The Child Mind Institute (CMI) has announced its first-ever #MyYoungerSelf social media campaign, bringing together nearly three dozen actors, professional athletes, fashion designers, authors, politicians, advocates and other influencers who will share personal videos about growing up with a mental health or learning disorder and the advice they would give their younger selves about how to persevere.
By speaking out, they will eradicate stigma and show children still struggling that there is a brighter future ahead.
Every day in May, Mental Health Awareness Month, a new, homemade video and childhood photo of a celebrity, including Academy Award winner Emma Stone, Olympian Michael Phelps, actors Jesse Eisenberg, Lena Dunham and David Cross, director/producer Brian Grazer and fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, will be revealed on the Child Mind Institute’s social media channels and web site (www.SpeakUpForKids.org). Everyone can get involved by liking and sharing the celebrity videos, accessing resources and sharing their own #MyYoungerSelf stories.
Of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a mental health disorder — more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. In spite of the magnitude of the problem, lack of awareness and entrenched stigma keep the majority of these young people from getting help. Children and adolescents struggling with these disorders are at risk for academic failure, substance abuse and a clash with the juvenile justice system — all of which come at tremendous cost to them, their families and communities.
“We are grateful to have so many notable figures participating in #MyYoungerSelf and speaking up about such an important topic,” said Dr. Harold Koplewicz, Founding President of the Child Mind Institute. “I know that their inspiring stories will help millions of families open up about their own mental health and learning disorders and seek out the help their children deserve.”
Other campaign participants include: Nancy Brinker, Rachel Bloom, Tracy Clayton, Paul Dalio, Wayne Brady, Todd Fisher, David Flink, Stephen Fry, Davis Guggenheim, Dan Harris, Hannah Hart, Colton Haynes, Jenny Jaffe, Kay Redfield Jamison, Naomi Judd, Patrick J. Kennedy, Jay Leno, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Howie Mandell, Brandon Marshall, Daphne Merkin, Marti Noxon, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Keke Palmer, Ty Pennington, Jane Rosenthal, Trudie Styler, Elizabeth Vargas, Ali Wentworth and Henry Winkler.
In his video, David Cross – who has struggled with depression — offers this advice to his younger self: “Go get some help now. Don’t wait as long as you did. Don’t let it go on for years and years and years. The sooner you get help, the sooner you get over this idea that it means you’re weak or you’re less of a person or you’ve lost to it. You’ll have better days ahead.”
Tommy Hilfiger, whose dyslexia was diagnosed later in life, tells his younger self – and others struggling with the disorder — not to keep concerns a secret. “I was embarrassed to talk to my teachers and my family about it. But if something is bothering you, if you think you have a challenge, reach out to an adult and allow them to help you.”
Speak Up for Kids
The #MyYoungerSelf campaign is part of the Child Mind Institute’s annual signature public education effort, Speak Up for Kids, held each May to promote children’s mental health. In its seventh year, the Speak Up for Kids campaign celebrates people making change in children’s mental health and provides accurate information to the media, families, educators and leaders that empowers them to speak up for kids.
On May 9, the Child Mind Institute will host its annual Change Maker Awards at the Highline Ballroom, honoring the work of individuals and organizations working to improve children’s lives and helping to transform the field of children’s mental health. As part of the evening, the Child Mind Institute will host its first fundraising event on Facebook Live where people can donate directly on Facebook.
Corporate Partners
Bloomingdale’s, the Child Mind Institute’s founding corporate partner, will be a key supporter of the May campaigns. As part of the partnership, Bloomingdale’s will allow shoppers the opportunity to participate in the campaign by offering online gift cards with 10% of their value (available in amounts between $10 and $1,000) benefitting the Child Mind Institute. In addition, Bloomingdale’s will support the Child Mind Institute’s efforts to increase visibility through an email campaign linking viewers back to SpeakUpForKids.org, information on Bloomingdales.com and a highly visible full page ad in the New York Times promoting the campaign running on Mental Health Awareness day, May 4th.
Hunter has been a founding partner of the Speak Up for Kids campaign since its inception in 2010. As part of its support this year, Hunter will match all donations generated through email outreach during the month of May, doubling the impact of financial support for this public awareness campaign. Hunter will also support outreach efforts to increase visibility through email and social media channels.
May 02, 2017 12:00 pm
On Thursday, April 27, 2017, some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry joined Keep Memory Alive to honor remarkable philanthropist and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated, Ronald O. Perelman, at Keep Memory Alive’s 21st annual Power of Love gala inside MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Jennifer Hudson Performs At Keep Memory Alive’s 21st annual Power of Love gala
The star-studded event raised funds and awareness for Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and its fight against brain disease including Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases, multiple sclerosis and multiple system atrophy.
Highlights from the night included a surprise $1 million donation from Community Achievement Award recipient and tennis super star, Andre Agassi and wife Stefanie Graf. World-renowned rock star Jon Bon Jovi kicked off the night with a performance of legendary hits “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Livin’ On A Prayer.”
GRAMMY-Award winning artist Jennifer Hudson surprised the crowd and stepped in for Gwen Stefani who was unable to attend due to doctor’s orders. Hudson brought down the house with high-energy performances of “Hallelujah,” “Remember Me” and a Whitney Houston mash-up of “I’m Every Woman” and I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” Celebrity supporters who also attended the event included Steve Schirripa, Kenneth “Baby Face” Edmonds, Larry King and John Paul DeJoria.
In addition to honoring Perelman for his outstanding philanthropic efforts, Keep Memory Alive recognized Siegfried Fischbacher of the legendary duo, Siegfried & Roy, with its inaugural Caregiver Award.
Continuing its 20-year history, the Power of Love gala showcased a dinner prepared by superstar chefs Michael Mina and Wolfgang Puck, who has participated in every gala since its inception. In addition to enjoying the finest cuisine, wine and spirits, guests bid on one-of-a-kind experiences during the event’s signature live and silent auction. Items auctioned include a week-long vacation sailing off the coast of Australia aboard the ultra-luxurious MY Texas super yacht, a private meet and greet with GRAMMY Award-winning songstress Lady Gaga and a once-and-a-lifetime Italian vacation complete with an exclusive event at the world famous Roman Coliseum headlined by Andrea Bocelli.
May 02, 2017 10:30 am
Delete Blood Cancer DKMS co-founder Katharina Harf hosted the star-studded 11th Annual DKMS Gala last week at Cipriani Wall Street to raise money to help fund the registration of lifesaving bone marrow donors.
Swizz Beatz and Rita Ora Attend 11th Annual DKMS Gala
Credit/Copyright: Getty Images for DKMS
At the event, DKMS honored philanthropist Claudia D’Arpizio, Partner at Bain and Company, for her outstanding generosity and commitment to delete blood cancer.
The evening started with a moving performance by hip-hop ballerina Ebony Williams. DJ MICK provided the guests with music throughout the night. International superstar Rita Ora took the stage to present a special video during the program. Music superstar and 2015 The Voice contestant Jordan Smith closed evening with a moving performance that included “Chandelier,” “Over the Rainbow,” and “Somebody to Love.”
Additional supporters included DKMS ambassadors Coco Rocha & James Conran and guests Swizz Beatz, Alexandra Daddario, Charlotte & Alejandro Santo Domingo, Leslie Lopez, Tommy Dorfman, Jessica Joffe, Derek Lam, India Gants, Elisabeth Murdoch, Andreja Pejić, Paula Zahn, Kimberly Chandler, Morgan O’Connor, Anastasia Ganias and others.
The evening marked the 11th year of the Gala and the 26th anniversary of DKMS, whose mission is to continually increase the number of suitable bone marrow donors across the globe. The Corporate Founding Sponsor is COTY Inc.
Philanthropist Bill Gates suggested recently that robots taking over human jobs, which currently happens particularly in manufacturing automation, should have to pay income tax.
Though taxing robots is not a new idea, Gates told Quartz that taxing robots could slow down the displacement of humans. More importantly, however, he also suggested that the taxation funds and the freed-up human labor could be used to improve other services, especially those in which empathy is key.
“Let us do a better job,” says Gates, “of reaching out to the elderly, having smaller class size, helping kids with special needs. We still deal with an immense shortage of people to help out there. So, if you can take the labor that used to do the thing automation replaces, and both financially and training-wise and fulfillment-wise, have that person go off and do these other things, you’re net ahead.”
There could be many ways to go about it – extra productivity tax, profits from labor-saving efficiency, robot income tax. Gates would like to see the transition happen slowly in order to study the impact on communities and for discussions to take place on how best to transition and on developing good policies.
“It is really bad if people overall have more fear about what innovation is going to do than they have enthusiasm,” says Gates. “That means they won’t shape it for the positive things it can do.”
May 02, 2017 07:30 am
Last week, 16,000 youth from across California came together at The “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood for WE Day, a youth empowerment event that celebrates everyday heroes and proves no one is too young to change the world.
Alicia Keys and host of WE Day California, actress/singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Selena Gomez
Credit/Copyright: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for WE
WE Day California, made possible by Co-Title Sponsors The Allstate Foundation and Unilever, paired a star-studded lineup with international activists and WE co-founders, Craig and Marc Kielburger. Together, they energized the crowd with unforgettable performances and motivational speeches to inspire youth to continue taking action on local and global societal issues such as bullying, clean water and poverty.
Making WE Day a true celebration of youth taking action, young people with inspiring stories joined the WE Day California lineup, including 11-year-old Ezra Frech. Born missing his left fibula, left knee and four fingers on his left hand, Ezra is an accomplished athlete, motivational speaker, and co-founder of Los Angeles-based non-profit @AngelCitySports, an organization that provides children and adults with physical disabilities the opportunity to play sports. Ezra is just one of the many young people who shared their stories to motivate their WE Day peers.
“The young people here today at WE Day California are proof that everyone has the power to create change,” said six-time GRAMMY nominee, author, producer, philanthropist and internationally renowned film star, Tyrese Gibson. “I hope that by sharing words of encouragement from the WE Day stage and through the work of #TheLoveCircleFoundation, I can help these students to keep making a positive impact—because I want my daughter, and kids everywhere, to grow up in a world of respect, equality and love.”
Speakers and performers at WE Day California energized the crowd through a full day of empowering educational speeches, inspirational moments and electrifying performances. A few highlights include:
• Global motivational speaker, anti-bullying activist, social media personality, author, & host of Unzipped with Lizzie Velasquez, Lizzie Velasquez, shared her story of facing bullying and the importance of focusing on self-confidence
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• Award winning singer and songwriter, Alessia Cara, got the crowd on their feet with a performance of her hit song “Wild Thing,” accompanied by International Sensation STOMP and Boogie Zone Dancers
• Actor and Entertainer, Josh Gad, World’s Funniest Stand-Up Comic Bear, Fozzie Bear, and Professional Hecklers, Statler and Waldorf, learned an important lesson about bullying
You can’t buy a ticket to WE Day — students from across the country earn their way by the actions they take on one local and one global cause of their choice. WE Day is free of charge to students and educators, thanks to the generous support of partners led by Co-Title Sponsors The Allstate Foundation and Unilever.
More than a one-day event, WE Day is connected to the free, educational program WE Schools. Providing schools and community groups with curriculum, educational resources and action campaigns, the program is designed to enhance a school’s existing social initiatives or spark new ones. WE Schools encourages students to further their curricular learning and develop life skills for success beyond the classroom. Young people making an impact locally and globally are supported with tools to help them become real change-makers.
“Every year, more than 200,000 students from over 10,000 schools around the globe earn their tickets to WE Day through the yearlong WE Schools program, creating positive impacts in their communities,” said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of WE. “WE Day California united and celebrated thousands of young leaders who are working passionately for the causes they care about most, creating sustainable change in their own backyards and around the world.”
In the 2015/2016 school year, more than 875 schools and groups across California improved their communities through WE Schools, by volunteering more than 600,000 hours and raising over $825,000 in support of 615 organizations, supporting causes such as hunger, homelessness, bullying, youth advocacy, education and literacy. In addition, 82 percent of U.S. educators participating in WE Schools felt they were better equipped to teach about social justice issues through service-based learning opportunities for their students; 87 percent of educators said their students felt a greater connection to their local communities; and 77 percent of educators said the program engaged previously disengaged youth.
WE Day is supported in California by Co-Chairs Stephanie Argyros, President and CEO, Argyros Group; Mike Cahill, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, City National Bank; Magic Johnson, President of Basketball Operations, Los Angeles Lakers; and Stephanie Swedlove and Jeff Skoll, Founder and Chairman, Participant Media and Chairman of the Skoll Foundation. Nationally, WE Day is supported by Co-Chairs Mike Dobbins, Head Strategy and Corporate Development, RBC; Jane Francisco, Editorial Director of Hearst Lifestyle Group and Editor in Chief of Good Housekeeping; Steve Robinson, CEO, Reimagine; Janet Crown, Philanthropist, Crown Family Philanthropies; and Tom Wilson, Chairman and CEO, Allstate.
May 02, 2017 06:00 am
Started by Linkin Park, Music for Relief responds to natural disasters as they occur to help victims recover and rebuild, with an emphasis on housing, education programs and resources.
The organization also recognizes the environmental consequences of global warming, which have demonstrated the capability to accelerate and strengthen certain types of natural disasters. Therefore the second goal of MUSICFORRELIEF is to help prevent and decrease future natural disasters by reducing greenhouse gasses, seeking renewable forms of energy and educating the public about climate change.
