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Charity Beat: Scary Spice Auctioning Spice Girl Swag

Michael d'Estries — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:50:07 +0000

If you’ve ever wanted a piece of Spice Girls history, then Melanie Brown (aka, Scary Spice) has got what you’re looking for. The singer announced on Perez Hilton that she’s putting some of the items from her career as a Spice Girl — and her stint on Dancing with the Stars — to benefit charity. “100 percent of what you bid on these clothes is going to two charities,” Mel said in a video clip. “One is LA Children’s Hospital and the other one is Meals on Wheels so you get to help the young and the elderly.” [More info...]

Celebrities helped raise more than $80K for Mekhi Phifer’s youth charity, The Vine Group, by participating in the 7th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational last weekend. Stars throwing down dollars included Jon Hamm, Brad Garrett, Don Cheadle, Shanna Moaklar, Nicky Hilton, Rikki Lake, Shannon Elizabeth, and Benji Madden.

One of the shirt/suit/tie ensembles worn by Sean Penn in his Academy Award-winning portrayal of real-life hero Harvey Milk has been auctioned off for $12,500. The money is to benefit benefit both Variety – The Children’s Charity of Southern California and the Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, in New York City. The gentleman that won the auction, activist Tom Gregory, had also previously successfully won two of the shirts famously shown in Brokeback Mountain. I detect a theme here…[Read more...]

Finally, Tony Bennett is auctioning off a one-hour painting lesson for two at his private studio in NYC. How cool would that be? Current bids are just north of $10K with less than 24 hours to go. Estimated value is $25K — for that cash, let’s hope he sings a few too! [Read more...]

Photo credit: PR Photos

Paris Hilton Is Headed To Africa, But Not For Charity

Michael d'Estries — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:50:19 +0000

Remember, oh about six months ago, when Paris Hilton was still into the whole “I just got out of jail and must now focus on God, and children, and all that.”? There was even a charity mission to Rwanda planned with the organization Playing for Good that Paris was nervous about undertaking. As she said, however, she wanted to “show people what everyday life is like for me, how hard I work. There are a lot of misconceptions about me.” Uh huh. Strangely, that trip was canceled.

BUT WAIT! Turns out Paris is in fact going to Africa — but for all the reasons that we were apparently misconceiving her of in the first place. Hilton will be there accompanying puppy-dog boyfriend Benji Madden on tour with the band Good Charlotte. Said Benji, “I’d do anything she wanted. I’m a really easy guy to read. Everyone can tell I’m really happy. She’s the most supportive [girlfriend], even as a friend, so supportive of everything I’m doing. And I try to be the same way for her.”

Yea, we’re pretty sure this African safari is going to end with Hilton jumping ship early. Perhaps she’ll pose with a starving orphan or something on her way out.

via People

Charity Beat: Paris Hilton’s Man Skips Out On Benefit Gig To P-A-R-T-Y

Michael d'Estries — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:01:04 +0000

Paris Hilton’s latest boyfriend, Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden, is so “crazy in love” with the socialite that he decided to skip out on a charity DJ appearance. The gig was to raise money for Nicole Richie’s charity for disadvantaged kids (Madden’s twin is Richie’s partner, Joel) but he decided to go clubbing with Paris instead. Nice. Do these two belong with each other or what? [via Female First]

Not On Our Watch, a charity co-founded by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Jerry Weintraub recently donated $500,000 to the United Nations World Food Program. The cash will be earmarked for the U.N.’s food aid agency to prevent hunger in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan. Said Clooney is a statement, “Without immediate additional funding, humanitarian aid in the region will be crippled”. [visit: Not On Our Watch]

Patrick Dempsey wasn’t the only famous celeb opening a new medial center this week. Down in Australia, Jackie Chan opened a science education center at an Australian cancer research clinic; dedicated in the actor’s name. Chan’s father, Charlie, lived in Aussie for more than 40 years. Organizers did not reveal how much Jackie donated to the new center, but did indicate that the sum was “substantial”. [via StarPulse]