In celebration of Giving Tuesday, Habitat For Humanity will launch Habitat Humanitarians to recognize the invaluable contributions of its high-profile volunteers.
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This generous group serves as mission champions, advocates and spokespeople to raise awareness of the need for decent, affordable shelter in the U.S. and around the world. The inaugural Habitat Humanitarians are former President Jimmy Carter, former first lady Rosalynn Carter and country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.
Habitat Humanitarians is launching on Giving Tuesday as a reminder of the important contributions an individual can make in improving our world. On #GivingTuesday and through the holiday season, join the Habitat Humanitarians by pledging support of Habitat’s work in helping families in need of affordable homes.
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“Habitat Humanitarians honors influencers and ambassadors who exemplify extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “President and Mrs. Carter, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have been dedicated volunteers and passionate voices on behalf of Habitat about the issue of affordable housing, and we are excited to celebrate their longtime support and service in this unique way.”
Country music stars and longtime Habitat volunteers Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have volunteered with Habitat for more than a decade. They first volunteered together with Habitat in New Orleans to help build the 1,000th and 1,001st post-Hurricane Katrina Habitat for Humanity home on the Gulf Coast. Brooks and Yearwood have lent their names and support to numerous Habitat events and projects, including the Carter Work Project and National Women Build Week.
“Garth and I are honored to be named Habitat Humanitarians, alongside President and Mrs. Carter,” said Yearwood. “We have had the privilege of building Habitat houses with the Carters and Habitat homeowners and countless volunteers over the past 10 years. This important work offers a hand up to those in need of a decent place to call home and transforms the lives of all who touch it. We are proud to be able to do our part.”
“Rosalynn and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor than our dear friends Trisha and Garth,” said Carter. “We are pleased to congratulate them and look forward to working with them next July during the Carter Work Project in Canada.”
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Since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter have been champions and strong voices for affordable, decent housing for all, donating their time and leadership each year to build and improve homes through Habitat for Humanity’s Carter Work Project. Over the course of more than 30 years, they have worked alongside nearly 100,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair more than 4,000 homes, and inspired millions more through their dedication to the mission.
This holiday season, the public is asked to pledge their support of Habitat’s mission. Every contribution can help Habitat homeowners build the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Pet Shop Boys with special guest Johnny Marr, performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Sunday 2 April
This year’s shows are generously supported by headline sponsors Aldi and associate sponsors American Airlines. Further incredible support is provided by media partners Absolute Radio, Metro, and NME.
Nov 29, 2016 10:15 am Sightsavers is launching Specs Appeal 2016, a celebrity eBay auction stocked with more than 100 pairs of glasses and sunglasses donated by famous faces.
The glasses are available on eBay from Friday 25 November – Monday 5 December.
All funds raised will help Sightsavers carry out eye tests in some of the world’s poorest places, and distribute specs to those who need them.
Sightsavers ambassador and actress, Sunetra Sarker, has given a pair of glasses and has also seen the work of Sightsavers in India. She says: “I’m supporting Sightsavers because, if it can help just one person to see again, then it’s worth it.”
Sir Tony Robinson, who has donated a pair of reading glasses, says: “I want to give someone a chance to see more clearly and look as cool in my glasses as I did”.
Stephen Fry’s iconic tortoiseshell glasses came with a note saying “We all need to see more clearly”.
He’s right. Worldwide there are an estimated 124 million people who need glasses. In developing countries where the problem is most acute, it can be a challenge for people to get their eyes tested or buy a pair of glasses. Often this is due to there being too few ophthalmologists, not enough equipment or the fact that people simply can’t afford prescription lenses. Not having glasses effectively renders people blind or visually impaired. This impacts their livelihoods, families, schooling and quality of life.
Nov 29, 2016 09:00 am
The Blue Card, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding Holocaust survivors, held its annual benefit dinner on November 21, 2016, at Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.
Jason Biggs Hosts The Blue Card’s annual gala
Credit/Copyright: Patrick McMullan/The Blue Card
Hosted by Broadway stage and film actor Jason Biggs, the theme of this year’s benefit was “Broadway Salutes The Blue Card.” It featured a cocktail reception, seated dinner and performances by Broadway, television and film stars Linda Lavin, Tom Nelis and the cast of the upcoming Broadway play “Indecent” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel.
The evening included the presentation of awards to individuals dedicated to supporting the needs of Holocaust survivors and advancing human rights worldwide. This year, The Richard C. Holbrooke Award for Social Justice was presented to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer by author and journalist Kati Marton.
The Irene Hizme Tikkun Olam Award was presented to Brooke Goldstein, human rights lawyer and founder of the Lawfare Project, and the Max L. Heine Humanitarian Award was presented to Leo Rechter, founder and president of the National Association of Jewish Child Holocaust Survivors (NAHOS). Additional honorees included New York City Council, accepted by City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and stage, film and television actor Mimi Lieber, The Blue Card President Emeritus.
“The Blue Card is proud to recognize Senator Schumer, Brooke Goldstein, the New York City Council, Mimi Lieber and Leo Rechter, for their dedication to raising awareness of the current plight of Holocaust survivors in the United States who are so critically in need of financial assistance,” said Masha Pearl, Executive Director of The Blue Card. “For those individuals that survived the atrocities of the Holocaust, many are struggling to make ends meet in the face of a growing number of medical issues, the rising cost of living and challenges navigating the health systems. The mission of The Blue Card, to help survivors live their remaining years in dignity, is incredibly time-sensitive as at least 50 percent of Holocaust survivors alive today will pass away within the next 10 to 20 years. We greatly appreciate the work of this year’s honorees, and are looking to the larger community to help spread awareness about those still in need.”
Last year, The Blue Card’s 2015 Annual Benefit honored Nobel Peace Prize laureate, human rights activist and Holocaust survivor the late Elie Wiesel, and was presented by Academy Award winner Michael Douglas and author and journalist Kati Marton.
On the eve of his Detroit concert, rock icon Morrissey has challenged General Motors (GM) to make the Chevrolet Volt and Bolt truly eco-friendly by offering vegan leather interiors.
His appeal comes less than a week after a PETA video exposé of gruesome cruelty to animals on ranches that supply leather for GM.
“As I head to Detroit to play the Royal Oak Music Theatre, I’m writing to ask GM to make Chevy’s Volt and Bolt more eco-friendly by giving buyers the option to choose vegan leather interiors – including steering wheels and gear shifts,” writes Morrissey to GM CEO Mary T. Barra. “GM is named in PETA’s brand-new investigation of cattle ranches, on which animals are branded on the face, electro-shocked, and beaten before they’re slaughtered and used to make leather interiors for car companies, including yours.
“More and more people are opting for vegan leather for the sake of both cows and the environment. A staggering 51 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture. Animal skins also have to be treated with a toxic soup of chemicals in order to keep them from decomposing, and runoff from leather tanneries poisons vital waterways.
“Given that the Volt and Bolt are being marketed to eco-conscious buyers, entirely vegan options would only broaden their appeal.”
The singer, who has been a PETA member since his years with The Smiths, performs Wednesday at the Royal Oak Music Theatre.
Roger DaltreyCBE, founding member of The Who, solo artist and tireless Teenage Cancer Trust patron, was honoured earlier this month with the Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) as the event celebrated 25 years of raising money and supporting Nordoff Robbins and The Brit Trust.
Hosted by Jo Whiley, the evening featured a series of live performances from Keane frontman Tom Chaplin, The Shires and The Wilko Johnson Band who were joined by Roger Daltrey. The night also featured a tribute video celebrating the efforts of Roger Daltrey with personal messages from Robert Plant, Paul Weller, Roger Taylor, Sir Peter Blake, founder member of Teenage Cancer Trust Dr. Adrian Whiteson and of course Bill Curbishley & Robert Rosenberg.
This year the MITS celebrated its 25th anniversary, and since 1992 has honoured some of the greatest musicians, performers and music industry luminaries and has simultaneously raised over £5.5million to help sustain Nordoff Robbins and The BRITTrust. Over 1000 guests attended this charity event which on this very special 25th Anniversary also included previous recipients Sir Tom JonesOBE, Harvey Goldsmith CBE, Rob Dickins CBE, Brian McLaughlin and MITS first honouree, John Deacon CBE.
David Munns OBE, Chairman of Nordoff Robbins and the MITS Award committee, said: “We are thrilled that as we celebrate 25 years of The Music Industry Trusts Award, we are honouring multigenerational cultural icon Roger Daltrey. The award recognises not only his unique music both as a solo performer and as part of The Who – but also his tireless philanthropic activities which mirror the goals of the MITS.
“Since 1992, when the first MITS Award was presented, over £5.5 million has been raised for the charities we work to sustain: Nordoff Robbins and The BRIT Trust, which helps fund The BRIT School. Since 2015 alone, more than 4,500 people accessed the services of Nordoff Robbins, many of them for long-term, in-depth and tailored support. The funds received through the MITS also underwrites its Masters in Music Therapy programmes, dedicated to training musicians who want to use their talent and ability to help others and become music therapists of the future.”
The Music Industry Trusts Award is sponsored by Spotify, PPL, Ingenious Media and SJM. The Award is unique because it recognises the contribution that an individual has made to the industry across a range of activities: record producer, film music composer, broadcaster, artist, music executive, songwriter and concert impresario. The Award evening has become renowned for its magic moments, with unique live performances that have a special resonance for the recipient.
Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher created the Demi and Ashton Foundation (DNA), which aims to raise awareness about and eliminate child sex slavery worldwide by changing cultural stereotypes. The Foundation also focuses on rehabilitation.
Nov 29, 2016 05:00 am
Committed to the eradication of pirate whaling, poaching, shark finning, unlawful habitat destruction, and violations of established laws in the World’s oceans
