Giving Back

The Hills star Lauren Conrad recently attended Animal Fair’s 2008 “Paws for Style” event to benefit the Humane Society. The event consisted of an animal designer fashion show with celebrity dog walkers.

Loads of celebrities and designers were slated to attend, and the show was a huge success with one exception — according to Animal Fair, Lauren (who has two rescue dogs of her own) refused to walk a rescue dog down the catwalk. Wendy Diamond, the magazine’s editor, went straight to the press with the information, while Lauren has notified the public through her MySpace page that she fulfilled her agreement and was happy to take part in the event, and nothing had been mentioned beforehand about walking the catwalk.

The controversy is unfortunate — it sounds like it was a misunderstanding, and now both sides are getting some negative press from it. However, the good news is that attention is being paid to an event and organization that raises money and awareness for shelter animals and rescue organizations.

Lauren, for her part, said that, “I was trying to do a good thing and help out a charity by doing everything I agreed to do. I continue to support the Humane Society, as it is a wonderful organization.”

Photo courtesy of justjared.com

I don’t think any of us harbored a doubt that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s baby girl wouldn’t want for a thing, and they’ve proved that to be true beginning with the nursery. They began with a crib from Q Collection Junior.

Fortunately for Baby Sunday, money isn’t really an issue for her mom and dad — the cribs in this line run around $1200. However, if peace of mind is priceless, that’s probably a good deal — Nicole can feel confident that her baby is sleeping in a crib made from only proven non-toxic materials and that it was made in a sustainable manner to keep the planet healthy and safe. As a matter of fact, Q Collection Junior’s motto is People Safe. Planet Safe.

Nicole and Keith aren’t the only celebrities digging Q Collection Junior — Gwyneth Paltrow is actually on the front page of the company’s website with a quote about how much she loves their products.

I imagine we can expect more green practices to surround Sunday — Nicole ordered organic linens, clothing, and toys earlier this year, and has spoken about how much she loves nature and organic gardening. You know, I can think of a line skincare products they might want to check out …

Alicia Keys threw a charity ball in London and many of her famous friends joined her to raise money for Keep a Child Alive, Alicia’s charity which helps children and families living with HIV/AIDS in Africa by providing them anti-retroviral treatment.

One of those guests was Jennifer Hudson, who said, “I feel like your celebrity is not about the fortune or the fame. Butif you can’t help anyone then it’s in vain, it’s pointless.”

Other celebs who ponied up $2000 to attend were Kelly Rowland, Mischa Barton, and Annie Lennox. Annie got involved in the evening’s festivities by performing a duet of the Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams and REM’s Everybody Hurts with Alicia.

Alicia said that it’s important we remember that AIDS is a global problem. Though the gala raised nearly $700,000, she knows that it’s not enough — stopping AIDS comes down to each person. She said, “It scares me … It really does… We have a lot to really be careful about and it’s such a major thing that we have to be cautious. But we can totally avoid it by practicing safe sex and, if you can, just abstinence. And definitely being aware of what’s going on so that you know that you want to protect yourself every time, all the time.”

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Yes, I said tree planting — not tree throwing, or tree kicking. It looks like supermodel Naomi Campbell is making an effort to clean up her cell phone-hurling image by taking part in The Abuja Green Society’s tree planting campaign.

The goal of the campaign, based in Abuja, Nigeria, is to plant a tree for each baby born in the region’s hospital. Not only do they hope to give these children a better future by doing so, but also to promote awareness of environmental issues the region faces, specifically the need to find sustainable energy solutions.

The supermodel not only managed to keep her temper in check — she also managed to stay completely clean, and that’s not easy for someone who comes to a tree-planting dressed in white!

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Jon Bon Jovi spent a little time in Detroit’s East Side earlier this week to lend a hand to a charity with which he’s been involved for three years, Habitat for Humanity. A partnership between Habitat for Humanity, Bon Jovi’s Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, and Saturn’s Hands on Homes will enable the building of many new energy efficient, green homes in the area, beginning with the five that Bon Jovi was there to announce.

These first five homes will be completed by November, and Habitat for Humanity has a total of 100 planned over the next few years. Bon Jovi was excited to be involved with the project, saying, “We really want to revitalize the neighborhood … so that the kids can play in these streets. That’s what America is all about.”

Detroit is a city that’s been hit remarkably hard by recent economic troubles, and since Saturn’s headquarters are there, and Bon Jovi was playing a concert in the city, the joining of forces for this occasion was ideal.

The rocker’s Philadelphia Soul Foundation is named after the arena football team he co-owns, and it’s something he’s extremely proud of, saying, “The Soul Foundation has really differentiated itself from other sports teams … by making community a huge part of its mission statement.”

This isn’t the first time these folks have teamed up. Last year, a similar project was completed in North Philly.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters originally started Broadway Barks as a way to promote the adoption of shelter animals in the New York City area. It has now grown into something more, facilitating communication between shelters and rescue groups so each can benefit from the marketing and promotion of all. And, on July 12th of this year, the 10th annual Broadway Barks event will be held and is sure to attract thousands — last year’s event drew over 6000 attendees.

This year will include an afternoon of fun, an auction of memorabilia signed by celebrities, the finding of forever homes for numerous shelter animals, as well as a book signing. Bernadette will sign copies of her children’s book, aptly titled Broadway Barks. Proceeds of the auction and the book go toward the Broadway Barks organization and toward the plight of homeless animals.

Not only are Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters involved, but celebrities such as Glenn Close and Mario Lopez, plus many other Broadway performers will be there.

If you’re interested in helping but unable to adopt an adorable critter of your own or attend the event, you can still make a donation here.

Photo courtesy of bernadettepeters.com

Cindy Crawford is more familiar with pediatric cancer than you might realize. The supermodel’s younger brother, Jeff, was a leukemia patient at the University of Wisconsin Children’s hospital in 1975. He died just before he turned four years old.

This past weekend, Cindy made some appearances in Madison, Wisconsin, to raise awareness of pediatric cancer. She’s the honorary chair of Kids with Courage, a group that reunites childhood cancer survivors and their families. This year marked the fourth reunion. Cindy took part in the three previous reunions in 1993, 1998, and 2003.

According to the University of Wisconsin, Cindy has been contributing her time and her money to its Pediatric Oncology program for almost two decades. She said, “When I was able to start raising money and awareness, I was able to choose where do I want to give back in my life and this just was the first place that popped into my head.”

The Kids with Courage reunions not only allow patients who survived childhood cancer to see each other again, but also allows the families of children who did not survive to see the children and families they spent time with in the hospital when their child was sick. And, former patients get to see their old doctors, which is great for both of them.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Alternative rockers Pearl Jam raised $3 million for the Robin Hood Foundation by playing a concert in NYC last week. They played a 26-song set at New York’s Beacon Theater, which holds 2,800 people, all to support poverty fighting initiatives in the city.

Some fans paid as much as $2,250 for a ticket, and since the concert was benefiting the Robin Hood Foundation, every cent went toward the cause. The Foundation believes in giving every penny directly to programs to fight poverty, along with identifying and going after poverty at its roots, helping existing programs become more effective, and evaluating programs to ensure everyone is realizing their potential to help.

Pearl Jam announced recently that would be supporting patients fighting health insurance companies for payouts. In fact, Jennifer Jaff (Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness leader) put together a fundraising party for that cause was held the day before the concert.

The band’s guitarist, Mike McCready, brought their attention to the cause because of his battle with Crohn’s disease, which affects the bowel. He says of Jennifer, “It’s super-important for her to fight against the insurance companies that will deny people any kind of coverage for their pre-existing conditions. The work she does is justified, and I love it. We live in the greatest country in the world … but we need to invest our money back into things that look at a broader scope … If people are going to die because some legislation didn’t go through, that, to me, is abhorrent. That’s not what America means to me.”

Well said, Mike – now let’s get those thoughts put to music and bring some more attention to the cause!

Photo courtesy of myrocksite.com

Bono’s (RED) Charity has come up with a new way to raise funds — with a new music delivery system. People will have the option to pay $5 monthly for the service, and each week they’ll receive an exclusive (RED) song from a popular artist, a song from an artist new to the music scene, a “Crackerjack surprise” which will be something fun and non-musical, like a video, text, or image, as well as stories of how the money donated is making a difference.

Some of the top brands in the world have created (RED) products, which altogether have generated over $110 million. With the new music download system, half of each month’s membership fee will go directly to the Global Fund, which means that just five subscribers will provide enough money each year to provide antiretroviral treatment for a year to someone living with HIV.

In case you’re not yet familiar with Bono’s (RED) charity and (PRODUCT) RED, let me fill you in. The primary objective is “to engage the private sector in raising awareness and money for the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.” The companies that take part in (PRODUCT) RED give a substantial portion of sales or profits from a particular product to the Global Fund.

The new music delivery system isn’t actually available until next month, but you can pre-register (and get more information about the (RED) charity) at joinred.com.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Sean “P. Diddy/Puff Daddy/Puffy” Combs has teamed up with E! Entertainment for the Play-A-Part initiative which promotes the responsible consumption of alcohol and encourages those who drink to find a ride home. As a partner in Ciroc Vodka, P. Diddy aims to make this initiative a multi-platform action campaign.

E!’s Drive Safe campaign will feature on-air spots with popular celebrities as well as simple online and wireless access to taxi services all across the U.S.

P. Diddy said, “I believe that it is important to promote responsible drinking and generate public awareness on the necessity of designating a driver.” The on-air spots will feature celebrities like Tommy Lee, Eva Longoria Parker, Wilmer Valderrama, Gabrielle Union, and others, along with the crew from E!’s Daily 10. The celebrities and personalities will surprise club goers who are about to leave and offer them a ride home, the point being more than just “drinking and driving is bad,: — they want people to realize that “any designated driver is a star.”

It’s a good message, and I’m glad they’re taking real action to get people to realize how that they can have a social life and still be smart and safe with just a little planning.

Photo courtesy of thebestgossip.com

Each year, Elton John and David Furnish hold a fabulous White Tie and Tiara Party to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and this year was no exception. The party brought out a plethora of famous faces, including Bill Clinton, Liz Hurley, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, and Simon Cowell. About 630 guests coughed up the $4700 ticket price in all.

Guests were treated to dinner and a concert, and an auction was held with prizes like a trip to Africa with Elton John. The auction alone raised $20 million!

The Elton John AIDS Foundation’s strives to fund education programs regarding HIV/AIDS prevention as well as eliminating discrimination against those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Additionally, it funds programs and services for people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. The Foundation recently received its third consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, and considering on 16% of evaluated charities earn more than two consecutive 4-star ratings, this is quite a feather in Elton’s already fabulous cap.

If you didn’t get a chance to attend (you know, because you forgot your tiara), you still have the opportunity to help out this worthy charity by going to the website and making a donation.

Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

It’s always fun to see professional athletes compete in a sport other than their own. Come to think of it, it’s also a lot of fun to watch them play their own sports, too. And that’s probably why Steve Nash’s recent soccer game in New York was such a hit.

The Phoenix Suns basketball superstar put together a soccer game, nicknamed The Showdown in Chinatown, between fellow NBA players and professional soccer players. The game was free to attend, but donations were accepted to benefit the Steve Nash Foundation. The Steve Nash Foundation “aims to grow health in kids by funding projects that provide direct services to children affected by poverty, illness, abuse, or neglect, and create an opportunity for education, health, and empowerment.”

Among the basketball stars taking part were Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, Raja Bell, and Leandro Barbosa, and they were up against soccer greats such as Barcelona forward Thierry Henry, Red Bulls midfielder Claudio Reyna, and Robbie Fowler, formerly of Liverpool.

While the basketball players worked hard and had a great game plan (”outscore the other team”), the soccer players were in their element and won 9-4 while performing entertaining tricks and theatrics. The players and the crowd had a good time for a great cause, and you can’t ask for much more than that!

Photo courtesy of schemamag.com

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have never been shy about giving money to causes they find worthy, and their love of children is obvious. And so, it’s not really surprising to find that the Jolie-Pitt foundation is making a series of donations totaling $1 million to benefit children who have been affected by the war in Iraq, both stateside and in overseas.

The donations will be given to four different organizations which will help children who have lost parents, homes, and schools in Iraq. Three organizations in Iraq will split $500,000 which will pay for the basics, including school supplies, rehabilitation programs, and refugee aid.

The $500,000 that is staying in the U.S. will go toward the Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program. The program assists children who are affected by either a parent currently serving or the loss of a parent who served. Operation Hero knows that children of military families face special challenges, such as feeling isolated and experiencing low self esteem, having a parent deployed (or both deployed) for long periods of time, and problems with school work because they’ve moved around so much.

With Angelina and Brad busy expecting their newest additions, it’s great to see them bringing attention to other children in the world!

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Gwyneth Paltrow must have a lovely, lovely voice. She recently participated in a London event to raise money for Palestinian refugee children — Karaoke with the Stars — and her rendition of Roberta Flack’s Killing Me Softly raised $90,000, making her warbling the most lucrative of the evening.

Gwyneth wasn’t alone in warbling for a worthy cause. She was joined by celebrities like Lily Cole, Lou Reed, Bruce Forsyth, and Stella McCartney. Altogether the event raised $440,000 for the HOPING Foundation.

The HOPING Foundation believes that the next generation of Palestinians hold the key to peace, and HOPING stands for Hope and Optimism for Palestinians In the Next Generation. HOPING works to show Palestinian children that their struggle for even the smallest daily victories is noticed and encouraged by people the world over, specifically in Britain. Grants go toward small community initiatives that make instant improvements to the community and “are provided to encourage and improve all aspects of children’s lives; through art, music, social and sporting activities, and through their education and health needs.”

We might not all be able to raise thousands of dollars by belting out our favorite songs (in fact, I think people would be more likely to pay me not to sing, personally), but if you’re interested in donating to HOPING, you can do so on their website — no singing required.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Funny man Steve Carell met a young man named Zachary Carson on the set of The Office last year through the Make A Wish foundation. The 19-year-old later died from diffuse pontine glioma, a type of pediatric cancer, but Steve is working hard to make sure that hope for other children stays alive.

Steve held a premiere of his new film, Get Smart, to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to benefit the Zachary Carson Brain Tumor Fund. Tickets were $100 per person and included a chance to see the movie as well as the opportunity to spend more money at an auction. One of the items up for auction was the chance to have Steve Carell record a voicemail message. I’d probably rather bid on jewelry, but hey — to each his own.

This isn’t the first time Steve has gotten involved in raising money for the Zachary Carson Brain Tumor Fund. Last year he held a similar premiere for Evan Almighty. This seems like a brilliant way to raise some money for a great cause and bring attention to his films — I hope more celebrities catch on!

Photo courtesy of stevecarell.net

Many celebs were on hand at the Los Angeles launch of the Cartier Love Charity Bracelet, including Janet Jackson, Fergie, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, and Hilary Duff. These stars weren’t just there to attend the bash — they had pledged support.

This is the third year of the Cartier Love Charity Bracelet, and this year’s version has a silk cord in different colors depending on which charity it’s connected with, and they feature a white gold and a rose gold link. Involved celebrities each chose a charity, and the sale of a bracelet in the color associated with the charity will net that charity $200 of the $995 price tag.

Some of the celebrities and their charities are Janet Jackson, whose grey bracelet corresponds to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance; Fergie, whose orange bracelet will benefit The Black Eyed Peas Foundation; Good Charlotte, with a deep green bracelet helping out the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation; Hilary Duff, whose purple bracelet will benefit Blessings in a Backpack (which is run by USA Harvest); and Ashanti, who has a royal blue bracelet raising money for the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America.

In the three years since Cartier began the Love Charity Bracelet, well over $2 million has been raised for 16 different charities. Great jewelry for great causes? Sounds like a beautiful combination to me!

Photo courtesy of celebrity-gossip.net

Jennifer Lopez is well-known for her diva-like demands and over-the-top lifestyle, but that’s not all there is to Jenny from the block. The singer/actress/new mom took time out of her schedule to give some autistic children in New York an amazing experience by performing at their graduation.

The kids’ teacher, Kathy Amati, and a paraprofessional showed Jennifer’s Let’s Get Loud video to the students, who loved it so much that they wanted to watch it every single day. They learned the lyrics and the dance moves, and with some coaxing from their teachers, sent a letter to Jennifer with the hopes of getting some pictures or autographs. They got a whole lot more.

Upon receiving the request, Jennifer went above and beyond anything the kids or their teachers had dreamed of — she contacted them and asked if she could to the kids’ graduation. And so, earlier this week, Jennifer not only attended the graduation — she performed Let’s Get Loud for the 10 and 11 year olds.

Big kudos to Ms. Lopez! I’m sure those kids and their families will remember her generosity for years to come, and I’d imagine she’ll feel good about it for just as long!

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Toby Keith’s annual golf tournament last week raised over $700,000 for Ally’s House, a charity that helps families deal with childhood cancer. The charity is named after one of Toby’s bandmate’s daughters, who died from kidney cancer.

The Toby Keith & Friends Celebrity Golf Classic took place in Oklahoma, and since Toby started the tournament five years ago, it has raised over $2.3 million for Ally’s House. Of course, to raise that kind of money, you need more than one country singer swinging a golf club — the weekend included not only the golf tournament, but also music and a celebrity auction. Many stars associated with country music, and quite a few celebrities we know from other arenas donated to the auction, including George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Loretta Lynn, Tom Hanks, Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, LeBron James, Andrew Agassi, Tony Stewart, and Peyton Manning. The biggest money maker at the auction was a chance to dine with Toby himself, which went for $35,000.

More than 750 people attended some portion of the weekend, and Toby was thrilled, saying, “I knew we could make a difference with Ally’s House, but it really is even bigger than I’d hoped. We’ve helped a ton of families, and we’re proud that we have never had to turn away an Oklahoma family that needs help.”

Photo courtesy of countrystarsonline.com

Ben Affleck has spent a lot of time doing charity work in Africa, but had no idea his work there would take him to Canada. On one of his visits to Africa, he came across the One X One Foundation, a charity that raises money for needy kids, and they asked him if he would attend an event they were holding in Calgary, and of course he said yes.

One X One has raised over $7 million for charity since its inception in 2005. Its Toronto event last year alone raised half that, and it’ll be holding the fourth annual gala there again this year. Coincidentally, the gala, which will be held in September, will be hosted by Ben’s buddy, Matt Damon.

One X One states that “Life Belongs to Everyone,” and to make sure that is true, they “have selected philanthropic partners and supported major initiatives that serve [their] mandate of helping children find a better world and securing their future.” They select charities to spotlight and support each year and select new initiatives to fund along with supporting those partners that have been around since the beginning. The ultimate goal is to help children in Canada and around the world live safely and with dignity.

To see how you can help, check out their website for more information or to make a donation.

Photo courtesy of Ecorazzi.

NBA greats Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, George Gervin, and Clyde Drexler hit the greens last week along with some of their professional baseball, hockey, and football buddies to take part in the Pro Sports Team Challenge Golf Tournament at the Eagle Falls Golf Club at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. They played for pride — each team wanted to show that their sport had the best golfers — but more importantly, they were competing for a $250,000 prize for the charity of their choice.

Team Basketball chose the USO as their charity. Charles Barkley has worked with them in the past, visiting troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Dubai. However, he didn’t have much hope for winning much money for the charity at the tournament, saying, “… my team sucks!”

Team Football was led by Drew Brees and included LaDainian Tomlinson, John Elway, and Michael Strahan, and they competed for Operation Kids. While all the guys on all the teams made an effort to say hello to the kids at the tournament, Michael Strahan stood out by spending time with every anklebiter he came across and signing whatever they gave him.

Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull, Grant Fuhr and Pierre Larouche made up Team Hockey. Mario Lemieux, a cancer survivor, chose Hockey Fights Cancer as the team’s charity. They entered the competition as the team to beat because all four are well known for being excellent golfers.

Last, but not least, was Team Baseball, led by legend Ozzie Smith, who was joined by George Brett, Vince Coleman, and Bret Saberhagen, who were all playing for the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T), a charity that helps the families of players who have fallen on hard times. B.A.T. helps families with things like health care, medical, housing, burial, utilities, household expenses, and prescriptions.

The event was fun for all, especially for several young men who won contests that allowed them to participate in the tournament with the athletes. There was a good bit of trash talking (imagine that, with Sir Charles being there!), but it was all in good fun for a good cause.

To see which sport won the tournament, you’ll have to tune into Fox Sports Net on June 28 and 29.

Photo courtesy of azsportshub.com

You probably were already aware that Brad Pitt has an avid interest in architecture and that he’s interested in building sustainable housing. You might not be aware that he’s been asked to help design an enormous eco-friendly hotel in Dubai.

The five-star resort will have 800 bedrooms. Brad will be working as a consultant with one of the architecture firms that is also working on his Lower 9th Ward Make It Right project in New Orleans, Grant LLC.

Brad said (through a statement released by his rep), “Acting is my career, architecture is my passion. As my first major construction project the Dubai hotel will feature environmentally friendly architecture, but also embrace my career in entertainment.”

In a city with as many brand new luxury hotels as Dubai, this seems like a pretty smart move in a couple of ways. For one, whether people would choose to stay in a hotel because of Brad’s involvement or not, his involvement is certainly going to keep this hotel in the news and in the forefront of the public’s mind. Additionally, using green architecture is something everyone is interested in now, and it’s a great way for a five-star resort to set itself apart from some of the others.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Paul Newman is an amazing example of kindness and generosity. Between the years of 2005 and 2006, Paul privately turned over the full value of his Newman’s Own ownership to the Newman’s Own Foundation. The value of the donation is estimated to be around $120 million. Seriously.

This is true to form for the actor/director/activist, who reportedly gave away $8,746,500 of his personal fortune to charitable groups supporting children, Gulf Coast hurricane relief, education, and the arts. All of this is done quietly, as far under the radar as possible. Some of the organizations he contributes to are well known, but many are small, worthy organizations that aren’t well publicized.

Paul is currently in the news for some far less happy news, however — he is fighting lung cancer. However, just to be clear, his massive donation did not occur as a result of his diagnosis — he made the decision to turn his ownership value over to the Newman’s Own Foundation to celebrate his 80th birthday, before he was diagnosed with cancer. He issued a statement just today regarding his health, saying that he’s “doing nicely” by way of his mouthpiece.

Along with the rest of the world, I wish him all the best in his fight against cancer, and continue to be amazed by his generosity.

Photo courtesy of reuters.com

Yesterday, Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford, along with Bo Derek and Robert Duval, hit up an event to show their support of “a new global initiative by the World Bank to save tigers from extinction.”

The event took place at Washington’s Smithsonian National Zoo and introduced the Tiger Conservation Initiative, which aims to halt the killing and illegal trade of tiger skins, meat, and other body parts that some traditional Asian medicines still use. It will bring scientists and governments together to fight for these big cats, whose numbers have shrunk from over 100,000 a century ago to their current number of under 4,000.

Harrison’s goal in being there was to celebrate and lend support to the World Bank’s plan, saying, “By committing to help wild tigers, the World Bank is sounding its intention to be a global leader in biodiversity conservation.” Robert’s reason for coming was similar — he had always thought that tigers “might be the single most beautiful animal in the world,” and it boggled his mind that people just continue killing them as their numbers dwindle.

Bo Derek, Condoleezza Rice’s Special Envoy for Wildlife Trafficking, intends to focus on public awareness of the problem, starting with herself, saying “It was very embarrassing for me to find out that the U.S. is number two in consuming endangered wildlife.”

The initiative will work to end poaching in 13 countries: Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, Russia and Vietnam. President of World Bank, Robert Zoellick said,”This is a problem that cannot be handled by individual nations alone. It requires an alliance of strong local commitment backed by deep international support.” Kudos to the actors (and everyone else who attended the launch) for getting involved for these beautiful animals.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Jenny McCarthy and her boyfriend, Jim Carey, led a rally in Washington, D.C. last week for Green Our Vaccines. Jenny’s six-year-old son is autistic, and Green Our Vaccines is a program through TACA (Talk About Curing Autism), which Jenny is very involved with.

The goal of the rally was to “demand Congress take action to Green Our Vaccine supply while reassessing our current vaccine schedule. Ask Congress to reenact legislation that would eliminate mercury and other toxins from our children’s vaccines, study the instance of Autism and other neurological disorders in vaccinated versus unvaccinated children, and to extend the statute of limitation to allow all children affected by vaccine induced Autism to file in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.”

Autism is on the rise, and many parents blame the increasing number of vaccines that children are given at a young age. The rally didn’t aim to get people to avoid vaccinating their children –Jenny and Jim support immunization. However, they feel that children are receiving too many vaccines too soon, and want parents to do their research before giving kids their shots to find the least toxic options.

Photo courtesy of babble.com

Natalie Portman is currently in Rwanda to promote a youth village slated to open for 500 children who were orphaned by the 1994 genocide. The village is an American Jewish project, being built by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, American Jewish donors are financing it, and it will be run following the educational philosophy that was used in Israeli youth villages that housed Holocaust orphans.

As one of the world’s most well-known Jewish American actresses, Natalie is doing her part to promote the village by filming a clip, which is expected to air on Oprah in just a few weeks.

There is a strange cloud of secrecy surrounding Natalie’s visit, however — all photos of her in Africa are off limits until her film airs on Oprah, and when she initially landed for a layover on her way to Rwanda and was spotted, another organization in the area claimed she was there for their own project. I imagine this short film she’s in Rwanda to shoot is going to be a really powerful tool, and they just want to make sure they get as much out of it as possible.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Jason Lewis, the actor who plays Samantha’s love interest in Sex and the City, might be busy promoting the new movie, but he’s not so busy that he can’t make time for a good cause. He spent some time in New Zealand in April to host a charity party for the KidsCan Charitable Trust.

KidsCan’s goal is to basically level the playing field in less affluent areas, regardless of whether the parents are truly poor or are wasteful of the money the have — either way, the children aren’t to blame. Many Kiwi kids come to school without their basic needs being met, and even more miss school during the winter due to inadequate clothing. KidsCan provides some of these basics for kids so that they can not only come to school, but come to school with pride.

Programs like Raincoats for Kids, Shoes for Kids, and Food for Kids are making a big difference in some New Zealand schools. Attendance during the rainy months is up, and now that more attention is being brought to the inadequate nutrition some kids receive, more parents are making an effort to give their kids three square meals. And, for those families that truly can’t afford it, the program provides free food to kids.

Jason feels strongly that celebrity and politics go hand in hand, looking to Bono as inspiration. He said, “I’m not a brain surgeon, I’m not curing cancer, but if I can show up and do an interview and that is going to raise awareness and someone’s going to give money to the hardworking people of this charity, great. I think it is the best use of celebrity that is out there.”

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com

Prince Harry is back in military action, but this time it’s not as dangerous a mission as his previous stint on the front line in Afghanistan. This time, the 23-year-old prince will be traveling with other servicemen in his Army regiment to Africa to assist with building and repairing facilities for projects supported by Sentebale.

Sentebale was founded in 2006 by England’s Prince Harry (who is third in line to the throne) and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Its mission “is to transform the lives of Lesotho’s orphans and vulnerable children” in order “to help the forgotten victims of poverty and of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.”

Back in 2004, Prince Harry spent part of his gap year as Prince Seeiso’s guest, volunteering on local welfare projects. Harry was touched by the plight of AIDS victims, and along with Prince Seeiso, founded Sentebale (which means “forget me not”). It was a way for him to help the people of Lesotho as well as pay tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana, who was passionate about raising awareness of the AIDS crisis in that country.

It doesn’t look like Harry will have any trouble following in his mother’s footsteps or keeping her memory alive — he’s off to a great start!

Photos courtesy of sentebale.org

Admit it — you would love to have one of Cliff Huxtable’s crazy sweaters from the Cosby Show. And now you have your chance! Bill Cosby is auctioning off his famous Cosby Show sweaters to benefit the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation.

The Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation was started in 1997 by Bill and Camille Cosby to continue the legacy of their son after his murder in 1997. The Foundation “equips teachers, parents and students with the practical information and educational tools needed to understand and address the needs of all learners before they experience the corrosive effects of frustration and failure.”

The Foundation implements several different programs to help make education successful for all students, including working with teachers and schools as a whole to recognize and help students who are most at risk for being left behind. It aims to help teachers understand how students learn differently and provides them with tools, like special planners, films, and reading materials.

The auction will take place today through June 12, and you can check out the sweaters and place your bid here. It’s for a good cause, and you know you’re dying to try one of those beauties on. I know I am!

Photo courtesy of blog.drjays.com

Is your baby fussy outside when it is very bright and sunny? It may be more than the heat getting to your little one; it may be the sunshine.

Squinting is uncomfortable for infants and young toddlers and their eyes are much more sensitive than adult’s eyes to damage from bright sun.

Even shade will not protect eyes in bright sun, because it is the  brightness and reflected sunlight that are damaging. The cumulative effect of bright sunshine plays a role in a number of serious eye conditions, like macular degeneration (a cause of blindness in later life), cataracts and chronic irritation of the cornea.

Kids need sunglasses! It may not seem practical to introduce sunglasses to infants and young children, but Frubi Shades are different. The soft, spongy nosepiece and wrap-around design make these sunglasses stay in place comfortably. The little ones may need a short period to adapt, but the improved comfort in bright sun makes the adjustment quick. The trick is to acclimate children to sunglasses at an early age, so they will continue the habit throughout their lives.

And there’s more to this story. Frubi Shades has donated thousands of sunglasses to children’s organizations as part of their Protect Their Eyes Campaign.

It feels good to endorse a great product from a company that also gives back. Hmm…just like Noodle and Boo!

Look for Healthy Lifestyle every week for health tips, recipes, fun with gardening!

Photo courtesy of frubishades.com

Eva Longoria Parker doesn’t look like she spends much time at fast food restaurants, but she spent a day at a Corpus Cristi, Texas, Wendy’s serving up Frosties to benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption.

She signed also signed autographs to raise funds for the Father’s Day Frosty Weekend. Eva was a Wendy’s employee before her Desperate Housewives days, from 1991 to 1994.

In case you’re curious as to why Wendy’s and Dave Thomas are involved in adoption (because I certainly was), it might interest you to know that Dave Thomas (the founder of Wendy’s) was adopted as a child. According to the website, “the Foundation leads signature national service programs and works to streamline the adoption process and make adoption more affordable for families. As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to foster care adoption, we are driven by Dave’s simple value: Do what’s best for the child.”

While a burger and Frosty might not exactly be the best thing for children, I’m happy to see the company (and Eva) working so hard for such a good cause. Official reports set the goal at over $1.3 million, and I hope they make it with room to spare. Shoot, I might even have to get myself a Frosty. Ice cream for a good cause is practically good for you, right?

Photo courtesy of popsugar.com

You know he’s amazing on the soccer field, and you’ve seen how great he looks as an Armani underwear model, but would you ever have thought that David Beckham is also a mountain climber? Technically, he’s not, but he has agreed to become one to benefit UNICEF.

This all came about because of U2’s Bono, who asked David to take on the challenge. David agreed to the intense six-day climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in order to raise money for the charity UNICEF.

No date has been set just yet, but a source close to the Beckhams stated, “The 19,340 peak is a bit outside David’s normal comfort zone but he is absolutely set on making the climb. Not date has been fixed yet because David is very busy with his LA Galaxy commitments, but he is absolutely set on doing it.” In addition to finding the time, he also needs to get some insurance issues finalized.

Apparently, David was hesitant at first (which is understandable), but he soon found out, like so many celebrities before him have learned, that Bono is extraordinarily persuasive.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

I get excited every year for the Cannes Film Festival — everyone always dresses to the nines (or else they dress in something hideous, which is just as much fun), and, of course, the news starts trickling out about what films are must-sees. However, this year several celebrities gave me a new reason to love Cannes — George Clooney, Madonna, Sharon Stone, Natalie Portman, Mary J. Blige, Milla Jovovich, Harvey Weinstein, Kenneth Cole, and others got together at Cannes to raise over $10 million for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

Sharon Stone, as amfAR’s global fundraising chairman, acted as conductor of the auction and started things off with a request for support in honor of her fiftieth birthday after starting with her own pledge of $100,000. She asked the room match her pledge, and over $2 million was raised in just 10 minutes. Additionally, Sharon auctioned off her own vintage Porche 911 Targa for $810,000.

Madonna did her part as well, auctioning off a a private performance of two songs for $560,000, as well as a diamond-encrusted alligator skin Chanel purse including her personal lip gloss, compact mirror, and blotting papers for $486,000.

But the item I’m most disappointed in missing is George Clooney’s — he auctioned off a kiss for $300,000. Next year, I’m totally going!

Photo courtesy of eonline.com

You are likely well aware that singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow had a bout with breast cancer. She was diagnosed in 2006 and has since made a full recovery. What you might not be aware of is that she had none of the risk factors normally associated with breast cancer, and absolutely no family history of the disease. This has made her all the more passionate about the importance of breast cancer research.

She recently testified to Congress on behalf of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, stating, “I don’t live in a political world, and while this might seem like a political discussion, until you are the one in seven women diagnosed with breast cancer, you will never know how NOT political this is. I want to know what causes this disease — for me, and for the 2.3 million other who share this diagnosis. We need more resources to figure out what the environment has to do with [it].”
“I want to know what causes this disease – for me, and for the 2.3 million others who share this diagnosis,” said Crow as she spoke on behalf of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. “We need more resources to figure out what the environment has to do with [it].”

The bill Sheryl is fighting for would authorize spending $200 million over the next five years to research possible environmental factors behind breast cancer as well as making insurance companies pay for a minimum two-day hospital stay following a mastectomy.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Hatian-born hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has begun a food relief program called Together for Haiti. The country is experiencing a food shortage and this program will bring together his foundation, Yele Haiti, with the United Nations’ World Food Programme and the Pan American Development Foundation.

Wyclef was inspired to start Together for Haiti because of the recent food riots that have broken out in his home country. However, stopping the riots isn’t his only goal –he aims to help the people learn to help themselves, saying “The revolution has to start with the minds of the people. You can’t have a future without starting from the ground. We are not only interested in feeding people in response to the current crisis, but we want to offer them an alternative that can help them in a sustainable way.” Together for Haiti aims to feed 1.5 million people, employ 1,800 people daily, and provide fertilizers to 55,000 farmers.

Additionally, Wyclef is exploring the idea of microfinance, which would help families that want to set up businesses to be able to do so. The idea is to allow over 9,000 families to get themselves out of a state of poverty so that they can help themselves instead of relying on aid every time there’s a crisis. Wyclef knows what it’s like to grow up in poverty-ridden conditions. He said, “I grew up in a hut and went to school on a donkey.”

To find out more about Together for Haiti and to find out how you can help, check out their website.

Photo courtesy of ecorazzi.com

The Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament is right around the corner, and Luke Wilson and Steve Guttenberg are signed up to hit a few golf balls to benefit kids.

The Travelers Championship used to be called the Greater Hartford Open, and it’s the sole fundraiser for the Greater Hartford Jaycees. The organization is made up of men and women 21-40 years old and focuses on leadership development and community service, and the proceeds will allow the Jaycees do things like deliver Thanksgiving baskets and distributing scholarships and grants to deserving kids.

The tournament will also benefit Paul Newman’s The Hole in the Wall Gang, which allows children with serious and life-threatening illnesses a chance to get away to camp (free of charge) and have the experience of just being a kid and being able to forget about their problems for a while.

The Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament will take place on June 18 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. For ticket information, check out the Travelers Championship website. I’m not sure about Steve Guttenberg, but I know Luke Wilson is considered one of the better golfers in all of Hollywood, so if you’re in the area, it seems like the tournament would be a fun way to pass a day. And it’s all for a good cause, so everybody wins!

Photo courtesy of pumatalk.com

I always love to see young stars get involved with causes. For one thing, they often have a contingent of teen- and tween-age fans who adore them and learn from them. Additionally, when stars begin working toward good causes when they’re kids, I think it gives them an appreciation for how important it is that they use their fame for good.

Aly & AJ, the teen duo whose music can be found absolutely all over the Disney Channel, obviously realize they’re in a position to make a difference. They modeled Tommy Hilfiger’s orange t-shirts to support the Nancy Davis Foundation for MS. May is MS Awareness Month, and the Nancy Davis Foundation is working with numerous retailers to sell items like the t-shirts to raise money.

Orange is the foundation’s signature color — it symbolizes hope. Proceeds from sales of the MS items will help community education and the funding of MS research.

The shirts are selling for $25, and you can purchase your own at the Nancy Davis Foundation for MS. While you’re there, you can shop for other items to support the foundation, such as an orange leather bracelet, orange wallet, lip gloss, nail polish, and more.

You might also want to read a little more about what the Nancy Davis Foundation for MS does and how you can get involved and help.

Photos courtesy of erasems.org

Lots of newlyweds can’t stop smiling, and Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are no exception — they seem really happy with their slightly rash decision to get hitched, so we’ll go ahead and be happy for them. We’re especially happy for them now that we see the couple is spending some of their honeymoon period at charity events.

Mariah and Nick spent an evening at the Skylight Studio in New York City at the 5th Annual Operation Smile event. Operation Smile is an organization through which volunteers work to “repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable healthcare systems for children and families.”

The testimonials are truly touching. In just 45 minutes, for as little as $240, Operation Smile allows a child who otherwise could not afford to have surgery to correct a cleft lip to receive the surgery and treatment that will let them lead a normal life.

Mr. and Mrs. Cannon might not be spokespeople (yet), but other celebs have gotten on board with Operation Smile, including Jessica Simpson and Roma Downey. To learn more about the charity and to see how you can help, check out the Operation Smile website.

Photo courtesy of ecorazzi.com

Madonna adopted her son, David, from an orphanage in Malawi (where his father left him after his mother died in childbirth), and while she gave him a better life, she wasn’t done helping the people of that country. Her plans to build a girls’ school in Malawi are moving forward, with a task force of four prominent Malawians already on board.

Madonna’s project is said to be on par with what Oprah Winfrey has done in South Africa. It will most definitely be a multi-million dollar project, but I don’t think any of us have any doubts as to whether Madge can foot the bill.

The pop superstar has been involved in other Malawian projects, as well. She produced and narrated a documentary called I Am Because We Are, highlighting the plight of several Malawian children whose mothers died of AIDS. The film was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Madonna said the documentary carried the message that “We are responsible for each other and that if we can help in any way, shape or form, we should.”

Regarding Madonna’s adoption of Malawian-born David Banda, the Malawian courts are expected to rule in her favor today.

Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

I have yet to meet anyone, male or female, who doesn’t think Pierce Brosnan is a dashing, handsome man. And, I always feel a little less guilty about my gawking when the celebrity I’m daydreaming about is also a really good person, and let me tell you — I daydream about Pierce Brosnan without any pangs of guilt.

The former 007 has been a proponent of environmental action for over 10 years, and he and his wife have set up a trust to donate to environmental organizations. Not only has he done this and encouraged the public to donate what they can, but he has been a pretty hefty contributer himself, personally reaching the one million dollar donation mark. You’ve got to love a man who has no problem supporting the causes he’s passionate about by digging into his own pockets.

Pierce encourages his fans and fellow environmental activists to donate their money to causes that will offset carbon emissions by planting trees as well as paying carbon tax when traveling in environmentally sensitive areas. But the environment isn’t the only cause that gets this leading man to take action. He’s been a supporter of breast cancer research and replaced a playground near his home in Hawaii — a good guy through and through.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

I don’t think anybody would argue that being a mom is a tough job — that’s why Mother’s Day is such a special time for celebration for so many families. And while many celebrity moms get some flack because they’re able to hire nannies and continue to work as actresses, there are lots of famous moms who make a concentrated effort to take on all the responsibilities that come with motherhood, sometimes at the expense of their careers.

Love Our Children USA has come out with their Third Annual “Mothers Who Make a Difference List,” and there are a bunch of well-known names on it — Cate Blanchett, Marcia Cross, Geena Davis, Salma Hayek, Holly Hunter, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, Ashleigh Banfield, Marcia Gay Harden, Jill Hennessey, Finola Hughes, Vanessa Mathison, Melania Trump, Nancy O’Dell, and Kim Raver all made the 2008 list.

The “Mothers Who Make a Difference List” is Love Our Children USA’s way of honoring mothers who, despite a heavy work schedule, find a way to balance their home and career lives so they can serve as solid parents and role models.

Love Our Children USA comes out with this list because there are over three million children in our country who are affected by violence, and bullying, cyberbullying, and a bevy of other internet-related dangers are all too prevalent for a large percentage of school-age children. It’s important to recognize the impact a loving, nurturing mother can have, not only on her own child, but on every mother and child with whom she comes into contact because she makes her family her priority.

Can you think of a mother who makes a difference? Tell us all about her in the comments!

Photo courtesy of theage.com.au

Glenn Close is a bonafied dog lover, and was recently recognized for her efforts by Look To The Stars. She received the Golden Bone for her work as co-founder of Fetchdog.com, an high-end online store selling dog and puppy supplies. That alone, while nice, isn’t such a big deal. What’s special about Fetchdog is that when Glenn and her husband started it last October, they decided to donate a percentage of every sale to a dog-related charity of the purchaser’s choice.

The store itself has some really cool items, ranging from training tools and leashes (I have my eye on the Not-a-long Coupler) to Earth friendly beds, toys, bath products, and more. But that’s not all the site has to offer.

Glenn also has a blog called Lively Licks, and I’m a huge fan. In it, she holds interviews with celebrity dog owners like Martha Stewart and Debra Messing as well as interviews with inspirational dog owners, like Tracy Christensen and his avalanche rescue dog, Mick. Additionally, she gives tips, tricks and advice on dealing with things like dog smell, hair, and accidents.

She might have played Cruella DeVil in 101 Dalmations, but Glenn Close is anything but cruel in real life. Congrats on your newest award, Glenn, and keep up the good work!

Close-up photo courtesy of starpulse.com. Photo with dogs courtesy of fetchdog.com.