Look To The Stars News: Cancer Schmancer Movement

Fran Drescher To Host The Million Dollar Revival For Charity

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:30:00 -0000

The Million Dollar Revival, a benefit for Fran Drescher's Cancer Schmancer Movement organized by non-profit I HEART Inc, is an eclectic evening of live music and comedy true to the era of old-time variety shows taking place on December 13th, 2009 at the historic Million Dollar Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. The event promises to be a true Los Angeles-style melting pot of artists one would never imagine gracing the same stage, coming together for one night only in the fight against women’s cancers.

Hosted by Fran Drescher, the event features Jackson Browne, The Bird and the Bee, Olivia Newton-John, Beth Nielsen Chapman, The Wispertown2000, Chris Pierce, Arrica Rose & the …‘s, Charlotte Martin, Caitlin Crosby, Charlyne Yi, Mortified, Stilt World and more! There will be a special VIP party held immediately after the event at 213 Nightlife’s Broadway Bar.

I HEART’s Million Dollar Revival will raise funds for the Cancer Schmancer/Inner Images Fran Van Project. The Fran Vans are a mobile van service that will go directly to the neighborhoods of low income uninsured women throughout Los Angeles and provide them with preventative cancer education and information as well as the opportunity to sign up for local cancer screening tests and free follow-up care. Cancer Survivor, Actress, US Diplomat and Women’s Health Advocate Fran Drescher has dedicated her life to ensuring that all women, rich or poor, young or old, will only be diagnosed with cancer while in Stage 1 when it’s most curable. To this end she has begun the Cancer Schmancer Fran Van Project. In addition to funding the Fran Van Project, this event will also be a celebration of the rejuvenation and revitalization of downtown L.A.

I HEART Inc is an non-profit organization whose ultimate aim is to empower independent artists and their communities by encouraging artists to use the resources at their disposal (their creativity and their fanbase) to help raise money for charitable programs and organizations. In the process of raising awareness and much needed funds they also intend to expose participating artists to new fans as well as fellow artists who are utilizing their creativity to inspire change locally and globally.

For tickets and more info, click here.

Leeza Gibbons To Host Magic Of Memories Dinner

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Leeza Gibbons will join Fran Drescher in hosting the 6th annual Magic of Memories Dinner on April 25.

The event will take place at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach, California, and feature guests Larry King and Paul Mitchell CEO John Paul DeJoria. Tickets cost $250 per person, with proceeds going to benefit organizations such as the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, City of Hope, Food 4 Africa, Fran Drescher’s Cancer Schmancer Movement and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Last year’s event raised over $930,000 for charity, and this year they are planning to top that.

To find out more about the event, check out this website.

Celebrities To Run And Walk For Women

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) has announced that Revlon spokeswomen Jennifer Connelly and Jessica Alba, along with NBC late night host Jimmy Fallon, will host the 2009 EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women in New York taking place on Saturday, May 2, 2009.

The organization has also announced that Emmy-nominated star of ABC’s “Samantha Who” Christina Applegate will join with Miley Cyrus, her mother Tish Cyrus, Revlon spokeswoman Beau Garrett and “Dancing with the Stars” Carrie Ann Inaba at the Los Angeles event the following week on Saturday, May 9 during Mother’s Day weekend.

EIF’s Revlon Run/Walk event is one of the nation’s largest single-day fundraisers to support women’s cancer research, counseling and outreach programs in New York City and Los Angeles.

The 12th annual New York race starts in Times Square and finishes in the East Meadow of Central Park and attracts nearly 40,000 participants. The 16th annual Los Angeles Race takes place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park and attracts close to 60,000 participants each year. The EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women was launched in 1993 through the combined efforts of Lilly Tartikoff, Ronald O. Perelman, chairman of Revlon, Inc. and EIF. Since inception, nearly $55 million in grants have been made from the combined events in New York and Los Angeles.

“Hundreds of thousands of women and men have come out year after year to support the cause and for loved ones who have been personally affected by cancer. Their devotion and commitment to finding a cure is what has made the EIF Revlon Run/Walk so successful,” says Ronald O. Perelman, chairman of Revlon, Inc., co-founder of the Run/Walk and co-founder of the Revlon/UCLA Women’s Cancer Research Program. “Through significant advancement in education and research, so many women today are finding resources and treatments made available to them and with that aid they are beating the odds and surviving cancer.”

Proceeds from past EIF Revlon Run/Walks have funded cutting-edge research, contributing to the development of the breakthrough gene treatment Herceptin as well as other targeted therapies, bringing new and innovative treatment approaches to women’s cancers worldwide. Monies raised have also helped numerous organizations in providing education, advocacy and outreach services to those affected by women’s cancers.

“The heartfelt support that we receive each year for this event is overwhelming,” says Lilly Tartikoff, co-founder of the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women and co-founder of the Revlon/UCLA Women’s Cancer Research Program. “Every single person that participates helps to take us one step closer to a cure. Without our loyal supporters we would not be able to do this.”

“We are truly grateful to the entertainment community for their invaluable support, helping us raise much-needed funds for crucial research and support programs to help the women we love,” said Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. “Step by step, all who participate in this even bring change and hope to women everywhere, like my cousin Dawn. She heard our message to get screened and went for her first mammogram at age 40 to learn she had early stage breast cancer. While this has been a challenging year for her, she’s going to be okay.”

2009 New York event beneficiaries include: Actors Fund of America, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, CancerCare, Cancer Control Center of Harlem, Cancer Schmancer, Gilda’s Club NYC, Gouverneur Healthcare Services, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Nassau University Medical Center – The Breast Imaging Center, National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Women’s Cancer Research Alliance, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers of New York, William F. Ryan Community Health Center, and the YWCA of Brooklyn.

2009 Los Angeles event beneficiaries include: AltaMed Health Services Corporation, Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research & Training, Cancer Schmancer, Citrus Valley Medical Center, Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance, Providence Saint Joseph Foundation, Revlon/UCLA Women’s Cancer Research Program, Team Survivor Los Angeles, UCLA Digital Mammography Program, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, Wellness Community, and Women of Color Breast Cancer Survivors’ Support Project.

Information about the event is available here.

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 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.

Fran Drescher Eats, Drinks, And Is Merry For Charity

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fran Drescher attended the first ever Eat, Drink, And Be Merry event on September 20, to raise money for her Cancer Schmancer Foundation.

The day – held at the Trefethen Family Vineyards in the Napa Valley – was an outstanding success, with BMX bike races and a world-class auction that included lots such as: a walk on role in the HBO hit show Entourage; an afternoon of car racing with John and Loren Trefethen; and a Trefethen retrospective tasting and dinner for four at the French Laundry.

Drescher is currently in Europe, where she is acting as a Public Diplomacy Envoy for women’s health issues for the U.S. State Department. During her trip, the actress and cancer survivor will visit Hungary, Poland, Kosovo, and Romania to raise awareness about early cancer detection and patient empowerment.

Fran Drescher launched two charitable organizations in 2007, the Cancer Schmancer Foundation and the Cancer Schmancer Movement, both dedicated to ensuring that all women with cancer are diagnosed in Stage 1, when it is most curable. The Cancer Schmancer Foundation educates women on the risk factors, early warning signs, and tests that are available for early detection of women’s cancers. The Cancer Schmancer Movement advocates for improved women’s cancer healthcare legislation.

(photos copyright Jordan Brown and Francois Brahic)

Fran Drescher To Host Cancer Fundraiser

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Fran Drescher will attend the first ever “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry” event at the Trefethen Family Vineyards this weekend, and she wants YOU to be there too.

The event will raise funds for Drescher’s Cancer Schmancer Foundation, a leading healthcare advocate organization aimed to raise national awareness on women’s healthcare and cancer prevention. Well-known Chefs, Vintners and Comedians – including Peggy Fleming-Jenkins, Donna Scala and K.R. Rombauer – will all come together for an afternoon of food, wine and FUNdraising at the Napa Valley vineyard.

2008 marks a special year for Trefethen Family Vineyards: the winery celebrates its 40th anniversary. This is the first event the winery is doing to support cancer – a cause that has personal meaning to the Trefethen family. There is no better time to host an event that could both raise funds for cancer and celebrate an anniversary. The day will be filled with fun, including celebrity PMX bike races and a world-class auction that includes lots such as: a walk on role in the HBO hit show Entourage; an afternoon of car racing with John and Loren Trefethen; and a Trefethen retrospective tasting and dinner for four at the French Laundry.

The day starts at 11:30am on Saturday, September 20. The Trefethen Family Vineyards can be found at 1160 Oak Knoll Avenue, Napa, California. For more information and ticket prices, visit the Trefethen Family Vineyards website.

2008 Golden Globes Roundup

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:54:19 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

There may have been no red carpet, acceptance speeches, or flash of cameras for the winners of the 2008 Golden Globe Awards, but Look To The Stars takes this golden opportunity to recognize some of those who were honored and nominated.

Johnny Depp won his first Golden Globe after being nominated seven times since his career began, picking up the Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical award for Sweeney Todd. Despite his dark performance, there really is a lighter side to the actor. In the past, Depp’s charitable work garnered him the Courage to Care Award for his contributions to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The Best Actress Award went to veteran Julie Christie, who was up against heavyweights such as Angelina Jolie, an outstanding supporter and contributor to charitable causes. Some of the charities she has supported include the Afghanistan Relief Organization, the Alliance For The Lost Boys, Fran Drescher's Cancer Schmancer Movement, Doctors Without Borders, and the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

Daniel Day Lewis won Best Actor for his performance in “There Will Be Blood”, beating out celebrity humanitarians George Clooney and Denzel Washington. Like Jolie, Clooney is a major force in trying to make the world a better place, and he is a noted supporter of Cinema For Peace, Make Poverty History, Rock For Darfur, United Way, and the World Food Programme. Washington has spent time visiting wounded soldiers at Fisher Houses, hospitals which provide housing for injured soldiers’ families at little or no cost, and once made a large donation to the Fisher House Foundation. He is also the spokesperson for the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America, honorary chairperson for Save Africa's Children, and a founding member of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.

Australian-born Cate Blanchett took home the gold in the category for Best Supporting Actress. Charities Blanchett supports include the Australian Conservation Foundation, Kids Help Line, and SolarAid. In the past, Blanchett filmed a special appeal for SolarAid that was screened at the Hay Festival. The video is available to view on YouTube.

Queen Latifah took home the Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a TV Movie/Miniseries, for her role in “Life Support”. A supporter of several charities, Queen Latifah once helped design a pair of shoes for the Stuart Weitzman charity shoe auction benefiting ovarian cancer awareness and research, and has been involved with Citymeals On Wheels and the Harry Holmberg Memorial Foundation.

Jeremy Piven beat his “Entourage” co-star Kevin Dillon to win his second award for Best Supporting TV Actor. Piven once hosted the fourth annual Fashion Rocks event, which benefited Alicia Keys' Keep A Child Alive Foundation.

Congratulations to all the winners and the nominees for all the work that you do in front of the camera and behind the scenes to inspire a better world.

2007 - The Year The Stars Gave Back

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:11:14 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

2007 was a year of giving, both on grand and not-so-grand scales. Celebrities from all fields, be it movies, music, sport or general entertainment, showed compassion beyond the call of duty, and in most cases had a lot of fun doing it.

Without a doubt, one of the biggest events of the year was Live Earth in July, where stars new and old shone in all of the corners of the Earth to raise awareness of the plight of the planet. The shows were generally well-received, and led to organizer Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

But celebrities also participated in smaller, more personal acts of kindness in 2007. Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Melissa Gilbert, and Michael Douglas all donated their time to feed the hungry at the Los Angeles Mission, Fran Drescher launched the Cancer Schmancer Movement, and Ewan McGregor visited UNICEF projects during his epic motorcycle trip across Africa.

In January, Kevin Bacon launched www.sixdegrees.org, a website designed to marry the concepts of social internet networks and charities. The site aims to help people fundraise for their chosen causes, and features celebrities such as Kyra Sedgwick and Ashley Judd.

Bette Midler, founder of the New York Restoration Project, launched the Million Trees NYC initiative with Mayor Michael Bloomberg in October, to get city dwellers to plant more trees. The project plans to increase New York’s urban forest by 20% in the next ten years.

“To walk under the branches of a tree that you have planted connects you to the roots of our past and the aspirations of our future,” said the 62-year-old singer and actress.

Another singer with a sense of community in 2007 was Jon Bon Jovi who, as well as participating in various benefit concerts, also worked with Project HOME to revitalize a deteriorated lot in Philadelphia and transform it into homes for fifteen families.

And then there was Shakira, co-founder of the Latin America for Solidarity Fund and Pies Descalzos, who donated $40 million to victims of natural disasters in Peru and Nicaragua, and another $5 million to benefit education programs for children across Latin America.

The California wildfires that ravaged much of the state in November also spawned a spate of celebrity donations, with Linkin Park, the Eagles, and Gwen Stefani all making substantial contributions to both victims and firefighters.

American Idol gave back in April, with two shows that raised over $60 million to benefit organizations funding relief programs in America and Africa, featuring performances by Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, and others. Organized by Simon Cowell, American Idol Gives Back also led to a $100,000 donation by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

Another talk show host to shine this year was Oprah Winfrey, who opened a state-of-the-art school in South Africa for disadvantaged girls.

“I am creating everything in this school that I would have wanted for myself—so the girls will have the absolute best that my imagination can offer,” said the 53-year-old, who poured $40 million of her own money into the project.

Brad Pitt took on the mission of rebuilding New Orleans by donating $5 million towards new houses, and also set up the Make It Right Foundation to assist in his work. Meanwhile, his wife Angelina Jolie set out to do what her character Lara Croft does best – save the world. As well as donating $100,000 to build the Duk Lost Boys Medical Clinic in the Sudan in March, Jolie also traveled to Iraq and Syria to raise support for those displaced by war.

Although literally tonnes of articles were written about Jolie’s efforts during 2007, even more was reported on Don Cheadle's and George Clooney's work to publicize the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The stars of Ocean’s Thirteen established a charity for the Sudanese region called Not On Our Watch, and personally raised over $9 million to help those affected by conflict in the region. The pair were awarded a special peace prize by Nobel laureates for their efforts.

And no round up of the year’s events can be complete without mention of Bono, who continued being Bono by doing what Bono does best – raising awareness for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the needy, and the disadvantaged.

We at Look To The Stars would like to wish all of our readers a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year, and we look forward to continuing to bring you celebrity charity news in 2008.

Fran Drescher Launches Cancer Schmancer Movement

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:28:49 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

On June 21, Fran Drescher, star of television series The Nanny and author of Cancer Schmancer, announced the national launch of the Cancer Schmancer Movement. This day also marked her own anniversary of seven years of wellness. A survivor of uterine cancer due to early detection, Drescher’s goal is to realize a world where “no woman will die from cancer as a result of late stage diagnosis.” She wants “to ensure that all women’s cancers are diagnosed in Stage 1, when they are most curable.”

To help her get the word out, she has asked Angelina Jolie, whose mother died from cancer, for her support. Drescher said, “Ever since her mom died, she has been a great supporter of the foundation. She really reached out, which is wonderful.”

The non-profit organization will encourage women to take responsibility for their own health by paying attention to their bodies, developing better partnerships with doctors and getting the female voice recognized by legislators through the power of votes.

“I feel I got famous, I got cancer and I lived to talk about it so it’s given me a sense of purpose to my life that I didn’t have before. And I think what I’m doing is important and very necessary.”

Look To The Stars News: Cancer Schmancer Movement

Fran Drescher To Host The Million Dollar Revival For Charity

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