Shannon Moore - Celebrity News Service
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Hollywood, CA (CNS) - George Clooney is leading the celebrity band wagon for charity donations by giving the United Nations $5.6 million to buy a fleet of helicopters to help the organization in war torn Sudan. The World Food Programme (WFP) of the U.N. warned earlier this month that their air transportations would soon stop due to lack of funding. Clooney immediately stepped up to assist them.
Clooney is a United Nations Messenger of Peace and became a leading celebrity advocate after filming a documentary last year in Sudan about the violence and refugee crisis that continues in the country. Clooney also banded together with his "Ocean's Thirteen" cast mates Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle to establish the Not On Our Watch organization to help provide humanitarian support in the region.
A source explains, "George was horrified by the Sudanese government's 'scorched earth' (bomb) attacks on western Darfur last month. And when he was told that Unamid officials felt they could have done something about the attacks if they'd had the right equipment - they need 18 helicopters and so far have none - he decided to put his money where his mouth is."
Kenro Oshidari, a representative for WFP in Sudan says the organization is still in need of $71 million in funds to continue the transportation for the year.
The tournament begins at 1 p.m., and the buy-in is $350 with $100 rebuys throughout the first hour. A number of Garrett’s celebrity friends are scheduled to attend, including Ray Romano, Mimi Rogers, Anthony Anderson, and Jennie Garth, as well as poker pro Cyndy Violette.
First place will receive $10,000 in cash, and second place will get a seat into the 2009 World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational. The top 10 places will receive cash or prizes.
The 1736
"They're in pain all the time and (it) makes me want to cry, what parents go through," Nicholson said. "It's painful for them every single minute."
EB grabbed the spotlight on Oprah, and celebrity fund-raising efforts raising more than $2 million for EB research.
Andrea Pett-Joseph is the mother of one EB sufferer, 4-year-old Brandon, and is also the executive vice president of the EB Medical Research Foundation.
"It really gives us hope that we can get closer to a cure and not be discouraged by what we have to endure every day, but really see the light at the tunnel," Pett-Joseph said.
The cards are just $20 for a pack of eight, and they're starting to pop up well outside Hollywood.
"We have received orders from all over the world, from Japan, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Canada, all over the United States, Australia," Nicholson said. "And they're beautiful cards, they're cards by celebrities, cards you can give to anyone for any occasion," she added.
From Orlando Bloom's pirate heart to Natalie Portman's dog Charlie, this is a colorful way for some stars to connect the dots and come up with a cure.
Inspired by Oprah's hit show The Big Give, celebrity hairstylist guru Ken Paves has partnered with eBay.com and his celebrity friends for a charity auction featuring 60 items donated by Ken's superstar clients.
Celebrities include Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Marcia Cross, Jewel, Christina Aguilera, Victoria and David Beckham, Bette Midler, the Eagles, Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Courteney Cox, Eva Longoria Parker, Carmen Electra.
Log on to http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=kenpaves_biggive
for additional details on the amazing auction items up for bid.
The auction was kicked off by Oprah Monday on her show and runs for the next seven days ending Monday, April 7. All proceeds go to the EB Medical Research Foundation.
For more information:
Background: Epidermolysis Bullosa is a rare, genetic disorder that causes the skin to tear and blister at a slight touch. The EBMRF is an all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing knowledge and understanding of EB and to funding research to develop improved treatments and, ultimately a cure. To order the CelEBrity card, log onto www.grandmagillie.com/EB .
For more information: www.ebkids.org .
Each month, we highlight a celebrity’s work on behalf of a specific cause. This month we speak with model Christy Turlington about her work on behalf of (Product) RED, which teams up with companies to create (Product) RED branded products. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the products goes to the Global Fund. The (RED) money specifically goes to help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Q: Can you discuss (Product) Red and your role with it?
A: I first learned about DATA One (the merged charities DATA – Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa — and One: The Campaign to Make Poverty History) and (RED) through Bono, who’s an old friend of mine, and (DATA Chairman) Bobby Shriver and the rest of the team. … I joined One right away as just an interested person and then, when they were about to launch in the U.S., Bono called and asked if I would participate by being in the initial ad campaign for the GAP. ... I said, ‘Absolutely … whatever I need to do.’ So I was in that campaign and from that point got even more interested and more excited about what they were doing and participated in their launch on ‘Oprah’ in the fall. … I’ve been a consumer as well, because I’ve bought a lot of (RED) products. I just really believe in the concept of creating something that involves the private sector in the way that Product (RED) does and that has sustainability. … That to me is what’s so brilliant about (RED) and sets it apart from other ideas: It really is a business model.
Q: Why do you think people should support this cause?
A: Because it easy, because it takes very little to go such a long way. It’s an epidemic that does involve us — you know the numbers are still growing in our country as well. But we have the means for so much more than the people in Africa do. And these products are things that we as American consumers we buy anyway, so why not buy the ones that happen to help people that can’t help themselves quite yet.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being affiliated with this cause?
A: It kind of puts together various aspects of my life in that I’ve been a model for twenty some years and I’ve sold a lot of products, products that I generally stand behind and believe in. But in this case, these products do so much more than make people feel good, and look good. … Also as a mother this issue has really hit me hard in the sense that you know mothers and children are being most affected. It is the women who are getting sick and then giving birth to children and then passing it on in that way. Now, with this (RED) money, we’re able to actually get drugs for people, free, … to keep moms alive for their children and to keep their children alive to enjoy a long life.
Q: Can you describe a moment where you first felt like you had personally made a difference in someone’s life through this cause?
A: I was is Swaziland with (RED) in May and I guess even though I knew … that we had raised $50 million raised in the global fund and made a huge impact in a relatively short period of time, it was when I first started to meet the people that were being helped. … I met a young mother, Lulu, who has a 2-year-old little girl – my daughter is not that much older -- and she was diagnosed with AIDS while pregnant and then was able to take (antiretroviral drugs) and give them to her daughter. … And so to meet her, healthy, happy, vibrant! She now works as volunteer as a counselor and so she’s able to give advice to other mothers who are in her situation, who are teens who have recently found out that they’re HIV positive, and to show that there is another side, there is a positive face, there is life after diagnosis. … She also has her own little community service project where she educates the community about AIDS and tries to get them to go to clinics, to get that diagnosis done. … Women also are making products and they’re selling to anyone who will buy them … doing on a small scale what (RED) is trying to do on an international scale. That was really great!
Q: This cause has made it easy for the average person to contribute by making purchases of everyday products like T-shirts and shoes donate portion of the proceeds to the fund. How do you think this has contributed to the fund’s success and the popularity of (Product) RED as an organization?
A: I think most people really do have an instinct to be generous and to help others, but this is one of the first times that that so many people — so many different types of people — are able to participate and feel that they’re doing something. And they can wear something with pride. … So many young girls ask me ‘how can I get involved with (Product) RED, how can I help?’ and since it isn’t a charity per se, you just continue to purchase products that you love and … then it becomes kind of a contagious thing where you want to share and want to spread the word.
Q: If you could say one thing about keeping up awareness of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, what would it be?
A: AIDS is … a preventable disease and it’s a treatable disease. In certain parts of the world now it costs just 40 cents a day to buy the two pills that someone needs to needs to keep someone alive. … I think anyone can handle that idea of 40 cents a day and that (RED) money is going to the communities, it’s doing the work … because of our efforts and our combined community effort internationally.
Interviewed by Chelsea Connor, NBC News
The British actress, who is more famous for her street and red carpet style than her film career, has visited India as part of the campaign to raise awareness of carbon emissions. Speaking in Mumbai, Miller said, “I’m here in India to help spread the word about Global Cool and how we can all make a difference in tackling climate change issues.”
Buy the organic bamboo/cotton blended t-shirt at globalcool.org and help the organization reach its goal of reducing carbon emissions by one ton per year.
Thanks for the tip Linton!
Source : www.ecorazzi.com
