Look to the Stars - celebrity charity information

Prince Harry last week visited a photographic exhibition in London documenting the work of his Lesotho-based children’s charity Sentebale.

The Prince had spent around half an hour viewing the exhibition Sentebale – Stories of Hope at the Getty Images Gallery in central London.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10561-prince-harry-visits-charity-photo-exhibition

Hope North will hold its first ever gala on September 18 at City Winery in New York City, where it will honor Mary-Louise Parker with an evening of spectacular live music, food, drinks, and a silent auction.

Hosted by Susan Sarandon and Forest Whitaker, the event’s growing host committee includes ELEW, Adrian Grenier, Taraji P. Henson, Eva Amurri Martino and Kyle Martino, James McAvoy, Hunter Parrish, Di Quon, Trudie Styler, Chris Talbott, and Sharon and Michael Zambrelli.

Hope North is educating and healing the young victims of Uganda’s civil war, including orphans and former child soldiers, empowering them to become voices for peace and development.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10560-mary-louise-parker-to-be-honored-by-hope-north

Jamal Edwards, the 22 year-old entrepreneur behind the UK’s leading youth broadcaster SB.TV, kicked off a new Prince's Trust campaign this week to inspire young people making tough decisions about their future this summer.

Jamal took part in a Twitter question and answer session from The Prince’s Trust Chatham Centre in Kent with HRH The Prince of Wales paying a special visit.

The event marked the launch of The Prince’s Trust Summer Sessions, a series of events to inspire young people who are worried about their exam results, struggling to find a job or feeling hopeless about the future.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10559-prince-charles-helps-launch-princes-trust-summer-sessions

LookToTheStars.org was at the Super Saturday event in New York, benefiting the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, in the weekend.

It was the time of the year again, when Southampton was taken over by people with big hearts and even bigger pockets. Nova’s Ark Project in Watermill, New York was the place to be on Saturday. The 16th annual Super Saturday hosted by Donna Karan and Kelly Ripa, presented by QVC and INSTYLE took place for the 16th year in a row!

This year, patrons enjoyed fresh pressed organic juices from BluePrint, water from VOSS and 80 degree weather. As of Monday morning, the event had raised $3.5 Million for the cause and they were still tallying numbers! Names such as Nicky Hilton, Susan Lucci, Sandra Lee, Joy Behar and Tiffani Thiessen all made their way to Southampton for the cause. International DJ Steve Porter was the man in charge of keep patrons entertained as he worked the DJ booth.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10558-exclusive-stars-come-out-for-super-saturday

Angelina Jolie addressed the United Nations University in Tokyo this week, encouraging students to support her Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative and take action against war zone rape.

’’Our world is scarred by immense problems from poverty to injustice and war. But your potential as young people is boundless," she said during a special screening of her film, In The Land Of Blood And Honey. "Problems that have defeated previous generations, you have the chance to overcome. ’This is a vast task and it needs every effort and every level, from government and the UN, to communities and families, down to you – but it is possible.

“The suffering the film depicts is immense and it is only one small piece of a global problem. Together we have the power to prevent these tragedies from being repeated. We cannot change the past but the future, that is an open question, and you have the power to find the answer.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10557-angelina-jolie-encourages-students-in-tokyo-to-take-action-against-war-zone-rape

Charlize Theron and Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé met with South African president Jacob Zuma on Monday to discuss the country’s efforts to fight HIV/AIDS.

Prominent issues in the discussions included the vulnerability of young women and girls to HIV in South Africa, the need for Africa to become more self-sufficient in producing antiretroviral medicines and the remarkable progress South Africa has made in responding to HIV recent years.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10556-charlize-theron-meets-with-south-african-president-to-discuss-hiv-aids

Out of the city and into rural Maasai Mara – Joe Jonas, from the Grammy nominated, multi-platinum band the Jonas Brothers, recently spent eight days on a Me to We experiential volunteer trip to Kenya.

Joe Jonas in Kenya

His itinerary included volunteering with Me to We’s charity partner Free The Children, interacting and learning from local community members, and immersing himself into the rich history and culture of Kenya.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10555-joe-jonas-volunteers-in-kenya

Texas head football coach Mack Brown, recording artist Jack Ingram, and actor Matthew McConaughey are excited to announce the Mack, Jack & McConaughey (MJ&M) fundraising and entertainment series of events returns April 24-25, 2014 in Austin, Texas.

Talent and a complete schedule of events will be announced soon.

The inaugural event was on April 11-12, 2013, and raised nearly $1 million to benefit a handful of organizations that all reflect MJ&M’s goal to empower kids.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10554-matthew-mcconaugheys-charity-fundraising-events-to-return-in-2014

Sitting protectively with his canine pals Stella and Athena, Metta World Peace is the star of a brand-new PETA campaign reminding his fans that “it takes only a moment to speak up for an animal in need” and that animal abuse should always be reported immediately to local authorities.

The new ad, which comes as summer temperatures around the country are skyrocketing, includes an appeal from Metta for everyone to recognize that leaving dogs in hot cars—even in the shade with the windows open a crack—is abuse. He also urges people who see a dog in a hot car never to leave the area until the animal is safe. “It’s a basic love that animals bring to your household,” he says in an exclusive video for PETA. “It’s something that only animals can do.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10553-metta-world-peace-report-animal-abuse

Military families experienced disbelief and then excitement Saturday afternoon thanks to Richard Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola, Eckrich and Operation Homefront.

A group of military families and wounded warriors, invited by Operation Homefront and Eckrich, were gathered at a private home to enjoy the summer afternoon with games, music, friends and family. When time came to start grilling, however, the party goers realized there was a problem. Their hosts had forgotten a key element to the cookout: the Eckrich smoked sausage.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10552-nascar-driver-aric-almirola-surprises-military-families

Maintaining its long-standing tradition of supporting HIV/AIDS charities, Kiehl’s Since 1851, the venerable New York-based purveyor of fine quality skin and hair care, is pleased to announce its continued partnership with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and the fourth annual Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR.

HIV/AIDS awareness has long been at the forefront of Kiehl’s philanthropic efforts, and through partnerships with organizations like amfAR, as well as the Magic Johnson AIDS Foundation and YouthAIDS, Kiehl’s has proudly donated more than $2,500,000 for the cause.

With the mission to heighten awareness, and raise funds for amfAR, the company is embarking on the fourth annual Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR, a charity motorcycle ride taking place July 31 – August 8, 2013, through the Pacific Northwest.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10551-stars-line-up-for-kiehls-liferide

New parents HRH Duke of Cambridge and HRH Duchess of Cambridge will break with centuries of royal tradition and will not be employing a nanny for the first few weeks of HRH Prince George of Cambridge’s life.

Action on Hearing Loss, (previously the RNID) has stepped in with the ultimate baby monitor for the hands-on couple. As well as featuring the usual sound monitor it also has state-of-the-art video monitoring technologies so the royal couple can not only hear but see their little bundle of joy sleeping soundly.

Baby care and safety is the major consideration for any parent, and the royal couple have already shown their knowledge and dexterity in this matter with the baby car seat they expertly used upon leaving hospital. However, with HRH Prince of Cambridge now at home, the royal couple will be familiarising themselves with sleepless nights. With no nanny to assist them, Action on Hearing Loss hope their gift will provide that all important sense of security that all new parents wish for, whether deaf or hearing.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10550-royal-baby-gets-gift-from-hearing-loss-charity

In support of Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action “Save One Life Every Hour,” Flash Flood for Good announces a new social media initiative that will launch at the CGI Annual Meeting in New York City on September 24 and run in concurrence with the meeting.

During the 72 hours of CGI 2013, Flash Flood for Good will focus the attention of global leaders, not-for-profits, NGO’S, academics, celebrities, private sector partners, corporate brands and the public at large to swell the tide of support for clean water by visiting FlashFloodForGood.org, where they can add their digital voices and amplify the call to action to donate funds. Funds raised will provide clean drinking water to those who need it most through the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW). P&G will work with implementing partner World Vision in Myanmar, Rwanda and Ethiopia to share life-saving clean drinking water.

Launched from a new community platform called Cause Swarm that is devoted to social impact, Flash Flood for Good was designed to address the global water crisis. In order to address some of the greatest challenges of our time, Cause Swarm intends to create initiatives that inspire people to act, then enables them to do so seamlessly by combining best practices with best providers. In this case, the global water crisis that continues to negatively impact hundreds of millions of people every day, including the 2,000 children who die each day as a result of diseased drinking water.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10549-campaign-to-share-clean-drinking-water-to-launch-at-2013-clinton-global-initiative-annual-meeting

Global charity auction site Charitybuzz.com has launched “School Day,” an auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime experiences, with the proceeds benefiting Communities in Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA).

The auction brings together such entertainment and business icons as Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard, actor Matthew McConaughey, Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman, and business magnate Warren Buffett, among many others in support of CISLA’s programs empowering students to stay in school.

Bidding kicked off at www.Charitybuzz.com/SchoolDay on Thursday, July 25 at 9 AM PST and runs through Tuesday, August 13. The campaign is designed to culminate with the experiences being redeemed on or around September 20, 2013, “School Day.”

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10548-warren-buffett-biz-stone-reese-witherspoon-and-more-unite-for-school-day-auction

The International Rescue Committee's young professional group, GenR, hosted their 3rd annual summer party this week at David Burke Garden at The James Hotel. The event raised funds for global and local humanitarian aid programs.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10547-the-international-rescue-committee-celebrates-third-annual-summer-party

Actor Billy Zane (best known for Titanic) and international mentor David C.M. Carter are to launch The BREAKTHROUGH Project to teach students the components of being a great leader as well as how to create, build and share self-created economic opportunities.

The project is set to launch in Chicago in 2014, Zane’s hometown. It aims to assist the positive work of local authorities to alleviate gun and gang deaths by helping underprivileged youth take on entrepreneurial endeavors.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10546-billy-zane-and-david-c-m-carter-launch-the-breakthrough-project

When the midwives and stars of Channel 4’s ‘One Born Every Minute’ series visited Liberia with Save the Children they were shocked to discover that young mums in Liberia face a 1 in 24 chance of dying during pregnancy or childbirth when a simple trip to a clinic could save their lives. Yet many mums-to-be have to walk for up to 8 hours to get to their nearest clinic, and the journey can be treacherous.

So when Gemma Raby, Louise Holt, and Maud Hardy stepped into their first Save the Children supported health clinic in Liberia recently, they were amazed at the difference your donations make.

As Gemma explains, "At Leeds General where I work, we have between 9 and 11 midwives per shift on the labour ward. We also, crucially, have dedicated medical staff on hand.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10545-one-born-every-minute-stars-visit-liberia-with-save-the-children

Jimmy Carter is giving his support to whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

“[Edward Snowden] has obviously violated the laws of America, for which he is responsible, but I think the invasion of human rights and American privacy has gone too far,” former US president Jimmy Carter told CNN. “I think that the secrecy that has been surrounding this invasion of privacy has been excessive, so I think that the bringing of it to the public notice has probably been, in the long term, beneficial. I think the American people deserve to know what their Congress is doing.”

His views on invasion of privacy echoed the New York Times op-ed that he wrote a year prior, criticizing the US’s human rights abuses: "Revelations that top officials are targeting people to be assassinated abroad, including American citizens, are only the most recent, disturbing proof of how far our nation’s violation of human rights has extended. […]

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10531-jimmy-carter-supports-whistle-blower-edward-snowden

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation (BTWF) is excited to announce the “#BRAVEStamp” campaign – a nationwide call-to-action to promote youth empowerment, mental wellness, kindness and bravery in tandem with the Born Brave Bus Tour fundraising campaign.

Starting today through August 23rd, fans and supporters are encouraged to create and show off their #BRAVEstamp on CrowdRise, a crowd-funding platform that makes giving to charitable causes fun using incentives and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.

The #BRAVEStamp campaign and the Born Brave Bus Tour are efforts to build a sense of community and promote self-acceptance. The Born Brave Bus Tour is an experience that provides incredible mental wellness resources to young people across the country. Participants raising donations on CrowdRise will be entered to win amazing prizes including a trip to the VMA’s or an iPod with a playlist created directly by Lady Gaga.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10544-lady-gagas-born-this-way-foundation-launches-bravestamp

Ninety percent of kids don’t eat the recommended amount of veggies each day and summer is an ideal time to try a new approach. Nickelodeon’s Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy is on a mission to put the play back on the plate.

She’s teamed up with Birds Eye Vegetables for a multi-week challenge for families to seize the fun and Rewrite the Dinnertime Rules leading up Nickelodeon’s 10th annual Worldwide Day of Play this fall.

More: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/10543-nickelodeons-jennette-mccurdy-wants-kids-to-eat-more-veggies