As the economy struggles and budgets tighten, more and more necessary programs are being cut from local public school systems. In the Mount Vernon district a recent budget cut has benched 3 seasons of sports. Sounds to me like we need a superhero (and by superhero I mean super rich celebrity who can lend some cash). Oh look…it’s DENZEL!!!!

Yes indeedy, Denzel Washington, a Mount Vernon native, has stepped up to the plate and donated $100,000 to help save the Mount Vernon school district’s sports programs. His donation has helped Save Our Sports, the city’s fundraising effort, raise $329,000 towards the fall sports season.

While $329,000 is a lot of matzah, the city needs an additional $630,000 to save the winter and spring seasons. Denzel said: “I don’t know how we got here. Why wasn’t this looked at a year ago? You don’t plan to fail, you fail to plan.”

If you’d like to join Denzel and keep our kids fit, you can call (914) 665-6786, or send a tax-deductible contribution to the Mount Vernon Educational Foundation Inc., Attn: Ronnie Cox, President, P.O. Box 476, Fleetwood Station, Mount Vernon, NY 10552. The district asks that donors write “Sports” in the memo section of each check.

via: looktothestars.org

When Denzel Washington’s hometown decided to drop all after-school programs due to budget cuts, the actor stepped in and donated $100,000 to keep things humming. “If there were no athletic programs in Mount Vernon, I would not be the Denzel Washington that you know today,” the Oscar-winning actor said. We say, “Classy.” [Read more...]

Chevy Chase frightened the hell out of one blogger this morning when he appeared to resemble Dick Cheney sitting in the crowd during the Democratic National Convention. “At first glance, it appeared to be evidence of hell freezing over,” she exclaimed. “Still, the resemblance is scary enough to warrant our recommendation that Oliver Stone immediately recast Chase as Cheney in his upcoming George W. Bush biopic, “W.” [To check out the pic, jump here.]

The United Nations is sending massive thanks to Brad Pitt and George Clooney’s Not On Our Watch organization — after the group donated $500,000 to rescue a UN Food Program that was at risk of shutting down completely. U.N. spokeswoman Bettina Luescher says, “We sent out a press release one day saying we were on the verge of closing it down and the next day we had $500,000. They shine the light on the real emergencies and step up where we really need help.” Nice work, boys. [Read more...]

About 630 guests showed up, including famous faces like Bill Clinton, Denzel Washington, Elizabeth Hurley, Simon Cowell and Will Smith, who all had to pay the 3,000 Euro ($4,700) donation simply to enter. DAMN!

The night included dinner, concert and an auction that boasted such prizes as a trip to Africa with Elton John and lunch for six with Bill Clinton. By the end of the night the auction alone had raised $20 million for the charity. 

Don’t have a tiara, white tie OR $4,700? You still can help out! Vist Elton John’s AIDS Foundation to learn more about the organization and to find out how you can get involved!

via: nydailynews.com