Look To The Stars News: Neurofibromatosis, Inc.

Dom DeLuise's Charity Legacy

Wed, 06 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Actor Dom DeLuise sadly passed away on Monday, May 4, after a long battle with cancer. But the comedian is leaving a lasting legacy for charity.

In lieu of flowers, DeLuise’s family has asked for donations to some of his favorite charities, such as the Elixir Fund, the Lily Sanctuary, the Hydrocephalus Foundation, and the Pearl S. Buck Foundation.

DeLuise is also one of the stars who has donated doodles to this year’s annual Celebrity Doodle auction to raise money for Neurofibromatosis, Inc..

Imagine an unpredictable disease that causes tumors to form on the nerves of your body. Depending on their location, these tumors can cause disfigurement, dysfunction, deafness or blindness. In the wrong place they can be fatal. That is Neurofibromatosis, or NF for short. If that weren’t enough, NF can also cause learning disabilities, seizures, bone deformity and cancer. Currently, 100,000 Americans have NF; worldwide, 115 babies are born each day with this same genetic disorder.

Neurofibromatosis can affect any family. Half the children born with it have no family history of NF. Despite the many researchers studying this devastating condition, there is still no cure, and treatments are largely inadequate.

But there is hope. In support of its mission, NF, Inc., the national non-profit organization dedicated to serving families affected by NF, announces its third annual National Doodle Day fundraiser, an auction of “Doodles” by a wide range of celebrities and artists. Each contributor has donated and autographed a one-of-a-kind work of art drawn on a 5 × 8 Doodle Card. Beginning Thursday, May 7, these Doodles will be auctioned on eBay, with all funds raised supporting NF, Inc.

To date, over 75 celebrity Doodles have been posted to the NF, Inc. web site, and include: actors Christopher Atkins (The Blue Lagoon), Tom Bosley (Happy Days, Father Dowling Mysteries), James Cromwell (Babe), Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie), Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky & Hutch), Rue McClanahan (The Golden Girls), Chef Duff (Ace of Cakes), singers Tony Bennett, Micky Dolenz (The Monkees), Coach Bruce Boudreau (head coach, Washington Capitals ice hockey team), Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback), former Boston Celtics Tom Heinsohn, legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, bestselling author Jodi Picoult and many more. To take a “sneak peek” at the Doodles, visit www.doodledayusa.org.

Last year’s auction raised $28,000 for NF, Inc. The top seller, at $2,749, was a Doodle by X-Files actress Gillian Anderson. The premiere auction in 2007 featured a Doodle by the junior senator from Illinois, now President Barack Obama! It sold for $2,075.

Obama's Gift Keeps On Giving

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

One of the most popular annual charity auctions is the celebrity doodle auction to benefit Neurofibromatosis, Inc., and now one of the most famous doodles purchased at the auction is once agian raising money for the cause.

Two years ago, a doodle that Barack Obama drew while presiding over the Senate netted nearly $7,000 for NF, Inc. And now Wayne Berzon, a financial executive in Chicago who won the auction, is gifting the drawing back to the charity to raise even more cash by putting the image on a selection of T-Shirts, mugs, and other items. Profits from the items will go to the charity to help children who suffer from the disorder.

The drawing features single-line renditions of Senators Charles E. Schumer, Harry Reid, Dianne Feinstein and Edward M. Kennedy.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is one of the most common genetic disorders in the Untied States, affecting one in every 2,500 births. It is a disorder of the nervous system that causes tumors to form on the nerves anywhere in the body at any time, and can lead to disfigurement, deafness, blindness, seizures, bone deformities, and cancer. Half of the children born with the condition have no family history of the disorder, so it can strike in any family without warning.

Berzon is also talking to fast food chains and other business enterprises to use the doodle to promote the charity’s annual fundraising month in May.

Gillian Anderson Auctions X Files Memorabilia For Charity

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Gillian Anderson is auctioning off tickets to the premiere of the new X Files movie and some other very special items from the popular TV series, with all proceeds to go to great causes.

The X Files: I Want To Believe – starring Anderson, David Duchovny and Billy Connolly – opens in the US on July 25, and eBay has eight opportunities to attend the premiere in either London or LA up for grabs. And as if that is not exciting enough, the highest bidders will also meet Gillian Anderson in person.

“Starting this July, you’ll be able to bid on hundreds of items I have saved from the series – from signed magazine covers and stills to scripts to clothing to specialty items like FBI badges and even a Scully cross,” said Anderson. “Also… there are premiere tickets and a talk show or two where we can meet and take pictures backstage.”

Proceeds from the auction, which can be accessed through Gillian Anderson’s eBay page, will be split between Neurofibromatosis, Inc., Artists for a New South Africa, Buskaid, and the Salisbury Community Choir. The premiere tickets are on auction until July 17, and the merchandise auction runs from July 17 till August 7.

Celebrity "Doodle" Auction Sets Sales Record

Wed, 21 May 2008 10:33:35 -0000

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (20 May 2008) – The gavel has pounded, the auction has ended, and NF, Inc., the national non-profit organization that supports families affected by Neurofibromatosis, has set a new sales record for its celebrity “Doodle” auction.

The National Doodle Day celebrity “Doodle” auction, which began on May 8, has quadrupled its earnings from the auction, netting over $28,000. This year’s top ten celebrity Doodles include those donated by Gillian Anderson ($2,749.99), Neil Gaiman -Doodle #1 ($1,325.00), Seth Green ($882.00), Neil Gaiman – Doodle #2 ($660.00), Mark Snow ($611.00), David Duchovny ($610.00), Scarlett Johansson ($565.00), Garry Trudeau ($523.52), Jimmy Pickering ($517.49), and Wanda Sykes ($500.00).

“We are thrilled with this year’s auction results,” said Rosemary Anderson, a board member for NF, Inc. “We were hoping to increase last year’s total, but have been blown away by the bidding this year. Our heartfelt thanks go to all the celebrities, cartoonists, illustrators, artists, authors, musicians, and NF friends and relatives who generously donated Doodles or other items, and the wonderful people who bid on them.”

Last year’s auction, featuring a Doodle from presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama, netted nearly $7,000 for NF, Inc. The high bidder paid $2,075 for a picture that the Illinois senator drew while presiding over the Senate.

All proceeds raised from the auction will benefit NF Inc.’s education, advocacy, and coalition programs as well as research for treatments and a cure.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disorder that affects one in every 2,500 births, and is more common than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy and Huntington’s Disease combined. This progressive disorder affects all races, all ethnic groups and both sexes equally; there currently is no cure. Approximately half of all cases are the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation in a family with no history of neurofibromatosis.

To see the all of the 168 celebrity Doodles, visit www.doodledayusa.org. For more information about NF, please visit www.nfinc.org.

Celebrity Doodle Sale For Genetic Disorder

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:48:44 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

One of the most exciting celebrity auctions of the year will take place in May to raise funds for an organization supporting sufferers of a painful and disfiguring condition.

National Doodle Day will kick off on May 8 as part of Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month, and will mark the start of a week-long auction of over 100 celebrity doodles from stars such as Ellen DeGeneres, Scarlett Johansson, and Goldie Hawn. Money from the doodles, which were hand-drawn by each celebrity on a 5" by 8" card, will benefit Neurofibromatosis, Inc., a national organization that supports NF patients, their families, and research into the disorder.

The doodle auction runs from May 8 to 18, and follows a successful auction run by the organization last year that featured one-of-a-kind works of art from Cindy Crawford, Kathy Griffin, Kenny G, Josh Groban, Jay Leno, Rick Springfield, Donald Trump, and The Fonz himself, Henry Winkler. However, the highest bid went to a drawing from Barack Obama, which sold for a massive $2,075.

Funds raised from the Doodle Day auction this year will go to support education, advocacy, coalitions, and research for treatments and a cure. Other stars who have put their drawing skills to good use include Gillian Anderson, Candice Bergen, Jeff Bridges, David Cassidy, Dom DeLuise, Garfield creator Jim Davis, Julia Louis Dreyfus, David Duchovny, Seth Green, and many more. There is also an autographed photo and NCIS call-sheet from Mark Harmon on offer.

To view the doodles for sale, visit the Doodle Day website or www.nfinc.org.

Look To The Stars News: Neurofibromatosis, Inc.

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