Look To The Stars News: World Food Programme

Christmas Charity Singles Hit The Market

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0000

It’s that time year again – a new wave of charity singles are about to hit the market to spread goodwill in the Christmas season.

Leading the pack this year is a new single from Eric Clapton recorded with Paul Stewart – eldest son of Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart – called “Fly Free.”

Recorded in honour of the racing legend’s 70th birthday, the song will be released on 15 November 2009. All proceeds will be donated to the Grand Prix Mechanics’ Charitable Trust, an organization founded by Sir Jackie Stewart and others more than 20 years ago that assists Grand Prix, former Grand Prix mechanics, their wives, widows and children in times of need.

Also available is a charity single by veteran British television and radio presenter Terry Wogan, who has released a version of The Beatles’ classic All You Need Is Love for Children in Need.

And for lovers of classic artists, don’t forget Bob Dylan’s charity Christmas album available right now. The album came out last month and benefits Feeding America and the World Food Programme.

Bob Dylan Gives Royalties To World Hunger Programme

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Royalties from Bob Dylan’s forthcoming Christmas album will be donated to the World Food Programme (WFP) at a time when a growing hunger crisis threatens the lives of 108 million people worldwide.

The artist’s international royalties in perpetuity from his forthcoming album of holiday songs, Christmas In The Heart, to be released 12 October, will be donated to WFP, the agency said today. WFP said this extraordinary gift will bring help and hope to hungry families who have been dealt a devastating blow by the financial crisis and stubbornly high food prices.

“Bob Dylan’s generosity to help WFP feed the world’s hungry couldn’t come at a better time. Starting this Christmas, we can give thousands of meals to hungry school children all over the world, a gift for a lifetime,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide, adding that for just 25 US cents a day, WFP can fill a school child’s cup with porridge to help them learn better and succeed in the future.

“The number of hungry in the world — many of them children — has hit an historic high while food assistance has reached a historic low. Today in the United States and in much of Europe, more people are relying on government safety nets for food and support than perhaps ever before, but for 80 per cent of the world, a safety net is little more than a dream. Bob Dylan’s new album will help change that.”

Bob Dylan commented, “That the problem of hunger is ultimately solvable means we must each do what we can to help feed those who are suffering and support efforts to find long-term solutions. I’m honoured to partner with the World Food Programme and [”Crisis":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/218-crisis] in their fight against hunger worldwide."

Christmas In The Heart will be the 47th album from Bob Dylan, and follows his worldwide chart-topping Together Through Life, released earlier this year. Songs performed by Dylan on this new album include, “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “Must Be Santa.”

Christina Aguilera Highlights Hunger In Guatemala

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Christina Aguilera and her husband Jordan Bratman recently traveled with the UN World Food Programme to villages in the Guatemalan highlands near Lake Atitlan, where up to 80 percent of the indigenous children are malnourished. Guatemala has the fourth highest child malnutrition rate in the world.

“I wanted to see with my own eyes what hunger means,” she said. “I don’t think I can ever forget these images. The people of WFP do such a great job helping hungry children and mothers. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful project and incredible team.”

WFP brings life-saving food assistance to some 350,000 people in Guatemala – mostly women and children. It works closely with the Guatemalan government to battle chronic hunger.

“WFP urgently needs donations to keep feeding some 150,000 women and undernourished children – I want to raise awareness and open people’s eyes so they can get the funds they need to keep on working,” said Aguilera.
Many of the children Aguilera saw were much shorter than normal for their age – a consequence of not getting enough healthy food at an early age.

“One of the biggest lessons I’m taking away from this trip is the importance of healthy food. If a child under two doesn’t get the nutrients they need, we can never fix the damage later on,” the singer said.

Aguilera is also raising awareness of the hunger issue by appearing in the World Hunger Relief campaign’s new global public service announcement and advertisement, made possible by KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, that will start airing at the end of September. The black and white PSA captures Aguilera, accompanied by a guitarist, attracting a crowd on a busy corner in Los Angeles as she sings Beautiful to raise money for hunger relief. Graphics illustrate that everyone can do something to help, “all it takes is a dollar and you, hope is in your hands.”

Aguilera will also appear in World Hunger Relief restaurant posters with the quote, “Together, we have the power to save lives and go from hunger to hope” and online efforts, including the campaign’s web site FromHungertoHope.com.

Global hunger has reached epic proportions this year – with more than 1 billion hungry people around the world – due to the convergence of the global economic slowdown; high food prices; increased competition for products that produce energy; severe droughts and floods due to climate change; and increasing demand from growing economies in Asia and South America.

“As a mother, I think it’s unacceptable that a child dies every six seconds somewhere around the world from hunger and I want to do something about it,” said Aguilera. “By lending my voice in the new PSA for World Hunger Relief, I hope to raise even more awareness about the issue and move millions of people from hunger to hope.”

“As a society, we should not tolerate that global hunger is worse than ever this year with more than 1 billion people going to bed hungry every day,” said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. “We are thankful for Christina’s passion to join us in the fight against hunger and help us raise attention to this critical issue and save millions of lives. We believe it is our privilege and responsibility to find a meaningful solution to this problem.”

Novak, the presidents from KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, other senior executives and franchise leaders traveled to El Salvador in August to see WFP’s relief efforts. Yum! is announcing that it will donate the first $1 million it raises this year to El Salvador.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. WFP is currently facing critical funding shortfalls which means it is being forced to reduce, and in some cases, cut food rations to the world’s hungry, making the World Hunger Relief campaign even more crucial this year.

“WFP knows how to reach those most in need and will do what it takes to get a cup of food to any kid in the world,” said WFP’s Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. “But without funding, we can’t reach these kids. It takes just 25 cents to fill a cup with food. The World Hunger Relief campaign helps fill the cup for tens of thousands of kids – and we’re so grateful for it.”

This year, Yum! plans to generate the equivalent of nearly $50 million in awareness of the hunger issue through a PSA, advertising, public relations, web-based communications and in-restaurant posters. The Company’s employees and franchisees will be volunteering their time around the globe at hunger relief agencies, food banks, soup kitchens and launching fundraisers.

World Hunger Relief kicks off its month-long campaign in the U.S. starting Sept. 24 (Long John Silver’s/A&W All-American Food), Sept. 27 (Pizza Hut), Sept. 28 (KFC) and Oct. 8 (Taco Bell). Every U.S. dollar raised will provide four meals for hungry children.

Since World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, more than 1 million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than 9 million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has raised $36 million for WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide approximately 160 million meals and save the lives of about 4 million people in remote corners of the world.

Mia Farrow Takes Message Of Hope To Cameroon

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0000

The internationally acclaimed actress and humanitarian activist Mia Farrow arrived in Cameroon on Sunday with a message of hope for some of the most disadvantaged children in the country.

A priority for the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador during her week long visit will be to travel to communities in the East, where there are over 60,000 Central African refugees, and the Langui Camp where there are more than 3,000 refugees who fled from Chad last year.

“UNICEF has asked me to add my voice to the call for urgent action in Cameroon to tackle the problem of child malnutrition which UNICEF sees as a silent emergency,” said Mia Farrow. “Most of the world probably knows little about this humanitarian crisis which threatens the lives of children under five years of age. When I get there I hope to be able to tell them they will be heard, and do my best to make sure that more will be done for them.”

Many of the refugees in Cameroon are being hosted by local communities, who themselves are desperately poor and vulnerable. A key consequence is high rates of child malnutrition according to the UNICEF Representative, Ora Musu Clemens-Hope.

“The refugees have been generously supported by communities in one of the poorest parts of Cameroon. The Government and agencies such as UNICEF, [”UNHCR":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/5-unhcr], and the World Food Programme have been working hard to alleviate conditions and provide for basic needs, but we are seeing alarming rates of malnutrition and more funding is urgently needed."

There are around 280,000 refugees in Cameroon from both the Central African Republic and Chad. Amongst the displaced and host communities, UNICEF is working to combat disease and cut child mortality, while working to provide clean water, decent sanitation and education.

Upon her arrival in Cameroon, Ms. Farrow will hear from government ministers as well as the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and First Lady.

Ms. Farrow was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in September 2000. As a powerful advocate for children, she campaigns tirelessly for their rights around the world, with a special focus on children impacted by armed conflict. Ms. Farrow has worked extensively to raise funds and awareness for children whose lives have been affected by violence in countries such as Angola, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Nigeria and Sudan.

Bono Talks World Hunger In Amsterdam

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:30:00 -0000

U2 singer Bono recently took time out from his current world tour to get up-to-date on global hunger by meeting with World Food Programme (WFP) head, Josette Sheeran, in Amsterdam.

During their meeting, Sheeran gave the singer one of the distinctive red cups which symbolize WFP’s ‘Fill the Cup’ campaign to raise funds to help the 66 million children in the world who go to school hungry.

Numbers Rising

Bono noted that the number of hungry people in the world is “rising fast” and expressed admiration for WFP’s work providing free meals to more than 20 million children in school every year.

Sheeran and Peter Bakker, head of WFP’s corporate partner TNT, met Bono backstage at Amsterdam’s ArenA stadium, where U2 played the ninth show in their current European tour to tens of thousands of fans.

When Bono asked about WFP’s work in Eastern Congo, Sheeran explained how the agency buys food from small farmers in that country to give to people displaced by conflict, thus boosting the local economy as well as responding to urgent hunger needs.

Activism for Africa

Bono is widely known for his activism in seeking solutions to the problems afflicting Africa. He co-founded DATA ,an NGO aimed at eliminating third world debt, and the ONE Campaign, which aims to increase US funding for international aid programs.

He has organized and played in several benefit concerts and has often met with influential politicians as part of his efforts to drum up support for development causes.

Christina Aguilera Becomes Spokesperson For World Hunger Relief Charity

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Christina Aguilera is giving hunger a powerful voice by becoming the global spokesperson for World Hunger Relief.

Aguilera will help raise awareness of the hunger issue this fall by appearing in a new public service announcement, advertising and posters made possible by KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. She will also get the message out by appearing on the World Hunger Relief web site, FromHungertoHope.com, and in other online hunger relief efforts.

The initiative follows Mariah Carey’s poster campaign for the organization last year.

Global hunger has reached epic proportions this year – reaching more than 1 billion hungry people around the world – due to the convergence of the global economic slowdown; high food prices; increased competition for products that produce energy; severe droughts and floods due to climate change; and increasing demand from growing economies in Asia and South America.

“It’s unacceptable a child dies every six seconds somewhere around the world from hunger,” said Aguilera. “By lending my voice for World Hunger Relief, I hope to raise awareness about the issue and move people from hunger to hope.”

Yum! Brands annual World Hunger Relief campaign is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief effort to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds to benefit the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies.

“We are extremely excited about Christina’s passion to join the fight against hunger,” said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. “Christina’s global iconic status will raise tremendous attention to this critical issue, and more importantly, will save millions of lives.”

Since the World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, more than one million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than nine million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has raised $36 million for the WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide approximately 160 million meals and save the lives of about 4 million people in remote corners of the world, where hunger is the most prevalent.

At the Clinton Global Initiative last year, Yum! Brands pledged to do the following over the next few years: raise and donate at least $80 million to help WFP and others provide 200 million meals for hungry school children in developing countries; donate 20 million hours of hunger relief volunteer service in the communities in which it operates; donate $200 million worth of its prepared food to hunger agencies in the United States and use the Company’s marketing clout to generate awareness of the hunger problem, and convince others to become part of the solution.

Yum! and its brands have been committed to fighting hunger for more than a decade by donating more than $46 million of prepared food annually to the underprivileged in the United States. Since the company went public in 1997, it has donated more than $500 million of its food to hunger relief agencies in the U.S.

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency and the United Nations frontline agency for hunger solutions. In 2009, WFP aims to feed 105 million people in 74 countries.

To view Christina Aguilera’s new PSA, visit the official World Hunger Relief website.

George Clooney Puts Star Power To Work

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

George Clooney is using his box office appeal to garner a financial boost for the people of L’Aquila, Italy.

In April 2009 the Italian city was devastated by an earthquake that left more than 300 people dead. Clooney hopes to film a movie in the town, and thinks that the movie will revamp the city’s economy and aid those left destitute by the natural disaster.

The people of L’ Aquila are not the only beneficiaries of Clooney’s humanitarian efforts. The Ocean’s Eleven star is also a supporter of Ante Up For Africa, Rock For Darfur, Not On Our Watch, and the World Food Programme. Hopefully, Clooney’s efforts in Italy will harvest the same rewards as his previous charity work.

Reese Witherspoon Helps Feed The Children

Mon, 04 May 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Actress Reese Witherspoon was spotted toting a special bag in Italy in the weekend, created by a group of Columbia University students dedicated to promoting and raising awareness about hunger.

FEED Projects is the brainchild of model, fashion designer and niece of George W. Bush, Lauren Bush, who established the organization after designing a bag to benefit the United Nations’ World Food Programme’s (WFP) School Feeding operations. Bush, a WFP Honorary Spokesperson who has visited eight WFP food aid operations around the world, “was inspired by the plight of the people she met on her travels. She took a special interest in WFP’s School Feeding program, which feeds and educates hungry children”.

Bush designed the special FEED 1 bag to raise awareness and money for the WFP, with the proceeds from each bag feeding one child in school for one year. By the end of 2007, they raised donations for WFP to feed over 37,500 hungry children in school for one year. The goal of FEED Projects is to market and sell as many FEED bags as possible and to FEED and educate the world’s 400 million hungry children.

To find out more about this incredible project, to buy a bag like the one used by Reese Witherspoon, or to view the range of other products available, visit the official FEED Projects website.

Michael Jordan Charity Auction Nets $110,000

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

On April 15, we ran a story announcing that the Chicago Bulls had teamed with Hunt Auctions to offer fans a chance to bid on historic Michael Jordan gear – including his locker – with all proceeds going to the Chicago Bulls’ charitable organization, the CharitaBulls.

The auction was held on Saturday (April 18) at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, where 13 Jordan items were auctioned, along with items from basketball legends such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.

All in all, the Jordan items brought in more than $110,000 to benefit the Bulls non-profit organization, the Charitabulls.

In 1987, the Chicago Bulls founded a nonprofit organization to aid in civic tasks, especially where children are concerned. CharitaBulls was formed with the mission to enhance the lives of Chicago’s youth by actively creating and supporting educational, recreational and social programs. Additionally, CharitaBulls has contributed to global organizations such as the World Food Programme, the United Nation’s Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign, and the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugee’s Ninemillion.org campaign to provide education for refugees in Africa. For more information, please visit the CharitaBulls website.

A Big Concert For A Big Man With A Big Heart

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A charity concert honoring Luciano Pavarotti took place at the site of the ancient Jordanian city of Petra on Sunday night.

The show – which featured many of Pavarotti’s friends from across the music industry, including Sting, Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Jovanotti, Laura Pausini, Angela Gheorghiu, Andrea Griminelli, Cynthia Lawrence, and Roberto Alagna – raised money for projects in Afghanistan run by the UN Refugee Relief Agency and the World Food Program, as well as for the Petra archaeological site 180km south of Amman where the concert took place.

Organized by Nicoletta Mantovani – Pavarotti’s widow – with the support of HRH Princess Haya of Jordan, a UN Messenger of Peace, the concert was attended by 500 guests, including Jordan’s Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

Pavarotti actively supported UNHCR projects in Kosovo, Pakistan, Zambia, and Iraq before his death. For his continuous commitment to refugee causes, he received UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award and was named a UN Messenger of Peace.

Mariah Carey Becomes Poster Girl For Charity

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pop’s favorite princess Mariah Carey has been named an Ambassador for a major hunger relief charity.

The 38-year-old singer will front the Yum! Foundation’s appeal to raise money for the United Nations’ World Food Program. She will appear in a series of posters at Yum’s restaurant brands – including KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W – in 36,000 stores in over 112 countries. The posters will be accompanied by a television campaign voiced by Muhammad Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali.

Carey’s part in the campaign is to encourage people to pick up a coded card at any of Yum’s restaurants. The card will allow fans to download her song, “Love Story,” off her latest album, E=MC2, at www.FromHungerToHope.com. For every download, Yum will donate $0.25 to the Yum! Foundation’s Hunger Relief campaign.

“Hunger is unacceptable,” said David C. Novak, Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands. “As a society, we should not and can not tolerate the fact that 850 million people are starving and go to bed hungry every day. As the world’s largest restaurant company, we believe it is our privilege and responsibility to find a meaningful solution to this critical problem. Yum! Brands is determined to be a leader in wiping out hunger. We are committed to raise awareness, volunteerism and money to address this problem. We hope to move millions of people from hunger to hope through our efforts.”

Yum! and its brands have donated more than $46 million of prepared food annually over the last decade to the underprivileged in the United States. The company is also the primary sponsor of the Dare To Care Food Bank based in Louisville, Kentucky, and has donated $8 million to the organization over the last 8 years.

Pavarotti To Be Honored With Charity Concert

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti is to be honored at a tribute charity concert in Petra, Jordan, a year after his death.

Proceeds from the concert – to be held on October 12 – will go towards projects in Afghanistan by the UN Refugee Relief Agency and the World Food Program, as well as to the Petra archaeological site 180km south of Amman where the concert will take place.

The audience – limited to about 500 people – will be entertained by many of Pavarotti’s friends from across the music industry, including Sting, Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Jovanotti, Laura Pausini, Angela Gheorghiu, Andrea Griminelli, Cynthia Lawrence, and Roberto Alagna. The event is being organised by Nicoletta Mantovani – Pavarotti’s widow – with the support of HRH Princess Haya of Jordan, a UN Messenger of Peace.

“This is an event born of the desire of everybody to remember Luciano, with songs dedicated to him or ones that he had sung,” said Mantovani.

Matt Damon And Wyclef Jean Witness Storm Destruction

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fresh from appearing at the ONEXONE Difference Awards in Toronto last Monday, Matt Damon and Wyclef Jean spent the weekend visiting the flood-ravaged city of Gonaives in Haiti following destruction caused by Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike.

The pair hope to encourage people to help the United Nations raise more than $100 million to help over 800,000 Haitians after four devastating tropical storms and hurricanes since mid-August, and the visit was organized by ONEXONE, a Canadian charity that provides aid to children in need around the world.

Wading through knee-deep flood waters, the pair visited a school shelter to drop off cooking oil from USAID and bags of beans from the World Food Program. Jean – a native of Haiti – sang for the crowd, and both stars were overwhelmed by the humanitarian crisis.

“It’s inhumane,” said Jean. “I wish there was a word in the dictionary. No human should be living like this.”

“I’m speechless,” added Damon. “I can’t believe it.”

Gonaives police have buried dozens of unidentified corpses in the last few weeks, and Aid agencies are working at supplying medical supplies for mobile clinics to treat infections from people walking in flooded streets.

“It’s obvious that this country was absolutely flattened with these hurricanes,” said ONEXONE chairman Frank McKenna. “Huge portions of the crops of the nation were wiped out, which means there will be food shortages. You just wonder how people can survive.”

Bill Clinton Speaks At AIDS Conference

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The eyes of the world are this week firmly fixed on AIDS 2008, the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

The week-long conference officially opened on Sunday night, and last night (August 4) featured a rousing speech by former US president Bill Clinton.

“AIDS is a very big dragon. The mythological dragon was slain by Saint George, the original knight in shining armor, but this dragon must be slain by millions and millions of foot soldiers,” he told activists, leaders, and experts who gathered for the conference. “We know there is so much yet to be done: to expand prevention, treatment and care, to strengthen undeveloped health systems.”

The conference will draw around 25,000 participants from across the globe, including Oxfam Ambassador Annie Lennox, UN head Ban Ki-moon, Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Margaret Chan, and Keren Gonzalez – a 12-year-old from Honduras who has been actively involved in a number of HIV-related programs aimed at young people since the age of 9, including acting as editor for a magazine aimed at children aged 8 to 12 years affected directly and indirectly by HIV/AIDS.

AIDS 2008 will provide many opportunities for the presentation of important new scientific research and for productive, structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to AIDS. The conference theme of Universal Action Now emphasizes the need for continued urgency in the worldwide response to HIV/AIDS, and for action on the part of all nations. International partners in the event include UNAIDS, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations, the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS/International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, the World YWCA, and the Asian Harm Reduction Network.

Bill Clinton flew to the conference from Africa, where he had been visiting projects funded by the Clinton Foundation to fight AIDS and malaria.

“Today 1.4 million people with AIDS are using treatments purchased by the Clinton Foundation,” he said. “Thanks to the efforts of our partners, they cost about 120 dollars a year.”

More information about the conference can be found at www.aids2008.org.

Wyclef Jean Forms Partnership For Haiti Food Crisis Help

Fri, 23 May 2008 10:52:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Musician Wyclef Jean announced on Tuesday that his Yele Haiti Foundation has formed a partnership with two other charities to help address the growing food crisis in Haiti.

Rising food and fuel costs have left the Caribbean island nation’s poor unable to afford food, resulting in widespread hunger and even rioting. Haitian native Jean, who first made his name as a member of The Fugees, is joining forces with the United Nations World Food Programme and the Pan American Development Foundation to form Together for Haiti.

The programme hopes to raise $48 million, with which it will provide targeted food distribution, employment in agriculture regeneration programmes, and micro-enterprise grants.

At the Manhattan launch of the partnership, Wyclef Jean stressed the importance of helping the Haitian poor to help themselves:

“How can you make people in a poor economy entrepreneurs? Well, if you give these families five chickens and you give them food for these chickens and give then a cage they automatically become entrepreneurs. Because, they can eat now and they can raise the chickens and sell chickens.”

Together for Haiti is a natural extension to Jean’s Yéle Haiti Foundation, the goal of which the musician says is “to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of our heritage.”

For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.togetherforhaiti.org. Just 25 cents can buy a school meal for a hungry child.

Celebrities Bring Attention To UN Efforts

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:11:03 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

With the press watching their every move, more and more stars are making their moves count by sharing the spotlight with United Nations missions.

In the past months alone, actress Drew Barrymore pledged $1 million to the United Nations’ World Food Program to bring attention to rising food prices; actress and Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon began raising money for the United Nations Development Fund For Women for education, job training and better laws for underprivileged women; Bono raised an impressive $42 million at his (RED) charity auction for the United Nations Foundation AIDs programs; and actress and UNICEF spokeswoman Salma Hayek promoted her anti-tetanus campaign on Oprah.

Outspoken actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow uses her celebrity in ways that politicians might not, relentlessly reminding us of the tragic details of Dafur. Farrow says, “I’m completely free to say anything I want. I have no trade agreements with anyone.”

George Clooney, the latest to be named Messenger of Peace by the United Nations for his efforts in Chad, Congo and Dafur, told ABC News, “I think what they’re looking to gain from [awarding me] is cameras following me to places that they’re trying to get attention to and that’s fine. That’s a good use of celebrity if you ask me.”

Celebrity faces fronting causes may help attract broader attention or raise bigger money more quickly, but it may also do something for the celebrity.

Actress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, who is pushing governments to plan an Iraq refugee relief effort, told ABC News, “[Activism] gives celebrity some reason. Celebrity is very weird… So when you’re doing something good and you can bring attention to that or discuss that, then it feels like you have some sense in your life.”

George Clooney Keeps Air Rescue To Darfur Going

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:06:51 -0000

Written by Richard Alan Krieger

When the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned earlier this month that their air transportations to help war-torn Darfur, Sudan, would soon stop due to lack of funds, George Clooney stepped up with his charity group Not On Our Watch by contributing $6.24 million to keep their air transport operations going.

“We are proud to help ensure the survival of this lifesaving program and strongly encourage others to do the same,” said UN Messenger of Peace and award-winning actor George Clooney. “Protection of these victims should not fall solely in the hands of
charitable organizations,” he added. “Governments have a responsibility to help those who cannot defend themselves.”

“Having seen first hand the epic humanitarian challenge in Darfur, George Clooney and his colleagues know the life saving power of the Humanitarian Air Service,” WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said.

She added, “This contribution will make a difference to the millions of vulnerable women and children trapped there, and we hope it will inspire other donations.”

Even with the help George Clooney and his organization has done, WFP representative in Sudan, Kenro Oshidari mentioned that they are still in need of funds to keep their air operations going past April of this year.

“We are hoping that more funds will come in, because there is a big gap between the $6 million we have now and the $77 million that we need this year,” he explained.

Darfur is currently known by many humanitarians as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in the world today. Yet, at the same time, it’s one of the most neglected problems in terms of help coming from the world community.

George Clooney Makes A Stand For Darfur

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:09:52 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

UN Messenger of Peace George Clooney is putting pressure on a major Olympic sponsor to make a stand against China’s foreign policy in the Sudan. And to drive the point home, Clooney’s non-profit organization Not On Our Watch has just donated $500,000 to the World Food Program to provide aid in the war torn region of Darfur.

“World Food Program planes and helicopters deliver humanitarian workers and urgent supplies to nearly every aid organisation working in Darfur,” said Clooney, who co-founded Not On Our Watch with Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, and Jerry Weintraub. “This is a critical time for the program. Without immediate additional funding, humanitarian aid in the region will be crippled. We are proud to help ensure the survival of this lifesaving programme and strongly encourage others to do the same. Protection of these victims should not fall solely in the hands of charitable organisations. Governments have a responsibility to help those who cannot defend themselves.”

The 46-year-old actor is also calling for Omega Watches, official timekeepers of the Olympic Games since 1932, to take a hard line against China’s involvement in the Sudanese region of Darfur, where over 200,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million people displaced in three years of fighting between African rebels and government troops allied with Arab militia known as janjaweed.

“I have talked with Omega [about China] for over a year and will continue to talk to Omega,” Clooney told the BBC earlier this week. “I have and will go to the places I and China do business and ask for help.”

China is an important trading partner with the Sudan, and a major investor in Sudan’s oil industry. It has also been accused by lobby groups of breaching international rules and encouraging bloodshed by selling Sudan weapons that have been diverted to Darfur.

“Last year I took Olympic athletes Joey Cheek and Tegla Loroupe to Beijing to meet with the heads of the Chinese government,’’ said Clooney. “I have and will continue to ask China to use its considerable leverage with the government of Sudan.”

The news follows Steven Spielberg’s decision last month to withdraw as an artistic adviser to the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Spielberg said his conscience would not allow him to continue working, and he pledged to spend his time and energy not on Olympic ceremonies, but on trying to end the “unspeakable crimes against humanity” in Darfur.

Omega Watches confirmed that they had been in touch with Clooney, and would work towards addressing the issues he raised, although they are unwilling to take the hard initiatives he has suggested.

“We have full respect for his strong engagement in the fight for the good cause and share his opinion, especially concerning Darfur, and we are proud to work with a person who has such high ethical views,” said Omega chief executive Nick Hayek. “It is our policy not to get involved in politics because it would not serve the cause of the sport which is one most noble human endeavors for creating understanding and peace all over the world.”

Drew Barrymore Donates $1 Million To Charity

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:21:12 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Viewers of Oprah Winfrey’s new show, Oprah’s Big Give, on Sunday night got a special surprise when Drew Barrymore announced she is donating $1 million to the United Nations World Food Program.

The 33-year-old actress has been an Ambassador Against Hunger for the organization since last year, and said that this is by far the biggest donation she has ever made, but “nothing has ever felt this good.”

“I have seen with my own eyes what a difference a simple cup of nutritious porridge can make in a child’s life,” said Barrymore. “It helps them learn, stay healthy, and sets them on track for a bright future. I urge everyone – everywhere – to help WFP ‘Fill the Cup’ for hungry children, and make hunger history.”

The donation kicks off the World Food Program’s $3 billion “Fill The Cup” campaign that aims to feed 59 million hungry school children in over 80 developing countries for a year. The agency hopes the U.S. will be able to donate enough money to feed 10 million of those children.

“We have a dream … to feed another 10 million hungry school children in Africa by Thanksgiving Day,” said World Food Program Executive Director Josette Sheeran. “Just $50 fills a child’s cup for a year, and we call on everyone to click on www.wfp.org and make a donation.”

The Rome-based agency said it needs $500 million more than anticipated this year due to a rise in food and energy prices. A spokesperson for the agency said that last year the organization provided more than 20 million school children with a daily cup of porridge, rice, or beans and also gave many girls a monthly ration to take home to their families. Up to 70 percent of its food used for school meals is bought from farmers in developing countries.

“I’m able to make this incredible donation — this has changed my life,” said Barrymore. “But I encourage everyone to give.”

George Clooney - A Messenger Of Peace

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:34:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Academy Award winner George Clooney was made a United Nations Messenger of Peace at a function in New York yesterday, January 31, and has pledged to “shine a light” on UN peacekeeping efforts around the world, particularly in Darfur.

“When I stood in the hospital next to women who had been raped and set on fire, they looked up to me and said ‘please send the UN’ – not the US, not China, not Russia, just the UN,” said the 46-year-old actor who has just returned from visiting the war-torn nation of Sudan. “You are their only hope.”

However, several UN member nations claimed the actor’s trip was “inappropriate”, and blocked him from delivering his full message to the assembly. Instead, Clooney read it to reporters during a press conference that followed.

“The message is that the world is watching, and that at this point we cannot afford to fail,” he said. “Millions are homeless – not from famine or disease or acts of God – but from a well armed militia intent on ridding the land of its people.”

The conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur began in 2003 when ethnic African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government. Sudan’s regime is accused of retaliating by organizing a militia of Arab nomads, known as the Janjaweed, to reign terror on the region’s African inhabitants, an allegation the Khartoum denies. It has been estimated that over 200,000 people have been slain since the conflict arose, and the United Nations now states that the humanitarian crisis in Darfur is the worst in the world. However, plans to send 26,000 UN peacekeepers into the region are now in doubt due to restrictions imposed by the Khartoum, as well of the failure of Western countries to offer help.

“We tend to not get to see enough of what we need to see anymore,” said Clooney. “It seems as if at times celebrity can bring that focus. It can’t make the policies, it can’t change people’s minds really, but you can bring a camera where you go because they’ll follow you and you can shine a light on it. That seems to be my job.”

Clooney is the ninth person to be made a United Nations Messenger of Peace since the program was established in 1998 by former Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. Each Messenger of Peace is chosen from the art, music, literature, or sports worlds to focus attention on UN work, with each Messenger holding the post for three years. Former Messengers of Hope include Michael Douglas, Muhammad Ali, and Vijay Amritraj.

Clooney said his new role was to raise awareness about UN peacekeeping efforts generally, and he would “go wherever I have to to bring some attention.”

He also plans to lobby countries to fulfill their UN peacekeeping funding commitments, and specifically mentioned the United States, which he said owed $1.2 billion.

“There are some groups protecting 250 square kilometers of desert with no helicopters and no radios that work,” he said. “These men and women risking their lives for peace are your responsibility. So either give them the basic tools for protecting the population and themselves or have the decency to bring them all home because you can’t do it halfway.”

George Clooney was born in Kentucky in 1961, but spent part of his childhood in Ohio. After attending – but not graduating from – university, Clooney caught the acting bug. His father was a journalist and talk show host who often used to take young George to the set with him, and the experience added to his son’s wish to become an actor.

Clooney spent the 1980s appearing as minor characters in shows such as The Facts Of Life and The Golden Girls, but it wasn’t until he appeared as Dr Doug Ross in ER in 1994 that he achieved stardom. This was followed by his first movie role in Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn, opposite Quentin Tarantino.

There was no looking back for Clooney after that. The rest of the 90s was spent with starring roles in One Fine Day (opposite Michelle Pfeiffer), The Peacemaker (opposite Nicole Kidman), Batman And Robin, The Perfect Storm, and Three Kings.

But it was his appearance in Steven Soderbergh’s 2001 remake of Ocean’s Eleven, alongside Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, that really shot his star into orbit. As well as spawning two sequels, the film set up a friendship that would help raise awareness of one of the worst humanitarian crises of the new century, and also raise much needed funds for the charities that are involved.

In 2006, Don Cheadle started to write a book about the crisis in Darfur. His passion for the subject attracted the attention of Clooney, who visited the Sudanese region armed with a video camera. The footage he shot of refugees was shown around the world and became a call to action for the two actors. In September of that year, Clooney spoke in front of the UN Security Council, to raise their awareness of the crisis and plead for their help. In December, Clooney accompanied Cheadle on a tour of Egypt and China, in which the pair met with government officials to convince them to pressure Sudan’s Khartoum to bring a halt to the fighting.

Cheadle’s book, Not On Our Watch, was published early in 2007, and in May, Cheadle and Clooney launched the Not On Our Watch organization at the Cannes Film Festival. Their fundraising was an immediate success, with over $9.2 million raised during the first month, and another $750,000 raised in June. The money was donated to a number of charities that work in Darfur, including the International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, Save the Children, and the World Food Programme.

In October, Clooney appeared in Cheadle’s Darfur Now film, and talked about his experiences in the region, as well as the atrocities he had witnessed during his visits. And in December, both Clooney and Cheadle received special Peace Medals from Nobel Peace Prize laureates in Rome.

Clooney hopes his Messenger of Peace status will help him raise awareness of the horrors he has seen in Darfur, and he will continue to work towards the goal of sending peacekeepers to the Sudan to protect the innocent people being butchered, raped, and tortured every day.

“There’s a lot more responsibility with this one than with an Oscar, which all you really have to do is, you know, drink after the party.”

2008 Golden Globes Roundup

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:54:19 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

There may have been no red carpet, acceptance speeches, or flash of cameras for the winners of the 2008 Golden Globe Awards, but Look To The Stars takes this golden opportunity to recognize some of those who were honored and nominated.

Johnny Depp won his first Golden Globe after being nominated seven times since his career began, picking up the Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical award for Sweeney Todd. Despite his dark performance, there really is a lighter side to the actor. In the past, Depp’s charitable work garnered him the Courage to Care Award for his contributions to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The Best Actress Award went to veteran Julie Christie, who was up against heavyweights such as Angelina Jolie, an outstanding supporter and contributor to charitable causes. Some of the charities she has supported include the Afghanistan Relief Organization, the Alliance For The Lost Boys, Fran Drescher’s Cancer Schmancer Movement, Doctors Without Borders, and the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

Daniel Day Lewis won Best Actor for his performance in “There Will Be Blood”, beating out celebrity humanitarians George Clooney and Denzel Washington. Like Jolie, Clooney is a major force in trying to make the world a better place, and he is a noted supporter of Cinema For Peace, Make Poverty History, Rock For Darfur, United Way, and the World Food Programme. Washington has spent time visiting wounded soldiers at Fisher Houses, hospitals which provide housing for injured soldiers’ families at little or no cost, and once made a large donation to the Fisher House Foundation. He is also the spokesperson for the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America, honorary chairperson for Save Africa’s Children, and a founding member of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

Australian-born Cate Blanchett took home the gold in the category for Best Supporting Actress. Charities Blanchett supports include the Australian Conservation Foundation, Kids Help Line, and SolarAid. In the past, Blanchett filmed a special appeal for SolarAid that was screened at the Hay Festival. The video is available to view on YouTube.

Queen Latifah took home the Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a TV Movie/Miniseries, for her role in “Life Support”. A supporter of several charities, Queen Latifah once helped design a pair of shoes for the Stuart Weitzman charity shoe auction benefiting ovarian cancer awareness and research, and has been involved with Citymeals On Wheels and the Harry Holmberg Memorial Foundation.

Jeremy Piven beat his “Entourage” co-star Kevin Dillon to win his second award for Best Supporting TV Actor. Piven once hosted the fourth annual Fashion Rocks event, which benefited Alicia Keys’ Keep A Child Alive Foundation.

Congratulations to all the winners and the nominees for all the work that you do in front of the camera and behind the scenes to inspire a better world.

Clooney, Damon Keep Helping Africa

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:34:46 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The stars of “Ocean’s Thirteen” recently raised over $9 million, and within three weeks donated over $5 million of it to various charities in Sudan’s Darfur region. Most of the money was contributed to the Ocean’s stars’ humanitarian organization, Not On Our Watch, during the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. George Clooney and his co-stars created Not On Our Watch to bring global attention to the plight of the people of Darfur where over 200,000 people have died since 2003 in a rebellion between local rebels and the Sudanese government, and 2.5 million civilians have fled their homes.

The first donation by Not On Our Watch was $2.75 million to the International Rescue Committee. A further $750,000 went to Oxfam, $1 million to Save the Children, and now their latest donation of $1 million to the U.N. World Food Programme will deliver food and other necessities by helicopter to remote villages in Darfur.

Clooney was so impressed by the fundraising success of Not On Our Watch that he plans to turn every film festival into a charity drive for the cause. After filming a documentary about the genocide in Sudan, he has become a leading advocate for action. “There are only a few things we can do – protect them where we can, and provide food, water, health care and counseling,” he says.

Ocean’s co-star Matt Damon is also looking at other areas of Africa. Earlier this year he met a young girl in Zambia who, while they walked the two miles to the closest water source, said that she wanted to become a nurse. He writes, “It was clear to me at that moment that if this well were not there for her, she would never even be able to entertain the concept of planning for the future—she would have been trying to survive just for that day.”

After witnessing the extreme poverty and the value of clean drinking water in Zambia and South Africa, Damon decided to get involved in the Running the Sahara project.

Damon and colleagues, including Oscar™ winning filmmaker James Moll, started the charitable component of Running the Sahara, called H2O Africa, to raise awareness for clean water programs on the continent. Then they documented the Running the Sahara expedition, in which three men run over 4,300 miles (6,920 kilometres) from the Atlantic coast of Senegal, through Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Libya, to the Red Sea in Egypt. They run for 111 days.

Narrated by Damon, the film crew follows the runners crossing the desert, braving extreme elements and meeting the unique people of the Sahara who are struggling with immense daily challenges.
The World Health Organization estimates that the lack of safe drinking water kills almost 4,500 children per day, mostly under the age of five. The documentary will premiere this fall.

Barrymore Becomes Ambassador Against Hunger

Wed, 16 May 2007 09:34:20 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Actress Drew Barrymore has been named an Ambassador Against Hunger for the World Food Programme. She and fellow WFP ambassador, world marathon record-holder Paul Tergat, will focus their advocacy efforts on school feeding programs. Tergat, hailing from Kenya, is a former school feeding recipient.

Barrymore points out that for just pennies a day a child can receive the nutrition necessary to boost enrollment, attendance and academic performance, leading to a brighter future for poor countries around the world.

“Feeding a child at school is such a simple thing – but it works miracles. I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” she said.

“We are delighted to have Drew Barrymore join our team,” said WFP’s Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. “Her passion and commitment to changing the world for the better – and of course the respect and admiration she commands – will make her a wonderful champion for school feeding.”

The World Food Programme fed 19.4 million children in 71 countries through school feeding programs last year.

Barrymore Raises Funds For Food

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 12:43:50 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Drew Barrymore recently travelled to Kenya in an effort to help some of the 11 million people in East Africa who are suffering from poverty and drought.

Photos the actress took while visiting the affected people of the area were sold in an auction that raised nearly $20,000 for the World Food Programme. One dollar will feed five hungry children for a day. Fellow filmstars Lucy Liu and Hugh Grant were among the winning bidders supporting the cause.

Barrymore has also designed a locket that will be sold through Marie Claire Magazine and on the internet. Some of the proceeds go to feed schoolchildren as a part of Marie Claire’s Shop For Charity World Hunger Campaign.

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