John has much experience working in the philanthropic world, and takes great interest in charitable goings on today.

Win a Dinner with Ian Somerhalder

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By JohnPosted In: Charity ActivityTagged: , , , ,

Some lucky person is soon going to be lunching with actor Ian Somerhalder. He just closed an auction as part of the charity appeal he’s created for his animal sanctuary. As part of his Ian Somerhalder Foundation, the rescue center helps abused animals, works on environmental issues and more.

As it describes at the website for the Ian Somerhalder Foundation,

“The global problems and challenges we are facing are infinitely interconnected and co-dependent, therefore our solutions and actions must be enacted in an interconnected manner. There are numerous causes, many campaigns and organizations aiming to encourage change, which includes ending deforestation, planting trees, eliminating pesticides and healing our planet. How many of these organizations or campaigns team up to become a united spirit of change?”

The auction at CharityBuzz.com ran until July 18th. Now, some lucky person will be able to have lunch in Atlanta, Georgia with the Vampire Diaries heart-throb.

As Somerhalder explained his motivation for the project, “There are too many animals that are abused, mistreated, and abandoned. They’ve been ostracised, they have behavioural issues, and they’re starving. It’s just unbelievable what we’ve done to the animals, and I think that’s why this is so important. I appreciate you and your generosity. I will try not to bore you to tears…”

“If we can give animals a home, we can also take the youth of our country and our world – kids who have behavioral issues, bullying other kids, and halting the progression of those around them – and bring them together to learn compassion from one another. If you have compassion for an animal, then you’ll ultimately have compassion for another human being.”

NE-YO Charity Event Honors George Lucas

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NE-YO and George Lucas

Last week, NE-YO and Arsenio Hall hosted the Annual “Fostering A Legacy” Benefit for NE-YO’s charity, the Compound Foundation.  The event took place at an East Hampton estate of CEO Bill Nuti and his wife Michele.

The event raised over $150,000 to design programs and events for children in foster care and group homes. It will also help with The Compound Foundation’s Giving Tour that occurred last December and with their Future CEO Academy program.

The Compound Foundation, founded in 2007 by NE-YO and Reynell Hay helps children in foster care and group home placements by encouraging entrepreneurship and empowering them to control their own destinies.

The event included a cocktail hour, a private dinner and auction (of NE-YO’s hat and other items) and a performance by NE-YO. In attendance were Russell Simmons, Andre Agassi, Paula Abdul, Adrienne Bailon, Anthony Anderson and Jason Kidd. George Lucas was honored at the event for his support of children in foster care (he has three adopted children).

Bill Gates Accepts Award at International AIDS Conference

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By JohnPosted In: HealthTagged: , , , , , , ,

On Saturday, amfAR recognized Bill Gates for his generous contributions to the struggle against AIDS.

The leading charity presented Gates with the Award of Courage at the International AIDS Conference at the Kennedy arts center, in honor of all scientists, health workers and those who suffered from or continue to cope with AIDS and the HIV virus.

“We have many potential game-changers that are bringing us closer to the end of AIDS,” Gates said, referring to antiretroviral medications and new vaccines. “What’s important is to remember that we can continue to make these breakthroughs if we stay committed.

“I’m optimistic… that we will develop these new tools, and that we will make AIDS history. Working together, I know we will,” he said.

The American Foundation for AIDS Research, also known as amfAR, is one of the leading non-profits working to solve the global AIDS-HIV issue. Co-founded by the late Elizabeth Taylor, the organization’s fundraising events often attract celebrity guests and supporters.

Gates and his wife Melinda, through his highly successful software company, have contributed more than $2.5 billion to HIV grants around the world. According to a recent report from amfAR, he has also committed more than $1.4 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

During the event, Gates said:

“We need to invent a vaccine. We need to keep the funding levels going up. We need to grow out new prevention tools. There are still millions of people being affected.”

Sharon Stone, who presented Gates at the event, added:

“I think what we feel like is that we are at the beginning of the end. There isn’t a family left that hasn’t been touched by the AIDS crisis. Now is the time to push this through to the end. We must find a cure. We must find a vaccine. We need to draw this to a close.”

 

Style Saves’ Charity Fashion Show

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By JohnPosted In: FamilyTagged: , , , , , ,

Back to School Style

Miami Beach is getting ready to host one of the hottest events of the year- but this time for a good cause.

Later today, the SOHO Beach House is launching the Style Saves’ 2nd Annual Summer Fashion Show fundraiser with the help of both male and female swimsuit models.

The event, which features four designer fashion shows, an open bar and a DJ, works alongside the Miami Foundation and local retail stores and boutiques, with the goal of providing South Florida children with new clothing at the beginning of each school year. The effort believes that the outfits will boost children’s self-confidence and help them succeed both personally and academically in school.

The runway show, accompanied by Grey Goose, Moet Chandon, Peroni and Vita Coco cocktails, will exhibit looks from iShine365, Papi, Atrium and Trina Turk. An online auction by Charitybuzz will also be open to guests online via iPads.

Last year’s project, with help from Big Brothers, Big Sisters, provided fifty underprivileged students with new back-to-school styles. This year’s goal is to reach 100 students.

Charlie Sheen Offering Large Charitable Contribution to USO

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It’s nice to see that even crazy celebrities can make a difference. Charlie Sheen, who just recently made news when he turned off his Twitter account with millions of followers, is now in the headlines for a good reason. He has pledged to give at least $1 million to military charity United Services Organization program that help hurt and sick soldiers and their families.

It’s hard to believe that this amount is only 1% of the profits he gets from his new show Anger Management. He reports that, should the show be a great hit, the USO may receive even more. At the moment, he’s given the charity an initial donation of $250,000.

In a statement Sheen said,

“It’s an honor for me to be able to give back to these men and women of the military who have done so much for all of us. They put their lives on the line for us every day, and I’m just happy that my work on Anger Management can bring a little bit of relief to the troops and their families.”

The spokesman for USO agrees. As he said, “the way we lift the spirits of the families and troops is through generous donations from the American public. It is heart-warming to me to see how the American people support the troops whether it’s 25 cents or $25 or $250,000.”

Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith Travel to Ethiopia for Charity

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It’s nice to see some celebrities putting their money in the right place. On July 6, 2012, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith traveled to Ethiopia with charity:water.  Their plan started in 2010 when, rather than having birthday presents that year, they donated money to charity:water. They asked their fans to do the same and they vowed that they would take the top fundraisers on a trip to Africa.

With 2013 separate campaigns, they raised more than $789,000. The Smiths also raise another $109,000 on their own and all of this money was given to charity.

Along with top fundraisers, The Smile Generation and Authentic Jobs, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith traveled to Ethiopia, spending two days in Tigray visiting communities and schools. They were able to witness the inauguration of one new well called Yellow Thunder in Meago village as part of charity:water’s 31st dig. Just in Tigray, charity:water has funded over 1000 water projects with its partners, A Glimmer of Hope, and Relief Society of Tigray.

As Will Smith told US Weekly,

“Our trip to Ethiopia with charity: water was an incredibly eye-opening and authentic experience. It was extraordinary to meet and spend time with the people of Tigray and to see first-hand how clean water changes everything for these communities.”

Kate Middleton Camps Out with ARK Organization Kids

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By JohnPosted In: EducationTagged: , , , , ,

Kate Middleton’s love of nature is well known; her and Prince William’s definition of a perfect getaway consists of a romantic lodge with no electricity and lots of campfires and candles.

A source once described their engagement spot as “the safest place in the world for William. It is the one place he can be by himself. And he does not have to be guarded because the wildlife there are his guardians.”

It’s no surprise then, that the Duchess of Cambridge recently joined a group of 28 children in a campout as part of an ARK ‘Expanding Horizons’ primary school camp project that works to connect inner-city kids in an outdoor setting. ARK is one of the charities that Kate is supporting this year.

Kate joined the children in teepee building, a cookout and a bonfire, later sharing about her new life with royalty.

“Well, it’s been very busy and great fun,” she said. “but I am very well looked after. William is very sweet and kind of spoils me.”

One Charity is Cashing in on Federer’s Win

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A non-profit never knows where its next big check might come from. And little did Oxfam, an international charity that fights poverty, know that Roger Federer’s win at Wimbledon would bring them $157,750. But that’s exactly what happened this week.

Nine years ago when Federer won Wimbledon for the first time in 2003, Nick Newlife of Oxfordshire, England made a bet. He bet approximately $2000 that Federer would set the all-time record for the most victories at Wimbledon. His odds were 66/1 that he’s win seven titles by 2019.

Unfortunately, Newlife didn’t live to see his prediction come to fruition. Dying at the age of 59, he left his betting slip in his will to Oxfam. And they did get to reap the reward after Federer defeated Andy Murray on Sunday.

Oxfam’s Andrew Barton saw the cash windfall as a bittersweet financial gain for his charity. As he explained, “It’s just so unfortunate that he nailed it against Murray. I was just sitting there watching the tennis and I kept finding myself calling for Murray, particularly in that long game in the third set.”

Fortunately for Oxfam England’s hero didn’t win it this time.

Gates Foundation Puts Birth Control at Top of Its Priority List

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Bill and Melinda Gates are able to put significant sums of money towards causes of their choosing. For the last 15 years, they have been working to create and distribute vaccines in under privileged areas of the world through their Gates Foundation.

Now, Melinda Gates has recently announced that they plan to put birth control on their international agenda by making it her signature issue. This week, the Gates Foundation and the British government plan to convene a summit of world leaders in London. Their goal is to raise $4 billion to offer contraceptives to another 120 million women in the poorest of countries.

A Catholic, Melinda understands that her efforts are going to pit her against the Catholic Church. She is trying to explain her goals and diffuse that controversy. When she kicked off her initiative at the Berlin TEDxChange talk, she explained that,

“We’re not talking about abortion. We’re not talking about population control. What I’m talking about is giving women the power to save their lives, to save their children’s lives and to give their families the best possible future.”

The Catholic world has accused Belinda of mounting a “blatant attack on Catholic sexual morality.” The Gates Foundation has created a website where they are asking people to share their personal stories about birth control and offer their support to the effort.

Get Down with Music in Action

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If you love music, then “Music in Action” is a concert series that you won’t want to miss. In addition to the music that you’ll be able to enjoy, you’ll also be supporting quite an interesting cause. ProtestTunes.com has just announced the series of live shows that they’ll be putting on, starting with a kick-off performance at Echoplex in Silverlake, California that will take place on Thursday, July 12th.

Bands that have confirmed their attendance at this show include: Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses Guitarist) Jill Sobule (Singer/Activist) Corey Parks (Nashville Pussy Bassist) Cody Marks (Singer/Songwriter) Zach Blair (Rise Against Guitarist) QBN Montana (Latin hip-hop DJ) And very special guests from Austin, Texas — English Teeth w/singer Elijah Ford.

Tickets will cost $25 and all proceeds will go directly to Jail Guitar Doors, founded in the US in 2009, and intended to help to rehabilitate prisons through music.

Wayne Kramer from the rock bank MC5 started Jail Guitar Doors in the US with singer-songwriter Billy Bragg. Kramer called their organization “the loudest charity on earth.” As singer-songwriter Jill Sobule explained,

“In prison, we always think of it as punishment. But we forget the rehabilitation and redemption.”

Taking his idea and turning it into action, co-founder of Jail Guitar Doors Wayne Kramer will now join with co-creator of ProtestTunes.com Adam McKay to create this new project.

“Music and activism have always gone hand in hand from Woody Guthrie to the Clash to Rage Against the Machine. With ProtestTunes.com, we’re hoping to provide some of the background score for a new age of civic involvement. Plus, it’s fun as hell and the tunes rock.”

As Wayne Kramer explained the joint project, “Adam McKay and his wife Shira Piven were JGD’s first board members and the first to step up to support justice reform. They are themselves artists and activists and they understand that there is a connection between our shared missions: A message of education, action and expression for social change. Now, let’s make some noise together.”