Look To The Stars News: Operation Kids

Rock N' Roll Legends Play For Charity In New Orleans

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +0000

A gathering of Rock n’ Roll and Blues legends attended a special charity concert in New Orleans on Saturday, May 30.

Some of the founders of Rock n’ Roll – including Chuck Berry, BB King and Little Richard – took to the stage, joining modern stars who owe them a debt of gratitude, such as Wyclef Jean and Keb Mo.

The Domino Effect Concert raised funds to rebuild schools and playgrounds damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and attracted a rare appearance from the man it was named after – Fats Domino. Domino’s home on the Lower Ninth Ward in the city was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Collin Raye Offers Charity Download

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Country music star Collin Raye and Operation Kids have teamed up to offer a free download of Collin’s new song, “She’s With Me,” to anyone who donates $5 or more to Operation Kids through their website.

After making the donation online, fans will be directed to click through to a special page where they will be able to download the track before it is available anywhere else. “She’s With Me” was recorded for Raye’s forthcoming album, Never Going Back (released April 28th on Time Life), and is an intensely personal, poignant song of unconditional love written by Raye for his severely neurologically ill granddaughter. This free download offer will run through May 10th.

Operation Kids Honors America's Most Wanted Man

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Operation Kids honored John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted, last Saturday, October 11, at its Annual Lifetime Achievement Award Gala for the more than 25 years he has spent working to protect children.

“I can’t think of a more fitting recipient of this award,” said Rick Larsen, president of Operation Kids. “John Walsh has spent the last 27 years crusading to keep kids safe – he has been instrumental in helping pave the way for significant child protection legislation and increased community awareness.”

Generous donations from gala sponsors like XanGo and America First Credit Union, other corporate and private donations, and donations received that evening from guests of more than $50,000, were distributed among the event’s three benefited charities. Operation Kids was able to present checks Saturday totaling $850,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), The McGruff Safehouse Network and the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC). All funds will go toward funding the organizations’ child safety initiatives as a tribute to Walsh.

Charles Barkley and Buddies Tee Off For Charity

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:38:00 +0000

Legendary athlebrities from football, baseball, basketball and hockey, gathered under the hot desert sun on June 7 and 8 to raise money and awareness for several very worthwhile causes. The Pro Sports Team Challenge Golf Tournament at the Eagle Falls Golf Club at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino (near Palm Springs, California) settled the debate as to which sport has the best golfers, while competing for a total purse of $250,000 for chairty.

Team Basketball hit the greens for the USO. Led by NBA great Charles Barkley and featuring his buddies Clyde Drexler, Jason Kidd, George Gervin and Kenny Smith, the team made every swing count in efforts to help comfort our hardworking military. While Barkley was psyched for the event, he didn’t have high expectations for his team.

“One of the highlights of my life was [when] the USO took me to Iraq, Kuwait, Dubai,” said Barkley during the event. “I got to visit with some of the troops. So it’s a great organization and, um, unfortunately we’re not going to win a lot of money for them because my team [Basketball] sucks!”

Look To The Stars Asks Kevin Sorbo

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:38:00 +0000

Kevin Sorbo shot to fame in 1994 for his starring role in the popular TV series Hercules, the Legendary Journeys. Since then, he’s guest starred on such hit shows as Just Shoot Me, According to Jim, Hope and Faith, Two and a Half Men, USA Network’s Psych, and had recurring appearances on Dharma and Greg and Fox’s The OC in 2006-2007.

In 2005, when Sorbo was named as the spokesperson for the Afterschool Alliance, he said, “I am proud to do whatever I can to promote the afterschool programs that children and families need.”

Remarkably, Sorbo has remained true to his words, spending countless hours helping children in need. He has solidified himself as a true giver, acting as the spokesman and chair of A World Fit For Kids! (WFFK!), a non-profit organization that offers gang, drug and dropout prevention programming to at-risk kids by providing mentoring training for teens and using them as positive role models for youngsters.

Charles Barkley’s Pro Team Sports Challenge for Charity

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:40:40 +0000

Four Teams, four captains, and four charities! On June 7-8th, in Palm Springs California, the Pro Team Sports Challenge will finally settle the debate as to which athletes are the best golfers. Led by Team Challenge Commissioner and NBA legend Charles Barkley, the two-day golf event will pit some of the best athletes from four sports – baseball, basketball, hockey, and football – against each other on the greens. The event will raise money for four different charities while introducing a cool new feature: fan interaction.

During the course of the event, fan interaction will influence the outcome of the game; think ‘American Idol’ meets sports. Fans can sign up at Team Challenge to become one of the ‘ProCoaches.’ ProCoaches will act as ‘virtual’ coaches from their computers or mobile devices, where they can make strategic decisions that will have a real impact on the outcome of the match. Do you think Team Hockey has a more competitive edge with their roster of established pros? Then get online, vote, blog, debate and trash talk with those who think Team Football has better golfers. You could actually win a spot on the greens and walk with your favorite Team inside the ropes as a ProCoach.

The $250,000 prize will be split among the designated charities for each team, as selected by the Team Captain. First place earns $100,000 for their selected charity; second place $75k; third place $50k; fourth place $25k. Additionally, the purse will increase for a charity by $1 for each fan that registers as a paid ProCoach for the sponsoring team. But you must register before May 19 in order to cast your votes, decide which players are playing better or worse than their stated handicaps, and help raise money for the selected charities.