Look To The Stars News: Natural Resources Defense Council

LTTS Exclusive: Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson Talks Charity

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

On Sunday, December 18, former Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson joined musician Rob Gonzalez for a very special charity concert in Beverly Hills.

LookToTheStars.org got the chance to talk to the singers prior to the “Home For The Holidays – A Concert To Benefit The Angeles Clinic Foundation” event.

Kevin, the world has been thrilled you recently joined the Backstreet Boys for a reunion. Would you consider yourself as the band’s philanthropic voice?

Victoria Principal Makes Donations To Stop Offshore Drilling

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Following the federal government’s proposed expansion of offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and Arctic Ocean last month, actress Victoria Principal has stepped forward with extremely generous six–figure donations to both Oceana and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to support their joint efforts to prevent increased drilling off U.S. coasts.

This is the second gift Principal has given the organizations to support their fight to protect our coasts from offshore drilling and spills.

Jason Mraz Launches Charity Foundation

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Atlantic recording artist Jason Mraz has announced the establishment of the Jason Mraz Foundation, devoted to supporting a number of charities for which he has been a dedicated and impassioned advocate.

The Grammy Award-winning tunesmith heralded the Foundation’s launch on December 3rd with a sold out intimate benefit concert at the famed Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California, near San Diego, where Mraz began his extraordinary career by performing in coffee shops.

Long known for his many philanthropic activities, Mraz created the Jason Mraz Foundation to sustain organizations aligned with his four pillars of service: human equality, environment preservation, arts and education, and recovery and assistance. Among the organizations supported by the Jason Mraz Foundation are Free The Slaves, dedicated to eradicating child slavery around the world; True Colors Fund, which promotes the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality; Surfrider Foundation, dedicated to protecting our world’s oceans, beaches, and waves; the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which works to protect wildlife and wild places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth; youth organizations VH1 Save The Music Foundation and Free The Children ; the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC); and the health/rehabilitation charities MusiCares and Life Rolls On, dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury and utilizes action sports as a platform to inspire infinite possibilities despite paralysis.

Vince Gill And Sheryl Crow For Country Music Fundraiser

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0000

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s All for the Hall fundraiser will return to Los Angeles for a third consecutive year.

The event, which will take place on Tuesday, September 13, at Club Nokia, will again follow a “guitar pull” format featuring performances by Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill, and Sheryl Crow and Zac Brown.

Leonardo DiCaprio Wants Shark Fin Sales Banned In California

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Leonardo DiCaprio has penned a letter to members of the California State Senate in support of Assembly Bill 376, which would prohibit the sale of shark fins in California.

“The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has concluded that a third of shark species are now threatened with extinction of some kind,” reads the letter, which has also been signed by the CEO of The Humane Society, the Executive Director of WildAid and the President of the Natural Resources Defense Council . “And recent estimates state that up to 73 million sharks are killed each year for use in shark fin soup and other products. Traditionally shark fin was affordable only to the elite, and consequently the issue of decimation of species was not a concern. But with the explosion of the world’s population, and an increasing number of wealthy consumers, this can no longer be considered true, as has been evidenced by the decimation of shark populations worldwide. Despite fisheries attempts at regulation, the inhumane practice of finning continues unabated too, as does the illegal capture of sharks from marine reserves and sovereign waters.”

The bill is an effort to save sharks and the oceans by banning the possession, sale, trade and distribution of shark fins in California. In addition to DiCaprio, AB 376 is supported by a host of prominent celebrities, including Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson, Ke$ha, Kristen Bell, Paul Rudd and Chinese basketball great Yao Ming

Justin Bieber Joins Celebrity Charity Auction To Save The Earth

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Justin Bieber is one of the stars taking green to a whole new level with the online launch of the second annual celebrity charity Bid to Save the Earth Green Auction, a momentous live event and companion online auction to raise funds and awareness for the preservation and sustainability of our planet.

The online auction, powered by luxury charity auction company charitybuzz.com, launched on March 17, bringing hundreds of once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the realms of fashion, entertainment, business, sports, luxury and travel to the fingertips of bidders around the world. Proceeds will benefit four leading environmental nonprofits – Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council, Conservation International and Central Park Conservancy – which collectively work at the local, national, and international scale to conserve nature for the long term well-being of people. Bidding is open through April 7 at www.charitybuzz.com/BidtoSaveTheEarth.

Salma Hayek and Anna Wintour Bid to Save the Earth

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Salma Hayek and Anna Wintour are among the celebrities taking part in this year’s “Bid to Save the Earth”.

This is the second annual green auction hosted by elite auction house, Christie’s. Last year’s event raised over $2 million for environmental groups, with items such as a round of golf with Bill Clinton going for $80,000.

This year’s auction will see artists, designers and entertainers come together to raise funds for Oceana, Conservation International, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Central Park Conservancy.

James Taylor And Carole King Raise Cash For Charity

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:30:00 +0000

James Taylor and Carole King have raised more than $1.5 million in charitable donations so far on their Troubadour Reunion tour.

The pair have reunited for a tour, with proceeds benefiting the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies – which King and Taylor have long championed—plus more than 90 additional national and local charitable organizations.The cash raised so far is 50% more than expected.

The money is being raised through special packages offered to fans, including stage seating, pre-show soundcheck sessions, private VIP receptions and a commemorative tour book.

Ashley Judd To Lobby In Washington For End To Mountaintop Mining

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Actress Ashley Judd will call for an end to mountaintop coal mining in an address at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on June 9.

The environmental activist and spokesperson for the Natural Resources Defense Council will spotlight the controversial practice that President Barack Obama has called “one of the most destructive industries in America.”

Victoria Principal Makes Charity Donation After Oil Spill

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Former Dallas star Victoria Principal has made a large donation to assist in clean-up efforts after the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The star has pledged $200,000 to help charities Oceana and the Natural Resources Defense Council deal with the aftermath of the disaster.

Other stars currently involved in the clean-up are Kevin Costner, who is testing a water-separation machine designed by his brother, and James Cameron, who is donating the use of his underwater submersibles. Stephen Baldwin will film a documentary about the disaster.

See Carole King And James Taylor In The Round For Charity

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Carole King and James Taylor are offering fans the opportunity-of-a-lifetime to see two musical icons up-close-and-personal with ‘intimate and in the round’ Stage Seats on their Troubadour Reunion Tour.

The VIP Stage Seats were designed as tables for two surrounding the center stage performance. The innovative design recreates the intimacy of a vintage nightclub within the high-energy atmosphere of a modern arena performance—paying tribute to Carole King and James Taylor’s legendary 1970 performances at L.A.’s famed Troubadour club.

All VIP Stage Seat Packages benefit established charities, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Alliance for the Wild Rockies, which King and Taylor have long championed—plus more than 90 additional national and local charitable organizations. The VIP Stage Seat Packages are estimated to raise over $1 million for charity and are available for 37 of the Troubadour Reunion North American concerts.

Charitybuzz Launches A Bid To Save The Earth

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Christie’s Green Auction: A Bid to Save the Earth will be laying out the green carpet for celebrities who are lending their star power for a bid to save the earth.

Celebrities are turning out to be among the biggest players in philanthropy in 2010. The Green Auction exemplifies what can be achieved when a fantastic mix of people from various industries, unite for one purpose: to advocate for the environment.

Exclusive Photo Feature: Olympians' Hearts of Gold

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:34:00 +0000

We have witnessed the amazing physical feats of the US Team in the Olympics, and now the Olympians want to share some of the other wonderful ways they use their time and strengths. Look To The Stars is honored to bring you news of their charity work, with thanks to NBC/USOC for providing the images.

Chad Hedrick (Long Track Speed Skating – won a bronze medal)
Competes on Friday and Saturday, February 26th & 27th

Get James Taylor And Carole King Tickets For Charity

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

In conjunction with Tickets-for-Charity, James Taylor and Carole King are offering fans one-of-a-kind VIP Stage Seat Charity Packages to their long-awaited Troubadour Reunion Tour, including the very best seats in the house, to benefit the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and other outstanding charitable causes.

Charity Packages include unique Stage Seating arranged in tables of two around the stage, designed especially for the Tour to recreate the intimacy of the duo’s legendary performances at LA’s Troubadour. Available exclusively on www.ticketsforcharity.com, Charity Packages offer fans the concert experience of a lifetime while honoring the life-long environmental work of both Artists.

Help Celebrities Make A Bid To Save The World

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Christie’s International has announced it will hold a new green auction it has dubbed “A Bid to Save the Earth.”

This first-of-its-kind charity auction will take place on April 22, 2010, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The Evening Sale event will be held at Christie’s, Rockefeller Center, New York and be carried live globally via Christie’s LIVE on www.christies.com. Proceeds from the sale will be divided among four leading not-for-profit environmental organizations: Conservation International, Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Central Park Conservancy.

Christie’s is partnering with Charitybuzz, the leading destination for online charity benefit auctions, to present a companion silent auction which will be hosted at www.ABidtoSavetheEarth.org. Christie’s will waive all fees and commissions for the auction. Native Energy, www.nativeenergy.com, a leader in carbon offsetting, will provide carbon offsets for the entire Green Auction. NBC Universal, as part of its ongoing environmental initiative, “Green is Universal,” will serve as the official media partner for the event.

Leonardo DiCaprio Heads Star-Studded Video For The Environment

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:30:00 +0000

A host of celebrities – including Leonardo DiCaprio, Edward Norton, Justin Long, Emmy Rossum, Forest Whitaker, Jason Bateman, Chace Crawford and Felicity Huffman – have recorded a special video mobilizing America towards a sustainable future.

On the heels of President Barack Obama’s push to move America toward a clean energy economy in his State of the Union address last night, the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund launched This is Our Moment, a web-based video campaign urging Congress to pass the first-ever climate and clean energy bill, currently pending in the Senate.

“This is our moment – our moment to fight for a cleaner and more secure future,” said DiCaprio, a longtime champion for the environment, and a NRDC Trustee. “The time is now for people across the country to stand up and have their voices heard. We all must call on the Senate to act on this historic opportunity.”

Leonardo DiCaprio Opens e-Activism Center

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Leonardo DiCaprio opened a new e-activism centre in Santa Monica last week, which has been described as “a showcase for the highest possible level of sustainable design.”

The Leonardo DiCaprio e-Activism Center and the David Family Environmental Action Center use only recycled or recyclable materials, and 98% of the materials left over from dismantling the original building and constructing the new one were reused or recycled. Set up by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the new facilities aim to demonstrate how buildings can greatly reduce harm to the environment by minimizing the use of land, water, energy and materials.

“Half of all the world’s materials and resources, half of all forests, go into building production. Buildings consume twice the energy of autos, and emit twice the amount of carbon dioxide,” says NRDC Senior Scientist Rob Watson. “They also consume 80% of drinking water.”

Jason Mraz Gives Eco Tips For Toilet Users

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Singer Jason Mraz has blogged some eco-tips with a difference on his MySpace page.

“Recent News from our friends at the Natural Resources Defense Council say that Americans’ addiction to two-ply, super soft toilet paper is causing greater harm to our environment than our gas guzzling cars,” he wrote. "In order to produce all that perfectly plush paper, companies must harvest tons of virgin trees, which the reaping of means less oxygen for the atmosphere to offset or all the carbon that seems to be frying us here on the surface.

“The US is the country that consumes the most forests specifically to fulfill [toilet needs]. If you travel abroad, you may find discomfort in the thin one-ply offered up pretty much everywhere else. But that’s because most other countries are more careful about their resourceful trees and/or use recycled and post-consumer paper in the manufacturing of toilet tissue.

Leonardo DiCaprio Busy With Charity Events And Auctions

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Julia Louis Dreyfus is to host the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Gala in Southern California this month, and guests such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Redford have already been confirmed.

The event will take place at the Beverly Wilshire on April 25, and will feature music by Maroon 5 and Rosanna Arquette. A short film featuring DiCaprio and Redford that outlines the accomplishments of NRDC’s Southern California office will also be shown.

“You can be tough doing bad things, and tough doing good things. NRDC, in my opinion, is tough doing good things,” said Robert Redford. The legendary actor, filmmaker and environmental advocate has been an NRDC trustee for more than 30 years. The group’s Southern California office, one of the first LEED Platinum green buildings in the world, was dedicated to Mr. Redford in 2003, which he said “fills me with an enormous sense of pride.”

Stella McCartney Honored By NRDC

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Fashion designer Stella McCartney was honored by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) last week at their 11th annual Forces for Nature benefit, for her refusal to use leather or fur in her designs.

“We believe it is important to honor individuals who understand that environmental stewardship can and should play a role in the work they do and the products they produce,” said NRDC President Frances Beinecke in a press release. “Both Stella McCartney and David Zaslav demonstrate that you can be protectors of the environment and leaders of industry at the same time. Their trailblazing work in the environmental arena raises the bar, and we hope everyone in the media and fashion world will take note and follow their lead.”

In speaking out for fur- and leather-free fashion, McCartney says she would like to see an end to the 50 million animals that are killed each year to support the fashion industry. Besides the myth that the animals are all by-products of the meat industry, there are other environmental impacts that she pointed out, such as the water and chemicals needed to tan leather.

The NBA Launches Green Week Initiative

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The National Basketball Association (NBA), in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), has announced that its inaugural NBA Green Week 2009 will tip off on April 2 and run through April 10.

During Green Week, the entire NBA family will team up to generate awareness and funding to protect the environment through special oncourt apparel, auctions to support environmental preservation organizations, hands-on community service projects, and the launch of a public service announcement featuring Hollywood icon, noted environmentalist and NRDC Trustee, Robert Redford. In addition, NBA.com will launch a new micro site, www.nba.com/green, featuring everything from greening tips for fans to interviews with NBA players.

As part of NBA Green Week 2009, adidas will outfit all players with 100 percent organic cotton adidas shooting shirts featuring the NBA Green logo. The Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Bobcats, and the Chicago Bulls will wear green-colored uniforms and socks made from 45 percent organic cotton during select home games throughout the week to raise additional environmental awareness. NBA.com will also host an online auction of Spalding basketballs, made from 40 percent recycled materials and autographed by NBA players. The auction will tip off on April 2 and continue through April 16, with all proceeds benefiting the NRDC.

Leonardo DiCaprio: A Big Green Help

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:30:00 +0000

In recognition for his significant and visible contribution toward helping the environment, and for inspiring kids to do the same, Nickelodeon will honor multi-Academy Award-nominated actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio with the first-ever “Big Green Help Award” at this year’s Kids’ Choice Awards on Saturday, March 28, at Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, Calif.

Nickelodeon’s 22nd Annual Kids’ Choice Awards — featuring host Dwayne Johnson — will honor kids’ favorites from the worlds of film, music, sports and television in a star-studded live event.

The award — which will be presented to DiCaprio by longtime friend and fellow friend of the planet Cameron Diaz — is part of Nickelodeon’s Big Green Help campaign — a multiplatform, global pro-social campaign designed to empower kids to take action on the environment and connect them to energy saving and earth-friendly activities in their everyday lives. Created for the more than half of U.S. kids who say they are concerned about the environment, The Big Green Help aims to fashion a new generation of environmentalists for whom green will become not only a cause, but a way of life.

Leonardo DiCaprio Makes Time For Charity

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Leonardo DiCaprio always has time for the environment, and now he can prove it with his new appointment as Ambassador for watchmaker TAG Heuer.

The 34-year-old actor has agreed to take over the role from Brad Pitt, and will wear a US$4,000 Carrera Day-Date watch in new print ads for the company this spring. Proceeds from the photoshoots will go to some of the major environmental causes DiCaprio supports, such as the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation – a non-prof he established to foster awareness of environmental issues through participation with organizations such as Natural Resources Defense Council, Global Green USA, the International Fund For Animal Welfare, and National Geographic Kids.

“It is a great day when a company as respected as TAG Heuer explores a different way to do business—selling products and giving back at the same time,” he said. “I’m very excited to start this new partnership, and look forward to a long relationship with TAG Heuer… TAG and I will be making donations to some of the most influential and effective environmental organizations around. Each and every day, these organizations are doing important work to ensure our planet’s resources future generations. Hopefully, our donations will help expand their reach and raise their profile.”

Robert Redford Wants To Preserve Wilderness

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Robert Redford joined members of Congress and a coalition of environmental, preservation and business groups in an effort to stop the Bureau of Land Management from auctioning Utah wilderness to oil and gas companies last month.

The 72-year-old actor joined groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and Earthjustice in announcing that they are taking legal action against the Bureau of Land Management to halt the leasing of more than 110,000 acres of land near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, and Nine Mile Canyon.

“You can’t put a price on silence or solitude,” said Redford, who is also an NRDC trustee. “Future generations deserve to experience the wildness and beauty of these lands, and to leave them as a legacy to generations that follow.”

Leonardo DiCaprio Has Time For The Environment

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Leonardo DiCaprio has joined forces with Swiss watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre to confront global environmental issues and promote eco-friendly causes by creating the “Time to Care” program to benefit the Leonardo DiCaprio Fund at the California Community Foundation.

The company will release two new and unique timepieces this Fall that feature DiCaprio’s signature and endorsement, with 100% of the proceeds going to some of the environmental organizations supported by the California Community Foundation around the world – including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Global Green.

The first of the watches will be a one-of-a-kind Master Compressor Extreme Lab, as worn by DiCaprio to the premiere of his documentary, The 11th Hour. Valued at approximately $300,000, the watch will be engraved with Leonardo DiCaprio’s signature, and be crafted in carbon fiber and titanium. It will feature an automatic tourbillon, two time zones, a pointer-type AM/PM indication at 12 o’clock and a patented jumping date display. This revolutionary concept watch features the first mechanical movement to operate without any lubricant and it is resistant to extreme temperatures of -40 degrees to +60 degrees Celsius – which is just what you need for global warming.