Kiehl’s USA President Chris Salgardo (President, Kiehl’s USA) and Kevin Robert Frost (CEO, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research) led the pack as the group of riders for the 7th annual Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR rode through Provincetown and Cape Cod this weekend.
Gilles Marini on the 2016 Kiehls LifeRide for amfAR
Credit/Copyright: Travis Shinn
The Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR is an 11-day, multi-state, charitable motorcycle ride throughout the Northeast that raises funds and awareness for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. The LifeRide began in NYC on August 3rd and will end in Philadelphia on August 14th.
Gilles Marini and Michiel Huisman on the 2016 Kiehls LifeRide for amfAR
Credit/Copyright: Travis Shinn
Salgardo is joined on this year’s LifeRide by:
• Anthony Carrino, TV host (HGTV’s America’s Most Desperate Kitchens)
• Ben Cohen, Activist and former pro rugby player
• Gilles Marini, Actor (Teen Wolf; Sex and the City; runner-up of Dancing with the Stars)
• Grant Reynolds, TV host (Science Channel’s What Could Possibly Go Wrong?)
• Ian Bohen, Actor (Animal Kingdom, Chicago P.D.)
• Jay Ellis, Actor (The Game)
• JR Bourne, Actor (Teen Wolf)
• Luke Wessman, Tattoo Artist (Miami Ink, NY Ink)
• Kurt Yaeger, Actor (Quarry)
• Milissa Sears, Actor (Masters of Sex)
• Scott Patterson, Actor (Gilmore Girls, The Event)
• Teddy Sears, Actor (24: Legacy, The Flash, Masters of Sex)
• Michiel Huisman, Actor (Game of Thrones)
In celebration of LifeRide, 100 percent of Kiehl’s net profits this month from the sale of the Limited Edition Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, up to $25,000, will benefit amfAR.
The Texas Conference for Women announced that Abby Wambach, two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and pay equity advocate will deliver a keynote address at the 17th annual conference on Tuesday, November 15th.
Wambach will be joined by Amal Clooney, international human rights lawyer, and Diane von Furstenberg, iconic fashion designer, philanthropist and author, “The Woman I Wanted to Be.” Nina Tassler, highest ranking Latina in network television and recently retired chairman of CBS Entertainment, and Linda Cliatt-Wayman, principal of Strawberry Mansion High School in Philadelphia, will also deliver keynote addresses.
One of the world’s greatest professional soccer players, Abby Wambach holds the world record for the most goals in professional soccer, male or female, with 184 career goals. Wambach led the U.S.A. in scoring in the 2008 and 2011 Women’s World Cup tournaments, and the 2004 and 2012 Olympics. Since her retirement from U.S. Soccer, Wambach has championed a new cause: pay equity for women. Her first book, “Forward: A Memoir,” will be released in September.
Clooney is a British human rights lawyer, specializing in international law and human rights. She has appeared before the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the European Court of Human Rights and various courts in the United Kingdom and the United States. Clooney has held a number of posts within the United Nations, including as senior adviser to Kofi Annan and counsel to the UN inquiry on the use of armed drones. Clooney is a visiting professor at Columbia Law School, where she teaches human rights, and author of the forthcoming book, “The Right to a Fair Trial in International Law.”
Diane Von Furstenberg gained recognition when she designed the wrap dress in 1974, which became a symbol of power and independence for an entire generation of women. She was featured on the cover of Newsweek in 1976 and by that year, she had sold over one million wrap dresses. DVF has since grown into a global luxury lifestyle brand, offering a full collection of ready-to-wear clothing, shoes and accessories, sold in more than 55 countries. Von Furstenberg’s commitment to empowering women is expressed not only through fashion, but also philanthropy and mentorship. Through the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, she established the DVF Awards to provide grants to women who have displayed leadership, strength and courage in their commitment to their causes.
Nina Tassler served as president and chair of CBS Entertainment from 2004 to 2015, and was the highest profile Latina in network television and one of the few executives who had the power to green light a series. Nina recently released “What I Told My Daughter,” a collection of wisdom for the next generation of empowered women, including stories from Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Madeleine Albright. Linda Cliatt-Wayman spent 20 years as a special education teacher before becoming a principal, where she led a turnaround of a school known for low levels of academic achievement and high levels of violence to a safe space focused on learning. At Strawberry Mansion, Cliatt-Wayman and her team are once again proving what is possible for low-income children. Her May 2015 TED Talk has been viewed over a million times.
“We could not be more excited about our line-up of game-changing speakers,” said Johnita Jones, president of the Conference Board. “Our attendees will hear so many words of wisdom and determination and will be inspired to set out and make change, in their own lives and communities.”
The 17th Annual Texas Conference for Women will host thousands of attendees for a full day of networking, inspiration, professional development and personal growth. In addition to a standout lineup of keynote speakers, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Conference will feature breakout sessions led by experts in the fields of business, philanthropy, health, finance, media and professional development.
Among the 100+ speakers at the Conference will be: Kemal Harris, stylist and costume designer, “House of Cards”; Christine Carter, sociologist and senior fellow, UC Berkley Greater Good Science Center and author, “The Sweet Spot: How to Find your Groove at Home and Work”; Robin Hauser Reynolds, documentary filmmaker, “CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap”; Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, co-founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief, Her Campus; and Nely Ganan, first Latina president of a U.S. television network, Telemundo, Emmy Award-winning producer and author, “Self Made.”
The Texas Conference for Women is generously sponsored by Dell; rackspace; State Farm; United; United Health Care; HEB; Texas Beverage Association; Liberty Mutual; Phillips 66; HomeAway; IBM; NFP; and Poo-Pouri. Media partners include Austin Monthly; Clear Channel Outdoor; KVUE; AAT; and The Texas Tribune.
Registration is now open for the Conference. To register or learn more about the event, visit www.txconferenceforwomen.org.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2nd-annual Voices for the Voiceless: Stars for Foster Kids concert on Monday, September 12th at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
This special event, presented by Beachbody.com, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, brings together the brightest stars of stage and screen to raise awareness about the plight of kids in foster care, particularly those aged 13 to 21 whom many consider “unadoptable” because of their age.
Proceeds from the evening directly benefit You Gotta Believe, New York’s only nonprofit specifically focused on finding permanent families for youth in foster care aged 13 years and older. Rosie Perez, Gloria Gaynor, Megan Hilty, Chita Rivera, Sherri Saum, Rachel Crow, Marc Shaiman, Janice Huff, Caroline Rhea, Alec Mapa, Alice Ripley, BD Wong, Charles Busch, Liz Callaway, Ann Hampton Callaway, Orfeh, Adrienne Warren, Anika Larsen, Keala Settle, Richard Kind, Tony Yazbeck, Roz Ryan, Michelle Collins, Lisa Mordente, Liz Larsen, Josh Colley, Lilla Crawford, Christine Pedi, Janet Metz, Olga Merediz and Carole Demas will join Rudetsky and Wesley for this year’s event, with more performers to be announced in the coming weeks. Ticket prices range from $47 to $199 and are available at Ticketmaster.com.
“Our inaugural event last year was welcomed with such excitement and support that we couldn’t wait to partner with You Gotta Believe again this year. All of these amazing stars are completely donating their time and talents to support these kids. It’s going to be an inspiring night full of love and hope!” Wesley said.
“This is my favorite combination: Broadway, amazing stars and helping the world! You will experience once-in-a-lifetime performances and help these kids get the family they deserve!” Rudetsky added.
Rudetsky and Wesley conceptualized the event in 2015 after they were working with the Council on Adoptable Children and You Gotta Believe to adopt a child out of foster care, and the organizations abruptly suffered major cuts from governmental funding. In a matter of weeks, the first Voices for the Voiceless concert was born, featuring memorable performances and moments from Tina Fey, Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, Antwone Fisher, Rachel Crow, Darren Criss, Marc Shaiman, Megan Hilty, Alec Mapa, Lilla Crawford, Janice Huff, Eden Espinosa, Kate Shindle, Caroline Rhea, Charlene Tilton and many more.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Seth and James are creating another magical evening for youth in foster care who need families for life.” said Gretchen Beidl, Board President of You Gotta Believe. “We envision a day when no child or young adult is left to face life alone. There is much work to be done and the support that comes from this benefit will help us do it!” added You Gotta Believe’s Executive Director and CEO, Susan Grundberg.
“We are now creating a path for youth coming up behind us in the foster care system. It’s one thing for people to say that our voice matters, and another for people to show that our voice matters. We see that our work is beginning to make a change but there is more work to be done because thousands of youth will still be aging out to homelessness when we should be connecting them to families. Nobody should age out!” Brieanna Hayes, former child in foster care who now serves as an Advocate for Youth through You Gotta Believe’s Nobody Ages Out Youth Movement.
Every year, nearly 25,000 kids age out of foster care in the U.S., left on their own to make it into adulthood without the safety net of a forever family to provide the security and comfort most of us take for granted. As many as 50 percent of youth who age out of foster care will experience homelessness. In New York City, there are about 1,300 kids awaiting adoption right now. There are an additional 700+ kids on the verge of aging out alone—many of whom were deemed ‘unadoptable’ by the system long ago. As each day goes by, they are one day closer to being pushed out onto their own without a family safety net unless an adoption takes place.
Generous support for this year’s event is provided by Beachbody.com, Jujamcyn Theaters, Charter Communications, Gretchen Beidl & Michael Willner, The Barbara Bradley Baekgaard Family Foundation, Discovery Communications, Digicel, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, AMC Networks, JetBlue, Jonathan and Lizzie Tisch, Playbill, Inc., Blue Fin, LionTree LLC, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Burba Hayes, Edward McBride, Citibank, Middletown Honda, Arlene Gail, Pat O’Brien, and James & Mary Kay Clark. WNYC serves as the official media partner.
For more information about tickets to and sponsorship opportunities for Voices for the Voiceless: Stars for Foster Kids, visit YouGottaBelieve.org/voices.
With South Korea’s Bok Nal days underway, the country’s animal protection campaigners mobilised at South Korea’s first ever global anti-dog meat conference.
The days mark the hottest point of the summer between 17 July and 16 August when as many as 1 million dogs are killed to make ‘boshintang’ soup, which is falsely believed to cool the blood. World-renowned conservationist Jane Goodall, who is a United Nations Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, provided the campaigners with a special video message of support.
Hosted by Korea Animal Rights Advocates at the Seoul Museum of History, delegates from around the world, including Humane Society International, Taiwan SPCA, and VShine from China, shared their expertise. National politicians also lent their support for an end to Korea’s dog meat trade that sees up to 3 million dogs a year factory-farmed in deplorable conditions for human consumption.
Goodall’s video message gave an enormous morale boost to delegates, as she expressed her support for an end to the dog meat trade. Goodall said: ” I’ve always had a great love for dogs. When I was a child, I had a relationship with one who taught me so much about animal behaviour. They’ve been domesticated, they’ve been man’s best friend for maybe 15,000 years or more, and in that time, they’ve done so much for us. They’ve guarded our belongings, they’ve guarded people, they’ve guided the blind, they’ve helped autistic children to read – this and so much more. And so, to actually kill these wonderful beings for food seems very, very sad for me. And I hope this conference will bring this out into the open, and people will talk about it, and maybe things will change.”
HSI has been in South Korea since 2014 working with dog farmers to permanently close down their dog meat farms and transition them into new, humane livelihoods. In so doing, HSI’s strategy is demonstrating to the South Korean government a working blue-print for successfully phasing out and ending the trade entirely, in co-operation with farmers. HSI has so far permanently closed five such dog farms and rescued more than 500 dogs for adoption in the United States and Canada, and the charity’s Adam Parascandola showcased those rescues to conference delegates.
Parascandola said: “South Korea has an estimated 17,000 dog meat farms, with up to 3 million dogs at any one time. So it’s obvious that rescue alone is never going to end the trade for good. That’s why Humane Society International has a broader strategy combining public education to change hearts and minds, and political advocacy to change laws. In South Korea, there is a general misconception about the dogs raised on these farms as being somehow “different” from companion dogs. So through our rescues and adoptions, we’re showing people that all kinds of breeds, including Chihuahuas and golden retrievers, are found languishing on these farms, dogs no different from those we share our homes with. Showcasing our adoptions of the rescued dogs are demonstrating that these dogs are as gentle, loyal and loving as any other dog.”
Dogs live a miserable existence on dog meat farms, typically confined in small barren, wire cages without any comfort or proper care, until the day they are removed from the cage to be killed. Although most people in South Korea don’t regularly eat dogs, dog meat stew is still widely consumed during Bok Nal, and historically the public has been indifferent to, or even resisted, the idea of a ban. But that could all be set to change as dog eating is increasingly falling out of favour with the younger generation. A growing interest in keeping dogs as companions, and increasing public awareness of animal suffering, is leading many to question the practice of dog eating like never before.KARA and HSI believe that highlighting the human-dog bond is key to creating the public support for a ban that will motivate the government to end the dog meat trade.
Soonrye Yim, executive representative at KARA, said: “The Korean government has been silent despite the slaughter of more than 1 million dogs each year. Despite the fact that the dog meat industry is in violation of existing laws, the government has done nothing to crack down on the illegal industry. Due to the government’s long standing apathy towards animal cruelty, Korea has now become the only country in the world in which dogs are bred for consumption in huge factory farming facilities that hold thousands of dogs. This Conference seeks to go beyond the superficial discussion for and against the consumption of dog meat, and to look at the problem as not merely a Korean issue, but an international issue of cruelty to animals. Furthermore, the conference is especially meaningful because a civil society is taking initiative to urge the Korean government to seek solutions, using Chinese and Taiwanese cases as examples.”
Other key note speakers at the conference were Lee Jeong-Mi, co-representative of the National Assembly’s Forum for Animal Welfare and a Justice Party member; Bak Hong-Geun, co-representative of the Forum for Animal Welfare and a member of the Minjoo Party; and Professor Woo Hee-Jong, a chairman of the advisory committee for the Forum for Animal Welfare and a professor of Veterinary Medicine at Seoul National University.
Fans can now take a selfie with football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo wherever and whenever they please, and help kids at the same time.
Today, the master of selfies has launched his CR7Selfie: Fans with a Cause app, in which fans can take a selfie with Ronaldo in one of several different outfits and poses – in a tux, holding the European Golden Boot, singing karaoke, to name a few – then share it with their friends, family, followers and other CR7 fans on various social media platforms. Available globally on Apple App and Google Play stores, the app, developed by 7Windows Consulting, will cost €1,99 to download, with a portion of worldwide proceeds of every download going to Save the Children.
“I am thrilled to launch this app to engage with my fans in a new way,” said Cristiano Ronaldo. “From the very beginning, I knew that I wanted this app to support a charitable cause I believe in. I have been involved with Save the Children for several years now and knew they were the best partner for this app. As a father and Global Artist Ambassador for Save the Children, I am committed to working towards giving all children a better and brighter future. I invite everyone to be a fan with a cause, so be sure to download the app, take a selfie with me anytime, anywhere and everywhere – and at the same time help kids in need!”
In the app, fans can select from among 68 photos of Ronaldo in different outfits and poses, and scroll through 39 filters to apply to their selfies. New photos of Ronaldo will be made available at select times throughout the year through in-app purchases for 99 Euro cents each. Save the Children also will benefit from a portion of worldwide proceeds of every in-app purchase.
Funds raised for Save the Children through CR7Selfie: Fans with a Cause app sales will go to giving children around the world a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. In 2015 alone, Save the Children helped 185 million children through its global work in 120 countries.
Cristiano Ronaldo was named a Global Artist Ambassador for Save the Children in January 2013. With over 230 million followers on social media, the world-renowned football player regularly uses his platforms to shine a much-needed spotlight on the most pressing needs of children around the globe and to engage his fans to do more to help children in need, both in their own communities and all over the world.
“We are so grateful to Cristiano Ronaldo for this new partnership and the work he has done in bringing attention to children’s issues around the world,” said Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children. “One in 11 children is out of school worldwide. Refugee children fare even worse; they are five times more likely to be out of school than non-refugee children. Education is critical to helping children build opportunities for success, as well as realize their dreams. Together, this partnership and the power of social media can have an incredible impact on children globally, opening the door to learning and other opportunities to put them on the path to reach their full potential.”
To help children, supporters can download the app and smile, shoot and share with Ronaldo by visiting CR7Selfie.com, and posting and tagging their photos to @Cristiano and @SaveTheChildren on Facebook, Google Plus, Instagram, Twitter and Weibo.
