Look To The Stars News: Oxfam

Celebrity Ladies Get Together For Oxfam

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Last night, a group of celebrity ladies in London showed how a fun night out in great company can make a massive difference. Lauren Laverne, Miquita Oliver, Caroline Flack, Caitlin Moran, Dawn Porter, Gemma Cairney, Grace Dent, Cherry Healey, Brix Smith-Start, Jo Good and Whistles’ Jane Sheperdson gathered to launch Get-together; Oxfam’s new fundraising campaign to support women around the world.

There are 1.3 billion people living in poverty worldwide – more than two-thirds of them are women and girls. Lauren and pals led by example aiming to inspire UK ladies to get together and hold their own fundraising events for International Women’s Day on 08 March. Oxfam is inviting women to arrange anything from a dinner party or cocktails to an afternoon of knitting or doing a favourite work-out routine, all to raise money to support women living in poverty around the globe.

Giving Back Fund Announces Top 30 Celebrity Charity Donations For 2011

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:20:00 +0000

The Giving Back Fund (GBF), a nonprofit organization that provides philanthropic management and consulting to the sports and entertainment industries, released its fifth annual Giving Back 30, a list of the 30 celebrities who made the largest donations to charity in 2011 according to public records.

The list includes celebrities from many walks of life including actors, writers, producers, musicians, comedians, and athletes.

Topping the list were actress Jami Gertz and her husband, Anthony Ressler, who donated $10,569,002 to the Ressler Gertz Foundation. Coming in second was musician Herb Alpert, who gave $9,104,829 to the Herb Alpert Foundation – which focuses on the arts, compassion and well being – followed by Mel Gibson, who gave $6,853,020 to the AP Reilly Foundation, which he started to support the Holy Family Church.

Ronan Keating Attends Celebrity Charity Oxfam Gala In Dubai

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:45:00 +0000

United Arab Emerates-based philanthropic organization, Dubai Cares, and global development and aid agency, Oxfam, have announced that the recent charity auction hosted by the Dubai International Film Festival and luxury Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen during the 8th edition of the Festival proved to be an overwhelming success, generating more than US$1 million.

All proceeds from the auction, which featured an exciting array of treasured celebrity items and experiences, went to Dubai Cares and Oxfam.

The charity auction and gala dinner was held under the patronage of UN Messenger of Peace HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Armani Hotel in Dubai.

NFL Stars Film PSAs To Raise Awareness Of African Drought

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

NFL superstar wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are teaming up once again on a mission to bring attention to the ongoing drought in East Africa.

Boldin and Fitzgerald call on football fans and others to support efforts to bring critically needed food and water to people in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, and have released a public service announcement to raise awareness and funds for the region. The former teammates are both perennial Pro Bowl favorites and played together in Super Bowl XLIII. Both players are also well-known contributors to communities in need. They are exemplary role models on and off the field. This effort represents the first time the two stars have teamed up publicly to support a cause.

“This season the rains failed in many areas, causing the worst drought in 60 years,” said Boldin, who joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 after seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. “More than three months after famine was declared in Somalia the disaster in East Africa continues and help is still desperately needed.”

Meet Colin Firth For Oxfam At Film Premiere

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Oxfam America has teamed up with eBay once again to benefit Oxfam’s poverty relief and advocacy efforts around the world.

From November 16 through November 23, fans can bid on the chance to meet Academy Award Winner and Oxfam Ambassador Colin Firth, and attend the Hollywood premiere of his new film, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy!,” a Focus Features’ film based on the bestselling novel by John le Carre.

This “Experience” includes:

Bill Gates Addresses G20 Summit On Maintaining Aid During Economic Crisis

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Bill Gates has addressed the G20 Summit in France, urging leaders to protect aid budgets and lending his support to a Robin Hood Tax.

“Leadership from the G20 is critically important, especially in these tough economic times,” he said. “The world will not balance its books by cutting back on aid, but it will do irreparable damage to global stability, to the growth of the global economy and to livelihoods of millions of poor people.”

Gates acknowledged the current economic crisis in Europe, but raised awareness of the importance of equality – that every human life in the world is worth the same, everyone deserves access to healthcare and every life is worth saving – and that a price can’t be put on humanity.

Helen Mirren Cautions About Afghan Women's Future

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:45:00 +0000

Ten years ago, world leaders promised to protect the rights of women in Afghanistan through international intervention, said Oxfam in a press release last week, which warned that, “the improvements for Afghan women’s rights gained over the last decade are at risk of slipping away and could be lost in a quick fix bargain for peace.”

Oxfam cites its “A Place at the Table: Safeguarding women’s rights in Afghanistan” report as the basis for its concerns.

In response, the Green Scarves for Solidarity campaign is calling for people around the world to wear green scarves as a reminder to the Bonn Conference in December of promises made and to guarantee women’s rights in any settlements with the Taliban and other groups after international troops withdraw at the end of 2014. Actor Helen Mirren and singer Alesha Dixon were quick to don scarves.

Scarlett Johansson Makes Charity Trip To East Africa

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Oxfam Ambassador Scarlett Johansson has visited Kenya to see the devastating impact of the drought in East Africa.

More than 13 million people are at risk because of a severe drought that has hit parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. In Somalia, the crisis has escalated to a famine.

Scarlett visited the Dadaab refugee camp, where tens of thousands of Somali refugees have arrived: “The scale of poverty in Dadaab is overwhelming,” said Johansson. “I met countless women like Hawa, a local community leader, who lamented the seemingly endless struggle of the Somali people, as refugees of war and starvation and now left to suffer everyday life with the very barest of essentials.”

Annie Lennox To Perform Charity Concert In Glasgow

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Annie Lennox has confirmed that she will give a one off, exclusive performance for charity next month.

The singer, songwriter, campaigner and activist will make her one off performance at a charity event in Glasgow on 1st October to raise funds for Clyde 1 & Clyde 2 Cash for Kids, a charity set up in 1981 to support the most vulnerable children in the west of Scotland.

Celebrated as an innovator, an icon and a symbol of enduring excellence, Annie’s music career is peerless with over 80 million record sales to date and winning countless awards, while her tireless charity work is widely praised receiving prestigious awards and honors.

Fatboy Slim And Brett Anderson To Perform For Oxfam

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0000

A diverse range of the biggest names in music, including DJ legend Fatboy Slim, indie icon Brett Anderson (formerly of Suede), Mercury Prize nominee Ghostpoet and former Busted star Charlie Simpson will perform their most unusual shows to date – inside an Oxfam shop – to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Oxjam music festival.

A London Oxfam shop will stage a series of exclusive, intimate performances among the books and clothing on the shop floor itself to launch the fifth edition of the charity’s month-long Oxjam music festival.

“The reason I’ve been involved with Oxjam in previous years is that, as well as being one of the highlights of my DJing calendar, I see it as the best way for people to use their love of music to help a really worthwhile charity like Oxfam,” said Fatboy Slim. “I’m delighted to be joining in the fifth birthday celebrations this year, and I hope that budding DJs all around the country will also be using their decks and records to help fight poverty in October.”

Twiggy Supports Wardrobe Clearout For Oxfam

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Fashion icon Twiggy is calling on Marks & Spencer customers to support Oxfam by clearing out their wardrobes this week. 

On Thursday 8th September, 370 M&S stores up and down the UK will be hosting a special One Day Wardrobe Clearout event, accepting unwanted clothing and accessories that will be resold or recycled by Oxfam. The event will help Oxfam raise crucial funds and prevent clothing from going to landfill.

 The national campaign has the backing of the face of M&S Woman and international icon Twiggy, who is encouraging customers to get involved.

Gerard Butler To Play Celebrity Charity Football For Celtic

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Gerard Butler will be taking part in tonight’s “The Legends” Celtic vs Manchester United charity match in Glasgow.

Butler – a lifelong Celtic fan – will join stars such as Kyle Falconer, Gordon Strachan, Billy Connolly, Wayne Rooney, Rod Stewart, Eddie Jordan, Sharleen Spiteri, Dougray Scott and Paolo Nutini in giving his support to the match.

The Celtic Charity Fund has taken the decision to make Oxfam’s East Africa Famine Appeal the event’s main charitable beneficiary. With ITV broadcasting the match live from Celtic Park, stars from football and entertainment will be out in force at Celtic Park to back the campaign.

Celebrities Support Celtic Vs Manchester United For Charity

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Oxfam’s East Africa famine appeal has been announced as the main beneficiary of The Legends Celtic vs Manchester United charity match on August 9.

The drought in this area has already caused devastation and was officially declared a famine in two regions of Somalia by the United Nations on Wednesday 20th July 2011.

Celebrities Call On World Leaders For Urgent Horn Of Africa Funds

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

A group of global artists, activists and business leaders have signed a joint letter urging world leaders to step up their response to the famine in the Horn of Africa. They call on them to act “without reservation, prevarication or equivocation” when they meet at an emergency summit in Rome.

Among the signatories are Annie Lennox, Bob Geldof, Simon Cowell, Richard Curtis, Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, Kristin Scott Thomas, and representatives from charities such as Oxfam, the ONE Campaign, Comic Relief, CAFOD, ActionAid, Save the Children and many others.

“As we write, more than 11 million people are suffering the great agony of the worst famine in Africa for many years. It is incomprehensible that in 2011 anyone should die of starvation. $600 million* is needed now for our fellow humans. Not a great sum for the world, even in a time of great economic difficulty for some. Last week European leaders found over hundred times this amount to shore up the euro and bail out banks, yet countries like France, Italy, the Arab States and Germany have so far given miniscule amounts of money to prevent people dying from hunger. Surely this must be unacceptable? A true measure of strength is how one cares for the weak. A true test of power is how one protects the frail.

Audrey Hepburn Named Most Stylish Celebrity In Charity Poll

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:30:00 +0000

Audrey Hepburn has beaten modern celebrities, including Cheryl Cole and Kate Moss, to be named most stylish woman in a new poll by Oxfam.

According to the research, a quarter of UK women chose the 1950s star, immortalised in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, as their number one style icon, with Princess Diana in second place (14%) and Cheryl Cole in third (12%). In fact, seven of the top ten were stars from previous fashion eras, including designer Coco Chanel (5%), 1960s trendsetter Twiggy (5%) and blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe (4%). Kate Moss, often listed as one of the most fashionable women on the planet, was in tenth place with just one per cent of the vote.

Oxfam carried out the research to understand the growing demand for vintage fashion from its UK shops and website: since the launch in April 2010, the Oxfam online vintage section has seen a 34% increase in sales and an average of 6,000 visitors per week. A third of the women questioned in the poll (33%) admitted they would choose a vintage item over something new. Half of those (50%) said it was because the item would be unique and they would be less likely to see anyone else wearing the same thing, one in five (20%) said they thought that the quality of vintage items is better than new, while five per cent felt inspired by celebrities wearing vintage.

Mena Suvari Urges Fans To Help The Hungry In East Africa

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Mena Suvari is urging her fans to donate to UNICEF’s campaign to end the famine in East Africa.

“Help Humanity Half a million children are going to die of malnutrition if we don’t act,” the star tweeted yesterday.

The epicentre of the drought has hit the poorest people in the region in an area straddling the borders of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia where families rely heavily on livestock for survival. In some parts of the region, up to 60 percent of their herds have already died while the remainder are either sick or dangerously underweight. The price of animals has plummeted by half while the cost of cereals has soared. In Somalia the price of a main staple sorghum has risen by a massive 240 percent since this time last year.

Ewan McGregor Speaks Up For Starving Children In East Africa

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0000

UNICEF ambassador Ewan McGregor has made a heartfelt plea for the victims of what has been called the worst food crisis of this century in East Africa.

“East Africa is in crisis – war, failing harvest and the worst draught in fifty years means that over 2 million children are at risk… risk of disease, risk of death,” says the actor and humanitarian in a new video filmed for UNICEF. “At just one refugee camp in Kenya, there are almost half a million people in urgent need of food, water and basic healthcare. The situation throughout the region is becoming more and more critical. The threat of starvation is very real. By giving just £5, you could give desperately needed food to the most malnourished children. UNICEF’s most experienced teams are already on the ground, ensuring lifesaving aid is getting through, but we urgently need your help to reach every child who needs us. I promise your donation will make a real difference.”

Kristin Davis Sees Food Crisis In Kenya

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Kristin Davis has been visiting the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya with Oxfam, to see the devastating impact of the drought.

More than 10 million people are facing desperate food shortages in the worst food crisis of the 21st century.

“I feel shocked to see what these people have gone through,” said Kristin. “I met women who have walked for 20 days through the desert, with children dying on the way, only to arrive at a camp where there is hardly any food and water to go around. We must not allow this to happen in this day and age. Anything that you can give will help people who have absolutely nothing.”

Celebrities Sign Letter About Worst Food Crisis Of This Century

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Celebrities including Peter Gabriel, Lauren Laverne, Annie Lennox and Michael Morpugo have signed an open letter about the worst food crisis of the 21st century.

“East Africa is facing the worst food crisis of the 21st century,” states the letter. "Livestock are dying, markets are empty, food prices are rocketing and people are starving. Levels of acute malnutrition among refugees fleeing Somalia are some of the highest seen in decades.

“Across Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, 12 million people are in dire need of clean water, food and basic sanitation. Loss of life on a massive scale is a very real risk, and the crisis is set to worsen over the coming months.

Roger Federer's Wimbledon Defeat Costly For Charity

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Roger Federer’s defeat at Wimbledon today has proved doubly costly – not only has the six-time champion been defeated, but Oxfam have been denied a windfall of more than £100,000 due thanks to a bet placed placed by a man who left his estate to the charity when he died.

The original bet was £1520 on Federer to win the Wimbledon men’s singles at least 7 times before 2020 at 66/1, and Federer’s defeat against Tsonga this afternoon means Oxfam will have to wait for dividends of £101,840 from bookmaker William Hill. The good news for Oxfam is that the bet runs until 2020, meaning Federer potentially has another eight attempts to win the bet.

Mr Newlife left his entire estate to Oxfam when he died in February 2009, aged 69, which included the outcomes of the series of outstanding bets he had placed.

Oxfam Ready For The Glastonbury Mud

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

It’s described as the scourge of British summer music festivals but new research by festival veteran Oxfam, a Glastonbury charity partner for 18 years, suggests that festival mud is very much embraced by music lovers and is even regarded as iconic.

This is good news for the charity which is asking festival-goers to ‘get your hands dirty’ as part of its new Grow campaign that aims to fix the broken food system that leaves billions hungry every day. The iconic music festival takes place this weekend, with performers this year including U2, Coldplay, Beyoncé Knowles, Morrissey, the Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall and many more.

According to Oxfam, nearly three quarters of festival-goers (71%) aren’t put off by the muddy prospect of bad weather. When asked to pick the top three things they most associate with British music festivals, over a third of adults across Britain (36%) regard mud as an iconic element of British music festivals. Northern festival goers were the keenest of all on a muddy festival with almost a quarter (22%) of them embracing mud as ‘all part of the experience’, compared to only 11 per cent of Southern and just 7 per cent of London festival-goers.

Scarlett Johansson And Kristin Davis Speak Out Against Global Food Crisis

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Leading actors Scarlett Johansson and Kristin Davis, photographer Rankin, supermodel Helena Christensen and TV presenter Zoe Ball are among the stars joining Oxfam in putting out a call to fix the broken global food system, which is failing to feed nearly a billion people each day.

The international food system – which takes food from the fields to our plates – is currently leaving one in seven people going hungry every day and, according to Oxfam, the situation is getting much worse. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Angélique Kidjo and international actor Gael Garcia Bernal are also among the names joining Oxfam calling for governments and big businesses to act now and fix it, to avoid the first ever global food crisis.

Duchess Of Cornwall Donates Books To Charity

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, yesterday donated her own books to Oxfam in support of the charity’s nationwide Book Donation Drive.

During a visit to the Hay Festival Camilla visited the Oxfam bookshop and donated a children’s book called Dog Loves Books which she had signed. She also donated two books written by her son Tom Parker Bowles – one of which was signed by the author himself.

The Book Donation Drive has an ambitious target of attracting an extra 330,000 book donations over a three-week appeal period, which could raise over £750,000 for Oxfam’s life-changing work around the world. Last year’s donation drive resulted in donations of 300,000 extra books, and Oxfam is hoping to go 30% better this year. The sale of just one book donated to Oxfam is enough to pay for 18 bars of soap to prevent disease during a disaster; and the sale of three books could provide ten days’ worth of basic food rations for a family in an emergency situation.

OxTravels: Meetings With Remarkable Travel Writers For Oxfam

Mon, 30 May 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Some of travel writing’s biggest names were at Daunt Books in Marylebone, England, last week for the launch of OxTravels: Meetings With Remarkable Travel Writers – published by Profile Books in support of Oxfam.

Michael Palin, who wrote the introduction to the anthology, took to the stage to toast the OxTravels writers in the audience and said ’It’s a great book for a great cause.’

Oxfam Trading Director David McCullough added, ‘OxTravels is a fantastic book, and we are so happy to be collaborating with Profile again. Profile and Oxfam’s 2009 project Ox-Tales raised £137,000 for Oxfam and we hope that OxTravels will raise even more for our life-changing work around the world.’

25% Discount For Celebrity Charity Festival For Humanity Tickets

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:30:00 +0000

The brand new 4-day music and art festival at Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon, New Jersey called the Festival for Humanity has announced headliners Good Charlotte, John Popper and the Duskray Troubadours, Third Eye Blind, From Good Homes, The New Pornographers, The Misfits, Sister Hazel, Cracker, Soul Asylum and many more!

The festival has been created and aims to benefit charities of suicide prevention, health and nutrition. Non-Profit organizations and companies participating are: 1-800 Suicide, Mad To Live, PostSecret, To Write Love on Her Arms, Keep-a-Breast, PETA, Invisible Children, American Red Cross, Oxfam, Vet2Vet, Feeding America, Abundant Farm Life, Celebrate The Children, and more. Purchase your tickets for 25% off with special discount code: “HOPE”. For tickets and more information, please go to www.festivalforhumanity.com.