Look To The Stars News: Virgin Unite

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:

Virgin Mobile USA, Warren, NJ (near New York City)
Virgin Unite, the non profit foundation of the Virgin Group, New York City
Virgin America, San Francisco, including round-trip economy airfare from NYC to San Francisco and a week of accommodation at Clift San Francisco
Def Jam Enterprises, New York City
Rush Communications, New York City
Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, New York City

To meet Sir Richard Branson: On 26th October 2009, the intern and a guest will fly to LA, courtesy of Virgin America (round-trip economy), stay for two nights at the luxurious Mondrian Hotel and be VIP guests at the ‘Rock the Kasbah’ Fundraising Gala, hosted by Sir Richard Branson for Virgin Unite.

To meet Russell Simmons: the winner will get to meet him during their tenure at the Rush companies and will also have a lunch with him while in New York City.

The auction runs until July 28 and can be accessed here.

Exclusive Interview: Look To The Stars Talks To Eric Roberts

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

Written by Michelle Vink

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?

Probably winning the Theatre World award for “Burn This” on Broadway. But also that is also equal to my nomination for best newcomer at the Golden Globes. I didn’t win it but it was pretty exciting. And also achieving a voice where I can create awareness of things that are important in the world.

What do you consider your greatest personal achievement?

My family. I am just mad about my wife. She is my hero; she is all the things I want to be when grow up. Also anything to do with the kids – if I’ve inspired them or opened any doors for them. That would be Emma, Keaton and Morgan.

And he has every reason to be proud. His children are all on their personal journeys of success. His daughter, Emma Roberts, recently starred in Hotels for Dogs, his son Keaton is signed by CBS Records and is currently on tour, and his daughter Morgan has successfully launched her own catering company that caters to the stars.

Who has been the biggest influence in your personal life?

My biggest influence came late in my life. It is my one and only wife. I have been looking for an influence my whole life…. I have no sense of Self. I am an actor who lives through my work. But this relationship has made this better because I think so much of her and she thinks enough of me to have me that I must think a little more of myself. I cant say enough about my wife.

Who has been the biggest influence in your professional life?

That’s been my wife as well…and I do get thrilled when someone talented breaks through and I’d say new talent inspires me.

What inspired you to get involved in charity?

That’s a no-brainer. There’s a lot of work to do on this planet! I started to see a pattern. People who grew up around violence continue to create wars and violent environments.

I thought things needed to be nipped in the bud. We need to stop abusing kids, and that will bring us peace on the streets and on the planet everywhere. There is no need to yell at a child. You explain to the child instead of yelling or raising your voice. Even all the learning things can be cool.

What do you consider the most difficult point in your life? How did you overcome that and turn it into something positive?

I would get depressed sometimes for weeks when I saw sad things.

My wife realized how affected and closed down I would get by mankind’s conditions and gave me a mantra to live by: “When in doubt, give”.

Who inspires you the most now?

I am inspired by Carl Sagan, Andrew Weil, Helen Caldicott, my mother-in-law, longtime activist & award winning screenwriter, Lila Garrett… who has a radio show called Connect the Dots on KPFK 90.7 for any political novice to open your political point of view in an honest way. My mother-in-law is one of two smartest women I have ever kissed.

Anyone who stands for peace & pacifism is a hero of mine. Every child abuse intervention Eliza or I participate in inspires me.

Tell me about one of your most memorable moments involving charity or philanthropy.

This story is about abuse and how if you don’t do it, you don’t have to deal with it, but if it is done, it can be undone but it will be a lot of work. One of my favorite examples is this: the day my stepdaughter, Morgan Simons, brought home a broken and abused pitbull dexter that had been tied up so long outside that the rope had grown into his neck. She had rescued from the shelter in south central Los Angeles and wanted to fix him. He had been raised to kill and was broken emotionally and physically… so I let her have the dog and with the help of a great vet, she fixed this dog.

He is a madly loved member of our family now. It was years and thousands of hours of love that helped him.

Have you been successful at making any changes in Hollywood?

Absolutely. My wife always tries to get me to add a line in any part I play-even if it’s a bad guy. She always tries to give me a cool line about anti-child abuse but it usually ends up on the editing room floor. But we have managed to make the changes.

How would you work that into The Dark Knight?

[laughing] It doesn’t always work.

Why would you recommend for others to get involved in charity and philanthropy?

When you see the impact from the positive intervention and it helps you remember what life is all about. But you have to drop the bad guy routine… it’s better than any drug, drink or distraction.

Helping gives you an answer to the question about the purpose of life, as ridiculous as that sounds.

Has any of your work influenced your view of the world or society? What project and how?

I object to the violence in some of my films.

“It’s My Party” was important to me because I have a gay stepdaughter, and my heart breaks when I see that some of her friends’ families do the cruel thing of telling their kids they wouldn’t accept them being gay.

What would you like to see change about the world?

I would like to see peace and the elimination of all weapons.

I would like to see people feel secure enough so that they would not be prone to religious fanaticism.

I would like to see people stop speaking harshly to their children, and certainly the hitting of kids has to stop…. same with the treatment of animals.

On a closer scale, I would like to see my stepson, Keaton Simons,
find great success as a recording artist; and my stepdaughter to find great success as a caterer and chef.

What would you do to fix the issues?

I’d love for everyone to listen to the audio book, “The Natural Child”. It encompasses my entire philosophy.

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

I would gift everyone with “Natural Child”, and I would get Keaton’s music out there, because it is a message of love, patience, truth and support.

Why is it important for Hollywood to lead the way and set an example for advocacy and philanthropy?

Because Hollywood people are visible. We are out there to be seen. We are famous and people listen to our endorsements. If a celebrity says stop hitting kids, maybe one of their fans will stop hitting kids.

What advice could you give to your fans that are interested in getting involved in volunteer or charity work?

Go to naturalchild.org and contact Jan Hunt and see what they can do to help with her family-saving charity.

Let’s talk about The Natural Child Project. The vision of Natural Child project is to create a “world in which all children are treated with dignity, respect, understanding and compassion.” How do you think this is achieved? How can more people get involved?

Everyone needs to just try Jan’s methods of relating to their children, and call Jan’s counseling line if stressed. There is counseling available at: naturalchild.org/counseling/

The Natural Child project believes that “in such a world, every child can grow into adulthood with a generous capacity for love and trust.” How does this charity aid in this type of development? Why is this so important for the future of our country and the live of our children?

Thank you for researching Natural Child! If you read about the Nazis in the books of Alice Miller, you learn that those people became monsters due to having been abused as kids.

It’s a very serious issue with a very clear ounce of prevention solution.

What is your most memorable moment as a child or with a child? Has this affected your decision to get involved with natural child project or to be involved with children’s orphanages?

I’ve watched small children be berated with insults from parents they’re afraid of. You can watch the child’s mind twist under these conditions. I am determined to stop this from continuing to happen.

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

It makes me want to live.

Precious Paws is another charity that you support. Precious Paw’s primary purpose is to rescue and/or abandoned companion animals. Why did you become involved in this particular charity?

The person who runs Precious Paws used to work as my wife’s casting assistant in TV and movies. She left the business to personally vet and care for animals. She gave up her life to help animals and she is a really groovy chick.

What should people reach out to Precious Paws over some of the better-known animal rescues?

Some of the rescue organizations or other charities have a lot of money and support already…. and then you have someone like Georgyne at Precious Paws who literally goes into the pounds and takes home animals and has to figure out how to feed them. She has vet skills, so she does her own neutering and spaying and does everything she can but she needs help.

Their website is preciouspaws.com and they need volunteers, foster homes and donations. It’s like the Obama campaign. You don’t have to send in big money…. send in $2, $3, $5 …that feeds a dog for several days. Do that. That is cool.

What is one of your most memorable moments with Precious Paws or with a companion animal?

Watching inventor Jon Hoffman’s dog transform from a terrified little creature to a furry ball of love. He had rescued a bijan and this dog was shaking and making noises and now he is a social fairy tale of a dog.

You have been involved in philanthropy and charity for some time. Tell me about some of the other charities or philanthropic efforts you have been involved in.

Several years ago, I visited an orphanage in Moscow. I am a huge star in Russia and it blows my mind. So I go to this orphanage and they all know me from one of my earlier movies, “The Best of the Best.” I bought them shoes and would like to think I gave them hope. “He is just a guy and I could be like him”. It is important to have hope when some of those orphans will never leave the home and will be on the street at 17.

These are some of the other charities that Eric and his wife support:

Tails of Joy with Elayne Boosler
Donate for Life
Prevent Child Abuse America
K9’s Rock
Best Friends Animal Society
Animal Alliance
Save Darfur Coalition
New Leash on Life
www.drawingdreams.org
www.childfriendly.org (child friendly initiative)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Virgin Unite
ONE Campaign

Eric and his wife also support charities involving organ donation or stem cell research.

Give me an example of how now, more than ever, we need to support each other and work for change in the world?

We are at a time right now because of our past administration, that either we work together or we mess it up. Either we act as a unit or we keep being greedy and selfish. we are all in this together.

Obama is a together guy with no alternative motive, I believe… this guy just wants to be a good leader and I want to help him any way he will let me.

People are homeless. They are scared and in agony and at odds with each other. We need to reverse that!

Despite all the time Eric dedicates to philanthropy and family, he still manages a successful career in Hollywood. His latest movie, Project Solitude – in which he plays a sociology professor who takes 6 students out to the woods to show them how they react with stress and monitors their unraveling, will be released next year.
It seems that if a tough guy celebrity like Eric Roberts can manage to do all of this charity and family stuff and still come out looking like a tough guy, then maybe philanthropy isn’t for just the ladies who lunch after all.

Look To The Stars would like to extend their warmest gratitude to Eric Roberts for taking the time to talk to us.

Richard Branson's Rock The Kasbah Event Tonight

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

Proceeds from the evening will go 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, and the REGeneration initiative in the US, which helps homeless young people.

Last year’s Rock The Kasbah event – which Sir Richard described as “one of the best parties I’ve ever been to” – was attended by a who’s who of the celebrity world, including Jewel, Rachel Hunter, and Buzz Aldrin.

More information about the event – which will be held at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel – can be found at the Rock The Kasbah website.

Edited on 24 Oct to reflect Branson’s unexpected non-attendance.

Celebrity Auctions Kick Off The New Year

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:24:10 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The new year has kicked off with a flurry of celebrity charity auctions, with items for sale to benefit a plethora of worthwhile causes and issues.

The American Civil Liberties Union is a national organization that advocates individual rights by litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad range of issues, including free speech, AIDS, human rights, racism, and more. The Southern California branch of ACLU has launched an auction on www.charityfolks.com to raise much-needed funds.

Items up for auction until January 3 include lunch with Jake Gyllenhaal on the set of his new film, a framed and autographed art print by Viggo Mortensen, the chance to dine with Harry Belafonte or Mike Farrell, a signed T shirt and photo from Danny Glover, and original artwork from singer Maria McKee, and an autographed copy of Corinne Bailey Rae’s single, “I’d Like To”.

Also up for auction on the Charity Folks website are 12 twelve very special packages to see Hilary Duff in concert. VIP tickets and the chance to go backstage to meet the young diva are included, and the concerts are being held across the US, Mexico, and Australia.

Proceeds from the auction will go to Blessings in a Backpack, a program run by USA Harvest to generate public awareness of child hunger. The organization will use the money to assist in providing weekend meals to needy children and ensure that their nutritional requirements are met. The auction runs until January 25.

Virgin Unite has put several items up for auction, including a leather jacket designed and signed by Jon Bon Jovi, a guitar autographed by Jewel, and a cymbal signed by members of the Beastie Boys.

Virgin Unite is the non-profit entrepreneurial foundation of the Virgin Group, established by Richard Branson as a catalyst for business based solutions to social and environmental problems. The auction ends on January 3.

Artists for a New South Africa is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 to advance human rights in Africa, and now encompasses a whole raft of issues, including the fight against AIDS, assisting children orphaned by AIDS, and educating and empowering youth. They are offering some incredible items for auction until January 18, including original Star Wars comics signed by Samuel L. Jackson, a signed photo of ex-X Files star Gillian Anderson, and signed CDs from Mandy Moore.

And finally, the Friends and Helpers Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists victims of domestic violence, is auctioning items such as a Red Hot Chili Peppers poster signed by bass player Flea, a signed photo of Donald Trump, a flag autographed by Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan, and a guitar signed by LeAnn Rimes.

2008 looks set to be the year of celebrity giving.

Richard Branson's African War Room

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:08:42 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Sir Richard Branson is directing attention towards Africa’s medical crisis. Branson’s Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of the Virgin group, has formed a new “war room” to research worthwhile practices on the continent and make them cost-effective. They have already sought out the ‘best of the best’ grassroots charitable organizations to help them.

Branson is no stranger to solving problems in unusual ways. His Heavens Angels program, launched last June, sends “health workers on motorbikes into remote areas to deliver medication, materials and advice.”

Thousands of people die everyday in Sub-Saharan Africa from diseases that could be prevented or at least treated if patients had better access to healthcare. Heaven’s Angels is addressing this, and the program’s unconventionality is generating funding and awareness.

In a recent interview with the Globe & Mail, Sir Richard stated that Virgin Unite “has just built a big clinic in South Africa for AIDS patients … [but] you can’t generate wealth and donations for something like that.”

Through their fundraising efforts, Virgin was able to donate a fleet of 31 bikes to Heaven’s Angels. Besides delivering healthcare workers to distant areas and transporting ill people for treatment, the motorbikes will also be used on days off for other ventures in an effort to generate income and, hopefully, bring new services into the communities.

Richard Branson Attends Virgin Festival in Baltimore

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:55:09 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Soaring temperatures of over 100°F did not stop 80,000 music lovers from attending a massive two-day charity concert held at the Pimlico Raceway in Baltimore on August 4 and 5. The Baltimore Virgin Festival was part of a series of concerts being held this year, partly organized by Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin brand.

Concert goers were treated to performances by 40 groups and artists, including Sting and The Police, Ben Harper, The Beastie Boys, Iggy Pop, and The Smashing Pumpkins. $1.50 from every ticket sold was donated directly to Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of the Virgin Group, dedicated to “tackling some of the tougher social challenges by uniting people and Virgin’s global resources.”

The concert also featured a huge tent village which housed a mall of philanthropy booths, where concert attendees could find out more about non-profit organizations such as Oxfam, The Living Classrooms Foundation (which uses maritime settings to train at-risk youth), StandUp For Kids (which helps homeless children), and Youth Noise (a website where teens can talk about significant issues and raise money for their chosen causes).

Branson joined actress Daryl Hannah at the event, and stated that the festivities were extremely eco-friendly, with 99% of the fuels used to power the concert being the cleanest biofuel available.

The Virgin Festival in Baltimore followed a similar concert held in Vancouver in May, and the next event will be in Toronto in September.

Also rocking out on August 4 and 5 was another huge concert, the Lollapalooza Festival, an annual event founded in 1991. 165,000 people crammed Grant Park in Chicago to see 140 acts, including Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, and Snow Patrol. A portion of every ticket sale went to the Parkways Foundation, a non-profit organization working with the Chicago Park District.

Jewel in the Water

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 11:18:16 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Singer-songwriter and sometime-actor Jewel is refocusing her near decade-long, discrete charitable activities towards a more effective, higher profile partnership with Virgin Unite and its British billionaire boss Sir Richard Branson.

Jewel established Higher Ground for Humanity, whose main focus is Project Clean Water, in 1999. The Project organizes teams of scientists and engineers to bring safe, clean drinking water to impoverished communities throughout the world. It has assisted thousands of people in a dozen countries.

The singer realized through talks with Sir Branson that she could be doing much more for the cause, so she performed last week at a show to benefit Virgin Unite’s charitable projects in Morocco, where clean water is also the central issue. “A lot of clean water around the world is getting bought up privately; it costs more than oil,” she says.

Clinton, Foxx Speak Against HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:22:10 -0000

Written by Nadia Lias

One might not expect a politician and an award-winning entertainer to have much in common, but former US President Bill Clinton and actor/singer Jamie Foxx speak the same language when it comes to active involvement in fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis & malaria. The two shared the stage during the Annual Global Business Coalition Gala on June 13th at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The award Gala is held annually to recognise companies and people who demonstrate action and commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Among the 700-plus guests were political leaders, celebrated entertainers, public heath experts and CEOs of member companies as well as NBA stars Dikembe Mutombo and Samuel Dalembert. Sir Richard Branson was one of the evening’s featured speakers, and discussed the commitment of his Virgin Unite to eradicating the HIV virus.

Jamie Foxx and HBO co-president Richard Plepler presented the premier of Test America, a Public Service Announcement campaign produced in conjunction with the National Basketball Association, GBC, and the Kaiser Family Foundation to educate millions of at-risk Americans about the need to get tested for HIV. Audiences were entertained when Foxx joined DJ Doug. E. Fresh in an impromptu rap, chanting “we’re here to fight H-I-V” with the spectators.

Bill Clinton was honoured with an award for his outstanding action and commitment towards the Global Business Coalition’s fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis & malaria. During his speech at the Gala, he commended Foxx, Doug E. Fresh, and members of the National Basketball Association for taking part in the inspiring Test America PSA campaign. He then thanked GBC for bringing a committed group of leading private-sector executives and NGOs to tackle three global epidemics. He later urged the executives to work together to do what is right: fight for equality for all people, and fight to end the three diseases.

The night left a clear message in mind that it is everybody’s responsibility to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis & malaria. To quote one of the evening’s speakers, Ophelia Haanyama Orum – HIV-positive author of the book “True to Myself”: – “Open your eyes, open your minds, and open your hearts. Walk with me, and continue your work to make a positive difference for people with HIV.”

Mandela, Clinton Auction Star Encounters For Charity

Tue, 15 May 2007 09:33:37 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Fancy tea with Nelson Mandela? Or how about an African safari and passing a bit of time with Sir Richard Branson at a Virgin Unite project? Or if you prefer to spend your time on the green, a round of golf with Samuel L. Jackson at Leopard Creek Country Club could be the epitome of a truly Priceless Moment.

These are just three of the amazing lots up for bid in the MasterCard Priceless Moments Auction on eBay. The auction was brought about by Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton after both leaders visited the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa, where children with cardiac problems from all over the continent are treated. They hope to intensify the vision of Mandela’s late friend and mentor, Mr. Walter Sisulu, to care for and nurture the children of South Africa.

Seven charities will benefit from the auction, with the funds going to provide safe havens and hope for thousands of African children. The charities include the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa, the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC), the South African Red Cross, Cotlands, Reach For A Dream Foundation, Ithemba Trust and St. Mary’s Hospital.

Bidding began on May 14th, and goes through May 24th. To view the complete list of lots and place a bid, go to the Mastercard Priceless Moments page on eBay.

Look To The Stars News: Virgin Unite

Richard Branson Rocks The Kasbah For Charity

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Exclusive Interview: Look To The Stars Talks To Eric Roberts

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Richard Branson's Rock The Kasbah Event Tonight

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