Look To The Stars News: PROJECT ZAMBI

Taylor Swift Signs Elephant For Family Health International

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:29:00 -0000

As reported earlier by Look To The Stars, Family Health International is one of many charities to benefit from the current auction of celebrity-signed toy elephants organized by PROJECT ZAMBI.

Among those who have signed the elephants specifically for FHI are Taylor Swift (pictured below), the Jonas Brothers, Hugh Jackman, Heidi Klum and Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi.

“Family Health International is deeply grateful to these celebrities for lending their names to help address one of the world’s most serious problems. Their support raises awareness of the crisis and brings real help to children orphaned by AIDS in Africa—not just help to survive but to thrive,” said Al Siemens, CEO of Family Health International.

A number of other celebrities have also chosen charities to support through the auction, including George Clooney (Global Action for Children), Alicia Keys and Brooke Shields (Keep A Child Alive), Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake (African Children's Choir), Jessica Simpson (Operation Smile), Scarlett Johansson (The Global Fund), Leonardo DiCaprio (SOS Children's Villages), Naomi Watts (CIDRZ Foundation), James Taylor (Hole in the Wall Gang), Susan Sarandon (UNAID), Danny DeVito, Joely Fisher and Brad Garrett (Save the Children), Jennie Garth, Peter Facinelli and Glenn Close (Children of Uganda), and Barbara Walters and Denzel Washington (Save Africa's Children).

To take part in the auction – which runs until October 15 – click here.

Will Smith's Children Support Charity Initiative

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jaden and Willow Smith – the actor children of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith – have spoken about their support for PROJECT ZAMBI, a charity initiative started by a group of Hasbro employees to help raise awareness and funds for the estimated 15 million children who have lost parents and relatives to the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

“Willow and I joined Project Zambi to represent all the kids out there who want to make the world a better place,” said Jaden. “We want to encourage kids everywhere to lend a hand and join us in spreading the word about how much children who have been orphaned by AIDS in Africa need our help.”

The children have joined a host of stars – including Jessica Biel, George Clooney, Glenn Close, Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joely Fisher & Brad Garrett, Jennie Garth & Peter Facinelli, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys, Heidi Klum, Kathy Najimy, Rhea Perlman & Danny DeVito, Graham Rahal, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Taylor Swift, James Taylor, Barbara Walters, Denzel Washington, and Naomi Watts – in signing toy elephants to benefit charities such as Keep A Child Alive, the African Children's Choir, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, the Chikumbuso Women and Orphans Project, the Children of Uganda, Global Action for Children, the Global Fund, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages and many more.

“Project Zambi is about kids and for kids, and it’s so important that we all learn to take care of each other,” said Willow. “Even from the other side of the world, kids in Africa will know they have friends who care about them.”

The 10-day Project Zambi Celebrity Charity Auction is being held online via eBay beginning October 5 with bidding closing on October 15. Visitors will be able to log on to www.ebay.com/projectzambi.

Family Health International To Benefit From Charity Elephant Auction

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Last week, Look To The Stars brought you news about an online auction that features one-of-a-kind collectible elephant models signed by celebrities to be auctioned for a number of charities. Family Health International, a nonprofit public health and development organization working to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people, announced today that Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, Hugh Jackman, Heidi Klum and Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi have signed the custom ZAMBI THE BABY ELEPHANT models on behalf of the organization.

These unique and collectible models will be auctioned on eBay [Oct. 5–15, 2009] at www.ebay.com/projectzambi. Proceeds of the auction of these elephants will benefit Family Health International’s programs that provide basic needs for some of the 12 million African children orphaned by AIDS, including healthcare, food and nutrition, clean water, shelter, clothing, education, psychosocial support, and protection.

Catherine Thompson, Family Health International/Zambia country director, said “Children’s basic needs go far beyond prevention, care, and treatment of HIV and AIDS. They need access to food, shelter, basic education, and protection from abuse. With so many older orphans raising their younger siblings, income generating activities can help them break out of the poverty cycle, keep what’s left of their families together, and ensure a healthier and more secure future.” Thompson added, “This requires close collaboration with government, local communities, and people living with HIV and AIDS to establish sustainable locally owned programs of high quality.”

PROJECT ZAMBI, a program conceived by a passionate group of Hasbro employees, is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the estimated 12 million children who have been orphaned as a result of the AIDS epidemic in Africa and supporting the community-based organizations that care for them. To help bring PROJECT ZAMBI to life, Hasbro has introduced ZAMBI THE BABY ELEPHANT, a special edition FURREAL FRIENDS animatronic plush toy. Hasbro has committed to donate 50 percent of the net profits —a minimum of $500,000 (in U.S. dollars) to the PROJECT ZAMBI Fund, part of the Hasbro Children’s Fund, beginning in 2009, and hopes to expand this global campaign to include additional Hasbro products and brands in the years to come. As a leader in the global response to HIV/AIDS, and because of its integrated approach to delivering public health programs based on scientific research, Family Health International was selected as a beneficiary for the PROJECT ZAMBI initiative.

Siemens said, “The work of Hasbro, the Hasbro Children’s Fund, and other partner organizations is critical to alleviating the untold suffering of children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Through our efforts, and the support of caring donors like those who participate in the PROJECT ZAMBI Celebrity Auction, we can offer these children hope and life-saving treatments that keep parents alive and healthy to prevent more children from being orphaned.”

Celebrities Sign Elephants For Project Zambi

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

A host of celebrities have come together to be part of an online auction that features one-of-a-kind collectible elephant models.

Jessica Biel, George Clooney, Glenn Close, Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joely Fisher & Brad Garrett, Jennie Garth & Peter Facinelli, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys, Heidi Klum, Kathy Najimy, Rhea Perlman & Danny DeVito, Graham Rahal, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Taylor Swift, James Taylor, Barbara Walters, Denzel Washington, and Naomi Watts are some of the stars who have signed the elephant toys for Project Zambi, a charity initiative started by a group of Hasbro employees to help raise awareness and funds for the estimated 15 million children who have lost parents and relatives to the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

“It is encouraging to see that companies such as Hasbro are developing initiatives to support global health issues,” said Alicia Keys. "Through my involvement in this project, I’m proud to support Keep A Child Alive, an organization dedicated to providing care and support to children and families whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by directly engaging the global public in the fight against AIDS."

One hundred percent of the sale of each auctioned elephant will be donated to the organization of the celebrity’s choice that supports children orphaned by AIDS in Africa including the African Children's Choir, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, the Chikumbuso Women and Orphans Project, the Children of Uganda, Global Action for Children, the Global Fund, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages and many more.

“The wonderful support that we’ve received from the celebrities participating in the PROJECT ZAMBI auction is a moving example of the deep concern surrounding the issue of caring for children orphaned by AIDS,” said Brian Goldner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hasbro, Inc. “We are very hopeful and optimistic that this auction will be successful in raising awareness and generating funds that will support some of the many dedicated organizations working to make a better future for these children.”

Earlier this year, Hasbro launched PROJECT ZAMBI, a global cause initiative tied to the new special edition FURREAL FRIENDS ZAMBI THE BABY ELEPHANT toy that is dedicated to raising awareness and benefiting programs caring for children orphaned by AIDS in Africa.

Hasbro has committed to donate 50 percent of the net profits from ZAMBI THE BABY ELEPHANT — a minimum of $500,000 (in U.S. dollars) — to the PROJECT ZAMBI Fund, part of the Hasbro Children’s Fund, beginning in 2009, and hopes to expand this global campaign to include additional Hasbro products and brands in the years to come. By purchasing ZAMBI THE BABY ELEPHANT, consumers will be supporting programs that work directly with children orphaned by AIDS in Africa.

This latest initiative is a part of the work Hasbro conducts in the U.S. and around the world to help children in need through the Hasbro Children’s Fund and product donations. In 2008, Hasbro impacted approximately four million children through its charitable programs and product donations.

For more information about the PROJECT ZAMBI Celebrity Charity Auction, PROJECT ZAMBI and ZAMBI THE BABY ELEPHANT, please visit www.projectzambi.com.

The 10-day PROJECT ZAMBI Celebrity Charity Auction will be held online via eBay beginning October 5 with bidding closing on October 15. Visitors will be able to log on to www.ebay.com/projectzambi.

Look To The Stars News: PROJECT ZAMBI

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