Mr. Charity

Your Resource for Celebrity Charity News

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Lucy Hale Discusses Cast4Good Pretty Little Liars Reunion on Entertainment Tonight from TKG | The Krim Group on Vimeo.

Entertainment Tonight interview segment with Lucy Hale discussing the Pretty Little Liars reunion on Cast4Good benefiting Feeding America.

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MJH on AH from TKG | The Krim Group on Vimeo.

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Rita Ora WHO performance from TKG | The Krim Group on Vimeo.

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YES at Home Gala - Highlights Reel from TKG | The Krim Group on Vimeo.

Highlights Reel - YES at Home Gala hosted by Eve, honoring The Chainsmokers, benefiting Youth Emerging Stronger. A TKG Production. #YESATHOME

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YES at Home Gala 2020-trim from TKG | The Krim Group on Vimeo.

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NBA Players support children during Hoops for St. Jude Week

Los Angeles Lakers Center Pau Gasol on one of his frequent visits to St. Jude.

This year’s new ambassadors representing the NBA in support of St. Jude include Greg Monroe of the Detroit Pistons; Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies; Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat; coach Monty Williams of the New Orleans Pelicans; coach Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks; and coach Mike Brown of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Other longer-tenured ambassadors include players Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, and David Lee. In addition to Hoops for St. Jude Week, the NBA and its players and coaches routinely make on-site visits and financial contributions in support of St. Jude.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s mission is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment; it costs $1.9 million per day for St. Jude to operate, and no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay, which makes every donation significant. For more information and to lend your support, visit www.stjude.org/hoops, follow @StJude on Twitter, and use the hashtag #hoops4stjude.

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Third Annual Rush HeARTS Education Luncheon

Rush co-founder Russell Simmons and actress/hostess Cynthia Nixon.

Last week on Valentine’s Day, actress Cynthia Nixon hosted the third annual Rush HeARTS Education Valentine’s Day Luncheon at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Presented by the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, the luncheon served as an opportunity to highlight the philanthropic efforts of some generous celebrities as well as raise funds for the foundation’s educational programs.

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation funds educational programs geared towards providing New York’s inner city youth with exposure and access to the arts, such as Rush Galleries in the Schools, Rush Toddlers, Rush Kids, and Rush Teens. These programs are designed to inspire students, provide positive alternatives to high-risk behaviors, and support improved academic performance through afterschool and weekend arts education.

For more information, visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.

Russell Simmons with the 2014 honorees; (Left to right) Zac Posen, Alek Wek, and Patina Miller.

Event chair Angela Simmons.

Miss Universe 2013, Gabriela Isler.

Violinist and recording artist Miri Bin-Ari.

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Vanessa Redgrave honored at 2014 amfAR New York Gala

Actor Liam Neeson presenting Vanessa Hardgrave and Joely Richardson with the amfAR Award of Courage.

In celebration of the launch of its “Countdown to a Cure for HIV/AIDS” initiative” aimed at finding a cure for AIDS by the year 2020, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, hosted the star-studded annual amfAR Gala at NYC’s Cipriani Wall Street. Presented by Bulgari and Wells Fargo and produced by Andrew Boose/AAB Productions, the evening served as an opportunity to raise funds for HIV/AIDS research, as well as honor a few outstanding participants in the ongoing fight against the disease.

Celebrity attendees and others included Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn, Veronica Bulgari, Kim Cattrall, R. Martin Chavez, Andy Cohen, Kenneth Cole, Alan Cumming, John Demsey, Joan Didion, Madame Hind El Achchabi, Karen Elson, Linda Evangelista, Anne Fulenwider, Nina Garcia, Milutin Gatsby, Aileen Getty, Tim Hanlon, Donna Karan, Brian C. Kelly, Mathilde Krim, Ph.D., David and Lauren Bush Lauren, Cindi Leive, Laura Linney, Julianna Margulies, Liam Neeson, Vincent Roberti, Carine Roitfeld, Hilary Swank, Diana Taylor, Stefano Tonchi, Stanley Tucci, and Harvey Weinstein. M•A•C Viva Glam, Mercedes-Benz, and Mandarin Oriental, New York served as sponsors for the event; Delta Air Lines is the official airline of amfAR.

For more information or to give your support, visit www.amfar.org.

View this Countdown to a Cure promo video:

More photos, courtesy of amfAR:

Violinist Pamela Frank and amfAR trustee Harry Belafonte.

Chelsea Clinton and husband Marc Mezvinsky.

amfAR Chairman of the Board Kenneth Cole, wife Emily Cole, and actress Jane Krakowski.

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NFL stars appear on Kathie Lee & Hoda, surprise students

On Friday, star NFL players Matt Herzlich and Randall Cobb, of the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers, respectively, appeared on Kathie Lee & Hoda on behalf of TODAY, GMC, and Characters Unite to present two young students with a brand new 2014 GMC Arcadia and a four-year college scholarship for each of them. The surprise presentation was promoted in conjunction with the airing of the “NFL Characters Unite” documentary, highlighting stories of NFL players who overcame hardships such as prejudice, bullying, and discrimination on the way to achieving their dreams of football success, which also aired Friday on USA Network and was presented by GMC.

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will.i.am hosts 3rd annual TRANS4M conference and benefit concert in Hollywood

will.i.am and Rosie Perez. Photo courtesy of Live Out Loud LA.

The Avalon in Hollywood, CA, marked the site of the third annual TRANS4M conference and benefit concert in support of rapper-songwriter-producer will.i.am’s i.am.angel foundation. i.am.angel focuses on offering educational opportunities and support to young students that might not otherwise have the resources needed to further their education. will.i.am has already done work for students in his home community of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, and he is now looking to make a difference in other areas around the country, starting with Detroit, MI.

The concert, which featured musical performances from the likes of Chaka Khan, Sergio Mendez, Bell Biv DeVoe, Biz Markie, Doug E. Fresh, Scarface, Slick Rick, Cody Wise, Leah McFall, and We Are The Future, also saw speeches given by actress-producer-director, Rosie Perez, as well as the host of the evening, will.i.am. In total, the hugely successful gathering raised $2.5 million towards i.am.angel’s cause.

R&B legend, Chaka Khan, performing on the Avalon stage.

Taboo of The Blackeyed Peas and singer Frankie J.

Hip Hop legend and music executive, Scarface.

Actor Cuba Gooding, Jr.

R&B songstress, Chrisette Michele.

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Be The Match, Stand Up to Cancer enlist Robin Roberts new PSA campaign

Be The Match and Stand Up To Cancer launched their new joint PSA campaign during the Martin Luther King Day 2014 edition of “Good Morning America.” The two PSAs, which serve as an outlet to raise cancer awareness, feature the show’s anchor, Ambassador of Hope for Be The Match and two-time cancer survivor, Robin Roberts. Scheduled to run through June 30, the ads seek to help patients battling blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma by raising much-needed funds for research and increasing the number of volunteer bone marrow donors on the national Be The Match registry. Roberts began her crusade against cancer and recruitment of bone marrow donors after she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome in 2012; needing a bone marrow transplant, she found a perfect match in her sister, Sally-Ann.

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Sean Penn throws 3rd Annual Help Haiti Home Gala, U2 performs

The man of the evening, Sean Penn. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Last Saturday a slew of big-name celebrities congregated at the Montage Hotel in Los Angeles for the third annual Help Haiti Home Gala, put on by actor Sean Penn on behalf of his J/P Haitian Relief Organization (JPHRO). Help Haiti Home, which has served as the premier pre-Golden Globes event for the past three years, was presented by Giorgio Armani and hosted by CNN’s popular news anchor and journalist, Anderson Cooper.

While the room was packed full of A-list names for the entire evening, some of the more noteworthy attendees included Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Kathryn Bigelow, Diane Kruger, Steve McQueen, Bette Midler, Kevin Bacon, Uma Thurman, Idris Elba, Michael Douglas, Charlize Theron, Emma Thompson, Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, Coldplay front man Chris Martin.

J/P Haitian Relief Organization has worked with both governmental and non-governmental agencies since the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, providing medical and primary care services, delivering medical equipment and medicine, distributing food, and developing housing and educational facilities, among other important responsibilities.

You can find more information at www.jphro.org.

U2 performing together for the first time in four years. Photo credit, Getty Images.

Actress Charlize Theron. Photo courtesy of GotCeleb.com.

Actor Michael Douglass. Photo courtesy of Associated Press.

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Shaquille O’Neal teams up with the Boys & Girls Club of Venice to host annual SHAQ-a-CLAUS holiday event

Today Shaquille O’Neal held his annual SHAQ-a-CLAUS event at the Boys & Girls Club of Venice in Los Angeles. More than 300 BGCA members received a JAKKS toy, a pair of Crocs shoes, and lunch provided by Panda Express, as well as a photo with the retired NBA superstar, whom spent much of his childhood at the Boys & Girls Club. O’Neal even arranged to have snowfall to bring the spirit of the holidays to the SHAQ-a-CLAUS event, which he has held each year since 1992.

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T.I. hosts annual “Tis the Season for Giving” toy drive in hometown Atlanta

T.I. and Jeezy giving back to their Atlanta community. Photo via ATLNightSpots.com.

Last Friday, rapper-actor T.I. hosted his annual “Tis the Season for Giving” toy drive at Metroplex in his hometown of Atlanta, GA, along with fellow Atlanta-bred rap artist, Jeezy. The holiday celebration saw them give toys to 1,800 children and provide free food, bowling, skating, prizes, and arcade games, along with free health screenings for all in attendance.

More photos via ATLNightSpots.com:

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23rd Annual Children’s Defense Fund Beat the Odds Awards

Actress Reese Witherspoon presenting an award to one of the evening's honorees.

Last Thursday, December 5th, the Children’s Defense Fund held its 23rd Annual Beat the Odds Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. The dinner and awards ceremony, hosted by Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund, served as a celebration honoring the academic achievements of five Los Angeles area high school students, each of whom has overcome difficult circumstances in order to excel in the classroom.

The Beat the Odds Awards night was put together with the help of several influential celebrity co-chairs, including Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams; Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Josiah Bell; Carol and Frank Biondi; Ruth-Ann Huvane and Kevin Huvane; Liza and Conan O'Brien; Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth; and Laura and Casey Wasserman. Other famous attendees were John Cho, Matt Damon, Senator Al Franken, Aimee Garcia, Jeff Garlin, Jennifer Garner, Katie Lowes, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Columbus Short, to name a few.

For more information about the Children’s Defense Fund visit www.childrensdefense.org.

The 2013 Beat the Odds Awards honorees.

Late night TV personality and talk show host, Conan O'Brien.

Film director J.J. Abrams and wife Katie McGrath.

Actress Jurnee Smollett-Bell and husband Josiah Bell.

Reese Witherspoon and fellow movie starlet, Jennifer Garner.

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The Most Charitable Celebrities of 2013

With the end of a busy year quickly approaching, MrCharity.com would like to take time to recognize a few of the most active celebrity philanthropists – not necessarily those that have raised or donated the most funds, but those that have also committed time, energy, and resources to good causes – so we’ve decided to compile our own list of The Most Charitable Celebrities of 2013. Obviously, there’s no way to quantify the good deeds, charitable acts, and activism of these generous celebs, but we couldn’t help but notice the extra effort of a few that stood out this year. So, without further ado and in no particular order…

Talk show host, comedian, and human rights activist, Ellen DeGeneres.

Supports 38 charities

Causes: animal rights, cancer awareness, human rights, civil rights

Ellen for the Cure campaign ran during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month on her television show, supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure

The Petco Foundation joined Ellen DeGeneres and her natural pet food company Halo, Purely for Pets, to announce a new grant campaign designed to make holiday wishes come true for some of the nation’s most dedicated non-profit animal-welfare organizations

World renowned singer, songwriter, and philanthropist, Elton John.

Supports 48 charities

Champions for AIDS/HIV awareness and research

The Elton John AIDS Foundation issued grants for calendar year 2013 totaling $2,940,275

Continued his humanitarian efforts to raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and awareness programs across the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 12th annual benefit An Enduring Vision held at Cipriani Wall Street

Received The Rockefeller Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award at The Rockefeller Foundation’s “A Celebration of American Philanthropy” event in Washington, D.C.

The 21st annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish raised $6 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS

Singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist, Annie Lennox.

Supports 38 charities

Causes: social activism, cancer awareness, human rights, AIDS/HIV awareness

Honored with 22nd Annual Music Industry Trust Award

Started the year off with a trip to Malawi to support President Banda’s Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood, and to promote the need for increased funding from donor nations for reproductive health services for Malawi and other countries in the developing world

Issued a call to action, in response to the epidemic of violence that has been taking place against women and girls in South Africa for years

Performed at an exclusive event on Thursday, October 3, to support mothers2mothers’ vital work in sub-Saharan Africa, preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Rapper-producer and front man of the Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am.

Supports 19 charities

Causes: AIDS/HIV awareness, education, at-risk/underprivileged youth, creative arts

Hosted TRANS4M 2013: TRANS4Ming America on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, California

Launched a new Prince's Trust scheme to engage disadvantaged young people with technology and science

Surprised everyone when he announced he was donating $100,000 to a network of low decile schools in New Zealand

Worked with Bill Gates to push for Computer Programming education

Singer-songwriter and producer, Alicia Keys.

Supports 24 charities

Causes: women’s/children’s rights, human rights, arts, AIDS/HIV

Rallied with community leaders and residents of Harlem, hosting a community conversation aimed at tackling the issue of HIV/AIDS

Performed at Global Citizen festival 2013

Teamed up with Greater Than AIDS to launch EMPOWERED, a new public information campaign to reach women in the U.S. about HIV/AIDS

Performed at will.i.am’s TRANS4M 2013: TRANS4Ming America at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, California

Global music icon, Paul McCartney.

Supports 35 charities

Sent a letter to Vladimir Putin in support of the 30 Greenpeace activists currently being held in Russia after being arrested for protesting against oil exploration in the Arctic in September

Sent an urgent letter on behalf of PETA to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III asking him to press ahead with the transfer of Mali, the 39-year-old solitary and ailing elephant held captive at the Manila Zoo, to a lush, spacious sanctuary in Thailand

Joined The Urgency Network to offer an ultimate Outside Lands Festival fan experience to help Save The Arctic

Applauded the animal organization’s successful campaign to secure an animal testing ban for cosmetics in the European Union, and is now backing Cruelty Free International's work for a global ban on cosmetics tests on animals

Here’s a list of several other celebrities we know are passionate about the charity work they do:

Salma Hayek Sir Richard Branson Jackie Chan Jon Bon Jovi Alec Baldwin Eva Longoria Olivia Munn Angelina Jolie Stevie Wonder Ian Somerhalder Prince Harry Hugh Jackman

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Jason Mraz performs at benefit concert in home state Virginia, raises much-needed funds

Photo courtesy of AtlanticRecords.com.

On October 19th, Cox Communications’ philanthropic division held its 4th Annual Cox Charities Benefit Concert, featuring Jason Mraz and special guests Raining Jane, at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, Va. As it turns out, the event helped Cox Charities bring their 2013 yearly total of funds raised to $230,000, which will be used to award grants to organizations that qualify and have programs that help young people in the Cox service areas of Virginia advance their education.

All proceeds from Cox Charities events directly support youth and education programs in local Virginia communities within the Cox footprint through the Cox Charities grants program. To enroll, or for more information, visit www.coxcharities.org.