Look To The Stars News: Clinton Global Initiative

Shakira To Be Honored By Latin Recording Academy

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Three-time current Latin GRAMMY nominee, seven-time Latin GRAMMY winner, two-time GRAMMY winner, and international superstar and philanthropist Shakira will be the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, it was announced yesterday by The Latin Recording Academy.

Shakira, who is currently nominated for three Latin GRAMMY Awards, including Album Of The Year, will be honored for her renowned artistic and philanthropic contributions at a tribute dinner and star-studded concert on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Songs from Shakira’s still growing catalog will be performed by notable artists and friends of the honoree. A major portion of the net proceeds from the gala will benefit Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation as well as The Latin Recording Academy’s Latin GRAMMY in the Schools educational efforts. The celebration will precede the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central.

Celebrities Take Part In Seventh Annual Clinton Global Initiative

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Last week, during the seventh annual Clinton Global Initiative event, President Bill Clinton welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Prize laureate, peacebuilder, and general secretary of the National League for Democracy via satellite and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chairman of The Elders in a first-time conversation between the two visionary leaders.

Suu Kyi spoke about her own struggles for human rights, democratic governance, and ethic reconciliation, while Archbishop Tutu discussed his recent work to end child marriage. The highlight of the conversation was the overwhelming admiration Tutu and Suu Kyi expressed for each other’s efforts to promote world peace and democracy.

“The lives and accomplishments of Aung San Suu Kyi and Archibishop Desmond Tutu are an inspiring testament to the tremendous good than can be achieved by a boundless reserve of courage, humility, and conviction,” said President Clinton. “Suu Kyi and Archibishop Tutu exemplify the positive work of CGI members – who have made 194 new commitments this year, valued at $6.2 billion that will positively impact more than 100 million people.”

Bill Clinton To Celebrate Charity Anniversary With U2 And Lady Gaga

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Bill Clinton will celebrate 10 years of his William J Clinton Foundation next month with a special celebrity charity concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

A Decade Of Difference: A Concert Celebrating 10 Years of The William J Clinton Foundation will take place on October 15 and feature performances by Lady Gaga, Usher, U2’s Bono and The Edge and many more yet to be announced.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, September 15, with proceeds going to the William J Clinton Foundation’s mission to to improve global health, strengthen economies worldwide, promote healthier childhoods, and protect the environment.

Sting To Be Honored At Clinton Global Initiative

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Bill Clinton has announced the program and featured attendees for the seventh Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to be held September 20-22 in New York City.

This year’s gathering will bring together an estimated 1,200 diverse stakeholders, including current and former heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, national and local government officials, and leaders from the nonprofit sector to devise and implement workable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

“Since we began in 2005, CGI members have made great progress in addressing critical global issues by making more than 2,000 commitments through CGI that have and will improve the lives of more than 300 million people in more than 180 countries,” President Clinton said. “As many of these commitments come to fruition, I am proud that we will be showcasing the tangible impact they have made.”

Ben Stiller And Bill Clinton Co-Chair Charity Gala For Haiti

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000

President Bill Clinton – founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States – actor and director Ben Stiller, and gallerist and art dealer David Zwirner have announced that they will co-chair an exclusive fundraising event on Friday, September 23rd in New York to benefit The Stiller Foundation.

The Stiller Foundation, founded by Ben Stiller in 2010, has been focusing efforts on building schools in Haiti where, according to a report from the United Nations, the January 2010 earthquake damaged or destroyed 8,000 schools that served 1.8 million children in and around the capital of Port-au-Prince alone. All of the schools on the western side of the city were totally destroyed, while 40% in the south were severely damaged.

President Clinton launched the Clinton Foundation Haiti Fund in 2010 and joined President George W. Bush in creating the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. He serves as the United Nations Special Envoy and co-chair of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission.

Julia Roberts And Hillary Clinton Team Up For Clean Cooking Charity Campaign

Mon, 09 May 2011 11:30:00 +0000

The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves has announced that Academy Award-winning actor Julia Roberts will serve as Global Ambassador, helping to bring attention to one of the most urgent health problems facing women and families around the world: deadly smoke from unsafe and inefficient cookstoves.

Julia first learned about the Alliance earlier this year while interviewing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a special broadcast on Saturday, May 7, on the Oprah Winfrey Network called “Extraordinary Moms.” Today she also joined with Secretary Clinton to highlight the problems caused by cookstove smoke in an op-ed in USA Today.

Bill Clinton And Sting Honored At Charity Fisherman's Ball

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Hundreds of clean water supporters gathered on the Hudson River last night for Riverkeeper’s Annual Fishermen’s Ball to honor the environmental advocacy of President Bill Clinton and Trudie Styler and Sting.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and John McEnroe were among the notables present, and guests were treated to a special musical performance by Rufus Wainwright. Riverkeeper presented its honorees with the inaugural “Big Fish” Award to recognize their extraordinary contributions to environmental protection.

Funds raised benefit Riverkeeper, New York’s clean water advocate.

Matt Damon’s Water Charity To Receive Million-Dollar Donation

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Business schools from around the world have been invited by Hult International Business School to compete in its second annual Global Case Challenge.

This year’s theme is on clean water, and this year’s recipient of a million-dollar donation to implement the winning team’s solution is Water.org, the organization co-founded by actor Matt Damon to provide communities in developing nations with access to clean water.

Hult has partnered with Bill Clinton’s Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), whose goal is to link expertise with resources to provide sustainable solutions. One of the obstacles CGI recognizes is that “charitable organizations have grassroots knowledge of problems and know effective solutions to address them, but they have trouble getting to the next stage, overcoming local resistance and seeing the solutions implemented.”

Richard Branson Aims To Save Zimbabwe

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Over a year ago, Sir Richard Branson – the billionaire founder of the Virgin Group – quietly established a new philanthropic venture aimed at helping Zimbabwe, one of the most difficult nations in Africa to help.

Branson teamed up with the Nduna Foundation and Humanity United to establish the initiative which will have its official debut on Tuesday prior to the Clinton Global Initiative.

“Since the coalition government was established a couple of years ago, things have changed,” Mr. Branson said in an interview Monday morning. “Most kids now have schoolbooks, and hospitals now are open as nurses are getting paid.”

Justin Bieber Delighted With Charity-Minded Fans

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Justin Bieber is delighted that a group of his fans helped him raise over $200,000 for a children’s hospital in Buffalo, New York.

The teenage star appealed for fans to help raise the cash earlier this year.

“Heading to buffalo and rochester ny tomorrow…they helped me raise over $200k for a children’s hospital up there. Incredibly proud of them!” he wrote on his official Twitter page on Tuesday. “The fans in Buffalo raised $200k in pennies for charity…that is 20 Million Pennies!!! WOW!! VERY PROUD!!”

Stars To Attend Clinton Global Initiative Meeting

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Former President Bill Clinton will host the third Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting from April 16-18, 2010 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.

CGI U attendees will participate in workshops and meetings focused on five main topics that are of particular importance to college students: education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation, and public health. Participants will discuss how student activists can make a difference around the world. Over the three-day meeting, attendees will participate in forums and working sessions to brainstorm ways to make a difference. Two previous meetings were held at Tulane University in New Orleans and The University of Texas at Austin.

Expected to attend are Usher, Justin Bieber, Mandy Moore, Kenna, Heather Graham and many more.

Win A Water Filtration Device To Celebrate Charity Climb

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:30:00 +0000

In January, Jessica Biel and Isabel Lucas will be among a group of celebrities as they set off to climb the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise awareness of the importance of safe drinking water. And to celebrate, Look To The Stars will give away a PUR water filtration system to one lucky reader.

The stars will be joined by Ethiopian singer Kenna and rapper Lupe Fiasco, and the Summit On The Summit expedition will raise money and awareness for the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and PlayPumps International.

“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,” said Kenna. “Maybe I can help out.’”

Jessica Alba Blogs For 1GOAL

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Actress Jessica Alba was at the Clinton Global Initiative last week to publicize the 1GOAL campaign, which aims to ensure that the legacy of the 2010 Football World Cup will provide universal access to education for all children. And now she has blogged about her support.

“President Clinton convened his Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting last week in New York City and I was fortunate to attend,” she wrote in the Huffington Post. "While there, I received a first class education, listening as some of the world’s brightest and most committed people argued and agreed on new ways to solve the most pressing problems, from global education to climate change. I spoke with activists, policy experts, generals, CEOs and everyday people working tirelessly at non-profits and NGOs in countries around the world. From them, I learned about ways we can all assist in reducing the obstacles to creating systemic change.

“I was part of a CGI commitment with 1GOAL: Education for All to talk about the 75 million children denied access to education around the world today. If you’re keeping count, that’s as if every school in the U.S. and Europe combined decided one day to close their doors. Joining Global Co-Chair Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, ONE co-founder Bono, FIFA and private sector leaders, I signed up to be US Co-Chair of 1GOAL and help work for a breakthrough on global education centered around the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Stars Have 1GOAL In Mind At Clinton Global Initiative

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Actor Brad Pitt was honored at the Clinton Global Initiative on Thursday for his humanitarian work in helping rebuild New Orleans.

Former President Bill Clinton presented Pitt with a plaque from the U.S. Green Building Council which said the actor and his Make It Right Foundation had created the “largest and greenest single-family community in the world.”

‘Make It Right’ has exceeded my expectations," said Pitt. "Our criteria from the beginning were at odds, to say the least. We demanded that these homes be sustainable, that they have aesthetic qualities … that they be storm resilient and take safety in mind of the families who live there and that they would be affordable.

Matt Damon Opens Clinton Global Initiative For Water.org

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Today at the opening plenary of the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, Water.org co-founders Matt Damon and Gary White announced the organization’s $2 million commitment to provide 50,000 people in Haiti with safe water and sanitation over the next three years. As part of the commitment, Water.org has also launched a social media campaign so that anyone can participate in meeting the water challenge in Haiti.

“The situation in Haiti is extreme – it’s the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and nearly half of its people don’t have access to clean water,” said Water.org Co-Founder Gary White. “Expanding Water.org’s programming to Haiti will help people break the cycle of disease and poverty.”

Water.org’s Haiti Commitment will reach beneficiaries with grant-driven programs while also exploring opportunities with microfinance institutions in Haiti under its WaterCredit Initiative. WaterCredit is a financial innovation that brings microfinance to the world’s poor who lack safe water and sanitation. It is the first comprehensive program of its kind to move beyond grant-driven charity and enables microfinance activity in the water and sanitation sector. WaterCredit leverages commercial capital and motivates microfinance institutions to launch loan portfolios to assist the poor who lack basic water and sanitation services.

New York To Host First Mandela Day Concert

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:01:00 +0000

New York takes world center-stage next month when the city hosts the inaugural ‘Mandela Day.’

Centered around a massive music headliner concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday, July 18, the event is designed as a call around the world for people to honor Nelson Mandela’s inspiration and values, and observe the day annually as a celebration, not as a holiday, but as a day to opt in.

Jet Li Speaks At Clinton Global Initiative

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Former President Bill Clinton kicked off his first Clinton Global Initiative conference abroad in Hong Kong on Tuesday to focus on education, energy and climate change and public health issues in Asia.

Speaking at the event, action star Jet Li said that China is ready for an “explosion” of volunteer work as the country becomes more prosperous after two decades of capitalist-style economic reforms.

“Before the reforms, China’s 1.3 billion people couldn’t even fill their stomachs,” said Li. “The only way people could help others is a word of encouragement.”

Bono Joins The Voices At Clinton Global Initiative

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Irish rock legend Bono is currently in New York, as one of the many attendees at the annual Clinton Global Initiative.

The 48-year-old singer joins Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Al Gore, Lance Armstrong, Muhammad Ali, Barbra Streisand and many other famous faces at the three-day conference that opened on Wednesday.

“It is extraordinary to me that you can find $700 billion to save Wall Street, and the entire G-8 can’t find $25 billion to save 25,000 children who die every day of preventable disease and hunger,” said the 48-year-old singer during a session of the conference. “Bankruptcy is a serious business – this is moral bankruptcy.”

Lance Armstrong To Announce Global Cancer Plan

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Lance Armstrong is to make a special announcement today regarding the new global effort in the fight against cancer and his return to professional cycling at the Clinton Global Initiative being held in New York City.

The annual meeting launches at 10am ET today, with Bill Clinton, Bono, Al Gore, Queen Rania of Jordan and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia all in attendance. The initiative brings together current and former heads of state, corporate leaders, celebrities and activists to address pressing issues like climate change and global health.

More than 12 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year and eight million will die from the disease. And by 2010, cancer will be the leading cause of death worldwide. Yet a third of all cancers could be cured if detected early and treated adequately. For the past two years, the Lance Armstrong Foundation has researched ways to take their mission to other countries. Combined with Lance Armstrong’s return to professional cycling, the Clinton Global Initiative is the perfect vehicle to take the cancer fight international.

Shakira Wins Humanitarian Award

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Colombian pop star Shakira proved hips don’t lie when she received an ALMA award on Sunday for the humanitarian work she has been doing for Latin America’s impoverished children.

The American Latino Media Arts awards – hosted by Eva Longoria – celebrated the achievements of Latin American performers, with accolades going to America Ferrera, Linda Ronstadt, and Charlie Sheen.

Shakira, who is a UNICEF Ambassador and recently took part in concerts to bring a stop to civil unrest in Colombia, received the award for her work to improve the lives of children in Colombia and Latin America.

Bill Clinton Refocuses On Charity

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:36:00 +0000

Former US president Bill Clinton is fueling a new charity drive for both the corporate world and the community at large.

World wide poverty, climate change and health care – all issues of his own Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) – were on the agenda as Clinton spoke in Manhattan last week. CGI, a project of the Clinton Foundation since 2005, aims to link global leaders with real solutions to world problems.

Already this year CGI has several projects under way. Visa Inc has committed to small business development and literacy for 10 million people over five years; the Energy and Resources Institute has committed to bringing solar light to millions of rural Indians who normally rely on kerosene lanterns after dusk; Fundación Paraguaya is to provide education for sustainable agriculture in developing countries over the next 10 years; Standard Chartered Bank maintained its commitment to microfinance African and Asian institutions to benefit millions of farmers and negotiated a hydro-power project in Uganda to reduce emissions and decrease power costs; and Action by Lizzy Dupont has produced practical, instructional health videos in sign language for the deaf in Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Morocco.

Time's 100 - Tony Blair By Bill Clinton

Mon, 19 May 2008 10:54:57 +0000

President Bill Clinton wrote a tribute to Tony Blair’s philanthropic achievements for this year’s Time 100 list.

“When my friend Tony Blair stepped down as U.K. Prime Minister last year, I advised him to take some time off with his family and make a list of the issues he felt passionately about and that he could continue to pursue. It was the least he had earned after a decade of modernizing his country’s economy, making the U.K. one of the few nations to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions more than required to meet their Kyoto target and leading the G-8 to historic commitments to support Africa and fight global poverty.

Tony listened to my advice graciously but ignored it completely by immediately accepting a new job as Middle East envoy for the Quartet. I have always admired Tony’s willingness to wade into troubled waters. Ten years ago, he did a masterly job in helping to end 30 years of sectarian violence and broker a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Now he is demonstrating the dedication and intensity to promoting economic opportunity in the Middle East, learning from his Irish experience that showing the concrete benefits of peace can play a crucial role in making a just and lasting peace possible.

Angelina Jolie - Helping Her Heroes

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:34:29 +0000

She may be known for her various roles on the silver screen that have earned her Golden Globes and an Academy Award, but perhaps Angelina Jolie’s greatest role is that which she plays in real life – Global Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. And it is exceedingly clear that the dedication that she shows in her acting is reflected in her work for humanitarian causes around the world.

The 32-year-old actor has just returned from a visit to Iraq, in which she met with top political officials to discuss people displaced by the war.

“There are over two million displaced people and there never seems to be a real coherent plan to help them,” she told CNN on her return. “There’s lots of goodwill and lots of discussion, but there seems to be a lot of talk at the moment and a lot of pieces that need to be put together.”

Celebrities On Show For AIDS Relief

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:52:49 +0000

“A Dollar Saves A Life” is the catchphrase of a new advertising campaign featuring Alicia Keys, Jessica Alba, and Somalia-born model Iman, launched to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

The stars will join actress Lisa Bonet, Indian model Padma Lakshmi, and Zöe Kravitz – daughter of Lenny Kravitz – in a series of advertisements in magazines across America, as part of Keys’ Keep A Child Alive Foundation’s new “Good Cents Initiative”.

The advertisements will see the stars dressed in stylish black clothes, striking simple yet elegant poses surrounded by accessories and props to promote the new campaign. Keys has been photographed clutching a large pink piggybank, and Alba smiles under an umbrella as coins rain down from above.

Shakira’s $40m Gift

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:31:00 +0000

Colombian pop singer, Shakira, announced recently at Bill Clinton’s conference, Clinton Global Initiative, that Latin America in Solidarity Action (ALAS) is donating $40 million dollars towards relief efforts in Peru and Nicaragua.

Ica, Chincha and Pisco were the regions in Peru hardest hit by an earthquake last August. Hundreds of people were killed and over a thousand injured. A state of emergency was declared initially, as well as a request for medicine, blankets, tents and any other help that could be given in South America’s coldest season.

ALAS’s donations are providing shelter and basic necessities to over 37,000 people. Additionally, donations provide psychological and social support, oversee the supply and quality of water, and work with the community in rebuilding structures.