Hugh Jackman Launches Coffee Company for Charity

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By DouglasPosted In: FamilyTagged: , , , ,

Dukale's Dream

In a recent interview, Hugh Jackman, a self-proclaimed “coffee snob,” discussed both his love for coffee and admiration for Paul Newman and his company Newman’s Own, which donates millions of dollars to charity.

Perhaps Newman’s Own served as an inspiration of Jackman’s new coffee and tea company, which raises money for charities in support of families, children and education. Throughout the interview, Jackman listed several reasons for his new project, including the importance of a good cup o’ Joe.

“If I’m buying it, I want a great cup of coffee,” he explained. “If you can have a great cup of coffee and the profits of that company are actually going back to different charities, I think it’s a win-win for everybody.”

He admitted that his interest in the field was not only a result of coffee indulgence. While on tour as an ambassador for World Vision, Jackman met an Ethiopian coffee farmer named Dukale. The man’s hard work struck a chord in the X-Men actor, and he began to picture simple projects that could greatly improve the lives of coffee farmers.

When he returned home, he teamed up with a Barry Steingard, a friend with more than two decades in the coffee and restaurant industries, to create a Laughing Man Worldwide subsidiary; Laughing Man Coffee & Tea. 50% of Coffee & Tea’s are sent to Laughing Man Worldwide, which donates 100% of its funds to charity.

‘Storage Wars’ Staff Aids Charity Storage Auction

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This past February, a non-profit managed to raise $5,000 in five days with the help of the film crew and stars from TV show Storage Wars. Charity Storage launches self-storage auctions at U.S. Storage Centers throughout Southern California, and donates the money to local and national charities.

In short, storage operators choose a storage unit in which to collect the donated goods. Tenants, auction buyers, residents and businesses alike can all donate and receive a tax deductible receipt. Once the public auction takes place, the Charity Storage unit is sold alongside others, with the sales money forwarded to charity.

“This is a blueprint for how we hope the entire self-storage community across America will react to Charity Storage,” said Lance Watkins, co-founder of the organization. “It was well planned and well executed, and there were so many winners: US Storage Centers, charities and the industry in general. It’s a great way for self-storage owner-operators to give back to their local communities. This is just the start to what we hope will be a highly successful year.”

Westport Properties founder and owner Barry Hoeven is also the co-founder of Charity Storage and ‘Kure It’, a cancer research organization. He explained that the “Storage Wars” stars contributed greatly to the success of last month’s auction.

“The presence of ‘Storage Wars’ celebrities and their film crew contributed to the higher-than-usual bidding, as did the contents of one antique-filled unit,” Hoeven said. “But this was certainly a great illustration of the impact Charity Storage can have as we implement it nationally.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities Launches Chef’s Challenge Sunday

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The Ronald McDonald House Charities organization launched its newest project this week, called Chef’s Challenge Sunday. The event faces two Morgantown-area master chefs in a one hour competition aimed at whipping up the best signature dish.

Proceeds from the challenge benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Morgantown, an organization working to support families with children in Morgantown hospitals. The charity house was established over a decade ago, and includes a number of bedrooms and a main living space where families and children dealing with similar issues can interact.

Brian Bruner, executive banquet chef at the Waterfront Place Hotel, faced Chris McDonald, the executive chef at Stefano’s Restaurant, this Sunday at the Ronald McDonald charity house.

After much deliberation, and an audience vote, Chef McDonald was named Sunday’s winner. He was awarded a Ronald McDonald House chef’s jacket,

“I didn’t expect to win, but I was hoping to win,” he said. “I’ve worked with Chef Bruner at both the Glasshouse Grill and the Waterfront Place hotel, so I’ve known him for a long time, and it was awesome to be able to go one-on-one against him.”

Ronald McDonald house development coordinator MaChal Forbes explained: “The whole idea behind not just the Chef’s Challenge, but hosting other events in the house, was to bring the public into the house.

“We wanted them to become more involved with what we do here and with our mission. When people walk through the house- see the rooms, meet the families and see what we do- it’s just a better means of public education for the communities.”

The Charity House also announced new plans to add a family area in Ruby Memorial Hospital, to give children a place to go within the vicinity of the intensive care unit.

“It would basically be a miniature Ronald McDonald house- a family room, a kitchen area- a place where families can come from the NICU, the PICU, and stay right in the hospital,” explained board member Nicole Saffron. “They don’t have to leave- they can relax, they can watch TV without even crossing the parking low, which can be pretty far when you’re in that situation.”

Run James, Run

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By M. MarksPosted In: FamilyTagged: , , , , ,

Forrest Gump did it, although not for charity, so perhaps 31-year-old James Crossland can run and run and run.  Well, that’s what the man who lives in Manchester plans to do. From June 8 to 18, 2012, Crossland will be running in an effort to raise money for the Manchester United Foundation that helps finance both the Christie Charity and Francis House Children’s Hospice in the city as well as Irish Autism Action – a support network for families whose kids have autism.

To add a bit of stardom to this endeavor, ex-United player Clayton Blackmore will join the team at different points during the challenge as well. But apart from being a strong runner, Crossland has to be quite the fundraiser since he needs to pay a £150 entrance fee and thereafter raise at least £1,500, which will be put toward the charity.  While he realizes it will be tough, he is excited to be doing his bit for charity and has thus already become involved in a grueling training regime.

Come On You R-E-D-S

But it doesn’t stop there for the Red Devils.  The MU charitable foundation has teamed up with Football Aid, letting football grace its turf and play in mid-May, in an effort to raise money for charity.  On May 17, 2012, fans will be able to enjoy a “match of the day” experience at Old Trafford. They will be able to get on to the pitch and tunnel areas, clad out in their very own United shirts (with their names on) in the team’s official changing rooms, walk down the tunnel to the sound of a cheering crowd as they’ve no doubt watched so many times from a TV screen and then walk out onto the turf to represent their club in and “never to be forgotten 90 minutes of football.”

Football Aid

It’s simple to be a part of this fun charitable endeavor by logging on to Football Aid’s website and selecting your favorite team.  Positions are available for immediate purchase and thereafter, for bidding.  Two years ago, Football Aid celebrated a decade of hard work and dedication to its cause.  To date, the organization has enabled more than 12,225 football fans to participate in over 460 games. They provide funds by hosting a yearly football match at famous stadiums throughout the UK.  This all started with Craig Paterson’s idea (chair of Football Aid) and funds are used to benefit a charity nominated by the club as well as projects nominated by Field of Dreams, the parent charity of Football Aid.