ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 14th 2008

Joel Madden And Nicole Richie Urge Help For Cyclone Victims

Filed under: campaigns, donations, video — michael @ 10:17 am

We’ve had a double-wammy of disasters this week with the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China — so expect the charity from Hollywood to start ramping up. Yesterday, we told you Clooney and Co. had donated $500,000 to relief in Burma, today Joel Madden and Nicole Richie are hooking up with UNICEF to encourage people to help out through donations. Check out their PSA below:

via JustJared

May 13th 2008

Clooney And Co. Drop $500,000 For Cyclone Relief

Filed under: campaigns, donations — michael @ 6:27 pm

Not On Our Watch — the humanitarian org dedicated to putting an end to mass atrocities around the world — has donated $500,000 to relief aid in the cyclone-devastated country of Myanmar. The foundation was started by George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Jerry Weintraub, and David Pressman in response to the worsening Darfur crisis — but has quickly spread to address the problems occurring in Burma (Myanmar) as well.

The group will give $250,000 to Save the Children for relief efforts to suffering children and families effected by the storm. They will then collectively match the money given by the foundation for an additional $250,000. According to ETOnline, Save the Children is one of the only humanitarian organizations actually deployed in the country and has already helped more than 100,000 people, including about 40,000 young children.

Since last year, Not On Our Watch has granted over $6 million dollars towards the crisis in Darfur. If you would like to help out their efforts to help those suffering on account of these atrocities, please click here for more.

May 12th 2008

Razzi Snap: Scientist Names New Spider In Honor Of Rocker Neil Young

Filed under: animals, campaigns, donations, politics — michael @ 2:27 pm

Neil Young has been immortalized as the official name of a newly discovered species of spider, Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi. The honor was bestowed by Jason Bond, a biologist at East Carolina University. “I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice,” he said. Jason’s wife, who apparently isn’t cool enough to be immortalized as an eight-legged critter, had no comment. [via livescience]

Whitney Houston sang a rare live gig for the Caudwell Children’s Ball last week amidst the swirling rumors that she was paid anywhere from six to seven figures for the act. If it’s true, we think it’s BS that she would take so much cash to perform for a children’s charity. [via the cheers]

Ever wonder what an Al Gore presidency might have been like instead of the disaster that was the current administration? Sure, Saturday Night Live did a hysterical take, but the Huffington Post’s Norman McAfee really lays it all out for us. January ‘09 can’t come soon enough. [via Huffington Post]

Victoria Beckham is hoping some actual good will come out the toxic disaster that was the Spice Girls World Tour by auctioning off the swanky outfits she wore on stage. Posh expects almost $2 million dollars to be raised from the various auctions — with all the proceeds benefiting her children’s charity. [via sunday mirror]

May 12th 2008

Heather Mills Pledges Funds To Legless Woman, Then Backs Out

Classy.

Filed under: donations — michael @ 11:15 am

Further adding to her already legendary history with money, Heather Mills is now receiving flak over a failed financial pledge to help a woman in need of prosthetic limbs. Mills, who herself uses a prosthetic leg, was touched by the plight of a Russian woman who lost both limbs in a train accident. Through email correspondence and a personal visit, Mills empathetically vowed to donate £10,000 to the victim. Now, its come to light that she’s reneged on that promise. From the article,

““Heather said she would personally get Maria some really good artificial legs, which would cost around £5,000, and cosmesis—the silicone cosmetic covering—which would be another £5,000. ‘She promised she would also provide all the medical support needed to get her walking again. She told us that because her charity only helped victims of landmines, she would support Maria from her own personal finances.’ Mucca [Mills], 40, then met Maria in Moscow, during a visit to Russia with Sir Paul, who was playing a concert in St Petersburg. Afterwards Mucca sent Robin an email saying: ‘I will pay for Maria’s costs agreed in advance and paid directly to the clinic. Please email me the price.’ In another she said:’ Email me costs individually and I’ll get money to you.’”

Is Heather Mills the type to only be charitable when married to a rich partner? Will her current state of duress – with only $50 million to her name — mean other individuals or organizations will be forsaken? 

There was, however, a happy ending for the woman promised so much. Jump on over to Cele|Bitchy for the rest. 

May 7th 2008

Sting’s Rainforest Charity Rated One Of New York’s City’s Worst

Filed under: campaigns, donations — michael @ 10:03 am

Could Sting’s evil Captain Planet character be coming to life?

On the Eve of the Rainforest Foundation’s Annual Benefit (something for which the Empire State Building will be lit green for), new information regarding the “giving” side of Sting’s organization has us less than stoked.

According to the New York Post, the Rainforest Foundation has been rated one of the worst charities in New York City. The slap comes from Charity Navigator, a watchdog that rates 5,000 charities nationally based on management and fund-raising-to-giving ratios. Sting’s org has been given a “0″ the last four years because they’ve doled out less than half — 41% — of their donations to tree initiatives. From the article,

“The 2006 concert - which drew Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow and Will Ferrell to the landmark stage - raised $2,156,989, according to the latest available IRS tax filing. Yet only $887,374 of the money raised, 41 percent, was divided among the charity’s eight programs that support native-land claims and forest preservation in Latin America and Africa - a paltry percentage, according to agencies that monitor nonprofits.

A well-run charity, they said, typically spends 75 percent of revenues on programs. ‘This one would fall to the bottom of the bucket,’ said Sandra Miniutti, a spokeswoman for Charity Navigator.”

For reasons not explained, the charity is also hoarding their money — with $10 million in assets (including $5 million in cash) reported to the IRS.

As stated on the foundation’s website, over 93,000 acres of rainforest are lost each day. Money is desperately needed to secure vast tracts of undisturbed, ancient trees and habitat. So, we just have one, small question for the organization:

“WHAT THE F**K ARE YOU WAITING FOR?”

via Newsbusters

[UPDATE] Trudi Styler has responded to the criticism saying, “The Rainforest Foundation is celebrating its 20th year. We wouldn’t still be in business or have given out millions of dollars over the years if we’d spent everything we made immediately after it came in.” However, Bennett Weiner, the director of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, still thinks the hoarding is excessive. “What are they doing with the money?,” he said. “They have more than five times what they would normally spend in a year in reserves.”

May 5th 2008

Reese Witherspoon Rocks The Avon Walk For Breast Cancer

Filed under: campaigns, donations, events, events: DC — parrish @ 11:42 am

Last October Ecorazzi announced that Reese Witherspoon had been named the first ever global ambassador and honorary chair of the Avon Foundation – a group dedicated to improving the lives of women through focusing on vital issues like breast cancer, domestic violence and emergency relief.

Since her appointment, Reese has worked with Avon to stop domestic violence, and this past weekend she showed her charitable side again as a special guest at the sixth annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Washington, D.C.

Reese spent the weekend in D.C cheering on the walkers and spoke at the closing ceremony.  She said, “I am very excited to be partnering with the Avon Foundation and to help them continue to affect real change, I feel a great responsibility in my own life to give back to society. As the Honorary Chairman of the Avon Foundation, one of my first experiences last year was to meet Avon Walk walkers at a training walk in Los Angeles. Now I am proud to support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer here in Washington, D.C. and hope my presence can in some measure express my deep appreciation for all the women and men who participate in the Avon Walks, and for all of the people who dedicate their lives to breast cancer research and care.”

The walk had 3,500 participants and raised $8.1 million for local, regional and national breast cancer organizations. GOOD JOB YA’LL!! So a big thanks to Reese Witherspoon, the Avon Foundation and all the walkers for their hard work and generous donations.

To learn more, visit AvonCompany.com!

via: dailystab.com

May 1st 2008

Widespread Panic Agrees To Sponsor One Of Pitt’s Green Homes

Filed under: buildings and construction, cars-houses, donations — michael @ 3:05 pm

The members of the band Widespread Panic have come together to donate $150,000 and sponsor a home for Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation. The rock group is the closing for tonight’s conclusion of the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. From the article,

“‘This is a place where I believe hope is not lost,’ said Bell, who visited the Lower 9th Ward back in November with his family before revisiting it Wednesday. ‘It’s a real place in New Orleans with real people, people who have lost some or all of their family and their homes but are sticking it out.’ Widespread Panic began helping Make It Right back in January by offering downloads of its new single, ‘Walk on the Flood,” in exchange for a donation to the rebuilding effort. The band raised about $4,000, which was given to Make It Right along with the $150,000.”

So far, 81 of the 150 homes the foundation is aiming for have been sponsored. Celebrities like George Clooney, Will Ferrell, Ellen Degeneres, and many, many others have all given generously. Of course, you don’t have to have deep pockets to make a difference. Jump on over to the official website and see how even a little can help out many.

April 30th 2008

Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids, Holds Easter Bonnet Competition

Filed under: campaigns, donations, events, events: nyc, honors — parrish @ 10:36 am

Here in New York we have this little thing called Broadway. You might have heard of it - big shows, big voices, big budgets, and well — luckily — also big hearts.

The Broadway community came out this week for the annual Easter Bonnet Competition to raise money for Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids. Basically how the event works is that companies from various Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring productions offer skits, songs and/or dances as well as a bonnet created specially for the competition with all the proceeds going to BCEFA. I wasn’t able to make it out this year, but some friends of mine attended and said it was super great!

As always, the event was star-packed with famous faces like Megan Mullaly, Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf, David Hyde Pearce and the dude with the biggest (and arguably craziest) fans I’ve ever seen, Clay Aiken.

Oh and the best part: this year those illustrious Broadway Belters earned a whopping 3.7 million dollars all for charity! Oh me oh my!

If you missed the event but still want to give a little pocket change, visit the Broadway Cares website and anti-up!

photo credit:Aubrey Reuben

April 29th 2008

The Green Quote: Bradley Whitford’s Charity Inspiration

Filed under: campaigns, donations, fashion, green and famous, interviews — parrish @ 10:56 pm

“It was in the wake of 9/11 and there was this ridiculous discussion about whether [the industry] should have awards shows, and there was an idea floating around that we should go ahead and have them. You know, you realize when you’re in the public eye that you can raise money, and Jane and I were in this bewildered state where you’re walking down a red carpet and people are asking you what you’re wearing. We thought that was an opportunity [to use] the celebrity culture we seem to be in. The intention is to advocate for children using some of the ridiculousness that is show business.”

     - Bradly Whitford on Broadway.com discussing the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation — a charity he and his wife (actress Jane Kaczmarek) started that auctions off celebrities’ clothing for children’s causes. 

April 17th 2008

Celebrate Earth Day With Some Of Your Favorite Stars

Filed under: campaigns, contests, donations, green and famous, thegreenpicture — parrish @ 3:00 pm

Wanna celebrate Earth Day eco-style but live in a city that lacks festivities? No worries Ecorazzi readers! Just turn on that computer and start a’ bidding.

To commemorate Earth Day 2008, stars like Daryl Hannah, Glenn Close and Alicia Silverstone will be auctioning off celebrity experiences, eco-getaways and much more for the “Earth Day 2008″ online auction to support Waterkeeper Alliance.

Just skip on over to CharityBuzz.com and bid on prizes like: a day of filming on Daryl Hannah’s environmental blog, a day on the set of Damages with Glenn Close and a fly-fishing trip to Ted Turner’s ranch in Argentina. All the proceeds go to Waterkeepers, which is an organization that works on 170 waterways to protecting our water sources and make sure they stay so fresh and so clean, clean.

The bidding started April 15th and closes April 29th, so don’t waste another second! Visit CharityBuzz.com and make this Earth Day super special. Good luck!