Look To The Stars News: Virgin Unite

Download To Do Good With Virgin Unite

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, has joined other leading charities to partner with Fairsharemusic.com, the music download store where the music you buy really does make a difference.

With over 16 million tracks, the hottest new releases and prices starting at 79p per track, Fairsharemusic is not dissimilar from other popular music sites – except that for every download you purchase, it donates half the profit to your chosen charity. The more you download, the more money goes to charity of your choice.

Lee Cannon, Co-founder of Fairsharemusic.com said “We’re delighted to partner with Virgin Unite. At Fairsharemusic.com we’ve make it simple for people to give directly to a cause through something they’re passionate about – you download, we donate. Music is the soundtrack to our lives, so why not use it to improve the lives of others.”

Richard Branson Helps Bring Hearing Aids To Africa

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:45:00 +0000

Starkey Hearing Foundation, which strives to change the social consciousness of hearing and hearing health care, wrapped up its first-ever hearing mission in Bushridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa last week with the help of Sir Richard Branson and his not for profit organization, Virgin Unite.

Sir Richard Branson observes as Bill Austin, Founder, Starkey Hearing Foundation, and his team of audiologists fit patients with hearing devices during the Foundation’s first-ever hearing mission in Bushridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Richard Branson's Charity To Distribute 100,000 Condoms In South Africa

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:55:00 +0000

Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite will help people in the fight against the spread of HIV AIDS this week by distributing 100,000 free condoms to the Bhubezi and Ndlovu Clinics in the Bushbuckridge area in the Mpumalanga province in South Africa, one of the most impoverished rural areas of South African, where an estimated 20% of the 500,000 people in the community are HIV positive.

The activity sees Virgin Unite, the not for profit foundation of the Virgin Group, take further direct action to tackle the spread of HIV where it matters most and is thanks to their partnership with The One Brand who donated the condoms to the Virgin Unite who will now distribute them.

Mary J. Blige To Headline Richard Branson's Rock The Kasbah

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:15:00 +0000

Richard Branson will join his mother, Eve Branson, as host of the fifth annual Rock The Kasbah charity event to benefit Virgin Unite and The Eve Branson Foundation on November 16.

This incredible evening of music, food, auction items and more features The Pussycat Dolls, O.A.R. and DJ Chris Holmes, as well as Mary J. Blige performing selections from her new album!

The focus is on building opportunity for youth: In the USA, Virgin Unite is providing opportunities for youth facing unprecedented unemployment, while The Eve Branson Foundation is empowering young women in Moroccan villages. Business, once again, is a force for good at Rock the Kasbah 2011.

Bid On The Chance To Live Like Richard Branson For Charity

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Take the winter getaway of a lifetime with a South African adventure developed by Sir Richard Branson.

  You are invited on a one-of-a-kind journey, first to take in the wildlife at a private game reserve with Sir Richard himself, then to connect with young entrepreneurs who are transforming their country from within, thanks to his help. The four-night trip includes round-trip transportation, two nights at Ulusaba, Branson’s private reserve, and two nights in dynamic Johannesburg, plus all meals and social activities. 

 To kick off the adventure, you’ll head to the city for the chance to assume a mentorship role with the young entrepreneurs at The Branson Centre. This hub of creativity is where these future leaders are learning business skills and gaining access to professionals in various fields in an effort to benefit their community. In Johannesburg you will also connect with South Africa’s rich political and cultural history and spend time with local leaders. After your urban excursion you’ll head to the bush, taking in the “Big Five” (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos) at Sir Richard’s private game reserve.

Join Richard Branson In India And Help Save Tigers

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0000

WildAid has partnered with Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Sir Richard Branson on a Connection Trip to India.

With like-minded entrepreneurs you’ll experience India’s first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix and get face to face with the issues surrounding our last remaining tigers on the brink of extinction, with only 3200 remaining in the wild. Alongside Richard and the Government of India, guests will also become Founding Patrons of Virgin Unite’s new tiger conservation initiative and will visit the community supported by this trip.

You and a guest will arrive in New Delhi on October 28th, kick off your F1 Grand Prix weekend at a welcome event with the Marussia Virgin Racing team, followed by an exciting few days hosted in the Paddock Club VIP hospitality area as you cheer on the team. Then it’s off to Corbett National Park for two days of exhilarating game drives hosted by WildAid India with a special visit with some of the world’s last remaining wild tigers. Over 50 species of mammals call this land home including tigers, leopards, elephants, antelopes, bears, pangolins, langurs, gorals, wild boar, mongoose, buffalo, monkeys, and fox. More than 60 species of birds can also be seen here including heron, eagles, parakeets, junglefowl, turtle doves, vultures, and hawks.

Yao Ming And Richard Branson Say No To Shark Fin Soup

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

International conservation organization WildAid, Chinese basketball star and WildAid Ambassador, Yao Ming, and leading Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yue have joined forces with British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson and his non-profit foundation Virgin Unite, in a global campaign to save sharks.

Branson and Yao have filmed public service announcements in support of WildAid’s shark campaign drawing attention to the increasing demand for shark fin soup and the devastating effect this demand is having on global shark populations. The messages will broadcast across national and international media via WildAid’s pro-bono media network, beginning today and are available at wildaid.org/sharks.

Yao Ming committed to stop eating shark fin soup in 2006 after learning of the cruel and wasteful practice of "’finning"’ and the threat of extinction facing many shark populations as a result of demand for their fins. He has been an Ambassador for WildAid’s shark campaign ever since. Yao says, “I urge China to lead by banning shark fin soup, and I urge business leaders to end the consumption of shark fin soup at business events. Unless we act now, we will lose many shark populations, impacting our oceans worldwide.”

Glee Star Supports Homeless Young People In London

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Glee star and Virgin Unite ambassador Cory Monteith, has visited Foyer Centre in London to meet with young people being supported by the charity, which provides affordable and safe accommodation linked to employment, training opportunities and a range of other services.

Cory Monteith spent time touring the centre, which provides safe accommodation for young people, to see the facilities that range from a training room with computers to allow for job searches to literacy and numeracy lessons to a canteen that offers meals and cooking lessons. Joined by a small group of residents who shared their stories and hopes for the future, Cory said, “It was great to meet such an inspiring group of young people. I’m impressed at how positive the group is despite facing so many challenges. They’re keen to move forward and gain the necessary skills needed to get their lives back on track.”

Kereice, who has been living at the Foyer centre for 18 months, said “I knew I wanted to get involved with event management and volunteered to get the skills needed and now feel more confident and now have a part time post with the Haze Young people’s centre. Cory’s words of encouragement have given us all a massive boost. It’s been a dream come true.”

Glee Star Helps Virgin Unite Find Special Youth Ambassadors

Thu, 26 May 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, and Glee star Cory Monteith have announced their search for six ‘special youth ambassadors’, who for three months will help promote the work of three youth charities that all support at-risk and homeless young people in the UK: Foyer Federation, The Albert Kennedy Trust and Depaul UK.

The six ambassadors chosen will also get the opportunity to meet Cory Monteith and join him for lunch at The Roof Gardens’ Babylon Restaurant in Kensington, London in June, 2011.

Virgin Unite ambassador Cory Monteith has supported the RE*Generation Movement in the US and Canada; a partnership with Virgin Unite and Virgin Mobile working with fantastic frontline organisations that support at-risk and homeless young people to build a brighter future.

Help Free The Children With Richard Branson

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:00:00 +0000

CharityBuzz.com is currently running a celebrity charity auction that will see two lucky people join Richard Branson at a special cocktail party in Miami on June 25.

According to the charity auction website: "Richard Branson is possibly the most-fascinating man of our time: entrepreneur, explorer, multi-billionaire. And every man on the street we asked in our informal public opinion poll of Branson’s image agrees — he seems a great guy, someone you’d love to have a beer with and hangout. Maybe it’s his disarming charm, likability and devilish smile. Being a committed environmentalist and philanthropist doesn’t hurt either.

“It would seem that with literally hundreds of business irons in the fire, charity and change for good might take a back seat. Not so. The list of well-organized and well-funded efforts for social good is substantial, and it’s no surprise that Branson’s entrepreneurial approach to social change means more bang for the buck, or pound as it were:

Join Richard Branson And Mario Batali For Celebrity Charity Dinner

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for foodies is on the celebrity charity auction block – an ultimate evening of glorious food, vintage wine and witty banter.

Sir Richard Branson and Mario Batali are auctioning the opportunity to join them for an intimate evening and sit down dinner for twenty at Mario’s new Italian born artisanal food and wine marketplace – Eataly – in New York City. The winner of the auction and a guest will experience dining at Eataly in one evening with Mario and Richard at their table.

Join Charlize Theron, The Dalai Lama And Richard Branson For Living Peace Talks

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Charlize Theron, Richard Branson and the Dalai Lama will take part in a special lecture series aimed at making the world healthy, sustainable and compassionate place.

Sponsored by UC Irvine and Center for Living Peace Orange County, the Living Peace Series will kick off on December 4 at the UCI Student Center with Charlize Theron, who will discuss the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project, which promotes safety and health among impoverished children and communities in South Africa – with a focus on those suffering from HIV/AIDS. There will also be a VIP event benefiting the outreach project.

Miranda Kerr Raises Awareness Of Birth Complications

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr is fronting a new campaign to raise awareness of a common birth complication.

The Virgin Unite Fight For Fistula campaign – launched at a Halloween event on Richard Branson’s Necker Island – aims to raise awareness of fistula, a condition caused by a hole in the birth canal.

“Fistula is caused when a woman endures a complicated, prolonged delivery without sufficient access to proper medical care,” says Miranda. “For the 3.5 million women suffering from Fistula the injuries leave them incontinent and in most cases their baby dies.”

Richard Branson To Rock The Kasbah With Celebrity Charity Event

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Sir Richard Branson will host his 4th annual Rock The Kasbah celebrity charity fundraising event in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 11.

With celebrity performers and guests such as Common, Colbie Caillat and Robin Thicke, the event will raise money for Virgin Unite and the Eve Branson Foundation, an organization set up by Sir Richard’s mother to help women in Morocco generate their own incomes to support their families.

As part of the event, CharityBuzz.com is currently hosting an auction with lots such as 7 nights accommodation on Sir Richard’s Necker Island, and the chance to name a Virgin America plane. Access the auction here.

Kate Winslet Launches Autism Charity

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Actress Kate Winslet has established a charity for those affected by autism.

The Oscar-winning star founded the Golden Hat Foundation – named after a poem by Keli Thorsteinsson – following her work on the documentary A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back To Autism.

“After watching the film A Mother’s Courage with my daughter one day, she turned to me and asked, ‘What if I wasn’t able to talk to you mummy?’,” says Winslet. “As I thought about what that meant, for a mother not to be able to talk with her own child, I realized that I had to lend my voice to raise awareness of this rapidly increasing disorder.”

Imogen Heap And Richard Branson Take Part In Charity Telethon For Pakistan

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:50:00 +0000

Join Imogen Heap, Sir Richard Branson and friends online, in a very spontaneous ‘get together’ with live music and open discussion, as they raise funds to benefit the victims of the recent devastating floods in Pakistan.

Hosted by Ze Frank, the online event will feature intimate musical performances by Imogen Heap, Ben Folds, Amanda Palmer, Kate Havnevik, KT Tunstall, Josh Groban, Kaki King, Zoe Keating and Mark Isham.

There will also be revealing conversations with Sir Richard Branson, Mary Robinson, Cameron Sinclair, Mark Pearson (live from Karachi), Gary Slutkin and Anders Wilhemlson. May well be more as the word spreads!

Richard Branson And Friends Complete London Marathon For Charity

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Richard Branson led his team in yesterday’s London Marathon to an outstanding result, raising huge amounts of money for charity.

The entrepreneur finished just behind Natalie Imbruglia in the race, which saw a total of 18 new world records – including the number of runners tied together. The human chain – which featured 34 people tied together by a bungee cord – included Princess Beatrice, the first member of the royal family to compete in the event.

The Princess – who completed the 26.2 mile course in 5 hours, 15 minutes and 57 seconds – was running to raise money for Children In Crisis, and joined other celebrities in Branson’s team including Jenni Falconer (CLIC Sargent and Virgin Unite), Lee Evans (Save the Children), Natalie Imbruglia (Virgin Unite), Lorraine Kelly (CLIC Sargent), Gordon Ramsay (Scottish Spina Bifida Association). Ramsay, however, did not complete the race – despite being a veteran of marathons in the UK and US.

Richard Branson To Attend BritWeek Charity Gala Tonight

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Richard Branson will be guest of honor at tonight’s (April 22) BritWeek 2010 Charity Event in Beverly Hills.

The celebrity businessman will join stars such as Nigel Lythgoe as they enjoy an evening of fun and entertainment – including a live performance by David Archuleta – to benefit Save the Children and Virgin Unite.

Emceed by June Sarpong, the Gala Dinner will feature a plethora of surprise celebrity guests, as well as a live auction that includes some once-in-a-lifetime travel packages.

Richard Branson And Celebrity Friends To Run London Marathon For Charity

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A huge number of celebrities have signed up with Richard Branson’s Virgin to run the 2010 London Marathon for charity.

The stars and famous faces are each running for the charity of their own choice. Confirmed to take part with Branson – who says he has been trying to train as much as he can – are Princess Beatrice (Children In Crisis), Jenni Falconer (CLIC Sargent and Virgin Unite), Lee Evans (Save the Children), Natalie Imbruglia (Virgin Unite), Lorraine Kelly (CLIC Sargent), Gordon Ramsay (Scottish Spina Bifida Association) and many more.

The marathon takes place on April 25, and you can help donate to the stars’ charity causes by logging on the VirginLondonMarathon.com website. You can also register to run the marathon yourself.

Jewel Gears Up To Perform Shows for Project Clean Water

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:07:00 +0000

Texas-based singer/songwriter Jewel has emerged back on the scene for a charitable cause, with two new scheduled performances in Nashville on April 28.

Proceeds from the show directly benefit Project Clean Water, a non-profit organization she founded in 1997 to help bring awareness to clean water shortages and raise money for the repair of water sources in poor areas all around the world.

Jewel’s Project Clean Water, together with Virgin Unite and the Voss Foundation have further joined efforts to create the “Give a Drop” campaign, which makes it easy to contribute $5 by texting DROP to 85944.

LTTS Exclusive - An Interview With Darren Darnborough

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Darren Darnborough is fast becoming one of the UK’s top actors – and his charity work makes him extra special.

He was born and raised in England, has appeared on several British television series – including “EastEnders,” “Holby City,” “The Bill,” and “Pie in the Sky” – and also appeared in several films such as “Gracie,” “The Car,” “Lost in Cannes” and “Nobody The Great.” The last of these films premiered in both Los Angeles and London, won the Viewers Voice Award for Best Film at Cinequest 2007 and earned director Kara Miller an award as one of the UK Film Council’s “Breakthrough Brits” of last year in Los Angeles, and has won several major awards.

Darren’s acting career began on stage, with lead roles in numerous new musicals at prestigious London venues, including Riverside Studios and Westminster Theatre. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts (with honors) from the University of London. He has also appeared in several major commercial campaigns for well-known brands such as Nestlé’s Golden Grahams, Dr. Pepper and Burger King. Darren now lives and works full-time as an actor and producer in Los Angeles. He is an entrepreneur and a philanthropist.

Richard Branson Rocks The Kasbah For Charity

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Richard Branson hosted his annual star-studded Rock The Kasbah charity event in Los Angeles last week.

The event attracted an amazing array of celebrities, including Lindsay Lohan, Sharon Stone, Paula Abdul, Daisy Fuentes, Jenna Elfman, Kristin Cavarlli, Matt Goss, Natasha Bedingfield, Gavin Rossdale and many others.

Proceeds from the evening went to Virgin Unite’s domestic and international programs, including the Eve Branson Foundation, set up by Sir Richard’s mother to help women in Morocco generate their own incomes to support their families.

Be An Intern For Richard Branson And Russell Simmons

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons has joined with British businessman Richard Branson to give you the Ultimate Intern Experience.

A new charity auction is giving you the chance to meet two of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and experience first hand how their companies operate, as well as having the opportunity of a week at each of their foundations – Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and Virgin Unite – to see how they are addressing tough social and environmental issues.

The lucky bidder will spend a total of six weeks learning the business skills that will give you an insight into the success of these great brands. One week at each of the following companies:

Exclusive Interview: Look To The Stars Talks To Eric Roberts

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Look To The Stars’ Michelle Vink was recently lucky enough to sit down with actor Eric Roberts and talk about his charitable influences.

The real Eric Roberts has a lot more heart than his mob boss character, Sal Maroni from The Dark Knight. I was pleasantly surprised to meet a sensitive tough guy who isn’t afraid to speak his mind or from his heart and cares as much about his family as his career. Sitting across from me was just the kind of guy that this city could use more of. He is a father that believes in his children and supports their dreams and ambitions, a husband that cannot stop praising his wife and mother in law and even credits them as being his inspiration and greatest influences in his life, and a celebrity that doesn’t just attach his name to a charity he believes in but becomes actively involved and wants to spread the word. This is my interview with the Eric Roberts a lot more people should know.

You have a very successful and accomplished career in Hollywood. What would you consider your greatest professional achievement?

Richard Branson's Rock The Kasbah Event Tonight

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:00:00 +0000

For once, Sir Richard Branson will not be on stage at his Virgin Unite charity’s Rock The Kasbah event in Los Angeles later tonight, October 23. The business mogul and adventurer is sea-bound in a bid to beat a transatlantic sailing record.

The event will instead be hosted by Dancing With The Stars’ Samantha Harris and will feature performances by Natalie Imbruglia and Island Def Jam recording artist Jon McLaughlin.

The night will include a Moroccan dinner and an auction of epic proportions that will include items such as the chance to stay at Branson’s luxury game park in South Africa, race an Astin Martin around the California, name one of Virgin’s new A320 Airbuses, spend a week on Branson’s Private Paradise in the Virgin Islands, and much more.