Look To The Stars News: WWF

NYC Marathon Attracts Celebrities For Charity

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0000

The NYC Marathon took place last Sunday, and what a race! The NYC Marathon is one of the most difficult marathon courses around. However, that didn’t stop a long list of celebrities, athletes and even royalty from training and putting on their running shoes to benefit a long list of charities.

If we talked about them all, this article would be encyclopedic. To remedy that, here is the link to the NYC Marathon’s Famous Faces 2009 webpage which notes them all.

However, let’s talk about 10 of them. That’s a nice round number that captures both the breadth and diversity of charities represented in last week’s race.

Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winning actor Edward Norton ran for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. What’s interesting is he didn’t run the race alone: he ran with a group of 30. This group included other celebrities and several Maasai warriors. In addition, Norton has been promoting awareness of this charity via his Twitter stream. Seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette also ran to benefit the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, as did illusionist extraordinaire David Blaine, who ran 26.2 miles for the Trust.

 ER actor Anthony Edwards also ran the marathon. Edwards is the chairman of Shoe4Africa. He ran to raise funds for the new hospital in Kenya that Shoe4Africa will fund.

Model, actress, editor and author Veronica Webb ran to raise money for the Harlem United Community AIDS Center.

Robert Herjavec, a successful businessman and one of the sharks on ABC’s reality TV show “Shark Tank”, ran to raise funds for Team for Kids.

British TV personality, model and pop star Michelle Heaton ran to help Autism Action, a UK charity.  

Speedskating Olympic gold medalist Dan Jansen ran for ING Run for Something Better team. Pro-hockey player Pat LaFontaine also ran to benefit the ING Run for Something Better team.

Prince of the Netherlands and excutive, Prince Pieter Christiaan Michiel, ran to raise money for the WWF.

Be sure to click over to the Famous Faces 2009 site to read about the other celebrity participants and their charities. It’s simply inspiring to see so many notable people out there to help those less fortunate.

Celebrities Donate Items To Environmental Charity Auction

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0000

This year TVE marks its 25th anniversary as an award-winning media charity making films on the environment and development. And to celebrate, they have launched an amazing online auction.

Founded by WWF, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP} and Central Television in 1984, its original advisory panel included Sir David Attenborough, the Aga Khan and Dr Mostafa Tolba, head of the UN Environment Programme. Today tve films are broadcast in 172 countries, reaching 302 million homes via global satellite broadcasts and more than half a billion people on national, regional and local channels worldwide.

The auction launches on Thursday and includes an incredible array of items. Going under the hammer are a copy of Stephen Fry in America signed by Britain’s best-loved comic genius; a signed copy of designer, writer and television presenter Kevin McCloud’s Colour Now – to help you with those interior design challenges; the top worn by one of Britain’s most gifted actors, Emma Thompson, in the 1994 Hollywood comedy ‘Junior’; a signed copy of Sir David Attenborough’s Life on Air, telling the story of how he became Britain’s best-loved nature journalist, a signed copy of ‘Race to the Pole’, the story of Scott’s quest written by the man described as the world’s greatest living adventurer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes; a copy of ‘Trowel and Error’, signed by Britain’s favourite television gardener and presenter Alan Titchmarsh; items from actress Lily Cole; and much much more.

Bid for the Future, the eBay auction benefiting media charity tve, goes live on 5 November and lasts for ten days. For more info and to access the auction, click here.

Celebrities Send Messages Of Support For Earth Hour

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

This Saturday, March 28, will mark Earth Hour, an initiative of the WWF in which people around the world are being encouraged to switch their lights off between 8:30 and 9:30pm in a bid to reach the target of one billion people who are committed to fighting climate change.

Earth Hour has grown from a single event in Sydney, Australia, in March 2007 to a global phenomenon that will change the way the world sees climate change. On March 31, 2007, over 2.2 million people and 2,100 corporations in Sydney turned their lights off for an hour, creating an energy saving of 10.2% – that’s roughly the same as taking 48,000 cars off the road!

A number of celebrities have thrown their support behind the initiative and have spoken about its importance:

Edward Norton: “I am encouraging people toturn off their lights for one hour on March 28th at 8:30 p.m. – EarthHour – and join tens of millions of people around the world in the largest call to action on climate change in history. Earth Hour sends a powerful message to the world that we must act urgently before it’s too late. By turning out the lights, Americans will be casting a vote for action.”

Desmond Tutu: “Earth Hour is an opportunity for every man, woman and child from all corners of the globe to come together with a united voice and make a loud and powerful statement on the issue of climate change.”

Jo Dee Messina: “Earth Hour is such a great campaign. It lets something as simple as flicking a light switch become so much more. Earth Hour reminds everyone that if we all put in a little effort, we can achieve big results.”

Gavin DeGraw: “Not only is this going to be great for the environment, but it also shows how powerful an idea can be if people with different backgrounds, cultures, shapes, and sizes all work together. I’m not exactly sure what city, state, or country I will be in on March 28, 2009, but I look forward to sharing this monumental occasion with not only the locals but my friends, family, and all of my wonderful fans around the world.”

KT Tunstall: “In 2009, I’m going to join in for the first time on March 28th at 8.30pm and turn off every light, appliance and pull out all the plugs to support Earth Hour. Experience power to the people – fully off the grid!!”

Wynonna: “I think this hour can give people everywhere a chance to be mindful that we are all in this together and that we can – and will – make a difference.”

Dierks Bentley: “I think it’s an honor for Nashville to be included in the list of flagship cities being asked to help promote Earth Hour. Climate change is for real and I’d like for my daughter to enjoy this beautiful world as much as I have. Personally, I’m hoping to be down in one of the Lower Broadway honky-tonks at 8:30! Acoustic hour at Robert’s…Cool!”

Simple Plan: “Global warming and the devastating effects it has on our planet are among the most urgent and serious issues we face in the world today. It’s up to us to do our share, evolve, adapt and change the way we live. On March 28th, we can all get involved by doing something extremely simple: turn off the lights! It’s easy and a great way to send a message and let the world know that we care about the environment.”

Linkin Park: “Climate change is a crisis affecting the world right now, negatively impacting the Earth’s ecosystems and the strength and frequency of climate-related disasters such as drought, flooding, and catastrophic storms. Earth Hour is an opportunity for individuals to come together with one voice and declare that we are ready to tackle this critical issue head on.”

Backstreet Boys: “The Backstreet Boys are proud and excited to be a part of Earth Hour 2009. It is absolutely inspiring for the four of us to come together with millions of people from all over the globe for such an important and monumental cause. On March 28th at 8:30pm, put in your vote to take action against the climate crisis. Get creative for an hour. Turn off your bedroom lights and light some candles. Unplug the electric and serenade your sweetheart with an acoustic guitar ballad instead. Forget the microwave and indulge on that huge bowl of Captain Crunch you’ve been craving. You know that’s what we’ll be doing. Not necessarily in that order though.”

Other celebrities who have shown their support for the initiative include Coldplay, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond, Larry Flynt, Amy Grant, The Veronicas, Vince Gill, Cate Blanchett, Janeane Garofalo and Alanis Morissette.

To learn more about what you can do to join the campaign on Saturday, visit the Earth Hour website.

Earth Hour Extends To All Corners Of The Planet

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Several of New Zealand’s best loved singers will perform an hour-long acoustic concert live on radio to raise awareness of Earth Hour.

On Saturday, March 28, between 8.30pm – 9.30pm, people around the world are being encouraged to switch their lights off in a bid to reach the target of one billion people who are committed to fighting climate change. And to celebrate, Dave Dobbyn, Anika Moa, Op Shop and many more will perform live on More FM and be broadcasted around the country.

“In recognition of the importance of addressing issues such as climate change, MediaWorks is delighted to be supporting WWF New Zealand and their Earth Hour campaign across both our television and radio brands,” said Brent Impey, CEO of MediaWorks. “We look forward to doing our bit to get as many New Zealanders as possible to participate on the night.”

Earth Hour is a global annual event created by the WWF that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Held for the first time in 2007, Earth Hour is endorsed by the UN and celebrities such as Jeremy Piven, Edward Norton, Janeane Garofalo, Alanis Morissette and Desmond Tutu.

More information about events being held to celebrate Earth Hour can be found at the official Earth Hour website.

Metallica And Ozzy Donate To Charity

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Heavy metal legends Metallica will kick off their latest tour with two charity shows.

The Rock Gods will play a gig at O2 World in Berlin on September 12, to be followed by a concert at the O2 Arena in London three days later, with proceeds going to local charities which will be revealed in the next few weeks. Tickets are only available to the band’s fan club members and subscribers to www.MissionMetallica.com – the band’s website dedicated to their new album, Death Magnetic. The ticket price will be as low as £5 (US$10).

The band – who have performed at a variety of benefit concerts in the past, including Live Earth, the Bridge School concerts, and the Silverlake Conservancy – are no strangers to giving their concert proceeds to charity. Following their performance at Live Earth, the band’s drummer Lars Ulrich announced that fans could download the performance, with all money raised benefiting climate charities hand-selected by the band – including the Sierra Club, Apollo Alliance, WWF, and the Rainforest Action Network.

In other heavy metal news, Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Counting Crows, Black Tide, Kingdom of Sorrow, Devildriver, As I Lie Dying, and The Dillinger Escape Plan are some of the artists who have donated autographed items to the Ride For Dime charity auction. Autographed guitars, posters, CD sleeves and other rock memorabilia are all up for grabs to raise money for Ride For Dime, a charity named after former Pantera guitarist Darrell “Dime” Abbot, who was shot and killed onstage in 2004. The organization gives back to the charities that were of interest to Dime during his life as well as charities he would have been proud to be a part of. Ride For Dime will raise money on behalf of three charities, Little Kids Rock, Covenant House, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

The auction can be accessed via Ride For Dime’s eBay page.

Jeremy Piven Urges People To Support Earth Hour

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:29:02 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

On March 29, 2008, twenty cities in over six continents will turn off their lights for Earth Hour, a WWF event to raise awareness about climate change and symbolize that the people of the world can make a difference in the fight against climate change by simply working together. And actor Jeremy Piven is at the forefront of the campaign by narrating a new video about the event.

And according to Piven’s new video, which can be viewed at the Our Planet MySpace page, this year the event is going to be even bigger. Cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane, Manila, Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco have all pledged their support for the “Lights-Off” event.

“In 2008, Earth Hour goes global,” said Piven. “On March 29 at 8pm, join the global movement against global warming by turning your lights off for one hour. Turn out for Earth Hour.”

For more information about the event, visit the Earth Hour website.

Natalie Portman Films Documentary On Rwanda's Gorillas

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:49:08 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actress Natalie Portman has teamed up with wildlife expert Jack Hanna to make a TV special on the plight of gorillas in Rwanda.

The hour-long documentary, called Gorillas On The Brink, will go to air on the Animal Planet channel on October 26, and will feature the pair as they travel deep into the jungles of the Congo’s Virunga National Park in search of the endangered Mountain Gorilla.

The documentary follows the 26 year old star’s appearance at a gorilla naming ceremony held in Rwanda in July, in which a host of celebrities gathered to name 23 baby gorillas at a Rwandan wildlife sanctuary to raise awareness of the species’ possible extinction. Portman named her gorilla Ahazaza, which means “Future” in the native Rwandan language. Another was named in the memory of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, who was planning a trip to the African nation before being killed by a stingray while filming a documentary at the Great Barrier Reef in September 2006. His gorilla was named Ingufu, which means “Strength”.

According to figures published by the WWF, there are only 700 Mountain Gorillas left in the world, and just over half of these live around the lush Virunga volcanoes that straddle Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their populations are being decimated by conflict and poaching, although the efforts of several conservation organizations, such as the African Conservation Program and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, are trying to reverse this.

“This is one of the biggest conservation efforts in the world,” said Jack Hanna.

The plight of Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas first rose to the public’s attention after the 1988 film, Gorillas In The Mist, based on the book of the same name by famed gorilla conservationist, Dian Fossey. They have now become a tourist attraction for the war-stricken nation, although they are still at risk from fighting militias. Visitors pay up to $500 to gain access to the Virunga National Park, and the nation earned $36 million from tourism in 2006. The Government aims to raise $100 million per year from gorilla tourism by 2010.

“We have every good reason to celebrate these gorillas,” said Rosette Rugamba, Director General of the Rwanda Tourism Centre. “The benefits they have brought to our country and people speak volumes.”

Natalie Portman is not the only celebrity involved in the conservation of this unique species. New Zealand-born supermodel and patron of the Born Free Foundation, Rachel Hunter, has also launched a desperate plea to save the animals.

“I am not afraid to say I wept when I saw pictures of the shot gorillas,” she said in a double page advert in Britain’s The Sun newspaper following the publication of gruesome photos of gorillas being slaughtered by poachers. “Charities that work in the area have got together to fund round-the-clock patrols by park rangers for the next three months, but they need more funding to carry on. This is absolutely vital.”

The screening schedule for Gorillas On The Brink can be viewed at http://animal.discovery.com, and more information on the plight of the gorillas, including the very latest news from Rwanda, can be found at www.rwanda-gorillas.com.

Celebrity Auctions Tackle The Big Issues

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:29:11 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Thirteen of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood are creating a buzz with an internet auction taking place in October, in order to raise awareness of one of the biggest and most pervasive threats to life on Earth.

Ebay Giving Works, eBay’s program dedicated to charity listings, is hosting an online auction for the WWF, with 100% of the proceeds going to the World Wildlife Fund’s global conservation initiatives, especially those involved in the fight against climate change.

The auction, which runs from October 3 -12, features a series of 100% organic T shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Hotter Than I Should Be”. The shirts, which have created much interest in the media and Hollywood as a unique way to spread the message that the Earth is warming, have all been signed by a multitude of celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Orlando Bloom, Rachael Ray, Harrison Ford, and Cate Blanchett.

“Global warming is the single biggest threat to our environment today,” said John Donoghue, Senior Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund. “We’re thrilled with the overwhelming celebrity support we’ve received, and we are confident this auction will not only garner funds for our work, but will encourage individuals to take action in their own lives to stop climate change.”

The WWF is a leader in the field of climate science, and is a strong and persuasive advocate for the reduction of harmful greenhouse emissions and the increase of energy efficient technologies. For more than 45 years, the non-profit organization has been working to protect nature, and now provides cutting edge scientific research into areas of concern. With a dedicated team of experts in over 50 countries, the WWF focuses on 4 particular areas of impact: creating responsible global warming policies, working with businesses to reduce carbon dioxide levels, implementing adaptation plans to help the planet respond to climate change, and protecting the forests that help mitigate climate change.

The “Hotter Than I Should Be” online auction looks set to provide some much needed funding to the WWF’s ongoing research. Many of the shirts have already reached bids of over $300, with Orlando Bloom’s attracting bids close to $800. Other celebrities who have lent their signitures to the cause include Candice Bergen, Gisele Bundchen, Kevin Bacon, Paul Newman, Charlie Sheen, Cindy Crawford, and Susan Sarandon.

Unsigned “Hotter Than I Should Be” T shirts are also available with donations of over $50 to the WWF, and more information about the auction can be found at www.worldwildlife.org.

Also up for auction on eBay Giving Works in October is a series of pink rubber bath ducks, signed and decorated by celebrities such as Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Lucy Liu, and Matthew McConaughey.

The auction has been organized by Munchkin Inc, the makers of award winning infant and toddler products, as part of their Project Pink breast cancer awareness program, and runs from October 1 to November 4. All proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a non-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas, dedicated to education and research into the causes, treatment, and the search for a cure to breast cancer.

Other celebrities to design and sign rubber duckies include Brooke Shields, Desperate Housewives’ Marcia Cross, Charlie’s Angels’ Jaclyn Smith, and former First Lady Barbara Bush. The auction is hoped to raise over $30,000, and more information can be found at www.munchkin.com/projectpink.

Look To The Stars News: WWF

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