Look To The Stars News: V-Day

Joel Madden And Rosario Dawson Pen Charity Articles

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Joel Madden and Rosario Dawson have put pen to paper and authored articles for the latest issue of Los Angeles Confidential magazine about the causes they support.

Rosario Dawson is a board member of V-Day, a non-profit devoted to ending violence against girls and women. In Los Angeles Confidential she opens up about the abuse taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as soldiers work to destroy and take over communities in order to obtain rich natural resources—the same resources being used to manufacture cell phones, ipods, etc. Dawson hopes to provide awareness “about these atrocities” in order to “pressure our electronic provides into buying only ‘conflict free’ products.”

“At the Panzi Hospital in the city of Bukavu in the DRC, Dr Denis Mukwege sews up a dozen women and girls every day, some of whom have walked 40 miles to reach him,” wrote Dawson. "Many patients need several surgeries and years to recover – if they ever do… Please join me and take action. Let’s reclaim the mantra “women and children first,” and protect Africa’s truest and greatest resource. Help these women and girls heal their wounds. Together, we can stop this violence and make change happen."

Joel Madden talks about the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation and how he hopes to impact not only his own children but those around the world and “hopes to give these children the opportunity to dream along with us.”

“In the two years since we launched the foundation, [”Nicole":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/903-nicole-richie] and I both feel we’ve gained more than we’ve given. The children we’ve met all over the world have touched us in ways money can’t buy. From neighborhoods in Los Angeles and villages in Africa to an orphanage in Russia, these children have become dear to our hearts and as important to us as our own children."

Los Angeles Confidential is available now.

LTTS Exclusive: Calista Flockhart Joins The Stars For V-Day

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

Look To The Stars’ Lead Host Michelle Vink attended the annual V-Day event – a global movement to stop violence against women and girls – in Santa Monica last week and filed this report.

Imagine having your life or the life of a family member threatened simply for crying for help against unspeakable violent sexual crimes violated against you. This is what so many of the women in the Democratic Republic of Congo are going though today. This year for V-Day, the monumental performance of The Vagina Monologues had a new monologue written by the original playwright, Eve Ensler, that was inspired by her personal awareness of the situation of the women in the Congo.

For those of you that don’t know, this V-Day is a different kind of Valentine’s Day. Every year between Feb 1st and March 31st, thousands of performances across the world are set in motion to raise funds and awareness as part of “A Global Movement to End Violence Against Women & Girls.” Rosario Dawson, Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek and Kerry Washington are just a few of the powerful Hollywood forces that are all members of the V-Board.

The Vagina Monologues – originally performed by Ensler (also adoptive mother of Dylan McDermott) – now has had celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, Oprah Winfrey and more all star in the Obie Award winning play. It has also been translated into 45 different languages, performed in over 119 countries, become a television production, book and is now the benefit performance for this global non-profit that has raised over $50 million dollars for women’s anti-violence groups, shelters and crisis centers.

Proceeds from this particular Santa Monica event benefit Peace Over Violence (for which Calista Flockhart is the national spokesperson) as well as the V-Day Global Fund. Calista was not only representing her cause this night but also actively involved as one of the actresses in this sensational celebrity reading. Among the star-studded cast were Oscar-winner Christine Lahti, Emmy-winner Doris Roberts, Penny Johnson Jerald from 24, Fairuza Balk, comedian Debra Skelton (formerly known as Debra Wilson), Tricia Leigh Fischer of 7th Heaven, and author/actress Elaine Kagan. The cast also features Zoi Katas, theater artist D’Lo, and V-Day Santa Monica producers Wendy Hammers and Deborah Kagan. Veteran actress Iona Morris directed The Broad Stage production.

“I believe all women should enjoy their lives as their full, authentic selves,” states V-Day Santa Monica producer and Sacred Interiors owner Deborah Kagan. "This means celebrating your body, your sexuality, and your prowess. For many victimized women, the by-product of sexual abuse and domestic violence is a disassociation from their own bodies. They don’t feel safe in their own skin.

“I’ve been a fan of Eve Ensler since 1998 when I saw The Vagina Monologues at the Wiltern and I followed her career. When I heard about V to the 10th last year, I had to go. I found myself standing in the New Orleans Superdome with 30,000 people completely inspired and I knew it was time to do something. It was time for a VDAY Santa Monica.”

For more information about V-Day and how to donate or get involved, visit here. V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops…. 94 cents of every dollar you give goes straight to ending violence against women and girls.

For more information on Peace over Violence, click here. Formerly known as the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women, Peace Over Violence is a social service agency dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. Now expanding into the prevention of youth violence and child abuse among other programs.

Buy Halle Berry's Favorite Bag For Charity

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Halle Berry is donating some love this holiday season after teaming up with Coach Leatherware for a special promotion: Coach Cares.

Coach developed Coach Cares as a way to support the philanthropic causes of various celebrity fans by donating a percentage of the sales from handbags and accessories to charity.

Now through December 31, you can help Berry’s charity of choice, the Jenesse Center – which aids victims of domestic violence – by purchasing the suede ‘Halle Berry Style Coach Bag’ where 20% of the proceeds will benefit Jenesse Center.

This unique viral campaign allows celebrities to highlight their charitable interests and raise awareness and funds for their favorite causes. Participants include Jessica Alba, Evangeline Lily, Eva Longoria, Mandy Moore, Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson, Rebecca Romijn, Ali Larter, Kerry Washington and many others, and charities include Peace Games, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Eva’s Heroes, the SPCA, The Art of Elysium, V-Day and more.

Coach Cares will be featured on www.coach.com and www.facebook.com, the popular social networking Web site, and will run now through Dec. 31st. The products can be purchased here.

Big Names Flock To End Violence Against Women

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:38:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

The tenth annual V-Day V To The Tenth festival arrives next weekend – and it is expected to be the biggest V-Day gala yet, with a huge outpouring of support from celebrities. Stars such as Salma Hayek, Oprah Winfrey, Faith Hill, Jane Fonda, Jessica Alba, Glenn Close, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Hudson, Julia Stiles, Ali Larter, Marisa Tomei, Calpernia Addams, and many others will be in attendance.

Over $50 million has been raised by the charity, which supports local and global groups’ efforts to eradicate violence against women and girls. New Orleans was chosen to stage the event this year to honor “Katrina Warriors for their strength and resilience in the face of devastating loss.”

The founder of V-Day, Eve Ensler, said, “Although we cannot prevent such events as Hurricane Katrina, we can be there with and for each other when they occur. We can extend our hand; we can remember those who have lost their homes, their jobs, their minds and their way.”

The April 11-12 gala will hold musical performances, speeches from activists, and a performance of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, which first opened in New York in 1997. Performed in cities all over the world, it is a series of monologues of female perspectives on a varied ‘female experience.’ With few props, actresses use shock and humor to break down the barriers of tradition, shame, ignorance, and political correctness.

With the spotlight on New Orleans, the funds raised at this year’s campaign will support “education and grassroots projects that economically empower the women of the Gulf South.”

Celebrities To Attend V-Day In New Orleans

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:01:03 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

April 11 and 12 will mark a special celebration in New Orleans – a celebration of hope, of vision, of spirit, of response, and of action. It will see a gathering of united attitudes and a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. The tenth annual V-Day festival is set to bring a change to the way the world thinks and acts, and it has gathered the support of a host of celebrities to help get its message heard.

V-Day is a non-profit organization that distributes funds to grassroots national and international initiatives and programs that work to stop violence against women and girls. Named one of Worth Magazine’s 100 Best Charities and one of Marie Claire Magazine’s Top Ten Charities, the V-Day movement has raised over $50 million in the last 9 years. And for their 10th anniversary, they have chosen New Orleans to host their star-studded gala event.

New Orleans Arena will come alive on April 12 for V To The Tenth, an evening set to open hearts and minds and raise awareness and money for groups working to end violence around the world. The evening will see international performances of The Vagina Monologues and musical performances, as well as speeches from V-Day activists from across the globe, including Kenya, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eastern Europe. Already confirmed to attend the event are Salma Hayek, Oprah Winfrey, Faith Hill, Jane Fonda, Jessica Alba, Glenn Close, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Hudson, Julia Stiles, Ali Larter, Marisa Tomei, Calpernia Addams, and many more.

Tickets to the event are available for $25 from the Ticketmaster website.

But if you miss out on tickets to that event, why not try to attend the V-Day Superlove festival over at the Louisiana Superdome? Entry is FREE, and the festivities include two days of revolutionary conversations, poetry, singers, performers, storytelling, art, free massages, support groups, yoga, massage, meditation, makeovers, and much more.

More information can be found at the V-Day website.

Look To The Stars News: V-Day

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