Look To The Stars News: Jennifer Lopez

Go Back To School With Celebrity Items

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

The Grammy Foundation and MusiCares want you to rock in the new school year by taking part in a new charity auction that features unique memorabilia and VIP experiences that benefit their high school music programs.

Decorate your room with original artwork and photos from Taylor Swift and Paris Hilton, signed postcards from Kanye West and Stevie Wonder, and play on guitars signed by Depeche Mode, John Mayer, Tom Petty and Sheryl Crow.

The auction also gives you the chance to extend your wardrobe with hoodies signed by the Jonas Brothers and a T shirt signed by Iggy Pop. There are also items and experiences from Coldplay, Maroon 5, Joe Satriani, the Dave Matthews Band, Slash, Alice Cooper, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Hudson, Neil Diamond, 3 Doors Down, John Legend, Jason Mraz, U2, Melissa Etheridge, Green Day and many more.

The GRAMMY Foundation cultivates the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the impact of music on American culture through music education programs, scholarships and grants, and MusiCares provides a safety net of critical financial assistance and services for music people in times of need.

The auction runs until July 31 and can be accessed here.

Katie Holmes Thinks She Can Dance For Charity

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Katie Holmes appeared on the 100th episode of So You Think You Can Dance last night, July 23, to raise awareness of a new charity.

The actress performed a song-and-dance homage to Judy Garland to raise awareness of the Dizzy Feet Foundation, a new charity established by Holmes, Nigel Lythgoe, Carrie Ann Inaba and director/choreographer Adam Shankman. The foundation aims to support, improve and increase access to dance education. Supporters of the charity include Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez and Miley Ray Cyrus.

“I like to sing and dance, so this has been really fun,” said Holmes. “I think it’s important to let kids experience music and dancing and singing and the arts and also sports. This is the next generation, and I think it’s important to give them every opportunity to grow and discover what it is that they like.”

To find out more about the new charity, visit the official website.

Annual Women's Conference To Attract Big Names

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Maria Shriver will once again host the annual Women’s Conference in October, and tickets go on sale on July 13.

The first Women’s Conference – formerly known as the California Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women – was held over twenty years ago, but it has been under the leadership of First Lady Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that the event has become the premier event in empowering and inspiring women.

“I am honored to again be hosting what has become the nation’s premier forum for women, where the world’s greatest hearts and minds convene every year to empower women to find a common purpose, be united by a shared conversation, and see themselves as a collective WE,” said Shriver. “This year, I am urging women to take time to explore their deepest hopes and aspirations, and I hope they leave the conference with a better sense of just who they want to be — and the knowledge of how to get there.”

This year’s event is expected to feature a plethora of newsmakers and world opinion leaders who will endeavor to empower and motivate women to pursue a lifelong journey of self discovery. Last year’s event included appearances by Lance Armstrong, Bono, Warren Buffett, Sally Field, Michael J. Fox, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Jenny McCarthy, Russell Simmons and a special performance by Bonnie Raitt. This year will see Cindy McCain, Elizabeth Edwards, Katie Couric, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, actress Kelly Preston, Caroline Kennedy, Alicia Keys, photographer Annie Leibovitz and racing driver Danica Patrick among the featured speakers.

To find out more about the event – to be held on October 26 and 27 at the Long Beach Convention Center – visit the official website.

Katie Holmes To Sing And Dance For New Charity

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Katie Holmes will put her dancing shoes on for an appearance on So You Think You Can Dance, and will donate her appearance fee to a new charity.

The actress will perform a song-and-dance homage to Judy Garland on the 100th episode of the show, to be broadcast on July 23. The performance will raise awareness of the Dizzy Feet Foundation, a new charity established by Holmes, Nigel Lythgoe, Carrie Ann Inaba and director/choreographer Adam Shankman. The foundation aims to support, improve and increase access to dance education. Supporters of the charity include Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez and Miley Ray Cyrus.

To find out more about the new charity, visit the official website.

Stars For A Cause On Display

Mon, 04 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A selection of celebrity designed/autographed jewelry, footwear and other unique items will be on display at auction house Bonhams in New Bond Street, London, tomorrow before being auctioned at Bonhams and Butterfields in Los Angeles on May 28.

Half of the proceeds of the auction, organized by Stars For A Cause, will go to charities chosen by the participating stars, such as the The Art of Elysium, Keep A Child Alive, Red Cross, Elton John AIDS Foundation, UNICEF and many many more. The other half will go to the Prince’s Trust, which helps young people develop confidence, motivation and skills to find work.

Celebrities taking part in the campaign include Kate Winslet, Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz, Ricky Gervais, Charlize Theron, Goldie Hawn, Miley Cyrus, Colin Farrell, Susan Sarandon, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks, Sigourney Weaver and more.

To learn more about this amazing auction, visit the official website.

Jennifer Lopez Records Whooping Cough PSA

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez is urging parents to vaccinate themselves against pertussis, or whooping cough, warning the virus could kill kids if passed on.

The star has joined the March Of Dimes to create a national public awareness campaign called "Sounds of Pertussis,“ an initiative that focuses on educating new parents and their families about pertussis, a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease for infants.

The campaign centers on a series of English and Spanish PSA’s featuring Lopez, scheduled to begin airing nationally this month.

“When I learned that many babies who get pertussis catch it from their parents, and how easy it is for adults to get vaccinated, I was shocked,” said Lopez. "New and expectant parents have so many things to worry about. Getting pertussis themselves, or possibly spreading the disease to their own children, shouldn’t be one of them. I felt it was urgent to let parents know how important it is that they get vaccinated against pertussis to protect themselves and to help keep their babies safe from this dangerous disease.“

As part of the campaign, Lopez was the Honorary Chairperson of the March of Dimes March for Babies 2009 walks that took place in the weekend in more than 900 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

To view the PSA’s, visit the Sounds of Pertussis website.

Celebrity Moms Who Are Changing The World

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Mothers’ Day is a time for recognizing all moms, including some outstanding celebrities. Love Our Children USA has announced the fourth annual “Mothers Who Make A Difference” list, and Cookie magazine has announced their third annual “Smart Cookie” award winners.

In an effort to acknowledge women role models, Love Our Children USA is looking at women with busy careers who nevertheless manage to be good moms and get involved in charitable causes. CEO Ross Ellis says, “We are delighted to honor and celebrate these selfless and caring women who contribute so much to their children, families, society and to various causes.”

The key goal of the organisation is to prevent violence and neglect against children, and the recipient line up for the awards is impressive – Jessica Alba, Victoria Beckham, Halle Berry, Tina Fey, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez, and Julianne Moore are all on this year’s list.

Cookie magazine looks to honor, “the symbiotic relationship between motherhood and citizenship” by awarding women for whom, “bringing kids into the world sparked a palpable desire to bring change to it, too.” Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman are two such women.

“I think that in some ways, all women are mothers,” says Hayek. “It’s in our nature to protect, to nurture, and to feel empathy; this programming just kicks in more strongly when you have children…After having a baby, I found I became so much more vulnerable—to work on a lot of issues and not see a lot of change can become very depressing… I started working with UNICEF on raising money for and awareness of the tetanus-vaccination campaign. Tetanus doesn’t really exist in the United States, but it’s still a threat in remote parts of the world, especially to new mothers and infants. By getting the vaccines to these places that need them and by training the locals in how to administer them, we can eliminate tetanus in three to five years. It can be history.”

Thurman got involved with Room to Grow 10 years ago when she was expecting her first child. “I lived in the same brownstone as founder Julie Burns, who was just starting it,” says Thurman. “I would see her come in with bags and bags of baby goods. My main function is in fund-raising for the organization, which provides clothing, gear, and developmental toys to children ages 0 to 3 who are living in poverty in New York City and Boston. Clients of Room to Grow meet with social workers on a regular basis for two hours at a time; it’s very dignified and private…Can you imagine a child arriving in kindergarten having never held a book? It’s great to be able to help another mother who has all the same aspirations for her children you do but lacks the resources.”

Anna Kournikova Pulls On Her Running Shoes For Charity

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Anna Kournikova competed in the Second Annual Nautica South Beach Triathlon in Florida on Sunday, an event that raised money for charity.

The annual event – which last year attracted a host of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey – raised money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This was also the second time Kournikova has competed in the event as part of the K-Swiss team. She ran 4km as part of the three-person team.

The tennis star has also blogged about her recent trip to New York, in which she rang the Stock Exchange Bell for the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America.

“The purpose of my trip was to promote Cartoon Network’s “Get Animated / Red Rubber Ball” campaign during National Boys and Girls Club Week,” she wrote. "Basically, I appeared on some TV shows in order to encourage kids to stay active, get outside and play, and to socialize with each other in person. These days, kids have so many gadgets that it’s hard to get them to put down the video games and go outside to play; but we all know the amazing benefits of physical activity! All together, I made 5 press appearances. Each show was fun to do in its own way, and I was even able to do some of them with kids from the local Boys and Girls Clubs. They were all very excited to be on TV and were constantly texting their friends about it.

“Ringing the Opening Bell at The New York Stock Exchange was a very educational experience. It was interesting to see how everything works on the trading floor, especially nowadays with everything that’s going on with the global economy.

“Overall, the trip went really well and hopefully I was able to get out the message of encouraging kids to stay active, socialize, and just be kids, to the audiences of each of the shows.”

Jamie Lee Curtis To Be Honored At Charity Event

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is to be honored at an event that will benefit the young patients of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in May.

On Saturday, May 9, 2009, the Beverly Hilton will be THE place to be as Noche de Niños kicks off another unforgettable star-studded evening of international glamour and top of the line entertainment. Benefitting the young patients served by Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, this remarkable event will be a multicultural celebration of the hospital’s heroes – the courageous children and their exceptional caregivers who make miracles happen every day.

Also confirmed to attend the gala event are Jennifer Lopez, Annette Bening and Warren Beatty.

For more information and tickets, click here.

Bid2Beat AIDS For Special Christmas Gifts

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

One of the biggest celebrity charity auction events of the year is currently gearing up for its launch on December 1.

Bid2Beat AIDS is an annual event that will feature over 1000 items from top stars such as 50 Cent, Adam Sandler, Adrian Grenier, Aerosmith, Alec Baldwin, Amy Winehouse, Antonio Banderas, Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Common , Death Cab for Cutie, Denzel Washington, P. Diddy, Donny Osmond, Elton John, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Good Charlotte, Green Day, Hanson, Hilary Duff, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Blunt, James Earl Jones, James Morrison, Jamie Foxx, Jay-Z , Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jeremy Piven, Jessica Alba, John Legend, Johnny Depp, Kanye West, Kirsten Dunst, Ludacris , M.I.A., Madonna, Mariah Carey, Neil Patrick Harris, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Collins, Raven Symone, Razorlight, Rihanna , Sacha Baron Cohen, Sharon Osbourne, Victoria Beckham, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Ferrell, Wyclef Jean, and many, many more. Also up for grabs will be VIP tickets to concerts and backstage visits with stars like Bernadette Peters, Jewel, Aimee Mann, Joan Rivers, and Michael Feinstein.

The annual auction will raise money for LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS fundraising and service charity. The first three BID 2 BEAT AIDS auctions raised nearly $250,000, and this year’s looks set to be the biggest yet.

More info about the auction can be found at the Bid2Beat AIDS website, and the auction will go live on World AIDS Day here.

Look To The Stars will keep you posted as the items are announced.

Jennifer Lopez Announces New Foundation Plans At Women's Conference

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

This year’s annual Women’s Conference, hosted by Maria Shriver, drew record crowds in Long Beach this week.

The conference – which aims to empower and motivate women to pursue a lifelong journey of self discovery – kicked off with a “once in a lifetime conversation” between Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger and billionaire Warren Buffett, and went on to feature passionate speeches from Jennifer Lopez, Sally Field, Bono (see video here), Bonnie Raitt, Condoleezza Rice, Heidi Klum, Tony Blair’s wife Cherie, and many more.

“I stand before you as someone who loves being a woman,“ said Lopez. “I love that when life hands us our greatest challenges, we look up and realize that capacity. I love the fellowship we’re sharing here today…

“My dream is to launch a foundation to help the well being of all women. I decided after a lot of talks with my sister, Linda, when the time was right we would create an organization that would empower women and children. Empowering them to have their voices heard, to have the type of schools they deserve, the healthcare they deserve. Empowering them to demand change. Nothing more empowering than the love of a woman, a mother, a grandmother, a wife. Every single one of us deserves the best life has to offer.

“My foundation will prioritize the importance of empowerment. I have lots of big dreams and envision big changes toward proper healthcare, prenatal care, pediatric care. And that, coming together in the biggest possible way is what I believe women are capable of.

“Don’t ever doubt that you can accomplish more than you thought you ever could.”

Video highlights of the conference can be found here.

Macy's Passport Hits The Big Screen

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

For the first time ever, Macy’s Passport – the number 1 fashion fundraising event – will be brought to the silver screen across the US this month.

Keep the evening of October 23 free because special screening parties will be held in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, Long Island , Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Petersburg in Florida, and Washington DC. Each party will include performances from celebrities such as the Pussycat Dolls and Fall Out Boy. Proceeds from each party will go to a local HIV/AIDS charity.

Macy’s Passport 2008 celebrates 25 years of dedication to people with HIV/AIDS, and is the result of fashion and compassion joining forces for the common good.

The first Macy’s Passport show took place in 1980, when Macy’s presented “GQ Live,” a men’s fashion show featuring American designers in the employee cafeteria of Macy’s San Francisco. Although only 300 people were in the audience that year, word got out about the initiative. By 1983, the audience had grown to 2000. Since then, through the help of Elizabeth Taylor, Claudia Schiffer, Magic Johnson, Sharon Stone, Will Smith, Tina Turner, KD Lang, Macy Gray, Cindy Crawford, P. Diddy, Jennifer Lopez and many more, Macy’s Passport has grown to be one of the biggest fashion charity events in the world, raising over $27 million for AIDS charities.

To find out more about 2008’s shows – including ticket information – visit the Macy’s Passport website.

J-Lo Completes Triathlon For Charity

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jennifer Lopez has competed in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon and raised $127,000 for charity.

The singer and actress – who completed the event in 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 28 seconds – raised the money for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a facility that provides seriously ill children with medical care from some of the country’s best doctors regardless of their families’ ability to pay.

“I feel really great and so glad I finished and that I made it out of the water – but more amazing than that, I feel really great that we raised $127,000 for the Children’s Hospital and hopefully it’ll go to good use,” said Lopez.

The event – which took place on Sunday – featured a half-mile ocean swim, an 18-mile bike ride, and a 4-mile run, with competitors making their way “through some of the most beautiful scenic roads in Malibu, with spectacular views of both the mountains and the Pacific Ocean“.

Lopez’s husband, Marc Anthony, supported the 39-year-old during the event, and Lopez was joined by Matthew McConaughey, who completed the event in 1 hour. Over $950,000 was raised for charity during the event.

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.

Jennifer Lopez To Compete In Triathlon For Charity

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jennifer Lopez will compete in her first triathlon to raise money for charity.

The 39-year-old singer and wife of Marc Anthony has just launched her new blog on the SELF magazine website, and will be joined by the magazine’s editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger when she takes part in the September 14 triathlon in Malibu, California.

“You have to start slow and give yourself time,” Lopez told Good Morning America. “I’m always challenging myself and seeing what I can do.”

Lopez was named as one of SELF’s 10 most inspiring women of 2008, and says she is determined to finish the triathlon… even if she “has to crawl across that finish line.”

As well as inspiring people to get out there and enjoy sports, Lopez is also raising money for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Readers of her blog can donate money to the charity as well as follow her progress as she trains for the event.

According to the SELF website, doing it “for the kids” was the main reason Lopez decided to compete in the triathlon , and she’s thrilled to raise money and awareness for one of the top children’s hospitals in the country.

Stars Line Up For Women's Conference

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

California First Lady Maria Shriver has announced the lineup of celebrity speakers confirmed for this year’s annual Women’s Conference in Long Beach.

The event – to be held on October 21 and 22 at the Long Beach Convention Center – sold out in record time, and it is no surprise considering the plethora of newsmakers and world opinion leaders that will appear at the conference to empower and motivate women to pursue a lifelong journey of self discovery. Lance Armstrong, Bono, Warren Buffett, Sally Field, Michael J. Fox, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Jenny McCarthy, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Russell Simmons are just some of the 50 speakers set to take the stage, and there will also be a special performance by Bonnie Raitt.

The first Women’s Conference – formerly known as the California Governor and First Lady’s Conference on Women – was held over twenty years ago, but it has been under the leadership of First Lady Shriver and Governor Schwarzenegger that the event has become the premier event in empowering and inspiring women.

This year’s conference will include a new event – the Night at The Village – which will consist of exhibitor booths, stage presentations, book signings, shopping, food, musical entertainment, and a conversation with Rachael Ray.

“We envision ‘Night at The Village’ as the place for celebrating women, launching products for women, and having fun,” said Shriver. “The Village is our answer to a call from women for more time to just be — whether it is to mingle casually, network for work, or shop around for items and experiences that will enrich their mind, body and soul. All of this can now happen only at The Village.”

More information about the conference can be found at First Lady Shriver’s official website.

J. Lo Gets Loud With Autistic Children

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Students at an elementary school for autistic children in New York got the surprise of their lives last week when they received a visit from Jennifer Lopez.

The Bronx-born 38-year-old dropped in to the school – known as PS37 on Staten Island – after she received a letter from students asking for an autograph. A teacher at the school, Kathy Amati, had been using a video of the singer’s hit Let’s Get Loud during class time to enhance their coordination and listening skills. She suggested the children write to Lopez – but never expected the singer to arrive at her class’ graduation.

“The kids don’t even really understand how famous she is,” said Amati. “They just really like her singing and dancing.”

Lopez spent time talking to the 10- and 11-year-old students during her visit, and also performed Let’s Get Loud on stage with them.

Madonna And Friends Shine A Light On Malawi

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:23:58 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

If you were to look on a map, you could be excused for missing Malawi completely. Bordered by Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique in South East Africa, the nation of Malawi is shaped like a lightning bolt, with much of its land area covered by a massive lake. But it a country that is in dire need of help, and a host of celebrities turned out to a dazzling evening of fun on Wednesday, February 6, to raise awareness for what is one of the poorest countries in the world.

The gala event was hosted by Madonna on the lawns of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with the $3.7 million raised going to UNICEF and her own Raising Malawi organization. A long list of stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Tea Leoni, Lucy Liu, Billy Joel, Gwen Stefani, and Djimon Hounsou, attended the event, with tickets ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. The evening also featured performances by Alicia Keys, Timbaland, and Rihanna.

“I want to put Raising Malawi on the map,” said Madonna. “I want credibility as a philanthropic organisation. I want to inspire people. I don’t want them to just write me a cheque: I want them to give me a piece of their heart.”

Comedian Chris Rock hosted an auction during the evening, which featured some exciting items donated by celebrity guests. Priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities were up for grabs, such as a dance class with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow (which sold for $600,000), and a trip to Château Latour – including lunch with Salma Hayek – which was sold to Donald Trump for $120,000.

Tom Cruise, who attended the event with wife Katie Holmes, narrowly missed out on buying a sports package that included baseball practice with Yankee Alex Rodriguez and soccer practice with David Beckham.

“It was an extraordinary evening,” said Cruise. “The whole evening was quite moving. [Saving Malawi] is an absolute necessity.”

Saving Malawi was co-founded by Madonna in 2006, after she witnessed the plight of the country firsthand. And it is a plight she hopes to make more people aware of.

Recent UNICEF figures state that almost 1 million people in Malawi (whose total population is 13 million) suffer from HIV/AIDS, including 83,000 children. 267 people are infected with the virus every day, and half of the country’s 1 million orphans have lost their parents to the disease.

It is a country where 48% of children are severely malnourished, and many are subjected to the horrors of exploitation. The infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world, and 133 children out of 1000 die before they reach the age of five. They suffer from lack of food, shelter, clothing, education, clean water and sanitation, as well as basic medical services, and the average life expectancy is only 37 years.

Raising Malawi hopes to ease the suffering of the children of Malawi by providing smart solutions to the most challenging problems. Instead of just throwing money at the nightmare, they provide grassroots initiatives in the way of healthcare, education, and agriculture at a community level. To do this, they have partnered with some of the best organizations that work in the country, including the Millennium Promise Alliance, the Network of Organizations for Vulnerable and Orphan Children, and Spirituality for Kids.

One of Raising Malawi’s greatest initiatives is the Orphan Care Center recently built in the village of Mphandula. Designed to serve 4000 children, it provides a safe haven for orphans, and supplies nutritious meals, basic education, and crucial life skills. Along with programs to introduce solar power, clean water systems, and self-sustenance, Madonna hopes the Orphan Care Center will help Malawi overcome its problems.

“I’ve earned a reputation for many things,” said Madonna during Wednesday’s gala evening. “For pushing the envelope, for being a provocateur, for never taking no for an answer, for endlessly reinventing myself, for being a cult member, a kidnapper, for being ambitious, outrageous, and irreverent. And for never settling for second best. I don’t just want you to write me a check. I’m more interested in your heart. I want to take you on that journey with me tonight. I want you to feel as inspired as I do right now.

“Yes, I want to raise Malawi. But if I can do that – if we can do that – then the sky’s the limit.”

Bid Now For Christmas Gifts

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:21:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The countdown to Christmas has begun, and celebrities are doing their best to make holiday shopping easy this year. Several charity auctions have already kicked off to raise money for good causes, including one that may be eBay’s largest sale of celebrity items… ever!

The BID 2 BEAT AIDS online auction will open on December 1, World AIDS Day, and will feature over 1000 specially signed items, ranging from posters to iPods. The annual auction will raise money for LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS fundraising and service charity, and in the past has raised up to $175,000.

The array of memorabilia up for sale this year is simply colossal, with perhaps the most interesting items being a series of “Lend a Hand to LIFEbeat” cards that feature the handprints of over 100 celebrities. Stars such as Britney Spears, Jack Black, and Kathy Griffin traced around the outlines of their hands and decorated their artworks for the auction, and the finished products will make a unique addition to any Christmas stocking.

Also included in the auction is a selection of signed musical instruments. Rapper 50 Cent has donated the tambourines he used during his performance at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, and Metallica and the Foo Fighters have both donated guitars. There are also over 200 official RIAA gold and platinum record awards up for sale, from artists such as Annie Lennox, Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Green Day. Rare tour crew jackets from Guns N Roses, Cher, George Michael, and Prince are also available.

There are a stack of autographed CDs and DVDs on offer in the auction, from Mariah Carey, Elton John, Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Maroon 5, Amy Winehouse, and Val Kilmer, as well as books signed by Madonna, Bill Clinton, Rosie O’Donnell, Martha Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Ethan Hawke. Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Elijah Wood, and Usher have all signed posters for the auction.

For those people after something a little different, the auction also includes an iPod designed by Yoko Ono, a box of cereal signed by Will Ferrell, Borat’s hat signed by Sacha Baron Cohen, and a Spiderman action figure autographed by Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.

And if nothing mentioned so far whets your appetite, there are also signed items from Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Nelly, Joan Collins, John Travolta, Kanye West, The Cure, Jay-Z, Cameron Diaz, Victoria Beckham, Robin Williams, Hilary Duff, Jason Alexander, Jack Nicholson, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adam Sandler, John Legend, Jessica Simpson, Whoopi Goldberg, Aerosmith, Denzel Washington, Good Charlotte, James Blunt, Jeremy Piven, Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Norah Jones, Razorlight, Wyclef Jean, and many more… far too many to list here.

More information and a full list of items can be found at www.bid2beataids.com.

As if this wasn’t enough choice for Christmas shoppers, there are also several other auctions and events on the go at the moment. The biggest of these is the 10th Annual Collaborating For A Cure Benefit Dinner and Auction, a massive black tie gala to be held on November 29. It also happens to be one of the highest grossing charity events held every year in New York, and last year raised over $4 million for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization that has provided over $55 million in grants to cancer research, and has been instrumental in the development of new cancer drugs.

The gala dinner and live auction will be held at the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue, New York City, and over 1200 guests are expected to attend. The host for the evening is Chevy Chase, and attendees will be treated to a very special performance by Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh, members of 70’s rock group, the Eagles.

Selected items up for auction on the night as well as online include dinner with Chevy Chase, the chance to play tennis with Andre Agassi, and a meet and greet with Aerosmith.

More information can be found at www.charitybuzz.com.

Also on the Charitybuzz website is an auction to raise funding for Stand Up For A Cure, an organization dedicated to lung cancer research and awareness.

The auction runs from November 28 until December 12, and features unique items such as the chance to have Andrea Bocelli perform in your own home, the opportunity to have Patti LaBelle host your cocktail party, and VIP tickets to see Céline Dion at Madison Square Gardens.

And if you still can’t find a suitable gift, have a look at the Have A Heart Auction on Charitybuzz. All proceeds from the auction, which features the chance to meet Avril Lavigne, a copy of “An Inconvenient Truth” signed by Al Gore, and a “Godfather II” DVD signed by Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, will benefit HEART, an organization that aims to foster compassion and respect for all living beings.

But you have to be in quick, as the auction ends on November 29.

Shakira Joins Latin American Solidarity Action Foundation

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:53:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Shakira has announced her plan to raise $200 million for the charity América Latina en Acción Solidaria (ALAS).

The singer, who is already a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of Colombian charity Pies Descalzos, will stage four fundraising concerts in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and New York this year.

ALAS is dedicated to aiding impoverished communities throughout all of Latin America, focusing on improved nutrition, health and education for children. "ALAS came about because of a social emergency: 350 thousand children die each year due to avoidable causes; 40 million children work and live on the streets,” Shakira said.

Funding for ALAS comes from businesses, international institutions, NGOs and charity concerts. Other musicians involved since ALAS’s launch last December include Juanes, Alejandro Sanz, Diego Torres, Maná, Wyclef Jean and Daniela Mercury. Shakira said, “Each person has worked on projects or foundations on his own, but only now we are able to work together to develop interesting projects that will benefit everyone.”

Many more artists, such as Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, have since joined the foundation. REM’s vocalist Michael Stipe has confirmed his participation in the ALAS benefit concert cycle in 2008, the dates of which will be officially announced later this month.

Concrete ALAS health care programmes cover mass vaccinations and pre-natal care for more pregnant women. “Let’s not forget that at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America,” Shakira said at a UN award ceremony. The ALAS web site states, “Because we are Latin Americans we are determined to change this reality.”

Lopez, Marc Anthony, Paul Simon United For Children's Health

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:05:27 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Singer Paul Simon, Co-Founder of the Children’s Health Fund, was joined by Honorary Co-Chairs Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez for the charity’s 20th Anniversary Gala. Simon hosted the event, and CHF Advisory Board Member Anthony performed.

The charity advocates policies and public programs that promote quality health care for all children, and it partners with major medical centers to deliver care to disadvantaged children.

Marc Anthony himself benefitted from similar health programs as a child in New York City, and he told Access Hollywood, "This is basic healthcare, healthcare for children who otherwise do not have access … and I’ll support that as long as they need me. It’s a cause that I’m really, really close to.”

Lopez added, “I think it’s our responsibility as human beings to do as much as we can to help each other. And for us, for me, I’ve always had close to my heart the children’s charities.”

Former President Bill Clinton also made a special appearance, and was honored with a Humanitarian Award.

Stars Turn Out For LA Free Clinic Anniversary

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:44:45 -0000

Written by Charles Harder

Mick Jagger, Claire Danes, Zach Braff, Martin Scorsese, Bob Saget and Don Rickles took the stage at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday night to honor Paramount Pictures CEO Brad Grey at a gala dinner celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Free Clinic.

Marc Anthony performed a lively three-song set backed by his powerhouse salsa band. Also in attendance were Anthony’s superstar spouse, Jennifer Lopez, actor Mark Wahlberg and former California Governor Gray Davis.

The event raised $4 million for the Clinic, which provides free health care services throughout Los Angeles County.

Lopez Auctions Clothing for Children's Hospital

Wed, 17 May 2006 21:23:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is set to benefit from an upcoming online auction of clothing owned and worn by Jennifer Lopez.

Seven items will be sold to the highest bidder at overstock.com in the week of May 16th-23rd, including a brown poncho, a blue satin gown and jeans with Lopez’s signature.

J Lo organised a similar auction last year for the hospital.

Jennifer Lopez Seeking Bone Marrow Donors For Young Latina

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:23:13 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Jennifer Lopez is urging Hispanics to help save the life of a 29-year-old Latina. Janet Ovalles needs a transplant from a matching donor to survive, but there are no matches among the 10 million donors registered worldwide.

Ovalles hopes that Lopez can inspire people to help her. There will be bone marrow drives in New York on the 24th and 25th of February.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Raise Money For Cancer Centers

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:08:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony showed their support for the Celebrity Cancer Golf Classic by attending the final day of the event in October. More than $100,000 was raised for the Hospital Auxilo Mutuo Cancer Center and Sociedad America del Cancer, two cancer facilities in Puerto Rico.

Look To The Stars News: Jennifer Lopez

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