Look To The Stars News: Second Harvest

Jon Lovitz Leads Silly Walks For Charity

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

October 2009 marked the beginning of the 40th Anniversary year for the classic comedy team Monty Python, and comedian Jon Lovitz is spearheading a charity event to celebrate.

Fans of spam, dead parrots, lumberjacks and the Spanish Inquisition (“Nobody ever expects the Spanish Inquisition!”) will flock to the first ever Silly Walks For Hunger event on November 19, which will give fans and fun-seekers an opportunity to show off their own “silly walks” while participating in a world-class live production—and all for a good cause: hunger relief.

“I have been a Monty Python fan for years,” said Jon Lovitz, who in May opened his own comedy club in the heart of Universal CityWalk, and who will act as the Minister of SillyWalks for the day. “We’ll be doing good by behaving silly… what a great way to honor their work. It’s perfect!”

SillyWalks for Hunger aims to “raise enough awareness, food and money for 1,000,000 meals to be provided to families, children and elderly in L.A. and across the nation this holiday season.” Supporters can text the word “FEED” to 90999 to make a $5 donation – they will be donating the equivalent of approximately 20 meals towards meeting the goal.

The Monty Python team originally featured John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Graham Chapman.

Beneficiaries of SillyWalks for Hunger will be Feeding America, the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, and Global FoodBanking Network.

Registration for the event – which starts at the Universal CityWalk on Thursday – starts at 5:30pm. Bring a bag of non-perishable food to enter. For more info, click here.

Christmas Charity Singles Hit The Market

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It’s that time year again – a new wave of charity singles are about to hit the market to spread goodwill in the Christmas season.

Leading the pack this year is a new single from Eric Clapton recorded with Paul Stewart – eldest son of Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart – called “Fly Free.”

Recorded in honour of the racing legend’s 70th birthday, the song will be released on 15 November 2009. All proceeds will be donated to the Grand Prix Mechanics’ Charitable Trust, an organization founded by Sir Jackie Stewart and others more than 20 years ago that assists Grand Prix, former Grand Prix mechanics, their wives, widows and children in times of need.

Also available is a charity single by veteran British television and radio presenter Terry Wogan, who has released a version of The Beatles’ classic All You Need Is Love for Children in Need.

And for lovers of classic artists, don’t forget Bob Dylan’s charity Christmas album available right now. The album came out last month and benefits Feeding America and the World Food Programme.

Billy Ray Cyrus Swaps Sandwiches For Charity

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Earlier this year, Look To The Stars brought you news about Billy Ray Cyrus’ sandwich swap initiative for Feeding America.

For every sandwich created on Hellmann’s page on Facebook (Facebook.com/hellmanns), Hellmann’s and Best Foods donated 7 lunches to Feeding America. Creating a sandwich automatically entered participants for a chance to win a $250 grocery store gift certificate. And for every friend on Facebook that you shared your sandwich with, Hellmann’s donated an additional 7 lunches to the charity. There was also a special eBay auction where the highest bidder won the opportunity to swap a real life sandwich with Cyrus backstage just before his concert in Niceville, Florida.

We can now bring you a photo of the winning bidders, Zachary Plastina, 10, and his mother Carolyn McKelvy, and announce that over 700,000 lunches were donated through the program.

Charlize Theron Kisses For Charity Cash

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

ONEXONE, the charitable organization committed to fighting health issues and preserving the lives of children locally and globally, hosted their 2nd Annual ONEXONE Fundraiser at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco, CA on Thursday, October 22.

Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron, Jeremy Piven, Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, David Arquette, Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra, Laila Ali and more helped raise funds and awareness for charitable causes.

The evening featured keynote speaker Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America, along with a special headline performance from Snow Patrol. Additional entertainment included performances by Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Spencer Day, the local jazz vocalist from San Francisco, and Ethan Bortnick, the 8-year old pianist and composer who wrote his own song “It’s For the Kids” in honor of the event. ONEXONE also welcomed back Jay Bilas for his second year as Master of Ceremonies.

Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron, on behalf of the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project, and 2-time World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Mia Hamm also announced the latest initiative “Home Field Advantage” in partnership with ONEXONE and Academy Award-winner Matt Damon which will bring soccer fields and clean water to the children of South Africa by 2010. The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and the ONEXONE Foundation will work together on this initiative to bolster impoverished rural South African communities with plans to break ground by the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The highlight of the evening came during the live auction when Charlize Theron helped auction off a two-week trip to South Africa for the World Cup plus a kiss from her for $140,000. Jeremy Piven also jumped onstage during the live auction and encouraged two guests to bid $140,000 each for a walk-on roll on the hit HBO show “Entourage” for a total of $280,000.

“The night was a huge success and we’d like to thank the generous people of San Francisco for their continued support,” said Marc Joubert, President of ONEXONE U.S.

The ONEXONE event in San Francisco focuses not only on raising funds and awareness for the issues, but also on producing a top-notch show that entertains and educates the audience at the same time. ONEXONE was founded in 2005 by Diesel Canada President, Joelle Berdugo Adler, and has raised more than $9 million for children around the world since that time.

ONEXONE Prepares For Star-Studded Fundraiser

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

ONEXONE, a charitable organization committed to fighting health issues and preserving the lives of children locally and globally, will host the 2nd Annual ONEXONE Fundraiser at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco, CA on Thursday, October 22.

Academy Award-winner Matt Damon will be the ambassador for the evening, which features keynote speaker Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America and Master of Ceremonies Jay Bilas. The annual fundraiser will announce details surrounding the organization’s latest program in partnership with ONEXONE Ambassadors Matt Damon and Mia Hamm, and Academy-Award winner Charlize Theron and the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project.

The evening will include a special headline performance by Snow Patrol, along with musical performances by Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, local San Francisco jazz musician Spencer Day and 8-year old pianist and composer Ethan Bortnick, along with other special guests.

ONEXONE is a unique umbrella organization that partners with talented and dedicated NGOs to implement specific programs which align with its mission statement – the alleviation of suffering of children locally and globally – and important programs targeted to health, education, self-esteem and dignity. Through its ongoing campaigns, the ONEXONE foundation is committed to supporting, preserving and improving the lives of children at home and around the world. ONEXONE was founded in 2005 by Diesel Canada President, Joelle Berdugo Adler.

Friends Stars Revive Smelly Cat For Charity

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of the long-running TV show Friends were in for a treat earlier this week when two of the sitcom’s stars performed “Smelly Cat” at a charity concert to raise money for Feeding America.

Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow were onstage at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 29, to announce Sheryl Crow, who was performing at the Rock a Little, Feed a Lot concert. But when the audience started calling out for the Smelly Cat song – a classic ditty sung regularly by Phoebe (Kudrow) in the show – the two stars couldn’t resist.

The concert – which also featured Ben Harper, Benji and Joel Madden and many others – aimed help raise awareness and funds for the 35 million people who are at risk of hunger in America.

“It is so important for everyone across the country to dare to be conscious and aware of the struggles of those around them—even if those struggles are not the same as their own. Feeding America does just that, and it’s a great privilege for me to unite with them in their cause,” said Sheryl Crow.

“Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” is one of many initiatives in the works for Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month and benefited both Feeding America and its local member, the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.

To watch a video of Lisa Kudrow singing Smelly Cat at the concert, click here.

Matt Damon Announces 2nd Annual ONEXONE Fundraiser In San Francisco

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0000

ONEXONE – the charitable organization committed to fighting health issues and preserving the lives of children locally and globally – along with Academy Award-winner Matt Damon, will host their 2nd Annual ONEXONE Fundraiser at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco, CA on Thursday, October 22.

The evening will feature keynote speaker Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America, along with a special headline performance from Snow Patrol, who is coming off their highly successful solo tour in the U.S. and recent sold-out tour with U2. Additional speakers and entertainment include Carlos Santana on behalf of The Milagro Foundation, Spencer Day, a local jazz vocalist from San Francisco, and Ethan Bortnick, the 8-year old pianist and composer. ONEXONE will also welcome back Jay Bilas for his second year as Master of Ceremonies.

In addition, the annual fundraiser will announce details surrounding the organizations latest program in partnership with ONEXONE Ambassadors Matt Damon and Mia Hamm, and Academy-Award winner Charlize Theron and the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project. The partnership between ONEXONE and the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project pools their resources and combines their dedications in a new and unique charitable initiative that will be unveiled at the October 22 fete.

“We feel lucky to be able to bring this event back to San Francisco after such a successful launch last year,” said Marc Joubert, President of ONEXONE U.S. “It’s a great city and the people of San Francisco are so generous, they genuinely care about the issues and are committed to helping make a difference. We’re also excited to come back and unveil a brand new initiative that will make this year’s event even bigger and better than last year’s.”

The ONEXONE event in San Francisco focuses not only on raising funds and awareness for the issues, but also on producing a top-notch show that entertains and educates the audience at the same time. Last year’s inaugural event to celebrate the launch of their U.S. operation, and the international charity’s first American home, did just that while raising more than $1 million for the organization. ONEXONE was founded in 2005 by Diesel Canada President, Joelle Berdugo Adler, and has raised more than $7 million for children around the world since that time.

For more information on ONEXONE please visit www.onexone.org.

David Arquette Drives Out Hunger With Cheesecakes

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor David Arquette was out and about for charity last week.

The Scream star is a spokesperson for the Cheesecake Factory’s Drive Out Hunger Tour, an initiative visiting 30 cities in 30 days this month. The actor drove a through Los Angeles collecting donations for the charity tour and visited the set of Cougar Town, where his wife Courteney Cox was shooting her new ABC TV series. She and her co-star Busy Philipps donated cans of soup in exchange for slices of red velvet cheesecake. Arquette then visited a nearby studio where Zach Braff was filming Scrubs.

The tour is heading across the U.S. in a bid to collect 100,000 cans of soup to support local food banks. For every 2 cans of soup you donate, the Cheesecake Factory will give you:

A complimentary slice of Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake – for the first 500 guests who donate two cans of soup.
A special gift to use on a future visit to The Cheesecake Factory for every guest who donates.
Being a part of the bigger picture by getting an official ‘Drive Out Hunger’ Tour photo taken and uploaded to our Photo Mosaic page online.
Live radio remotes featuring your favorite local radio station personalities and music.

The tour is being run in association with Feeding America. To find out when it is visiting a city near you, click here.

Crow, Harper, Madden and Lang Will Rock a Little, Feed a Lot

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:44:00 -0000

Feeding America has announced that Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte and Jonny Lang will all perform at their “Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” concert.

The concert will take place on Tuesday, September 29th at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, to help raise awareness and funds for the 35 million people who are at risk of hunger in America. Tickets for “Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

Celebs confirmed to be a part of the event include David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and others. Adam Shankman, producer and director of “Step Up,” “Hairspray,” “Bringing Down the House,” and “17 Again” is directing the event. Proceeds of the concert will go to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank and Feeding America.

“Rock a Little, Feed a Lot” is one of many initiatives in the works for Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month and will benefit both Feeding America and its local member, the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. Hunger Action Month, formed to help those in need, bloomed from a day of service into a month-long campaign as the economy has taken a turn for the worse and the demand for food assistance has increased.

“Many Americans are unaware of the great demand for food assistance throughout the country. The need for food assistance nationwide has increased 30 percent throughout the last year and in many communities the increase is much higher,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “We are excited to team up with so many talented artists to shed light on Hunger Action Month and the issue of hunger in America.”

“We are so grateful for the generous support of these artists — and residents of Los Angeles — for their time and efforts to raise awareness about hunger in America,” said Michael Flood, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. “The agencies we serve are experiencing unprecedented demand for food assistance and this event will help shine the bright spotlight of the entertainment community on the issue of hunger in America.”

To take part or learn what is going on in your community during Hunger Action Month, please visit: www.FeedingAmerica.org

About the Los Angeles Area Foodbank
The Los Angeles Regional Foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 1973 and is one of the largest food banks in the United States. Through a network of 900 charitable agency sites, the Foodbank distributes more than 1 million pounds of food every week in Los Angeles County. The Foodbank is affiliated with Feeding America. For more information, visit www.lafoodbank.org.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Our mission is to feed hungry Americans through a nationwide network of 205 food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. Each year Feeding America provides food assistance to more than 25 million people, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors, distributing more than 2 billion pounds of donated food annually. The Feeding America network supports approximately 63,000 local agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafes and Backpack Programs.

Bob Dylan’s Christmas Album to Aid the Hungry

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:27:00 -0000

Written by Emily Ray

Folk rock legend Bob Dylan hopes to announce that ‘Times They Are A Changin’ as he endeavours to raise money for Feeding America through the release of a new Christmas album.

All American royalties will be forwarded to the charity, which is the country’s leading domestic hunger relief charity, assisting more than 25 million low income people in the United States. Further hunger relief organisations around the world will also benefit from proceeds from the CD.

Dylan told www.feedingamerica.org: “It’s a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone -12 million of those children – often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from. I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season.”

The album, entitled ‘Christmas in the Heart’, will feature Dylan’s versions of classics including ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’. For the perfect Christmas stocking gift with a conscience, you can buy the album from October 13th.

Billy Ray Cyrus Supports Sandwich Swap

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:30:00 -0000

Remember sitting down at the lunch table and tearing into your lunch box only to find that the kid next to you had a much better-looking sandwich? The only thing to do in that situation was to initiate a trade.

The return of the back-to-school season still means, for many, a return to the inevitable sandwich swap. This season, Hellmann’s and Best Foods Mayonnaise have teamed up with musician and actor Billy Ray Cyrus to encourage people of all ages to celebrate their favorite childhood ritual and join the virtual Sandwich Swap ‘n’ Share program to support Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

For every sandwich created on Hellmann’s page on Facebook (Facebook.com/hellmanns), Hellmann’s and Best Foods will donate 7 lunches to Feeding America. Creating a sandwich will automatically enter participants for a chance to win a $250 grocery store gift certificate. And for every friend on Facebook that you share your sandwich with, Hellmann’s will donate an additional 7 lunches to the charity.

“I am so honored that Hellmann’s asked me to be part of this great project,” remarked Billy Ray Cyrus. “You can’t find a bigger sandwich fan than me — I’m just a real food, real sandwich man. The best part of the whole program is that we’ll hopefully inspire folks to join the effort to end hunger by supporting Feeding America; I can’t think of a more worthy cause.”

In addition to the Facebook application, fans of Billy Ray Cyrus can participate in an eBay charity auction presented by Hellmann’s and Best Foods where the highest bidder will win the opportunity to swap a real life sandwich with Cyrus backstage just before his concert in Niceville, Florida. All of the proceeds from the auction will also support Feeding America.

“We’re so excited to be joined by Billy Ray Cyrus in this effort. We loved the idea of marrying the universality of childhood sandwich swapping with an action that supports a great cause like Feeding America,” said James Fish, Senior Brand Manager, Hellmann’s and Best Foods. “It just made perfect sense for us to go down this path; Hellmann’s has always been about real food with real simple ingredients like eggs, oil, and vinegar and you can’t get more ‘real’ than a great sandwich!”

The virtual Sandwich Swap ‘n’ Share is part of the “Hellmann’s Build the Perfect Sandwich” campaign, through which Hellmann’s and Best Foods embarked upon the second year of its partnership with critically acclaimed chef, restaurateur, author and TV personality Bobby Flay to show America how to build the perfect sandwich for any occasion, mood or personality.

The program features an interactive site www.BuildThePerfectSandwich.com with a “sandwich recommender,” which requires visitors to answer six simple questions that measure current mood, habits and what’s happening in their lives. From there, the site tabulates the results and recommends the perfect sandwich recipe. The site also includes several recipes that offer a “twist” to everyday favorites like the cheddar-apple ham and cheese sandwich and the avocado tuna melt. Visitors can enjoy how-to videos and tutorials featuring Bobby Flay, sandwich-making tips, recipes and more.

Major League Baseball Ventures Beyond The Diamond For Charity

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

Major League Baseball recently completed the 80th run of its annual All Star Week.

The “Going Beyond” theme of this year’s event was achieved when the league collected more than $7 million in donations to charitable organizations. The events were held during and leading up to the midsummer ritual and included an All-Star Workout Day in St. Louis’ Busch Stadium.

MLB Charities and Cardinals Care plan to distribute approximately $5 million to various local and national charities. The proceeds will be allotted to the following organizations: Stand Up To Cancer, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America, Feeding America, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Teach For America.

Other supporting organizations include Bank of America, MasterCard, Holiday Inn, State Farm, and Anheuser-Busch. With friends like these, next year’s All-Star week will be even more successful!

Samantha Harris Launches Charity Auction On Broadway

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Dancing With The Stars’ Samantha Harris is celebrating her Broadway debut by launching a charity auction.

In celebration of her Broadway debut in “Chicago” as Roxie Hart, Harris proud to offer an amazing New York experience.

The winner of this Broadway package will receive:

2 complimentary tickets for “Chicago” during Ms. Harris’ last performance on Sunday, August 16 at 7 p.m. at the Ambassador Theatre (219 West 49th Street, New York).
1 night complimentary hotel accommodations at The Time Hotel (224 West 49th Street, New York)
Complimentary cocktails for 2 at Inc Lounge in the Time Hotel
Complimentary dinner for 2 at Serafina Restaurant in the Time Hotel
“Chicago” step-and-repeat board (8′×8′) autographed by Ms. Harris and her “Chicago” cast mates.

The proceeds of the auction will go to Feeding America, an organization that distributes food and grocery products through a nationwide certified member network, increases public awareness of domestic hunger and advocates for public policies that benefit America’s hungry.

To access the auction, which runs until August 2, click here.

Bruno Signs Bowl For Hunger Charity

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bruno is currently the #1 film in America, and the man himself wants to do his best to feed the hungry.

The Austrian supermodel, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, has autographed a bowl to support Feeding America’s “Fill A Bowl, Feed America” campaign.

Bruno signed the bowl when he stopped off to meet David Arquette, who is currently living in a plexiglass box above Madison Square Garden to raise awareness of the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. The charity’s mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage the US in the fight to end hunger. Each year, the Feeding America network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors.

The auction runs until July 20 and can be accessed here.

David Arquette To Live In Box For The Hungry

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor and World Hunger activist David Arquette is to live in a plastic box in New York City to help raise money for the hungry.

The 37-year-old plans to stay in a plexiglass box above the Madison Square Garden marquee for about eight hours each day on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Arquette is aiming to raise $250,000 for Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief charity. Donations can be made via a special Facebook page set up by Snickers, who are sponsoring the stunt. Until September 7, Snickers will donate $1 for every person to join the Facebook page, and also match every dollar donated by supporters.

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms.

Beyoncé Lends a Helping Hand to Charity

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:29:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

Beyoncé Knowles, Hamburger Helper, and Feeding America are working together to supply more than 3.5 million meals to local food banks.

The “Show Your Helping Hand” hunger relief initiative launched at Madison Square Garden on June 22nd. Beyoncé is an active promoter of the campaign and has filmed a commercial for the humanitarian cause.

Fans of the diva can aid the initiative by visiting the site ShowYourHelpingHand.com. Visitors of the site can make a monetary donation, or submit codes worth 18 cents each from specially marked packages of Hamburger Helper. Concert-attending fans can donate non-perishable groceries at U.S. tour concert stops.

Feeding America maintains a nationwide network of over 200 food banks and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. With Beyoncé’s help, the company aims to continue their remarkable track record.  

Dean Cain Spearheads Microsoft Charity Campaign

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

More than 17 million children in the U.S. receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch at their local public schools; as schools close for the summer, these children lose access to those programs. In response, Microsoft and Feeding America are joining forces to fight hunger in the United States through the “Browser for the Better” campaign.

For every completed download of Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft’s Browser for the Better campaign will donate the financial equivalent of eight meals to Feeding America’s network of 206 local food banks, which supplies food to more than 25 million Americans each year.

Spearheading the campaign is a series of viral videos starring television star Dean Cain and directed by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait.

“This summer, millions of families throughout the U.S. are living on the brink of hunger. Demand for food is higher than it has been in decades. The Browser for the Better campaign is both raising awareness of hunger and giving people an easy opportunity to help their neighbors at no cost to them. It’s a win-win arrangement for Microsoft, Feeding America and people all across the country,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

The Browser for the Better campaign kicked off yesterday at New York City’s Time Warner Center and San Francisco’s Justin Herman Plaza. Artists at each location used food cans to sculpt the likenesses of the Empire State Building and Golden Gate Bridge, respectively. The cans of food will be donated to the Food Bank For New York City, City Harvest in New York, and the San Francisco Food Bank, all members of Feeding America.

“Our customers have told us they want to have an impact in the lives of their friends and neighbors,” said Amy Barzdukas, senior director for Internet Explorer at Microsoft. “The Browser for the Better campaign is all about making it easy for people to make a real difference. Not only are they contributing to their community, they’re getting a more secure, modern browser designed for the way people browse the Internet today.”

Wayans Brothers Launch Charity Auction

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Catrina K. Sally

The Wayans Brothers are well known for their numerous contributions to the comedy world. In addition to keeping fans of the spoofing genre in stitches, the siblings are donating their designer stitches including shirts, jeans, jackets, and sweaters to benefit children’s charities.

The NorthStar Moving Corporation and Clothes Off Our Back Foundation are collaborating with the comedy family to auction off their charitable goods. Bids can be placed at the Foundation’s site until Tuesday, June 9th at 5 p.m. PDT. All proceeds will directly benefit Feeding America (previously America’s Second Harvest), The Art of Elysium, Hope North, and H.E.L.P. Malawi.

NorthStar Moving Corporation, “the leading eco-luxury mover in California,” collects donations from celebrity patrons and delivers the charitable items to auctions sponsored by The Clothes off Our Back Foundation. All proceeds benefit various children’s charities. Other celebrity supporters include Akon, Jessica Alba, Beyoncé Knowles and Scarlett Johansson.

Letter Carriers Launch Food Drive With Celebrity PSAs

Thu, 07 May 2009 12:30:00 -0000

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has announced that the nation’s largest food drive to combat hunger will be conducted this year on Saturday, May 9. On that day, letter carriers will collect non-perishable donations from homes as they deliver mail along their postal routes.

The 17th annual NALC National Food Drive to “Stamp Out Hunger” is the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Carriers collected a record 73.1 million pounds of food in last year’s drive. The drive is held annually on the second Saturday in May in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Donations will be collected by more than 1,400 local branches of the 300,000-member postal union and delivered to food banks, pantries and shelters that serve the communities where they are collected. Assisting in the effort are rural letter carriers and other postal employees, as well as members of other unions and thousands of civic volunteers.

NALC President William H. Young emphasized that as successful as the food drive has been in the past, it simply must be even better this year.

“Millions and millions of families are suffering – struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table,” Young said. “More than ever food banks, pantries and shelters need our help this year. As families count on them for support, they’re counting on us and we must not back off on our commitment.”

Young also noted that donations are particularly critical at this time since most school lunch programs are suspended during the summer months and millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition.

In New York City and Chicago, where transportation limitations preclude mailbox pickup, citizens are being asked to take donations to their local post offices between May 4 and 9.

Persons who have any questions about the drive at their location should ask their letter carrier or contact their local post office.

Over 125 million postcards, sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company and the U.S. Postal Service’s Priority Mail, will be mailed to postal customers to remind them of the drive.

Public Service Announcements featuring movie and television stars David Arquette and Courteney Cox, as well as the Harlem Globetrotters, are being made available throughout the country. Valpak Direct Marketing Systems is focusing 40 million of its envelopes on encouraging food donations and Valassis is having 85 million of its mail-delivered Red Plum wraps include promotions for the drive.

Other co-sponsors of the drive with the letter carriers’ union are Feeding America, formerly known as America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s food bank network; the United Way of America and its local United Ways; and the AFL-CIO.

Stars Give Eggs And Plates To Feed America

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Premier charity auction site Clothes Off Our Back is hosting two very special celebrity auctions for Feeding America… and one only has a few hours left to run.

A host of stars – including David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Adrian Grenier, Isla Fisher, Marcia Cross, Melissa Etheridge, Tori Spelling, Alison Sweeney, Jewel, Molly Sims, Maria Menounos, Denise Richards and many more – have decorated eggs for an “eggs-cellent” auction.

The eggs were decorated at the recent Diet Pepsi Holiday House event to support the cause of fighting hunger in America. United Egg Producers donated a truckload of eggs to Feeding America for every egg decorated.

To view the eggs or make a bid, visit the Clothes Off Our Back website. But be quick, this auction only has a matter of hours left to run.

Bidders have more time to take part in the other auction currently being run for Feeding America. A selection of celebrity-autographed plates to benefit the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity – sponsored by Healthy Choice and the ConAgra Foods Foundation – is up for grabs until May 7.

Stars such as Julia Louis Dreyfus, Jennie Garth, Nancy O’Dell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jimmy Jean-Louis and others have taken the time to decorate the plates in a variety of designs that reflect their personalities.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, along with Healthy Choice and the ConAgra Foods Foundation, presented a generous donation of $250,000 to Feeding America on April 18 – providing more than 1.75 million meals, or plates of food, to children and families in need. Celebrity guests at the event autographed the plates as a symbolic gesture in the ongoing fight against hunger. Dreyfus is also auctioning off signed storyboard props used in the filming of the new Healthy Choice commercials for the organization.

To make a bid, click here.

Celebrity Gift Lounge Aims To Feed LA

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

As Hollywood gets ready for the 22nd Annual Kids’ Choice Award this week, Melanie Segal’s Celebrity Lounge is where celebrities are celebrating before the show.

Located in the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and the brain child of Platinum Publicity’s Melanie Segal, the lounge invites celebrities to enter a lounge where they will receive the latest in gifting while helping out a great cause. For every celebrity guest that attends the lounge, Stouffer’s is donating 1,000 meals to LA’s needy. They are planning to “Feed LA for the Day” by donating funds to pay for approximately 70,000 meals. Feeding America and the LA Food Bank will be on hand at the event. Celebrities will also be asked to autograph an arcade-game from Dream Arcades, which will be auctioned off for charity.

“This is a great time for people to escape from the worries of the economic climate and enjoy themselves!” says owner of Platinum Publicity, Melanie Segal. “We’ve been hearing so much negativity in the news lately — it’s nice to just forget about all of that, be a kid again, receive some fun gifts, and give back to society at the same time! I think it’s what a lot of people really need right now!”

From the moment celebrities enter the lounge they can expect lots of fun and surprises. Guests will play on Dream Arcade games and Dance Dance Revolution. Big kids will try exotic teas at the Tea Bar and little kids can eat from the Candy Bar. Caricaturists, airbrush tattoo artists, Tarot Card readers and Grammy Award winning pianist/composer Charles Segal will entertain guests, and ManiPedi Cutie will be polishing nails.

Guests so far have included Pete Sampras & Bridget Wilson, Wayne Brady, Calista Flockhart, Adam Gregory (90210), Sally Field, Eric McCormack, Patricia Heaton, Don Cheadle, Monica Potter, Katie Price & Peter Andre, Shannon Elizabeth and many more.

Marcia Cross Makes A Wake Call To Feed The Hungry

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross is currently fronting Mott’s Wake Up Call, a program run by Feeding America.

The actress launched Feeding America’s Open Market Backpack program by providing meals to children at St. Aloysius School on Monday, March 9, in New York City.

By simply visiting Motts.com, consumers can send a wake-up call from Marcia Cross to themselves, or to a friend, for free. For every call placed, Mott’s will donate one dollar to Feeding America. Each dollar will provide more than seven healthy meals to children and families in need via Feeding America’s network of partner food banks across the United States.

Cross, the mother of twins and the face of the new Mott’s ad campaign, will encourage listeners to make better food choices, like Mott’s apple juice and apple sauce, to feel healthier every day. Calls will be available until Mott’s reaches its goal of providing one million meals to those in need.

“I’m humbled and proud to be working with Mott’s to literally wake up America to the fight against hunger and help people get a healthy start to the day,” said Cross. “As a mother, I am saddened by the number of families who go hungry in our country. I hope people will hear our message and help us make a difference by placing their own call today at Motts.com.”

Each year, 12 million children live on the brink of hunger in the United States. While Feeding America currently feeds nine million of these children, many also rely on free or reduced price lunches at school during the week. However, getting food to an at-risk child on the weekends and during the summer remains a challenge, especially as many food banks experience a sharp decline in donations post-holiday season. The Mott’s Wake-Up Call program has a goal of helping to raise awareness for this issue, providing meals to children and families who need them and encouraging food bank donations during the important spring and summer months.

“This program is near and dear to our hearts because it stands for everything Mott’s is about,” said Dave Fleming, brand director for Mott’s. “We pride ourselves on helping families provide healthier meals and snacks with servings of real fruit and, now, we are thrilled to be working with Marcia and the amazing folks at Feeding America to provide healthy meals to those families who may not know where their next meal will come from.”

To take part in the program, or for more information, go to this website.

Take The Clothes From Celebrities' Backs For Awards Season

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:02:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

February is already upon us and that can mean only one thing: the start of the Hollywood Awards Season! And to celebrate, Clothes Off Our Back is giving you the chance to bid on red carpet clothing and Hollywood memorabilia to raise money for charity.

From now until March 10 you have the opportunity to bid on items such as sunglasses owned by Robert Downey Jr and Pushing Daisies’ Kristin Chenoweth, a shirt worn and autographed by David Duchovny, clothing and a book signed by Blair Underwood, a jacket worn and signed by Mark Harmon, the gown America Ferrera wore to the Directors Guild Awards, gowns belonging to Melora Hardin, Carrie Underwood and Tricia Helfer, Teri Hatcher’s handbag, a book autographed by Jodie Foster, and much much more.

Proceeds from the auction will go to Feeding America, The Art of Elysium, Hope North and H.E.L.P. Malawi. The auction can be accessed by clicking here.

Charitable Stars Shine For Obama

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Celebrities were out and about in droves on Tuesday to celebrate Barack Obama’s inauguration by attending several charity balls.

One of the largest was the Creative Coalition Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts in Washington DC. The sold-out event cost between $10,000 and $100,000 to attend, and attracted appearances by Ashley Judd, Anne Hathaway, Susan Sarandon, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Leigh Cook, Ron Howard, Heather Graham, Forest Whitaker, Magic Johnson and many more. Entertainment was provided by Elvis Costello, Sam Moore and Sting.

The Creative Coalition is a nonprofit public charity organized by the creative community to learn about pressing issues so they can better inform and influence the community and nation.

Also taking place on the other side of town – at Club Ibiza – was a ball organized by the Recording Industry Association of America to benefit Feeding America.

Hosted by Courteney Cox and David Arquette, the evening attracted big names such as Rihanna, Shakira, Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, Cher, T.I:, Kanye West, Josh Groban, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

David Arquette Skips Lunch To Feed America

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

David Arquette, Josh Groban and Herbie Hancock were among hundreds of people who skipped lunch on the eve of the inauguration to help raise awareness of hunger.

The stars led a rally outside Washington’s Martin Luther King Library on Monday for Feeding America, an organization that distributes food and grocery products through a nationwide certified member network, and increases public awareness of domestic hunger and advocates for public policies that benefit America’s hungry.

“It has been very much a hidden issue,” said Vicki Escarra, the president and chief executive of Feeding America. “It’s a little bit like this dirty little secret, if you will, that in a country like America, one in eight are struggling to get enough food to eat.”

Arquette serves as Chair of the Entertainment Council for Feeding America.

Get A Taste Of The NFL And Help The Hungry

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Top Chef viewers and SuperBowl fans are invited to the ‘18th Annual Taste of the NFL’ taking place on Saturday January 31 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Florida.

The highly anticipated event pairs one chef and one alumni or current player from each NFL city for an evening filled with food, wine and entertainment on the eve of the Super Bowl. Proceeds from ticket sales, silent auction items, donations, etc. go to help tackle hunger in America through national and local hunger relief organizations.

Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio (Top Chef) along with former Top Chef contestants will join such NFL players as Ben Patrick (AZ Cardinals), Derrick Martin (Baltimore Ravens), Richard Marshall (Carolina Panthers), Shaun Gayle (Chicago Bears), Jacoby Jones (Houston Texans), Kevin Houser (N.O. Saints). Entertainment for the night, compliments of the Max Weinberg Band (Late Night with Conan). Tickets for are currently on sale by visiting the Taste of the NFL website.

Taste of the NFL is proud to announce that, as in years past, every NFL city’s Feeding America food bank network will receive a portion of the net proceeds from this year, with special local emphasis placed on America’s Second Harvest of Tampa Bay. They are able to reach out across the country thanks to the generous participation of guests, sponsors, volunteers and community leaders.

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