Look To The Stars News: Autism Speaks

Eva Longoria Fronts Toy Guide For Special Needs Kids

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

For nearly 20 years, Toys"R"Us, Inc. has provided parents, caregivers and gift-givers with reliable toy recommendations for the children with special needs in their lives through the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids. Continuing that tradition, the company has announced the launch of the 2011 edition of the Guide featuring actress and philanthropist Eva Longoria on the cover, alongside Elijah De La Cerda, a 5-year-old boy with Down syndrome from Fresno, CA.

Released annually, this complimentary resource is created with guidance from the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible to children of all abilities. The Guide is available in Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores nationwide and online, in English and Spanish, at Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled.

Along with the company’s long-standing commitment to children of all abilities, this year’s Guide cover model, Eva Longoria, also has strong ties and a deep passion for the special needs community. One of her sisters was born with developmental disabilities and inspired her to establish Eva’s Heroes in 2006. Based in Longoria’s hometown of San Antonio, Eva’s Heroes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for individuals with special needs to interact, play, learn and enrich their lives.

Michael J. Fox Helps Make BTIG Charity Day A Success

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:30:00 +0000

BTIG LLC, a global financial services firm specializing in institutional trading and related brokerage services, today announced it raised more than $4 million at its 9th Commissions for Charity Day, held on April 27.

BTIG will donate the money to more than 100 children’s charities all over the country, including All Stars Helping Kids, Autism Speaks, Deafness Research Foundation, Food Allergy Initiative, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Hedge Funds Care, Jacob’s Cure, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Project Sunshine, Smile Train, Solving Kids Cancer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, The Happy Hearts Fund.

Over the past nine years BTIG’s Annual Commissions for Charity Day has raised more than $24 million from equity, fixed income and derivative trading commission profits to support various nonprofit organizations. This was the first year BTIG held Commissions for Charity Day internationally in its offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and London.

BTIG To Host Celebrity Charity Day

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

BTIG LLC, a global financial services firm specializing in institutional trading and related brokerage services, will hold its 2011 Commissions for Charity Day on Wednesday, April 27.

BTIG’s Annual Commissions for Charity Day has raised more than $20 million from equity, fixed income and derivative trading commission profits over the last eight years to support various nonprofit organizations. This year’s annual celebrity-filled event will support several organizations that deal with important issues facing children, including All Stars Helping Kids, Autism Speaks, Deafness Research Foundation, Food Allergy Initiative, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Hedge Funds Care, Jacob’s Cure, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Project Sunshine, Smile Train, Solving Kids Cancer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, The Happy Hearts Fund.

Celebrities who will be attending this year’s Commissions for Charity Day in BTIG’s New York office in support of the event and their charitable foundations include Michael J. Fox, Matt Dillon, Brooklyn Decker, Tori Praver, Darryl Strawberry, Nick Swisher, Eli Manning, Steve Schirripa, Sean Avery, John McEnroe, Joe Girardi, Justin Tuck, Petra Nemcova, Tom Coughlin, Bode Miller, Reggie Jackson, Joe Namath, and NYSE Euronext CEO Duncan Niederauer. In addition, Ronnie Lott, Joe Morgan, and Tony Gonzalez will be in BTIG’s San Francisco office, and Kevin Connolly and Emmanuelle Chriqui of “Entourage,” and Marcus Allen will be in the Los Angeles office.

Stars Sign Bunnies For Celebrity Charity Easter Auction

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Kicking off National Autism Awareness Month, a whole bunch of celebrities have signed porcelain versions of the iconic Lindt Gold Bunny for a celebrity charity auction from premium Swiss chocolatier Lindt.

Toni Braxton

Star-Studded Award Show To Benefit Autism Speaks Tonight

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Journalist Tom Brokaw will be a presenter at tonight’s American Image Awards in New York, an event that will raise funds for Autism Speaks.

Hosted by Tinsley Mortimer, the event will will be attended by famous faces such as Tommy Hilfiger, Olivia Palermo, Whitney Port, Roxy Olin and Alex McCord. Sponsored by the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the Awards will honor the following brands and designers:

Li & Fung LTD, Excellence in Global Leadership Award recipient

Tom Brokaw Among Presenters Of American Image Awards For Autism Speaks

Thu, 13 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has announced the presenters and slate of honorees to be recognized during the 32nd Annual AAFA American Image Awards benefiting Autism Speaks later this month.

During the 2010 AAFA American Image Awards, presenters will include Tom Brokaw, Tim Gunn and Robert Verdi. The Humanitarian Award will be presented to Bob and Suzanne Wright, Founders of Autism Speaks; the Designer of the Year Award will be presented to designer John Bartlett; the Fashion Maverick Award will be presented to Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion; the Retailer of the Year Award will be presented to GAP, Inc.; the Brand of the Year Award will be presented to Steve Madden; the E-Tailer of the Year Award will be presented to Shopbop.com; and the Excellence in Global Leadership Award will be presented to Li & Fung, Ltd., to be accepted by Bruce Rockowitz, President of Li & Fung, Ltd., and Rick Darling, President of LF USA.

“From behind the ‘seams’ to your online shopping cart, the 2010 American Image Award honorees embody the full gamut of the industry,” said AAFA President and CEO kevin M. Burke. “Our honorees represent the best in leadership and innovation within the industry and charity. We are very proud to recognize their accomplishments and work together to help raise awareness and funds for autism.”

Celebrities Raise Commissions For Charity With BTIG

Fri, 07 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

BTIG LLC, an institutional broker dealer specializing in trading and related brokerage services, held its annual Commissions for Charity Day yesterday. The company donated equity, fixed income and derivative trading commission profits earned on Thursday, May 6 to a group of children’s charities.

In BTIG’s New York office, Matt Dillon, Michael J. Fox, Joe Girardi, Nick Swisher, John McEnroe, Bode Miller, Sean Avery, NYSE Euronext CEO Duncan Niederauer and WNBC-TV’s Bruce Beck took part, while in San Francisco, Tony Gonzalez, Steve Young, Joe Morgan and Ronnie Lott joined BTIG’s West Coast team as celebrity traders.

The firm’s last Commissions for Charity Day raised more than $3 million, and over the past five years BTIG has donated more than $10 million to various organizations, including Jacob’s Cure, Catch 25, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

James Denton Joins Celebrities At Autism Charity Walk

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Desperate Housewives star James Denton joined Holly Robinson-Peete, Rodney Peete and Austin Anderson at the Los Angeles Walk Now for Autism Speaks event on Saturday, April 24.

The walk saw participants complete a route of 3 miles, generating vital funds for autism research and raising awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism – the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder – and the need for increased research funding to combat this complex disorder.

See Carole King And James Taylor In The Round For Charity

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Carole King and James Taylor are offering fans the opportunity-of-a-lifetime to see two musical icons up-close-and-personal with ‘intimate and in the round’ Stage Seats on their Troubadour Reunion Tour.

The VIP Stage Seats were designed as tables for two surrounding the center stage performance. The innovative design recreates the intimacy of a vintage nightclub within the high-energy atmosphere of a modern arena performance—paying tribute to Carole King and James Taylor’s legendary 1970 performances at L.A.’s famed Troubadour club.

All VIP Stage Seat Packages benefit established charities, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Alliance for the Wild Rockies, which King and Taylor have long championed—plus more than 90 additional national and local charitable organizations. The VIP Stage Seat Packages are estimated to raise over $1 million for charity and are available for 37 of the Troubadour Reunion North American concerts.

Yoko Ono Named As Autism Charity Ambassador

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Yoko Ono became Autism Speaks’ first global ambassador last week.

“I have long believed that art is a great way to raise global awareness,” the Japanese artist and widow of John Lennon told a crowd of about 100 who gathered at the reception at a mid-town Manhattan hotel.

Last year at the United Nations, Ono presented a 2.1-meter-high jigsaw-like mural called PROMISE with 67 pieces to represent the estimated 67 million who are suffering from autism around the world. She raised more than $60,000 by auctioning off one piece at a time.

Don Felder To Be Honored At Charity Event

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Autism Speaks will honor two of Rock’s greatest at a special event in May.

Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder will be honored along with David Spero – legendary rock producer/manager and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Board of Directors – at the Rock ’Til It Stops gala in Cleveland on May 1.

The event will feature food, music and fun as the Cleveland Northeast Ohio community joins together to raise awareness about autism to support Autism Speaks’ local and national research, education and outreach initiatives. A portion of the proceeds will go directly to support projects in the local communities.

Bruce Springsteen To Rock Autism Concert

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Autism Speaks is proud to announce the next performance in their Concert for Autism series.

This year’s star-studded event will feature comedian Jerry Seinfeld, with a special appearance by “The Boss”, Bruce Springsteen. The evening will be hosted by NBC’s Meet the Press moderator, David Gregory, on November 17, at world famous landmark Carnegie Hall.

The event will benefit the families and individuals who live with autism every day by supporting research, awareness and family services initiatives

Celebrities To Perform Acts of Love in October

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:41:00 +0000

Stars such as Debra Messing, Alfred Molina and Zachary Quinto are gearing up to perform Acts of Love in support of Autism Speaks.

Acts of Love is Autism Speaks’ annual awards reception celebrating those who have made a difference in the Autism Community. The event raises funds and awareness which allows Autism Speaks to continue its work in finding a cure for autism.

International performers and celebrities including Adam Arkin, Benjamin Bratt, Austin Butler and Michael Chiklis, make up some of the cast which will perform an array of readings and quotes for the 7th Annual Acts of Love event. Also taking part are Emmanuelle Chriqui, Gary Cole, Michaela Conlin, Keith David, Carla Gugino, John Heard, Mary McDonnell, CCH Pounder, Amanda Seyfried, Amber Tamblyn and Lynn Whitfield.

Yoko Ono’s Promise On World Autism Day

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

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.”

Heroes Come To The Rescue For Autism

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Fans of NBC’s Heroes will be excited to learn about an event to take place in April featuring the cast from the hit show, live music from Band From TV, and a silent auction – all to benefit children with autism.

Heroes For Autism will take place on April 19 at the Avalon Hollywood, and will kick off with a VIP cocktail reception and silent auction featuring art work designed and created by the cast and crew of Heroes. Guests will then enjoy a concert performance by the ‘Band From TV’ – featuring Greg Grunberg, Adrian Pasdar, James Denton, Jesse Spencer, and Bob Guiney – and a special performance by the show’s music composers Wendy & Lisa. Wendy & Lisa will perform their music from the series, as well as music from their newly-released CD, ‘White Flags of Winter Chimneys.’

General admission to the event is $70, although $200 will buy you a VIP ticket that includes entry to the cocktail reception and early bids on auction items. All proceeds from the evening will go to Autism Speaks, an organization that funds global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism. Autism Speaks also raises public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society, and brings hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.

Yoko Ono To Auction Artwork On World Autism Awareness Day

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Yoko Ono – artist, singer and widow of former Beatle John Lennon – is to unveil a new mural titled at UN headquarters next month in honor of World Autism Awareness Day.

Titled Promise Piece, the mural is to be auctioned off in support of the non-profit group Autism Speaks, and will be revealed at an event that marks the 2nd Annual World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) on April 2.

The artwork is to broken apart into smaller pieces, and the 58 signed puzzle pieces will be auctioned throughout the month of April, with the caveat that they are to be “re-united” and re-assembled when the cure for autism is found. The event will be sponsored by the Chilean Mission.

Walk-On Role In New Steve Carell Film Nets $14,000 For Charity

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Do love Tina Fey? Do you love Steve Carell? Do you love charity? Of course you do – that’s why you are reading this article!

Lovers of the comedy titans Tina Fey and Steve Carell recently got their chance to not only help others, but also to win a big screen debut with their favorite comedians, when the online charity auction site CharityFolks.com offered bidders a walk-on role in the upcoming Fey/Carell flick Date Night. The event brought in $14,000 and will benefit the community focused organizations DreamYard and The Urban Ecology Institute.

Fey and Carell are no strangers to charity. Carell is an avid supporter of pediatric cancer and has used the special premieres of two of his recent films for the Zachary Carson Brain Tumor Fund. Fey has used her comedic genius to participate in events such as 2007’s A Night of Too Many Stars to bring attention to Autism as well as raise proceeds for Autism Speaks and Autism education programs.

Love Ride 2008 Attracts The Big Names

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:30:00 +0000

20,000 motorcyclists from across the U.S. and around the world rode in the 25th Annual Love Ride late last month and raised over US$1 million for Southern California-based charities.

The event – which was hosted by Jay Leno and featured celebrity riders such as Gene Simmons, Peter Fonda, Robert Patrick, Rutger Hauer, Larry Hagman, Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar, Michael Trucco (Battlestar Galactica_), and Carmine Giovinazzo (_CSI: NY) – culminated in a concert featuring the Foo Fighters, ZZ Top, and members of Velvet Revolver.

The annual Love Ride – held along the West Coast of the US from Glendale to Pomona – has raised over $21 million since it was launched in 1984, and is now one of the biggest one-day motorcycle events in the world. Beneficiaries of this year’s event included the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Autism Speaks, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Reading By 9 Child Literacy Initiative, Providence Saint Joseph Foundation, Catholic Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Special Olympics of Southern California, Frostig Center, Scleroderma Foundation, Glendale Community College, Rett Syndrome Foundation, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Centers, Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation, Friends of Castaic Lake, and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

Autism Speaks With Acts Of Love

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Autism Speaks is inviting you to a special evening of theatre featuring Bill Pullman and Joe Mantegna.

Acts of Love 2008 is a one-night only literary and musical celebration of Miracle Workers with inspiring celebrity readings and musical performances to raise money for autism. It is a WordTheatre production created, produced, and directed by Cedering Fox. Autism Speaks is proud to partner once again with WordTheatre and the entire entertainment community to inspire creativity, heighten awareness and draw support for families affected by autism.

In 2007, an ensemble cast performed a celebration children in the words of those who love them. Through ticket sales, sponsorship and donations the event benefiting Autism Speaks raised more than $185,000 for autism research and treatments.

Look to The Stars Asks Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:35:08 +0000

John Ondrasik, the recording artist behind the pop-rock sensation Five For Fighting, has been offering Americans support and inspiration for more than 10 years. His song, Superman (It’s Not Easy) became an anthem after the 9/11 attacks, and was performed at The Concert for New York City in late 2001, and then added to the charity album Live in the X Lounge IV.

His support has continued through a USO tour of Guantanamo Bay and other bases in Cuba in February/March of 2007, followed by a tour of Japan, Guam and Hawaii in November. That same month he coordinated the release of 13 free songs for US military members called CD for the Troops consisting of tunes from Billy Joel, Gary Sinise, Brooks and Dunn, Jewel and many others.

Stewart to Host Night Of Too Many Stars

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:53:19 +0000

The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart is set to host the Night Of Too Many Stars, an “Overbooked Concert For Autism Education”, on April 13th. The music-and-laughter-packed event will be televised live from The Beacon Theatre in New York City.

Some of the guests joining the comic news anchor in the fundraising efforts are Matthew Broderick, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Conan O’Brien, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

Proceeds of the evening will be split among autism education programs, including new schools which provide vocational and life skills for teenagers and adults with autism, and outreach programs which provide training and consultation to families of young autistic children. A portion of the proceeds will go to Autism Speaks, an organization which funds research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, while raising public awareness about the disorder.

Stars Keep On Giving

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:28:26 +0000

The giving just keeps on going this holiday season, with a whole bunch of celebrities donating items to charity auctions, and others taking the time to attend events and fork out massive amounts of money for good causes.

Such was the case on December 11, when the husband and wife team of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith paid $50,000 for a pair of artworks by Joan Miro and Salvador Dali at an auction in Chile.

“They bought the two works for a price much higher than their commercial value, because the proceeds of the auction went to UNICEF,” said Denise Ratinoff, head of the auction house that ran the event. “It was virtually a donation to UNICEF, and it helped a lot. Their presence in the auction made many other people also pay steeply for what they purchased.”

John Ondrasik Asks What Kind Of World You Want

Tue, 08 May 2007 18:58:56 +0000

John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting has started a charity music video community. The site, www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com, offers the public the chance to upload videos which explain the type of world in which they want to live.

At the end of every video viewers can click on the sponsor link; each click donates up to 49 cents to one of the charities chosen by Ondrasik. He encourages submissions, saying, “There are no rules here, your film can be personal, political – write a story, tell a story – anything goes.”

The charities benefitting from the website include Fisher House Foundation, Breast Cancer 3-Day, Save the Children, Autism Speaks, Save The Music Foundation and New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund. John tells us that another charity, Augie’s Quest will be added within the next few months.