Look To The Stars News: TreePeople

Victoria Principal Gives To Fire Restoration Fund

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0000

On October 30, actress, activist and entrepreneur Victoria Principal joined nonprofit TreePeople and the U.S. Forest Service to announce a $25,000 gift to support TreePeople’s fire restoration efforts in the Angeles National Forest.

Victoria Principal’s gift kicks off a fundraising goal of $250,000 to help restore the Angeles National Forest following the 2009 Station fires that burned 144,000 acres, the largest fire in Los Angeles County history. The announcement took place at TreePeople’s headquarters in Coldwater Canyon Park, Los Angeles.

“I am grateful for the long relationship I’ve had with TreePeople,” said Victoria Principal. “Because of this enduring collaboration, I am confident that the funds I’m providing will be used for thoughtful restoration, to benefit the earth, and to support my California neighbors.”

Victoria Principal joined Jody Noiron, U.S. Forest Supervisor for the Angeles National Forest, and TreePeople founder Andy Lipkis to transplant Jeffrey pine tree seedlings originating from the devastated Angeles National Forest.

“We’re grateful to Victoria Principal for her foresight and generosity in stepping forward with leadership funds to help launch TreePeople’s restoration of the Angeles National Forest after the recent fires,” said TreePeople Founder and President Andy Lipkis. “We are very excited that this lead gift will inspire others, and will enable us, together with the U.S. Forest Service, to engage thousands of volunteers to revitalize the forest so it can be healthy for generations to come and provide critical water supply, air protection, habitat and recreation.”

Victoria Principal’s donation supports TreePeople’s partnering with the U.S. Forest service to restore the fire-damaged Angeles National Forest as part of Forest Aid. Forest Aid was created after Southern California’s 2007 and 2003 wildfires where 185,000 acres burned in the San Bernardino National Forest. The partnership includes the U.S. Forest Service, the San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA) and TreePeople. Forest Aid is funded by generous grants from The Walt Disney Company and The Boeing Company.

For more than 20 years Victoria Principal has been one of the most generous individual donors to TreePeople’s wildfire recovery efforts. Her commitment to urban parks and national forests is a model for other Hollywood philanthropists to follow. She provided funds for the restoration plan for Griffith Park after the 2007 fire and individually funded the restoration of Dante’s Peak. Over the years Ms. Principal has been an activist for fire restoration, water conservation, clean air and clean oceans in California. Victoria Principal’s Angeles Forest donation will be used for tree and native species planting, invasive species removal, and community outreach and education.

TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit that unites the power of trees, people and technology to grow a sustainable future for Los Angeles. More information at www.treepeople.org or www.forestaid.net.

Look To The Stars Exclusive: Live Stream Of Leeza Gibbons' Night To Make A Difference

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Look To The Stars is proud to be involved in one of Hollywood’s premier charity Oscar parties this weekend. Leeza Gibbons’ A Night To Make A Difference will take place on Sunday, February 22, at the iconic Mr Chow in Beverly Hills, with a host of celebrities expected to attend. And Look To The Stars is streaming the event LIVE.

This unique event will bring together stars from film, TV, music, sports and fashion to celebrate the worlds of celebrity and charity. Special Ambassadors of Change who have used their celebrity to make a tangible difference in the world will be on hand to empower the audience to make a difference in their own lives.

Hosted by Leeza Gibbons, Olivia Newton-John and David Foster, the Night To Make A Difference will attract stars such as Paris Hilton, Jessica Biel, Forest Whitaker, Slash, Alan Thicke, Ashley Tisdale, Brooke Burns, Cheryl Burke, Cheryl Ladd, Chevy Chase, Danny Boyle, Darryl McDaniels, Dee Wallace, Hilary Duff, Holly Robinson-Peete, Jaclyn Smith, Jane Seymour, Joey Fatone, Jordin Sparks, Ken Paves, Mario Lopez, Mel B., Melissa Gilbert, Rick Schroder, Suzanne Somers, Taraji P. Henson, Teri Hatcher, Tony Hawk and many more.

“The Night To Make a Difference party is to benefit the [”Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/402-leezas-place] and my own Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center," Olivia Newton-John told Look To The Stars. “But now it has morphed into a bigger night than just our two charities – it’s about everybody’s philanthropy and giving back. It’s a new era in America with the new Obama presidency, and it’s all about giving back, so we decided to make the night an evening about celebrity giving – like the theme of Look To The Stars.”

Other charities to be involved with the event are Jessica Biel’s Make The Difference Network, the Felix Organization, the Children’s Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition, Cancer Schmancer Movement, Blessings in a Backpack, the Red Cross, TreePeople, the Tony Hawk Foundation, the David Foster Foundation, Smiles For Life, The HollyRod Foundation and many more.

“This event is truly different from the others and one of the aspects I am most excited about is the ability for viewers at home to be a part of the experience via the live webcast,” said Leeza Gibbons. “With Arquiva and Highwinds handling the technical wizardry, we are able to focus on our message of advocacy and philanthropy. Our hope is to inspire people at home and around the world to take action and knowing that we are able to reach a broad audience on the web means we truly have a chance to help create the change presented by our on-camera Hollywood celebrities. I think it’s what happens when Hollywood stars converge with technical stars like Arquiva and Highwinds. Our combination of being behind the scenes of movie’s most glamorous night along wtih it’s most passionate and purposeful stars takes the gold for best new web idea!”

The event kicks off at 4pm in Beverly Hills with Red Carpet arrivals. For more information and tickets, visit the official Night To Make A Difference website. And be sure to visit Look To The Stars’ special live stream of the event on Oscars night.

The Hollywood Cookbook Launch Party

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 20:32:59 -0000

Written by Charles Harder

Stars and food converged at Kitchen Academy in Hollywood last night for a party launching The Hollywood Cookbook — a beautiful 271-page hardcover collection of sumptuous recipes, each accompanied by a large photo, from the personal kitchens of 20 celebrities and 6 world-class chefs. Five dollars from each purchase benefits 20 important charities dear to the hearts of the celebrity contributors.

The cookbook covers the spectrum of food and beverage, from appetizers, soups and salads, to main courses, desserts, and even cocktails. Michael J. Fox’s Barn Dance Chicken, and Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford’s Savory Fall Stew are just two of the 107 creative and simple dishes that can be duplicated in any kitchen regardless of culinary skill level. Chefs Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Joachim Splichal, Nick Stellino, Michael Cimarusti and Rocco DiSpirito also contributed recipes to the book.

At the event, the students of Kitchen Academy prepared and served 20 recipes featured in the cookbook, each one tastier than the last. This reporter’s favorite: Door Knob Sweet Potato Balls (an appetizer) from designer Paige Hemmis of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Yum!

Chef Jamie Gwen’s movie-star looks and talk-show host’s presence kept attendees laughing and entertained as the event’s emcee. The evening included a cooking demonstration by actor Greg Grunberg, and an informal awards ceremony. Eric Close of TV’s Without a Trace gave a heartfelt tribute to his charity, Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, which pairs abused children with rescued horses and adult leaders at 24 wilderness ranches around the U.S. and Canada, to help restore the heart, soul, mind and strength of the kids.

Written by screenwriter Jackie Zabel and actress Morgan Most, and published by Silverback Books, The Hollywood Cookbook is a perfect holiday gift (retails for $35, but presently is featured at Amazon.com for only $23). The event was co-sponsored by Maurice Le Croix Swiss Watches and The Kitchen Academy.

Celebrities & Charities: Thora Birch (Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation), Michael Chiklis (The Children’s Lifesaving Foundation), Eric Close (Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch), Mark Dacascos (Reel Angels), James Denton (Cure Autism Now), Michael J. Fox & Tracy Pollan (The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research), Afton Fraser & Brendan Fraser (P.S. ARTS), Greg Grunberg (Pediatric Epilepsy Project), Anne Hathaway (Lollipop Theater Network), Paige Hemmis (Habitat For Humanity), Ron Howard (Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America), Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford (Clothes Off Our Back), Esai Morales (TreePeople), Don Most (City of Hope), Bob Saget (Scleroderma Research Foundation), Marlo Thomas (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), Kerry Washington (Step Up), Treat Williams (Save the Children), Alicia Witt (The Art of Elysium), and Kelly Wolf & Scott Wolf (Camp Heartland).

Look To The Stars News: TreePeople

Victoria Principal Gives To Fire Restoration Fund

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Look To The Stars Exclusive: Live Stream Of Leeza Gibbons' Night To Make A Difference

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The Hollywood Cookbook Launch Party

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