Nov 08, 2016 12:30 pm
Last week, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) presented its 10th Annual Comedy Celebration benefiting the Peter Boyle Research Fund and supporting the Black Swan Research Initiative (BSRI) at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.
Ray Romano Performs At International Myeloma Foundation 10th Annual Comedy Celebration
Credit/Copyright: Matt Winkelmeyer
Hosted by Ray Romano, the comedy show featured hilarious sets by Bill Burr, Jeff Garlin, Dom Irrera, Larry Miller, Kevin Nealon, JB Smoove, and Fred Willard. The evening concluded with a special musical performance by Michael McKean and Annette O’Toole. The Oscar-nominated songwriting couple performed original songs they wrote including “Milwaukee Moon,” “Killington Hill” and “Closer Than Tomorrow.”
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Mark Hamill Attends International Myeloma Foundation 10th Annual Comedy Celebration
Credit/Copyright: Matt Winkelmeyer
Attendees included Peter Gallagher (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, New Girl) with daughter Kathryn Gallagher, Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Howard Hesseman (Wild Oats) with wife Caroline Ducrocq, Domenick Lombardozzi (Rosewood, Boardwalk Empire), Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey), Alex Meneses (Everybody Loves Raymond), and more.
In celebration of the event’s 10th anniversary, the evening honored Peter Boyle’s widow, Tony Award-winning producer and Event Chair Loraine Alterman Boyle, for her inspirational dedication and passion toward finding a cure. Following Peter Boyle’s passing in late 2006 from myeloma, Loraine founded the event to help raise money for research to find a cure. Since the first event in 2007, the annual celebration has featured over 50 celebrity comedians and musical performers, and raised over $5 million for the Peter Boyle Research Fund, which has supported the International Myeloma Foundation’s research. This year the IMF has achieved the unprecedented ability to launch two targeted Cure Trials.
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Prior to the show, attendees enjoyed a silent auction featuring iconic memorabilia and other one-of-a-kind items and experiences to benefit this important cause. Among the featured items was a pair of highly-coveted runway tickets to Rodarte’s Fall-Winter 2017 Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week on Tuesday, February 14, 2017. The tickets are also available for bidding nationwide on Charity Buzz, with proceeds going to the International Myeloma Foundation.
Nov 08, 2016 11:30 am
The National Limousine Association’s Ride Responsibly initiative (www.rideresponsibly.org) and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (www.nsvrc.org) have joined forces to produce a public service campaign, starring actress and activist Pamela Anderson.
The PSA educates the industry and public at large about the dangers associated with ride-hailing apps.
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The video, titled “The Driving Game!”, is an extension of the Ride Responsibly initiative to improve safety for passengers using ride-hailing apps. In the PSA, Ms. Anderson takes a lighthearted approach at communicating the critically important point that “you can’t always vet the driver you are using, but the service you are using should.”
“With an alarming number of alleged sexual assaults involving ride-hail app drivers, our partnership with the NSVRC is a vital step towards bringing these urgent matters to the forefront of conversation here in the United States,” said Gary Buffo, President of the NLA. “Due to the perilously incomprehensive background checks used by ride-hailing apps, we must establish a new nationwide standard, inclusive of fingerprinting for all ground transportation providers.”
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The NSRVC, known for preventing and responding to sexual violence through collaboration, sharing and creating resources and promoting research, advocates for stricter regulations to protect riders.
“Prevention of sexual violence is everyone’s responsibility,” NSVRCCEO Delilah Rumburg said. “Organizations, like the National Limousine Association, have the ability to create and strengthen policies to promote safety and respect for all. We’re proud to partner with the National Limousine Association— as they work to ensure the safety of all those who use hired transportation.
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“Every day, millions of Americans use ride-hailing apps that do not always hold their drivers accountable for their behavior behind the wheel, leaving passengers vulnerable,” said Pamela Anderson. “Much more concerning are incidents of sexual assault. It is time we implement some common sense measures, including comprehensive background checks and drug testing, for everyone’s safety.”
The NLA continuously seeks new ways to protect passengers of any ground transportation vehicle, including prearranged services and ride-hailing apps. This new PSA reinforces the message of the NLA’s 2015 Ride Responsibly campaign, encouraging passengers to “Think Before You App!”
Last week, Hollywood’s A-list came to support the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Gala which supports educational, social, cultural, and economic services for Israel’s soldiers and the families of fallen soldiers.
A record $38 Million was raised.
The sold out 1200 person fete was held at the Beverly Hilton and icons, business moguls and Hollywood’s elite the likes of Robert De Niro, Gerard Butler, Julie Bowen, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larry King, Joanna Krupa, Rosanna Arquette, Jordan Smith (The Voice), Moran Atias (Tyrant, Gala MC), Haim & Cheryl Saban (Gala Co-Chairs), Robert Kraft (New England Patriots Owner) and Maurice and Paul Marciano (GUESS Founders)
This marks the 10th year that Haim and Cheryl Saban have chaired a very successful FIDF Gala. Over the past three years this event has turned into one of Hollywood’s hottest fundraising events filled with celebrities, a wait-list for guests and Hollywood proudly showing their support for Israel!
Additionally the evening was filled with numerous impromptu musical performances by David Foster and Friends – TV-stars Laura Bretan, season nine Voice winner Jordan Smith, and Jason McGee and The Choir.
Farm Sanctuary, with co-chairs, Tracey Stewart and Emily Deschanel, will host their annual Gala at the renowned Beverly Wilshire Hotel on November 12th to celebrate 30 years of rescue, education and advocacy for farm animals, the largest population of abused animals on Earth.
Comedian Kevin Nealon will MC the evening, with Jon Stewartand Moby presenting awards to various honorees, including Kat Von D and Leona Lewis who will receive the “Compassion in Action Award” and “The Friends Not Food Award,” respectively. Crossroads Restaurant will be presented with the “Inspiration Award,” among other surprises and pop icon and recent vegan, Richard Marx, is set to perform.
Guests will enjoy a 100% plant-based dinner with favorites made using Gardein products, live entertainment, an exciting Fund-A-Farm Auction and Live Auction, and a farmer’s market style gift station to encourage guests to cut down on waste and take home the products they will use most. An exclusive after party will close the evening.
Farm Sanctuary, with a 26 acre Los Angeles area shelter and sanctuaries in Orland, CA and Watkins Glen, NY, works to educate people nationwide about farm animal abuse and the adverse effects of factory farming on our health and environment. Jon and Tracey Stewart will also be opening a location at their New Jersey farm in Fall 2017.
Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur, who was recently selected by Oprah Winfrey to be a part of her SuperSoul 100 and who TIME magazine calls “the conscience of the food movement,” is a native Angelino, growing up in the Hollywood Hills. As a nod to his days traveling across the country selling veggie dogs at Grateful Dead concerts, Baur’s original VW Westphalia van will be serving vegan hot dogs at the 30th Gala.
“We’re excited to gather fellow advocates and supporters under one roof to celebrate Farm Sanctuary’s accomplishments over the past 30 years. We’re using this special occasion to applaud how far we’ve come, but also to continue our mission of revealing the truth behind factory farming practices, saving animals from abusive conditions, and changing how society views and treats farm animals. With tireless advocates and co-chairs, Tracey Stewart and Emily Deschanel, we are looking forward to raising awareness and further advancing our cause in Los Angeles, country-wide and beyond,” said President and Co-Founder Gene Baur.
Celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli is calling upon New York City’s restaurants and diners to join her in honoring our nation’s heroes this Veterans Day through the 3rd Annual Dine Out for Heroes, a benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
The Food Network personality and executive chef of Butter Restaurant was drawn to the fundraiser for injured veterans because of its simplicity.
“Dine Out for Heroes is just such an easy way for restaurants to honor those who’ve served while affording diners the opportunity to take a break from their busy schedules, enjoy a great meal, and reflect on the meaning of the holiday,” said Guarnaschelli.
Restaurants wishing to take part simply pledge to donate $1 per customer served on Veterans Day. In addition to Butter, some of this year’s participating restaurants include Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C., Beauty & Essex, The Lambs Club, BLT Steak & BLT Prime, Jane Restaurant, Nobu, and Tribeca Grill.
Participating restaurants will be highlighted on the Bob Woodruff Foundation’s website, as well as by sponsor OpenTable, making it simple for diners to make reservations. Collateral materials like window clings will be provided to restaurants, a great way to entice customers—including the estimated half-million people who will visit Manhattan to watch the city’s annual Veterans Day Parade.
‘Dine Out for Heroes’ is spearheaded by restaurateurs Peter and Penny Glazier, founders of Glazier Works, with Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox, founders of the New York Comedy Festival, and Bob Woodruff and Lee Woodruff, co-founders of the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of support received from patrons over the past two years,” said Penny Glazier and Caroline Hirsch. “With Alex Guarnaschelli now on board, we look forward to welcoming many new restaurants and community members.”
‘Dine Out for Heroes’ (#Dine4Heroes) will follow on the heels of the 10th annual Stand Up for Heroes, a collaboration between the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival that has raised more than $33 million to date to support injured service members and their families.
Together, these efforts will continue to honor the sacrifice of returning service members, veterans and their families by offering support in the effort to heal the physical and psychological wounds of war. To date, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has reached more than 2.5 million impacted veterans, service members and their families.
Nov 08, 2016 06:30 am
The International Rescue Committee hosted their annual 2016 Rescue Dinner (formally Freedom Award Dinner) last week at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC.
David Miliband and Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan
Credit/Copyright: Getty Images
The event honored Spyros Galinos, Mayor of Lesvos, Greece and John J. Mack and his family. Other guests in attendance included IRC President and CEO David Miliband, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan and IRC celebrity supporters Lauren Adams, Deborah Ayorinde, Demi Grace Ayorinde, Zuri Marley, and others.
The International Rescue Committee’s Freedom Award Dinner supports the organization’s lifesaving humanitarian aid work around the world. The Freedom Award has been presented to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in support of refugees, and who have championed the cause of liberty, individual freedom and dignity.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge spent some time volunteering in Chile before starting university, helping with environmental programmes and a community project for disadvantaged children. Her future husband, Prince William, had travelled to Chile to help with the same projects a year earlier.
The newly married couple have established the Royal Wedding Charity Fund to further support causes around the world.
Charities & foundations supported
Kate Middleton has supported the following charities:
Nov 08, 2016 05:00 am
The LAPD Memorial Foundation provides grants for widows and orphans of officers killed in the line of duty, and for many other catastrophic occurences within the LAPDfamily.
