Look To The Stars News: Best Buddies International

Tom Brady Launches Football Charity Challenge For Best Buddies

Fri, 27 May 2011 14:00:00 +0000

American football Quarterback Tom Brady will host the second annual Tom Brady Football Challenge to benefit Best Buddies International early next month.

The game – to be held at Harvard University Football Stadium – will feature Tom Brady as Quarterback, other New England Patriots such as Dan Koppen, Julian Edelman, Tully Banta-Cain, Tedy Bruschi, other celebrities, special athletes and more!

And you have the opportunity to score with Tom Brady and play alongside him in the game by entering a special Raffle! The winner will receive the opportunity to play on Tom’s team during the Football game AND attend the post-game VIP and celebrity chef tailgate event!

Chris Brown Goes Bowling With Charity Kids

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Chris Brown was spotted out-and-about in Australia during time off from his F.A.M.E tour bowling with children with intellectual disabilities this week.

The R&B singer met with 10 youths from Best Buddies Australia in Sydney for a night out at the tenpin lanes.

“He has been involved with the charity in the U.S. and we were thrilled that he has taken some time out of his schedule to come and be with us and play a couple of games of tenpin,” charity boss Mark Trevaskis told The Daily Telegraph.

LTTS Exclusive - The 2009 Noble Awards

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

I had the honor of attending “The Noble Awards” on their first annual show honoring charities and their celebrity supporters.

On Sunday, October 18th at The Beverly Hilton, “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush hosted the premiere of this special event honoring Morgan Freeman with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a list of celebrity honorees from Brett Ratner to Teri Hatcher.

Inaugural Noble Awards Celebrate Hollywood Philanthropy

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars was proud to be part of the inaugural Noble Awards on Sunday, October 18 – an event that honored a host of charities and the celebrities that support them, elevating awareness of the significant impact of their work.

Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the event honored Morgan Freeman with a lifetime achievement award, as well as Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org).

Lionel Richie was on hand during the ceremony to present an award to Joel Madden, who attended the event with Nicole Richie and his brother Benji.

Look To The Stars Helps Promote Hollywood Philanthropy At Noble Awards

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look to the Stars is pleased to announce that we will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

The inaugural Noble Awards, taking place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 18, has announced five new award honorees. The Blind Project, The Lollipop Theater Network, Padres Contra el Cancer and Playing for Change will be honored along with six previously announced charities. In addition, Morgan Freeman will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The two-hour event, hosted by “Access Hollywood’s” Billy Bush, seeks to annually honor up to a dozen charities and celebrities who actively support them, elevating awareness of these organizations and the significant impact of their work.

Celebrities who will accept awards on behalf of the charities being honored include Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Billy Bush (Lollipop Theater Network), Kenny Edmonds (Stand Up To Cancer), Teri Hatcher (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Norman Lear (Playing for Change), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium), AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project), Nancy O’Dell (Best Buddies International), Eva Longoria Parker (Padres Contra El Cancer) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org). During the ceremony, each will be presented with an award sculpture, designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Brian McKnight and Julio Iglesias, Jr., along with Emily Bear and Timothy Mitchum will provide live musical performances throughout the evening.

Noble Awards Set To Honor Celebrity Humanitarians

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

As the film industry has the Oscars, television the Emmys and the music industry the Grammy Awards, the charity community and its most dedicated Hollywood supporters will gain global recognition with the staging of the inaugural Noble Humanitarian Awards, to take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, October 18. And Look To The Stars is proud to support it.

The two-hour event, produced on behalf of the non-profit Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, seeks to annually honor up to a dozen charities and celebrities who actively support them, elevating awareness of these organizations and the impact of their work.

The organizations to be honored at this first-annual ceremony include The Art of Elysium, Best Buddies International, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, DoSomething.org, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Keep A Child Alive, The Salvation Army, Stand Up To Cancer and Women’s Sports Foundation.

Maria Shriver And Carl Lewis Are Best Buddies For Charity

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Maria Shriver and Carl Lewis invite you to take part in a charity event to benefit Best Buddies International.

The sixth annual Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle will take place on September 12. Participants can select from a 100, 62, 35 or 15-mile bike ride down the majestic Pacific Coast Highway, or a 3K walk or 5K run led by Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis. Following your challenge, pick up your event gift bag, relax with a professional massage, and refuel at an all-you-can-eat gourmet barbecue while enjoying a private concert by Ciara!

Best Buddies is an organization that aims to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Eunice Shriver's Charity Legacy

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Eunice Shriver – founder of the Special Olympics – has died at the age of 88.

The fifth of nine children and sister of John F Kennedy, Shriver led a life of service to the community that she handed down to her children. Her daughter, Maria Shriver, is the First Lady of California and is married to Arnold Schwarzenegger. She runs the annual Women’s Conference in California. Her son, Bobby Shriver, is well known for co-founding the organizations DATA (Debt AIDS Trade Africa), the ONE Campaign and (RED) with U2 lead singer Bono. Her other sons are also leaders in philanthropy: Timothy Shriver is the Chairman and CEO of the Special Olympics; Mark Shriver is the Vice-President and Managing Director of U.S. Programs for Save the Children; and Anthony Shriver is the founder of Best Buddies International.

Awarded the US Medal of Freedom in 1984, Eunice Shriver was a founder of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring in the 1960s. But it was her work with the Special Olympics for which she will be remembered. Her work with the disabled started early – In 1962, she started a day camp, known as Camp Shriver, for children with intellectual disabilities at her home in Potomac, Maryland. From there, she promoted the concept of competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Camp Shriver became an annual event, and the Kennedy Foundation (of which Shriver was Executive Vice President) regularly gave grants to universities, recreation departments and community centers to hold similar camps. In 1968, Shriver was approached to help fund a huge Olympic-style athletic competition for over 1000 people with special needs. The Special Olympics were born, and today it involves over 2.5 million in 180 countries.

Tom Brady Bikes For Best Buddies

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Quarterback of the New England Patriots of the National Football League, Tom Brady, joined Best Buddies International on the weekend of May 30 as honorary chairman of the Best Buddies bike challenge ride of Boston.

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge (ABBC) cycling event and the Carl Lewis Walk/Run Challenge are exciting adventures along a challenging and beautiful course, with active participation and inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities, that ends with a star-studded celebrity criterium race. 100% of the money raised by participants benefits Best Buddies International in carrying out its mission of providing friends and jobs for people with intellectual disabilities.

The ABBC weekend has the feel of a big family gathering, as participants, celebrities and new buddies ride side-by-side. The ride finishes with a one-of-a-kind post-ride party, including a concert and dinner. Past concert performers range from The Black Eyed Peas, Jon Bon Jovi, Marc Anthony to The B52’s!

Celebrities Love 2 Love T-Shirts

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Teen stars Miley Cyrus and Vanessa Hudgens have designed T-shirts for a charity lifestyle brand.

Launched in 2003, 2 LOVE is an initiative that endorses “a message of love while benefiting charities that elevate lives through a range of celebrity-designed products. The company inspires young women to love themselves, and in turn spread the love to others. Their unique marketing initiative – designed to empower women and promote philanthropy – has struck a chord among Hollywood’s A-listers, who have signed on in droves to join the 2 LOVE mission”.

Those A-listers include Monique Coleman, Alyssa Milano, Ashanti, Molly Sims, Mischa Barton, Jessica Alba, Brittany Murphy, Mariska Hargitay, Alison Sweeney, Mena Suvari, and Michelle Branch, all of whom have designed products to raise money for charities such as Best Buddies International, the 1736 Family Crisis Center, UNICEF, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Joyful Hearts, Step Up, and more.

Tom Brady: International Best Buddy

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:32:00 +0000

Earlier this month, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady stepped up his support for Best Buddies International by reaching into his own pocket for a hefty donation. During the Audi Best Buddy cycling challenge fundraiser, Best Buddies founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver challenged the crowd to raise $50,000 in two minutes. Thankfully, Brady grabbed the microphone, worked his magic and rallied the crowd to donate $26,000. He then pledged to pay the remaining $24,000 himself.

“Anthony called and said, ‘you know you’ve had some hard luck the last few years, what do you think of coming to Best Buddies for a ride?’” commented Brady at the event. “I said ‘how can I turn that down?’ So being the superstitious player that I am, I know you guys expect a great year, and Best Buddies has had a great year.”

The star-quarterback arrived at the event in his new Audi RS4, courtesy of a partnership between Audi and Best Buddies. As Brady drove the sports car into a tent set up adjacent to event at the JFK Library, U2’s “Vertigo” was playing on the PA. “I think I just passed a state trooper,” joked Brady. He then generosly surprised his five Patriot linemen by giving each of them an Audi Q7 SUV. “These will keep you well-protected, just like you make me feel sometimes,” said Brady.