Look To The Stars News: Wounded Warrior Project

Trace Adkins To Play Charity Gig For Wounded Warriors

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

On September 25 and 26, Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) Soldier Ride will visit Nashville, Tennessee. Soldier Ride, which debuted in 2004, is Wounded Warrior Project’s rehabilitative cycling program for wounded warriors.

The segmented rides raise public awareness for those that have been injured while fighting overseas. All participants are provided with the adaptive equipment they need to cycle regardless of their disabilities.

The festivities kick off on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. with a “Southern Shindig” music event at the Loveless Barn (www.lovelessbarn.com). Country music superstar Trace Adkins will perform a special acoustic set. Mr. Adkins has previously donated proceeds from the downloads of his song “Til The Last Shot’s Fired” as part of a performance at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards. Radio personality Bob Kingsley will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Tickets are available at www.southernshindig.org.

Other highlights include a performance by wounded warrior Sal Gonzalez, who was injured in Iraq in 2004 resulting in the amputation of his left leg. Tickets are on sale now and include dinner, beer and wine and entertainment. All proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

On Sat., Sept. 26, the ride will begin with an opening ceremony at Edwin Warner Park. Local residents can register online for this special bicycle ride through Nashville. To learn more, purchase tickets or register, go to: www.southernshindig.org. Soldier Ride Nashville is being held in honor of Army Master Sergeant James “Tre” Ponder of Franklin, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.

Wounded warrior Heath Calhoun, who participated in the first ever Soldier Ride, then a coast to coast event, currently lives in Clarksville and is available for interviews.

“Soldier Ride was a life-changing experience for me,” said Calhoun, who lost both of his legs while fighting in Iraq. “The healing power involved with pushing your broken body to the limit is not easily put into words.”

Wounded Warrior Project also offers services and programs like careers and benefits counseling, advocacy initiatives and post-traumatic stress seminars to ensure that this is the most successful and well-adjusted generation of veterans in our nation’s history.

LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With Jon Huertas

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Linda St Cyr

Actor Jon Huertas, who stars as Detective Javier Esposito on ABC’s “Castle”, recently spoke to Look To The Stars’ Linda St.Cyr about his support of the Wounded Warrior Project and Puppies Behind Bars, two charities he is passionate about.

Last month, Huertas attended a graduation ceremony at the Berthoud Community Center in Colorado for veterans who have completed an intensive two week training course with new service dogs.

Hi Jon, it’s great to hear from you. How was your trip to Colorado?

Hi Linda. It was great, thanks for asking. Getting to meet the vets who graduated with their puppies was an amazing experience.

I read that you were in the Air Force. How long did you serve?

I served 8 years in the Air Force and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I believe it is a rite of passage to becoming a man. In the military you are responsible for another person’s life and lots of very expensive equipment. The responsibility you are given makes you grow from a boy into a man.

Is your experience in the Air Force what led you to getting involved with the Wounded Warrior Project?

Yes and No. A friend of mine, Rudy Reyez from “Generation Kill”, got me involved with the Wounded Warrior Project. It is important for those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) to know that there is help out there. The Wounded Warrior Project is dedicated to educating and providing programs and services for severely injured veterans between active duty and the transition to civilian life.

By being involved with both the Wounded Warrior Project and Puppies Behind Bars, I feel I am still connected to the military which helped shaped me into the man I am. It is my way of giving back.

Are there any other charities or causes that you support?

I’m pretty busy with shooting the next season of “Castle” so the only charities I really support are WWP and PBB but I did donate to some friends who are in a Triathlon on Sunday for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

That counts! What would you like the public to know about WWP and PBB?

I really want to raise awareness for regular civilians to get involved and give back to the people who have served them in the military. These men and women have given their lives to protecting the freedom’s we have and this is a way for civilians to give back.

You have been on a lot of television shows including “Castle”, “Generation Kill”, “NCIS”, “CSI”, and “Without a Trace”. Is there one project that has been your favorite?

My favorite project to work on has been “Generation Kill”. The story is so important and it is based on real marine’s who led an assault on Baghdad in 2003.

“Generation Kill” has been nominated for some Emmy Award’s. How many?

It has been nominated for 11 Emmy Awards. It has been truly amazing working on the show. Credit goes to the writers of the show. Acting is easy when the story telling is good.

Since you are involved with Puppies Behind Bars, it leads me to believe, you love dogs. Do you have any pets?

I do. I have two Basenji dogs.

Are there any other projects you are working on?

“Castle” is keeping me busy but when the shoot is over I am planning on taking a three week course to get my pilot’s license.

Good luck! Thank you for granting Look to the Stars this interview, Jon. It has been a pleasure.

Thank you. Give me a call next year and we will do an interview while I’m flying!

To find out more about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit their website. More information about Puppies Behind Bars can be found here.

Lady Gaga To Take Part In BGC Charity Day

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

BGC Partners, a leading international inter-dealer brokerage firm, will hold its fifth annual star-studded BGC Charity Day on Friday, September 11.

BGC is a leading inter-dealer brokerage firm affiliated with Cantor Fitzgerald, the company that suffered the heaviest loss of life during the Twin Towers tragedy in New York on September 11th, 2001. BGC is proud to continue its legacy of fundraising on behalf of a wide range of charitable causes, with proceeds this year going to charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project, Boomer Esiason Foundation, The Children’s Institute, Mercy Center, The Valerie Fund, Childhelp USA, Garden of Dreams, Jubilee Center, Bone Marrow Foundation, Coast to Coast Against Cancer and many more.

Every year, the event offers the chance for celebrities to act as financial brokers and help raise money by conducting real trades with BGC’s clients (the major banks and investment banks) over the phone from the trading floor (alongside a licensed broker). From these trades, worth millions of dollars in bonds, foreign exchange, derivatives and other products, BGC will aim to surpass last year’s total of $8 million globally, which brought the four-year total raised on BGC’s Charity Day to $23 million.

This year will see a host of stars take part, including Whoopi Goldberg, Anthony Edwards, Chace Crawford, Charles Grodin, Gary Sinise, Lady Gaga, Kathleen Turner and many more.

For a full list of benefiting charities around the world and more information, click here.

Trace Adkins To Perform For Wounded Warriors

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Country singer Trace Adkins is planning a special performance in honor of wounded U.S. troops at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards show in April.

The singer will perform “Til the Last Shot’s Fired” with the West Point Glee Club in support of the Wounded Warrior Project on April 5 in recognition of the Academy’s re-branded charitable fund, ACM Lifting Lives.

“It’s a privilege to perform this song with such a distinguished choir for the great servicemen and women in whose honor it was written,” said Adkins. “We should always let our military know how much we appreciate them putting their lives on the line for us every day.”

The song also appears on Adkins’ newest album, X, and profits from digital downloads of the song on iTunes will benefit the WWP.

“The WWP provides an incredible service to those wounded in combat, so it’s an honor to donate proceeds of the performance downloads to support this important and worthy charity,” he said.

The ACMs will be held in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. and broadcast live eastern/delayed Pacific on CBS.

“The Academy of Country Music has changed the name of its charity to encompass all existing charitable giving and not just the charitable fund, which is our grant-giving program,” said Dennis Lord, chairman of the board for Lifting Lives. “We also wanted a name that explains our focus, namely, lifting people up through the power of music. Lifting Lives is a powerful, alliterative way of communicating our mission, and it speaks of our audacious plans for the future.”

Stars Become Brokers For BGC Charity Day

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

BGC will hold its 4th Annual Global Charity Day on Thursday 11th September.

Consistent with its theme, “Working Globally – Giving Locally”, BGC’s offices around the world will raise money for charity as they commemorate September 11 by reaching out to help others.

In New York, London, Paris, Sydney and Hong Kong, celebrities from the worlds of music, stage, screen and sport will join the company’s brokers to help raise money for a number of selected charities. All of BGC’s global revenues generated from the day’s trading will be donated to charity.

Events will take place around the globe, with celebrities becoming stock brokers for a day. In New York, stars such as Tony Sirico, Donald Trump, Steve Buscemi, Regis Philbin, Matthew Modine, Leighton Meester, and Scott Gomez will become traders on Wall Street, while in London, Prince Charles will join Kevin Spacey and Jerry Hall in the City to trade on the markets.

Charities that will benefit from this year’s Charity Day will include: Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, Scope, the Jodie Kidd Foundation, the Prince’s Trust, Baby Buggy, the Rainbow Trust, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Variety Club, the National Down Syndrome Society, the Valerie Fund, the Wounded Warrior Project, Nordoff-Robbins, and many more.

The annual Charity Day has raised over $15 million for charities around the world. For more information about this year’s events, visit the BGC website.

Tony Soprano's Clothes Make A Killing For Charity

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tony Soprano always got what he wanted, and it seems this is true in charity as well as life. The auction of costumes from the long-running HBO series The Sopranos has raised $187,750 for an organization that aids wounded soldiers.

Twenty five outfits worn by James Gandolfini in the series went under the hammer at Christies in New York on Wednesday, with proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project. The actor, who produced and appeared in the TV special Memories, Home From Iraq, attended the auction with a wounded soldier from the non-profit organization.

The biggest sale of the day came from Tony Soprano’s blood splattered trousers, undershirt and shirt, worn when the mob boss was gunned down by Uncle Junior in Season Six of the series. The outfit was snapped up for $43,750. Also up for sale were the boxer shorts and blue bathrobe belonging to the iconic character, which went out the door for $21,250.

All of the costumes were authenticated by Gandolfini, and most of them had their original production tags still attached.

Tony Soprano - Still Making His Mark From Beyond The Grave

Wed, 28 May 2008 11:36:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Is Tony Soprano really dead? Well, one thing is for certain – you can now get hold of his clothes in a new charity auction.

James Gandolfini, who starred on the hit HBO series The Sopranos for six seasons, is selling off 24 outfits, including the button-down blue shirt he wore in the opening credits and the bathrobe he donned to fetch the morning newspaper. The lots will go under the hammer in a Christie’s pop culture auction in New York on June 25, with all proceeds going to a charity that helps wounded U.S. troops.

Also up for grabs are a selection of costumes worn by other “Sopranos” characters, including Junior Soprano, Paulie Walnuts and A.J. Soprano, although the proceeds for these items will not go to charity.

The beneficiary of Gandolfini’s wardrobe is the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit group that assists severely wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The Wounded Warrior Project is thankful for James Gandolfini’s commitment to our organization,” said John Melia, WWP Executive Director and founder. “His public support and generous donation gives a worldwide voice to the severely wounded men and women WWP assists. Our motto is ‘The Greatest Casualty is Being Forgotten’, and with Mr Gandolfini’s support, we will ensure this doesn’t happen.”

Estimates for the costumes start at $500, and Gandolfini’s items are expected to reach up to $36,500.

More information can be found at www.christies.com.

Goldberg, Keitel Trading for Charity

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:40:37 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

On Tuesday, September 11th, celebrity guests will join brokerage firm BGC’s third annual Charity Day, assisting the brokers to raise money for good causes. Stars such as Whoopi Goldberg, Harvey Keitel, Eli Wallach and Yogi Berra will join brokers in conducting real, live trades. 100% of the commissions raised on the day will go to charities such as Blythedale Children’s Hospital, Books for Kids Foundation, Cancer Research Institute, NARSAD Mental Health Research, Project FIND and the Wounded Warrior Project.

A different celebrity will appear on the trading floor every hour, beginning with the New York Jets’ Freeman McNeil at 9 am, Yogi Berra at 10 and Harriet Harris of Desperate Housewives and Frasier at 11. Next to arrive will be Tony Sirico of the Sopranos, who is raising funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. He will be joined by several of the brave service men and women supported by the charity.

At one o’clock, Whoopi Goldberg and Eli Wallach are scheduled to arrive. The rest of the afternoon is scheduled to feature Robert Funaro of The Sopranos; former New York Jet Boomer Esiason, Roy White, formerly of the NY Yankees, former NY Mets’ Ed Kranepool and former NY Knicks’ Earl Monroe along with NY Giants’ lineman Grey Ruegamer and the New York Red Bulls’ Joe Vide.

The above celebrities and charities are set to appear at the firm’s downtown New York trading floor, though the Charity Day is a global event. Celebrities appearing in the London and Paris offices include Sir Alex Ferguson, Rory Bremner, Chris Evans, Lisa Faulkner, Jason Flemyng, Nigel Haver, Sir Steve Redgrave, Stephane Pasquier, Paul-Henri Mathieu and Julien Benneteau.

Charities supported by the trading firm’s offices in Asia, Australia and Europe include: DebRA, Multiple Sclerosis, National Literacy Trust, Sparks, The Peter O’Sullevan Trust, UK Youth, Walk The Walk, Well Child, Wooden Spoon, Bobby Moore Fund, Chance to Shine, Chase, Honey Pot, Winston’s Wish, The Paul Hunter Foundation, Barnardo’s, The Shane Warne Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Children’s Cancer Foundation, La Licorne and The Solidarity Fund (established to help victims of the fires in Greece).

Oprah Tops Celebrity Philanthropy A-List

Sat, 12 May 2007 08:24:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

A list of the 30 largest public donations made by celebrities in the past year puts Oprah in the top spot.

The Giving Back Fund, which encourages and advises on celebrity philanthropy, compiles its list each year. President Marc Pollick said, “Encouragement-by-example is the main reason for the Giving Back 30 list.”

Oprah gave $58.3 million to Oprah’s Angel Network and her recently-opened Leadership Academy.

Of the other celebrities high on the list, Barbra Streisand was in fourth spot, having given $11.75 million through her Streisand Foundation.

Tiger Woods took fifth place, giving $9.5 million to organisations including the Tiger Woods Learning Center funded by the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Giving Back’s Marc Pollick praised an increasing trend in celebrity donations, saying, “Ten years ago when Slate magazine first published the Slate 60 reporting on the most generous American philanthropists, the last donor on their list gave $5 million. This year the last donor donated $30 million to charity. This is the type of growth we are hoping to inspire within the sports and entertainment community. One cannot help but be influenced by the generosity of his or her peers.”

The full list and information about how it was compiled can be found at givingback.org. This site has previously reported on many of the list’s featured celebrities and their donations; a comprehensively linked version of the list appears below:

Position	Celebrity	Donation	Cause(s)
1	Oprah Winfrey	$58,300,000	Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Oprah’s Angel Network, and other groups
2	Geoffrey Beene	$44,000,000 (bequest)	Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
3	Jack and Marie Lord	$40,000,000 (bequest)	Hawaii Community Foundation
4	Barbra Streisand	$11,750,000	Streisand Foundation, numerous civil liberties, environmental, and civil rights organizations “dedicated to democratic values”
5	Tiger Woods	$9,500,000	Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D. Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund, and other Tiger Woods Foundation programs
6	Rosie O’Donnell	$5,700,000	Katrina Relief efforts including Renaissance Village (a temporary shelter for Katrina victims), day care centers, a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, and a Habitat For Humanity sub division in Baton Rouge
7	Martha Stewart	$5,000,000	New York’s Mt. Sinai Hospital for a center on healthy aging
8	Carmelo Anthony	$4,282,000	CAF Youth Center in Baltimore, AAU Basketball, Syracuse University Recreational Center, and other charities
9	Pat Boone & Shirley Boone	$3,000,000	Pepperdine University for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology Center for the Family
9	LeRoy Neiman	$3,000,000	The School of the Art Institute of Chicago to support a Master’s class in figure drawing
11	Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt	$2,415,000	School and Community Center in Swakopmund in Namibia, Daniel Pearl Foundation, Namibian hospitals, Doctors Without Borders, Global Action for Children and others
12	Nicolas Cage	$2,000,000	Amnesty International for a fund to help child soldiers
12	Dwayne Johnson (“The Rock”) and Dany Garcia Johnson	$2,000,000	University of Miami to name new Alumni Center living room
12	Paul McCartney	$2,000,000	Adopt-A-Minefield
12	Arnold Palmer	$2,000,000	Pledged to the Arnold Palmer Foundation ultimately to benefit the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
16	David Geffen	$1,600,000	David Geffen Foundation
17	Susan Saint James and Dick Ebersol	$1,300,000	The Gunnery to help pay for a new dormitory in memory of their son Teddy killed in a plane crash
18	Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg	$1,250,000	Boston University to renovate facilities
19	Andre Agassi	$1,070,000	Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
20	Tiki and Ronde Barber and family	$1,000,000	University of Virginia to support the McIntire School of Commerce, the Virginia Athletics Foundation, Childrens Hospital, a scholarship fund for African-American students, the Young Alumni Council, and to challenge young alumni to participate in the capital campaign
20	Bob Barker	$1,000,000	Georgetown University to endow a fund at its law school that will focus on the study of animal rights
20	Gloria Estefan	$1,000,000	The Miami Project
20	Dr. Phil McGraw & Robin McGraw	$1,000,000	Dr. Phil Foundation
20	George Steinbrenner & family	$1,000,000	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for Boshamer Stadium for baseball
20	Tony Stewart	$1,000,000	Victory Junction Gang Camp
20	Denzel Washington	$1,000,000	Save Africa’s Children
27	Mike Sexton	$560,000	Special Olympics, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, Children, Inc., Wounded Warrior Project, Ohio State University, and other charities
28	Lance Armstrong	$500,000	Lance Armstrong Foundation
28	Dolly Parton	$500,000	Fort Sanders Medical Center
28	Elizabeth Taylor	$500,000	New Orleans AIDS Task Force to purchase mobile medical unit for AIDS sufferers in New Orleans

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