LOVE ANGELES PROJECT®

A Breath of Fresh Air (Video)

THE FRESH AIR FUN, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2008, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

Rob Pattinson Love Elephants!

Source: CelebsGoneGood - Twilight star Robert Pattinson announced that his favorite charity is the World Wildlife Fund, a worldwide organization focused on protecting nature. With his new film, Pattinson, his fans, and the WWF will be focusing on the conservation of elephants.

Falling Whistles

Falling Whistles began as a small story exposing our world's largest war. It has become a campaign for peace in Congo.

Less than a year ago, laying in Titu Prison, 5 boy-prisoners spoke of the whistleblowers.

Abducted in Congo and too small to carry a gun, boys were given merely a whistle and sent to the front lines of battle.

The sound of their whistles calling together was meant to frighten the enemy away. Failing that, their sole duty was to receive the bullets with their bodies.

With falling whistles, their only choice was to feign death, or face it.

The world is changed by those who speak up. Whistleblowers. Rarely understood in their time, history looks back and calls them courageous.

Make their weapon your voice and be a whistleblower for peace.

Proceeds from whistles sales help restore the lives of war-affected children.

Buy a whistle, support the movement: www.fallingwhistles.com/

Falling Whistles - Be a Whistleblower for Peace in Congo from Falling Whistles on Vimeo.

The Story of Lentils as Anything

Source: Intent - Shanaka Fernando, after a short stint as a Buddhist monk, came to Australia and dabbled in law studies; it wasn't fulfilling, so he gave it up to travel on a shoestring around the third world for six years, learning about culture and community along the way.

When he returned to Australia, Shanaka started a business importing saris made from recycled fabrics, which made him enough money to start his current social experiment - Lentil As Anything.

Recently, SBS in Australia did an extensive documentary on them. The series was, unfortunately, overly dramatized and chose to focus on gossip over subtler aspects of inspiration.  The TV tagline was: "Cnan a place that relies solely on human generosity survive in this world; or will it be torn apart by competing egos, chronic chaos and crippling debt?"   'Lentils' put this disclaimer up on their homepage:

Lentil As Anything had no say in the final production of the documentary on SBS. The company benefited from the openness and trust that lentils exercises and was free to portray the organisation to its liking. It is unfortunate that such a priceless occasion was spent focusing on our financial status and the emotions of some staff. Indeed it is ironic because the gist of lentils proposition is that society is not nourished by money but the unique qualities of its people. What SBS has achieved is a misrepresentation and often gross fabrication of a truly unique social dynamic where a diverse number of people (1500 per day) sit and enjoy a meal served with pride and with no pressure to pay (with money). This I believe is crucial to reinstating everyone as valued members of our community. This culture encourages the best in people - Trust. Not just as a theory but an attitude. Hopefully more and more people will take responsibility for their actions and participate in building a kind, robust and vibrant society - it is still the case that "The revolution will not be televised."

At Lentils, there are no prices on the menu. :)  It's been operating for 10 years, with upto 400 staff in its peak, and still feeds about 1500 people a day (including a school).  In 2007, he received a National award from the Australian Prime Minister.  Today, still, all Shanaka owns is a bicycle and the clothes on his back.  Inspiring story.

Watch the clip below:

Jack Johnson Will Donate 'All' Tour Profits To Charity

Source: ecorazzi.com - Can anyone remember the last time a popular musician donated his entire tour profits to charity? I’m at a loss to think of anyone, but in the future you can peg that label on Jack Johnson.

The Hawaiian surfer/songwriter/guitarist has announced that 100% of profits from his 34-date tour between July and October will go to charity. The new tour is set to celebrate the release of his new album, To The Sea, which once again sets the example of how a green album should be made. It was recorded at Johnson’s two solar-powered studios: The Mango Tree in Hawaii and the Solar Powered Plastic Plant in Los Angeles.

Once again, Johnson’s tour will be eco-friendly. Greening actions include fueling tour vehicles with sustainable biodiesel, offering eco-friendly tour merchandise, and promoting ride share programs. In addition, venues and fans are encouraged to reduce waste, recycle, use water refill stations and offset carbon emissions.

The tour will also collaborate with over 150 hand-chosen community groups around the world as part of Johnson’s All At Once Community. This year’s All At Once campaign will focus on supporting non-profit groups and engaging fans in the realms of plastic waste reduction and sustainable local food systems.

Gates Foundation Pledges $10 billion to Vaccine Research

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND -Washington Post - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $10 billion over the next decade to research vaccines and make them available to the world's poorest countries, the Microsoft co-founder and his wife said Friday.

Calling on governments and businesses to contribute, the Gateses said the initiative will produce higher immunization rates and is intended to protect 90 percent of children in poorer countries against such dangerous conditions as diarrhea and pneumonia.

"We must make this the decade of vaccines," Bill Gates said in a statement. "Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries. Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before."

Gates said the commitment will more than double the $4.5 billion the foundation has given to vaccine research over the years.

The foundation said as many as 7.6 million children younger than 5 could be saved through 2019 as a result of the donation. It also estimates that an additional 1.1 million children would be saved if a malaria vaccine was introduced by 2014. A tuberculosis vaccine would prevent even more deaths.

"Vaccines are a miracle," Melinda Gates said. "With just a few doses, they can prevent deadly diseases for a lifetime."

Margaret Chan, head of the World Health Organization, called the Gates contribution unprecedented, and she urged governments and private donors to add to the initiative.

"An additional 2 million deaths in children under five years could be prevented by 2015 through widespread use of new vaccines and a 10 percent increase in global vaccination coverage," Chan said.

The Gates statement said the foundation would help to dramatically reduce child mortality in the next 10 years and urged others to pitch in with research funding and other financial support for poor children.

Haiti Telethon: What You Didn't See on TV

Source: People - Hollywood came together to support Haiti on Friday night – and reunited a few famous exes in the process.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, who split five years ago, were both on the same soundstage at L.A.'s CBS Studios where he presented and she manned the phones at the Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief, but they did not cross paths, according to a source.

Justin Timberlake, who sang a soulful rendition of "Hallelujah" with Tennman artist Matt Morris, bumped into his ex, Cameron Diaz, off camera. "They ran into each other after he performed and she was in the phone bank and then they talked," the source says.

"The celebrities were so low-key. Everyone drove themselves, there were no handlers, no entourages," adds the source. "Everyone was in a good mood. Most people showed up early and many celebrities, including Chevy Chase, Olivia Wilde and David Archuleta, stayed after the telethon was over so they could keep answering phone calls.

The A-list event was co-hosted by George Clooney and Wyclef Jean and presented by MTV Networks and broadcast on nearly a dozen channels.

Making Connections

"Celebs were catching up with each other and sitting down with staff and just chatting, talking about how sad the situation in Haiti was and how happy they were to help. The success of the night put a lot of people in a euphoric mood and a lot of people made plans to get together later," the source adds.

Before the show started, early arrivals Reese Witherspoon and Julia Roberts were deep in conversation when Drew Barrymore came over to join them before all three women took their seats at the phone bank.

Penelope Cruz approached organizer Clooney, who a source says was "very hands-on" during the telecast, and told him, "You're a genius," after he brought so many people together for the event, which raised money by encouraging viewers to call 1-877-99-Haiti to pledge money for the cause.

Backstage: Newlywed Kevin Jonas ran into Zac Efron's girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens and expressed his hope that "the four of us" would hang out soon.

In the greenroom, Chris Rock noshed on a cupcake from Crumbs bakery while talking to Ben Stiller. Morgan Freeman and Halle Berry chatted about her daughter Nahla. And Leonardo DiCaprio drank white wine while Archuleta rejoiced when he found papaya on the fruit platter.

Christian Slater rocked out while watching Madonna's performance of "Like a Prayer" via satellite from New York; Pussycat Doll frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger and Rose McGowan were inseparable most of the night; Rande Gerber dutifully waited for wife Cindy Crawford in the green room while she worked the phones.

"It was a great night," says the source. "It was surreal to see so many celebrities together in one place."

After-Party

For many of the stars, the fun continued at L.A.'s Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel where Clooney, DiCaprio, Witherspoon, Daniel Craig, Kid Rock, Aniston and Gerard Butler stopped by for some dinner and cocktails after the telethon.

"Everyone seemed really happy, almost giddy," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "They were obviously celebrating the huge amount of money that they raised, and cutting loose at the same time."

LA Kings Host Celebrity Game for City of Hope

Source: NHL - It's funny how the universe works... Earlier in the week I was joking about pro hockey with my neighbor Sibby inquiring "is pro hockey still a followed professional sport?" Being an Italian who grew up in New York, Sibby reminded me that Ice Hockey is traditionally an extremely popular East Coast sport not to mention a Canadian one, eh. Exactly the next day, my high school friend Sarah invited me to a LA Kings game which tool place this Saturday afternoon. It was a blast and so nice to see a sold out LA crowd at the Staples Center.

And we were in for a real treat not only because the Kings beat the leading Washington Capitals but because of the charity event which took place immediately following the game. Entertainment and sports enthusiasts gathered for a great cause at the L.A. Kings charity kick off hockey game “Face-Off for Hope” benefiting City of Hope. A portion of proceeds from tickets sales and all ticket service fees were donated to City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. “Face-Off for Hope” kicks off “Month of Hope,” where the Kings are dedicating the entire month of January 2010 to support City of Hope.

Actors Cuba Gooding Jr., David Boreanaz, Shaun Sipos and Michael Vartan, director Jason Reitman and E! Entertainment’s Ken Baker competed in teams. Luc Robitaille, Jeremy Roenick, Marty McSorley (commentator), Jim Fox (commentator), Russ Courtnall, Craig Johnson, Jamie Storr, Daryl Evans, Anson Carter, Ian Turnbull, Brad Norton, Jamie Kompon, J.F. Jomphe and John Blue represented the world of pro hockey.

“Raising awareness and support for City of Hope is the reason we are all coming together. We hope our fans enjoy this event while helping to raise funds and awareness for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses,” said Luc Robitaille, Kings President of Business Operations. “We encourage our fans to arrive early to see our exciting club take on Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals, immediately followed by the special celebrity game. Get your tickets now for one of the most highly-anticipated, marquee games this year.”

Fans with a ticket to the NHL game were allowed admission to “Face-Off for Hope” immediately following the Kings-Washington game, which begun at 1 p.m. During the Kings game, fans had the opportunity to purchase “special drawing tickets” for a suggested donation of $10 toward winning select jerseys “off the backs” of participating celebrities. All proceeds from the drawing will benefit City of Hope. [I bought a pair of tickets but gave them away as we couldn't stay for the entire charity Face-off!!! I hope the folks in the seats next to us got to win Cuba Gooding Jr.'s jersey.]

For all information, visit LAKings.com/hope. On December 22, the Kings visited City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Dustin Brown, Jarret Stoll, Drew Doughty, Wayne Simmonds, Teddy Purcell and Davis Drewiske, along with the Bailey, the club’s mascot, distributed gifts to pediatric patients while playing games, participating in craft activity projects, giving autographs and taking photos with patients.

Stars Stand Up

Source: dosomethinggood - "Are you standing up for something? Stand Up 2 Cancer’s newest campaign, Up2, wants to spread the word that the fight against cancer is Up2 all of us. Up2 is spreading awareness with a new PSA featuring celebs like Rashida Jones, Renee Zellweger, Mandy Moore, Josh Groban and more. They’re also partnering with Comcast to create a video-on-demand channel that will spread the word about cancer prevention and raise some cash for research too. SU2C’s YouTube channel also has videos from singers like Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, and Lady Gaga. That’s a lot of star power!

Check out the PSA below, and head over to the YouTube page for more videos. Want to do something about cancer? Get your friends and family to quit smoking, or organize a hat day at your school to raise awareness about skin cancer."

Peace, Love and Rock & Roll

When I was first introduced to Janice Belson at Jeremy Corbell's Icon showcase a few months back, I was first struck by her excited yet down-to-earth nature as well as her stylish jewelry from around the world. That moment, if someone had told me that she was once a rock and roll photographer for names such as Jerry Garcia, Stevie Wonder and George Harrison, I would have certainly believed them - Janice totally fits the bill! Since our initial meeting, she and I have been able to run into each other almost on a weekly basis at high-frequency spots like Agape and Just Sit, and everytime she would tell me a little bit more about the non-profit she's dedicated herself to over the last ten years.

This week, I visited Janice at the Whole Foods Market on 3rd and Fairfax, where she will continue to host a display on both her photography and non-profit work through this coming Sunday December 20th (so get down there and say hello..if you want, tell her that you're a fellow reader of Love Angeles!)

I learned that after working for many years as a still photographer in hollywood, Janice suffered an accident on set which paid her a nice settlement. Rather than spending her sum on cool toys and luxurious vacaions, Janice felt compelled to initiate a non-profit that would help thousands of people in need around the world.      

Medicines Global (GB) is dedicated to inspire all adventure travelers to give back to the places they visit by delivering basic first aid supplies to medical centers and remote community run health posts. They have already succeded in the organization and delivery of over $4.5 million in aid to remote areas in countries all around the world.

On Medicines Global’s first expedition to Nepal in 1999, 3000 units of pharmaceutical strength Vitamin A were delivered reversing early nutritional blindness in 1000s of children. Medicines Global (GB) networks within the outdoor retail world, food industry and medical relief agencies to create innovative ways of delivering critical first aid supplies through the hands of individual adventure travelers.

Since 1999, seventeen expeditions have taken medicines and provisions to Nepal, Mongolia, Russia, Siberia, Tibet, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, El Salvador and hurricane ravaged Biloxi, Mississippi. In addition to our expeditions several thousand calls and emails have come in from individual travelers who want to make a difference by giving back to the places that they visit. In 2005, Medicines Global's Outdoor Youth Program (MGOYA) succeeded in carrying $200,000 in Aid to Sri Lanka. Five Outdoor Youth Ambassadors, high school students from Watts' Jordan High School made the historic inaugural trip, bringing relief and life to thousands after the devestating tsunami.

In 2007, four Medicines Global Outdoor Youth Ambassadors trekked through Nepal delivering medicine and aid to people in need. And their lives were changed...

Check out the clip below from the short-documentary entitled "WALK": 

Cate Blanchett Speaks

celebsgonegood - Cate's Copenhagen cause - "Cate Blanchett has teamed up with the environmental org i speak earth to create a new video for their Action at COP15 campaign. Launched to coincide with the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Conference, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers to the planet if serious action isn't taken at the Conference. This isn't Cate's first foray into climate issues - she's already been to Copenhagen to talk to business leaders about eco-friendly practices.

According to their website, i speak earth's goal is: "to mobilize the strongest possible public mandate for an ambitious, binding climate change treaty at COP15." It was just announced that President Obama will make the trek to Copenhagen for the event, so we love seeing some other big names getting involved...

Edward Norton is Doing Good as Usual

ecorazzi - Edward Norton has achieved his goal of raising more than $1 million for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust.

"The fundraising effort began in late summer when Norton and a team of runners (including some Maasai warriors) sought sponsorship in running the New York City Marathon. Celebrities such as Alanis Morissette and David Blaine jumped on board — as well as corporations like shoe giant PUMA. All of the money raised, which totaled some $750,000 after the marathon in early November, went towards the Trust to support education, wildlife conservation, and medical services. But Norton wasn’t content with just three quarters of a million.

“Trying to raise 1 million by the end of next week. We’re close.,” he wrote on Twitter. 11 days later, using a variety of signed movie collectibles and other giveaways, Norton and his team crossed the finish line. The current total now stands at $1,005,977.

While the tweets have dropped off since then, we suspect the last one means we haven’t quite reached the end of this ambitious fundraising effort. “For new followers: check out what we’ve been up to,” it says. “Trying to get 100,000 people to contribute $20 to this great org www.maasaimarathon.com"

Congratulations to Team Norton on raising cash that will make an enormous difference for both the people and wildlife of Kenya.

Matt Damon Feeds the Future

Celebsgonegood - "Matt Damon has already tackled water, and now he’s moving on to food. The actor, who does tons of great work with his organization water.org, is the voice of a new PSA on world hunger. Created by the U.S. Department of State, the ad contains some unbelievable information – like that every five seconds, a child dies of hunger. The PSA also explores the link between climate change and hunger..." The Department is actively engaging the public about the implications of global hunger and food insecurity. This video was introduced to help answer these questions in an accessible way not just for the American population, but to be used as a tool around the world.

Featured Angel: Matt Damon

via People

"When your great-great-grandkids study history, don’t you want them to be proud that you were part of the solution?"

Matt Damon wrote a piece for Parade Magazine where he talks about why it's so important for everyone to give back. Read the whole article here.

One Minute To Save The World

"There’s a new international film festival in town that wants you to save the world…in one minute!

The 1 Minute to Save the World competition is a short film challenge that’s asking you to get creative about ways to combat climate change.

Here’s how it works: you record a video of less than one minute on how to save the world. Then, on October 10th, their in house team will select the 15 favorites films plus the 5 films rated most highly by the public.  These 20 finalists will be screened by a panel of judges and the winners will be announced on October 30th.

Sound like something you’d be into? Visit 1MinuteToSaveTheWorld.com and get all the details!