Look To The Stars News: Rock For Darfur

George Clooney Puts Star Power To Work

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

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

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

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

2008 Golden Globes Roundup

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

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'Rock For Darfur' Myspace campaign

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:53:16 -0000

Written by Hannah Coone

MySpace.com has led a campaign entitled Rock For Darfur — a series of concerts across North America in which the participating big-name bands donate portions of their ticket sales to Oxfam’s relief efforts in Sudan and neighboring Chad. October 21st saw more than 20 concerts unite rock, pop, reggae and country artists for a common cause.

The concerts featured the likes of Ziggy Marley, Alice In Chains, Insane Clown Posse, Jamie Cullum, +44 and Atreyu. “I’ve been watching the news reports and it brings tears to my eyes and anger to my heart when I see what is happening in Darfur right now,” says Ziggy Marley. “How can we sit by and not find a way to help? Together every little bit will add up.”

Many music artists have MySpace profiles, and site members can add bands to their friend lists. Using this feature, ‘Rock For Darfur’ awareness could be maximized throughout the website, using blogs and bulletins. MySpace partnered with bands and the leading international relief and development organization Oxfam to make the campaign the company’s largest philanthropic effort to date

“The crisis in Darfur is a global concern and as a global community we have a responsibility to take action,” said Chris DeWolfe, CEO of MySpace. “MySpace’s reach gives us an extraordinary opportunity to spread the word and empower individuals to help address the horrors in Darfur.”

The campaign has extended beyond the concerts to include a public-service-announcement (PSA) featuring Samuel L. Jackson, and further videos and interactive features which can be found on the MySpace ‘Rock For Darfur’ profile. The PSA was played throughout October in theatres, and was also shown on broadcast and cable companies and high-profile websites including MySpace.

Further videos on the profile page include an excerpt from George Clooney’s visit to Darfur as part of a forthcoming documentary focused on the crisis, ‘The Devil Came on Horseback’. MySpace members can donate to Oxfam’s relief efforts via the profile page.

“More than three years of violence in Darfur has left half the region’s population dependent on international aid for survival, and there are untold thousands more who can’t even be reached,” said President of Oxfam America, Raymond C. Offenheiser.

“Such a catastrophic humanitarian situation will not improve without an end to this brutal conflict. The people of Darfur urgently need – and deserve – our help. It’s incredibly heartening that MySpace, which can rally millions of people to this cause, is working so hard to educate the world about this crisis.”

Look To The Stars News: Rock For Darfur

George Clooney Puts Star Power To Work

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2008 Golden Globes Roundup

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'Rock For Darfur' Myspace campaign

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