Look To The Stars News: Children's Hospital Los Angeles

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.

Guests were treated to live performances from names like Brian McKnight and Benji Madden and the famed 8-year-old piano prodigy, Emily Bear. The night was supported with a star-studded cast of performers, honorees and guests that all believe in using the power of their voice in the name of philanthropy and charity. No detail was too small for this event. The award sculpture itself was the vision of Antonio Banderas and came to life at The Art of Elysium workshop with personal touches from the children at the Shriners Hospitals for Children with the guidance of The Art of Elysium volunteer/actor/sculptor David Grieco.

The Noble Awards was an inaugural awards show that launched the beginning of a perennial movement that will encourage each and every person to give back and take action in the world today.

Each year they will recognize and honor philanthropic organizations and the celebrities that make considerable contributions to them. Some of this year honorees included Nancy O’Dell for Best Buddies International, AnnaLynne McCord for The Blind Project, Teri Hatcher for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Brett Ratner for DoSomething.org, Billy Bush for Lollipop Theater Network, Whitney Burditt for Playing for Change, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds for Stand Up To Cancer, Laila Ali for Women’s Sport Foundation and a charity very close to my heart, The Art of Elysium honoring Joel Madden.

Jennifer Howell, Founder of The Art of Elysium, presented this award to Joel Madden with Lionel Richie, Allison Beck and Stacey Price: “As both an artist and a father, Joel truly embodies a sincere passion for both music and children. It was evident in his beautiful and humble acceptance speech where he expressed his heartbreak at the thought of a child spending one second inside of a hospital. A moment that was also extremely moving was when his twin brother [”Benji":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1901-benji-madden] (who has spent many days with The Art of Elysium teaching guitar and participating in music workshops) shared his love for his brother with a music dedication. Nicole Richie (who has also dedicated her talents to the charity) looked on lovingly while her Father introduced Joel and thanked him for loving his daughter so much. The love, support and generosity that was shown by all members of Joel’s family are the true roots that can help take The Art of Elysium’s mission to every child that spends that terrifying one second in a hospital."

I was lucky enough to experience the vision of the Founder/Executive Producer, Janeen Mansour, prior to the event and watch it develop from an idea to a reality.

“The goal of the Noble Awards was to highlight the charities there that night and celebrities that champion them,” she said. “Our goal reached far beyond my expectations. The purpose of the Noble Awards is to create awareness and send out a call to action. I feel everyone in the room was inspired and moved and understood the message we were trying to convey. That message is to be a Noble.”

The Noble Awards are a testament to what Hollywood can achieve when it uses its voice to celebrate positive change. This event showcased just a few of the many celebrities and individuals dedicated to making a difference in the world today. It is my hope that it will serve as an inspiration to others to get involved in their charity, community or cause that has meaning to them. Being a volunteer takes less time than your yoga class and can cost you less money than your Latte. But the experience will stay with you a lifetime.

To the children, the volunteers, the unnamed angels, the celebrities, the founders, the team behind this event and to all of the people that donate their time and passion to making a difference on a daily basis, this celebrates you.

Inaugural Noble Awards Celebrate Hollywood Philanthropy

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

“I want to welcome him to our family and present this Noble award to a guy I love very much – Joel Madden!” said Lionel as he introduced Joel to the crowd.

“They are just as much a part of it,” said Madden, paying tribute to Nicole and Benji. “Nicole does just as much as I do with Art of Elysium and all the charities we work with. And so does Benj – Benj actually does more then I do, and he plays the guitar better then I do, so he is a little more entertaining for the kids.”

Madden later Twittered about the emotions he felt as he accepted his award: “Just left the NOBLE awards. Got an award that was really for the people at the Art of Elysium. Awesome folks and I’m humbled to know them. By the way got totally choked up when I got my award. I hate thinking about kids in the hospital, they should be getting the awards not us.”

The award itself was designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Morgan Freeman received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“I think so often we don’t know that our gestures matter,” said Teri Hatcher, who was also honored. “I think when you get involved in your local community charity you really do see you make a difference and it’s empowering for you.”

Look To The Stars was at the awards, and we will bring you more about the fantastic event over the coming days.

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.

“We are delighted to present these eleven distinguished charities and their celebrity supporters with the inaugural Noble Award,” stated Janeen Mansour, creator and executive producer of The Noble Awards. “With the presentation of The Noble Awards, our goal is to turn the spotlight back onto these celebrities and charities to provide recognition, to educate, to inspire, and to encourage even more support from the Hollywood community and the public at large.”

Morgan Freeman will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to over a dozen non-profits. Freeman’s diverse charitable efforts include working with American Red Cross, Artists for a New South Africa, the Campaign for Female Education, Earth Biofuels, Grenada Relief Fund, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine. Freeman has also done PSAs for Sierra Club, and a number of Entertainment Industry Foundation campaigns, covering issues like colon cancer prevention, health care reform and volunteerism.

“The Entertainment Industry Foundation is pleased to be a part of the inaugural Noble Awards,” said Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of Entertainment Industry Foundation. “We are honored and so proud to present our dear friend and exceptional actor Morgan Freeman with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding charitable work and ongoing contributions to so many important social causes.”

The Noble Awards will kick off the “Be A Noble” Movement, a perennial effort to encourage each and every person to “Be A Noble,” and inspire them to give back and take action with a purpose on a global scale. Some of these initiatives include:

Look to the Stars will work year-round with The Noble Awards to promote philanthropy in Hollywood.

As part of next year’s Cup with a Cause program, 7-Eleven, in collaboration with The Noble Awards, will produce a series of celebrity-designed coffee cups featured in stores nationwide. A minimum of $250,000 will go towards each participating celebrity’s charity of choice. During The Noble Awards’ cocktail hour, guests will be asked to design cups as part of the program.

Participant Media and Takepart.com, the official “action” platform for the Awards, have partnered with the “Be A Noble” Movement to provide the Foundation with a web platform to showcase the work of all the organizations they are honoring throughout the year.

ONEHOPE Wine has bottled an award-winning varietal of wine to be labeled “NOBLE.” 100% of all proceeds from each bottle will go towards the “Be A Noble” Movement, to be distributed among the honored charities.

Rumblefish Jewelry will design a jewelry line based on The Noble Awards and “Be A Noble” Movement, where a percentage of sales will be donated to Noble charities.

Additional partners include EIF/iParticipate, The Hollywood Reporter, Audi, Beverly Hilton, Mobile Cause, Rosenthal and GoodSearch.

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 Noble Awards. Produced on behalf of the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit organization, the first annual awards will take place on October 18, 2009. The Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation will launch a year-round movement to BE A NOBLE to better unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, influencers, media and everyday citizens in order to create an effective forum for change and service. For more information, please visit www.thenobleawards.org.

LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With Jon Huertas

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Linda St Cyr

Actor Jon Huertas, who stars as Detective Javier Esposito on ABC’s “Castle”, recently spoke to Look To The Stars’ Linda St.Cyr about his support of the Wounded Warrior Project and Puppies Behind Bars, two charities he is passionate about.

Last month, Huertas attended a graduation ceremony at the Berthoud Community Center in Colorado for veterans who have completed an intensive two week training course with new service dogs.

Hi Jon, it’s great to hear from you. How was your trip to Colorado?

Hi Linda. It was great, thanks for asking. Getting to meet the vets who graduated with their puppies was an amazing experience.

I read that you were in the Air Force. How long did you serve?

I served 8 years in the Air Force and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I believe it is a rite of passage to becoming a man. In the military you are responsible for another person’s life and lots of very expensive equipment. The responsibility you are given makes you grow from a boy into a man.

Is your experience in the Air Force what led you to getting involved with the Wounded Warrior Project?

Yes and No. A friend of mine, Rudy Reyez from “Generation Kill”, got me involved with the Wounded Warrior Project. It is important for those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) to know that there is help out there. The Wounded Warrior Project is dedicated to educating and providing programs and services for severely injured veterans between active duty and the transition to civilian life.

By being involved with both the Wounded Warrior Project and Puppies Behind Bars, I feel I am still connected to the military which helped shaped me into the man I am. It is my way of giving back.

Are there any other charities or causes that you support?

I’m pretty busy with shooting the next season of “Castle” so the only charities I really support are WWP and PBB but I did donate to some friends who are in a Triathlon on Sunday for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

That counts! What would you like the public to know about WWP and PBB?

I really want to raise awareness for regular civilians to get involved and give back to the people who have served them in the military. These men and women have given their lives to protecting the freedom’s we have and this is a way for civilians to give back.

You have been on a lot of television shows including “Castle”, “Generation Kill”, “NCIS”, “CSI”, and “Without a Trace”. Is there one project that has been your favorite?

My favorite project to work on has been “Generation Kill”. The story is so important and it is based on real marine’s who led an assault on Baghdad in 2003.

“Generation Kill” has been nominated for some Emmy Award’s. How many?

It has been nominated for 11 Emmy Awards. It has been truly amazing working on the show. Credit goes to the writers of the show. Acting is easy when the story telling is good.

Since you are involved with Puppies Behind Bars, it leads me to believe, you love dogs. Do you have any pets?

I do. I have two Basenji dogs.

Are there any other projects you are working on?

“Castle” is keeping me busy but when the shoot is over I am planning on taking a three week course to get my pilot’s license.

Good luck! Thank you for granting Look to the Stars this interview, Jon. It has been a pleasure.

Thank you. Give me a call next year and we will do an interview while I’m flying!

To find out more about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit their website. More information about Puppies Behind Bars can be found here.

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.

Celebrities who will accept awards on behalf of the charities being honored include Laila Ali (Women’s Sports Foundation), Jessica Biel (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Alicia Keys (Keep A Child Alive), Joel Madden (The Art of Elysium) and Brett Ratner (DoSomething.org), with others currently being confirmed. During the ceremony, each will be presented with the trophy award, designed by Antonio Banderas, with personal touches added by children who participated in The Art of Elysium workshop at the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Other performers and presenters will be announced closer to the event.

With nearly two decades of experience across entertainment, fashion and charitable projects, Janeen Mansour is creator and executive producer of the Noble Humanitarian Awards. Mansour, who has interviewed many celebrities, was inspired to create a dedicated award show for the charity community after interviewing the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and learning about her significant charitable work.

“Celebrities have long given their time to charity, championing causes they feel passionate about. Their support draws media coverage, and organizations benefit. With the Noble Awards, we aim to turn the spotlight back onto these celebrities and charities in an effort to provide recognition, to educate, to inspire, and to encourage even more support from the Hollywood community and the public at large. It’s an annual celebration of service and volunteerism,” explains Mansour.

A team of entertainment veterans join Mansour in producing the Noble Humanitarian Awards. They include Ziad Batal (Executive Producer), founder of All 4 Media, one of the most prominent film and television production companies and creator and producer of dozens of reality, talk and sports programs in the Middle East; Michael Seligman (Producer), President & CEO of Seligman Entertainment, Inc, whose 35 years of work includes the Oscars, the Emmy’s, AFI’s, Kennedy Center Honors and Stand Up To Cancer; Tisha Fein (Producer), whose three-decade experience includes the Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, World Music Awards, Fashion Rocks, Movies Rock and Stand Up to Cancer.

The Noble Humanitarian Awards are produced on behalf of the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit organization. With the staging of the first annual awards on October 18, 2009, the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation will launch a year-round campaign to better unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, influencers, media and everyday citizens in order to create an effective forum for change and service. For more information, please visit www.thenobleawards.org.

Teri Hatcher Completes Triathlon For Charity

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher was one of several stars to compete for charity in the 2009 Nautica Malibu Triathlon during the weekend.

“I’m still standing , yeah yeah yeah,” blogged the star. “What a great experience I had doing my first official triathlon. Many many thanks to all those who donated! I couldn’t have had more generous support from friends, family and fans. I couldn’t have been with a nicer more supportive team than Team Disney. We raised funds for [”Children’s Hospital Los Angeles":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/349-childrens-hospital-los-angeles] in record numbers. I am proud and grateful and humbled by all the efforts put forth by the thousands of contestants and spectators.

“I have a new article posting on Modernmom.com on finishing the triathlon called “To compete or not to compete” and an earlier written one called “How is motherhood like a triathlon.” Please visit their site for some light fun reading."

Other stars that competed in the triathlon for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles included Felicity Huffman and actor husband William H. Macy, Anna Kournikova and Saved By The Bell star Mario Lopez. The event was kicked off by David Hasselhoff.

Teri Hatcher Blogs About Charity Triathlon Training

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher is set to compete in the 2009 Nautica Malibu Triathlon for charity, and she’s blogging about her training.

The actress is looking for donations for “Team Hatcher” to support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Her fundraising goal for the event – which takes place this Saturday – is $10,000, and she is hoping for your support.

“I recently accepted the challenge of participating in the fundraising efforts surrounding the Nautica Malibu Triathlon,” she wrote. "I have single handedly taken my carbon footprint significantly down by riding my bike to work at least 3 times a week. I’m running on my treadmill – so I’ve had to find room in my closet for the clothes that normally hang on it – and I’m swimming 50 to 80 laps in my pool. Thus the pool no longer serves as a leaf and bee catcher. The event takes place on September 13, 2009, and I have committed to raise at least $10,000 for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles in partnership with the event. I’ve done one “dress rehearsal” in which I did not drown or get eaten by a great white shark. And after watching an entire shark week of episodes on TV, that was what I call facing a giant fear.

“Donate anything you can, EVEN a DOLLAR. I’m really grateful to those of you who’ve come this far to check out this event. It’s raising lots of money for such an important cause – children. What could be more important than that?!”

To read Teri’s blog and donate to her effort, click here.

Joe Jonas: Running For A Good Cause

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

Joe Jonas is lacing up his sneakers for charity.

The pop star will take time out from touring to support the iWin Joe Jonas Fun Run. The event will benefit the brothers’ Change for the Children Foundation and Special Olympics Texas. 15 lucky runners will be able to sprint with Joe as he leads the 3.1 mile race. After the run, Joe will join the rest of the Jonas brood to perform at the AT&T Arena for a sold-out concert.

The Jonas brothers are familiar with both sold-out concerts and charity. The brothers started the Change for the Children Foundation to support programs that motivate children to face hardship with confidence and a will to succeed. The charity currently supports five organizations: Nothing But Nets, the American Diabetes Association, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and the Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts.

Noble Awards Aim To Honor Philanthropic Celebrities

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

An awards show that aims to be the Golden Globes of non-profits will hit Los Angeles in October.

The Noble Awards will honor the work of 10 philanthropic organizations – such as Keep A Child Alive, The Salvation Army, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Epilepsy Foundation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, DoSomething.org and The Art of Elysium – and allow each to award the NOBLE (designed by Antonio Banderas) to a celebrity supporter who has used their evevated platform to bring awareness to the cause.

This unprecedented event will be a star-studded evening stimulating greater charity involvement around the world. The celebrities to be involved will be announced later, but Look To The Stars can confirm the involvement of Alicia Keys and Heroes’ Greg Grunberg.

The show is being organized by the Celebrity Charity Awards Corporation, a non-profit entity whose aim is to unify the efforts of charities with celebrities, media and everyday citizens to create an effective forum for change and service.

The event will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 18. For more information, check out the official Noble Awards website and check back to Look To The Stars for further updates.

Jessica Simpson Performs For Cancer Survivors

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Jessica Simpson performed to over 2000 pediatric cancer survivors at the 18th annual Celebrate Life With Hope event at Paramount Studios on Sunday, June 7.

The event benefited the HOPE program at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and is the largest annual event of its type in US. It presented the opportunity for survivors and their families to get together with hospital staff and trainees, representatives of community and national support agencies, and major donors of the HOPE Program at the CHLA. In addition to fun and food, the event emphasized health promotion and wellness through attention to nutrition, self-care, and mind-body fitness.

The HOPE Program in the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has evolved over the last 30 years and continues to create new and innovative approaches to psychosocial care. Today, the Center is an international leader in the comprehensive care of children and teens with cancer, together with their families. It provides state-of-the art medical treatment combined with compassionate psychosocial care and support, as well as making scientific discoveries in all facets of the disease and treatment focused on reducing suffering and improving quality of life.

More info about the program can be found here.

Exclusive Interview With Hayley Hasselhoff

Wed, 20 May 2009 08:45:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

LookToTheStars.org’s Michelle Vink caught up with Hayley Hasselhoff recently to chat about her career and charity work.

I recently had the opportunity of meeting the beautiful young Hayley Hasselhoff as well as her father, David Hasselhoff and mother, Pamela Bach. Contrary to what the tabloids are saying, I observed a loving mother and father who both adore their daughters and are doing their best to get through a very difficult time. Both parents set aside their differences to come out and support their daughter when her board put on the charity event, “The Bash” to raise money for other teens at CHLA. Just as I first met Hayley at CHLA for the hospital visit, I witnessed a 16-year-old girl with a passion to help others with a desire to use her celebrity status to be a role model for her peers. This is an introduction to a resilient girl who understands the responsibility of being in the spotlight and is not afraid to shine.

On Hayley’s career dreams

You have been with Ford Modeling agency for a few years now and are now starting a career in the entertainment business. What are your long-term goals for your career?

My goals are to become an actress and singer. We have been in the recording studio working on our album since Christmas time but we had to postpone due to my sister living in Arizona for college. But she would fly back and forth during weekends to record. We have three songs already recorded so we are on our way to finishing our album. Also my sister has moved back to LA so we can work on pursuing our dreams together in a band.

If you could choose anyone to work with in the music industry, who would it be?

I think my sister and me would dream to open for TIESTO, Rhianna, Cascada, Deamau5, and Dj Kid Kudi. I would love to sing on stage with my father; I think that would be amazing. My sister and I are on my dad’s Christmas album singing a couple songs when we were little but we have never actually performed live with our dad.

Hayley has been practicing with her sister on a band called Bella Vida and hope to start touring together by next year. They told us at our last interview that they are already working on recording an album and are taking choreography lessons now to get ready.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I hope to have already toured with my sister for our band Bella Vida, to continue modeling, and starring in feature films.

You are such a strong, confident young woman. How were you able to find your confidence?

I was able to find my confidence by always believing in my morals and myself. I’m the one who leads my life not others and that’s helped me through a lot. I also found my confidence by being a plus size model. It showed me that girls are beautiful any size. [I believe] that every girl and guy should be confident in his or her own skin. It helped me gain confidence because – as every girl does – I’ve battled with weight for years and it showed me that everyone is beautiful no matter what society may say. I’ve finally been able to appreciate what God gave me.

What advice can you give to young girls that are struggling with their own self-esteem?

The advice that I would give to young girls who are struggling with their self-esteem would be to always be true to yourself and believe in yourself because one person can make a difference.

You have grown up in the spotlight, how has this affected you? What have you learned about being a celebrity?

It’s hard to grow up in the spotlight because your personal life seems to be not that personal anymore. But I have learned to get through it by being true to myself and to use being a celebrity in a good way by helping others and being able to reach out to people in need. I’ve also learned not to buy into the negativity people talk about my family or me. (I have learned) to only look at the good in life not the bad.

Who do you consider the most influential person in your life?

I consider my mother and father the most influential people in my life.

What have they taught you that has helped change you into the young woman you are today?

My mother and father have both brought me up to work hard for things I want. Yes, they have always helped me pursue my dreams, but they’ve always showed me that they may be able to open the door, but I am the one who has to work and prove that the door can be opened and stay open. Also to never hold grudges against people, to always forgive and forget because no one is perfect, and that people shouldn’t be perfect because if they were, no-one would be able grow if they didn’t make any mistakes.

What do you consider the most difficult time in your life?

I consider my parents’ divorce the most difficult time in my life because having a family break up destroys everyone.

How have you overcome it?

I overcame it by realizing that things in life don’t always work out the way you planned and that’s ok. You just need to take every day at a time and cherish what life has given you not what it’s taken away. A new journey is always a good one and makes you learn something new about yourself and the world around you.

I have heard you in interviews talk about how loyal you are to your family and how you have had to deal with so much gossip both at school and in the media. How has that negativity affected you?

It use to negatively affect me because gossip from the press most times are false accusations where many people who don’t know my family personally seem to feel like they do just because they’ve read about us or seen an interview. Where it gets hard to deal with cause others look at you in a different way when they shouldn’t because they don’t know the complete truth… and our family shouldn’t have to share the complete truth since we like to keep our personal life as private as possible.

How has it affected your family?

My family and I have learned to not have (bad) press affect us.

What can you say to teens that don’t think gossip really affects people?

I would tell teens that every piece of gossip – either publicized or just between a group of friends – affects everyone, because even if it’s true or false, it’s someone else talking about another behind their back or even in front of them, which hurts since it was probably something someone either wanted to keep personal or share with certain people, but something the person wanted to share, not have others share it for them.

Also gossip seems not always to be true so by having other people talk about someone else without actually going to the person they heard about could make others believe something about someone that could ruin their reputation.

You and your family have been through so much in the public eye. How have you managed to stay so strong and positive?

I’ve managed to stay strong and positive by not letting negativity affect me and to only make me stronger and to put a bigger guard around my heart. Also to stay very close and loyal to my family and to not let anything affect us. We all have a very open and close relationship, which has helped us through our struggles.

Why do you think it is so important to be a positive role model as a celebrity?

I think it is important to be a positive role model as a celebrity because although you don’t necessarily want people to be watching your every step, they do. So anything you do gets publicized. Also many people look up to celebrities, and if you’re not setting a good example then who is? You want to show people that being a celebrity is something to be cherished and that every celebrity is really just like you. It should be showing people not to change for others and to really lead their own life, and not to do what others do but to start your own path and be original. I hope by being a positive role model it will inspire others to do the same in their lives.

On Hayley’s charity work, and THE BASH fundraiser

You are so passionate about charity and philanthropy. What inspired you to first get involved?

My parents have always been involved in charity, they always taught me to give back. Ever since I was a little kid I would go to many charity events. One charity I have been involved with since I was younger was The Starlight Foundation that helps underprivileged families whose children needed medical attention. Even when I was a child my sister and I would make beaded bracelets and write letters to the children in Africa my parents would visit every year. I have a huge heart for others and if there is any way I could put a smile on another’s face I have always been the first one in line to do so. So by helping people in need it gives me joy in my life and I hope gives it in theirs. Just to let people in need know you’re thinking about them and really do care, goes a long way.

You and your dad visited the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles with your board members from The Bash fundraiser. Why was this visit so special for you?

The visit was so special to me because I saw so many kids and teenagers just like me in a situation they didn’t ask for but unfortunately were forced to face. Each child I saw were very strong people and had such amazing hearts that shined through when you met them. Meeting their families was the hardest part because they all cared for their children or relative so much and wanted to help them in any way just to take the pain away. These kids were definitely inspirational to me in my life and showed me to cherish life everyday even if it’s a bad day because life is good no matter how many struggles you may go through.

Why did you decide to join your peers in this fundraising cause for teens?

I decided to join my peers in this fundraising cause for teens because it shows the teenagers in the hospital that kids their age are out there thinking about them and want to help in any way.

Do you feel like the event was worthwhile and you were able to make a difference? Is it something you would get involved with again?

This event was definitely – no doubt about it – worthwhile, I think I was able to make a difference by going to the hospital and talking to the teenagers and showing them we are out there doing a huge event to make a difference in their lives. I am definitely getting involved in this charity again and hopefully many more charities.

You have done a lot of charity work with your parents. Were there any other influences that motivated you to get involved?

My mother and father were very much apart of my inspiration to get involved in philanthropy. But there was this one day in my geography class in 6th grade at my old school Montclair prep where we watched this video about these kids in Russia that were in an orphanage and were affected by radiation in Russia and were terminally ill.

This Female American reporter went over to cover the story and it showed how the nurses taking care of the children wouldn’t give them much attention since they were about to die, and the American said to the nurses that they should be giving these children as much attention as possible to remember their last days of life as good ones. I walked out of my class bawling my eyes out. Ever since then I have always wanted to get more involved in charities and to one day have my own charity for kids who are terminally ill and that are orphans. It inspired me to be a better person and to use my life as a celebrities child and as a healthy person to help others in need because it’s the least I could do for these children who need someone to believe in them and give them hope for the future.

What are the causes that you are the most passionate about? Why?

I am most passionate about helping children any age who are unfortunately terminally ill. This is because I want to make their last years the most amazing ones and to try to find as many ways to find more options to try to cure their illness. I want to help give them a second chance in any way. Especially orphans who need to know that there are people out there who want to reach out and to take care of them so they know they have someone to be by their side through out the journey so they don’t feel alone.

What is the most memorable moment you have experienced in working with charities and non-profits?

There have been so many memorable moments in working with charities and non-profits. They have all brought joy to my life and each person I have met has made a difference in my life. I can’t say that there was only one moment that was so special for me because every moment has touched my heart and made a difference in my life and my outlook on life.

Do you feel like you can make a difference in the world?

I feel like anyone can make a difference in the world. If “The Bash” didn’t prove to you that anyone can make a difference no matter what age you are than I don’t know what will. Just bringing a smile to another goes a long way. There are so many ways you can make a difference in the world just making a difference in your life your making a difference in the world.

How do you hope to inspire others by your actions?

I hope to inspire others by my actions by letting them see that by helping other you don’t only just give back to them you learn more about appreciating life and loved ones around you. I hope to inspire people to get involved and to take time out of their day to realize how blessed they are and by helping others it will add joy to your life but also to people in need.

You are such a beautiful bright spirit with such positive energy and power to make a difference. If you could change anything about the world, what would it be?

If I could change anything in the world it would be to bring more passion for others around you and not only to care for yourself but also to think about others and try to make a difference. I think that making a difference in someone else’s life is the most important thing for the world. The world needs to focus more on making it better place and helping others then focusing on negativity and gossip.

Is there a piece of advice you can give to anyone interested in getting involved in making the world a better place and following their dreams?

The advice I would give would be that anyone can make a difference; never give up always following your dreams and ambitions. Always believe in yourself and know you can make a difference, and making a difference in someone else’s life will make a difference in yours.

Hayley Hasselhoff continues to make a difference in the lives of others and has already made a difference in her own personal life by living this philosophy. She isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in and support those around her. If she can embrace this philosophy at 16 years old, imagine the impact she can have in the future of Hollywood.

(Photo of Hayley and David Hasselhoff copyright Mario Sanchez. Photo of Taylor Hasselhoff and Pamela Bach copyright Glen Lipton. Reproduced by permission.)

Look To The Stars Invites You To The Bash Of All Bashes

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Look To The Stars is proud to be associated with a special charity party being held in Hollywood this weekend featuring a number of celebrity guests.

The Bash has been organized by a group of teenage girls – Teens Helping Teens – including Hayley Hasselhoff – daughter of David – and Autumn Chiklis, daughter of Michael Chiklis, who wanted to support the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The founders of the event are Nathalia Ramos (Disney Bratz) and Bosilika An, and the board includes Mady Feder, Marissa Lepor, Savanah Slotkin, Ellen Basser and Zelda Williams (daughter of Robin Williams).

“Around Christmas, Teens Helping Teens noticed that the teens in the hospital were really lacking things to keep them entertained,” explained David Hasselhoff. "The kids that have to stay in the hospital are often there for a really long time and a lot of them are in isolation wards and can’t really communicate with anyone but the nurses and their families. The girls of Teens Helping Teens went around and asked all these kids what they wanted the most to make their stay more comfortable and almost all of them said they wanted a computer or a PlayStation or something that would occupy them without risking them getting sick.

“The girls decided that they were going to do something about it and have organized a huge Young Hollywood party that’s taking place in May. They’ve got Fred Segal doing a fashion show, Steve Aoki is going to DJ, and Rumer Willis is going to host. All the proceeds will go toward helping these sick kids feel a little bit better. They’re going to purchase Wiis, PlayStations, Macs and all sorts of things that will help these children get through their illness.”

Also performing at the party will be Nikka Costa.

The Bash party will take place at the Crustacean Restaurant in Beverly Hills on Sunday, May 17.

For information and tickets, go to the official The Bash of All Bashes website. To watch Look To The Stars’ interview with David and Hayley Hasselhoff, click here.

LTTS Video Exclusive: David Hasselhoff Visits Children's Hospital LA

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

David Hasselhoff joined his daughter and a group of Hollywood teens at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles during Easter to visit the patients, and Look To The Stars was there.

Hasselhoff’s daughter, Hayley, is one of a group of girls calling themselves Teens Helping Teens who are actively working to help sick children at the hospital.

“Around Christmas, Teens Helping Teens noticed that the teens in the hospital were really lacking things to keep them entertained,” explains Hasselhoff. "The kids that have to stay in the hospital are often there for a really long time and a lot of them are in isolation wards and can’t really communicate with anyone but the nurses and their families. The girls of Teens Helping Teens went around and asked all these kids what they wanted the most to make their stay more comfortable and almost all of them said they wanted a computer or a PlayStation or something that would occupy them without risking them getting sick.

The party – called The Bash – will take place at the Crustacean Restaurant in Beverly Hills on May 17.

“What we are hoping is that people will come together in this time of crisis, especially in this economy, and put forward some donations, put forward some money, so eventually we hope this to become an annual thing where we can raise enough money to really benefit the Childrens Hospital,” said organizer Autumn Chiklis, daughter of Michael Chiklis.

To watch Look To The Stars’ exclusive interview with David Hasselhoff and the young organizers of The Bash during their visit to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, click here.

LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With Raul Julia-Levy

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

Written by Michelle Vink

Starring alongside Damon Whitaker and Danny Venegas, Raul Julia-Levy has played the leads of a positive role model in film.

In real life, Julia-Levy plays the role of a philanthropist, actor, producer and activist with a heart. He grew up in a prominent family in Mexico City and met his famous father for the first time in Hollywood when he was 17. Despite any life challenges he has faced, he has remained dedicated to his passions and his cause.

I had the opportunity of meeting of Raul and asking him a few questions on why philanthropy is so important to him.

What initially inspired you to get involved in charity and philanthropy?

I have always had a heart for others since I was 5 years old. My instincts as a human being began at that time and I had a heart for people and animals. I remember my grandfather asked me, “who is the most important person,” and I said HE is, of course, or my mother. He told me he would be back after I could think about it a while. When he returned I told him that “I” am the most important person, and he kissed me and said that is right.

Were you raised to think about others or was there an event in your life that caused you to direct your interests toward charity?

At 7 years my grandfather told me that I have too many shoes – don’t you know there are people that don’t have one pair? A maid worked in the house and her son had holes in his shoes – I gave him 3 pairs of my shoes.

What do you get out of helping others and being a part of such a cause?

It makes me feel important to others and to myself and that I accomplish something – contributing to something important.

Why would you recommend others to get involved?

The rewards of helping others should be spread around and giving something back to the world in a noble way – it is a unique experience for humanity.

What would you like to see change about the world?

Everything needs to change in the world – starting from the respect of wild life and mankind as well as the respect for the environment around the world.

What would you do to fix the issues?

In order to make significant changes we all need to start from our own house and teach others to do the same.

You are involved with a lot of charities. What are the ones you are most passionate about and why?

I support FlauntMyPet, The Humane Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Hollywood Children’s Hospital, and the Senior Citizen Foundation because they are all dedicated to supporting mankind as well as animals and survival into the future. I also support the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Michael J. Fox Foundation, & The Lolita Campaign.

Why do you feel these are worthy causes or organizations?

Life is essential for the growth of our planet and I believe these causes support that.

I have heard of the other charities, but I am not familiar with Flaunt My Pet. Could you tell me more?

When my first dog, Randy, died when both of us were 13 years old, it was a very emotional time for me. I felt like I lost a part of my body. Until this day his presence is still very strong to me. As an adult, my dog O’Toole died in 2006 – I was devastated. After spending $3000 we could not save him because he had plastic attached to his intestine. This is how FlauntMyPet.com was born. The death of our dog O’Toole and the astronomical number of dogs killed in this country each year-4 million dogs a year.

Flauntmypet.com is a major social site that will launch in 2009 showcasing a long list of Hollywood Celebrities and their pets. It is currently in the process of becoming a 501c3 nonprofit status. Their mission is to educate and bring the masses together so they can interact and be a part of a cause. For more information, email info@flauntmypet.com.

You and your celebrity friends have also been a great support to the Lolita Campaign. Can you tell our readers about your purpose in the campaign?

We are all dedicated to relocating this wonderful whale back into her natural habitat. It is extremely important that we succeed in this cause because that will set the standard and prevent aquariums and facilities, that don’t meet Federal regulations, from displaying such animals in captivity under poor conditions. We believe that we will succeed 100% in the relocation of the whale.

What other projects are you working on?

Working with AnswersForElders.com, a social site for baby boomers who are taking care of their elderly parents. I am currently involved with an epic movie called Birdwoman of the Snake, a Native American story about Sacagawea, staring Ewan McGregor

If you had the opportunity to use your celebrity status to make changes for the better of the world, what would you do?

Raise awareness, educate people, provide unique information, invite people to get involved and take part of the change.

Who are some of your celebrity friends that really make a difference in the world today?

Johnny Depp, who is incredibly devoted to children and animals; Harrison Ford, Forest Whitaker, Jermaine Jackson, Halima Jackson, Jean Claude Van Dam, 50 Cent, Bob Barker, Elton John, Placido Domingo, Shari Watson aka: Truth Hurts, American Idol: Chikezie, Hayden Panettiere, Lindsay Lohan, Bokeem Woodbine, Wesley Snipes, Richard Grieco and many other A-list celebrities from Mexico City.

How do you think we can get more celebrities to get involved in positive change?

By being a good example and promoting good examples and good work. Showing celebrities that their voices are powerful enough to make things happen.

How do you think we can inspire more people to become involved in giving back?

Utilizing our most powerful tool – our voices through a clear message that is direct and inspirational.

How important is it for celebrities like yourself and your friends to use their voice?

It is extremely important for them to give back in any way, shape or form – part of our mission. We all have a purpose to give back.

Imagine the impact we would see if everyone in Hollywood would use his or her voice to make a positive impact in the world. Who knows, maybe philanthropy would become the industry standard and we could all flaunt our pet with a purpose.

Jamie Lee Curtis To Be Honored At Charity Event

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is to be honored at an event that will benefit the young patients of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in May.

On Saturday, May 9, 2009, the Beverly Hilton will be THE place to be as Noche de Niños kicks off another unforgettable star-studded evening of international glamour and top of the line entertainment. Benefitting the young patients served by Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, this remarkable event will be a multicultural celebration of the hospital’s heroes – the courageous children and their exceptional caregivers who make miracles happen every day.

Also confirmed to attend the gala event are Jennifer Lopez, Annette Bening and Warren Beatty.

For more information and tickets, click here.

Eva Longoria To Rally For Children With Cancer

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Actress Eva Longoria has been appointed as Honorary Chair for the Rally For Children With Cancer.

This exciting event will be taking place in Los Angeles on May 1st and 2nd, 2009, and will also be launched across North America throughout the year.

All participating Rally Drivers will fundraise a minimum of $25,000 each to qualify and draft their Celebrity Navigator. The higher the funds raised, the better draft position earned. This event will feature several well-known Celebrities and attract huge media attention.

The rally will benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Padres Contra el Cancer, and Eva Longoria has stepped up to support its efforts to help those in need. Not only will she act as Honorary Chair, but she will also act as navigator for one of the rally drivers. Other celebrity navigators include Mario Lopez, Shannon Tweed, Stephen Baldwin, Terrence Howard, Valerie Cruz, William Baldwin, Zachary Levi, Julie Benz, James Kyson Lee and many more.

Rally for Kids with Cancer will kick off with “The Qualifiers” Celebrity Draft Party on May 1. This cocktail reception provides Rally Drivers with the opportunity to meet and recruit their desired Celebrity Navigator. The premium drafting positions will be determined by the amount of dollars raised through pledges and sponsorship. The top fundraisers will have first choice in the selection process. Remaining positions will be randomly drawn from among the Celebrity Navigators not yet drafted.

Fuelled by an extraordinary schedule of Pit Stops at some of the most exclusive establishments and venues in the city, Saturday May 2 will see Rally Drivers and Celebrity Navigators will embark on a journey from one clue to the next.

Fun and innovation are the call of the day. The skills participants require to be part of the winning team include power of observation, the ability to read a map and figure out challenging clues, and of course, a true love of driving. Scores are determined by a combination of successfully completed tasks and the accumulation of assigned points. Thinking fast, not driving fast, gets you across the “Finish Line”.

For more information about this event, check out the official website.

Mel B Cares For All Ages

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Singer Melanie Brown’s auction last year of household goods and clothing in the UK went so well – bringing in thousands of pounds for CLIC Sargent – she’s decided to do it again in her newest residence, the USA.

“I’m going to be auctioning off a ton of stuff,” she said.

Spice Girls memorabilia, costumes from tours and wardrobe items from the Spice Girls movie and Dancing With The Stars television program are on the block, as well as items out of her closet. On her website she promises to add more.

“One hundred percent of what you bid on these clothes is going to go to two charities,” says Brown. “One is [”LA Children’s Hostpital":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/349-childrens-hospital-los-angeles] and the other one is Meals On Wheels, so you get to help the young and the elderly."

Total bids have already surpassed $4000 usd. Click here to view the items and place a bid.

Stars Sign Life-Size Cut-Outs For Charity Auction

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Hollywood news service ET Online has revealed a charity auction featuring life-sized cut-outs of your favorite stars.

Wall-U is a service that offers personalized life-size wall decals “to bring life to any room”, and ET managed to get celebrities such as Kate Winslet, Mickey Rourke, Colin Farrell, Anna Paquin, Tom Wilkinson and the cast of Slumdog Millionaire to autograph their own likenesses backstage at the Golden Globes last month.

Now those life-size Wall-U’s are up for auction to benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. To bid on these once-in-a-lifetime items, just visit eBay before February 10.

LTTS Exclusive: The Second Annual Celebrity Soccer Challenge

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Look To The Stars reporter Delinda Lombardo attended Mia Hamm’s massive celebrity soccer game during the weekend and caught up with some of the stars that took part.

The second annual Celebrity Soccer Challenge at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles was a big success as Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra were joined by a slew of celebrity friends who helped raise nearly $200,000 for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation.

The event also encouraged fans in attendance to register for the National Marrow Donor Program Registry, a cause close Mia Hamm’s heart after she lost brother Garrett to bone marrow disease.

“My foundation started about 1999 and was motivated from my relationship with my brother who passed away in 1997 after complications from a bone-marrow transplant,” she said prior to the game. “For us, we shared a love of sport and I also saw first hand what my parents and his parents had to go through, not just financially, but struggling to find a bone-marrow match, so [the proceeds from] my foundation go to help families find bone-marrow transplants and also to encourage and empower young female athletes.”

During halftime, patients suffering from leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases were introduced for the first time to their bone marrow donors.

“The more the world becomes a melting pot, the more important it is for people to be registered, it’s a gift that you can continue to give,” Hamm said. “My brother was adopted, he was a minority and that was one of the big struggles. Nomar [her husband] is Mexican and that’s another message we’re trying to get out there, we’re trying to get more minorities entered into the bank. Last years game we almost got 200 people and a match was found for someone who registered at the event, so it’s so important to keep spreading the importance and raising money.”

While Nomar Garciaparra earned bragging rights for scoring in overtime to give his team, Nomar United, an 8-7 win over Hamm’s team, FC Mia, he never lost sight of what the event was really about. “We’re here to have fun,” Garciaparra said, “but the biggest thing is raise money for the children’s hospital and to get people typed and registered for the bone marrow bank. To be able to save a life is priceless.”

Both celebrities and athletes took the field to help Mia’s cause – including “Desperate Housewives” actress Andrea Bowen, C. Thomas Howell, Josh Hutcherson, Mark Consuelos, Jimmy Jean-Louis of NBC’s “Heroes,” Angus Jones of CBS’s “Two and a Half Men,” “Lipstick Jungle/Las Vegas” actor James Lesure, Josh Henderson of the CW’s “90210,” Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden, skateboarders Tony Hawk and Ryan Sheckler, and several of Hamm’s teammates from the U.S. National Team including Brandi Chastain, Kristine Lilly, Joy Fawcett, Tisha Hoch and Abby Wambach. Other current and former male soccer players who participated included Cobi Jones, Chris Seitz, Matt Reis, Brian Dunseth and Alexi Lalas.

Skateboarding sensation and ‘Life of Ryan’ star Ryan Sheckler was a definite crowd pleaser as he participated in the event for the first time. “This is actually the first time I’ve ever played soccer,” he told me. “It feels great, it’s going to be a great day. Hopefully I make a goal, my goal is to make a goal today, just one and I’ll go home happy.”

Actor Mark Consuelos was also playing soccer for the first time: “I doubt I’ll score any goals. But it’s for a great cause so I’m really excited to be here.”

One of the youngest players and first time participant, actress Andrea Bowen, took a few minutes to speak with us before signing autographs for the throngs of young fans lining up to meet her. “This is my first game and I’m pretty excited that I get to play with all these people,” she said, Sharpie in hand. “They’re definitely going to have to pull extra weight because I really don’t know what I’m doing but it should be fun and its all for a really good cause.”

Tony Hawk: “This is my second time playing soccer, if you get one goal out of me you’ll be lucky.”

‘Heroes’ actor Jimmy Jean-Louis couldn’t hide his excitement for the game. “It is a beautiful day and we are going to have a great time today,” he told me prior to kick-off.

As a regular player for Los Angeles celebrity-soccer team Hollywood United, Jean-Louis is no stranger to using celebrity to raise awareness.

“I’ve been busy doing a lot of charity work. I started my own organization Hollywood Unites for Haiti, " he explained, “What I’ve been doing is collecting used (soccer) equipment and going to Haiti to give it to them because they really need this-that’s really how the whole idea of Hollywood Unites for Haiti started,” he smiled, “About a month ago some of us from Hollywood were invited to Haiti – including [”Josh Brolin":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1271-josh-brolin] and Diane Lane. That was for the opening of a hospital for handicapped, so that was nice and I plan to bring more awareness to Haiti because they really need help."

Celebrities To Play In Charity Soccer Match

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Former US soccer player/World Cup champion Mia Hamm and husband Nomar Garciaparra are once again set to host their annual charity soccer match benefiting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation.

The event will be held on Saturday, January 17, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Proceeds from the event benefit bone marrow transplant patients and their families.

Celebrities expected to participate in the match include skateboarding legends Tony Hawk and Ryan Sheckler, U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh, NFL great Marcus Allen, actors Zachary Levi and Jimmy Jean Louis, Weezer singer Rivers Cuomo, Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden, Anthony Lapaglia, Andrea Bowen, Chris Richardson, Josh Hutchenson, Misty May-Treanor, current and former members of the U.S. men’s and women’s national soccer team, and many more.

Last year’s event raised more than $150,000 for charity, and the organizers are hoping to top that this year.

“Raising money is wonderful,” said Garciaparra. “But to give somebody a chance to save a life, you can’t put a price on that. It was huge. And it speaks volumes about what we can do. We have a booth set up where people can be typed for bone marrow match, and we had 200 people register last year and we actually found an unrelated match.”

General admission tickets for the Celebrity Soccer Challenge are $20 and are on sale through Ticketmaster or directly through the Home Depot Center Box Office.

Jonas Brothers To Play Charity Concert For Auto Show

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) has announced the Grammy nominated Jonas Brothers will play a special concert at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena on January 18, 2009 to help raise funds for the annual Charity Preview.

The 2009 Charity Preview will take place at Cobo Center on January 16 from 6-9 PM. Since its inception in 1976, Charity Preview has raised over $77 million for children’s charities in metro Detroit — over $32 million of which was raised in the last five years alone. Medical treatment, clothing and support services for local kids in need all are made possible through the purchase of Charity Preview tickets. The annual event has delivered more than $6 million to children’s charities in Southeastern Michigan.

Metro Detroit area beneficiaries of the Charity Preview include: Barat Child and Family Services; Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan; Boys Hope Girls Hope of Detroit; The Children’s Center, Judson Center, Children’s Services of Northeastern Guidance Center Assistance League, The Detroit Institute for Children, Think Detroit PAL, Easter Seals – Michigan, March Of Dimes, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund – a fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

The Jonas Brothers join a growing list of celebrities that have attended Charity Preview in years past to help raise funds for children in need. Previous attendees include Céline Dion, Aretha Franklin, Kid Rock, Kevin Bacon and Jay Leno. Through their Change for the Children Foundation, the Jonas Brothers raise funds to support programs that motivate and inspire children to face adversity with confidence, determination and the will to succeed. Their first fundraising initiative – You Decide. You Donate. – launched this past summer and through the generosity of their fans, was able to donate to charities including NothingButNets.net, American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Camp, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Summer Stars.

“We couldn’t be more pleased that an act as large as the Jonas Brothers have offered their support to Charity Preview,” said Joe Serra, senior co-chair of the 2009 NAIAS. “Not only will attendees be supporting local children’s charities in this time of dire need, but they will be able to provide the kids in their life with a ticket to the hottest concert in town.”

For every Charity Preview ticket purchased, patrons will receive one free ticket to see the Jonas Brothers live in concert on January 18, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena. There are a limited number of Charity Preview tickets that are tied to the Jonas Brothers concert. Tickets must be purchased between December 23, 2008 and January 5, 2009. Proceeds from all ticket sales will go to benefit Charity Preview. Charity Preview ticket holders who purchased prior to December 23 will be contacted and given the option for Jonas Brothers tickets as well.

For details on how funds from the Charity Preview are used to give back to the local community, see here-.

Hayden Panettiere Helps Sick Kids Shop For Christmas

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Heroes star and Eco-warrior princess Hayden Panettiere was up early in Saturday morning to go Christmas shopping with a group of children from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The 20-year-old star accompanied five girls on a shopping spree at Candie’s in San Gabriel. She gave the girls fashion tips – “Not many of them listened to me!” – and helped them choose clothes and accessories using gifts of $500.

The girls that were chosen to accompany Panettiere suffer from a range of health problems, including aneurisms, strokes, paralysis of the nerves and spine and sickle cell anemia.

The young actress is well known for her charity and environmental work. In October, 2007, Panettiere joined Australian actress Isabel Lucas and other activists in a peaceful protest in Japan, to raise awareness of the 25,000 dolphins slaughtered by the nation every year. The group narrowly avoided arrest over the incident, but succeeded in diverting international media to the abhorrent and barbaric practices used to butcher the animals. She sells her old clothes at www.panettierecloset.com to benefit Save The Whales Again, and recently launched an online petition to help save the whales. She was also heavily involved in voter education during the recent US election.

Jessica Biel And Justin Timberlake Bring Sexy Back To Charity Event

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Jessica Biel was on hand to host a special charity gala and auction for the Make The Difference Network in Hollywood on Wednesday night.

Along with co-host Kevin James, the gala raised money for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and attracted guests such as Biel’s boyfriend Justin Timberlake, Jesse Metcalfe, Sarah Larson, and Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy of “Dancing with the Stars.”

After an evening filled with stilt walkers and exotic dancing, Biel and Timberlake took to the stage to auction off items such as the chance to meet Jeremy Piven on the set of Entourage and a round of golf with Timberlake.

26-year-old Biel co-founded the Make The Difference Network with her family after helping a young fan with muscular dystrophy deal with his illness. When the boy passed away, Biel set up the network to utilize the internet to help charities link up with donors.

“It’s so nice to be able to work with your family,” she told ET. “For me it’s wonderful and something we can do together that makes us feel really good. It’s part of our lives, and we hope that everyone’s inspired to make some type of giving back or volunteering part of their life.”

An online auction for the Make The Difference network is also currently running at eBay.

Jessica Biel Makes A Difference For Sick Kids

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Jessica Biel attended the Make The Difference Network Holiday Party at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old co-founded the Make The Difference Network after helping a young fan with muscular dystrophy deal with his illness. When the boy passed away, Biel set up the network to utilize the internet to help charities link up with donors.

Tuesday’s party featured a ton of holiday fun, including face painting, cookie making, Christmas tree decorating, Santa, and much more. Alex Band of The Calling provided the entertainment, and actor Tyler Hilton’s foundation TH Books presented a donation of books to the hospital’s library.

“I look up to these kids, they’re so inspiring to me,” Biel told ET. “It makes me feel very lucky and blessed. It’s a humbling experience to get to know these really strong people who are our future generation.”

Jack Johnson, Oasis, Radiohead Appear On Charity CD

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Urban Outfitters and Filter Magazine have teamed up to create the fifth installment of the Give.Listen.Help compilation CD to raise money for the Pablove Foundation.

The Pablove Foundation is named after Pablo Castelaz, the five-year-old son of Dangerbird Records co-founder Jeff Castelaz and his wife Jo Ann Thrailkill. On May 17, 2008, Pablo was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms’ Tumor, a rare form of children’s cancer. The cancer appeared out of nowhere, with no warning signs in Pablo’s general demeanor or health. He is currently undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and is doing extremely well. Thanks to decades of research and treatment at places like CHLA, Wilms’ Tumor is over 90% curable.

A large percentage of the proceeds from the CD ($13.88 of every $14.99) will be donated to the Foundation, which directly supports the pediatric cancer community in and around CHLA.

The track list for the double CD is:

DISC 1

Garbage – “Witness to Your Love” (previously unreleased)
Radiohead – “House of Cards”
Of Montreal – “Jimmy” (M.I.A. cover)
Bat for Lashes – “What’s a Girl” (Plaid remix)
Oasis – “Falling Down” (Chemical Brothers remix)
Rilo Kiley – “Draggin’ Around” (previously unreleased)
Bloc Party – “Flux” (JKL remix)
The Faint – “The Geeks Were Right” (DIOYY remix)
CSS – “Rat Is Dead” (Rage)"
Decemberists “Billy Liar” (live)
Ra Ra Riot – “Can You Tell” (Little Ones remix)
Ladytron – “Ghosts” (Modwheelmood mix)
The Little Ones “I Don’t Want to Dance” (previously unreleased)
Other Lives – “Paper Cities” (previously unreleased)
Two Sheds – “You”
Jack Johnson “All At Once” (live at Bumbershoot 2008)

DISC 2

Silversun Pickups – “Table Scraps”
Eulogies – “Is There Anyone Here?”
Darker My Love – “Blue Day”
The Dears – “Crisis 1 & 2”
Sea Wolf – “The Promise”
The Curse of Company – “All the Mines”
One a.m. radio – “Old Men”
Ed Laurie – “Albert”
Eric Avery – “All Remote and No Control”
Dappled Cities – “Vision Bell”
La Rocca – “Cross the River”

The CD is available exclusively through the Urban Outfitters website.

Love Ride 2008 Attracts The Big Names

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

20,000 motorcyclists from across the U.S. and around the world rode in the 25th Annual Love Ride late last month and raised over US$1 million for Southern California-based charities.

The event – which was hosted by Jay Leno and featured celebrity riders such as Gene Simmons, Peter Fonda, Robert Patrick, Rutger Hauer, Larry Hagman, Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar, Michael Trucco (Battlestar Galactica_), and Carmine Giovinazzo (_CSI: NY) – culminated in a concert featuring the Foo Fighters, ZZ Top, and members of Velvet Revolver.

The annual Love Ride – held along the West Coast of the US from Glendale to Pomona – has raised over $21 million since it was launched in 1984, and is now one of the biggest one-day motorcycle events in the world. Beneficiaries of this year’s event included the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Autism Speaks, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Reading By 9 Child Literacy Initiative, Providence Saint Joseph Foundation, Catholic Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Special Olympics of Southern California, Frostig Center, Scleroderma Foundation, Glendale Community College, Rett Syndrome Foundation, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Centers, Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation, Friends of Castaic Lake, and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

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