Jennifer Stone, and Taboo, will.i.am and apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas all stopped by to sign backpacks which are to be donated to City of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution that is dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, guided by a compassionate patient-centered philosophy, and supported by a national foundation of humanitarian philanthropy.

Stars also played a celebrity version of Bop It – the game that tests a player’s mental and physical skill by having the player follow verbal directions given by the game at faster and faster pace. Celebrities lined up for the challenge, with the winner – Shailene Woodley from ABC’s The Secret Life of an American Teenager – picking up the top prize of $10,000 for the charity of her choice.

Black Eyed Peas Unveil Music Academies

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0000

The Adobe Foundation and The Black Eyed Peas Foundation will unveil two new state-of-the-art music and multi-media academies for youth in Oakland and Redwood City, California.

The collaboration focuses on giving youth access to multi-media production tools for video, dance, music and art. Through the creation of digital media, teens are given the opportunity to comment on critical issues and inspire social change in their communities.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug.1, Grammy award-winning recording artists The Black Eyed Peas – will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie – will officially open the first integrated Peapod Adobe Youth Voices Academy located in Redwood City at the Mervin G. Morris Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula. A second Academy will be housed in a new facility operated by Art In Action, a local non-profit youth leadership program in Oakland. Both academies will begin offering services starting in the fall for youth up to age 19. An estimated 200 Bay Area youth will participate in the academy programs annually.

“As a group, music has given us amazing opportunities. With the Peapod Foundation, we want to give back to inner-city kids so they can realize their potential through artistic and digital expression,” says will.i.am, who grew up in the projects in Boyle Heights, Calif. “Together with the Adobe Foundation, we are giving more kids a chance at a better future.”

The academies will incorporate a high-tech curriculum developed by Adobe Youth Voices with the latest professional-grade multi-media production software – including Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection Suite, donated by Adobe Systems Incorporated, and professional music studio tools for a state-of-the-art recording facility donated by the Peapod Foundation. In addition to mentoring in the performing arts, youth participants will receive structured multi-media training in video, audio, photography, design and art, enabling them to creatively express their points of view on vital issues and contribute to social change in their communities.

“The Adobe Foundation and the Peapod Foundation share a vision for empowering youth to address social issues that directly affect them,” said Michelle Mann, executive director of the Adobe Foundation. “The launch of these two academy sites is just the beginning of our journey. It’s exciting to make such a direct, tangible impact by inspiring youth to demonstrate their potential and take action in their communities.”

Following the Redwood City academy opening, The Black Eyed Peas will make a special appearance to kick off Adobe Youth Voices Live! The event is the closing session of the first annual Adobe Youth Voices Summit, a three-day digital immersion experience bringing together 100 international youth (ages 14-19) and educators from underserved communities around the world.

The Adobe Youth Voices Summit at Stanford University (July 30 – Aug. 1) will focus on all aspects of digital media, including filmmaking, photography, animation and design, with workshops designed to empower youth to create media for social change and cultivate a deeper sense of social and civic engagement.

Summit highlights will include: an opening keynote by David Nakabayashi, creative director of the Industrial Light and Magic Art Department, mentoring in creating collaborative media projects using Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Elements; a visit to Dreamworks Animation, makers of popular movies such as Shrek and Madagascar; and a keynote by Black Nature, a musician and aspiring filmmaker with the Refugee All Stars.

Youth participants will document their own travel and experiences at the summit through videos shot with Flip Video Ultra Camcorders donated through the Flip Video Spotlight program. They will have the opportunity to enhance their films with skills learned during the summit.

The summit will conclude with Adobe Youth Voices Live! an invitation-only event at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco the evening of Saturday, Aug. 1. In addition to the Black Eyed Peas’ appearance, the event will include exhibitions and screenings of youth media work developed during the summit.

More info can be found here.

Tom Brady Bikes For Best Buddies

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Aime Pingi

Quarterback of the New England Patriots of the National Football League, Tom Brady, joined Best Buddies International on the weekend of May 30 as honorary chairman of the Best Buddies bike challenge ride of Boston.

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge (ABBC) cycling event and the Carl Lewis Walk/Run Challenge are exciting adventures along a challenging and beautiful course, with active participation and inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities, that ends with a star-studded celebrity criterium race. 100% of the money raised by participants benefits Best Buddies International in carrying out its mission of providing friends and jobs for people with intellectual disabilities.

The ABBC weekend has the feel of a big family gathering, as participants, celebrities and new buddies ride side-by-side. The ride finishes with a one-of-a-kind post-ride party, including a concert and dinner. Past concert performers range from The Black Eyed Peas, Jon Bon Jovi, Marc Anthony to The B52’s!

Past notable guests at Best Buddies events include athletes like Carl Lewis, as well as celebrities Cindy Crawford, Robert DeNiro and Kevin Spacey, to name just a few!

Best Buddies is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing friends and jobs for people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,400 middle school, high school and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies volunteers annually contribute services that estimate a value of $70 million – at no cost to the community.

Today, Best Buddies programs annually impact the lives of more than 350,000 volunteers and people with intellectual disabilities in hundreds of communities around the world.

Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, Miss Teen USA Stevi Perry, The Brady Brunch actress Maureen McCormick and Mini Me movie star Verne Troyer also got into gear for the ride to aid people with intellectual disabilities.

If you missed out on the Boston Best Buddies ride with Tom Brady, there’ll be another in LA with Maria Shriver in September.

Mayor Villaraigosa To Host Fundraising Gala

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Fatima Fofana

On Friday, May 29th, the Honorable Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa and council member José Huizar will co-host the 3rd Annual Fundraising Gala to benefit the Boyle Heights Music and Arts Program at the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center.

The Center, which first opened in September of 2006, is a 20,000 square foot state of the art full-time learning center, located on a corner that was once plagued by violence and drug trafficking. The center boasts a music recording studio, an accredited alternative high school, recreation areas and plans for a television studio.

The Youth Opportunity Movement of Los Angeles has partnered with the Los Angeles County of Education to operate the center and help at-risk-youth achieve their educational, employment, and personal goals by providing them with opportunities to develop skills that will help them build a viable future.

The Gala will also honor Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard 34th District, Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, and Taboo of Black Eyed Peas for their notable contribution to inner city youths. Other celebrities that are expected to attend include Alfre Woodard – award winning actress, “Desperate Housewives,” Tatyana Ali – “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” LisaRaye McCoy – “All Of Us”, “Beauty Shop,” Sugar Ray Leonard – Boxing Champ, and Esai Morales – “Resurrection Blvd”, “Jerricho.” For more information about the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center, click here.

It's Zootopia Time Again!

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

Z100, New York’s Hit Music Station, will get the summer music season off to a sizzling start for the tenth time with Z1OO’s ZOOTOPIA 09 on Saturday, May 16, with an eclectic line-up of pop, rock and R&B artists ready to bring down the house at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ.

This year’s headliners will include the Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, the All American Rejects, Ciara, Soulja Boy, Jesse McCartney, and Flo Rida.

This year, $1 of every ticket sold will go to City Harvest, the non-profit food rescue organization that is the official charity of Z100’s Zootopia ‘09. Founded in 1982, City Harvest is dedicated to feeding New York City’s hungry men, women and children by collecting excess food from restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, farms and other food industry sources. The food is then delivered free of charge to more than 600 community food programs throughout New York City using a fleet of trucks and bikes as well as volunteers on foot. Each week, City Harvest helps over 260,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal, with over 23 million pounds of food now collected annually.

“Z100’s Zootopia is all about the listeners. Every year, we work with some of the biggest artists to come together for a few hours and perform their biggest hit songs live. This year’s line-up is a true reflection of the most popular songs on Z100 right now,” said Sharon Dastur, Program Director for Z100. “We’re excited to be partnering with such a great organization like City Harvest. With the current economy, many families face the tough challenge of putting food on their table, and as the official charity partner of the show, it gives the listeners and the station a great opportunity to give back to the community.”

“City Harvest is pleased to be the chosen charity partner for Z100’s Zootopia. We’re thankful for funds and food raised through the event itself as well as Z100’s help in heightening awareness about the growing problem of hunger in our city,” said Jilly Stephens, Executive Director of City Harvest. “With more of our neighbors in need of food during these hard times, we hope that Z100 listeners will take action to help City Harvest feed them.”

Tickets are on sale now. To find out more, visit the official website.

Stars Donate Underwear To Charity Auction

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of stars are going commando for charity this week by donating their underwear to a new charity auction.

Stars such as the Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie, Emma Thompson, Helen Mirren, Katie Price, Tilda Swinton, and Joanna Lumley have donated their autographed underwear to the auction, which will benefit the New North London Synagogue, an institution that offers a wide range of educational, cultural, social action, and other communal activities for both its membership and the wider Jewish and non-Jewish community, including a monthly drop-In for destitute asylum seekers.

A wide range of signed underwear is going under the hammer, from the extremely small to the strangely old-fashioned. Also up for auction are pants autographed by Ricky Gervais, Jarvis Cocker, Alex Kingston, Daniel Day Lewis, Nick Cave, Nick Hornby, Ray Winstone, Sacha Baron Cohen, and many more.

Money from the auction will go to buying food and other essentials required by asylum seekers. The organization explains: “Destitute asylum seekers have had their asylum claims refused. They live here in fear, terrified of being forcibly returned home where they face more of the persecution they originally fled from. Many are survivors of torture and have lost loved ones in conflicts back home. They are not allowed to work and in most cases are not eligible for housing or benefits. Many go hungry and some have been diagnosed with malnutrition. They don’t even have the money to buy underwear which is basic to human dignity, and so our celebrities have signed underwear to both raise funds for them and draw attention to their plight.”

The auction runs until March 31 and can be accessed here

Fergie To Release Charity Lipstick

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie is to release her own style of lipstick for charity next week.

As reported by Look To The Stars in January, Fergie assists the M·A·C VIVA GLAM AIDS Fund in the essential task of educating the world about the importance of HIV and AIDS awareness.

“When AIDS first came on the scene, people were initially in a state of fright and everyone was so careful,” Fergie told E! “People don’t have that scare anymore. We have to let people know that it is still fatal, there’s no cure and that it is still real. I think it’s important to realize that half of all new HIV infections each year are in men and women 25 and younger. . . . I have friends that are proud of being careless, that haven’t been infected or who have been and aren’t bothered by it. I want to educate people.”

The M·A·C AIDS Fund was created in 1994 to support all people affected by HIV and AIDS across the globe. The organization provides monetary support to global associations that work with underserved regions and populations. Four key goals of the M.A.F are to raise awareness of the link between poverty and HIV and AIDS, prevention, access to care, and the importance of adherence to medications and treatments. Through the sales of M·A·C VIVA GLAM lipstick and lipgloss, the program has raised over 130 million dollars in the worldwide fight against AIDS and HIV.

Fergies new MAC Viva Glam VI lipstick hits stores on March 19.

Jamie Gold Helps Children Unite Nations

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

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Fresh off the heels of inking one of the most lucrative online endorsement deals in history, poker star Jamie Gold isn’t thinking about the cash, but the kids. The 2006 World Series of Poker champion opted out of the prestigious L.A. Poker Classic this year so he could host a fundraiser for the kids.

“Some things are more important,” said Gold. “These kids need our help.”

The kids Gold speaks of are the ones of Children Uniting Nations, a non-profit organization that provides mentoring to at-risk and foster children. Gold held his fundraiser tournament on Oscar night, and was joined by a slew of celebrities including the Black Eyed Peas. The tournament, which was also being held as a part of the Hollywood Reporter/Children Uniting Nations Gala, was a black-tie extravaganza, which featured presentations to those who’ve been supportive of Children Uniting Nations, and Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass.

Prior to the event, Gold spoke to CardPlayer.com about his involvement: "My whole life in the past was in Hollywood. I used to be an agent for 20 years, and so this was a great way for me to reconnect with all of my old friends and host the first time that poker has ever been connected to the Oscars.

“Children Uniting Nations is a mentorship program…through mentor programs, 95 percent graduate high school, and 87 percent of people who are incarcerated are coming from the welfare system. So, it means that most of our criminals did not choose to be there. They had no mentors, they had no parents, they had no guidance, they had no shot, and you or I or anybody could have been out on the street. And what do you do if you can’t eat? You might turn to drugs or crime; it could happen to any of us…this program is amazing; they’re lobbying congress successfully, and they are also donating a ton of money to foster children.

“I’m so proud to be a part of this, and so when the guys from Aced said they would donate all of this money, then I thought, let’s make this really special, I’ll donate a buy-in to the World Series. I’ll fly them out, I’ll put them up, and I’ll coach them. I don’t think anybody’s ever done that before; I’ll coach the winner through the World Series so they have the best shot at winning. I may not be the best player in the world, but I can definitely help them more than they can help themselves.”

As promised, the winner received a prize package that included a $10,000
WSOP main event seat, a dinner and coaching from Gold and private accommodations at Gold’s mansion. The prize package was sponsored by Aced.com – the upstart online poker site that announced the signing of Gold to a lucrative endorsement deal.

Black Eyed Peas Honored At Charity Oscar Event

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Charity organization Children Uniting Nations (C.U.N.) celebrated their 10th anniversary viewing of the Academy Awards at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday, February 22nd.

The night was jam packed with celebrities who united in support of foster children across the nation. The event was presented by The Hollywood Reporter, Swaggmedia.com and 93.5FM The Beat radio station, which was broadcasting live all night long.

The red carpet shined with celebrity attendees including Lauren Conrad, DJ AM, Taboo (from The Black Eyed Peas), Billy Baldwin, Lil’ Mama, Jane Seymour, Oscar Nunez, and more, all dressed in their Oscar best. The night included high energy performances form the Jabbawockeez, Colby O’Donis, Teairra Mari, Doug E. Fresh, Spinderella, Sophie B. Hawkins and the music stylings of DJ AM.

It was a night for everyone including actors, musicians, politicians, philanthropists and even world famous poker players. Jamie Gold, Winner of the World Series of Poker, donated his time and talent after forfeiting the chance to win $7 million in the LA Classic, to raise money and awareness for the charity by organizing a celebrity poker tournament and an incredible prize package that included a seat in the next World Series of Poker and provided coaching by Gold.

Founder Daphna Ziman commented on the evening, “It was amazing to me how much support we were given this year from celebrities, performers and attendees that genuinely want to help our children in need. I am so very thankful of all those who support Children Uniting Nations and the children we serve.”

C.U.N. also recognized their own award winners on Academy night, focusing on those who have given their time to work within the community. The Spirit of Life Award was presented to The Black Eyed Peas while other special honorees include Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass and philanthropist Cathleen Shera for their work in the community.

Swaggmedia.com streamed the night and its performers live on the internet while 93.5FM The Beat broadcasted their show live with interviews and highlights of the night.

Children Uniting Nations To Hold Charity Oscar Party

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Charity organization Children Uniting Nations will present its 10th annual Oscar Viewing Party and Awards Night this Sunday, February 22.

Children Uniting Nations is a proactive organization created to bring attention to the plight of at-risk and foster youth. The goal is to reach as many children in out-of-home care by offering role-model support, guidance, a sense of community and promote the importance of an education. Inspired by the Day of the Child, CUN wanted mentoring to be more accessible to children living in foster care and therefore created a mentoring program to be administered in every city nationwide.

The Oscar Party is one of the organization’s main fundraising events, and is expected to attract appearances by the Black Eyed Peas, Pierce Brosnan, Esai Morales and many more.

Tickets to the event are $150 – $250 and are available here.

Black Eyed Peas To Help Underprivileged Youth

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Underprivileged youth in California have been given the chance to get involved in film and music programs thanks, in part, to hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas.

The group – through their charitable Peapod Foundation – have formed an initiative with the Adobe Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to give kids the opportunity to interact with their community through music, dance, video and art.

“As a group, we’ve made a commitment to help give teens the artistic tools and opportunities to help them realize their fullest potential,” said frontman will.i.am, “Thanks to the incredible generosity of Adobe Youth Voices (AYV), we are able to expand our vision and give even more kids a chance to be productive, enterprising adults.”

Last year, the Black Eyed Peas opened the first Peapod Academy, a state-of-the-art music and educational/recording facility serving foster care youth and other at-risk teens, at the Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club.

The new joint Adobe Youth Voices/Peapod Academy sites plan to expand worldwide, building on more than 160 sites in 31 countries. The facilities include a high-tech curriculum developed by AYV with the latest multi-media production tools and mentoring programs. Past students enrolled in AYV programs have had their work showcased at venues such as the Sundance Film Festival and the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival

The Adobe Foundation’s commitment includes a $1 million cash donation along with other in-kind support, including a comprehensive training program designed for youth and educators, and volunteer support from Adobe employees. The Peapod Foundation will contribute an on-site fully-equipped recording studio at each site, along with expertise and mentoring.

Stars Come Out For Black Eyed Peas Charity Gig

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

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of the Black Eyed Peas were out in droves last Thursday night as the band played a special charity show at the Conga Room in Los Angeles.

Band members Fergie, will.i.am, Taboo and all performed at the show, and there were special guest appearances by Lupe Fiasco, Nikka Costa and Boyz II Men. Proceeds went to The Peapod Foundation, an organization set up by the band to give back to the band members’ communities around the world. Founded by will.i.am and Polo Molina of Grassroots Productions, The Peapod benefit concerts date back to the earliest incarnation of The Black Eyed Peas and began as charity toy drives for Los Angeles based children and local orphanages.

“Music penetrates through all types of boundaries and crosses all kinds of barriers,” will.i.am told the Associated Press before the show. “It gives us a commonality through rhythm and melody. Music has brought the world together.”

“For people without the means or a place to go, it feels good for us to give them opportunities,” added Fergie.

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was also on hand at the event, and was presented with the Peapod Leadership Award in recognition of his commitment to arts education in the city.

“I believe in what the Peapod Foundation is about,” he said. “When you’ve been blessed, you’ve got to bless others. The Peapod Foundation is all about giving back.”

Also in attendance were Slash and Rihanna.

Black Eyed Peas member apl.de.ap was absent from the event due to the murder of his brother.

Join The Black Eyed Peas For Charity Party

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Fans of the Black Eyed Peas will want to head to Pasadena tonight, January 26, for an intimate Industry Elite Party to benefit the Apl Foundation.

Special guests expected to appear at the event are apl.de.ap and Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, as well as Shannen Doherty, Michael Copon, Vida Guerra and many more.

The Apl Foundation is committed to giving back to communities and children within the Philippines and throughout Asia. The foundation raises funds to support immediate need projects within the Philippines. Each year Apl and his team evaluates and selects projects that need support. Each project is provided with financial aid and awareness generated within the local and global communities. In addition, a portion of the dollars raised is reserved for distribution to organizations supporting disaster relief in the event of natural and man made disasters impacting the Philippines and other Asian communities.

The party will feature a fashion show with will.i.am’s personal stylist as well as entertainment from DJ Mia.

The event is being organized by Boehm Communications and is a special part of the 26 days of caring event at Touche Salon & Spa, a Pasadena destination for high-style, and beauty. The Apl Foundation is one of the 26 charities receiving their support in January. With every charitable ticket purchase, Touche will provide a $25 gift certificate as a gift for your philanthropy.

Apl.de.ap journeyed from the Philippines to the United States to fulfill a dream for his family and for his future, which was made possible by the support of the Pearl S. Buck Foundation. He has always held a deep desire to give back to children that have similar stories like his from his homeland and throughout Asia. His vision is simply stated through the actions of giving and reminding oneself and the world that there is no separation between race, class or gender. Ultimately, he reminds others that all children deserve a home, food, education and healthcare. With this sentiment that Apl wears as a badge of conviction, he is committed to giving back to his homeland through his Apl Foundation Fund administered by Give2Asia. With the fund being in its first year of creation and fully accepting donations, the Apl Foundation will grow and metamorphose into the financial means needed to support his homeland.

Tickets to the event – being held at Magnola On The Lake, 492 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena – are $50 and are available here.

Fergie Designs Star For Charity Auction

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie was in New York yesterday to unveil the new Swarovski star for the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, and now you can bid on a special Swarovski star designed by the songstress in a new charity auction.

www.clothesoffourback.org has just launched the new auction to benefit children’s charities such as Feeding America, The Art of Elysium, Hope North, and H.E.L.P. Malawi. Joining Fergie in designing crystal stars for this unique auction are Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Garner, Teri Hatcher, Kate Walsh, Kristin Chenoweth, Jane Kaczmarek, Forest Whitaker, Maria Bello, and many more.

To celebrate the auction, participating Swarovski stores across America invite you to join them for light refreshments tonight, November 13, between 6-8pm. All attendees will have the opportunity to win two celebrity stars designed by Maria Bello and Kristin Chenoweth, and will also have a chance to win one of two Swarovski gift packages including: a choice of celebrity star ornament, a 2008 Swarovski Annual Edition Christmas Ornament and a Swarovski Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Topper. Plus, with any purchase of $75, you will receive an exclusive Swarovski crystal snowflake T-Shirt, while supplies last. Money raised from the raffle will also benefit Clothes Off Our Back. Click here to find a participating store near you.

The auction runs until December 10 and can be accessed through the Clothes Off Our Back website.

Fergie Donates Concert Takings

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

She’s sung about being Glamorous, she’s sung about being Clumsy – now Fergilicious Fergie can sing about being Generous after donating some of the proceeds from a weekend concert to charity.

“The Duchess” performed at Hollywood’s Seminole Hard Rock Live in South Florida over the weekend and made a special appearance before her concert to donate a portion of her ticket sales to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood.

“I’m happy to be here and be part of the Ambassadors of Rock concert,” she said as she handed over a check for $20,000. “I want to thank the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and to all these guys for coming out. Let’s all have a great time [tonight].”

The singer – who also performs as part of the Black Eyed Peas – also signed an Ambassadors of Rock guitar during the event and donated some of her own pop memorabilia to be added to the Hard Rock’s world-famous collection.

Celebrities Support In My Name

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

will.i.am has worked with more than thirty other celebrities and activists to create an inspiring short film titled Be the Generation, part of the In My Name campaign to end poverty.

The film, which can be viewed at the White Band Action website, explains how people can end poverty in our lifetime if leaders are held accountable to their promises. It is part of a campaign organized by White Band Action ahead of next week’s emergency UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York, and a host of activists and celebrities – including Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu , Annie Lennox, John Legend, Rahul Bose, Angélique Kidjo, Scarlett Johansson, Missy Higgins, Emmanuel Jal, Wyclef Jean, Kristin Davis, Fergie and Mischa Barton – have come together for the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) to challenge their leaders to keep their promise to halve poverty by 2015.

Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am has also penned a song for the campaign titled In My Name, which calls on world citizens to exercise their power and demand their governments keep their promises to the worlds poor. The song will be downloadable free of charge from September 25.

“We can be the generation that ends poverty,” said will.i.am. “Politicians promised in 2000 to halve poverty in 15 years. They made this pledge in my name, now they must act to achieve it.”

“Governments must be held accountable for their people and their promises,” added Lennox.

To drive the message home, Kidjo and will.iam will perform ‘In My Name’ live outside the UN buildings in New York on 25 September. They will be joined by Queen Rania of Jordan, UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon, Ela Bhatt, Mary Robinson, Kristin Davis, Rahul Bose and activists from Africa, Asia and Latin America who will be amongst the first to sign their names to the “In My Name” pledge wall.

“If I put my name to something it means I am committed to its outcome,” said Angelique Kidjo. “I want to see this sort of response from leaders and others with power to effect change. People living in poverty have waited too long and want to see tangible changes in their lives immediately.”

The White Band Action initiative is a global collaboration between the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, Oxfam, Save the Children, and Comic Relief. It is not being run by any single organization, which demonstrates the breadth of commitment to ending poverty and inequality.

“The time for action has never been more urgent,” said Queen Rania. “Rising food prices have plunged 100 million more people into poverty, and the economic slowdown risks eroding political support for development.”

“We’re half way there, and thanks to people’s efforts and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, there has been real progress,” added Kristin Davis. “There are more children in school. More people are getting essential medicines. But 30,000 children still die every day because of poverty.”

More information about the campaign can be found at www.whitebandaction.org.

Justin Timberlake Proves That Fashion Rocks

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus and Charlize Theron were some of the stars who appeared at the fifth annual Fashion Rocks concert celebrating the relationship between music and fashion last Friday.

Proceeds from the show – which was televised on CBS on Tuesday night – went to Stand Up To Cancer, which held its own star-studded telethon on the same evening. The Fashion Rocks show included a performance of more than a dozen divas — including Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Natasha Bedingfield, Fergie, Rihanna and Cyrus — who sung their new charity song Just Stand Up, which was beamed live to the Stand Up To Cancer television extravaganza.

“This is the first time we’re all together singing the song,” said Bedingfield. “It was really special. It was really like a sisterhood, like a bond… We’re all used to being the stars — the only star in the room — and it was really nice I think that everyone could just come together and really support each other.”

Also present at Fashion Rocks were Hilary Swank and Hayden Panettiere, with performances from Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Duffy, the Black Eyed Peas, and the Pussycat Dolls. But it was the sizzling duet between Timberlake and Beyonce on “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” that stole the show.

And just to prove that there really is nothing like the real thing, Timberlake has also confirmed he will once again host the Shriners Hospitals for Children Golf Open in October.

Following on from the success of last year’s event, the Open will take place October 13-19 at the TPC Summerlin course in Las Vegas.

The annual event has taken place every year since 1983 and has raised more than $10 million for Las Vegas area charities. Previous champions include Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Paul Azinger, Jim Furyk, Curtis Strange and Fuzzy Zoeller.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of facilities in North America that provides superior medical care at no charge to children under the age of 18, and more information about the event – including how to get tickets – can be found at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Golf Open website.

Affleck Tops Charity Stars in Denver

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Denver saw an outpouring of celebrity love during last week’s DNC, with Ben Affleck leading the philanthropic pack.

On the Tuesday night, Affleck took part in a poker tournament, along with Richard Dreyfuss and Montel Williams, which ultimately raised over $60,000 for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“A lot of important organizations use this environment and the people who are here, celebrities, members of Congress, to try and raise money. This is not a Democratic or Republican group, this is a group serving our veterans,” Affleck said of the charity.

Wednesday morning, the Pearl Harbor star was down at a local food bank, the Food Bank of the Rockies, to participate in a repack event for America’s Second Harvest. Also on hand for the event were members of the Senate Hunger Caucus and members of the House – all there to see who could pack the most boxes of food in five minutes. Affleck, incidentally, won both the poker and the packing events.

He was joined by wife Jennifer Garner for a book reading at the Starz Green Room. Also set to attend were Charlize Theron, Daryl Hannah, Rosario Dawson, Kerry Washington, Josh Brolin, Kal Penn, Stuart Townsend and Hill Harper.

Jennifer Lopez spoke at a reception sponsored by the Jennifer Lopez Foundation in honor of Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. Fran Drescher, Ashley Judd and Joy Bryant joined Lopez in honoring Edelman.

The Black Eyed Peas performed at the Fillmore Auditorium for the Creative Coalition, and Kanye West performed at a party benefitting the ONE Campaign. Forest Whitaker, Kal Penn and Jamie Foxx were in attendance at the latter.

Moby performed at a private party for DoSomething.org, and Willie Nelson sang out for the people of Darfur at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Rapper To Host Common Ground Concert

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:30:00 -0000

The Common Ground Foundation is to host the first annual “Common’s Start the Show n’ Bowl” and “Common & Friends Concert” to raise over $350,000 for charity.

The event will kick off on September 26 with a VIP gala at the Cartier Boutique in Chicago, with the bowling competition and concert taking place the following day. Joining rapper Common for the festivities will be Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, as well as The Roots, Talib Kweli, Bilal, Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry, and many more yet to be announced.

The Common Ground Foundation was established by Common and is dedicated to the empowerment and development of urban youth in the United States. The event is set to help raise money for two programs: BE empowered – which provides life, career, and educational mentoring as a means for youth participants to achieve understanding, confidence, and self-respect – and Read for Change – which addresses the national problem of illiteracy which motivates youth to read through The Corner, a national online book club.

“I started the Common Ground Foundation because I wanted to help,” said Common. “Most of all help people to help themselves. I always believed that if we started with the youth, then we would be planting the seeds for our future to blossom. Give the children a sense of hope, self-esteem, and love that will better the world. I think making a difference in the lives of others is my life’s greatest purpose. I walk this path with faith knowing the Common Ground Foundation will change the world.”

More information can be found at www.commongroundfoundation.org.

Fashion Concert Stands Up To Cancer

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé Knowles and Rihanna have been revealed as some of the acts confirmed to perform at this year’s New York Fashion Rocks concert.

The concert, which will take place on September 5, first took New York
Fashion Week by storm in 2004 and still remains one of the hottest events on the celebrity charity calendar. The legendary Radio City Music Hall will once again play host to the star-studded live event, celebrating the powerful relationship between fashion and music. The concert will air the following Tuesday night in a two-hour special on the CBS television network (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Proceeds from the event will benefit Stand Up To Cancer, whose own television special will go to air on September 5.

“In just five years, Fashion Rocks has become one of the most exciting multi-media events of the year,” said Richard Beckman, president of Conde Nast Media Group. “Whether on stage at the live event, during the show’s broadcast or in the pages of the magazine, Fashion Rocks uniquely celebrates the intersection of two of the most sexy cultural paradigms; fashion and music. This year, we have a spectacular line-up of talent and performances that will take the show to a whole new level.”

Other performers confirmed to appear include Keith Urban, Chris Brown, Kid Rock, Fergie, Lil Wayne, and the Black Eyed Peas.

More info can be found at the Fashion Rocks website.

Black Eyed Peas Gig Raises Cash For Earthquake Victims

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:34:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Black Eyed Peas have raised over $870,000 at a benefit show in Shanghai for victims of the Chinese earthquake.

The show, held on Tuesday night, was originally intended as a promotional event for beverage companies Chivas Brothers and Pernod Ricard China, but became a benefit in the aftermath of the May 12 earthquake that has killed more than 69,000 people in the country’s Sichuan region. Band members apl.de.ap, will.i.am, Taboo, and Fergie also donated a selection of personal items – including a guitar – to an auction held before the concert.

“We fell in love with China and the Chinese people when we visited here before,” said will.i.am. “So [we] wanted to use tonight to do all we could to help the relief effort in the aftermath of the earthquake.”

The band played to 700 invited guests, and the proceeds will be added to $300,000 already donated to the Chinese Red Cross by Pernod Ricard.

Black Eyed Peas Rock The Peapod Party

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:10:28 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The Black Eyed Peas held their fourth annual charity concert at the Avalon in Hollywood last week, with a plethora of celebrity friends turning up to raise money for charity.

And even before the concert started, front woman Fergie was eager to spread the love.

“Travelling around the world and seeing disease and poverty, for me it’s about giving back,” she said.

The Peas’ concert was to benefit their Peapod Foundation, which provides aid to underprivileged children while also introducing them to new musical and technological programs.

“We’ve been doing this since 1999, and it started with a toy drive for kids in Pasadena,” said B.E.P member Taboo. “But now we have all these artists coming to support us, and it’s good because we give back to the community and now to all different countries.”

Supporting the not-to-be-missed concert, and picking up the microphone at times, were The Roots, Natasha Bedingfield, M.C. Hammer, Snoop Dogg, Slash, and Ludacris. During the show, Snoop attempted to get Hammer to bust a move, and later, Fergie was joined by Slash during her solo set – for which she received a standing ovation from the audience.

“My kids love Slash, they be playing ‘Guitar Hero’,” Snoop said.

Earlier this year, the Peas kicked it up a notch when they opened the Peapod Music and Arts Academy at the Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles. In an interview with The Associated Press, Peas frontman will.i.am said one of the organization’s main goals is to teach children how to become music moguls.

“I would like to have these workshops all around the world, these music schools, that teach people technology, so that way they can bring back money into communities,” he said. “We gave them green-screens, ProTools equipment, high-definition digital cameras – everything they’d need to make music and cut films. Peapod gives them the same tools we have and a platform to showcase it.”

Even though the Watts center is a pilot program, that isn’t going to stop the Peas.

“We’re going to East Los Angeles next, and hopefully all over the country,” said will.i.am. “Afterwards, we hope to hit South Africa, the Philippines, Brazil and others. We want to continue to build these hubs all over the world to give inner-city kids tools to do these things.”

Celebrities Put Their Votes Where Their Hearts Are

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:44:49 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Celebrity endorsement and music have been essential features of political campaigns for the last 70 years. One of the earliest examples dates back to 1932, when Franklin D. Roosevelt used “Happy Days Are Here Again” as the theme song to his first presidential campaign. It eventually became the unofficial anthem for the Democrats, was used for years afterwards, and set a new standard in the way elections were campaigned.

Jump forward to 1960 and you find crooner Frank Sinatra openly supporting the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy by singing a specially revised version of “High Hopes”. Jump forward further and you will hear the Republicans of 1988 singing the chorus of Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (although McFerrin later asked them to stop using it).

And who can forget Bill Clinton blowing his saxophone along to Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” in 1992?

In 2008, it looks as though celebrity endorsement and music are set to be important parts of the Presidential Election once again, with a number of celebrities throwing their support into candidates’ campaigns. But although many stars are openly backing particular campaigns, their message this year has a deeper meaning.

“If we want to stop the war, if we want to get the economy better, I think that young people need to understand they have to take matters into their own hands,” said Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. “It is really like waking up a sleeping giant.”

The 38-year-old Hip Hop star and fashion designer believes that it is more important than ever for young people to go out and vote, and that the voice of youth will be an defining factor in this year’s election.

“A lot of young people have decided that this is their future. This president is going to decide their future,” said Combs, who launched the Citizen Change campaign in 2004 to encourage young voters. “I didn’t really want to get in the political game but I wanted to see young people become empowered. That’s where my attention is at. To have an African-American man and a woman in, it’s going to go down in history as the most historical election. And I think that young people will have a hand in the result.”

Last Tuesday saw 20 states in America hold primary elections to determine the eventual Democratic and Republican nominees for president, with Senator Hillary Clinton up against Senator Barack Obama for the Democrats, and Senator John McCain against former Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republicans.

And it seems that all of the candidates have pulled together an impressive list of celebrity backers. McCain has received endorsements from Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tom Selleck, while Romney is being backed by the likes of Pat Boone and Donny Osmond. On the Democrats’ side, Clinton has received endorsements from Barbra Streisand, Danny DeVito, Sally Field, Magic Johnson, Steven Spielberg, and Jack Nicholson, while Obama has attracted the support of celebrities such as Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Jessica Biel, Usher, Edward Norton, Hulk Hogan, Robert DeNiro, and Forest Whitaker.

23-year-old actress Scarlett Johansson is another star to show her support for Barack Obama, and last week recorded a message that was played to hundreds of voters in California over the telephone. She stated in the message that a vote for the Illinois senator was the last chance to “turn a page on the polarizing politics of the past”. This was followed by George Clooney adding his name to the supporters list at the annual Oscar Nominees’ Lunch last week.

“I’ve been an Obama guy for a year and a half and I’m very excited by his campaign,” he said. “It just seems that the more time he’s out there, his numbers keep growing. So I’m very, very encouraged.”

Johansson has also showed her support by taking part in the massive new internet campaign to increase the youth vote for Barack Obama. Led by Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, the campaign features a music video that is taking YouTube by storm. Yes We Can took the singer two days to record and film, and has attracted almost 2 million views since it was released last Friday.

The Hip Hop star was inspired to write the song after watching Obama’s speech following the Democrat’s loss to Clinton in the New Hampshire primary election.

“It was as if he was talking to me,” said will.i.am. “It was as if he was talking to and defending everything that made me who I am. I took that speech, and I wanted everyone else to be inspired by that speech as I was.”

The song features Obama’s speech set to music, and includes appearances by John Legend, Kate Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Herbie Hancock. Although it was not commissioned by Obama, he saw it on Saturday and has embraced it.

“After nearly a year on the campaign trail, I’ve seen a lot of things that have touched me deeply, but I had to share this with you,” Obama’s wife, Michelle, said in an e-mail to supporters. “Sharing this video, which was created by supporters, is one more way to help start a conversation with your friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else who will be voting soon about the issues important to them in this election.”

But will.i.am insists the point of the song is not just to stir up votes for the first-term senator, but to “remind people how powerful they are. The idea of ‘Yes We Can’ doesn’t stop because he doesn’t win.”

There are currently several organizations that are being backed by celebrities to encourage young people to vote, including Declare Yourself and Rock the Vote, both of which are using the internet to raise the awareness of youth prior to this year’s election.

“The Internet and technology empowers people,” said will.i.am. “And the ‘Yes We Can’ song is proof that they don’t need a big record company or a big movie company . . . to go out and captivate people’s attention.”

But whether celebrity endorsement actually affects the votes is still a matter of contention. According to a study carried out by the Pew Research Centre in September, “political endorsements generally have little impact on voter preference”.
The research found almost 70% of Americans polled said that if told a celebrity endorsed a presidential candidate, it would not affect their vote. And of the 30% who said an endorsement would influence them, 15% said it would make them more likely to vote for the endorsed candidate while the other half said they would be less likely to do so.

But if history is anything to go by, it won’t stop the celebrities from having their say.

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