Partner with a Star News Feed

Drew Barrymore Is New UN Ambassador Against Hunger

Tue, 15 May 2007 16:39:09 +0300

The UN announced last week that Drew Barrymore is the new Ambassador Against Hunger for the World Food Programme. Barrymore, 32, who recently returned from a second trip to Kenya to visit WFP-supported school feeding projects, joins world marathon record-holder Paul Tergat, from Kenya , as Ambassador Against Hunger.
Barrymore and Tergat, a former school feeding recipient, will focus their advocacy efforts on school feeding programs.
Visit http://partnerwithastar.com/Blog/ to see Drew Barrymore describing the cause she's support.

Christina Ricci Joins RAINN as National Spokesperson

Mon, 7 May 2007 11:22:41 +0300

RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization, today announced that Christina Ricci has joined the group as a national spokesperson.
"I'm honored to join RAINN on Capitol Hill this month and I'm looking forward to future opportunities to raise awareness about sexual assault," said Ricci. "In preparing for my role in Black Snake Moan, I was shocked to learn that someone is sexually assaulted every two and a half minutes in this country. We must shed light on this tragedy, and encourage sexual assault victims to get help through RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline. Rape is the most traumatic experience anyone can survive and I want to help." Ricci recently produced several public service announcements for RAINN. In addition, as part of the organization's efforts to commemorate National Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month, Ricci will meet with key legislators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 25. She will advocate for critical funding designed to help solve rape cases and make our communities safer.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE.
Source :
http://www.rainn.org/news/christina-ricci.html

Christina Aguilera, Nicole Kidman and Martina McBride Join Lifetime Television for 7th Annual Emmy Award-Winning, Multi-Platform 'End Violence Against Women' Campaign

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:01:38 +0300

Lifetime Television is expanding its Emmy-winning campaign to "End Violence Against Women" with powerful original programming, celebrity PSAs and content on all multi-media platforms; a new focus on helping women around the world through a partnership with UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, and its Goodwill Ambassador, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman; a viral effort to spawn awareness and action headlined by Grammy winner Martina McBride; and a grassroots initiative in communities across the country with screenings and events on college campuses and by teaming up with multi-Grammy winner Christina Aguilera on her "Back to Basics" tour.
Grammy winner Martina McBride, a long-time supporter of Lifetime's anti- violence campaign and a champion of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, is dedicating her new single, "Anyway," as a tribute to Debbie Smith and survivors of violence everywhere. The song will anchor a moving original video trailer -- featuring McBride, scenes from "A Life Interrupted," and powerful images of sexual assault survivors by photographer Nobuko Oyabu -- which will air at the end of the film and will be featured in a viral e-card promoting the anti-violence message.
Post your coments at http://www.partnerwithastar.com/Blog/ and watch the videos .

BONO TO APPEAR ON "IDOL GIVES BACK" ON BEHALF OF ONE: THE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

info@partnerwithastar.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:52:01 +0300

"AMERICAN IDOL" SPECIAL TO RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST EXTREME POVERTY IN AFRICA AND THE U.S. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, AND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, ON FOX
As part of his ongoing efforts to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa, U2's Bono will participate in the IDOL GIVES BACK fundraising special airing Wednesday, April 25 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The two-night special begins airing Tuesday April 24 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).
The Irish singer will meet with the six AMERICAN IDOL finalists to talk about the work of ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History (www.one.org) and how the IDOL audience can help. The IDOL contestants also will perform "American Prayer," a song written by Bono and Dave Stewart about the AIDS emergency in Africa.
Bono joins an illustrious group of celebrity participants on the special, including Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Earth, Wind & Fire, Il Divo, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Josh Groban with the African Children's Choir, Jack Black, Helen Mirren, Rascal Flatts, Quincy Jones, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox and many more.
IDOL GIVES BACK will raise awareness and funds for Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF) and other organizations that provide relief programs to help children and young people in extreme poverty in America and Africa. Corporate sponsors of IDOL GIVES BACK are led by News Corporation, Ford, Coca-Cola and AT&T. Allstate and ExxonMobil will make matching contributions to Save the Children and Malaria No More, respectively, via CPEF.
On the performance show Tuesday, April 24 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), the Top 6 finalists will sing "life anthem" songs of compassion and hope, in keeping with the IDOL GIVES BACK theme. After the show, viewers will vote for their favorite singers via toll-free numbers and text messages, as usual, and corporate sponsors will donate money to the charity.
The special two-hour results show Wednesday, April 25 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) will be a star-studded evening featuring live performances from the AMERICAN IDOL stage as well as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, where Ellen DeGeneres will serve as host. Viewers will be able to make their own donations via toll-free pledge lines and the Internet. Ford will contribute generously by producing a very special music video that will air on Wednesday night. This video, as well as other music segments from the night, will be available for download after the show. Proceeds from the money generated will be contributed to IDOL GIVES BACK.

Find the pressrelease :
http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070423fox02

Julia Roberts on ways to stay green

info@partnerwithastar.com — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:04:38 +0300

Seven years ago, JULIA ROBERTS won an Oscar for her portrayal of an environmental crusader now she’s become one herself with her politically astute and media-savvy campaign for biodiesel. JULIA ROBERTS talks to Elle Magazine about her work.
It sounds corny, but it’s true: It’s our absolute responsibility to take care of our children so that we don’t just throw up our hands and say, ‘Wow, we pretty much f—ked this up. Good luck to ya in 50 years.’ Because we did create the problem little by little and that’s the way we’re gonna have to fix it, little by little, the best we can.
Find the full story at :
http://thebosh.com/archives/2007/04/julia_roberts_on_ways_to_stay_green.php

Ed Begley Jr. Issues a Challenge with New Reality TV Show

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:42:06 +0300

Ed Begley, Jr.'s New Show: His Hollywood "Green" Acres
Ed Begley, Jr., of St. Elsewhere, Best in Show, and, most recently, Veronica Mars fame, is expanding his résumé with a new reality show. "Living with Ed" airs on HGTV on Sundays at 10 pm ET/PT. The show features Begley, Jr. and his wife, Rachelle Carson, who, according to the press release, "often sees red over living green with her quirky, eco-obsessed husband." The result, being called a "family docu-soap" is set in the couple’s entirely solar-powered, modest, two-bedroom Hollywood home; the six-episode series will take "viewers inside the unconventional lifestyle and comically contentious chemistry of the duo, and also offers real tips on ways to create a more eco-friendly home." It sounds like it'll be a combination of Ed's zany antics (timing his wife in the shower with a stopwatch), honest-to-goodness improvements (using a stationary bicycle to powers the toaster) applicable in the real world, and sincere, dedicated work to living a more sustainable lifestyle (the lush organic vegetable garden out back, cooking the harvest in a solar-powered oven).
For more visit the official show site at http://www.livingwithed.net and bookmark the soon-to-launch http://www.partnerwithastar.com to learn ways you can accept Ed Begley Jr.'s call to simpler, eco-friendly living.

Oprah Winfrey Opens a Second School in South Africa

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:50:16 +0300

After funding and opening the South African school called Oprah’s Leadership Academy for Girls back in January, Oprah Winfrey opened a SECOND school on Friday. The Seven Fountains Primary School, funded by Oprah’s Angel Network charity, cost $1.6 million to create. The school is bigger than the first, with 25 classrooms, a computer center and two sports fields. Keep on reading at : http://tob.hollywood.com/2007/03/18/oprah-winfrey-opens-a-second-school-in-south-africa/

Church joins One path to aid poor

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:50:03 +0300

During morning services at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Glenwood yesterday, parishioners received a new accessory: white plastic bracelets inscribed with the word "One." Like the yellow cancer-awareness bracelets popularized by bicyclist Lance Armstrong, the white bracelets are a marketing device. They are symbolic of the One Campaign, an effort to end global poverty that's spearheaded by Bono, frontman of the rock band U2. In addition to ending extreme poverty, the campaign has adopted the Millennium Development Goals, a blueprint established by the United Nations for improving the lives of people in developing countries by 2015. The goals, which have been endorsed by 190 countries including the United States, also include halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, empowering women, providing universal primary education and reducing child mortality. "We as Christians need to think of other ways to make a difference," Thomas Hart, an Episcopalian and spokesman for the One Campaign, told St. Andrew's parishioners in a presentation after the morning service. "The policies that our government adopts can really help." See the entire story at : http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.bono19feb19,0,2686902.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Miditech produces AIDS awareness documentary for NGC with Ashley Judd

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:15:14 +0300

Ashley Judd, acclaimed Hollywood actress is in Mumbai to understand the issues surrounding HIV in India. She comes in her role as Brand Ambassador to Population Services International an international non-profit working in the area of HIV. Ashley also has a personal mission on this trip. She is hoping to raise funds for a care and nutrition program for women who are HIV positive.

PSI and National Geographic Channel come together for a documentary film on her trip to India. The film is being produced by Miditech and will premiere on NGC on World Aids Day, 1st December 2007.

The film follows Ashley as she embarks on the HIV trail in India to see how this deadly disease spreads from Mumbai, the AIDS hub of the country to other places across the country. She is joined by Bollywood stars Sushmita Sen and Akshay Kumar who hope to create some kind of positive change through their public personas. Shahrukh Khan who also appears in the film invited Ashley to his film set and promised to help in the fight against AIDS.

Dana Ward, Operations Director, PSI says Women in India are increasingly at risk from HIV/AIDS from their partners who indulge in sex with commercial sex workers while living with their wives. This puts women and the entire family at a great risk. Thus, empowerment of women is essential to prevent the disease from spreading into the general population and to prevent the stigma associated with it. The film is about empowerment of women and HIV/AIDS and we are grateful that Ashley, Sushmita and Akshay have agreed to be a part of this film. We are positive that this will help us to communicate the message we want to.
http://www.agencyfaqs.com/media/media_newslets/Media/13114.html

DNA Nanoparticles Hold Promise In Gene Therapy For Parkinson's Disease

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:39:14 +0300

University of Kentucky researcher David Yurek was recently awarded $66,000 by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) under the foundation's Rapid Response Innovation Awards program. The goal of this newly launched initiative is to move quickly to support innovative research focused on the cause of and cure for Parkinson's disease (PD). In particular, MJFF seeks to fund high-risk, high-reward projects tackling critical scientific roadblocks that if successful, can open new avenues for PD therapy development.
The MJFF Rapid Response Innovation Awards support projects that may have little to no existing preliminary data, but that hold potential to significantly impact understanding or treatment of PD.

"Given the extremely tight budget of federal government research funding, MJFF's work in prioritizing and funding new and innovative projects is extremely valuable," Yurek said.

Yurek is a professor in the Division of Neurosurgery at the UK College of Medicine. He leads his laboratory staff in developing techniques designed to generate new dopamine cells that may help people with late-stage PD.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070319161119.htm

Ashley Judd and Rai Foundation Combat HIV / AIDS Together

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:35:55 +0300

New Delhi, Delhi, India, Wednesday, March 21, 2007 -- (Business Wire India)
Rai Foundation joins Ashley Judd famous Hollywood Actress in the war against HIV / AIDS. Rai Foundation organized a fundraising event hosting Ashley Judd, Global Ambassador for PSI-Youth AIDS Project. On the occasion, Rai Foundation chairman Mr. Vinay Rai said, Youth is at the center of our educational & philanthropic efforts and HIV / AIDS has posted a major challenge against the health of the Indian youth. Education and awareness are two weapons that help fight this menace.

Population Service International (PSI), a Washington based NGO, addresses global health issues. Kate Roberts, VP-PSI, said that ninety percent of HIV infected people in India are not aware of their medical condition. Mr. Rai announced that all Rai Foundation campuses across India would offer free counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS as an extension of Youth AIDS.

Ashley Judd takes keen interest in problems of women's rights and health. In her month long tour of India, the Double Jeopardy fame actress is meeting sex workers, young girls and people living with HIV and is discussing issues related to safe sex and HIV / AIDS. Mr. Rai informed the gathering that Ashley has done Rai Foundation the honor of personally adding to the philanthropic efforts by giving a scholarship in her name every year to a girl chosen from India by her to pursue her studies at Rai.

The fundraising event hosted the affluent and the powerful: Pallav Raju, Minister of State for Defense, Navin Jindal, Member of Parliament-Lok Sabha, representatives of various embassies, bigwigs of media and industry.
http://www.businesswireindia.com/PressRelease.asp?b2mid=12303#a

Nicollette Sheridan - Desperately Passionate About Animals

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:30:58 +0300

Beautiful, sultry actress Nicollette Sheridan, currently starring in the hit ABC drama, Desperate Housewives, is pure passion, both on screen and off. Famous for her role as the sexy, manipulative Paige Matheson in the long-running drama series, Nicollette's true character shines through in her love and compassion for animals.
Born in England and raised in London and Los Angeles, Nicollette has had animals all her life. When she was a little girl, she had a King Charles Cocker Spaniel named Monday and two Himalayan cats named, Princess and Ragamuffin. She also had an Afghan with a stub tail, named Sebastian, that was a family dog.
Although Nicollette often travels back and forth from Los Angeles to the U.K., her two dogs, Fatty and Oliver, prefer staying at home in LA where they are never without companionship.
Fatty, a 7-year old Bearded Collie/Terrier mix, came from the pound and has a purple tongue, which leads some to believe shes part Chow. No matter what her breed, to Nicollette, she is the kindest, cuddliest dogand shes my best friend.
Oliver, a white Golden Retriever puppy, is a new addition to the Sheridan household. A gift from her fiancé six months ago, hes Nicollettes baby. He even looks likes me, she said. And what a good son he is. Hes even learning to fetch a tissue when she sneezes!
So how do celebrities pamper their pets? Well, according to Nicollette, her dogs eat better than she does. They get home cooked meals with fresh, organic meats, a medley of vegetables diced Quiznart style and a dash of barley for a nice, balanced diet. And what does Nicollette get in return? Unconditional love! The dogs taught her to be more loving, more nurturing and happier.
During her off-camera time, Nicollette has become very involved with animal groups, both exotic and domestic. She is a big supporter of the Wildlife Waystation, a sanctuary for wild and exotic animals in the Angeles National Forest, and its founder/director Martine Colette. And if shes not at their Annual Safari Brunch Benefit, she will be doing what she loves most, walking the tigers. She is also a supporter of The Amanda Foundation, an animal rescue group in Los Angeles that saves countless city and county shelter dogs and cats from death row.
But her desire to help animals doesnt stop there. Nicollette, also an avid horsewoman, made a public plea to Senator Burns to stop the bloodshed and reverse the irresponsible legislation that amended the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act, resulting in the slaughter of many wild mustangs. These horses are an American Heritage and a representation of the freedom in which we all live by in this country.
Nicollette is always willing to make time to help the animal community. Recently, she was a presenter for the 19th Annual Humane Society of the United States Genesis Awards, a ceremony that honors outstanding individuals in the major media that have increased public awareness of animal issues. And even when asked if she would do this interview, her response was anything for the babies!
Nicollette Sheridan is a beautiful, talented and successful star, but what truly make her shine are her selfless acts for the creatures that share our world.
http://thepetgazette.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=2&num=60http://www.dosomething.org/challenges/protecturpets/underwood_interview.pdf

Angelina Goes to Africa Over Oscars

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:40:51 +0300

On a night where most of Hollywood's biggest stars were strutting their stuff on the Oscar red carpet, Angelina Jolie had other plans.

The actor and United Nations goodwill ambassador traveled to Africa over the weekend for a briefing on the ongoing crisis in the Darfur region.

Jolie arrived in N'Djamena, Chad, on Sunday and was scheduled to visit refugee camps about two miles from the border of Sudan, her political adviser, Trevor Neilson, told People. She will not be permitted to actually visit Darfur, as conditions remain too dangerous.

The Oscar winner is expected to remain in Africa for several days, with the goal of raising awareness about the continuing atrocities in Darfur.

It's Jolie's third trip to the area on behalf of UNHCR, the U.N.'s refugee agency. She last traveled to the Darfur region in 2004, later proclaiming the situation there to be "one of the worst things that has happened on the planet to a people."

Meanwhile, Jolie has been nominated to join the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations, a foreign-policy organization whose list of powerful members includes Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell and Alan Greenspan.

There are no academic requirements to join the council, but members are selected based on their demonstrated interest in world affairs. While Jolie's initial nomination to the council was approved, the board will consider final approval in June.

Despite her already formidable list of responsibilities, Jolie apparently remains confident she can take on even more.

According to Us Weekly, Jolie and Brad Pitt have filed paperwork with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Vietnam in order to adopt a boy from the Tam Binh orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, which they visited in November.

The magazine said it learned of the couple's plans from an unnamed Vietnamese source. There was no comment from the Jolie-Pitt camp with regard to the report.

Jolie and Pitt are already the parents of three children: five-year-old Maddox, adopted from Cambodia; two-year-old Zahara, adopted from Ethiopia; and their biological daughter, nine-month-old Shiloh.

The couple has repeatedly voiced their intention to add to their brood, while making it clear they would be more likely to adopt than to conceive another child.

"Yes, we have Shiloh, and it's been a wonderful experience, but we want to find another brother or sister in the world for our family," Jolie told Diane Sawyer in an interview in December.
http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=e10ce767-0804-48a0-b4a7-1b4cc93a58f3&entry=index

AIDS Debt Trade Development Assistance

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:26:12 +0300

Africa. Where the first human beings stood up and walked. The world's second-largest continent. Home to one in ten of the world's people, and five of the ten fastest-growing economies. Global source of oil and minerals fifteen percent of America's oil comes from Africa and foods such as peanuts, rice, coffee and chocolate.

Just as our past has been bound up with Africa, so are all our futures.

One in two Africans is under age 20, but their futures are under threat. Africa is struggling under a triple crisis that keeps its people poor and its nations weak -- the burden of unpayable DEBT that soaks up money that should go to health and education; the epidemic of AIDS that is taking the lives of an entire generation; and the unfair TRADE policies that keep Africans from being able to sell their products at world prices and earn their own way out of poverty.

Sub-Saharan Africa, the part of the continent south of the Sahara Desert, is also the world's poorest place. Seventy percent of its people live on less than $2 a day. 200 million go hungry every day. This year at least a million Africans, most of them young children, will die of malaria and two million will die of AIDS.

Africa is at a critical turning point, and could go either way the crises could get far worse, or YOU can be part of helping Africa turn these crises around. Because Africans have shown they can turn back AIDS. Because debt relief and development assistance have shown they can be effective. Because more and more African leaders are committed to DEMOCRACY, ACCOUNTABILITY and TRANSPARENCY. Because whether and how we help Africa now is a test of our ability to prevent failing states that threaten our security, and even more important, a test of our humanity, and our willingness to respond to the moral crisis of our time.

Hollywood steps up campaign against BHP

info@partnerwithastar.com — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:45:39 +0300

Hollywood celebrities, including Pierce Brosnan and Martin Sheen, have stepped up their campaign to sink BHP Billiton's controversial $US5 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
"This project has to be stopped and stopped now," Sheen, a longtime resident of Malibu who played the US President in the TV series The West Wing, said after the rally.
"We have to stand up and protect the environment."
Brosnan, the suave Irish-born actor who was recently replaced as James Bond in the 007 films, and his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, have been vocal opponents of the terminal. "The only thing green about this project is the money that will line the pockets of BHP," Smith told the rally as her husband and two sons, Dylan, 10, and Paris, 5, looked on. Other celebrities who have voiced concern in the past about the terminal include Australia's Olivia Newton-John, Tom Hanks, Charlize Theron, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Sting, Dick Van Dyke, Jane Seymour, Dylan McDermott, James Brolin, Kenny G, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Cindy Crawford, Daryl Hannah and Ed Harris.

Read the entire article at :
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=253975

Celebrities who made green issues cool

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:21:00 +0300

Whether it's forsaking a gas guzzling limo in favor of driving a hybrid car to the Oscars, or fitting their homes with solar panels, many celebrities embraced green causes long before they became fashionable.
Just as a famous face can sell a perfume, stars of stage and screen can sell a cause and scores of them are doing more than merely putting their money where their mouth is.
"Whether it's fashion or cultural trends, the entertainment industry has the ability to communicate to a global audience ideas that set forth actions and create change," said Debbie Levin, president of the Environmental Media Association which promotes green issues through the entertainment industry.
"Early adapters, like Cameron Diaz, led the way and now with everyone from Kirsten Dunst to Maroon 5 to Will Ferrell driving hybrid cars, (it) sends the message that it's cool to think and buy green," Levin said.
Following is a list of some of the leading green celebrity players:
LEONARDO DICAPRIO: started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 to promote environmental issues, drives a hybrid car, currently writing and producing a feature length documentary on global warming called "11th Hour."
- BRAD PITT: co-creator of design competition to build 20 affordable, reduced energy, environmentally friendly homes in New Orleans.
AL GORE: former U.S. vice president whose climate change documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" was Oscar-nominated, also nominated for 2007 Nobel Peace prize.
- PIERCE BROSNAN: focuses on marine mammal and wetland protection, headlined Natural Resources Defense Council campaign against effects of Navy sonar on whales, awarded 1997 Green Cross International Environmental Leadership Award.
- CATE BLANCHETT: plans to equip Sydney Theater Company building with solar panels, rainwater collection systems to make it completely eco-friendly. Sydney home is fully powered by solar energy, donates to Forest Guardians.
DARYL HANNAH: arrested in June 2006 for staging a 23-day tree sit-in during a bid to preserve an urban community garden in Los Angeles, traveled across America in 2005 in a biofuel car, home is entirely off-grid.
- RICHARD BRANSON: Virgin Group chairman, a former global warming skeptic, who in September 2006 pledged to spend all profits from his airline and rail businesses (estimated $3 billion over 10 years) on investments in biofuel research and projects to tackle emissions.
For the entire article visit :
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070225/en_nm/renewable_energy_celebrities_dc_1

Africa, at the Cineplex

info@partnerwithastar.com — Tue, 6 Feb 2007 10:10:16 +0300

American children used to connect with their deprived African counterparts mostly by cleaning their plates. Today, those same children have a dizzying variety of ways of reaching out to the continent and its inhabitants: they can shop at the Gap, mind Bono, listen to Kanye West, read Dave Eggers and watch an Oscar-nominated film or two, like âBlood Diamondâ or âThe Last King of Scotland,â and, while flipping through their favorite magazine, contemplate the AIDS awareness ad campaign in which celebrities like Richard Gere and Gwyneth Paltrow, faces daubed with paint, declare âI am African.â Well, really, arenât we all? The new African awareness isnât just deeply, appreciably earnest; itâs personal, too. Angelina Jolie, the head of the new class of celebrity missionaries, not only adopted an Ethiopian girl, but has also poured money into Namibian maternity wards. The same goes for Oprah Winfrey, who founded a girlsâ school in South Africa, and the rapper Jay-Z, who last year traveled the world, including parts of Africa, for âThe Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life,â a documentary. The diary was the product of a rather unusual collaboration, as signaled on a Web page for the United Nations: âThe United Nations, MTV and Jay-Z team up to raise attention of the world water crisis.â For the entire article visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/weekinreview/04dargis.html

Video Alert: Bono Interview now on EUX.TV

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:13:19 +0300

Bono attended the WEF meeting in Davos to pressure Western governments into delivering on their commitment to tackle poverty. Bono has been a regular at the World Economic Forum for the last few years
WATCH INTERVIEW NOW ::
http://player.narrowstep.tv/skins/0018/nsp.aspx?player=EUXTV&void=46432
"We are going to find out very soon. In particular this German G8, which is gonna be at Heiligendam," Bono said. "It's two years on. It's time to take the temperature. There were some serious promises made. Cheques were signed, but as we know, people sign cheques... they like signing them, particularly politicians, but they don't like cashing them. That's what we are going to find out.

Blair, Bono Tout Helping Africa at Forum

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:42:33 +0300

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and musician Bono on Friday urged countries and companies that have pledged to aid Africa to keep their promises and their helping hands extended. Bono, who last year launched his Red campaign to raise money to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa, was more direct. He said corruption "is Africa's No. 1 problem. Above HIV/AIDS, above malaria, above catastrophe and conflicts."

Bono To Be Honored At NAACP Image Awards

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:42:20 +0300

U2 frontman Bono's prolific charity work has earned him the prestigious Chairman's Award at the 38th annual NAACP Image Awards. National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People Chairman Julian Bond says, "(Bono) has been an inspiration to many people around the world through his music and humanitarian efforts."

Nigeria: Fragments - the Oprah Winfrey Challenge

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:37:28 +0300

The famous American talk show host, Oprah Winifrey opened a school for girls in South Africa to help the less privileged in early January.Eventhough, according to reports the idea for the school was born in 2000 at a meeting between Oprah Winfrey and Nelson Mandela, where she said she decided to build the academy in South Africa rather than the United States out of love and respect for Mandela and because of her own African roots, such a noble deed should be a food for thought to the wealthy in African countries. The students chosen for admission to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will be those that are academically talented and exhibits leadership skills in their community, but whose families cannot support their educations says another report, adding that many of the students come from families affected by HIV\AIDS.

Golden Globes going green with eco-friendly party

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:40:19 +0300

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood environmentalists are throwing the first "green" Golden Globes awards bash for celebrities next week, complete with organic food, recycled paper decorations and tables made of reclaimed wood.
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The Environmental Media Association (EMA) and entertainment network E! will host the January 15 "Golden Green" party in Beverly Hills to mark the annual movie and television awards ceremony.

Actresses
Maggie Gyllenhaal,
Eva Longoria,
Sarah Jessica Parker,
Rachel Weisz and socialite
Paris Hilton are among the celebrities scheduled to attend the event in a former department store set to become an eco-friendly apartment building.

"Green living has become a way of life for many of today's celebrities," said Debbie Levin, EMA president. "We are proud to be the first ones to step up and create a party that unites talent and social responsibility."

Angelia Jolie and Brad Pitt's Christmas Gift

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 3 Jan 2007 15:12:38 +0300

SAN JOSE (AFP) - Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have made a lightning trip to Costa Rica to spend Christmas Day with Colombian refugees living in that Central American country.

The paparazzi magnets wanted a low-profile visit with no news media, so reporters were notified only after they had left the country, said Josef Merkx, the representative of the
United Nations' refugee agency, the UNHCR.
Jolie, a UNHCR goodwill ambassador since 2001, and her partner Pitt arrived in San Jose around mid-day Monday. They stopped by several small businesses setup by refugees with help from a UNHCR microcredit program, then met with refugee families and handed out Christmas gifts.
They also saw a group of young refugees perform a dance routine.
"We are automatically associated with bad things -- crime, delinquency, drug trafficking -- but people never think of us as victims of the conflict," said one of the performers, speaking to Jolie and Pitt after the performance, according to a UNHCR statement in English.
"They never think, maybe this person, this refugee, had to leave everything behind to come here."
Jolie said there was a need for greater tolerance and solidarity toward refugees around the world.
"It's been sad for me to hear so many negative stories that show confusion between refugees, who are the victims of the conflict, and some criminal elements," she said.
Colombia's four-decade-old conflict has displaced three million people within the country, and forced another half a million to flee abroad.
In Costa Rica there are 11,500 refugees, some 10,000 of which are from Colombia, Merkx said. The two countries do not have a common border but share historic ties.
"It is especially shocking that such a tragedy can go on, year after year, with the rest of the world paying so little attention to it," said Jolie.
"My Christmas message to Colombian refugees and to the millions of displaced people in Colombia is that the world has not totally forgotten them," she said.
The movie megastars then met with the Costa Rican ministers of Labor and Interior, and the vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.
"We had a wonderful Christmas here with the Costa Rican people and refugee families," Jolie said as she prepared to leave.
Carlos, a 45-year-old Colombian refugee, was grateful for the visit. "We know what you have been doing for us. Thank you for being here with us today and thank you for all your work," he shouted as he waved goodbye.
The last time Jolie was in the region was in 2002, when she traveled to Ecuador to visit another group of Colombian refugees.
Jolie, 31, won an Oscar for her role in the 1999 film "Girl, Interrupted," has a baby daughter -- Shiloh, 7 months -- with Pitt, 43. The couple also has two adopted children, ages five and two.
Jolie and Pitt first starred together in the 2003 action flick "Mr and Mrs Smith."
Currently Jolie is starring alongside Matt Damon in "The Good Shepherd," a Robert De Niro film about the early history of the CIA.

Leonardo Dicaprio Invites Fans to Share Ideas

info@partnerwithastar.com — Tue, 2 Jan 2007 14:53:52 +0300

What are some simple steps or creative ideas that people can take at home and work to combat global warming? -- Leonardo Dicaprio
"Global warming is not only one of the most threatening environmental problems, but one of the greatest challenges facing all of humanity. Danger signs are surfacing worldwide as temperatures increase (the last ten years have been the hottest years ever recorded causing glaciers and the polar ice caps to melt, coastal areas to flood and storms to become more severe). If left unchecked, global warming will continue to have a profound impact on our planet that will eventually cause catastrophic results. Fortunately, there are things each of us can do. Buildings -- including our homes -- are major contributors to greenhouse gases theyÂre responsible for up to 40% of all energy and resource use and approximately 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. "

Click here to share your ideas with Leonardo Dicaprio:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylc=X3oDMTFtMXI2N3ZvBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMzk2NTQ1MTAzBHNlYwNmcm9udCBwYWdlBHNsawNGUC1Ub2RheUludA--?qid=20061211141435AA87U7M&fr=hp

A Message from actor and activist Leonardo Dicaprio
IÂm an actor, environmentalist and board member of Global Green USA and the NRDC. In 1998 I founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to foster awareness of environmental issues. I'm becoming increasingly concerned that the impact of people on the planet is threatening our clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and the stable climate we live in. I have also narrated two short environmental films, ÂGlobal Warning,Â and ÂWater PlanetÂ that can be viewed on my website http://www.leonardodicaprio.org/ . Currently I am producing "11th Hour, an environmental documentary with Tree Media that will be released theatrically in 2007. Just talking about global warming isnÂt going to solve the problem. We all must take action now. Please visit http://www.globalgreen.org/ to join me in signing the Pledge of Allegiance to American Energy Independence, and commit to personal actions while sending a message to leaders in Washington about the need to combat global warming.

Country Music Stars Unite for St. Jude's

info@partnerwithastar.com — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:04:28 +0300

This holiday season, a number of AmericaÂs greatest country music and gospel stars are sharing some of their favorite Christmas stories and delicious recipes to help St. Jude ChildrenÂs Research Hospital in the fight against childhood cancer.
A Country Music Christmas: Songs, Memories, Family Photographs and Recipes from AmericaÂs Favorite Country and Gospel Stars features holiday tales and tastes from Vince Gill, Naomi Judd, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, Barbara Mandrell, Wayne Newton, Jeff Foxworthy, Alan Jackson and John Michael Montgomery.
The book was compiled and edited by Edie Hand, assistant author of The GRITSÂ® (Girls Raised in the South) Guide to Life and a cousin of Elvis Presley, and Buddy Killen, NashvilleÂs most successful music publisher whose hits include ÂHeartbreak Hotel,Â and ÂCrazy.Â
As an added treat, A Country Music Christmas comes with a 15-song CD of Christmas music including songs performed by Pat Boone, Michael Peterson, Chris Young, Jessy Dixon, and Dean Miller. Also included on this CD is a song written by Hand and Killen.
A portion of the proceeds from the book will benefit the St. Jude ChildrenÂs Research Hospital, the Country Music Hall of Fame Â® and Museum, and the Edie Hand Foundation.
"I'm excited that St. Jude is one of the recipients of the proceeds," said Terre Thomas, Board member and daughter of hospital founder, Danny Thomas. "I know it will be a great success, and children stricken with catastrophic diseases will benefit greatly."

For more on how Country Music Stars are championing the cause of St. Jude's Childrens Hospital visit www.countrycares.org

Parter with a Country Star

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:01:47 +0300

Country Fans Care for St. Jude Kids is a friendly fund-raising program involving the fans of country music and country music performers. The program unites fans and fan clubs from across the world for one goal Â to raise money for the life-saving work of St. Jude ChildrenÂs Research Hospital.
Through Country Fans Care, donations to St. Jude are made in honor of the donorÂs favorite celebrity. The program allows fans to show support for their favorite entertainer, while helping the kids of St. Jude at the same time.

How can fans help? Country Fans Care can work in a couple different ways. Fan clubs can chose to support St. Jude as a group endeavor, or individual fans can donate and/or organize fund-raising projects on their own.

St. Jude will provide fund-raising updates to the celebrities throughout the year. This way, the stars can be proud of their compassionate and dedicated fans.

Names of donors who make donations made prior to December 15, 2006, will be included on a holiday certificate that we will send to each artist on December 18, 2006.

For an audio message from Country Fans Care for St. Jude Kids Founder Randy Owens click the following link:
http://dld22.streamos.com/2b150c202cd5c5b09049dc6ba66ed3cf-41ffea76/1165740265/300/22/mp3/0/0/0/dbfc4294dfe0b462d4db0330f59b201c/fan_club_members.mp3

For full details, membership information, and to donate visit http://www.countrycares.org/content/fan_club_challengefull.cfm

If you or your club would like more information about Country Fans Care for St. Jude Kids, please call 1-800-886-3656 or email jackie.proffit@stjude.org.or mail to: St. Jude, 1305 16th Ave. So.; 1st Floor; Nashville, TN 37212

Ashley Judd and YouthAids Documentary Set to Air

info@partnerwithastar.com — Sat, 4 Nov 2006 14:03:30 +0300

Ashley Judd and YouthAIDS: Confronting the Pandemic premieres December 1, 2006 at 8/7c on TLC.

One of Hollywood's most celebrated actresses, Ashley Judd, is teaming up with her friend Salma Hayek on a one-hour documentary about JuddÂs work with YouthAIDS. Judd is the goodwill ambassador for YouthAIDS and on this trip through Central America, she takes Hayek on an unforgettable journey. From the brothels of Guatemala City to the coast of Honduras, these women are on a mission to get the message out. It's a message of hope Â these young people can change their future by changing the behavior that puts them at risk of infection.
On their travels, Judd, Hayek and Latin rock star Juanes (also featured in this documentary) meet with the leaders who can affect change in their countries, as well as with the women and children who are directly impacted by the ravaging disease. TLC follows along as they document the personal stories of a disease that still carries great shame and stigma in Central America.

Photo Gallery http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/youthaids/slideshow/slideshow.html
YouthAids Foundation: http://www.youthaids.org
Video Preview: http://tlc.discovery.com/beyond/index.html?playerId=203711705&categoryId=208816820&lineupId=301794304&titleId=302033988

Jackie Chan leaving half his fortune to charity

info@partnerwithastar.com — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:09:06 +0300

HONG KONG -- Jackie Chan announced Wednesday he has bequeathed half of his fortune to charity, saying he looks up to philanthropists like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

Chan disclosed the terms of his will when asked about tycoon Warren Buffett's recent $37-billion US donation at a news conference on a tiger conservation campaign.

Buffett said he'd give away the bulk of his stock holdings in the company he runs, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., with five-sixths of the shares earmarked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the fund set up by the Microsoft chairman and his wife.

"I admire the efforts by Buffett and Gates to help those in need a lot," Chan said. "Like Buffett and Gates, I want to help people, but I don't have as much money as they do."

The 52-year-old action star said the portion of his fortune reserved for charity would go to his own Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation, which was launched in 1988 to help needy Hong Kong youngsters but has since branched out into disaster relief, medical donations and supporting the performing arts.

The exact amount that the fund would receive remains unknown, because Chan refused to disclose his net worth.

Comparable stars make millions each year, according to estimates. Will Smith earned $25 million US in the period from June 2005 to June 2006, and Jennifer Anniston made $18 million, Forbes magazine has reported.

Chan's earnings may be lower because he primarily works out of Asia, where pay levels are generally lower in the entertainment industry.

A significant source of Chan's income comes from his Hollywood films like the Rush Hour series. The actor has said he can fund entire movies made in Hong Kong with his Hollywood paycheques.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Sell Baby Pictures to Charity

info@partnerwithastar.com — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 12:11:01 +0300

Celebrity babies are a big business these days and when it comes to cashing in on photos of baby Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are making sure the money goes toward charity and helping African children in need. It was reported on Monday that in an effort to raise money and awareness to aid charities benefiting African children, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will sell the rights to photographs of their newborn baby daughter, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, in partnership with Getty Images. According to Reuters, the photos are expected to come at a high price, "The photos, which are expected to fetch millions of dollars, will be licensed to media worldwide by Getty Images, which said it will make no profit from distribution of the pictures of the Hollywood couple's baby

Partner with Michael J. Fox in the Race to Find a Cure for Parkinson's Disease

info@partnerwithastar.com — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:05:32 +0300

Run Like a Fox (in the ING New York City Marathon) on November 5, 2006

The Michael J. Fox Foundation is honored to be a part of the ING New York City Marathon's expanded charity program. Team Fox has a limited number of guaranteed entries available for this year's race*. To qualify for a Team Fox bib, runners must first sign up online at www.teamfox.org as a Team Fox Athlete, indicating "ING NYC Marathon" in the name of event field.Once registered, you will have access to your own personal Team Fox Web page and e-mail center to help you make a difference in the race to finish PD.Fundraising tools and sample materials are available at wwww.teamfox.org to make it easy and fun to reach your fundraising minimum goal of $2,500. As part of Team Fox, ING NYC Marathon runners receive Team Fox CoolMax gear, invitations to the Team Fox marathon pre-race dinner and post-party, transportation to the starting line, and of course, our gratitude.Spaces are limited to be a part of this philanthropic and physical challenge. Whether this is your first marathon on your 50th, running with Team Fox will make your ING New York City Marathon even more meaningful. Join the team today!Participants who have already been accepted into the ING New York City Marathon and wish to run with Team Fox on the fast track to a cure can also sign up at www.teamfox.org. Once registered, please contact amcdorman@michaeljfox.org with your entry number information.For additional event details, please visit www.ingnycmarathon.com. *If you've run with us in the past, any outstanding pledges must be fulfilled in order to qualify for one of these spots.

World's Sexiest Vegetarians Announced

info@partnerwithastar.com — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:06:32 +0300

The results are in, and PETA is pleased to announce that Grammy-winning rock royal Prince and the veggie Venus of Veronica Mars, Kristen Bell, have been selected the 2006 winners of PETA's "World's Sexiest Vegetarians" poll. Red-carpet runners-up include V for Vendetta star Natalie Portman (proof that "V" is also for "veggie vixen"), desperately hot housewife Nicollette Sheridan, Brokeback Mountain beauty Anne Hathaway, INXS lead singer J.D. Fortune, TV Guide hottie Michael Ausiello, and Walk the Line's dashing "Johnny Cash," Joaquin Phoenix. Why are so many in Tinseltown shunning meat quicker than you can say "veggie burger"? Celebrities cite many reasons for forgoing flesh, from avoiding the cruelty that is inherent in all meat production to improving their health and energy levels and helping the environment by not contributing to factory-farm pollution. Both of this year's winners are more than just sexy vegetariansÂthey're also active animal lovers. Going vegetarian was an easy choice for brainy beauty Kristin Bell, who says, "I have always been an animal lover. I had a hard time disassociating the animals I cuddled withÂdogs and cats, for exampleÂfrom the animals on my plate, and I never really cared for the taste of meat. I always loved my Brussels sprouts!" Speaking of cuddling with companion animals, Kristen is crazy about her dogs, Shakey, Lola, and Sadie, explaining, "Lola and Shakey come from the East Valley pound in L.A. Sadie is a Hurricane Katrina dog. ... Sadie stole my heart. She is 12 years old and just wants a comfy home to rest in. She is a wonderful addition to our family!" A symbol of humanity and an artist of compassion, Prince is a "prince" of a guy to animals, and he won't eat "anything with parents" because "Thou shalt not kill means just that!" The strict veganÂwhose critically acclaimed new album, 3121, just debuted at No. 1Âwas praised by animal lovers everywhere for giving fans the lowdown on wool in the liner notes of his CD Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. Photographed looking fabulous in faux wool, he closed the CD with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "2 my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being." Previous "Sexiest Vegetarians" include Carrie Underwood, Chris Martin, Andre 3000, Tobey Maguire, Josh Hartnett, Alicia Silverstone, Lauren Bush, Shania Twain, and Natalie Portman. More than 40,000 people cast their votes in this year's "World's Sexiest Vegetarians" poll on PETA's Web site GoVeg.com.

Woody Harrelson Encourages Fans "Voice Yourself"

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:09:00 +0300

Star of Natural Born Killers and Cheers, Woody Harrelson has co-founded a non-profit web site called "Voice Yourself."

"I spent much of my life following the path, hot on the trail of the American dream. I dreamed of seeing my name in lights and hoped one day everybody would know my name. I later came to realize it wasnÂt all about me. Which is why this site is called Woody and LauraÂs VoiceYourself. I began to focus less on acting and more on activism. VYS, along with my two daughters, represents the ultimate product of my lifeÂs work," stated Harrelson on his web site.

The site is about organic living, leaving a lighter footprint, and caring for "mama earth." The site encourages visitors to take action including this recent plea posted on the site "Woody and Voice Yourself have teamed up with groups in Appalachia to launch a national movement to end mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining. MTR is a radical form of coal mining where entire mountains are literally blown away -- and its happening in America on an unimaginable scale. Please visit www.iLoveMountains.org to watch mountaintop removal in action, then sign up to join Woody and helping spread the word."

For more calls to action and to visit the site go to http://www.voiceyourself.com/

Celebrity activists put star power to good use

info@partnerwithastar.com — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:04:29 +0300

By Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY
NEW YORK Â Where Bono goes, cameras follow.

The same applies to Angelina Jolie and Oprah Winfrey. And the three stars set the gold standard when it comes to celebrity activism. Bono has been instrumental in raising awareness of global poverty and the AIDS epidemic with his ONE campaign, which has gotten stars such as George Clooney, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt on board.

After initial skepticism, politicians from House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., now wax poetic about the U2 singer, lauding his understanding of the issues. His charity work earned him a spot as one of Time's 2005 people of the year.

Thanks to her hands-on work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as a goodwill ambassador, Jolie Â who pays her own way on U.N. missions and says she donates one-third of her income to charity Â emerged unscathed from her tabloid-ready romance with Pitt. And she sealed the deal by announcing they would donate the millions in proceeds from the photos sold globally of their newborn daughter, Shiloh, to various as-yet unnamed charities.
For the entire story visit:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-06-22-celeb-charities-main_x.htm?csp=34

15 People Who Make America Great |THE CELEBRITY Brad Pitt

info@partnerwithastar.com — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:05:18 +0300

If it wasn't for Brad Pitt, most Americans would never have heard of Namibia. They might not know about AIDS orphans in South Africa, or the plight of children in Haiti, or what transpired at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Pitt, 42, has been a movie star for 15 yearsÂand a paparazzi target for nearly as long. Celebrity mags have made millions reporting on his love life, and the obsession only intensified when he began romancing Angelina Jolie. So he started fighting backÂbut not by punching photographers. If paparazzi were going to follow the couple everywhere, Pitt figured they might as well drag them somewhere that desperately needed the world's attention. "It's the first time I've actually felt like we have some degree of control over it," says Pitt, from his home in Malibu. "I can't describe what an immense relief it is for me."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13530551/site/newsweek/?page=4

SCOTTSDALE-BASED NONPROFIT TO DEBUT NATIONALLY TELEVISED CELEBRITY FETE HONORING FAMOUS PHILANTHROPI

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 04:11:54 +0300

GOLDEN KARMA AWARDSÂ SHOW SETS STAGE FOR ANNUAL GALA IN ARIZONA; MISSION IS TO RALLY AUDIENCES TOWARD VOLUNTEERISM

PHOENIX, Ariz. - (June 5, 2006) Look for the tell-tale red carpet and the anticipated entrances of glamorous attendees, while cameras snap and entertainment show hosts clamor for a brief word from each or any of the well-known faces alighting the scene unfolding at the Grand Coronado Ballroom at Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center December 2nd, 2006 - but it's not to recognize the most talked-about film or performance, and the honorees won't be asked who they're wearing. It's about those celebrities who channel their fame into creating a better world through their talent for giving.

The inaugural, nationally televised Golden Karma Awards show will include beautiful awards for honorees when it airs this holiday season. The point, according to Founding Director Annette Marino, is to craft a national platform that recognizes exceptional philanthropic efforts of celebrated figures in America, and to inspire millions of viewers across the country into taking action themselves.

"Someone talented and known to most people worldwide, such as Angelina Jolie, or a beloved longtime leading man such as Robert Redford, can have a profound influence by the examples they set. These are the some of the world's most successful talents, who have chosen to passionately pursue causes that touch their hearts. We want to round all of these examples up into an event that shows everyone: 'See? Here is how and why they do this, and you can try it too.' We want people to think how they can weave volunteerism, involvement and philanthropy into their own personal lives," Marino said. "Of course, we're not suggesting that most people have access to the same tools available to stars, but we want to highlight the honorees as mentors and inspirations."

Weighing the Benefits of Celebrity Charity

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 2 Oct 2006 00:11:11 +0300

ou have probably heard that Sandra Bullock donated $1 million to tsunami relief efforts. But can you locate all the affected areas on a map, or name the rulers of those countries hardest hit, or their capitals?

The victims are largely anonymous (except those linked to vacationing supermodels), but many benefactors are not, particularly those who are rich and famous (and especially those who are famous). Ms. Bullock's generosity was quickly followed by other high-profile acts of charity: Leonardo DiCaprio gave an undisclosed amount to Unicef. Willie Nelson is planning a concert. NBC has announced a "celebrity-driven" telethon. Jay Leno said he would auction off a Harley-Davidson motorcycle signed by celebrities.

Is this charity-plus, a kind of righteous one-upmanship with public relations benefits? Or is it smart fund-raising, recognition that in a society saturated with pop culture even tragedy sells better with a name brand attached. Steven Spielberg, who usually keeps his donations a private matter, made his $1.5 million tsunami pledge public. Mr. Spielberg's publicist explained the director's strategy: he hoped to encourage others to contribute.

For the entire story please visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/08/arts/television/08give.html?ex=1262926800&en
=981ba1c54b778d61&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt