Look To The Stars News: Muscular Dystrophy Association

Nancy O'Dell Launches New Charity

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Nancy O’Dell, longtime co-host of the entertainment newsmagazine “Access Hollywood” and author of the book Full of Life, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) have founded Betty’s Battle in honor of O’Dell’s mother who died of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, last year.

Betty’s Battle is a special MDA ALS Division campaign that raises funds supporting services and research to find treatments and a cure for those with ALS.

“I’m excited to tell the nation about MDA’s Betty’s Battle,” O’Dell said. “I’m so grateful to MDA for everything they did for me and my family during my mom’s illness. It’s my hope that through Betty’s Battle, we will eradicate ALS so that no other family will have to go through what mine did.”

On Aug. 23, O’Dell will serve as a Celebrity Backstage Interviewer at the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) SummerSlam pay-per-view event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. O’Dell and several WWE Superstars will help raise awareness for MDA’s Betty’s Battle through media interviews and a VIP Axxess party at h.wood club in Los Angeles on Aug. 21.

“We’re honored to include Nancy among the MDA family,” MDA President & CEO Gerald C. Weinberg said. “MDA Betty’s Battle will give us the opportunity to reach out to Nancy’s fans and friends to educate and empower them to make a difference in the fight against ALS.”

This Labor Day weekend, O’Dell will return for a second year as a co-host on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. She also serves as the MDA National ALS Ambassador and an MDA national vice president.

For more information about MDA Betty’s Battle and O’Dell’s appearance on WWE’s SummerSlam, visit www.bettysbattle.org and www.wwe.com.

Jerry Lewis Awarded Oscar For Charity Work

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor Jerry Lewis was awarded a very special humanitarian award at last night’s Oscars.

The 82-year-old actor received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his untiring work in hosting the annual telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) as an advocate of “Jerry’s Kids” – a role he has taken on every year since 1966.

“For most of my life I thought that doing good for someone didn’t mean you would receive commendation for that act of kindness,” Lewis said in his acceptance speech. “At least until now. This award touches my heart and the very depth of my soul because of who the award is from, and those who will benefit.”

The award – which in the past has been presented to Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Sherry Lansing, Quincy Jones, Bob Hope and many others – is named after screen actor Jean Hersholt, who served as the president of the Motion Picture Relief Fund for 18 years. The honor was a great thrill for the MDA, who are grateful for the support of Lewis.

“MDA always has been immensely proud of its inspiring national chairman, who for more than five decades has personified the Association’s missions of help and hope. He is well deserving of this extraordinary honor,” said Gerald C. Weinberg, MDA president and CEO. “The impact of his humanitarian efforts on people with muscle-wasting diseases is beyond measure.”

The award is not the first honor for the comedy legend. He was presented the U.S. Defense Department’s highest civilian award, the Medal for Distinguished Service, in 1985. In 1996 the American Medical Association presented him and MDA Lifetime Achievement Awards “for significant and lasting contributions to health and welfare of humanity.” He is also one of an elite few to have been made a Commander in the French Legion of Honor. In 2007, Look To The Stars revealed that Lewis had topped a survey of the most effective celebrities for charity causes, with 43% of those surveyed saying he was the best at raising funds and driving change for the issues he supports.

“Jerry is well-known as the ‘face’ of the MDA Labor Day Telethon, which he has hosted without fail for 43 years and counting,” Weinberg said. “The Telethon is the most effective philanthropic event of its kind, so it’s appropriate that the man who makes it all possible has been singled out for his matchless compassion.”

Nick Lachey Tees Off For Charity

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Singer Nick Lachey and three-time defending NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson took part in their second annual Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic at the TPC Tampa Bay Golf Club on Super Bowl weekend, raising over $200,000 for charity.

The money will go to charities such as the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, the Nick Lachey Foundation, the March Of Dimes, the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

“The way our racing season falls, the Super Bowl is always one of the sporting events I get to enjoy,” Johnson said. “Now that Nick and I started Super Skins, the weekend has taken on a whole new meaning. Again, we want to thank everyone who supported our efforts this entire weekend and helped to get some well deserved funds to some great organizations.”

Joining Lachey and Johnson for the tournament were Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers, Jerry Rice, Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, Ken Griffey Jr., Boston Red Sox pitcher John Smoltz, Nsync’s Chris Kirkpatrick, Drew Lachey, the New York Giants’ Justin Tuck and the New York Jets’ Jay Feely.

Love Ride 2008 Attracts The Big Names

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

20,000 motorcyclists from across the U.S. and around the world rode in the 25th Annual Love Ride late last month and raised over US$1 million for Southern California-based charities.

The event – which was hosted by Jay Leno and featured celebrity riders such as Gene Simmons, Peter Fonda, Robert Patrick, Rutger Hauer, Larry Hagman, Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar, Michael Trucco (Battlestar Galactica_), and Carmine Giovinazzo (_CSI: NY) – culminated in a concert featuring the Foo Fighters, ZZ Top, and members of Velvet Revolver.

The annual Love Ride – held along the West Coast of the US from Glendale to Pomona – has raised over $21 million since it was launched in 1984, and is now one of the biggest one-day motorcycle events in the world. Beneficiaries of this year’s event included the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Autism Speaks, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Reading By 9 Child Literacy Initiative, Providence Saint Joseph Foundation, Catholic Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Special Olympics of Southern California, Frostig Center, Scleroderma Foundation, Glendale Community College, Rett Syndrome Foundation, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Centers, Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation, Friends of Castaic Lake, and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon Still Going Strong

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

If ever there was a main event in the name of charity it would be the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

Year after year, millions of Americans tune in to watch the all-day event. This year’s line up of celebrity hosts for the telethon included Jann Carl, Tom Bergeron, and Alison Sweeney among other esteemed personalities, with performances by Céline Dion, 3 Doors Down, Kid Rock and Reba McEntire. Running 21-1/2 hours, the MDA telethon began at 9 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 31 and continued through the evening of Labor Day, with about $65 million raised during the run.

A special plea was also made for MDA-registered families forced to leave their homes because of the hurricane, which made landfall Monday in Louisiana.

Now in its 43rd year, and with immense competition coming from multiple choices in cable programming and increased internet use, an online auction has been incorporated to boost the telethon’s efforts.

The auction runs until September 4th, and features thousands of celebrity items, sports memorabilia and trips. To view the full list of auction items, visit the MDA website.

Jerry Lewis Tops Charity Survey

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:48:18 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A survey has named comedy actor Jerry Lewis as the most effective celebrity for charity causes, with 43% of those surveyed saying he is the best at raising funds and driving change for the issues he supports.

The survey, carried out by the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, put the 81 year old veteran of movies including “The Nutty Professor” at the top of a list of ten philanthropic celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey, Michael J. Fox, Jimmy Carter, Bill Gates, Angelina Jolie, Bono, Lance Armstrong, Katie Couric, and Rosie O’Donnell.
Jerry Lewis helped establish the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1952, and has organized and hosted a Labor Day Telethon every year since 1966. His fundraising efforts have raised over $2 billion for neuromuscular care and research, with last year’s telethon raising $61 million alone. He has also been involved with fundraising for The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. He is the only media celebrity to have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

“I’m always honored and humbled by the response of the American people to my efforts on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association,” said Lewis, who will host the 42nd Labor Day Telethon on September 2 and 3. “Their generosity has allowed us to provide important services and conduct vital research for 57 years.”

The survey also investigated the issues that Americans find most important. The results showed that causes to help children and animals are the most popular, followed by education and literacy, services for the elderly, religion, health and medicine, the environment, and aid for disabled people.

Respondents of the survey aged between 18 and 42 were more interested in international causes, and were more likely to be influenced by celebrities such as Oprah and Bono, who work with developing countries to ease poverty. Respondents over the age of 43 were influenced more by older celebrities, such as Bill Gates, who supports health and education issues, and Jimmy Carter, who works with Habitat For Humanity.
42% of those surveyed said they want to donate more time to charity, but cannot find the opportunity.

Look To The Stars News: Muscular Dystrophy Association

Nancy O'Dell Launches New Charity

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