Celeb Acts of Charity

[princess 1,712]

Russo Adopts 'A Home for the Holidays'

(Saturday, December 18 12:04 AM)

By John Crook

 

Rene Russo is feeling a little under the weather, a fact she announces up front when she calls to talk about "A Home for the Holidays," premiering Wednesday, Dec. 22, on CBS.

 

"It's just that I usually have a lot more energy than this, and I didn't want you to think it was lack of enthusiasm," she says. "There are so many good causes out there that you have to kind of pick and choose, but giving children a good home life is just something that is very important to me."

 

The actress is a frequent participant in the annual CBS holiday special celebrating the joys of adoption. This year, she joins Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Willis and host Jamie Foxx for an hour that combines powerhouse musical performances by artists including Black Eyed Peas, Train and Rod Stewart with moving stories about adoption in an effort to raise awareness of this urgent social issue.

 

"All these amazing children with huge potential are just sitting in homes waiting for someone to adopt them," Russo says. "This show is a great way to get the word out there."

 

The actress herself suffered some hard knocks growing up with a struggling single mom after her father abandoned the family when she was 2, but she's painfully aware that many kids have it even worse.

 

"I have one friend who was in and out of foster care from the time he was a little kid, and it was horrible," she explains. "Especially back then, there were people totally unsuitable who were taking in kids strictly because they were paid to do it. There was so little supervision, no accountability.

 

"My friend, Charles, was given different food than other people in the family. And the kids just go from family to family, with no stability. He has had a lot of issues to deal with. Ultimately, he turned to God and became a Christian, but even so, he has had a lot of things to work through.

 

"I hope that if parents are thinking of adopting, they'll consider one of these kids, if they have a gift for it," Russo says. "It's so powerful seeing these wonderful families brought together."

[princess 1,712]

Angelina Jolie Prefers U.N. Work to Movies

Monday Jan 31, 2005 9:00am EST

By Pete Norman

people.com

 

Angelina Jolie, addressing reporters Saturday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, admits she's finding it difficult to continue with her film career ? given that no screen job can compare with her role as United Nations goodwill ambassador.

 

Saying, "I've never intentionally done any films that I thought sent a horrible message. I've done wild things or fun things but not socially irresponsible things," said Jolie, 29, who has been working on behalf of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees since 2001. "If anything, it's harder for me to go back to work now."

 

As one of several celebrities attending the World Economic Forum in the Swiss mountain town, Jolie has maintained a low profile and met privately with numerous business leaders. She also confessed that one important priority is spending time with her adopted 3-year-old son, Maddox.

 

"I'm finding my time at home with my son and traveling around with the UNHCR programs or other parts of the world is more fulfilling and more interesting to me, and I know is more important," she said.

 

Since her appointment, Jolie has traveled to more than 20 countries around the world and built more than 10 schools in Cambodia alone. She also keeps field journals of her travels and posts them on the refugee agency's Web site.

 

Jolie made her remarks a day after reports of Sharon Stone's raising $1 million from forum participants to fight malaria in Africa.

 

Noting how celebrities can help focus attention on important causes, Jolie said: "We need the political will, and that often comes from the will of the people. So if celebrities or personalities can help to educate the people ? not influence them, not tell them (what to do) ? just tell them the truth about what's happening and let them form their own opinion, that will strengthen them and they will push their politicians."

[princess 1,712]

 

Former Fight Club costars Ed Norton and Brad Pitt team up for a good cause Monday at a Los Angeles party where the two helped celebrate a program giving local low-income families a free BP Solar System (which is expected to reduce energy bills) every time a celebrity purchases one. So far, 21 families have benefited.

[princess 1,712]

Daryl Hannah and Brad Pitt

CREDIT: ERIC CHARBONNEAU/BERLINER

 

people.com

 

So what was Brad Pitt doing down in South Central L.A. this week? The Ocean's Twelve star was scoping out a program in which BP Solar donates a solar-power system to a low-income family whenever a celebrity buys one for his or her own house. "It's an attempt to connect people from different corners of a community around the idea of clean, free energy from the sun," said Ed Norton, Pitt's costar in 1999's Fight Club, who was instrumental in the program's inception and has been involved since it began a year ago. He even remains friendly with the family he sponsored. "We call each other and talk about our solar meters," he said. Other participants at the event included Daryl Hannah, Pierce Brosnan and Danny DeVito ? and along with Pitt, Norton's ex-girlfriend Salma Hayek came to check out the program. Pitt, who indicated that he wants to be next to get involved, posed for photos with the family that will receive the system thanks to his participation.

[Temptrous 0]

What a neat program. I have never heard of it, but wouldn't it be great to have that in the cold midwest?

[princess 1,712]

Brad Pitt, Bono Team Up Against Poverty

Thursday Apr 07, 2005 8:20am EST

By Stephen M. Silverman

people.com

 

Pitt, actor Djimon Hounsou and Bono

CREDIT: RENE MACURA/AP

 

Besides Angelina Jolie in the upcoming Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Brad Pitt has a new costar: Bono, with whom he participates in a new series of public service announcements targeting poverty and AIDS.

 

While not soliciting donations, the ads for "ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History" will raise awareness and recruit new advocates, Bono, with Pitt at his side, said at a Wednesday press conference in Beverly Hills.

 

"We're not just asking for people to put cash in the pot here," said the U2 frontman, as quoted by the Associated Press. "Americans are generous, we know they'll do that. We're not actually asking for their money, we're asking for their voice."

 

Commenting on his recent trip to Africa, where he saw the ravages of AIDS firsthand, Pitt said of conditions there: "I've seen it, I've been there, and to walk away from it and turn my back makes me culpable. And I can't do that."

 

He added: "Do we really believe in our hearts that we're all equal? And if we believe this, what are we going to do about it?" he said. As for eliminating poverty: "We can do this. We can do this. It's ambitious, but we can do it."

 

A 60-second ad is slated to begin airing Sunday night on various networks and cable channels and features such notables as Jamie Foxx, Jewel, Penelope Cruz, Tom Hanks, Mos Def, Al Pacino, evangelist Pat Robertson and the Rev. Frank Griswold, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States.

[Trey 0]

from holeinthewallgang.orgIt's from October 2004 - old news but I thought it won't hurt to post it (I really do like this organization)The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Event Raises $1 MillionPaul Newman and Joanne Woodward hosted The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp’s 15th Annual Gala on September 18th in Ashford, CT. Approximately 400 friends and supporters participated in the festivities that raised $1,000,000 for the charity.The day-long event included a gourmet picnic, live and silent auctions, and the traditional ‘fandango’ performance. Conceived by A.E. Hotchner, produced by Kevin Duncan, and directed by Tony award winner James Naughton, the performance featured appearances by Danny Glover, Christine Baranski, Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, and a number of Hole in the Wall campers among others.Of the Gala James Canton, Executive Director of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp said, “We are so fortunate to be on the receiving end of extraordinary talent, compassion, and generosity. Our thanks goes out to hundreds of donors and volunteers who made this year’s GalaFandango the best ever---a memorable event to benefit some extraordinary children.”Beginning with the first one in 1990, the Hole in the Wall Gang’s annual Gala has generated over $11 million to help fund the Camp’s award-winning programs.

[Trey 0]

from sky.com/showbizMum-to-be Heidi Klum couldn't have looked happier during a guest appearance at New York's VH1 concert.The German model showed off her new bump for photographers at the charity event.Heidi and fiance singer Seal announced her pregnancy last month, saying that nothing had given them "greater happiness".Model Heidi was joined at the Save The Music benefit by celebrities including Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, L.L. Cool J, Katie Holmes, David Duchovny and Christina Applegate.The annual benefit aims to raise cash for music in US schools.Since being created in 1997, nearly $30 million worth of musical instruments has been donated to 1,200 public schools in 80 cities.

[princess 1,712]

EOnline.comDO-GOODERS: Jamie Foxx, Cher and Geena Davis among the celebs donating items for the Celebrity Rags 4 Charity Riches online auction running through June 26. To check out the auction, go to www.rags4riches.org.

[princess 1,712]

EOnline.com

 

HELPING THE HEARTLAND: Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp announcing this year's Farm Aid benefit, the 20th anniversary show, will take place Sept. 18 at Tinley Park outside of Chicago.

[princess 1,712]

EOnline.com

 

CANNONBALL RETURNS! Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Frankie Muniz, Paris Hilton, Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman, among the celebs participating in an eight-city charity race called Bullrun, based on the movie Canonball Run. The race began last Friday in Los Angeles.

 

SPEED DEMON: Meanwhile, former NBA star Rodman was pulled over in his black-and-gold Lamborghini for speeding twice Tuesday by Colorado police while racing in the Bull Run.

 

Ooooh, this could be kinda funny....

[princess 1,712]

Rodman's Too Hot Rod

EOnline.com

by Josh Grossberg

Jul 28, 2005, 11:00 AM PT

 

Where's Burt Reynolds when you need him?

 

Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Paris Hilton, Frankie Muniz, Nick Lachey, Carmen Electra and her oddball ex-hubby Dennis Rodman are among the celebrities revving it in Bullrun USA 2005, an eight-day, cross-country rally race that is, simply put, all about the getting there.

 

Sound familiar? That's because Bullrun is a real-life version of Reynolds' 1981 hit movie Cannonball Run that featured a (then) all-star cast of Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Roger Moore, Adrienne Barbeau, Peter Fonda and a young Jackie Chan, among many others.

 

Bullrun raises money for various charities all while staging what its organizer, former British investment banker Andrew Duncan, calls "an epic eight-day rolling party across the United States of America."

 

This year's competition kicked off in Los Angeles last Friday with more than 100 invited "interesting people"--mostly lead-footed rich and famous with plenty of time on their hands--ponying up a $13,000 entry fee for the honor of zipping exotic cars from city to city and vying for the title of Bullrun champion.

 

According to the road rules, drivers are given a route card and assigned a daily series of checkpoints that they must reach in a certain period of time--all while obeying local traffic laws (wink-wink)--in order to stay in the event. Upon reaching their destination each day, celebs are then wined and dined with lavish parties at five-star hotels.

 

"So far, we have people show up at each venue, and most of the celebrities are more than happy to talk and sign autographs," Duncan told the Associated Press. "This group is really a lot of fun. We are partying in every city we stop."

 

The speed racers and their crew hightailed it out of Salt Lake City on Interstate 80 Wednesday and pulled into the Circus Circus Hotel in downtown Reno, Nevada, that evening. Star Wars star Christensen was among those making it on time. He did admit, however, to getting some good advice on avoiding coppers' radar from a professional race-car driver whom the actor hired to ride shotgun.

 

That strategy would have benefited former basketball star and sometime actor Rodman. His gold and black Lamborghini was pulled over twice by Colorado police on Tuesday for speeding. He was also involved in a minor fender bender when a Ford Mustang carrying people taking pictures and video of Rodman for his sponsor crashed into his bumper and driver's side door. There were no injuries.

 

But Rodman's run of bad luck didn't end there.

 

According to local news accounts, after stopping to fill up at a gas station at Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Rodman reportedly tried on a cowboy hat offered him by the clerk, told her he liked it, then left after putting $20 on the counter for gas. But apparently Rodman was in such a hurry that (a) he shortchanged the clerk on the bill and ( he walked off with her cowboy hat.

 

"Unfortunately, $40 worth of gas was put in the car, and there was the cost of the hat to consider," Glenwood Springs Police Chief, Terry Wilson, told the Glenwood Springs Post Independent.

 

Rodman's rep was unavailable for comment Thursday, but he was quoted by the Post as saying the whole thing was a "misunderstanding."

 

"The lady gave [the hat] to me," Rodman said, noting that he had the gas receipt. "If they want me to pay for the hat, I'll give them double for it."

 

As for the speeding tickets?

 

"[The police are] doing their job," Rodman said. "So, there's nothing I can do about it."

 

Aside from Rodman, reports have surfaced of police pulling over other drivers, with at least one unnamed participant reportedly let off the hook with a verbal warning.

The Bravo network will air a special on Bullrun in November.

[BobbyD 2]

(Pagesix.com)SWEET CHARITY IT was queer eye for the vagrant guy at top West Hollywood gay bar The Abbey when flamboyant style expert Carson Kressly (above) was dining with a friend and spotted a bum panhandling. Instead of shooing the man away, Kressly invited him to join them for dinner and then treated him to a large box of desserts from the eatery's display case to take with him. To make matters even sweeter, Kressly added a $100 bill.

[BobbyD 2]

(Pagesix.com)QUEEN LAPS IT UP ALL hail Queen Latifah (above) — especially if you happen to be a stripper! The rapper/actress and her posse enjoyed lots of lap dances at Scores early yesterday in the topless temple's famed Champagne Room. "She is so nice," a buxom, red-headed dancer named Logan told us. "She treated me like a friend. It's great when someone who you are a fan of turns out to be a good person." Latifah — who has visited Scores several times in recent weeks — drank only mineral water, even after a high-rolling customer sent a magnum of Cristal to her table.

[princess 1,712]

 

Jennifer Aniston – who's been spending her days with Vince Vaughn – makes time for charity, cohosting Couture Cares. At the benefit, held Thursday at a private residence in Los Angeles, she (as well as Reese Witherspoon, left) checked out Oscar de la Renta fashions. Proceeds will go to the Revlon-UCLA Breast Center.

[MC 1]

That's such a weird picture. Is someone sitting between Reese and Jennifer? I can't tell whose legs are whose. Also, is that Linda Thompson behind Jennifer?

[BobbyD 2]

(Pagesix.com)SUB-PAR BARMAN TIM Robbins has been slumming it as a bartender on the Lower East Side. The liberal actor-vist hubby of Susan Sarandon was pouring drinks at Back Room on Norfolk Street the other night — and not doing a very good job of it, claims our spy. Robbins, who is said to own a piece of the joint, was serving cocktails in teacups and saucers and could barely keep up with the thirsty throngs. "There was a huge line to get drinks from him," our witness e-mails us. "He'd make some drinks, then he'd go outside and have a smoke. Then he'd come back in and hang out in the service pass." Robbins' dark mood didn't seem to help matters: When one patron asked if he was having a "good night," the cranky thesp shot back, "No."

[princess 1,712]

EOnline.comIN THE RED: Bono forming a partnership with American Express, the Gap, Converse and Giorgio Armani to launch Product Red, a new initiative to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa by donating portions of the proceeds from Red-branded products to anti-AIDS programs.

[princess 1,712]

Jake & Heath's Brokeback Shirts for Sale

Tuesday Feb 14, 2006 9:05am EST

By Stephen M. Silverman

people.com

 

Ledger and Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain

CREDIT: FOCUS / KRT / NEWSCOM

 

Brokeback Mountain stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal have given the shirts off their back – or, at least, someone from the Oscar-nominated movie's studio has, in order to raise money for charity.

The shirts worn by the actors are for sale on eBay as part of an auction to benefit Variety – the Children's Charity of Southern California, reports the Los Angeles Times.

 

By Tuesday morning, the bid had reached $20,450. The sale ends next Monday at 5 p.m. PT.

 

As for why he bid $17,000 for the shirts, Dennis White, 48, of Seattle, told the Times: "They are so iconic. They are like the ruby slippers."

 

"We're overwhelmed by the bidding," the charity's executive director, Maria Schmidt, tells the paper. "This is already way over what any of us thought the shirts would bring."

 

A recent offering from the children's charity on eBay turned out to be its biggest draw so far: the VW Beetle from Herbie: Fully Loaded, which fetched $24,000.

 

In this current sale, one of the lowest-price items, so far, is a poster for The Ringer autographed by Johnny Knoxville. It stands at $51.01.

 

In Southern California, Variety has contributed to such local institutions as Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA and various boys and girls clubs.

[princess 1,712]

EOnline.comFOR A GOOD CAUSE: Celine Dion, Elton John and comedian Jerry Seinfeld performing a benefit at the Colosseum at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and raising $2.1 million for some 8,000 casino workers living in the Gulf Coast region.

[princess 1,712]

EOnline.com

 

LENDING A HAND: While in Brazil this week on U2's Vertigo Tour, Bono donating one of his guitars to benefit Brazil's Zero Hunger campaign, which aims to ensure Brazilians have three meals a day before the end of this year.

 

CRITTERS' BEST FRIEND: Former Golden Girls star Betty White honored by the Los Angeles Zoo Monday for her work on behalf of animals with a bronze plaque placed next to the zoo's gorilla exhibit. (Love her when she goes on Ellen show, she's so damn cute. And she stole Ellen's chip )

[princess 1,712]

EOnline.com

 

EASY BEING GREEN: Woody Harrelson, Stuart Townsend and Edward Norton serving as the host committee of the Global Green Oscar Party, a benefit concert in support of environmental solutions. Proceeds from the March 3 event going toward green rebuilding in the Gulf Coast.

[princess 1,712]

EOnline.comFOR A GOOD CAUSE: Celine Dion, Elton John and comedian Jerry Seinfeld performing a benefit at the Colosseum at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and raising $2.1 million for some 8,000 casino workers living in the Gulf Coast region.

shot

[niobe 2]

OMG, has Reggie gone out again in his PJs?I do applaud his constant work for charity though.

[princess 1,712]

people.comHearing George Clooney's voice seems to be all it takes to get the stars to act a little frisky. At the Chateau Marmont recently, where Clooney gave a speech, Michelle Williams was spotted rubbing beau Heath Ledger's shoulder as the two chatted with the Oscar winner. Meanwhile, Felicity Huffman and husband William H. Macy held hands as Teri Hatcher flirted with an attractive young guy. Kate Bosworth hung out with friends (no Orlando Bloom in sight) and Keira Knightley – wearing a skin-tight cocktail dress – lounged on the patio and smoked cigarettes. Nearby, Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Penelope Cruz snuggled, and Kirsten Dunst and Ben Kingsley shared a table. But all were there for a good cause: a ONE campaign event to raise awareness about global poverty. While Clooney urged his fellow stars to visit Africa (leading Meg Ryan to gush to a pal, "George has a big heart"), part of the continent came to them. The African Children's Choir performed for the celebrities – even grabbing the attention of Lindsay Lohan.