Look To The Stars News: Comic Relief

Gordon Ramsay Gets Saucy For Charity

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:30:00 -0000

British chef Gordon Ramsay has created a new range of sources to provide a sauce of funds for Comic Relief … sorry, let’s try that again. British chef Gordon Ramsay has created a new range of sauces to provide a source of funds for Comic Relief.

At least 10p from the sale of every jar of Seriously Good sauces will fund Comic Relief charity projects in the UK and around the world. Available in five flavors – including Bolognese & Red Wine and Spicy Red Pepper & Spianata Sausage – the sauces have taken three years for the chef and his team to develop.

“I’ve seen first hand the difference money raised through Comic Relief can make, which inspired me to get involved,” said Ramsay. “We’ve created a range inspired by the Mediterranean using only top quality ingredients. As you know, I don’t do anything by halves but don’t take my word for it – just put one into your trolley and you’ll be helping Comic Relief.”

The sauces will be sold all year round in supermarkets, with a recommended retail price of £1.89.

Eddie Izzard Completes 43 Marathons For Charity

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British comedian and actor Eddie Izzard has completed his massive charity marathon challenge.

The actor set out in August to run 1000 miles and raise money for Sport Relief – a part of Comic Relief – and the 47-year-old finished his odyssey across Britain on Tuesday when he crossed the finish line at London’s Trafalgar Square.

“I feel dead!” he said as the London rain fell around him.

The challenge saw Izzard run 43 marathons in 52 days, a feat that Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis described as “amazing.”

“What I so admire is the length of it,” said Curtis. “He’s been doing it for so long, every single day. [These celebrities] are really putting themselves on the line for these issues. People in schools and at home think ‘Well, if Eddie can do that, then I can certainly do something to raise money and help people’.”

Double Donations For Eddie Izzard's Epic Charity Run

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:35:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Comedian Eddie Izzard is running over 1000 miles around the UK for charity, and an anonymous donor is helping every last mile count double.

Eddie’s running his 39th almost-consecutive marathon today in support of Sport Relief, and with only five more marathons remaining before he reaches his destination in London on Tuesday 15th September, a donor has promised to match up to £43,000 ($71,000) in donations made by midnight on Sunday 20th September.

In exhausted breaks between his full days of running, Izzard has been sharing via twitter how significant even a small donation can be:

“£6 ($10) could pay for enough school books for a whole year for an 8-year-old street child in Bangladesh.”

“£15 ($25) could provide essential drugs so 20 Ugandan children with malaria survive until they reach hospital.”

“£10 ($16) could pay for an hour’s counselling for an older person who has been abused.”

Sport Relief is a fundraising initiative for the UK Comic Relief campaign, harnessing the power and passion of sport to change lives for the better.

Donating online takes just a few moments, and your donation will now provide twice the help; just click here.

UK residents can also donate by simply texting EDDIE to 66609; they’ll be charged £5 plus the standard network rate, of which at least £3.37 goes to Sport Relief. Click here for more information, or donate online.

Eddie Izzard Runs For Sport Relief

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Comedian Eddie Izzard has just set out from London for a 1000-mile run to raise money for Sport Relief, which supports Comic Relief, a charity that helps vulnerable people in need both at home in the UK and abroad.

Izzard’s effort is a serious marathon challenge with comedic results, at least when reading the Press Association’s report: Running 30 miles per day, Izzard achieved a blister and bandaged leg by day two, following a damaged hamstring and shin problems during his mere four-week training period. “He is not a runner,” says Izzard’s publicist.

The pay back, however, is more than honking horns from passing fans in recognition of his daily run. It’s in getting kids with behavioural problems into team sports, child labourers in Bangladesh into school, abused children off the streets of Brazil and finding homes and care for AIDS orphans in Zambia.

Support for Izzard’s run can be made at www.eddieizzard.com, and twitterers can follow him at www.twitter.com/eddieizzard.

Annie Lennox Blogs About South African Violence

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Annie Lennox recently visited South Africa for a concert to raise money for the SING Campaign, and has blogged about the violence between small township residents and police.

Violent protests recently erupted in about 20 South African townships due to a lack of confidence in the Government and to protest the lack of jobs, housing, water, sanitation and electricity.

“If any of you are at all interested in South Africa, then this is a sobering read,“ she wrote, referring to an article in The Guardian. "The issues of endemic/systemic poverty are complex in every way, and yet the fundamental human rights premise is straightforward….Would you let a dog live this way??? When people have nothing to lose, they really do have nothing to lose.

“In a country where so many have so little, and a minority have so much, with “extreme lifestyles” living cheek by jowl… it begs the question of “sustainability”.

“In the days of apartheid, the impoverished classes were reined in and suppressed by force. Now that the post apartheid honeymoon is over, it remains to be seen what will happen.

“But one thing is pretty certain… If those in power do not respond appropriately and effectively, then the parts of the country will most likely implode into a downwards spiral of ( more) violence and dissent.

“The ANC totally need to pull their finger out… and fast! ‘Let us work together”?…. Actions now… come on!!!“

The full blog can be read on Annie Lennox’s official website.

While in South Africa, Lennox also got together with Comic Relief to visit the Mothers 2 Mothers project. The Project was founded by Dr. Mitchell Besser in 2001 and has developed from a single support group in Cape Town to a multinational NGO in just over four years. The project aims to create an effective, sustainable model of care that provides education and support for pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV/AIDS.

To see footage from the visit, click here.

Harry Potter To Spin Magic For Comic Relief

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Two Harry Potter spin-off books are to be reprinted, with some of the proceeds going to charity.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through The Ages were penned by JK Rowling, and are now back by popular demand – reformatted and with brand new jackets. Both are packed full of fascinating facts and intriguing information – giving new and loyal readers even more background on this magical world. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or brand new to Potter, when you buy one of these novels, you’re doing something amazing.

And the best thing is, Rowling has agreed that £1.15 from the sale of each will go to Comic Relief. The money that Comic Relief receives from the sale of each book will go towards helping people living really tough lives both in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries.

So be sure to look out for these extra special novels – in bookstores and online now.

Celebrities Do Whatever It Takes For Charity

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A huge selection of celebrity-designed bags and T-shirts are currently available at the UK’s premiere celebrity charity auction website, Buy Once Give Twice.

The auction site is hosting the auction for Whatever It Takes, a unique charity artwork project which inspires hope by gathering artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, sports, literature etc. The artworks are used to ethically produce Whatever It Takes products which are then sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader.

Going under the hammer in the auction are T-shirts featuring designs by The Killers, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Nicole Kidman, Hilary Duff, Lucy Liu, Toni Collette, Coldplay, Minnie Driver, Keane, Whoopi Goldberg, Green Day, Barry Manilow, Penelope Cruz, Melanie C, Annie Lennox, and the Kaiser Chiefs. There are also bags and purses designed by Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Lucy Liu, Kanye West, Slash, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, and Stella McCartney.

Charities supported by Whatever It Takes include: Adopt-A-Minefield, Anti-Slavery International, Breast Cancer Campaign, CARE, Children of the Andes, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Christian Children’s Fund, City at Peace, Comic Relief, Dreams Can Be Foundation, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Greenpeace, Healthlink Worldwide, Heifer International, Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, Red Cross, LIFEbeat, LifeLine & Rape Crisis PMB, Opportunity International, Oxfam, ROTA, Rights and Humanity, S.A.F.E., Save the Children, Sharon Osborne Colon Cancer Program, Snoop Youth Football League, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Teenage Cancer Trust, The BRIT Trust, Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, Little Dreams Foundation, Lotus Outreach, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Toothfairy Foundation, Trade plus Aid, UNHCR, UNICEF, and WaterAid.

To make a bid in the auction, which runs until June 30, click here.

Justin Timberlake To Climb Kilimanjaro For Charity

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Justin Timberlake is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.

The pop singer has been recruited – along with rapper Lupe Fiasco – by Ethiopian-born pop star Kenna for the mission, to raise awareness of the world water crisis.

This latest charity attempt on Africa’s highest mountain follows the successful climb carried out by a group of British and Irish stars earlier this year, including Take That’s Gary Barlow and Boyzone’s Ronan Keating. Their climb raised over £3,326,142 for Comic Relief.

Timberlake’s climb has a special significance for Kenna, whose hits include Out Of Control.

“My dad almost died as a child from waterborne diseases in Ethiopia, and he had talked to me about digging a well there, and I thought, ‘I have too many friends who would be concerned with the subject of clean water,“ he said. "Maybe I can help out.’"

And it is a challenge Lupe Fiasco is looking forward to: "I’m an adventure junkie. Part of the motivation is beating Kenna to the top. Sabotaging his tent, taking the lining out of his coat, lacing it with ants or something like that. [The water crisis in Africa] is a universal problem; it’s all mounting to the point where eventually there’s no clean water left. If I did a song, it would be jam-packed with so much information, it would almost be like we fit the substance of an entire interview in three and a half minutes.“

The climb is expected to take place later this year.

Red Nose Day TV Special Breaks Records

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

BBC’s Red Nose Day television extravaganza, Funny For Money, raised over £57 million (US$80 million) on Friday night, breaking the previous record of £40 million set in 2007.

Presented by David Tennant, Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross and others, Funny For Money aired on March 13 on BBC One and Two and featured comedy items performed by Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Robbie Williams, David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Ricky Gervais, Harry Enfield, Peter Crouch, David Beckham, Ronnie Corbett, Sadie Frost, and Kate Moss.

A special version of Top Of The Pops featuring performances by U2, James Morrison and Oasis – as well as Tom Jones and Rob Brydon singing the official Comic Relief single, Islands In The Stream – also aired as part of the extravaganza. The Islands In The Stream single has just topped the UK charts, which will bring in more cash for the cause.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s – which sold the official Comic Relief merchandise – handed over a cheque for over £9 million to the show’s presenters during the evening, the single largest donation ever made in the event’s 11 year history. Another £20 million as donations keep coming in.

Celebrity Kilimanjaro climbers Alesha Dixon, Ben Shephard, Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles, Denise Van Outen, Fearne Cotton, Gary Barlow, Kimberley Walsh and Ronan Keating also made an appearance, and it was revealed that their efforts had raised £3,326,142 for Comic Relief.

‘It is just incredible to see such a huge amount of money given by the public again on Red Nose Day," said Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis. "Red Nose Day is 21 years old this year and its success is down to the unrelenting support and ingenuity of our supporters – it belongs not to the comedians, but to the people who give. It’s wonderful that, in more difficult times, people seem to understand that the need increases for people whose lives were impossibly tough in the first place. The work this money funds helps change and save lives all over Africa and the United Kingdom. A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped to make this year’s Red Nose Day such a memorable and brilliant campaign.”

The evening also featured appearances from Annie Lennox and Take That.

Red Nose Day TV Special To Tickle BBC Funny Bones

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Today, March 13, is Red Nose Day in Britain – the major fundraising event of the year for Comic Relief. And to celebrate, celebrities young and old will appear in a TV extravaganza being screened tonight on BBC One and Two.

Presented by David Tennant, Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross and others, Funny For Money will feature the last ever French & Saunders film parody – a version of Mamma Mia! performed by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders – plus comedy items performed by Robbie Williams, David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Ricky Gervais, Harry Enfield, Peter Crouch, David Beckham, Sadie Frost, and Kate Moss. There will also be an appearance from Annie Lennox.

As part of the show, Comic Relief will also present a special version of Top Of The Pops that will feature performances by U2, James Morrison and Oasis, as well as Tom Jones and Rob Brydon singing the official Comic Relief single, (Barry) Islands In The Stream.

The show will also a special appearance by the celebrity climbers who scaled Mount Kilimanjaro last week. The group – including Take That’s Gary Barlow, Ronan Keating, Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Cole, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles – reached the summit of the 19,300ft (5,900m) peak as dawn broke on Saturday, March 7. They featured in their own BBC One documentary last night, and also met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has pledged £2 million to the charity.

“It has been a privilege for the whole team to meet the Prime Minister … and under such special circumstances,“ said Barlow. “To think that our efforts on the mountain and the incredible generosity of the public have inspired school children and have now been supported by the Government is unbelievable. If the money raised can help control malaria and also help poor and vulnerable people in the UK, it will all have been worthwhile. What an unforgettable day.”

The Funny For Money TV special runs from 7pm to 1:30am. Viewers will have the chance to pledge money to go towards helping people in the UK overcome poverty, mental health issues, domestic violence and other issues, and people in Africa affected by AIDS, malaria, conflict and more.

Celebrity Climbers Summit Mount Kilimanjaro

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The group of celebrities attempting to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro have reached their target.

The group – which includes Gary Barlow, Ronan Keating, Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Cole, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles – reached the summit of the 19,300ft (5,900m) peak as dawn broke on Saturday, March 7.

The group climbed the mountain to raise awareness and money for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day, which will take place on March 15.

Several members of the team suffered from altitude sickness during the ascent, with Barlow being hampered by a back injury he suffered during training for the climb. According to Comic Relief, they endured sleepless nights and aches and pains due to the lack of oxygen.

“Cheryl for one has already said she’s never done anything so mentally and physically demanding and I doubt anyone in the team will disagree,“ reported the official blog of the climb. “A temperature of minus 15 and air so thin your lungs positively burn with disappointment every time you take a breath means you can’t stop long.”

The climbers raised over £1.4 million for Comic Relief, and the climb will feature in a documentary to be shown on Red Nose Day.

Support The Stars As They Climb Kilimanjaro

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

As reported earlier by Look To The Stars, a group of celebrities have just set off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa for charity, and they need your support.

Ronan Keating, Gary Barlow, Cheryl Cole, Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles are currently taking part in the climb up Africa’s highest peak to raise money for Comic Relief.

“I went to Africa for Comic Relief 18 months ago and the images from that trip have stayed with me and made me want to do something big to make a difference and raise money,” said Take That’s Gary Barlow. “The other people on the climb feel similarly, so it made sense to ask them to join me. I have chosen the people I want to be stuck on the side of a mountain with, even if we are the least likely you would expect to find there.”

The nine famous climbers have already garnered the support of celebrities, and now they need your help. To sponsor the team and raise awareness and funds for those in need, head over to the official Mount Kilimanjaro Climb website.

Here’s what your sponsorship will help:

£1 could pay for a personal safety alarm to help protect a woman against being raped or attacked. For women who have been through this trauma, an alarm can help to restore their confidence when out on the streets.

£2 is all it takes to provide 20 lonely older people with a cup of tea when they get together at a special project that helps them feel far less alone.

£5 could buy a toy for a child who has nothing after fleeing their home with their mum because of domestic violence.

£10 could pay for emergency food vouchers and toiletries for a vulnerable young homeless person.

£30 could pay to take a young carer on an outward bounds activity day, giving them a much-needed break from their caring duties and allowing them to simply be children having fun together for a day.

£50 could pay for the delivery of a school workshop that teaches young people how to use the internet safely and protect themselves from sexual exploitation or abuse.

So get behind the team and support them today.

Geri Halliwell Donates To Charity Auction

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Anyone wanting to get their hands on clothes or memorabilia from the stars should head to a fashion show and auction in Walberswick, near Southwold in the UK, to benefit Comic Relief next month.

The auction will feature items such as a designer jacket owned by Jo Brand, Davina McCall’s dresses, a t-shirt signed by Twiggy, a shrug owned by former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and one of Clive Anderson’s ties. Also going under the hammer are a Bourne Ultimatum DVD signed by director Paul Greengrass and a signed copy of a Gerri Halliwell children’s book.

“There is something for everyone over this weekend from children to adults to enjoy and hopefully people will don a red nose and spend lots of money,” organizer Angie Power told the East Anglian Daily Times. “I have really done a lot of begging and asking for these items and hopefully it should be good fun and will lift people’s spirits in this recession period.“

For tickets or more information, call Angie Power on 07816575631.

British Stars Voice Talking Clock For Charity

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A group of British celebrities have donated their voices to charity in a unique way. Callers to British Telecom’s talking clock this month will have the time read to them by members of Girls Aloud and Take That.

Among the stars to take part in the campaign to raise money for Comic Relief are Cheryl Cole, Kimberley Walsh, Gary Barlow, Chris Moyles and Fearne Cotton.

BT will donate 10p from every speaking clock call made from a BT fixed line in the UK up to March 23. British callers should dial 123 for the service.

Some of the stars are also taking part in a charity challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro later this month.

Along with Ronan Keating, they will take part in an eight-day trek in Tanzania to raise money for Comic Relief, which will be filmed and aired in the run up to Red Nose Day on 13 March.

The celebrities leave at the end of February.

Stella McCartney Designs Tees For Comic Relief

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

Written by Tim Saunders

British designer Stella McCartney has designed a line of T-shirts to raise money for Comic Relief and has called on the help of some of her celebrity friends to help promote them.

Advertising campaigns for the new Tees – one of which features a photo of her father, Paul McCartney, with The Beatles – feature Claudia Schiffer, Gwyneth Paltrow and Keira Knightley in photos shot by McCartney’s sister, Mary.

’It’s a real honor to be involved in such a tremendous cause and be a part of the Red Nose Day campaign 2009,“ said Stella McCartney. "The designs of the T-shirts were inspired by iconic images of iconic people by iconic photographers and adding an element of humor to them.’

McCartney has designed each t-shirt with iconic images from famous photographers like Herb Ritts, David Bailey and her mother, Linda McCartney. Every t-shirt sold helps raises vital funds for Comic Relief. 100% of the cotton has been sourced from Fairtrade certified organic cotton co-operatives in Africa.

“I wanted to focus on photographs where people are happy and create a charity t-shirt that would become a staple of a person’s wardrobe,“ she said.

The Tees are available at TK Maxx stores in the UK for £9.99, and more information can be found at this special website.

Robin Gibb Helps Out With Red Nose Day Single

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bee Gees founder Robin Gibb has joined a host of celebrities to record a song to benefit this year’s Comic Relief Red Nose Day.

The singer appears on a new version of Islands In The Stream alongside stars such as Tom Jones, Rob Brydon and Gavin and Stacey stars Ruth Jones and Joanne Page, to be released March 13 – the date of this year’s Red Nose Day.

Brydon was one of the many stars to attend the launch of this year’s appeal in London yesterday, and urged the public to make the 11th annual Red Nose Day the best one ever despite the recession.

“There has never been a more important time to show generosity,“ he said. “It would be great to make it the best one ever in the current climate.”

Comic Relief uses comedy to help raise awareness and funds for those in need and are especially committed to helping end poverty and social injustice in the UK and around the world. Red Nose Day is their major annual fundraising appeal.

Girl group The Saturdays have also joined the appeal and have recorded a version of Depeche Mode’s Just Can’t Get Enough for the charity, to be released on March 3.

“This year Comic Relief are putting a real focus on mental health problems which, as an ex-psychiatric nurse, I’m really glad about,“ said comedian Jo Brand. “We want to rid the world of the stigma that surrounds mental illness.”

More information about the appeal can be found here.

Tom Arnold Joins Love Our Children USA

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tom Arnold is certainly no stranger to charity work, and he now adds another organization to the many non-profits he supports.

Arnold recently joined the Board of Governors for Love Our Children USA, the leading national charity that honors and respects children.

Established over 10 years ago, the goals of the organization are prevention, keeping children safe and strengthening families. Its message is positive and filled with hope. Love Our Children USA has become the go-to prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect against children in the U.S.

Among the other charities Arnold supports are the Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, Operation Homefront, After School All Stars, and Comic Relief. He also provides two full scholarships every year to students attending Indian Hills Community College and established the First Chance Scholarship Program with the University of Phoenix.

Arnold joins Love Our Children USA’s other celebrity board members Mario Batali, Tom Bergeron, Melissa Etheridge, Mandy Moore, Alan Thicke, and Blair Underwood.

British Stars To Climb Kilimanjaro For Comic Relief

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ronan Keating, Gary Barlow and Cheryl Cole are to join a host of other British celebrities to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief next year.

According to reports in Britain’s The Sun newspaper, the stars will join Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles for the climb up Africa’s highest peak.

4,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro every year, although only 1,400 actually reach the top of the 5,895 meter peak. Around 100 climbers die of altitude sickness on the mountain every year, so it will be no walk in the park for the stars.

“Since visiting Africa with Comic Relief a year ago, I haven’t been able to forget how easy it is for someone in my position to help change the lives of poor and vulnerable people by raising money,” said Kimberly Walsh. “When Gary approached me and Cheryl about doing the climb, I didn’t think twice.”

Whatever It Takes For Christmas

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Whatever It Takes – the charity that offers artworks and clothing designed by celebrities – have some great gift ideas for the coming holiday season.

The charity – which raises money for all sorts of charities, such as Adopt-A-Minefield, Anti-Slavery International, Breast Cancer Campaign, CARE, Children of the Andes, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Christian Children’s Fund, City at Peace, Comic Relief, Dreams Can Be Foundation, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Greenpeace and many more – is offering T-shirts designed by the Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party; rings designed by Robbie Williams, Ozzy Osbourne and Snoop Dogg; mouse pads from George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, and Coldplay; bed linen from Joss Stone; and a huge selection of plates and mugs designed by Bob Geldof, Paul McCartney, Ewan McGregor and many others.

To get your hands on one of these unique items – which would make the perfect gift – or to see the entire range, visit the Whatever It Takes website.

Celebrities Support In My Name

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

will.i.am has worked with more than thirty other celebrities and activists to create an inspiring short film titled Be the Generation, part of the In My Name campaign to end poverty.

The film, which can be viewed at the White Band Action website, explains how people can end poverty in our lifetime if leaders are held accountable to their promises. It is part of a campaign organized by White Band Action ahead of next week’s emergency UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York, and a host of activists and celebrities – including Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu , Annie Lennox, John Legend, Rahul Bose, Angélique Kidjo, Scarlett Johansson, Missy Higgins, Emmanuel Jal, Wyclef Jean, Kristin Davis, Fergie and Mischa Barton – have come together for the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) to challenge their leaders to keep their promise to halve poverty by 2015.

Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am has also penned a song for the campaign titled In My Name, which calls on world citizens to exercise their power and demand their governments keep their promises to the worlds poor. The song will be downloadable free of charge from September 25.

“We can be the generation that ends poverty,” said will.i.am. “Politicians promised in 2000 to halve poverty in 15 years. They made this pledge in my name, now they must act to achieve it.”

“Governments must be held accountable for their people and their promises,” added Lennox.

To drive the message home, Kidjo and will.iam will perform ‘In My Name’ live outside the UN buildings in New York on 25 September. They will be joined by Queen Rania of Jordan, UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon, Ela Bhatt, Mary Robinson, Kristin Davis, Rahul Bose and activists from Africa, Asia and Latin America who will be amongst the first to sign their names to the “In My Name” pledge wall.

”If I put my name to something it means I am committed to its outcome,“ said Angelique Kidjo. “I want to see this sort of response from leaders and others with power to effect change. People living in poverty have waited too long and want to see tangible changes in their lives immediately.”

The White Band Action initiative is a global collaboration between the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, Oxfam, Save the Children, and Comic Relief. It is not being run by any single organization, which demonstrates the breadth of commitment to ending poverty and inequality.

“The time for action has never been more urgent,“ said Queen Rania. “Rising food prices have plunged 100 million more people into poverty, and the economic slowdown risks eroding political support for development.“

“We’re half way there, and thanks to people’s efforts and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, there has been real progress,“ added Kristin Davis. “There are more children in school. More people are getting essential medicines. But 30,000 children still die every day because of poverty.”

More information about the campaign can be found at www.whitebandaction.org.

A Game, A Dress, And A Brawl For Charity

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:29:30 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A special surprise for Look to the Stars readers

Be sure to visit Look To The Stars tomorrow, Wednesday March 12, to read our exclusive interview with Leeza Gibbons as she tells us a little about the causes that are closest to her heart.

Between a Rock and a hard place

It’s a case of a bad boy wanting to be good with singer Kid Rock. The Devil Without A Cause looks like he is turning over a new leaf, and is returning to the Waffle House restaurant where he was arrested last year – but this time it’s for charity.

The 37-year-old was charged with battery after a brawl in Duluth, Georgia, in October. But the musician has now decided to make amends by greeting fans and signing autographs at the scene of the crime as part of a fundraiser for a local homeless shelter, Nicholas House.

“For a while now, we’ve been working with Kid Rock’s management to try and turn a negative into a positive,” said Waffle House spokesperson Pat Warner. “We’re hoping to raise some money for a worthwhile charity.”

The event will occur later today, March 11.

Tennis for charity in the desert

Another event taking place today is the fourth annual K-Swiss Desert Smash Charity Tennis and Golf event being held at the La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs. The event benefits the Coachella Valley chapter of Variety – The Children’s Charity and features a special tennis match between 2008 Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic.

Other celebrities expected to attend include Bush frontman (and husband of Gwen Stefani) Gavin Rossdale, Borat star Ken Davitian, and David Spade.

Theron shares her threads for charity

Another star in the mood for giving is the stunning Charlize Theron, who is auctioning off the first red carpet gown she was ever given to wear by a designer.

No, the dress isn’t made from red carpet – it’s actually a one-of-a-kind silk dress designed exclusively for the actress’ debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 by Narciso Rodriguez.

All of the proceeds from the auction, which can be accessed through Theron’s eBay page, will go to the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project, a mobile clinic that serves more than 3000 high school students in Theron’s home country of South Africa. The project was launched in 2007 in association with the Entertainment Industry Foundation to create a safer, healthier, and better life for families in South Africa, especially those touched by the effect of HIV/AIDS.

The auction runs until March 13, and the bids have already gone over $1,000.

Other auctions running on eBay Giving Works right now include the chance to have lunch with JAG and Bruce Almighty star Catherine Bell in LA. The auction runs until March 17, and proceeds go to Communities in Schools, nation’s largest dropout prevention organization. The original Hannah Montana_, Miley Ray Cyrus, is also holding an auctionW0QQitemZ260217660695QQihZ016QQcategoryZ61QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QqcmdZViewItem right now. The young star is selling an autographed chair, with proceeds to go to Variety – The Children’s Charity.

Leona Lewis – a star on the rise

Another star with an interest in South Africa at the moment is singer Leona Lewis. The 22-year-old X Factor winner is currently enjoying a meteoric rise to fame, with her album Spirit holding the record for the fastest selling debut album ever released in the UK. And now the young star has witnessed the extent of the AIDS pandemic during a recent trip to South Africa.

Lewis has just returned from a 3-day trip to Johannesburg with Sport Relief, an initiative of Comic Relief, in which she raised awareness of the plight of AIDS orphans and sufferers. But it was all almost too much for the singer, who describes in her diary how she broke down while visiting some of the worst cases.

“Some of the horrors I have seen will never leave me,“ she said. “It’s amazing to see the great work that Sport Relief does firsthand and the difference they make, their projects and centres keep communities going and give them something to be proud and positive about.”

In response to her trip, Lewis has just announced that the stunning purple gown she wore for her performance at last month’s Brit Awards will be auctioned on eBay, with all proceeds going to Sport Relief.

“It’s been a great pleasure for me to work with Leona Lewis right from the start,” said Roberto Cavalli, who designed the dress. “She has an incredible voice, beautiful eyes, and a fresh and positive attitude. I’m happy that a dress I have created for her for an important occasion is now being auctioned for a charity. It’s a sign of her great generosity and I’m proud that the name Roberto Cavalli is linked to it.”

As if all of that is not enough, the singer is also donating the proceeds from her new double A-side single, Footprints In The Sand/Better In Time, to the charity.

Celebrities Kept Busy With Charity Initiatives

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:34:57 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Philanthropic celebrities have been more than busy lately, helping charities through a series of unique and exciting initiatives and events.

Although the current Hollywood writers’ strike is keeping the 2008 Academy Awards up in the air, model Heidi Klum has announced she will press ahead with her plans to donate the red dress she intends to wear at the Oscar ceremony to charity.

The donation is part of the Red Dress Program, an initiative between Diet Coke and the National Institutes of Health’s The Heart Truth to raise awareness of heart disease in women.

“Heidi Klum’s participation helps make this program even bigger, and gives consumers a great way to become involved and learn more about a crucial women’s health issue,” said Caren Pasquale Seckler, Group Director for Coca-Cola North America. “Through the Diet Coke Red Dress Program, we’re asking consumers to help us support women’s heart health and giving them the chance to win a one-of-a-kind red dress worn to the Oscars by Heidi Klum.”

The dress will be made available as part of a contest at www.mycokerewards.com, and for every sweepstakes entry, Diet Coke will donate $1 (up to a total of $250,000) in support of women’s heart health research and awareness.

Klum will also hit the catwalk on February 1 during The Red Dress Collection Fashion Show at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. The show will feature a range of dresses created by top fashion designers to show their support of the Heart Truth campaign.

Comedian Stephen Colbert has also recently made a donation to charity, with $171,525 being gifted to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a charity that assists injured service members and their families.

The mock talk show host raised the money through the sale of his “WristStrong” bracelets, which were made available as part of his “Wrist Awareness” campaign started when he broke his wrist last June.

The tongue-in-cheek campaign saw celebrities such as Katie Couric, Brian Williams, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wearing the bracelets. It followed the sale of the cast from Colbert’s broken wrist, which raised $17,000 for the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Another well-known figure to make a donation to charity lately was Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons, who gifted $300,000 to the Diamond Empowerment Fund last week.

Simmons established the Fund in 2007 to provide resources for education programs designed to motivate Africans in countries where diamonds are mined. The donation comes from money raised from the Simmons Jewelry Green Initiative, a collection of bracelets made from green malachite and rough diamonds. Beyoncé Knowles, Vanessa Hudgens, and Mischa Barton are all reported to be owners of the bracelets.

In a completely different sort of initiative, singer KT Tunstall and Blur bassist Alex James are among celebrities teaming up to write an upcoming children’s book for charity.

The musicians will join a host of stars recruited by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for the initiative. Each celebrity will write ten lines of the story before passing it on to the next person to continue.

The final product will be revealed in a one-off reading session before being auctioned off later in the year.

And finally, British television personality Jonathan Ross has challenged comedian Jimmy Carr to a celebrity doubles tennis match that will see the entertainers paired up with 1997 US Open finalist Greg Rusedski and 1987 Wimbledon winner Pat Cash.

The match – which will take place at London’s Albert Hall on March 14 – is part of Sport Relief 2008, a fundraising initiative from Comic Relief. Money raised will go towards helping vulnerable people living in the UK and the world’s poorest countries.

Robbie Williams Gives It Sum More

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:11:41 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Robbie Williams has donated $3 million (£1.5 million) to his “Give It Sum” fund. Run in partnership with the UK Comic Relief, the fund provides grants for self-help projects, community groups and voluntary organisations based in North Staffordshire, where Robbie grew up.

Williams began Give It Sum in 2000 using $3 million (£1.5 million) given to him by Pepsi as part of an endorsement deal. The latest donation makes a total of $6 million (£3 million) he has given to help local people to find solutions to local problems. Money for the latest donation was raised through the sale of career memorabilia, such as platinum discs and hand-written lyrics.

Give It Sum offers grants to groups making less than $300,000 (£150,000) a year, and in the past has aided self-help groups working to improve their local communities, projects helping young people with drug and alcohol problems, homeless people, single parents, older people, people from minority ethnic communities, groups campaigning for better services and disabled people’s rights groups.

Idols To Give Back On TV Special

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:21:10 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, and Forest Whitaker will be appearing on the two-night special, Idol Gives Back on April 24th and 25th. The stars hope to raise awareness and funds for relief programs helping children living in extreme poverty in America and Africa.

Other celebrities who plan to appear include the original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, Helena Bonham Carter, Daniel Radcliffe, Teri Hatcher, and Rowan Atkinson.

The show on the 25th will include entertainment by Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Pink, Michael Buble, Annie Lennox, Il Divo and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Viewers will be encouraged to make donations on toll-free lines and the Internet, with the funds being distributed via the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund to Save the Children, UNICEF, and other organizations dealing with poverty, health and education in the U.S. and Africa.

The event is inspired by Red Nose Day, part of the UK’s Comic Relief, which has raised over $800 million in its history of entertainment fundraisers.

UK Comic Relief Raises £40.2m

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 14:52:42 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

An eight-hour TV comedy marathon featuring cameos by Tony Blair and Kate Moss has brought this year’s Comic Relief appeal to a close, and the total funds raised to over £40m (78m USD).

Mr Blair played himself in a sketch set at Number 10 opposite comic Catherine Tate’s schoolgirl character Lauren, resorting to her catchphrase “Am I bovvered?”

The “Red Nose Day” TV gala featured other big names not normally known as comedians, including Daniel Craig, Elle Macpherson and Sting, while established comedy stars such as Ricky Gervais and Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen provided laughs aplenty.

The comedy was interspersed with music from the likes of The Killers, Sugababes and Girls Aloud, and with regular appeals for viewers to make pledges by Billy Connolly and others.

Although the appeal began on January 31, the majority of donations were made on Friday, with the final figure of £40,236,142 announced at the end of the TV show.

This year’s event marked the 11th anniversary of Red Nose Day and the 21st anniversary of Comic Relief in the UK. To date, £425m (825 USD) has been raised.

Doctor Who Joins Charity Comic Cast

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 23:00:00 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

A special edition of UK children’s comic the Beano will feature celebrity guests in an effort to raise money for this year’s Comic Relief event on March 16.

Dennis the Menace and the Bash Street Kids will be joined by Doctor Who, chef Jamie Oliver, Rowan Atkinson, Jonathan Ross and others. The reluctant students will be forced to study by the Daleks, and have their school lunch cooked by Oliver.

The unusual cast will make its appearance in the first ever issue of the new monthly BeanoMAX publication, going on sale on February 15.

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