Look To The Stars News: Make-A-Wish Foundation

Dale Ernhardt Jr Matches Charity Donations

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Race car driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is matching every donation to his charity foundation for the rest of 2009.

The Dale Jr. Foundation is a charity dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals with a focus on youth, the resources to improve their confidence and education, and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals.

The NASCAR driver has pledged to match donations made by his fans through his online Hard Card Membership program. For as little as $20, fans get their name on The Foundation website and can know that their money is helping people every day. Each year, TDJF gives to over 300 organizations such as Make-A-Wish, the Victory Junction Gang Camp and March Of Dimes.

There are several levels of the Hard Card Membership and each level comes with some great gift items. To learn more about the Hard Card Membership, click here.

Stars Shine for Sick Kids at Diamonds in the Sky Gala

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:17:00 -0000

Who needs Hollywood when stars make Virginia Beach their playground for a memorable black-tie affair?

Musical guest Starship with Mickey Thomas and celebrity emcee Teri Polo of the Meet the Parents movie fame lend their star power to the 4th Annual Diamonds in the Sky Gala hosted by the We Promise Foundation.

The 4th Annual Diamonds in the Sky Gala will be held at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel this Wed., Sept. 2nd, and features silent and live auctions of celebrity memorabilia, athletic event and concert tickets, exotic vacation packages and much more. Event proceeds are used to put smiles on the faces of children in Hampton Roads and across the country who face tremendous adversity as a result of life-threatening illness or severe hardship.

Many other stars who aren’t able to make stage appearances endorse the We Promise Foundation’s efforts with donations to the Gala’s silent and live auctions. From signed posters and books to personal items and priceless collectibles, guests can browse and bid on items from celebrity donors such as Madonna, Richard Petty, Cheryl Tiegs, Peyton and Eli Manning, Derek Jeter, James Earl Jones, Mario Andretti, Leonardo diCaprio and Peter Coyote, just to name a few.

The Gala is complemented by the 11th Annual Charity Golf Classic played at the Signature at West Neck Golf Course on Thurs., Sept.3rd. The afternoon event is a sponsor/patron-only event that toasts more than 20 benefiting children who join the players on the course. For golf and gala tickets or more information, contact Jill Haag at #757-233-7111 or jahaag@chartway.com.

With more than 441 wishes funded for Hampton Roads children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and grants for countless other programs across the country funded since 1999, the We Promise Foundation is making a difference in the lives of its members and their community. Last year’s annual Gala and Golf Classic raised a combined $385,000 for the We Promise Foundation, which benefited charities including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Families of Autistic Children in Tidewater, St. Mary’s Infant Home and others.

The continued success of these events is due, in large part, to the generous commitment and sponsorship of Fidelity National Information Services, Summit Information Systems, VISA USA, GTI Systems, Inc., Harland-Clarke, Pender & Coward, WAVY-TV 10, Hampton Roads Magazine, Professional Printing Center, Summs Skip & Collection, Americomm Direct Marketing and GVA Advantis Construction. A variety of sponsorship packages still are available for the Diamonds in the Sky Gala and Annual Golf Classic.

About the We Promise Foundation®
As the charitable arm of Chartway Federal Credit Union, the We Promise Foundation® is dedicated to making dreams come true for children struggling with degenerative, life-threatening, debilitating or chronic illnesses, or those facing tremendous hardship. The foundation provides funding within the communities the credit union serves with a single goal: to put smiles on a child’s face by making their dreams come true. The foundation was launched in 2005 based on the enduring success of Chartway’s previous charitable events. Since 1999, Chartway and its We Promise Foundation have raised more than $2M in support of numerous Make-A-Wish Foundation chapters, St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, Families of Autistic Children in Tidewater and other Hampton Roads-area charitable groups. For more information, click on www.WePromiseFoundation.com.

Chartway Federal Credit Union, chartered in 1959, is a not-for-profit financial institution headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va. With assets exceeding $1.3 billion, it serves nearly 150,000 members in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia. For more information, visit www.chartway.com.

Little Britain Stars Grant Wish For Sick Boy

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Matt Lucas and David Walliams – the duo behind hit British comedy Little Britian – made a young boy’s wish come true last week.

Make-A-Wish UK helped organize an experience of a lifetime for a 6-year-old boy named Reece, who suffers from Neuroblastoma, a form of cancer. Reece and his family got to travel to London by limousine and was able to meet his favorite TV stars and share afternoon tea with them. Make-A-Wish reports: "he was delighted to have the opportunity to talk about his favorite characters and sketches – and to impress Matt and David with his imitations of their characters’ voices!“

Walliams and Lucas provided presents for Reece during the meeting, and were happy to pose for pictures and sign autographs for the family albums.

British Surf Champion Becomes Make-A-Wish Ambassador

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Melanie Mitchell

British Surfing champion Alan Stokes is the latest ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Alan Stokes discovered surfing at the young age of 6, following his family re-locating to Newquay, Cornwall. Since his first surfing lesson, Alan was ‘hooked’ and he began competing at aged 13. Alan left school at 16 years old and became a Professional Surfer. He then competed on the Pro Junior European Tour in 2001, where he finished 2nd. Following this success, Stokes went on to model for surf clothing brand Animal and has since then gone on to model for Vans, as well as to represent Britain and England in many Pro surfing Tours.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation was established in the UK in 1986 with the purpose to grant wishes to children and young people who are fighting life-threatening illnesses. Since the Make-A-Wish Foundation was first established it has gone on to grant around 5,500 wishes too the many special children who turn to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in order to receive a bit of magic in their lives regardless of whether they wish to become a princess, policeman or even a surfer for a day.

Alan Stokes is the latest celebrity to help some special children experience the magic of a Make-a-Wish wish, and he took some time of his latest competition to meet with three of the Make a Wish children. Four year old Kai, who is living with Pulmonary Artesia, recently had a Mickey Mouse Play House bedroom makeover and Jonathan (aged 11), who is fighting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, had a special day out when he met the Storm Troopers from his favorite film, Star Wars. Five year old Reef, who has Rhabdomyosarcoma – a type of cancer – will be swimming with dolphins in November for his wish.

The boys met Alan ahead of the Boardmasters’ five star world qualifying series surfing event. He took them to the beach where he himself learnt to surf – Tolcarne Beach in Newquay – and where the tournament is taking place. He also showed the children and their families some basic surf moves.

Jonathan said: “I have had the best day! My favorite part was learning to surf – I’ve never been surfing before.”

Alan said: “It’s fantastic to be an Ambassador for such a wonderful charity. I feel honored to have met such wonderful children today and I look forward to meeting more children and raising the profile of Make-A-Wish in the South West.”

In his role as Ambassador, Alan will meet more wish children, help Make-A-Wish with fundraising, and attend Make-A-Wish events and balls.

Jenson Button Competes In Triathlon For Charity

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Formula 1 driver Jenson Button got active for charity yesterday, August 2, when he competed in the London Triathlon.

The driver completed the 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run in just over 2 hours to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“I have had the pleasure of meeting lots of kids who are supported by the charity at our tests and races,” said Jenson. “It’s a real privilege to be involved with them. The kids are so inspirational and hopefully we can raise enough money to fulfill as many of their dreams as possible.”

Over 13,000 competitors took part in the event.

Savage Garden Singer Grants Wish To Cancer Sufferer

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Former Savage Garden singer, Darren Hayes, granted a wish of a lifetime to an American woman in London.

Serena suffers from thyroid cancer, and thanks to the UK Make-A-Wish Foundation, she got to meet her musical idol at the Ritz in London.

“It was so inspiring meeting Serena and her family,“ said Hayes. "She has such a positive spark and her family’s sense of humor was infectious. It’s wonderful to be a small part of their celebration of life. Please donate and support this amazing charity.”

The pair chatted in private during the meeting, and Hayes presented Serena with a special gift. He had even read Serena’s blog before their meeting, so he was up to speed on all her interests and hobbies.

“It was an amazing experience,“ said Serena. “Darren is just an absolutely lovely person. I want to thank everyone involved in making this happen. I believe in miracles and a miracle has happened today.”

Katie Price Makes A Dream Come True

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British model Katie Price has made a young girl’s dream come true.

The UK’s Make-A-Wish Foundation flew Suzanne – a teenager from Ireland who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy – to Manchester to meet her idol, Katie Price.

“I only have one wish and that is to meet Katie Price,“ Suzanne had told the Foundation. "I love her – she is so down-to-earth and glamorous at the same time. We both love pink, and I love the way she’s both glitzy and gutsy too!”

Make-A-Wish treated Suzanne to a manicure before the meeting, and when they did meet, a crew happened to be filming Katie for a new TV program. Suzanne got to appear on the show with the model.

During the meeting, the pair talked about how Katie believes that you can do anything you want to do in life if you put your mind to it.

“The whole wish day was amazing for Suzanne – we will never forget it,“ said Suzanne’s mother. "Thank you so much to Make-A-Wish for making this happen. It was almost like Suzanne’s life changed the day we took the phone call to say she’d be meeting Katie Price the following week.“

Michael Jackson's This Is It Film To Be Released

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It has been reported that a film is to be released of the final footage from Michael Jackson’s rehearsals for his This Is It concerts, with some of the proceeds to go to charity.

Sony Pictures is in final negotiations to acquire the film – at a price of $60 million – with 90% of the profits to go to the Jackson Estate, which will include a charity to be set up in the King of Pop’s name.

Jackson was a huge supporter of charities in his lifetime, and his family hopes to keep his memory alive with the new charity. The singer often visited underprivileged children and children affected by disasters and in hospitals, and worked with organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute, the TJ Martell Foundation, the United Negro College Fund, the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children, the Prince’s Trust, the Great Ormond Street Hospital, Childhelp USA, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America, Children’s Defense Fund, Elizabeth Taylor’s AIDS Foundation and many more.

The film is set for release on October 30.

Take That Brings Hope To Wembley Concert

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A ten-year-old English Cerebral Palsy sufferer had her dream come true thanks to the UK’s Make-A-Wish Foundation last week, when she got to meet boyband Take That.

Hope, from Essex, was granted the wish to go to London and attend the concert at Wembley Stadium in a luxury pink limousine.

According to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, "She was especially thrilled to meet Mark Owen, as he is her favorite member of the group. She clapped her hands and blew him kisses when she met him. Mark was very touched and made Hope the envy of millions of girls when he bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek and told her to have a great time watching the show.“

“Hope will remember this day forever and so will I,“ said Hope’s mother. "Just to see the smile on her face made me so happy. Thank you Make-A-Wish for making this magical wish happen.”

AC/DC Makes A Dream Come True

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A young rock fan in England had his dream come true when he met AC/DC courtesy of the UK Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Six-year-old Hendrix of Walsall, West Midlands, is fighting Acute Monocytic Leukemia and has been a huge fan of the famous rockers since the age of three, when he had to have a major bone marrow transplant – AC/DC’s music was the only thing that would calm him and help him sleep.

As well as watching the band’s Wembley show from a VIP box, Hendrix was escorted backstage where band members Brian Johnson, Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Phill Rudd and Cliff Williams presented him with a goodie bag and his very own miniature guitar, signed by every band member.

“Tonight has been fantastic for Hendrix and just to see him so happy means everything,“ said Hendrix’s father. "He has met his heroes and this will be something he will never forget. Thank you so much for making his wish come true”.

Andy Murray Grants Wish For Sick Teens

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Two tennis-mad teenagers have had their wish granted to attend The Championships at Wimbledon – and they met Andy Murray too!

The UK Make-A-Wish Foundation hosted two children from overseas when tennis fans 17 year old Christine McLinn, from Wisconsin, USA and Thys Kroezen, aged 15 and from the Netherlands, had their life-time wish granted to come to England and see a tennis match at the world famous Wimbledon tournament.

Christine is fighting Hodgkin’s disease and has played tennis since she was six years old. She has an expert knowledge on anything to do with tennis and her favourite female player is Serena Williams. She has had to endure chemotherapy, but she surprised medical experts by managing to win a local tennis championship within a few weeks of receiving the treatment.

Thys is fighting Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer – but despite having to have his left arm amputated due to his illness, he is still a keen tennis player.

The pair and their families were treated to Centre Court seats all day, where they were able to see matches featuring Maria Sharapova vs Gisela Dulko, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez vs Roger Federer and Sam Querry vs Marin Cilic.

Then there was a big surprise in store for the two teenagers, as they were lucky enough to have a VIP meeting with the UK’s number one tennis player, Andy Murray. They chatted for around half an hour about tennis and then Andy – showing great kindness in spending time with Thys and Christine during the first week of Wimbledon, the premier tournament of the year – presented them with signed T-shirts and had photographs taken with them.

Christine’s mother Cynthia said of the wish: “It has been one of the most exciting days of our lives and particularly for Christine because tennis got her through chemotherapy, and that makes it all the more touching.”

Thys’s mother said: “It was a most fantastic day. Lots of nice unexpected things happened and Make-A-Wish in Holland and their British colleagues made our wish possible after a long and difficult year for our family. Now Thys can start his ‘normal’ life again next week.”

Michael Jackson's Charity Legacy

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Michael Jackson, who passed away last week, featured significantly on the pages of Look To The Stars. He was a passionate supporter of charity, and was honored by many different organizations for the work that he did and the compassion that he showed.

As well as writing We Are The World with Lionel Richie and helping to organize the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert in the wake of September 11, Jackson also donated the proceeds from a song to victims of Hurricane Katrina, often donated items to charity auctions, and was to donate some of the proceeds from his upcoming shows in London to charity. He set up a burns unit for children and also established the Heal The World Foundation, whose work has included airlifting 6 tons of supplies to Sarajevo, instituting drug and alcohol abuse education and donating millions of dollars to less fortunate children.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg. A comprehensive timeline of the late singer’s charitable work has been published by Jackson Action. The list includes his work with underprivileged children and children affected by disasters, visits to hospitals, and work with organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute, the TJ Martell Foundation, the United Negro College Fund, the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children, the Prince’s Trust, the Great Ormond Street Hospital, Childhelp USA, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America, Children’s Defense Fund, Elizabeth Taylor’s AIDS Foundation and many more. It also details Jackson’s efforts to airlift 60,000 doses of children’s vaccines to Tblisi, Georgia, and his donations to hundreds of charities. To view the timeline, click here.

The charity world has lost a valuable supporter, and Look To The Stars extends our best wishes to Michael Jackson’s family, friends and fans.

Buy Guitar String Bracelets And Support Charity

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Music fans now have the chance to wear their love of Rock on their sleeves for charity.

Wear Your Music is a New York-based organization that creates 100% eco-friendly jewelry that rocks – literally. The company makes used guitar strings from artists spanning the musical spectrum into stylish bracelets. 100% of the proceeds from the bracelets goes to charities of the artists’ choice, such as UNICEF, Rock the Vote, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nordoff-Robbins, MusiCares, PETA, HeadCount, The Nature Conservancy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Keep A Child Alive, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Smile Train and many more.

Over 150 musicians have personally donated guitar strings to the initiative, including Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Metallica, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Carlos Santana and Death Cab for Cutie.

“These are strings that these musicians have used and would normally throw away,” says co-president and designer Hannah Garrison, “It’s great that we can recycle them and also offer people a chance to wear rock n roll on their wrists.” In addition, the fine silver used on each bracelet is also 100% recycled, as is the DVD case each bracelet comes in. "Supporting good causes and the environment have always been important, but even more so now.”

To check out the bracelets and make a purchase, visit the official Wear Your Music website.

Jenson Button To Compete In Triathlon For Charity

Thu, 28 May 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Formula One winning driver Jenson Button is asking his fans to support him in this year’s London Triathlon on August 1-2 to raise funds for Make-A-Wish UK.

“I’m in a position where I can try and make the kids dream come true, it does give you big satisfaction seeing the little smiles on their faces,” Button says in a promotional video.

“I was at the event in London a few months back, and seeing a few of the kids’ faces is just amazing,” said the seasoned tri-athlete.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation patron also issued a statement, which in part reads, “I have had the pleasure of meeting lots of kids who are supported by the charity at our tests and races. Make A Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses and it is a real privilege to be involved with them. The kids are so inspirational and hopefully we can raise enough money to fulfill as many of their dreams as possible.”

To find out more on how you can help support Button in his run, read his full message here.

LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With High School Musical Director Kenny Ortega

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

On April 18, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) held their 10th annual conference celebration in Newport Beach, CA. Look to the Stars got a chance to interview the legendary choreographer and director Kenny Ortega right before he was awarded for his achievements. Among his more famous credits are Xanadu, Salsa, Dirty Dancing, the Cheetah Girls 2 and his crowning achievement of the past few years, all three of the High School Musical films.

What does it mean to be honored by NALIP?

It is an organization that works tirelessly to make a greater future potential for everyone in our community. It is a most prestigious company and I am honored to be here.

What kind of hurdles did you encounter in your journey to success?

There are so many obstacles that I wondered if I could really hurdle. There is a tremendous amount that you find yourself coming up against as child, as a growing man and even as an adult. I am glad that I have family and eventually supporters who told me to keep my imagination. It has also been important to be in a community with so many activists who care about us. They have done much to ensure that we have opportunities for all Latino artists.

What words of encouragement would you give to aspiring filmmakers and other artists?

First of all, you have to have a lot of heart. You have to have enough heart that no one can burn that fire out. Then I think it is so important to get an education. The more you know, the more you can draw from. Imagination, dream big, think big.

You say that education is important. With your background in dance, can you elaborate on how certain subjects from grade school on make a difference?

If you want to be a dancer or choreographer then you need to know math. I cannot tell you how important it is to understand math. It is a part of the whole rhythmic system of breaking down choreography and dance. A basic education is an absolute must.

Look to the Stars is not only about social awareness but also charity. Kenny, what charities are near and dear to your heart?

Make-A-Wish, Pediatric AIDS, and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital… but I am really active with Pediatric Aids and Make-A-Wish. In fact, Make-A-Wish honored me this year with a very beautiful plaque. I really love and believe and support the cause. I love the idea of enabling critically ill children opportunities to experience life situations that they might not be able to have because of their critical health.

Thank you so much, Kenny. Congratulation on being honored tonight by NALIP.

Photo copyright Josh Weiss.

Stars Design Necklaces For Charity Auction

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

The World Gold Council has launched its charity auction featuring jewelry designed by some of entertainment’s biggest stars.

As reported by Look To The Stars last year, a range of celebrities – including Debra Messing, Christina Applegate, Whoopi Goldberg, Marcia Gay Harden, Samantha Harris, Eric McCormack, Chris Noth (“Mr Big”), Lena Olin, Rachael Ray, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, and Pauletta & Denzel Washington – have designed gold pendant necklaces incorporating a leaf motif. Participants will choose to have proceeds from the sale of their designs benefit their favorite charity or Jewelers for Children, the jewelers industry charity that has invested over $30 million in special programs to reach children whose lives have been devastated by catastrophic illness or life-threatening abuse and neglect.

Other charities to benefit from the auction include YouthAIDS, Right Action for Women, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Waterkeeper Alliance, Project Angel Food, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Hope for Henry Foundation – a charity which improves the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses by providing carefully chosen gifts and specially designed programs to entertain and promote comfort, care and recovery – Yum-o!, and the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen.

The auction runs until May 7, and will be followed by a live gala event in New York City.

To make a bid or view the items, click here.

LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With Raul Julia-Levy

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

Starring alongside Damon Whitaker and Danny Venegas, Raul Julia-Levy has played the leads of a positive role model in film.

In real life, Julia-Levy plays the role of a philanthropist, actor, producer and activist with a heart. He grew up in a prominent family in Mexico City and met his famous father for the first time in Hollywood when he was 17. Despite any life challenges he has faced, he has remained dedicated to his passions and his cause.

I had the opportunity of meeting of Raul and asking him a few questions on why philanthropy is so important to him.

What initially inspired you to get involved in charity and philanthropy?

I have always had a heart for others since I was 5 years old. My instincts as a human being began at that time and I had a heart for people and animals. I remember my grandfather asked me, “who is the most important person,” and I said HE is, of course, or my mother. He told me he would be back after I could think about it a while. When he returned I told him that “I” am the most important person, and he kissed me and said that is right.

Were you raised to think about others or was there an event in your life that caused you to direct your interests toward charity?

At 7 years my grandfather told me that I have too many shoes – don’t you know there are people that don’t have one pair? A maid worked in the house and her son had holes in his shoes – I gave him 3 pairs of my shoes.

What do you get out of helping others and being a part of such a cause?

It makes me feel important to others and to myself and that I accomplish something – contributing to something important.

Why would you recommend others to get involved?

The rewards of helping others should be spread around and giving something back to the world in a noble way – it is a unique experience for humanity.

What would you like to see change about the world?

Everything needs to change in the world – starting from the respect of wild life and mankind as well as the respect for the environment around the world.

What would you do to fix the issues?

In order to make significant changes we all need to start from our own house and teach others to do the same.

You are involved with a lot of charities. What are the ones you are most passionate about and why?

I support FlauntMyPet, The Humane Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Hollywood Children’s Hospital, and the Senior Citizen Foundation because they are all dedicated to supporting mankind as well as animals and survival into the future. I also support the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Michael J. Fox Foundation, & The Lolita Campaign.

Why do you feel these are worthy causes or organizations?

Life is essential for the growth of our planet and I believe these causes support that.

I have heard of the other charities, but I am not familiar with Flaunt My Pet. Could you tell me more?

When my first dog, Randy, died when both of us were 13 years old, it was a very emotional time for me. I felt like I lost a part of my body. Until this day his presence is still very strong to me. As an adult, my dog O’Toole died in 2006 – I was devastated. After spending $3000 we could not save him because he had plastic attached to his intestine. This is how FlauntMyPet.com was born. The death of our dog O’Toole and the astronomical number of dogs killed in this country each year-4 million dogs a year.

Flauntmypet.com is a major social site that will launch in 2009 showcasing a long list of Hollywood Celebrities and their pets. It is currently in the process of becoming a 501c3 nonprofit status. Their mission is to educate and bring the masses together so they can interact and be a part of a cause. For more information, email info@flauntmypet.com.

You and your celebrity friends have also been a great support to the Lolita Campaign. Can you tell our readers about your purpose in the campaign?

We are all dedicated to relocating this wonderful whale back into her natural habitat. It is extremely important that we succeed in this cause because that will set the standard and prevent aquariums and facilities, that don’t meet Federal regulations, from displaying such animals in captivity under poor conditions. We believe that we will succeed 100% in the relocation of the whale.

What other projects are you working on?

Working with AnswersForElders.com, a social site for baby boomers who are taking care of their elderly parents. I am currently involved with an epic movie called Birdwoman of the Snake, a Native American story about Sacagawea, staring Ewan McGregor

If you had the opportunity to use your celebrity status to make changes for the better of the world, what would you do?

Raise awareness, educate people, provide unique information, invite people to get involved and take part of the change.

Who are some of your celebrity friends that really make a difference in the world today?

Johnny Depp, who is incredibly devoted to children and animals; Harrison Ford, Forest Whitaker, Jermaine Jackson, Halima Jackson, Jean Claude Van Dam, 50 Cent, Bob Barker, Elton John, Placido Domingo, Shari Watson aka: Truth Hurts, American Idol: Chikezie, Hayden Panettiere, Lindsay Lohan, Bokeem Woodbine, Wesley Snipes, Richard Grieco and many other A-list celebrities from Mexico City.

How do you think we can get more celebrities to get involved in positive change?

By being a good example and promoting good examples and good work. Showing celebrities that their voices are powerful enough to make things happen.

How do you think we can inspire more people to become involved in giving back?

Utilizing our most powerful tool – our voices through a clear message that is direct and inspirational.

How important is it for celebrities like yourself and your friends to use their voice?

It is extremely important for them to give back in any way, shape or form – part of our mission. We all have a purpose to give back.

Imagine the impact we would see if everyone in Hollywood would use his or her voice to make a positive impact in the world. Who knows, maybe philanthropy would become the industry standard and we could all flaunt our pet with a purpose.

Celebrities Support Latisse Wishes Campaign

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Mandy Moore, Debra Messing, Angie Harmon, Marisa Tomei, Debi Mazar, Jewel, Jennifer Coolidge and Perrey Reeves were just some of the celebrities to attend a star-studded event last week in Hollywood to launch Latisse Wishes, a charitable public awareness campaign designed to help make wishes come true.

Actress Brooke Shields and beauty expert to the stars Anastasia Soare will lead the campaign to generate $1 million to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

The Latisse Wishes campaign was borne out of the tradition of blowing on an eyelash to make a wish come true and leverages the excitement surrounding the availability of Allergan’s Latisse, the first and only science-based prescription treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for hypotrichosis of the eyelashes (inadequate or not enough lashes) that is used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, fuller and darker.

“Every 40 minutes the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish to a child with a life-threatening medical condition. Forty seconds is all it takes to visit www.LATISSE.com to register your support and help make wishes come true,” said David Williams, president and chief executive officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “We urge everyone to log on to the Latisse Website and register their support to help grant the wishes of children in their communities.”

Brooke Shields has also talked about her support for the campaign.

“I am delighted to be a part of Latisse Wishes, to not only help educate women on an eyelash growth product that is the first to be scientifically proven, but also to support a worthy organization such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” she said. “I remember being a child and blowing on an eyelash hoping my wish would come true, and as a mother I’ve passed this tradition onto my children. Through Latisse Wishes and in partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation, we can keep the tradition alive and fulfill the hopes of so many more children around the country.”

More information about the campaign can be found here.

Look To The Stars Exclusive: An Interview With Corey Feldman

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Brandy Reynolds

Run through your top 10 favorite films from the 1980’s, and chances are that Corey Feldman will feature in at least one of them. From The Goonies to Gremlins to Stand By Me to The Lost Boys to Friday the 13th:The Final Chapter, his is a face a whole generation grew up recognizing.

Recent viewers may recognize Feldman from The Two Coreys, a reality show on the A&E Network that also starred Corey Haim. Since the late 90’s, he has also been enjoying success with his band, the Truth Movement, but it is charity work that keeps the actor and musician occupied for much of his time. With interests in animal welfare, environmental issues and several other causes, Feldman was awarded the Paws of Fame Award by the Wildlife Way Station.

Look To The Stars’ reporter Brandy Reynolds was lucky enough to catch up with Corey recently to chat about his work towards making the world a better place.

Hi Corey… can you tell us about some of the charities you support?

I support a lot of charities, I’m very involved with several different charities on all different levels. I can kind of give you the hit list .

I can’t really be selective. All are meaningful. At the top of the list would be the The Humane Society, PETA, Farm Sanctuary , Last Chance for Animals. All relatively related to each other. All related to animal rights and animal protection and health and welfare of animals.

And there’s environmental… Greenpeace, Global Green, Save Our Earth… and cancer charities, children’s charities like Camp Rainbow, the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I try to lend my voice to those who don’t have a voice of their own. Which is why I talk about animals, children, or environment – because those 3 topics don’t have their own representative.

Were you raised to think about others, or is there a certain event in your life that made you really want to get involved with charity work?

I’ve always cared about others, I myself was raised in a very abusive house hold. I spent most of my life very poor – always living hand to mouth and figuring out where the next meal was coming from… that was a big part of my life. So that made me very sympathetic to the less fortunate; and my mother was a huge animal rights advocate. When I was a child working as actor she had me involved with a group called Actors and Others for Animals which was one of the first animal rights organizations based out of Hollywood. So I was involved with them very early on… probably seven or eight years old -running around rescuing dogs and bringing them to our home. Shortly after that we ended up with 30 dogs and 20 cats living at our ranch.

We were really consumed with trying to save the world – and at that point of course no one was really doing what we were doing, there wasn’t really a lot of vegetarianism and animal rights activism. By the time I was 10 years old, I was resigned to the fact the I wanted to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life. However, growing up in a strict family environment, my grandparents where old Jewish traditional type people and thought I was crazy for wanting to be a vegetarian. It took until I was about 13 years old when I made the decision to be a strict vegetarian… and have been every since, and it’s been about 24 years for me now.

What would you recommend others do to get involved and what can they do?

There’s a lot you can do and it depends where you want to focus your time and energy. For me, I say anything you can do to help another struggling being [is great]. If you have the opportunity, just do it. That could mean anything from going down to the homeless shelters and feeding people, or if you have food you can go down to the homeless shelters and give it to them. You can hand out things to people on the streets – I don’t suggest handing out money because you don’t know what it’s going to be spent on.

You can get involved , you can be come a volunteer at any countless number of shelters or abuse clinics or hospitals. As far as environmental causes and helping the world goes – become environmentally safer and more eco friendly. There are small things you can do at home, such as using only bio-degradable products, earth-friendly products, making sure you turn your lights off, separate plastic and metals… every little bit that a human being does can push us forward in the battle of trying to restore our earth.

Do you feel Hollywood should set a better example?

I think the wheels are in motion and it’s certainly a hot point that people are progressively thinking about escalating this battle to the next level and making sure that we are setting a example. If you look around, everything is green this and green that. But there’s always more that can be done. For example, I put out a album a couple of months ago with my band, Truth Movement, and we wanted to kind of raise the bar when it came to environmental products and doing things environmentally friendly. So we released it under my own label in order that we could release it on one hundred percent recyclable biodegradable materials – the package is one hundred percent recyable material, the tray is corn plastic and we used soy wheat to print the images. Our first single is called Green Is The Color, so right there that was a way that I made my mark with my band to set a example. Yes it can be done in the end. It cost us a little bit more , but it can be done. And it’s worth it because we are making a statement that we are not going to keep taking the easier softer way.

What can we tell the people to look forward to and watch for in your up-coming projects?

Theres a couple of things. We’re doing a live premiere of our record release party in which I just mentioned. It’s call Technology Analogy. That event is planned at the Key Club on April 10th .

We are also talking to Weed Ware. They make materials out of weed instead of regular material. One of the things they focus on is they make all band materials out of weed. And we are now using all weed materials in our band (drum sticks and guitar picks).

Another thing we’re doing – I can’t say that this is done yet – but we are trying to have all of our musical performances completely green. It’s not one hundred percent yet , but we are trying.

On April 16 we are headlining an event at the Whiskey on Sunset which is going to be for the animal awareness week. So we basically have a series of events that are directed at raising awareness and financing efforts to stop animal testing. And on March 28, my wife Susie – who is also a huge animal and environmental activist (she is the one who got me involved) – will be presenting an award at the Genesis Awards at the Beverley Hilton.

Look To The Stars would like to thank Corey Feldman for taking the time to talk to us and share his thoughts on making the world a better place. To find out more about his efforts and upcoming events, visit Coreyfeldman.net or Myspace.com /technologyanalogy.

Jimmy Johnson To Host Night Of Champions

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra Johnson, will be hosting the ‘Night of Champions’ to benefit the Jimmie Johnson Foundation at (PIR) Phoenix International Raceway’s luxury lounge, Octane, on Thursday, April 16, to help children and families in Arizona and beyond.

‘Night of Champions’ gives fans the chance to mingle with Jimmy as well as participate in an exclusive charity auction during the event.

This is the second year in a row that that the track and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation have partnered for the April 16 NASCAR Camping World Series West race at PIR, which will be named the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 Presented by Shamrock Farms.

“I really give the track a lot of credit for this partnership idea,” said Johnson. “It’s a great way that we can raise awareness and funds for our foundation. At the same time, Chani and I are thrilled to be making a contribution to a very important local charity. We hope the children who benefit from the services of West Valley Child Crisis Center will have a chance to join us for a night of fun and racing at the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150.”

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation is dedicated to assisting children, families, and communities in need. The foundation aims to help everyone, especially children, pursue their dreams. The partner programs for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation include San Diego Habitat For Humanity, the Hendrick Marrow Program, the Victory Junction Gang, and Phoenix-based Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.

Tickets for the “Night of Champions” are currently available and include fine food and drink, an amazing view of the NASCAR Camping World Series West racing action at PIR, and a chance to meet one of NASCAR’s top stars, all while contributing to the health and wellness of children and families in need.

Michael Jordan's Charity Golf Tournament A Success

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

The eighth annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) – held at the Ocean Club Golf Course in the Bahamas – was once again a huge success. Jordan was joined by numerous friends who helped his four-day event raise over $150,00 for several worthy causes including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the James R. Jordan Foundation and the Butch Kerzner Summit Foundation.

Since the MJCI began in 2000, nearly $5 million has been raised for charity, making it one of celebrity golf’s most popular events.

“All year long, I look forward to hosting my friends at the Ocean Club Golf Course,” said Michael Jordan. "There’s no place I’d rather be in January than in the Bahamas, on Paradise Island, raising money for some very worthy causes.”

Celebrity pairings in this year’s tournament included: John Smoltz & Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Brett Hull & Brandi Chastain, Ozzie Smith & Paul O’Neill, Ahmad Rashad & Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Jordan & Toni Kukoc, John Elway & Alonzo Mourning, Richard Dent & Ken Griffey Jr., Stone Phillips & Marcus Allen, Boris Kodjoe & Boris Becker, Mike Piazza & Josh Duhamel, and Bill Clinton & Scott Caan among others.

The event winners, Julius “Dr. J” Erving and John Smoltz, donated their winnings to individual charities close to their hearts. Erving donated $20,000 to the Cory Martin Erving Foundation in honor of his son who passed away in 2000, and Smoltz donated $20,000 to Kings Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, GA. Paradise Island Tourism Development Association (PITDA) was this year’s Presenting Sponsor. The Jordan Brand and ICON International were also major sponsors, among a range of others.

Michael Jordan Named Chief Wish Ambassador

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Michael Jordan, regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time and a successful business leader, now has a new title announced Saturday – Chief Wish Ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Jordan was formally introduced in his new role by David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer, at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament. The tournament continues through Sunday at Kerzner International’s Atlantis, Paradise Island resort and Ocean Club Golf Course in the Bahamas.

Jordan, who has granted more than 175 wishes during the past two decades, will serve as lead figure for the Foundation’s newly formed Wish Ambassador Council and as a national spokesman, assisting the Foundation’s efforts to increase wish-granting outreach.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Wish Ambassador Council is composed of people who are passionate about the Foundation’s work, including the Make-A-Wish founders, celebrities and national sports figures such as Jordan, former wish children, wish parents and Foundation supporters.

“An estimated 27,000 children are diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in the United States each year, and I’m eager to do what I can to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation reach out to even more of these courageous children,” Jordan said. “Granting children’s wishes through the Foundation has always been important to me. It’s a truly humbling, inspiring experience to see the smiles and joy that granting a wish brings to a child. I want to help even more children have that same opportunity.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has increased its number of wishes granted each year since 1985, including 13,425 in 2008, the most in its 28-year history. Yet that many more seriously ill children may be eligible for a wish from the Foundation, creating the opportunity to increase its outreach efforts.

“We are extremely honored for Michael Jordan to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation as our first Chief Wish Ambassador,” Williams said. “Michael is one of the Foundation’s most popular celebrity wish granters ever. He has a great appreciation and enthusiasm for our mission, and we’re delighted for him to help us reach out to even more children with life-threatening medical conditions.”

To celebrate the occasion, Jordan also granted the wish of 7-year-old Donovan Russell of Sacramento, Calif. Russell, along with his family, met his basketball idol in a private meeting Friday at Atlantis, Paradise Island, and he is enjoying a number of activities at the resort as part of his wish experience.

Also on Saturday, the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational made a $150,000 contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation as one of the tournament’s charity beneficiaries. The eighth annual tournament will distribute more than $500,000 to selected charities this year.

“We appreciate the generosity of Michael, Kerzner International and everyone involved with the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational,” Williams said. “This wonderful contribution will help us grant the heartfelt wishes of dozens more children who truly deserve the hope, strength and joy that comes from a wish experience.”

Michael Jordan Golf Invitational Set For This Month

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Aime Pingi

The eighth Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) will be held this year at the luxurious Ocean Club Golf Course from Wednesday, January 21, to Sunday, January 25, on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

MJCI consistently brings in an incredible array of talent from the worlds of sports and entertainment to compete on the course and participate in various events – all in the name of charity.

“I love golf and I love the Bahamas, I can’t think of a better location than the Ocean Club Golf Course and Atlantis, Paradise Island for my eighth annual golf tournament," said Michael Jordan. "January is the best time of the year to be in the Bahamas. The weather is fantastic and the competition is always fierce. I hope to see you there!”

Over $500,000 will be dispersed to the following:

Butch Kerzner Summit Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The James R. Jordan Foundation

Forty additional charities will be designated by celebrity participants.

In its first six years, over $3 million has been donated to various charities.

In 2008 the golfers competed for a purse of $200,000 that was donated to the charity of their choice.

One of the highlights last year was a concert at Atlantis featuring Ashanti, Fat Joe, The Pussycat Dolls, and the O.J.s. Some of the other stars in attendance were Spike Lee, Kid Rock, Boris Kodjoe, Alan Thicke, Stephen Baldwin, John McEnroe, Stone Phillips, Mario Lemieux, Dave Annable, Flex Alexander, Angie Everhart, Dan Jensen, Brandie Chastain, Dennis Haysbert, Connie Chung and Maury Povich.

For more information, contact Dusty Ann Williams at the MJCI Tournament Office: Telephone 561.964.0382, Email: dwilliams@jpse.net.

The Hiltons Help Out For Christmas

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Paris Hilton’s mother, Kathy, held her annual Christmas auction to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Saturday, December 20.

The auction was broadcast live on the internet and featured over 200 items, such as a meet-and-greet with the Jonas Brothers, shoes and a necklace donated by Elizabeth Taylor, autographed guitars from Melissa Etheridge and Avril Lavigne, a tambourine signed by Brian Wilson and designer clothes taken from the closets of Paris and Nicky Hilton.

Kathy Hilton held her first celebrity auction last year, and raised over $27,000 with items such as Mel Gibson’s jeans, Tom Cruise’s sunglasses, and an Ocean’s Thirteen script signed by the movie’s stars, including George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

The auction isn’t the only good thing Paris and Nicky are doing this Holiday Season. Last week they were spotted distributing toys to disadvantaged children at the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles.

Matt Gallant To Go Bowling For Wishes

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

TV presenter Matt Gallant – best known for hosting The Planet’s Funniest Animals on Animal Planet – will host the Matt Gallant Bowling For Wishes event in Los Angeles next month.

Gallant is an active supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and is organizing the event to raise money to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

The event will take place at the Pinz Bowling Centre on Ventura Blvd on January 25, and promises to be a fun-for-all-the-family event.

There are currently sponsor opportunities to be part of the bowling fun, and more information can be found here.

3 Doors Down Play Gig For A Better Life

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rockers 3 Doors Down performed a charity gig at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Saturday night, December 6, to raise money for their Better Life Foundation.

The show marked the fifth time the Jackson County-based band – whose hits include Kryptonite – has held the annual concert, with proceeds going to Mississippi victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“Well it’s always great to be back on the coast and especially during the holiday season, and this is our fifth event for the foundation,“ said guitarist Matt Roberts. “We’re excited to be, here to get it done and have a great show tonight.”

The concert included an auction of rock memorabilia and items such as an Army National Guard themed Harley Davidson. The band also met 15-year-old Kaleb Miller as part of a Make-A-Wish Foundation wish, and donated $10,000 to the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of South Mississippi.

The mission of The Better Life Foundation is to make a positive change in the lives of children in need of food, shelter and medical assistance, and to enhance the lives of children and young adults with special needs. The money that is raised is distributed to organizations and hospitals that offer children a better life in which they can develop their potential, achieve their goals, and, become caring and responsible adults.

More info about the charity can be found at www.thebetterlifefoundation.org.

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