Look To The Stars News: The Miami Project

Walter Cronkite's Charitable Life

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Television legend Walter Cronkite passed away after a long illness on Friday, July 17.

The 92-year-old fronted the evening news for American TV network CBS from 1962 to 1981. He was well known for his charity work – he frequently donated lunches and trips on his private yacht to charities such as Realizing the Dream (a charity overseen by Martin Luther King III, eldest son of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and co-founded by former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young), recorded PSAs for the National Parks Conservation Association, and was honored by the Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis, a nonprofit organization that serves as the national fundraising arm of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

“He was the most important voice in our lives for thirty years,” said George Clooney in tribute. “And that voice made people reach for the stars. I hate the world without Walter Cronkite.”

Destination Fashion Attracts Big Names For Charity

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Destination Fashion 2009, presented by Stewart Rahr, was a memorable night of music, fashion and philanthropy under the stars at South Florida’s Bal Harbour Shops on Saturday night, March 7, when more than 2,000 of Miami’s finest came out for the star-studded fundraiser to benefit The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis and raise in excess of $3.8 million.

Multi-platinum recording artist Seal delivered a rockin’ show and The Pointer Sisters performed on the same stage earlier in the evening and wowed the crowd. American iconic designer Michael Kors treated the fashionista crowd to a spectacular runway presentation of his newest collection that was straight from New York’s Fashion Week, with a little Miami fine-tuning. The runway extravaganza was presented by Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour.

Highlights of the evening included The Barth A. Green Spirit Award presented to golf legend Jack Nicklaus and The Buoniconti Fund Award given to Stanley Whitman of Bal Harbour Shops. Event presenting sponsor Stewart Rahr thrilled the crowd as he announced a donation of $1 million to the Buoniconti Fund. Also included in the evening’s program was the presentation of the Women of Substance & Style Honorees, introducing 40 of South Florida’s most notable women.

The list of notable attendees is an impressive line-up that included honorary co-chairs Tommy Lee Jones and wife Dawn and event chairs Nick Buoniconti, Marc Buoniconti, Dr. Barth Green, M.D., Gretchen Jordan, Suzie Sayfie and Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard. Other celebrities and special guests included Gloria Estefan, Anna Kournikova and Jerry Rice among others.

Destination Fashion 2009 guests partied through the “Decades: 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and Today” in the dazzling Bal Harbour Shops and enjoyed international cuisine, delicious libations, live music and interactive entertainment, which included a stunning silent auction offering and the Tiffany & Co. “Chances for a Cure Wall” loaded with luxury items. Some memorable auction items that were the big –ticket draws were Saks Fifth Avenue package for 2 to attend Michael Kors show at New York Fashion Week with 2-night stay at The Plaza and a one-of-a-kind white crocodile Fendi bag.

The Buoniconti Fund is the fundraising arm of The Miami Project.

Tommy Lee Jones Sets His Sights On Destination Fashion

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Tommy Lee Jones made a visit to the Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour store in South Florida this week to help sell tickets to a charity event he is honorary chairman for.

Destination Fashion is an annual event presented by Stewart Rahr to raise money for the Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis, the national fundraising arm of The Miami Project that generates awareness and funds to research treatments and a cure for spinal cord injuries.

“When are we gonna cure paralysis?” said Jones, who has been honorary chairperson of the event for the last seven years. “I don’t know. Will we cure it? Hell yes!”

Destination Fashion will take place on March 7 at Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour, Florida. Musical entertainment for the night will be Seal and Grammy Award winners The Pointer Sisters. There will be a fashion show in which designer and style icon Michael Kors will showcase his exclusive Fall 2009 Collection, and the event will also include the announcement of the 2009 Women of Substance and Style Awards, with each honoree being presented by a sports or entertainment celebrity.

“We are thrilled to have the preeminent American Designer Michael Kors show his fashions and Seal as our entertainment headliner for Destination Fashion this year, along with the dynamic Pointer Sisters,” said NFL great Nick Buoniconti in a news release. “Their involvement will certainly drive turnout for this important event, which will in turn raise much-needed funds for our efforts to cure paralysis.”

Tickets to the event are limited and are available here.

Gloria Estefan To Receive Humanitarian Honor

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Grammy winner Gloria Estefan will be honored as the 2008 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year for her philanthropic, professional and cultural accomplishments.

The 50-year-old pop star will receive the honor at a star-studded concert and tribute dinner on November 12 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, with a portion of the proceeds from the evening’s tribute dinner going to the Gloria Estefan Foundation and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

“The Latin Recording Academy and its Board of Trustees are elated to recognize Gloria Estefan as an extraordinary Latina woman, humanitarian and talented musician who has made a global impact on music and culture,” said Latin Recording Academy President Gabriel Abaroa. “She is one of Latin music’s most enduring icons, and we are privileged to be honoring such a dedicated, generous, and gifted lady.”

Estefan – who will play concerts in October benefiting schools – established the Gloria Estefan Foundation to promote good health, education and cultural development. One of the main benefactors of the Foundation is the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis – the leading research center for spinal cord injuries. She also served as chairwoman for a campaign that raised more than $40 million to build the Lois Pope Life Center neurological research facility.

Sports Stars To Raise Money To Cure Paralysis

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Sports luminaries and philanthropy icons will be recognized when they gather at the 23rd Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner on Monday, September 22, at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Bob Costas has been named the Master of Ceremonies for the event which will benefit the Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis, a nonprofit organization that serves as the national fundraising arm of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis – the world’s largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center.

This spectacular annual event is expected to sell out to over 1,300 guests and raise millions of dollars for spinal cord injury research. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by dinner, which will include a live auction of one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia and other unique items.

“Each year we are honored by the presence of the most elite athletes in sports,” says Nick Buoniconti, founder of The Buoniconti Fund and defensive captain of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. “This year’s group of honorees represent such a high caliber of sports, we are truly thrilled that they will be joining us for yet another spectacular event. We have made significant steps this year towards finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. That’s why we keep doing this.”

The 2008 Great Sports Legends that will be honored at the event and are expected to attend are: Andre Agassi – former world-ranked #1 professional tennis star, Jerry Rice – named All-Pro 10 times in his 20 NFL seasons, Scottie Pippen – seven-time NBA All Star, Joe Gibbs – Hall of Fame NFL coach and NASCAR Championship team owner, Helio Castroneves – winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2001 and 2002, Richard “Goose” Gossage – former New York Yankees pitcher, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini – World Boxing Association lightweight champion for two years in the 1980s, Angelo Dundee – boxing cornerman who has worked with 15 world boxing champions, and Gabrielle Reece – American professional volleyball player, sports presenter and former fashion model.

Over the past two decades, the Great Sports Legends Dinner has honored 337 of the world’s greatest athletes and individuals. They are recognized for their contributions to the world of sports and acknowledged for their commitment to high ethical standards, to their community, worthy causes and achievements as positive role models. Their participation has helped raise more than $40 million for The Miami Project’s spinal cord injury research programs. Former honorees include Magic Johnson, John Elway, Mark Messier, Gary Player, Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Mickey Mantle, Jack Nicklaus, Gloria Estefan, Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky, Patrick Ewing, Walter Cronkite, Mia Hamm, Dan Marino, and Joe DiMaggio.

In 1985, Barth A. Green, MD, and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti helped found The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after Nick’s son, Marc, sustained a spinal cord injury during a college football game. Today, The Miami Project is the world’s largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center, housed in the Lois Pope LIFE Center, a Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The Miami Project’s international team of more than 200 scientists, researchers and clinicians take innovative approaches to the challenge of spinal cord injury. Committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury and to seeing millions worldwide walk again, the Buoniconti family established The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis in 1992, a non-profit organization devoted to assisting The Miami Project achieve its national and international goals.

Tickets start at $850 per person. Sponsorships and opportunities to sit with Legends are available. Tables and tickets can be purchased by phone at (305) 243-4656, (212) 245-6570 or online at http://www.miamiproject.miami.edu/x1415.xml.

The Blues Mobile Comes to the Beach

Tue, 06 May 2008 10:24:40 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The Blues Brothers gave a live, oceanside performance last week at the Celebration Of The Sea Music & Film Festival. Jake and Elwood Blues, the only performers officially sanctioned by original Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd and the John Belushi Estate, arrived in the Blues Mobile and performed hits from the Briefcase Full Of Blues album on Miami Beach to raise money for the Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis.

The Buoniconti Fund seeks to raise funds and awareness for The Miami Project, the world’s largest spinal cord injury research center. Both orgaisations were co-founded by NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti after his son Marc’s football accident paralyzed him from the neck down.

“One day I was a normal kid thinking about school, sports and girls,” says Marc Buoniconti from his wheelchair. “The next thing you know I’m out there talking to people about paralysis.” Having raised over $150 million through the Buoniconti Fund, he says, “My goal is to get everyone out of these chairs.”

The April 26 Blues concert, put together in conjunction with the Miami Beach Polo World Cup and The Setai restaurant, began with a fashion show and a presentation by Judy Belushi Pisano, widow of the original Blues Brothers co-creator, John Belushi. The Blues Brothers act followed with a guest performance by sax man Alto Reed of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet band, and then a silent auction that included Blues Brothers memorabilia donated by Ms Belushi Pisano.

“The Miami Project holds tremendous promise for people who are spinal cord injured,” Marc says. “In 1985, the Miami Project was a dream. Today, it’s reality.”

Oprah Tops Celebrity Philanthropy A-List

Sat, 12 May 2007 08:24:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

A list of the 30 largest public donations made by celebrities in the past year puts Oprah in the top spot.

The Giving Back Fund, which encourages and advises on celebrity philanthropy, compiles its list each year. President Marc Pollick said, “Encouragement-by-example is the main reason for the Giving Back 30 list.”

Oprah gave $58.3 million to Oprah's Angel Network and her recently-opened Leadership Academy.

Of the other celebrities high on the list, Barbra Streisand was in fourth spot, having given $11.75 million through her Streisand Foundation.

Tiger Woods took fifth place, giving $9.5 million to organisations including the Tiger Woods Learning Center funded by the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Giving Back’s Marc Pollick praised an increasing trend in celebrity donations, saying, “Ten years ago when Slate magazine first published the Slate 60 reporting on the most generous American philanthropists, the last donor on their list gave $5 million. This year the last donor donated $30 million to charity. This is the type of growth we are hoping to inspire within the sports and entertainment community. One cannot help but be influenced by the generosity of his or her peers.”

The full list and information about how it was compiled can be found at givingback.org. This site has previously reported on many of the list’s featured celebrities and their donations; a comprehensively linked version of the list appears below:

Position	Celebrity	Donation	Cause(s)
1	Oprah Winfrey	$58,300,000	Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Oprah's Angel Network, and other groups
2	Geoffrey Beene	$44,000,000 (bequest)	Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
3	Jack and Marie Lord	$40,000,000 (bequest)	Hawaii Community Foundation
4	Barbra Streisand	$11,750,000	Streisand Foundation, numerous civil liberties, environmental, and civil rights organizations “dedicated to democratic values”
5	Tiger Woods	$9,500,000	Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D. Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund, and other Tiger Woods Foundation programs
6	Rosie O'Donnell	$5,700,000	Katrina Relief efforts including Renaissance Village (a temporary shelter for Katrina victims), day care centers, a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, and a Habitat For Humanity sub division in Baton Rouge
7	Martha Stewart	$5,000,000	New York’s Mt. Sinai Hospital for a center on healthy aging
8	Carmelo Anthony	$4,282,000	CAF Youth Center in Baltimore, AAU Basketball, Syracuse University Recreational Center, and other charities
9	Pat Boone & Shirley Boone	$3,000,000	Pepperdine University for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology Center for the Family
9	LeRoy Neiman	$3,000,000	The School of the Art Institute of Chicago to support a Master’s class in figure drawing
11	Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt	$2,415,000	School and Community Center in Swakopmund in Namibia, Daniel Pearl Foundation, Namibian hospitals, Doctors Without Borders, Global Action for Children and others
12	Nicolas Cage	$2,000,000	Amnesty International for a fund to help child soldiers
12	Dwayne Johnson (“The Rock”) and Dany Garcia Johnson	$2,000,000	University of Miami to name new Alumni Center living room
12	Paul McCartney	$2,000,000	Adopt-A-Minefield
12	Arnold Palmer	$2,000,000	Pledged to the Arnold Palmer Foundation ultimately to benefit the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
16	David Geffen	$1,600,000	David Geffen Foundation
17	Susan Saint James and Dick Ebersol	$1,300,000	The Gunnery to help pay for a new dormitory in memory of their son Teddy killed in a plane crash
18	Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg	$1,250,000	Boston University to renovate facilities
19	Andre Agassi	$1,070,000	Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
20	Tiki and Ronde Barber and family	$1,000,000	University of Virginia to support the McIntire School of Commerce, the Virginia Athletics Foundation, Childrens Hospital, a scholarship fund for African-American students, the Young Alumni Council, and to challenge young alumni to participate in the capital campaign
20	Bob Barker	$1,000,000	Georgetown University to endow a fund at its law school that will focus on the study of animal rights
20	Gloria Estefan	$1,000,000	The Miami Project
20	Dr. Phil McGraw & Robin McGraw	$1,000,000	Dr. Phil Foundation
20	George Steinbrenner & family	$1,000,000	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for Boshamer Stadium for baseball
20	Tony Stewart	$1,000,000	Victory Junction Gang Camp
20	Denzel Washington	$1,000,000	Save Africa's Children
27	Mike Sexton	$560,000	Special Olympics, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, Children, Inc., Wounded Warrior Project, Ohio State University, and other charities
28	Lance Armstrong	$500,000	Lance Armstrong Foundation
28	Dolly Parton	$500,000	Fort Sanders Medical Center
28	Elizabeth Taylor	$500,000	New Orleans AIDS Task Force to purchase mobile medical unit for AIDS sufferers in New Orleans

Look To The Stars News: The Miami Project

Walter Cronkite's Charitable Life

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