Look To The Stars News: Hope North

Susan Sarandon To Host Celebrity Charity Ping-Pong Ball

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Susan Sarandon will join Mary-Louise Parker as host of a very special night of celebrity charity ping-pong and live music in New York later this month.

The Ping-Pong Ball will benefit Hope North – a 40-acre campus in northern Uganda where refugees, orphans and escaped child soldiers find a place to call home – and will feature live music from Rufus Wainwright, Josh Ritter, Jesse Malin, Martha Wainwright, Charlie Mars and Hope North founder Okello Kelo Sam. There will also be an auction hosted by Ryan Willard.

The host committee for the event includes Forest Whitaker, Chris Rock, Malaak Compton-Rock, Julianne Moore, Adrian Grenier and many more.

Slip Into George Clooney's Tux For Charity

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:30:00 +0000

To celebrate George Clooney’s Bob Hope Humanitarian Award – awarded at the Emmy’s this week – ClothesOffOurBack.org is offering you a selection of his tuxedos for charity.

Until September 14, Clothes Off Our Back is auctioning Armani tuxedos the actor wore at the Golden Globes. Proceeds from the auction benefit Clothes Off Our Back’s charities including Feeding America, Malaria No More, Hope North, AbilityFirst, Villa Esperanza and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

To access the auction, visit Clothesoffourback.org.

Twilight's Carlisle Cullen Auctions Clothes And More For Charity

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:30:00 +0000

It may be the closest you come to a vampire – Carlisle Cullen is auctioning his clothes for charity.

In honor of the release of Twilight: Eclipse in theaters around the world, Peter Facinelli – who plays Dr Cullen in the films – is auctioning clothes from his closet, including blazers and pants.

Proceeds from the auction benefit Clothes Off Our Back’s charities including Feeding America, The Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, Malaria No More and Hope North. The auction ends on Thursday, July 15.

Hard Rock Serves Up John Lennon For Charity

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Last week, Look To The Stars brought you the news that Yoko Ono had donated John Lennon’s Give Peace A Chance to charity. Now we can reveal that she has also donated another of the singer’s songs to another charity campaign.

The World Hunger Year (WHY), along with Hard Rock Cafe, has released Serve4, the latest in their series of albums designed to fight hunger around the world. Yoko Ono has donated John Lennon’s Gimme Some Truth to the album.

“This is a beautiful step towards world peace,” she said. “By imagining there’s no hunger, like what John sang in his song, we express our strong desire to bring a world in which children will never again suffer from hunger or poverty. Let’s come together and help spread this message around the world. John would have loved the fact that so many illustrious and good meaning partners and organizations have stood up to make this effort together.”

Wayans Brothers Launch Charity Auction

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:30:00 +0000

The Wayans Brothers are well known for their numerous contributions to the comedy world. In addition to keeping fans of the spoofing genre in stitches, the siblings are donating their designer stitches including shirts, jeans, jackets, and sweaters to benefit children’s charities.

The NorthStar Moving Corporation and Clothes Off Our Back Foundation are collaborating with the comedy family to auction off their charitable goods. Bids can be placed at the Foundation’s site until Tuesday, June 9th at 5 p.m. PDT. All proceeds will directly benefit Feeding America (previously America’s Second Harvest), The Art of Elysium, Hope North, and H.E.L.P. Malawi.

NorthStar Moving Corporation, “the leading eco-luxury mover in California,” collects donations from celebrity patrons and delivers the charitable items to auctions sponsored by The Clothes off Our Back Foundation. All proceeds benefit various children’s charities. Other celebrity supporters include Akon, Jessica Alba, Beyoncé Knowles and Scarlett Johansson.

LTTS Exclusive: Forest Whitaker & Hope North Dream for Uganda’s Children

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ Rachel Zeskind recently had the pleasure of being introduced to the amazing work of the Hope North Organization through a recent interview with Forest and Keisha Whitaker. She met up with them at the premiere of the documentary film Kassim the Dream, an event hosted by Hope North, CITI, and GQ Magazine’s Gentlemen’s Fund. All of these dedicated hosts united for a heartfelt cause, the children of Uganda who have been stolen away, robbed of their innocence and youth and forced into the terrors of civil war.

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker is not only an incredibly talented actor, but he is also deeply involved in numerous charities and organizations that aid children in despair and causes that better the world one step, one child, one issue at a time.

Take The Clothes From Celebrities' Backs For Awards Season

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:02:00 +0000

February is already upon us and that can mean only one thing: the start of the Hollywood Awards Season! And to celebrate, Clothes Off Our Back is giving you the chance to bid on red carpet clothing and Hollywood memorabilia to raise money for charity.

From now until March 10 you have the opportunity to bid on items such as sunglasses owned by Robert Downey Jr and Pushing Daisies’ Kristin Chenoweth, a shirt worn and autographed by David Duchovny, clothing and a book signed by Blair Underwood, a jacket worn and signed by Mark Harmon, the gown America Ferrera wore to the Directors Guild Awards, gowns belonging to Melora Hardin, Carrie Underwood and Tricia Helfer, Teri Hatcher’s handbag, a book autographed by Jodie Foster, and much much more.

Proceeds from the auction will go to Feeding America, The Art of Elysium, Hope North and H.E.L.P. Malawi. The auction can be accessed by clicking here.

Forest Whitaker Brings The Dream To Los Angeles

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Forest Whitaker will host a special screening of Kassim The Dream, a multiple award-winning documentary based on the journey of a Ugandan child from child soldier to world champion boxer.

The film is the true life story of Kassim Ouma, the seventh of thirteen children in his Ugandan family, who was abducted at age six along with a class of school children by the National Resistance Army, the rebel gorilla force that took governmental control through a coupe d’etat in 1986. Forced to fight as a soldier, Ouma also joined the army’s boxing club, and excelled. Fourteen years later he was able to obtain a visa to the US for a military boxing tournament and took advantage of the opportunity to defect, an act that cost his father his life but led to Ouma’s world title and a chance to help back home.

Today Ouma still fights professionally, but he also advocates for the plight of the 300 thousand child soldiers around the world today: “My heart is into working with my African people, working with the UN, helping my people in Africa as much as I can.”

Celebrities Donate Dresses And Wine To Charity Auction

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Need a new dress for the upcoming Awards Season? Then why not bid on one of these items donated by Hollywood’s hottest stars and benefiting worthwhile charities?

Julianne Moore, Sharon Stone, Jaime Presley, Ana Ortiz, Angie Harmon, Monique Coleman and many others have handed over their favorite little black dresses to Clothesoffourback.org to benefit the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation and YouthAIDS.

Also up for grabs are signed bottles of Little Black Dress 2006 Pinot Noir, the official wine of Award Season. Sit down for a special drink on behalf of Gavin Rossdale, Miranda Lambert, Patti LaBelle and many more. Portions of the auctions will also go to Feeding America, The Art of Elysium, Hope North, and H.E.L.P. Malawi.

Fergie Designs Star For Charity Auction

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

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

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

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

Hope North To Benefit From Celebrity Clothes Auction

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Clothes Off Our Back has just launched an exciting new auction to benefit Hope North.

Clothes Off Our Back, founded by actors and philanthropists Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford, is currently holding an online auction with clothing, accessories & memorabilia from the Emmy Awards, Teen Choice Awards, Fashion Week & more. This auction includes items worn by Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Scarlett Johansson, Neil Patrick Harris, Jorge Garcia, Tommy Hilfiger, Helen Mirren and many others. The auction ends on October 21, and all proceeds will benefit Hope North along with three other charitable organizations.

Hope North is a 40-acre campus in northern Uganda where refugees, orphans and escaped child soldiers find a place to call home. With an accredited secondary school and vocational training center, this safe and vibrant cultural setting provides a haven for resident students to rebuild their lives through education and job training. A monthly donation as little as $10 can help these youth develop the skills and strength to build Uganda’s future after a brutal 22-year civil war.

Join Timbaland For The Gentlemen's Ball

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Join GQ and The Gentlemen’s Fund on October 15 for an exclusive fundraising event – The Gentlemen’s Ball – to celebrate and support all five 2008 Gentlemen’s Fund partner charities — MENC: The National Association for Music Education, The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, The Alliance For Climate Protection, Hope North, and the Steve Nash Foundation.

The Gentlemen’s Fund was established to provide support and awareness for five cornerstones essential to men: opportunity, health, education, environment, and mentorship. A celebrity ambassador has been selected for each cornerstone, including Mark Wahlberg for opportunity, Steve Nash for health, Forest Whitaker for mentorship, Usher for the environment, and Timbaland for education.

The Gentlemen’s Ball will include cocktails and dinner, and a special performance from Timbaland. One ticket is $2,500 and admits 2 guests, and includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, full open bar, seated three-course dinner, live music performance, and chauffeured roundtrip car service to and from the Edison Ballroom (from one designated address within the New York Metro area only).

Forest Whitaker Launches Hope North Mentor Campaign

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Forest Whitaker has officially launched the Hope North Mentor campaign in the latest issue of GQ Magazine.

Hope North is a 40-acre campus in northern Uganda where refugees, orphans and escaped child soldiers find a place to call home. With an accredited secondary school and vocational training center, this safe and vibrant cultural setting provides a haven for resident students to rebuild their lives through education and job training. With a monthly donation as little as $10, you can help these youth develop the skills and strength to build Uganda’s future after a brutal 22-year civil war.

The organization was set up by Okello Sam, a well-known Ugandan dance and theater artist whose family was directly affected by the war in the north. He and his brother Godfrey were abducted, and Godfrey was eventually killed by rebels. After his release, Sam purchased a large tract of land to serve as a sanctuary for his community, and on which to build Hope North. The dancer then acted as Forest Whitaker’s choreographer for a scene in The Last King of Scotland. Sam also played a role in the film and members of the Hope North community are featured on-screen. Whitaker learned about Hope North while working with Sam and felt compelled to support Sam’s vision. When he returned to Uganda for The Last King of Scotland’s premiere, Forest traveled to Hope North to meet the kids and learn more about the community.

Alison Sweeney Wants Hydration For All

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:30:00 +0000

As host of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, Alison Sweeney knows the important role hydration plays in a healthy lifestyle – so it was no surprise that the Days of our Lives star joined Thermos to celebrate the launch of Thermos’ www.hydrationforall.com website on September 9.

The event – held at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas – featured the chance to meet Sweeney and listen to her talk about the ways she keeps her own family hydrated and healthy.

The new website aims to educate families on the importance of staying properly hydrated, start a community to exchange tips on healthier, more active lives, and talk about hydration issues around the world. The site has also partnered with charity:water to help bring clean water to people in need.

Jeans Engineered For Celebs On Auction

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Anybody walking through Times Square may be surprised to find hundreds of jeans and shirts hanging like laundry from clotheslines above the streets. Don’t be too concerned… it’s all part of the Pair in the Square Celebrity Jeans Auction.

Alison Sweeney, host of The Biggest Loser and cast member of Days of Our Lives, kicked off the auction yesterday by auctioning off Ryan Seacrest’s jeans to benefit the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation. The remaining celebrity jeans from Miley Cyrus, Nick Lachey, Ashlee Simpson, Lauren Conrad, Rachael Ray, Minnie Driver, Debra Messing, Brittany Snow, Terrence Howard, Forest Whitaker, Neil Patrick Harris, and many more are available at www.clothesoffourback.org. A sweepstakes will also be held at www.washingmyjeans.com to win the new GE Profile Frontload Washer and Dryer as part of the auction.

Proceeds from the auction, which runs until September 8, will go to Feeding America, The Art of Elysium, Hope North, and H.E.L.P. Malawi.

Stars Sell Hand-Me-Down Maternity Wear

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Anybody in the market for a new set of clothes should head over to www.clothesoffourbacks.org to pick up some hand-me-downs from the stars.

The Isabella Oliver Celebrity Maternity Fashion Auction has just kicked off to bring a little style and panache to the wardrobes of pregnant women. Bidders have the chance to own the heather grey Isabella Oliver Kimono Top signed by singer Gwen Stefani, the sea colored Isabella Oliver Portrait Top and Isabella Oliver jeans donated from the set of the upcoming feature film Labor Pains starring Lindsay Lohan, the oyster colored Isabella Oliver Funnel Neck Jacket worn by Teri Hatcher on Desperate Housewives, a cranberry/sand Isabella Oliver Duo Sleeveless Wrap Dress donated by Minnie Driver, a grey Isabella Oliver Cut Away Ruched T signed by television host Samantha Harris, an Isabella Oliver Cap Wrap Around Top signed by television host Nancy O’Dell, a green Isabella Oliver Cut Away Wrap Top donated by actress Jeri Ryan, and clothes from Lisa Marie Presley, Melissa Joan Hart, and many more.

Also up for auction on the site is the black Donna Karan Collection gown that Rachael Ray wore to the 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards and Barbara Walter’s black Chanel handbag.