Look To The Stars News: Barack Obama

Stars Sign Books For Charity Auction

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Eyebrows of rare book and signature collectors will rise this fall when an extraordinary collection with a tender mission will be available for an online auction beginning November 9-24, 2009.

Dubbed The Little Auction That Could, the 70+ collection includes signatures from some of the most iconic figures of our time, including President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, JK Rowling and Tiger Woods.

Passionate about education and literacy, volunteer mom Karla Preissman wanted to foster a love of reading among children living at Jensen Beach, Florida-based Hibiscus Children’s Center who have suffered from abuse and neglect. First, she helped create the Reef Library within the shelter and filled it with hundreds of books and resources. But that wasn’t enough…she wanted to make sure that these resources would be replenished and the library maintained and supported by staff that would help make literacy a key component to the healing received at the foster care center.

She came up with an idea. Why not ask famous people what books inspired them as a child and ask them to simply sign their names in a copy that would be auctioned for the benefit of Hibiscus Children’s Center? What started off as a simple request has mushroomed into a wildly varied and fascinating glimpse of what some of the most famous people on the planet believed to be a motivating book from childhood. Other iconic figures, such as President Barack Obama, signed a book symbolic of his time in office—a first edition pop-up White House children’s book.

Author and poet Maya Angelou submitted three signed books, one coming from her personal library called Story of Phillis Wheatley detailing the life of a slave turned poet during the American Revolution. How do you place a value on a collectible item like that?

Other stars who have taken part include Hugh Hefner, Sean Connery, Arnold Palmer, Andy Roddick, Chris Evert, Katie Couric, Jay Leno, Jeff Probst, Bill Cosby, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lee Ann Womack, Tori Amos, Carrie Underwood, Donald Trump and many more.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based antiquarian book dealer and appraiser Robert Hittel believes, “Owning one or more books from this eclectic collection would be the cornerstone of anyone’s collection.”

For the complete listing of signed books and information about bidding, click here. To see the collection firsthand, visit the exhibition at the Elliott Museum in Stuart, Florida beginning November 6 through November 29, 2009.

Founded in 1985, Hibiscus Children’s Center is a non profit organization that addresses abuse and neglect issues throughout the Florida Treasure Coast. Programs include Foster Care, parental support, counseling for families in crisis and services to reunite children with their families, when appropriate. Click here for more info on this charity.

Michael Moore Sees The Need For Non-Profit Healthcare

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Documentary-maker Michael Moore is hopeful for the healthcare changes that American President Barack Obama is working towards. He just wishes that the majority of Americans who elected Obama were being a little noisier.

“I feel bad for President Obama, what he’s going through,” said Moore. “He’s trying to bring health to people who have a hard time getting health. All those millions, tens of millions of people who voted for him, where are they? Where are the people that wanted this?”

Moore thinks that Obama might be getting better attention if his proposal went straight to a single tier healthcare system similar to the versions available in most other western industrialized countries. Nevertheless, he still has faith: "I’ll give him credit for this: He knows, and his opponents know, that if a true public option exists, if that’s passed, it will be almost impossible for the private profit-making insurance companies to compete for the company that doesn’t have to make a profit, and could put those private profit-making insurance companies out of business. That possibility exists, they know it, and that’s why the health insurance companies are spending over a million dollars a day on lobbyists and other advertising efforts in the United States.

“My favorite ones of course being the ads that show Canada as a third world country, with people lined up out the door of the doctor’s office, waiting in line for nine months, dying of brain tumors on the sidewalks of Toronto. Thank you for appreciating our sense of humor in America,” he quipped last month while visiting the Toronto International Film Festival.

Idol Gives Back Is Back!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

After a one year hiatus, Idol Gives Back is set to rock for charity once again.

The American Idol special will air April 21, 2010, and will benefit national and international charities including Malaria No More, Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation.

“I am very pleased to announce that we will be doing our third Idol Gives Back on April 21, 2010,” said Simon Fuller, Idol creator and CEO of 19 Entertainment. “This is our opportunity to reach out and support the people of America and around the world who need our compassion and generosity to improve or even save their lives. America will undoubtedly prove once again what a remarkable and generous nation it is. For American Idol to be able to facilitate this kind of initiative makes me very proud.”

“Idol Gives Back” has raised over $140 million since its inception in 2007. The event regularly attracts appearances by major stars such as Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and many others – including 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama. The show last aired in 2008.

Celebrities Provide Happy Memories for Sick Children and Their Families

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

What do President Barack Obama, Jessica Alba and Martina McBride all have in common? They have all helped kids’ dreams come true through the Kids Wish Network.

The Kids Wish Network is a national charitable organization which works to bring joy to children who are facing difficult or tragic circumstances.

The charity has many programs, from Hero of the Month which recognizes young people facing tough situations, to Holiday of Hope Gift Bank which helps to bring comfort to children feeling alone in hospitals, to Wish Granting which arranges for children’s dreams to come true.

President Obama became one of the charity’s Guardian Angels when he met with Ta’Kiyah, a 12-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007. He gave her a hug and spent time looking through the scrapbook she brought with her.

“I was very impressed. He really took his time and looked at every picture and asked her what each picture represented,” said Cherie, Ta’Kiyah’s aunt. “Thumbs up to everybody who made this possible for Ta’Kiyah.”

Jessica Alba took 9-year-old heart disease patient Adina on a 1 1/2 hour shopping trip in LA. Martina McBride spent time at one of her concerts with Ashley, a girl who was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, and dedicated her song “Butterfly” to the girl on that evening.

Many other celebrities have brightened the lives of sick children through the organization, including Gene Simmons, Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Jessica Simpson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr..

Earnhardt met 4-year-old Mikey, who was born with a serious medical condition called VATERL Syndrome. Mikey was thrilled to meet his hero, and, after overcoming his shyness, dashed over to grab Earnhardt’s leg, stating, “I love you, Junior!”

Earnhardt reached down to pat the boy on the back, and with a warm smile replied, “I love you too, buddy.”

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. Aside from granting wishes, Kids Wish Network also has several other programs which benefit children’s care facilities. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit KidsWishNetwork.org

Aung San Suu Kyi Receives Unanimous Support

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi received her sentencing last week: 18 more months of house arrest for breaking the terms of her current detention when she allowed a stranger into her home for two days to recover from swimming across a lake to her property.

The outrage at the verdict is unanimous amongst western world leaders:

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: "I am both saddened and angry at the verdict today, 11 August, following the sham trial of Aung San Suu Kyi. The news – that she has been found guilty and sentenced to three years hard labour but that this has been “mitigated” to a suspended sentence of 1.5 years under house arrest – is further proof that the military regime in Burma is determined to act with total disregard for accepted standards of the rule of law and in defiance of international opinion. This is a purely political sentence designed to prevent her from taking part in the regime’s planned elections next year."

US President Barack Obama: “I join the international community in calling for Aung San Suu Kyi’s immediate unconditional release. Today’s unjust decision reminds us of the thousands of other political prisoners in Burma who, like Aung San Suu Kyi, have been denied their liberty because of their pursuit of a government that respects the will, rights and aspirations of all Burmese citizens. They, too, should be freed. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. I call on the Burmese regime to heed the views of its own people and the international community and to work towards genuine national reconciliation.”

UN chief Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson: “The Secretary-General urges the Government to immediately and unconditionally release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.”

The European Union: is extending its sanctions such as travel bans and freezes on assets to Myanmar judiciary members involved in the verdict. The EU calls for Aung San Suu Kyi’s unconditional release.

Amnesty International: “Her arrest and trial and now this guilty verdict are nothing more than legal and political theatre.”

Human Rights Watch: “The politically motivated guilty verdict against the Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is a reprehensible abuse of power by Burma’s military government…. This trial was a farce, a brutal distortion of the legal process. By silencing prominent opponents through bogus trials, the generals are clearly showing why the elections they have been touting for next year won’t bring change.”

According to some reports, the American swimmer claims he went to Suu Kyi’s home to warn her. Other reports say he claims God told him to protect her. He received seven years of hard labour at his own trial, and CNN reported Saturday that he has been released to American authorities. Suu Kyi plans to appeal.

President Obama To Award Medals Of Freedom Today

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0000

President Obama has named 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. America’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

This year’s awardees were chosen for their work as agents of change. Among their many accomplishments in fields ranging from sports and art to science and medicine to politics and public policy, these men and women have changed the world for the better. They have blazed trails and broken down barriers. They have discovered new theories, launched new initiatives, and opened minds to new possibilities.

President Obama said, "These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way.

“Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive. It is my great honor to award them the Medal of Freedom.”

President Obama will present the awards at a ceremony on Wednesday, August 12.

The following individuals will receive the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom:

Nancy Goodman Brinker. Nancy Goodman Brinker is the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s leading breast cancer grass roots organization. Brinker established the organization in memory of her sister, who passed away from breast cancer in 1980. Through innovative events like Race for the Cure, the organization has given and invested over $1.3 billion for research, health services and education services since its founding in 1982 and developed a worldwide grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists who are working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures. Brinker has received several awards for her work, and has also served in government as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary (2001 – 2003), Chief of Protocol of the U.S. (2007 – 2009), and Chair of the President’s Cancer Panel (1990). In May, Nancy Goodman Brinker was named the first-ever World Health Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control.

Pedro José Greer, Jr. Dr. Pedro Jose Greer is a physician and the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at the Florida International University School of Medicine, where he also serves as Chair of the Department of Humanities, Health and Society. Dr. Greer is the founder of Camillus Health Concern, an agency that provides medical care to over 10,000 homeless patients a year in the city of Miami. He is also the founder and medical director of the St. John Bosco Clinic which provides basic primary medical care to disadvantaged children and adults in the Little Havana community. He has been recognized by Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr, and Jimmy Carter for his work with Miami’s poor . He is also the recipient of three Papal Medals as well as the prestigious MacArthur “genius grant”. He currently has a joint private practice with his father, Pedro Greer, Sr.

Stephen Hawking. Stephen Hawking is an internationally-recognized theoretical physicist who has a severe physical disability due to motor neuron disease. He is the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, a post previously held by Isaac Newton in 1669. In addition to his pioneering academic research in mathematics and physics, Hawking has penned three popular science books, including the bestselling A Brief History of Time. Hawking, a British citizen, believes that non-academics should be able to access his work just as physicists are, and has also published a children’s science book with his daughter. His persistence and dedication has unlocked new pathways of discovery and inspired everyday citizens.

Jack Kemp. Jack Kemp, who passed away in May 2009, served as a U.S. Congressman (1971 – 1989), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1989 – 1993), and Republican Nominee for Vice President (1996). Prior to entering public service, Kemp was a professional football player (1957 – 1969) and led the Buffalo Bills to American Football League championships in 1964 and 1965. In Congress and as a Cabinet Secretary, Kemp was a self-described “bleeding heart conservative” who worked to encourage development in underserved urban communities. In the years leading up to his death, Kemp continued seeking new solutions, raising public attention about the challenge of poverty, and working across party lines to improve the lives of Americans and others around the world.

Sen. Edward Kennedy. Senator Edward M. Kennedy has served in the United States Senate for forty-six years, and has been one of the greatest lawmakers – and leaders – of our time. From reforming our public schools to strengthening civil rights laws and supporting working Americans, Senator Kennedy has dedicated his career to fighting for equal opportunity, fairness and justice for all Americans. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that every American has access to quality and affordable health care, and has succeeded in doing so for countless children, seniors, and Americans with disabilities. He has called health care reform the “cause of his life,” and has championed nearly every health care bill enacted by Congress over the course of the last five decades. Known as the “Lion of the Senate,” Senator Kennedy is widely respected on both sides of the aisle for his commitment to progress and his ability to legislate.

Billie Jean King. Billie Jean King was an acclaimed professional tennis player in the 1960s and 1970s, and has helped champion gender equality issues not only in sports, but in all areas of public life. King beat Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, then the most viewed tennis match in history. King became one of the first openly lesbian major sports figures in America when she came out in 1981. Following her professional tennis career, King became the first woman commissioner in professional sports when she co-founded and led the World Team Tennis (WTT) League. The U.S. Tennis Association named the National Tennis Center, where the US Open is played, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2006. She was a Founding Board Member of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Rev. Joseph Lowery. Reverend Lowery has been a leader in the U.S. civil rights movement since the early 1950s. It was in Mobile, Alabama, at this time –that he headed the Alabama Civic Affairs Association; the organization which led the Movement to desegregate buses and public accommodations. Rev. Lowery later co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a leading civil rights organization, with Dr. Martin Luther King, and was chosen by Dr. King to Chair the Delegation delivering the demands of the Selma-to-Montgomery March to Alabama Governor George Wallace.. Rev. Lowery is a minister in the United Methodist Church, and has continued to highlight important civil rights issues in the U.S. and worldwide, including apartheid in South Africa, since the 1960s.

Joe Medicine Crow – High Bird. Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, the last living Plains Indian war chief, is the author of seminal works in Native American history and culture. He is the last person alive to have received direct oral testimony from a participant in the Battle of the Little Bighorn: his grandfather was a scout for General George Armstrong Custer. A veteran of World War II, Medicine Crow accomplished during the war all of the four tasks required to become a “war chief,” including stealing fifty Nazi SS horses from a German camp. Medicine Crow was the first member of his tribe to attend college, receiving his master’s degree in anthropology in 1939, and continues to lecture at universities and notable institutions like the United Nations. His contributions to the preservation of the culture and history of the First Americans are matched only by his importance as a role model to young Native Americans across the country.

Harvey Milk. Harvey Milk became the first openly gay elected official from a major city in the United States when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Milk encouraged lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens to live their lives openly and believed coming out was the only way they could change society and achieve social equality. Milk, alongside San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, was shot and killed in 1978 by Dan White, a former city supervisor. Milk is revered nationally and globally as a pioneer of the LGBT civil rights movement for his exceptional leadership and dedication to equal rights.

Sandra Day O’Connor. Justice O’Connor was the first woman ever to sit on the United States Supreme Court. Nominated by President Reagan in 1981, she served until her retirement in 2006. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, O’Connor served as a state trial and appellate judge in Arizona. She was also as a member of the Arizona state senate, where she became the first woman in the United States ever to lead a state senate as Senate Majority Leader. At a time when women rarely entered the legal profession, O’Connor graduated Stanford Law School third in her class, where she served on the Stanford Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. Since retiring from the Supreme Court in 2006, O’Connor has served as Chancellor of the College of William and Mary, on the Board of Trustees of the National Constitution Center, and participated in the Iraq Study Group in 2006, as well as giving numerous lectures on public service. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding achievements and public service.

Sidney Poitier. Sidney Poitier is a groundbreaking actor, becoming the top black movie star in the 1950s and 1960s. Poitier is the first African American to be nominated and win a Best Actor Academy Award, receive an award at a top international film festival (Venice Film Festival), and be the top grossing movie star in the United States. Poitier insisted that the film crew on The Lost Man be at least 50 percent African American, and starred in the first mainstream movies portraying “acceptable” interracial marriages and interracial kissing. Poitier began his acting career without any training or experience by auditioning at the American Negro Theatre.

Chita Rivera. Chita Rivera is an accomplished and versatile actress, singer, and dancer, who has won Two Tony Awards and received seven more nominations while breaking barriers and inspiring a generation of women to follow in her footsteps. In 2002, she became the first Hispanic recipient of the coveted Kennedy Center Honor. Propelled to stardom by her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story, Rivera went on to star in additional landmark musicals such as Chicago, Bye Bye Birdie, and Jerry’s Girls. She recently starred in The Dancer’s Life, an autobiographical musical about her celebrated life in the theatre.

Mary Robinson. Mary Robinson was the first female President of Ireland (1990 – 1997) and a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997 – 2002), a post that required her to end her presidency four months early. Robinson served as a prominent member of the Irish Senate prior to her election as President. She continues to bring attention to international issues as Honorary President of Oxfam International, and Chairs the Board of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI Alliance). Since 2002 she has been President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, based in New York, which is an organization she founded to make human rights the compass which charts a course for globalization that is fair, just and benefits all.

Janet Davison Rowley. Janet Davison Rowley, M.D., is the Blum Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology and Human Genetics at The University of Chicago. She is an American human geneticist and the first scientist to identify a chromosomal translocation as the cause of leukemia and other cancers. Rowley is internationally renowned for her studies of chromosome abnormalities in human leukemia and lymphoma, which have led to dramatically improved survival rates for previously incurable cancers and the development of targeted therapies. In 1999 President Clinton awarded her the National Medal of Science—the nation’s highest scientific honor.

Desmond Tutu. Desmond Tutu is an Anglican Archbishop emeritus who was a leading anti-apartheid activist in South Africa. Widely regarded as “South Africa’s moral conscience,” he served as the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) from 1978 – 1985, where he led a formidable crusade in support of justice and racial reconciliation in South Africa. He received a Nobel Peace Prize for his work through SACC in 1984. Tutu was elected Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986, and the Chair of the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995. He retired as Archbishop in 1996 and is currently Chair of The Elders.

Muhammad Yunus. Dr. Muhammad Yunus is a global leader in anti-poverty efforts, and has pioneered the use of “micro-loans” to provide credit to poor individuals without collateral. Dr. Yunus, an economist by training, founded the Grameen Bank in 1983 in his native Bangladesh to provide small, low-interest loans to the poor to help better their livelihood and communities. Despite its low interest rates and lending to poor individuals, Grameen Bank is sustainable and 98% percent of its loans are repaid – higher than other banking systems. It has spread its successful model throughout the world. Dr. Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work.

Michael J. Fox Honored For His War On Parkinson’s

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Hollywood honored actor Michael J. Fox last week for his ongoing work to raise awareness on Parkinson’s Disease.

Fox’s commitment goes beyond his Michael J. Fox Foundation that researches treatments and cures for Parkinson’s disease – although the foundation has raised almost $100 million since Fox established it in 2000, ten years after being diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s. He was very pleased when, earlier this year, American president Barack Obama overturned a ban on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, getting “politics out of science.”

But perhaps an even greater contribution, to himself and others who are afflicted with the disease, was when he came out of the closet, helping to overturn taboos and the shame that comes along with the debilitating disease. The books Fox has written on living with Parkinson’s have also been well-received.

TV presenter Laila Ali, daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, is familiar with Parkinson’s since her father also suffers from it. At the celebration, she said: “[Michael] carries himself with such dignity. He doesn’t try to hide his symptoms from the public and I think that’s excellent. He’s a great man.” Hollywood thinks so too.

Laura Bush Joins World Vision Malaria Campaign

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Former U.S. first lady Laura Bush and Major League Baseball pitching legend Rick Sutcliffe have joined the advisory council of World Vision’s “End Malaria” campaign.

They join Ray Chambers, the first U.N. Special Envoy for Malaria; Malaria No More CEO Scott Case and Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ), in committing to assist and advise efforts to fight malaria and save the lives of millions of children around the world.

Malaria kills nearly 1 million people a year, 85 percent of whom are children. World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization working in 64 malaria-endemic countries, last year launched an initiative to boost prevention and treatment activities in hard-hit areas and strengthen advocacy to improve government policies and increase resources.

“Each of us can do our part whether we are public leaders, notable athletes or simply concerned Americans, and we thank our advisors for dedicating their time and talents to combat this leading cause of death for babies and young children in the developing world,” stated Richard Stearns, president of World Vision. “This is a disease that can be prevented, treated and defeated.”

This is not the first time Mrs. Bush has collaborated with World Vision to fight malaria. In June of 2007, she met with local caregivers and visited a training center for household-based care providers in Zambia supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Zambian government. During her time there, she helped assemble caregiver kits with bed nets to equip households against malaria through the World Vision-led RAPIDS coalition (Reaching HIV and AIDS Affected People with Integrated Development and Support).

Rick Sutcliffe brings not only a personal passion to the fight against malaria, but also a track-record in rallying others on good causes. The 3-time all-star garnered many honors during his 18 years in Major League Baseball, including the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1979 and the Cy Young award in 1984. He has contributed to ESPN’s “Monday Night Baseball” as an analyst and also covers Major League Baseball’s World Series, internationally. Sutcliffe said he is eager to capitalize on his resources and experience with teamwork to help make a difference.

“I strongly believe in World Vision’s mission to end malaria and make the world a better place for children. It is a privilege to join them in this campaign,” said Sutcliffe. “Working together as a team with supporters at home and a strong presence in the field, we can strike out this preventable, killer disease.”

The End Malaria campaign aims to reduce illnesses and deaths from malaria, contributing to the global goal of near zero preventable malaria deaths by 2015. World Vision distributes insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent infectious mosquito bites and works in partnerships to ensure nets, prevention training and medicines are available in impoverished communities where needed.

The campaign also focuses on raising awareness of the global impact of malaria in the United States to garner new resources and expand the growing movement to end malaria. Among the goals is to increase U.S. government funding to combat malaria to at least $1 billion a year.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

Nelson Mandela's 91st Celebrated In Style

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A galaxy of stars turned out to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday in New York during the weekend, with proceeds going to one of the South African legend’s charities.

Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and many more appeared at the Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, July 19, with money raised going to 46664, Mandela’s campaign to help raise Global awareness of AIDS/HIV. 46664 aims to highlight the emergency of AIDS/HIV through unique live events and music related initiatives.

Mandela himself was unable to attend the event, but did send a video message in which he said “It is on your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” President Barack Obama also appeared via video, saying that Mandela’s life “teaches us that the impossible can be done, but only if people have the courage to make change happen.”

Morgan Freeman, Forest Whitaker, Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins spoke at the event.

Others to perform at the concert included French first lady Carla Bruni, who sang Bob Dylan’s Blowing in the Wind with former Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart. Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, will.i.am, Wyclef Jean and Gloria Gaynor also performed, and Cyndi Lauper dueted with Lil’ Kim.

“Our struggle for freedom and justice was a collective effort,” said Mandela. “It is our hope that people will dedicate their time and effort to improve the conditions within their own community.”

Bono Writes About Obama's Visit To Ghana

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

ONE Campaign co-founder Bono put pen to paper for the New York Times last week about President Obama’s historic visit to Ghana during the weekend.

In the column, the U2 singer wrote about the relationship between the U.S. and Africa and about how countries like Ghana are challenging old stereotypes about Africa.

“No one’s leaked me a copy of the president’s speech in Ghana, but it’s pretty clear he’s going to focus not on the problems that afflict the continent but on the opportunities of an Africa on the rise,” wrote Bono in the piece titled Rebranding Africa, published prior to Obama’s visit. "If that’s what he does, the biggest cheers will come from members of the growing African middle class, who are fed up with being patronized and hearing the song of their majestic continent in a minor key.

“I’ve played that tune. I’ve talked of tragedy, of emergency. And it is an emergency when almost 2,000 children in Africa a day die of a mosquito bite; this kind of hemorrhaging of human capital is not something we can accept as normal.

“But as the example of Ghana makes clear, that’s only one chord. Amid poverty and disease are opportunities for investment and growth — investment and growth that won’t eliminate overnight the need for assistance, much as we and Africans yearn for it to end, but that in time can build roads, schools and power grids and propel commerce to the point where aid is replaced by trade pacts, business deals and home-grown income.”

The full column can be read here.

Sheryl Crow And Elvis Costello Rock MLB For Cancer

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sheryl Crow joined Elvis Costello onstage at the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Charity Concert on Saturday, July 11, under the iconic Gateway Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

The concert, which was free to fans, was the culmination of a day-long celebration of baseball history and featured a $1 million donation by Major League Baseball to Stand Up To Cancer. In addition, fans were able to make donations to Stand Up To Cancer after the concert. The concert streamed live on MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and fans watching the live stream were encouraged to donate to Stand Up To Cancer.

“I want you all to take your cell phones out and text STAND to 40202,” told the 100,000 people in the crowd. “I know you have cell phones. You’ve been taking pictures of me. I’ve seen you. Take them out and text to 40202. You can help to end cancer in my lifetime. And yours.”

Major League Baseball has responded to United States of America President Barack Obama’s call for community service through “United We Serve,” a program which encourages all Americans to be part of building a new foundation for America by engaging in sustained and meaningful community service. The initiative will focus on four key areas: energy and the environment, health care, education, and community renewal. The concert was an environmentally focused event featuring the Major League Baseball Green Team, a group that collected recyclable bottles and cans at the show.

“It’s really amazing,” said Crow. “I don’t know of a national sport that has embraced a cause like this and has raised so much money and made it such a high-profile issue. I don’t need to reiterate the fact that that everyone has a relationship with cancer. Whether it’s an individual-personal relationship — whether it’s with family or friends — we’ve all been touched by cancer. So it’s just an incredible blessing to see, because I have such a personal relationship with cancer, a sport embrace Stand Up To Cancer and make it such a massively-wide issue.”

Sheryl Crow To Perform At MLB Charity Concert

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Major League Baseball will host Missouri native and nine-time Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow for the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi on Saturday, July 11 under the iconic Gateway Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

The concert, which will be free to fans, is the culmination of a day-long celebration of baseball history and will feature a $1 million donation by Major League Baseball to Stand Up To Cancer. In addition, fans will be able to make donations to Stand Up To Cancer after the concert. The concert will be streamed live on MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and fans watching the live stream will be encouraged to donate to Stand Up To Cancer.

The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi is part of a series of charitable events and activities leading up to the MLB All-Star Game. This year’s All-Star activities are focused on MLB and its business partners giving back to important charitable causes and celebrating the importance of community service. In addition to Pepsi, MLB sponsors Budweiser, Sharp and Taco Bell are also supporting this event.

The concert will begin at 8:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, July 11. Prior to the concert, the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game on FOX will be aired live on big screen televisions at the concert location for fans to view.

Major League Baseball has responded to United States of America President Barack Obama’s call for community service through “United We Serve,” a program which begins today to encourage all Americans to be part of building a new foundation for America by engaging in sustained and meaningful community service. The initiative will focus on four key areas: energy and the environment, health care, education, and community renewal. The concert will be an environmentally focused event featuring the Major League Baseball Green Team, a group that will collect recyclable bottles and cans at the show. Pepsi and Aquafina are supplying more than 100 recycling bins that will be located around the Arch grounds. Major League Baseball has a relationship with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), who advises MLB on ways for the League and its Clubs to implement practices and policies that are environmentally-friendly.

“I am honored to team up with Major League Baseball to come home and perform a free show that will support Stand Up To Cancer, an organization with the noble and ambitious goal of eradicating all forms of cancer,” said Crow, a cancer survivor. “The dedication of Major League Baseball to being a part of the environmental movement gives me the chance to put on a show while supporting two causes that I feel strongly about.”

“Sheryl Crow is a wonderful performer who deserves enormous credit for using her fame to shine a light on causes that are important to the health and welfare of our country,” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. “As a social institution, Major League Baseball will use this concert and the All-Star festivities to entertain our fans while recognizing the importance of addressing important social needs, and we thank Pepsi for making this great event happen.”

“All of us at Stand Up To Cancer are very grateful to Sheryl Crow and Major League Baseball, for their dedication and support in the fight against cancer,” said Sue Schwartz, member of the Stand Up to Cancer Executive Leadership Council. “We are thrilled to have a tremendous platform like the All-Star Game to invigorate and activate the public in the fight against this vicious disease.”

“Pepsi is fortunate to have the opportunity to merge two of America’s favorite pastimes — baseball and music — into one event,” said Jeff Dubiel, VP of Sports Marketing, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages. “By teaming up with Major League Baseball and Sheryl Crow, we’re not only giving fans an amazing show, but we’re raising awareness and funding for an important cause — Stand Up To Cancer.”

Free-spirited, fearless and fierce, Sheryl Crow has garnered nine Grammys, performed duets with musical luminaries such as Sting and Mick Jagger, released seven studio albums which sold more than 35 million records worldwide, and launched her very own clothing line Bootheel Trading Co., is a cancer survivor and passionate humanitarian and has performed for President Obama. From humble beginnings as a jingle and back-up singer, Crow has reached the pinnacle of professional solo success. Crow explores both personal and global issues on her most recent LP, Detours (produced by Bill Bottrell, who last worked with Crow on her 1993 debut, the seven-times platinum Tuesday Night Music Club).

In the span of just a year, Stand Up To Cancer raised more than $100 million due in large part to a historic hour-long program simultaneously broadcast on ABC, CBS and NBC, September 5, 2008. In May 2009, SU2C announced its first funding of more than $73 million to five dream team collaborations comprised of more than 38 principal investigators from over 20 leading institutions, with 337 individuals participating in total.

Barack And Michelle Busy With Charity Events

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the Obama family, with both Barack and Michelle attending charity events.

Last Thursday, June 25, Michelle attended the United We Serve volunteer event at the Fort McNair fitness center in Washington DC. The event saw 15,000 backpacks with books, healthy snacks and toys donated to the children of those in the armed forces.

“Economic recovery is as much about what you’re doing in your communities as what we’re doing here in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together,” she said. “So, wherever your interests lie – whether it’s working with young people or caring for the sick and elderly in our hospitals, or helping to make the homes in your neighborhood more energy efficient – or any other issue, the most important thing is for you to get involved.”

Michelle then joined her husband for an event in recognition of LGBT Pride Month in the East Room of the White House on Monday, June 29.

“I want you to know: You have our support,” said Barack. “I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you.”

Stars Help The Ticci Man Project Raise Awareness Of Native Americans

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

The Ticci Man Project (TMP) is geared up and running at full throttle to draw awareness to the ever present problems of racism and inequality faced by Native Americans in Hollywood. The project is hosted by the nonprofit Kon Ticci International and will employ celebrities, Native and Non-Native alike, in a series of events showcasing Native talent.

Celebrity supporters include Home Improvement’s Tim Allen, famous Native American actor-activist Russell Means, and Native producer-director-actor Georgina Lightning. The event is tentatively planned to occur in late summer or early fall and will include fundraising events such as a charity auction, a gourmet dinner, and TMP’s Celebrity Festival for Native America. The star-studded events will celebrate the beauty of Native America while increasing the reverence and parity of Native Americans in Hollywood.

TMP has encouraged the endorsement of over 270 celebrities and world dignitaries including President Barack Obama and New Mexico’s Governor Bill Richardson. All proceeds will benefit various aspects of the Native community. For more information or to donate visit www.ticciman.com .

Michelle Obama Speaks At A UK Girls’ School

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

On her first foreign trip as America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama visited a girls’ school in London to speak about the importance of education and the role that those girls will play in society’s future.

“During my visit I’ve been especially honored to meet some of Britain’s most extraordinary women,” Michelle said to the assembly of girls, “women who are paving the way for all of you. And I’m honored to meet you, the future leaders of Great Britain and this world.”

Reiterating what she mentioned frequently during her husband’s presidential campaign, Michelle spoke of her first date with president Barack Obama, which took place at a community meeting. There, Barack said that too often people accept the distance between the idea of the world as it is and the idea of the world as it should be, and he urged the audience to close that gap.

Michelle gave that same challenge to the girls in her audience. “All of you in this school are very important parts of closing that gap. You are the women who will build the world as it should be. You’re going to write the next chapter in history, not just for yourselves, but for your generation and generations to come.”

And that, says Michelle, is why a good education is so important: “Because communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women. Part of that health includes an outstanding education. The difference between a struggling family and a healthy one is often the presence of an empowered woman…. This school, named after the UK’s first female doctor,… honors women who fought sexism, racism and ignorance to pursue their passions to feed their own souls…. By getting a good education, you too can control your own destiny.”

Nothing in Michelle’s humble beginnings predicted that she would ever be standing on the stage “as the first African American first lady of the United States of America.” It was education that got her there. “I hope in pursuing your dreams that you use your talents…to create the world as it should be, because we are counting on you.”

To see the speech in its entirety, click here

Dom DeLuise's Charity Legacy

Wed, 06 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Actor Dom DeLuise sadly passed away on Monday, May 4, after a long battle with cancer. But the comedian is leaving a lasting legacy for charity.

In lieu of flowers, DeLuise’s family has asked for donations to some of his favorite charities, such as the Elixir Fund, the Lily Sanctuary, the Hydrocephalus Foundation, and the Pearl S. Buck Foundation.

DeLuise is also one of the stars who has donated doodles to this year’s annual Celebrity Doodle auction to raise money for Neurofibromatosis, Inc..

Imagine an unpredictable disease that causes tumors to form on the nerves of your body. Depending on their location, these tumors can cause disfigurement, dysfunction, deafness or blindness. In the wrong place they can be fatal. That is Neurofibromatosis, or NF for short. If that weren’t enough, NF can also cause learning disabilities, seizures, bone deformity and cancer. Currently, 100,000 Americans have NF; worldwide, 115 babies are born each day with this same genetic disorder.

Neurofibromatosis can affect any family. Half the children born with it have no family history of NF. Despite the many researchers studying this devastating condition, there is still no cure, and treatments are largely inadequate.

But there is hope. In support of its mission, NF, Inc., the national non-profit organization dedicated to serving families affected by NF, announces its third annual National Doodle Day fundraiser, an auction of “Doodles” by a wide range of celebrities and artists. Each contributor has donated and autographed a one-of-a-kind work of art drawn on a 5 × 8 Doodle Card. Beginning Thursday, May 7, these Doodles will be auctioned on eBay, with all funds raised supporting NF, Inc.

To date, over 75 celebrity Doodles have been posted to the NF, Inc. web site, and include: actors Christopher Atkins (The Blue Lagoon), Tom Bosley (Happy Days, Father Dowling Mysteries), James Cromwell (Babe), Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie), Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky & Hutch), Rue McClanahan (The Golden Girls), Chef Duff (Ace of Cakes), singers Tony Bennett, Micky Dolenz (The Monkees), Coach Bruce Boudreau (head coach, Washington Capitals ice hockey team), Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback), former Boston Celtics Tom Heinsohn, legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, bestselling author Jodi Picoult and many more. To take a “sneak peek” at the Doodles, visit www.doodledayusa.org.

Last year’s auction raised $28,000 for NF, Inc. The top seller, at $2,749, was a Doodle by X-Files actress Gillian Anderson. The premiere auction in 2007 featured a Doodle by the junior senator from Illinois, now President Barack Obama! It sold for $2,075.

Yoko Ono Revisits Acorn Peace Campaign

Tue, 05 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Yoko Ono is to recreate a peace promotion she originally carried out in 1969 with her husband, John Lennon, to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

The 76-year-old artist will send acorns to 123 world leaders – including Barack Obama – encouraging them to strive for world peace. Each world leader will receive two acorns in a transparent box with the inscription “Acorn Peace by John And Yoko, Spring 2009”.

On 15 June 1968, John Lennon and Yoko Ono planted two acorns for peace at Coventry Cathedral. The acorns were planted in east and westerly positions, symbolizing the meeting of the couple and the union of their two cultures. This was the first of many peace events that the couple would initiate throughout their lives. They followed the planting by sending acorns to world leaders in the hope that they would plant oak trees in their gardens.

Beatles fans will remember and recognize the stunt from the lyrics of their number 1 hit The Ballad of John and Yoko: “Caught the early plane back to London/Fifty acorns tied in a sack/The men from the press said, ‘We wish you success, it’s good to have the both of you back’”.

To see the letter Ono has written to Obama, as well as the original letters she received from world leaders in 1969, visit the Imagine Peace website.

Be Published Next To World Leaders For The ONE Campaign

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

The ONE Campaign is giving you the chance to have your writing featured in a book alongside Nelson Mandela, Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Desmond Tutu and other world leaders, as well as Natalie Portman and Paulo Coelho.

In June, ONE and the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) plans to present a book called The Big Read to President Barack Obama, urging him to keep his promise to ensure children in developing countries have access to basic education through a U.S. contribution of $2 billion to a Global Fund for Education.

Contributions for the book come from children and adults who have struggled to gain an education; and local heroes who have helped make education possible for others. The book will be translated and distributed in over 100 countries, and will be used as a tool for promoting literacy and good quality, free and public education for everyone.

Deadline for submissions is May 1. Submissions should be no more than 1,000 words, and should be about your education-related or ONE advocacy work. Although many forms of stories appear in the book, ONE are looking for a personal narrative telling YOUR story: what does education mean to you? Why is it important to you that children in other countries receive a basic education?

Your story need not be heart-wrenching. ONE members are all heroes, using their voices on behalf of the world’s poorest people. That’s why a ONE member is getting this special opportunity to have a story published in the book.

To make a submission or learn more, visit the ONE Campaign website.

Jay Leno‘s “Comedy Stimulus Plan” A Roaring Success

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Isra Shah

Comedian Jay Leno made good on his promise to visit hard-hit Detroit for a free show to give something back to the area’s unemployed last week.

The two day event, dubbed “Jay’s Comedy Stimulus Plan,” drew in about 36,000 laid-off auto workers, who were treated to free refreshments and fun, as well as a surprise appearance by Detroit native Kid Rock, who introduced Leno to the crowd.

Leno cited his love of cars as one of the reasons that he chose to travel to the Motor City. “I like Detroit,” he told People Magazine. “It’s one of those old cities. And when you’re an auto guy like me, that city is Jerusalem.” The inspiration behind his decision to offer a free show for those caught in the tumult of the economic downturn, however, was President Obama.

“I’m listening to him say we all gotta do our part in these rough times, and I’m thinking that all I can do is tell jokes,” Leno says. “But if I can go and make people laugh, then that’s great.”

In addition to performing stand up at the event, the Tonight Show host spent part of his time in Detroit visiting with officials from General Motors and Ford; Leno toured the factories’ facilities and test drove some of the newer vehicles in the manufacturers’ product lines.   Afterwards, he told his audience that he recently purchased a Chevrolet Corvette and a Dodge Challenger, saying that he is “a rich guy” who can purchase any car he wants, but that chose to buy the two American vehicles because he likes them and because they are “world-class” products.

“I think you should buy it because you want to and because it is as good a product,” Leno said. “I don’t think you should buy it because you feel sorry for some situation.”

Ultimately, Leno told the crowd that, the credit for the autos’ superiority lies with the workers of Detroit.

“This is one of the great industrial cities. This is a city that actually makes a product! During World War II, your fathers and grandfathers made a bomber an hour at Willow Run, faster than the Germans or Japanese could shoot them down.”

Leno also credited unions for the success of blue collar workers in decades past. “I want to thank you,” he told the crowd. “You guys created the middle class.”

Due to the warm reception in Detroit, future stops of the “Comedy Stimulus” tour may follow in other cities. Stay tuned for future dates on the show’s website.

Yoko Ono’s Promise On World Autism Day

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Artist Yoko Ono’s two-metre jigsaw puzzle mural, called Promise, is being auctioned piece by piece to raise money for Autism Speaks. The art work was unveiled on April 2 on the United Nation’s World Autism Awareness Day.

Yoko explains the mural’s white clouds on blue sky, already missing some pieces: “Once the solution for autism is discovered, we will see the sky shimmering in its original beauty, with no holes.”

Her long-time friend, Peter Brown, explains the 67-piece acrylic puzzle further: “She met John [Lennon] in ’67 and, coincidentally, there are an estimated 67 million people around the world with Autism.”

Autism is a complex neurological disorder that effects language development and the ability to have social relationships. Autism Speaks funds research into its causes, preventions, treatments and support for families affected by it. The charity also raises awareness, and attention is exactly what autism is getting.

On World Autism Awareness Day, many world leaders spoke out. US President Barack Obama issued this statement: “…We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes and discrimination. Policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and we must ensure that everyone has the chance to live independently as full citizens in their communities. For too long, the needs of people and families living with autism have gone unrecognized and underappreciated. That is why my administration supports increased funding for autism research, treatment, screening, public awareness, and services for Autism Spectrum Disorders.”

Austism Speaks says: “It is our firm belief that, working together, we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle.”

Noah Wyle Wants Obama To Change Health System

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

ER star Noah Wyle is pushing for health reforms in the US.

The television star is calling on President Obama to introduce universal healthcare in America, and plans to spend some time – now that ER has finished – pushing for a health service for all, similar to those in the U.K. and Canada.

“I’m holding out hope, that we’re going off the air just as this administration is going to usher in some kind of universal healthcare coverage,” he said. “So we can start valuing health as a human right and not a privilege. Hopefully I can segue from my previous job into assisting with it.”

Wyle will dedicate much of his time now to international non-profit organization Doctors of the World and to his work as a member of the Human Rights Watch Council. On April 5, he hosted the Project Save Our Surf Celebrity Gala to benefit Oceana.

LTTS Exclusive: Jamie Masada's Laugh Factory Feeds The Homeless

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Jamie Masada is known for a lot of things. As the founder of the ‘Laugh Factory,’ he is credited with establishing Hollywood’s most popular comedy club. But Masada is also a well-known crusader for the underprivileged, homeless and hungry. And now he’s taking it to Congress… kind of.

Last month, President Obama signed the economic stimulus bill, which includes $50M in funding for the arts. Simply put, Masada is proposing that $700,000 be earmarked for a national comedy project to send struggling comics out to perform for the economically depressed.

Look to the Stars is honored to have spoken with Jamie Masada about his tireless efforts to feed the homeless in Los Angeles, what we can do to help, and of course, his quest to fund some comedic relief for the country’s unemployed.

You’re well known for being an extremely compassionate advocate for the homeless, and now you’re getting quite a bit of media attention for your proposed Comedic Cheer Up Bus Tour? Tell us how it would work and which, if any, comedians have signed on?

“All the top comedians from the Laugh Factory have agreed to participate, including Dave Chappell and Paul Rodriguez. And all of them would donate their time to do it. The money would go towards sending comedians on buses around the country where it’s been hit the hardest – for example, visit all the factory workers that have been laid off. Set up in tent at Town Hall or something and make a ‘Laugh Factory’. Invite every unemployed person in that town to come for free, we’ll give them some warm food, everything free to them-and try to cheer them up because laughter is such a wonderful healing thing and at the same time laughter gives you hope.”

Have you noticed an increase in the number of homeless attending the Laugh Factory’s free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners?

“Yes. We at the Laugh Factory do Thanksgiving and Christmas every year-providing free food to everybody. This year it was overbearing. A lot of families came in with kids. One man came in with five kids ages 3- 12. The kids were cold, they sat down, they prayed, they ate some warm food and I gave them some Laugh Factory jackets because they were cold. It was heartbreaking.”

How is it that we live in the greatest country in the world, yet we still have people living on the streets and going hungry?

“Everyone is trying to help the rich people, and the gap between rich people and poor is getting larger, there’s no middle class anymore. The people that were the backbone of this country that worked in factories, the people that built this country – we don’t take care of them anymore… we take care of rich people, bankers and others who have put us where we are today because of their greed. We reward them with millions and millions of dollars? What happened to the poor people?”

How can we – the average, everyday person – help?

“Well, we want to go try to cheer these people up. We’ll call it a Comedic Cheer Up. Right now we are gathering signatures for a petition to be sent to Nancy Pelosi and President Obama. We are asking everybody to go to the Laugh Factory website and sign the Petition to Bail Out Comedy. We only need about 100,000 signatures, so please ask everybody you know to help us make this a reality.”

Realistically, we can all help in one form or another?

“Yes. And I have to do what I think is right. We can’t sit back and look at this economy and this country, the greatest country in the world, and not do something. If each one of us did a little – if you own a laundry store, give the unemployed people a half price discount, or if you have a sandwich shop give the unemployed 20% off. Any of us can help. All of us love this country and we can help. We have to try to be positive and don’t let these people that got us to where we are take us down. The greed of AIG, bankers, lenders, the greed of human beings that causes them to forget about these poor people who have no food to eat, no warm clothes, no home to go to – I mean come on, don’t take a $165M bonus and forget about the poor. We came to this world with nothing and we leave this world with nothing. So if we could come up with a way -anyone who has extra clothes, extra food, extra money – give it to people that could use it through this tough time and make this country the great place it is.”

I’ve interviewed quite a few people in regards to charity, but you are one of the most compassionate and sincere people I’ve spoken to. How did you become so giving?

“When I came to this country I was 14 and alone and I learned how great this country was. My first paycheck in this country was $28.00 and I sent $24.00 to my parents to help them out, and I realized then that my father was a very giving person. He was always gave – anything – we didn’t have food at home but if we had a last piece of bread he would give it to a homeless person. That’s how I learned and I think everybody in this country is a giving and caring person but they don’t know how to do it.”

You seem to gravitate towards helping children as well as the homeless?

“We have a comedy camp for underprivileged kids every year – we’ve been doing it for 25 years, and some of these kids we’ve helped steer in the right directions, some of them have become doctors or entertainers – all we did was give them a little bit of confidence.”

And Thursday nights at Laugh Factory you offer free admission to anyone unemployed?

“Yes. Free admission on Thursday nights for anybody that comes in and shows they are unemployed. We want to cheer them up. We want to give them hope. All the Laugh Factories – they can go to the one in New York, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, any of them and it’s free.”

Is it true you refuse to allow anyone to help you – monetarily – when hosting your free Thanksgiving and Christmas meals?

“Correct. I say no, I’m doing this from my own pocket, I don’t take any donations, but you can learn from this. Giving is such a wonderful feeling. As soon as you taste it, you taste it in your heart, and you always want to give. It is so wonderful to help another person, and if you do that, it’s so satisfactory, I can’t describe it, you get such a high from it and it’s the best high you can ever get in your life.”

Look to the Stars, and this writer in particular, would like to thank Jamie Masada for not just taking the time to speak with us, but for his incredible contribution to humanity. He truly is one in a million and we urge you to sign the ‘Petition to Bail Out Comedy’ to help bring some comedic relief to those suffering.

Hill Harper Becomes A Scholarship Namesake

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

CSI vet Hill Harper can now add scholarship namesake under his list of many achievements.

The talented star recently had an educational award created in his honor. The award is managed by the United Negro College Fund and will be an exclusive scholarship of the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America. The Hill Harper Mentoring Scholarship will be granted to financially challenged college bound students.

Harper comments: “I am honored to have a scholarship that represents so much that I believe in named for me… at a time when [”President Obama":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/998-barack-obama] is urging Americans to serve and First Lady Michelle Obama is asking us to consider making that service mentoring at-risk children."

Hill Harper is a dynamic force in the realm of celebrity charity. The actor is a prominent author and activist. His charity work includes leading the United Negro College Fund’s HBCU Empower Me Tour, serving as a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, and creating the MANifest Your Destiny foundation. His dedication to charity shows no signs of wavering. Look for more of Harper in the future.

Michael J. Fox To Return With Show About Optimism

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

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Michael J. Fox is to make a comeback to primetime TV in May with a new special celebrating optimism.

“Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist” will hit the ABC Network on May 7 and will follow the actor as he spreads his positive attitude to others during a time of economic turmoil.

“For everything this disease has taken, something with greater value has been given,” said Fox, who revealed he had Parkinson’s Disease in 1997. “So, sure, it may be one step forward and two steps back, but after a time with Parkinson’s, I’ve learned that what is important is making that one step count.”

The 47-year-old traveled around the world for the TV special, visiting the Himalayan nation of Bhutan – which he says is unusually committed to the well-being of its citizens – and Washington for Barack Obama’s inauguration. The show will feature interviews with both famous and everyday people on how they create optimism and hope.

“The whole world, shaken by economic woes, is taking a closer look at optimism,” said a spokesperson for the ABC. "Imagine a country which measures its success with a figure for “Gross National Happiness” instead of Gross National Product. Fox visits the secluded Himalayan nation of Bhutan, a modern day Shangri La that stresses the importance of joy in everything it does. Can happiness actually be legislated? Fox is fascinated by this nation’s commitment to the positive well-being of its citizens."

The show will air at 10pm on the ABC on May 7.

George Clooney Blogs About Darfur

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

Written by Isra Shah

George Clooney has long been a vocal advocate for the victims of genocide in Darfur.

After a recent trip to the Chad-Darfur border and meetings with both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden regarding the new administration’s policy for the region, the actor gave his insights and opinions about what has and has not changed in the region since his last visit and what he thinks of the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue a warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir last week.

In a blog the actor wrote for the The Daily Beast, Clooney remarked that the “most disturbing [thing] about the place was how little it had changed” in the three years since he had last been there. Despite the efforts of aid organizations dispatched to assist the needy, the norm that Clooney observed included “800 calories a day, sickness, threats of rebel violence, or just crime.” Where three years ago, the general atmosphere had an aura of hope that help was on its way, “there’s too little” of that now, evidenced only by a few moments, such as when village children followed Clooney around, chanting “Obama,” putting an entirely different twist on the President’s campaign themes of hope and change.

The implication of the lack of change Clooney found on his return trip to the region, he wrote, is that “the secret seems to be that the longer it goes on, the more tolerant all of us become of it.” Media, aware that “finding a new outrage is the only way to catch the world’s attention” presses on to find the most atrocious or the most touching personal story within a sea of tragic experiences that go “beyond the pale of what is acceptable…beyond our understanding of how much a person can take.”

In an interview with CNN International, Clooney elaborated on the world’s complacency in demanding more than a static status quo. He said, “I think the world has become too tolerant of all of these outrages.”

“The world is tolerant of the Congo and the world is tolerant of Zimbabwe. And the truth of the matter is, two or three times, you know – the world is tolerant of Burma – two or three times you can get that story out, and then it becomes a story we’ve seen before. It’s just as tragic, and we go away and we have a rally and everyone will feel like, well, we’ve accomplished something. And you’ll do something, you’ll put a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound, basically, and at the end of the day, these people are still there and they’re still living in this tragedy. And it’s not fixed.”

“We are too tolerant. And we are – we become more tolerant the longer it goes on.”

The recent decision by the ICC to issue an arrest warrant for President Al-Bashir last week is an opportunity to break out of our complacency and demand justice. Clooney explained that although the decision to issue the charges against Al-Bashir of crimes against humanity mark the first time a sitting head of state has been charged by the Hague, it is still unlikely that the Sudanese government will simply hand over its president to face the international community, or that the United Nations will attempt to go after him. Indeed, in the days following the warrant, Al-Bashir retaliated against the news of the charges by expelling thirteen relief organizations from the Darfur region, which has already left 200,000 people without medical assistance and will most likely leave hundreds of thousands of others without water or access to any other type of aid within days. The UN Security Council deadlocked on taking action, again reinforcing a continuation of the status quo in Darfur.

According to Clooney, this moment is crucial. It is an opportunity for action and “it tells the 300,000 brutally killed and 2.5 million displaced and raped and maimed that justice must always prevail. That the rest of the world sees their struggle and stands up and demands justice.”

“This is the moment. And if the UN can’t use it to insist on tougher sanctions, and the United States can’t use it to pressure China, and China can’t feel the eyes of the world looking to them for leadership in the country that they profit so greatly from, then the court and the rule of international law is lost.”

George Clooney was designated by the United Nations as a Messenger of Peace in 2006. He has visited the Darfur/Chad region six times in his efforts to increase humanitarian aid to the region, and is a co-founder and board member of the international advocacy group Not On Our Watch. Visit the official website and learn how to get involved here.

Brad Pitt Gets Political For New Orleans

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actor Brad Pitt met with the US Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and House Majority Whip, James Clyburn, last week in Washington to discuss the rebuilding of New Orleans’ hurricane-ravaged Lower 9th Ward.

According to reports, Pitt may also have met with Barack Obama to discuss the continuing efforts of his Make It Right foundation, which is building low cost, highly efficient housing for those left homeless since the 2005 disaster.

“I just want to say thank you to the Speaker for opening up the doors for us to come in and discuss the current rebuilding effort going on in New Orleans,” said Pitt at a press briefing, “and how we can expand this idea of affordability and sustainability because we think we have a model that works.”

Pelosi was clearly impressed with Pitt’s efforts: “[Pitt] is a real hero for the people of New Orleans, a real model for the country,” she said. “Not only are these homes wonderful homes for these families, not only are they built to a green standard, but they have a utility bill of under ten dollars a month.”

Clyburn, who chairs the Katrina-Rita Task Force, is also appreciative of Pitt’s foundation: “We’re all neighbors in this great country of ours, and I thank [Brad] so much for his help.”

It isn’t only politicians praising Pitt’s work. Singer and actor Harry Connick Jr., in a recent interview with OK! magazine, thinks Make It Right is invaluable. “I actually wrote [Brad] a letter to thank him for what he’s doing,” said Connick. “I don’t know if he even got it. But if I ever see him again, I’ll thank him again, because the benefit to the city is unimaginable.”

Look To The Stars News: Barack Obama

Stars Sign Books For Charity Auction

Related past articles

Michael Moore Sees The Need For Non-Profit Healthcare

Related past articles

Idol Gives Back Is Back!

Related past articles

Celebrities Provide Happy Memories for Sick Children and Their Families

Related past articles

Aung San Suu Kyi Receives Unanimous Support

Related past articles

President Obama To Award Medals Of Freedom Today

Related past articles

Michael J. Fox Honored For His War On Parkinson’s

Related past articles

Laura Bush Joins World Vision Malaria Campaign

Related past articles

Nelson Mandela's 91st Celebrated In Style

Related past articles

Bono Writes About Obama's Visit To Ghana

Related past articles

Sheryl Crow And Elvis Costello Rock MLB For Cancer

Related past articles

Sheryl Crow To Perform At MLB Charity Concert

Related past articles

Barack And Michelle Busy With Charity Events

Related past articles

Stars Help The Ticci Man Project Raise Awareness Of Native Americans

Related past articles

Michelle Obama Speaks At A UK Girls’ School

Related past articles

Dom DeLuise's Charity Legacy

Related past articles

Yoko Ono Revisits Acorn Peace Campaign

Related past articles

Be Published Next To World Leaders For The ONE Campaign

Related past articles

Jay Leno‘s “Comedy Stimulus Plan” A Roaring Success

Related past articles

Yoko Ono’s Promise On World Autism Day

Related past articles

Noah Wyle Wants Obama To Change Health System

Related past articles

LTTS Exclusive: Jamie Masada's Laugh Factory Feeds The Homeless

Related past articles

Hill Harper Becomes A Scholarship Namesake

Related past articles

Michael J. Fox To Return With Show About Optimism

Related past articles

George Clooney Blogs About Darfur

Related past articles

Brad Pitt Gets Political For New Orleans

Related past articles