Look To The Stars News: Michael J. Fox Foundation

eBay Launches Celebrity Charity Auction Site

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:15:00 +0000

Just in time for the holiday giving season, eBay, the world’s largest online marketplace, today announced the launch of eBay.com/celebrity, a unique shopping destination that combines celebrity experiences, memorabilia and merchandise with philanthropic causes.

As part of eBay’s charitable platform eBay Giving Works, eBay Celebrity establishes a differentiated experience for the shopping enthusiast and cause-oriented consumer by aggregating relevant celebrity content, charity auctions, and the breadth and selection of related products that are unique to eBay.

eBay has consistently been the platform of choice for celebrities looking to raise funds for charity, and this year was a landmark year for the company’s philanthropic efforts: an auction featuring limited edition Nike Mag sneakers raised millions of dollars for The Michael J. Fox Foundation and an annual lunch with Warren Buffett auction sold for a record $2.63 million. In 2011, eBay Giving Works has raised $51 million and over $278 million to date for various charitable organizations. eBay Celebrity takes charitable fundraising to the next level, connecting consumers with their favorite celebrities through charity and commerce.

LTTS Exclusive Interview: Jamie Gold Talks Poker And Charity

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

In 2006, Jamie Gold won the World Series of Poker, which not only made him an instant ‘celebrity’ but netted him one of the highest payouts in tournament history ($12 Million).

Since then, Gold has paused his high-stakes poker play in efforts to give back and support a variety of organizations, racking up over 104 charity-poker event appearances as an emcee, host or participant and helping raise over $170M for charity… and he’s just getting started.

Look to the Stars was pleased to speak with Gold about his philanthropy, love for poker and how he became one of the most inspiring charity fundraisers in the poker industry, supporting a number of organizations including the ALS Division of the MDA and the Global Creative Forum.

Michael J. Fox Foundation To Benefit From Charity Auction

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Nike has announced that 1500 pairs of the mythical 2011 Nike MAG shoes will be auctioned on eBay, Nikemag.eBay.com, with all net proceeds going directly to The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

“This project is exciting to me because it brings together three very passionate audiences: the Parkinson’s community, sneakerheads and Back to the Future fans,” said Michael J. Fox. “With their support we can accelerate our objective of finding a cure for Parkinson’s.”

The Nike MAG shoes originally captured the imagination of audiences in Back to the Future II, when the character Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, wore them in the year 2015. Nike has been urged to release the shoes for many years. In May 2011, a generous 50 million dollar match grant was given to The Michael J. Fox Foundation by Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki. They will match up to 50 million dollars raised by the Foundation through the end of 2012. The timing was perfect to bring the 2011 Nike MAG back to support a bigger idea.

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.

Ryan Reynolds Launches Facebook Charity Challenge For Michael J Fox Foundation

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Actor Ryan Reynolds, who sits on the Board of Directors of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, is challenging his fans and the general public to get involved in helping to speed a cure for Parkinson’s by “liking” the Foundation’s Facebook page.

If the Foundation reaches 100,000 Facebook fans as part of its national Parkinson’s Awareness Month campaign, Reynolds will add $10,000 to his cumulative giving to the Foundation.

Michael J. Fox Hosts Celebrity Charity Event At Ralph Lauren Store

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

On Thursday, April 7, Michael J. Fox and his wife, Tracy Pollan, hosted an evening of cocktails and charitable shopping at the Ralph Lauren Men’s store at 867 Madison Avenue to benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Michael J Fox and Tracy Pollan

Ralph Lauren Launches Michael J. Fox Charity Dog Tags

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Polo Ralph Lauren is collaborating with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to create an exclusive limited-edition Michael J. Fox Foundation Dog Tag and raise public awareness of Parkinson’s disease.

The dog tags will debut in April during Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Polo Ralph Lauren will donate one hundred percent of the net proceeds from the sale to support the Foundation and its mission to find a cure for the disease.

“The dog tag offers a simple, yet meaningful way to get involved and express solidarity with the millions of Parkinson’s patients and their loved ones worldwide,” said Tracy Pollan, actress, Foundation board member and wife of Michael J. Fox.

Celebrities To Trade For Charity In April

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:30:00 +0000

BTIG LLC, an institutional broker dealer specializing in trading and related brokerage services, has announced that it will hold its star-studded 2011 Commissions for Charity day on Wednesday, April 27.

The annual celebrity-filled event has raised more than $15 million from equity and derivative trading commission profits over the last eight years for children’s charities including The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Jacob’s Cure and Catch 25. This year’s trading day will be attended by Joe Girardi, Nick Swisher, Reggie Jackson, John McEnroe and Sean Avery, among others.

“With the help of our celebrity guest traders and the support of our clients, who significantly increase their trading volumes on Charity Day, we have been able to make a real difference to the charities that we support,” said Steven Starker, co-founder of BTIG. “For the first time this year, we will also be rolling out our Commissions for Charity Day beyond the U.S. to our international offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and London.”

A Funny Thing Happened For Charity At Michael J. Fox Celebrity Gala

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research held its 10th annual gala benefit — "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s — in New York City on Saturday, November 13, 2010.

Co-chaired by Tracy Pollan & Michael J. Fox, Alexandra Wentworth & George Stephanopoulos, Jennifer & Marc Lipschultz and Julie & Doug Ostrover, and with Honorary Chairs Lonnie & Muhammad Ali, the event brought together approximately 900 guests including Mayor of Newark Cory Booker, “Friday Night Lights” actress (and “Spin City” alum) Connie Britton, “Top Chef” judge Tom Colicchio, former NBA star Brian Grant, and NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn to raise over $4.7 million for Parkinson’s research.

“The Michael J. Fox Foundation has one goal — accelerating the development of new treatments, and ultimately a cure for PD,” Foundation CEO Katie Hood said in remarks from the podium. “Our approach to research funding is not a traditional one. We are proactive, emphasizing calculated risk, insisting on accountability from our partners and prioritizing the work that other funders can’t or won’t. We could do none of this without you and are so grateful for your support.”

Michael J. Fox Foundation Awards Money For Parkinson's Research

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:30:00 +0000

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has announced awards totaling approximately $10.1 million for four new clinical trials and 14 pre-clinical therapeutic development projects in the fight against Parkinson’s Disease . The funding includes $2.5 million to drive five new clinical studies under the Clinical Intervention Awards.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation was founded in 2000 by Michael J. Fox, and is dedicated to ensuring the development of a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda. The Foundation has funded almost $200 million in research to date.

“Biomedical research is complicated,” wrote the actor in a recent opinion piece for CNN. "For patients, the pace of progress can be frustratingly slow. Two announcements last month — one about biomarkers, the other about stem cell research — left many of us feeling that for every promising discovery, there are even greater setbacks.

Michael J. Fox Foundation Awards Grant For Parkinson's Drug Study

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Addex Pharmaceuticals Ltd has announced that it has been awarded a $900,000 grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) to help fund a Phase II study of a new drug – ADX48621 – for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

“People with Parkinson’s report that the side-effects of levodopa treatment are one of the most difficult aspects of living with the disease. We believe ADX48621 has the potential to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from the undesirable effects of long-term dopamine replacement,” said Katie Hood, CEO, The Michael J. Fox Foundation. “ADX48621 targets a molecular mechanism that our Foundation has been investing in since 2005. We’re enthusiastic about funding this clinical work and the hope that it may bring to patients.”

“We are honored to receive this grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation supporting ADX48621 development,” said Vincent Mutel, CEO of Addex. “The reduction in both major components of LID, which we observed after administering ADX48621 to non-human primates with LID, has not been reported with other drugs on the market or in development. As a result, we believe that it could become the first drug capable of alleviating all LID symptoms.”

Ryan Reynolds To Judge Michael J. Fox Charity Photo Contest

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Michael J. Fox’s Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has launched a fantastic new photography competition, to be judged by Ryan Reynolds.

The stars are asking fans of Team Fox to post their favorite Team Fox event photos on their official Facebook page. Team Fox is made up of incredible individuals all over the world raising funds and awareness for The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

The top five photos – as chosen by Ryan – will be published in the Foundation’s newsletter, Accelerating The Cure.

Michael McKean Wins $1 Million For Charity In Jeopardy Final

Mon, 10 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Actor Michael McKean (“Laverne and Shirley” and star of Broadway’s “Superior Donuts”) prevailed as champion of the Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Tournament during the weekend — winning $1 million for his charity the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). This is the biggest amount ever awarded to charity in “Jeopardy!” history. It is also the largest single donation ever received by the IMF.

Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer after lymphomas, affecting an estimated 750,000 people worldwide. McKean became passionate for the cause when his friend, musician Lee Grayson, passed away from myeloma eight years ago. Regarding today’s victory, McKean said, “If some breakthroughs can be made or more research can be done due to this win, it would be incredible. There are so many amazing people at IMF who do great work.”

According to Susie Novis, president and co-founder of the IMF, McKean’s donation will be used for a special fund in honor of McKean and Grayson. “The money will fund research to find a cure and to help patients and their families through education,” Novis said. “His win has shown us how empowering being informed can be — it can change the lives of people all over the world!”

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.

Michael J. Fox Makes Wish Come True For Ill Teenager

Thu, 06 May 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Through the outstanding generosity of Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and national children’s charity Kids Wish Network, the only wish of a teen suffering from cystic fibrosis, a brain abscess and blindness was recently granted.

 After enduring the loss of his vision and suffering through multiple brain surgeries, both stemming from a life-threatening lung condition called cystic fibrosis, 16-year-old Gideon of Allen, Mich. remains optimistic and brightens everyone else’s lives with his cheery disposition. In fact, his optimism may even be comparable to that of his hero, that “incurable optimist,” Michael J. Fox.

Celebrities Play Jeopardy For Charity

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The Jeopardy! Million Dollar Celebrity Charity Invitational is well under way, and will be taping its semi-final and final rounds this weekend in Los Angeles.

The competition started last September, with contestants such as Dana Delany, Doug Savant, Hill Harper, David Duchovny, Anderson Cooper and a host of other famous faces playing the game show for charities such as UNICEF, the American Cancer Society, the Scleroderma Research Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and more.

The first round of semi-finals are due to air on May 3, with the final line-up consisting of Jane Curtin (UNICEF), Pat Sajak (Veitnam Veterans of America), Harry Shearer (Common Ground Foundation), Michael McKean (International Myeloma Foundation), Isaac Mizrahi (Good Shepherd Services), Charles Shaughnessy (1736 Family Crisis Center), Neil Patrick Harris (Food on Foot), Jane Kaczmarek (Clothes Off Our Back) and Cheech Marin (the Hispanic Scholarship Fund).

Stevie Wonder Named As United Nations Messenger Of Peace

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has designated Grammy Award-winning songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on people with disabilities.

Recognized for his ability to focus attention on and mobilize support for civil and human rights issues, Stevie Wonder joins ten other United Nations Messengers of Peace who advocate on behalf of the Organization.

Messengers of Peace are individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the fields of art, academia, literature, sports and entertainment, helping to raise worldwide awareness of the Organization’s ideals and activities. Through their public appearances, contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, they expand public understanding of how the United Nations helps to improve the lives of people everywhere.

Michael J. Fox Rocks For A Cure

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Michael J. Fox proved that he can still rock like Marty McFly during the weekend when he appeared on stage at his annual A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson’s gala at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Saturday.

The gala benefited his Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research, and the evening saw Fox join rockers such as Roger Daltrey, Steven Tyler and Elvis Costello on stage for a jam. The event was emceed by Denis Leary, and guests such as Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Scorsese and Ben Stiller were spotted enjoying the evening.

Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease within the decade through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.

Michael J. Fox Honored For His War On Parkinson’s

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Hollywood honored actor Michael J. Fox last week for his ongoing work to raise awareness on Parkinson’s Disease.

Fox’s commitment goes beyond his Michael J. Fox Foundation that researches treatments and cures for Parkinson’s disease – although the foundation has raised almost $100 million since Fox established it in 2000, ten years after being diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s. He was very pleased when, earlier this year, American president Barack Obama overturned a ban on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, getting “politics out of science.”

But perhaps an even greater contribution, to himself and others who are afflicted with the disease, was when he came out of the closet, helping to overturn taboos and the shame that comes along with the debilitating disease. The books Fox has written on living with Parkinson’s have also been well-received.

Michael J. Fox Foundation Funds Over $1 Million To Parkinson's Research

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

As of mid-2009, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research – established by Michael J. Fox – has already funded over $1 million in high-risk, high-reward approaches to Parkinson’s therapeutic development through its groundbreaking Rapid Response Innovation Awards.

Projects include investigations of the safety and efficacy of an FDA-approved drug for kidney disease to treat Parkinson’s; characterization of a tenuous link between PD and certain strains of influenza virus; and a proof-of-principle approach to refine deep brain stimulation (DBS) into a potentially more effective symptomatic therapy.

Rapid Response, one of the Foundation’s Edmond J. Safra Core Programs for PD Research, earmarks up to $2 million annually to support research with little to no existing preliminary data, but potential to crack open entirely new ways of understanding or treating Parkinson’s disease. The program has no deadline, instead accepting researchers’ proposals on a rolling basis throughout the year in order to fund truly novel thinking whenever inspiration strikes.

Buy Guitar String Bracelets And Support Charity

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Music fans now have the chance to wear their love of Rock on their sleeves for charity.

Wear Your Music is a New York-based organization that creates 100% eco-friendly jewelry that rocks – literally. The company makes used guitar strings from artists spanning the musical spectrum into stylish bracelets. 100% of the proceeds from the bracelets goes to charities of the artists’ choice, such as UNICEF, Rock the Vote, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nordoff Robbins, MusiCares, PETA, HeadCount, The Nature Conservancy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Keep A Child Alive, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Smile Train and many more.

Over 150 musicians have personally donated guitar strings to the initiative, including Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Metallica, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Carlos Santana and Death Cab for Cutie.

Michael J. Fox Raises Funds For Children’s Charities

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

What’s the most optimistic thing Michael J. Fox has ever done? Taken up golf, with Parkinson’s, he says. Fox has been inspiring in many ways throughout his acting career, but even more so since he came out of the closet a few years ago, revealing publicly that he had early onset Parkinson’s disease.

Since then, he has created the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research, raised millions of dollars to support the research, written two books with the unlikely titles, “Lucky Man” and “Always Looking Up, The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist”, and along the way realized he’s living the best years of his life now, even while he’s trying to golf.

He may not have played well, but that did not stop Fox from having a great time at the Principal Charity Classic Pro-Am fundraising tournament recently., raising money for local children’s charities in Iowa. “I golf terribly but everyone was so patient. It was fun.”

Join Team Fox For The New York Marathon

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Michael J. Fox’s Team Fox wants you to join them for the New York Marathon later this year to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Team Fox is a proud charity partner in the 2009 ING New York City Marathon and has a limited number of entries available for Team Fox runners!

To guarantee entry through Team Fox, runners must commit to raise $2,500 for Parkinson’s research. In exchange for this generous commitment, members of the Team Fox ING New York City Marathon team will receive Team Fox running gear, an invitation to attend the pre-race pasta dinner and post-race party, team transportation to the start line, training support and more.

Join Ryan Reynolds At Wolverine Premiere

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Today, April 27, is your last day to bid on tickets to the premieres Ryan Reynolds’ latest movies, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Proposal, for charity.

The actor – and husband of Scarlett Johansson – is selling the tickets to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

This is your chance to see one of the most anticipated films of the summer before anyone else. Ryan Reynolds is the first Celebrity Chair of Team Fox, The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s grassroots community fundraising program made up of hundreds of volunteers across the country. In November of 2008, Reynolds ran the ING NYC Marathon for Team Fox raising over $100,000 for Parkinson’s research. His incredible fundraising efforts continue with the auction of the X-Men Origins: Wolverine tickets.