April 29th 2008
Rocker Bono was in Monaco last weekend checking out the new electric Tesla Roadster as part of the company’s efforts to introduce its new eco-friendly cars to the European market. For a first person view of the Tesla driving around Monaco, jump here.
March 22nd 2008
Good news American Idol fans! Ellen DeGeneres will once again join Ryan Seacrest as the co-host of IDOL GIVES BACK on Wednesday, April 9th (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT). IDOL GIVES BACK is a music celebration that helps raise funds for various U.S. and international charities, and last year scored an incredible $76 million.
So far, Maroon 5, Heart, Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, The Clark Brothers, Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood Annie Lennox, John Legend and Snoop Dogg are all scheduled to attend.
Ellen said, “Everyone knows it’s better to give than to receive. That’s why I want to give you some advice. You get the advice and I get the joy of giving – it’s a win-win. Here it is: Give yourself a treat and watch IDOL GIVES BACK. Again, you get the joy of giving and an amazing line-up of artists get to give us an incredible show. Last year, we were able to giveaway over $76 million. You give, you get. Get it!”
This year the money raised will help benefit: the Children’s Defense Fund, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Make It Right. Malaria No More, Save The Children, and the Children’s Health Fund.So watch IDOL GIVES BACK on April 9th at 7:30 PM ET/PT and donate those dollars, people!
March 10th 2008
The NY Times is running a wonderful in-depth article on celebrity activism — with everything from Natalie Portman’s involvement with Finca to George Clooney’s latest role as an “UN Ambassador of Peace” under the microscope. If you’re looking for some interesting history on philanthropy in Hollywood, I can’t think of a better way to catch up. Particularly intriguing are the back stories of how some of today’s largest charity efforts came to be. Some started under the simplest of circumstances. Take for instance a dinner party at Brad Pitt’s home in 2004. From the article,
“In 2004, Brad Pitt invited Bono to his home to address a group that included Tom Hanks, Sean Penn, Julia Roberts, Justin Timberlake and the architect Frank Gehry. Bono offered a potent magic: you could write a kind of song, or make a kind of movie, that would save children in Africa. And there was Africa itself — the real thing, the continent of suffering and want, as against the glittering bubble of wealth and fame in which celebrities live. In 2005, Bono enlisted Hollywood’s leading figures in an advertising campaign to promote increases in development assistance for Africa.”
Those are some pretty powerful dinner parties. And then there’s the moment when George Clooney was asked to butter up first lady, Laura Bush, to help with aid in Africa. Clooney was overheard saying, “I just don’t feel it’s right for me to meet the first lady. I’ve been very critical of her husband in public; I think there’s something unmanly about meeting with his wife first.”
Check out the rest of the article here.
March 4th 2008
With last year’s first ever Idol Gives Back generating $76 million for charity, organizers are ramping up this year’s efforts to include even more celebrity power. The night’s line-up includes Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend and Snoop Dogg. [Ed note: Because nothing says family entertainment like Snoop Dogg.]
While no charities or organizations have been named yet as beneficiaries of the event, there no doubt will be a wide range of groups set to take part. From the article,
“While last year’s two-hour show was spread over the course of two nights, this time around, “Idol Gives Back” has been condensed to a one-night, but still two-hour, show. It airs Apr. 9.”
I haven’t watched Idol for a few seasons, but I love the idea of leveraging the massive audience numbers to help make a difference for charities. For more info, check out the official site here.
February 15th 2008
Some people love him, others can’t stand him. But whatever your take on the guy, you have to admit he’s a powerful force in raising money for charity.
Yesterday, an auction organized by Bono and artist Damien Hirst raised more than $42.5 million towards the fight against AIDS. Auctioneers Sotheby’s have hailed the total as one of the biggest single charity events in history. From the article,
Hirst donated seven of his works to the art sale in New York, including a cabinet filled with drugs to treat HIV, which fetched $7.15m (£3.6m). The auction broke records for 17 artists, including Banksy, whose Keep It Spotless work made $1.8m (£950,300). The price reached was more than six times its pre-sale estimate.
Said Bono of the event: “Tonight we got serious about love, and not just the love of art, but the love of our brothers and sisters suffering from Aids in the poorest places on the planet.”
The money raised will go towards the United Nations Foundation to support HIV/Aids relief programs in Africa, organized by the Global Fund to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. Among those that attended and/or purchased items were Christy Turlington and her husband Ed Burns, tennis legend John McEnroe, supermodel Helena Christensen, and actor/director Dennis Hopper. Since last year, Bono’s (RED) organization has raised more than $100 million dollars. Incredible.
January 25th 2008
Ah, the problems one faces when Al Gore comes over to hang out and play some Guitar Hero. For U2 frontman Bono, it induces paranoia to show how eco-friendly his home is.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gore and Bono were part of a panel discussing climate change and poverty. The singer/activist decided to inject some fun into the proceedings by saying how paranoid he gets when Al Gore visits his home.
“He’s been round my house and there was a little bit of, ‘Here’s the recycler, Al!’ I’ve got a posh car but, ‘It runs on ethanol, Al!’ “There’s a little bit of that (when Gore visits)”.
I’d be a bit more concerned if Ed Begley Jr. were visiting my house than Gore. He would probably chastise me for not running my toaster with a bike or cooking my food in a solar oven. Not that he’s necessarily that extreme, but he certainly lives the green life a bit more than Al.
[UPDATE] Apparently, Bono also thinks Gore is a green priest of sorts. In his words, “It’s like being with an Irish priest. You start to confess your sins. Father Al, I am not just a noise polluter, I am a noise-polluting, diesel-soaking, gulfstream-flying rock star. I’m going to kick the habit. I’m trying father Al, but oil has been very good for me - those convoys of articulated lorries, petrochemical products, hair gel.”
Check out the video below for an excerpt from Davos.
January 4th 2008
For some reason, today is a day of t-shirt announcements. From H&M’s AIDS relief campaign to a new design from rocker Bono for Hard Rock International’s Signature Series. This initiative was started in 1990 to benefit a artist’s charity of choice. From the article,
“Bono’s creation features a fish soaring through the moon and stars and is adorned with the words ‘Fish Can Fly’ and his signature. The shirts are available in blue on a white background for women and red on black for men.”
The shirts are being produced by EDUN — the socially conscious clothing company founded by Bono — and will be available online Monday and at Hard Rock locations around the globe. Proceeds from the shirts will go to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Conservation Cotton Initiative, which helps educate impoverished African farmers.
December 31st 2007
I’ve just decided that from here on out, the name Brad Pitt will also be used as a verb, meaning: to do an act of kindness and/or extreme selflessness resulting in general goodwill for all of mankind. Let’s try it out. “Oh yeah I saw this homeless guy on the street the other day and I totally did a Brad Pitt and gave him my sandwich.” Or, “One might say that Mother Teresa Brad Pitted herself a spot into heaven-typical!” Hmm…maybe?
I only bring this up because HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!! The rumor on the street is that Brad Pitt (the man, not the verb) will be shooting a Dell commercial set to premier at the 2008 Super Bowl and then just handing over the dough to Bono’s Red Campaign. The Red Campaign supports The Global Fund, which helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Dude, you’re talented, you’re rich, the ladies love you, and now you’re a humanitarian god. Save some for the rest of us! Oh well, it looks like I’m just gonna have to Brad Pitt my way into popularity.
December 6th 2007
When I think of two peas in a pod, the names Bono and Sotheby’s aren’t exactly the first two that pop in my head, but it looks like two peas they shall be. Sotheby’s, the famous New York auction house, has joined forces with the Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea, U2’s Bono and Damien Hirst in organizing a charity auction at the well known auction house on Valentines Day. The auction will feature more than 100 artworks, all inspired by the color red, and go to the United Nations Foundation to help various HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa.
Some of the artists featured will be Hirst, Jeff Koons, Jasper Johns, Matthew Barney, Georg Baselitz, Cecily Brown and Douglas Gordon. The auction is estimated to bring in plenty of art aficionados and close to 40 million dollars.
WOW!
December 6th 2007
Celebrities such as Will Ferrell, Natalie Portman, Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, Madonna, and Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal have given their signatures to 25 authentic Afghan kites that will go up for auction. The money raised will benefit the the Afghanistan Relief Organization; which directly supports the training of teachers and the building of libraries and education facilities in the newly developing country. [via DVDfeed]
Chef Jaime Oliver raised more than $456,000 at a dinner last night for his Fifteen Foundation. The organization helps train unemployed young people to become chefs and work in the restaurant business. Oliver will use the money to build a training kitchen above Fifteen to help the local community, and increase the number of apprentices each year to 45. [via Bloomberg]
U2 frontman Bono is joining artist Damien Hirst in organizing a charity art auction at Sotheby’s for Valentine’s Day ‘08. Expected to go under the hammer are pieces by Jeff Koons, Jasper Johns, Matthew Barney, Georg Baselitz, Cecily Brown and Douglas Gordon. All of the art presented will revolve around the RED theme and benefit HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa. Sotheby’s expects the auction to raise more than $40 million dollars. [via International Herald Tribune]
The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature, preserving life. The leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. Celebrity fans include Tom Hanks and photographer Annie Leibovitz. More cool charities.
Parrish started out as an actor in New York City, and now spends his time writing blogs, taking photographs and sauntering around the Big Apple in search of delicious vegan nosh. Meet the entire Ecorazzi Team.
