Category Archives: Giving Back

Nina Agdal Fills In For Kate Upton For Prom Date

May 23, 2013 8:28 pm / Leave a Comment / Joe Hummel

(PCM) Milken Community High School (in Sherman Oaks, CA) senior Jake Davidson became a YouTube sensation with his March 16 video of him asking Upton to his prom while performing tasks including pushups, shaving and shampooing his hair to the tune over well over 2.5 million views. While disappointed that the Kate was unable to attend, he said “While I would have loved for Kate to come to my prom, I understand she is a very busy and in-demand professional. I am so grateful for Kate responding at all.”

Kate Upton, after checking her schedule, was not able to accept senior Jake Davidson’s youtube invitation to his prom, but he was happy to hear that Danish model Nina Agdal, Sports Illustrated’s Rookie of the year was willing to go. The beauty told “Inside Edition,” “I picked out my dress and now I’m ready for prom!”

Nina has modeled for Macy’s, Billabong, Frederick’s of Hollywood, and Victoria’s Secret and her first appearance in Sports Illustrated was in 2012.

Prior to her declination of the invite Kate said “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to go with him or not, due to my schedule,” Upton said. “I want to, but I just don’t know if I can make it work. But I really appreciated being asked; it made me feel really great! ”

Kate is the model of the moment, starting with being SI’s Rookie of the Year in 2011.The American model is also well know for her brief ‘Cat Daddy’ dance with Terry Richardson. She was also in the 2012 Three Stooges film as Sister Bernice.

Posted in: Celebrity, Giving Back, Pop Culture News

Video of Moore, OK Woman Finding Her Dog Amid Devastation

May 21, 2013 6:36 pm / Leave a Comment / Joe Hummel

(CBS Houston/AP) – Barbara Garcia, a woman who thought she had lost it all found one of the things most precious to her while being interviewed on live television – her pet dog, buried alive under the rubble of her former home.

Tornado survivor Barbara Garcia was relating her harrowing tale of survival to CBS News, recalling in a deliberate voice the details of feeling her house coming down around her as the storm wreaked havoc on the area.

“I was sitting on the stool, holding my dog … this was the game plan all through the years … to go in that little bathroom,” she said, recalling to CBS News reporter Anna Werner her experience. “… I felt the stool come up out of the floor and I rolled around a little bit.”

As she surveyed the piles of broken wood and appliances around her, Garcia said that after it was over, she called for her dog, but got no reply.

She added, “I know he’s in there somewhere.”

Mere moments later, a voice off camera anxiously called out, “The dog! The dog!” And just feet behind Garcia’s legs was the dog, alive and stuck under the destruction.

Overcome with emotion, she quickly made her way to her beloved pet and, with the help of surrounding people, unearthed him from the debris.

“Well, I thought God just answered one prayer – to let me be okay,” she said, her voice choked with tears as she pet the small black dog. “But he answered both of them, because this was my second prayer.”

Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of the Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for other survivors of the massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school on Monday. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children, and those numbers were expected to climb.

CBS News reports 236 people were injured, including about 50 children.

Posted in: Giving Back, Pop Culture News, TV

Ben Affleck and Others Try Living Poor on $1.50 a Day

April 24, 2013 7:20 am / Leave a Comment / comicsrus

About 1.4 billion people around the world get by on just $1.50 a day. Even in the poorest countries, that is pretty poor.

To bring awareness to that fact, Starbucks junkie Ben Affleck will spend only that amount on food and drink for “at least one day” next week (April 29-May 3). Sophia Bush, Josh Groban, Debi Mazar, and Hunter Biden are also taking part in the challenge as part of a campaign from non-profit Live Below the Line to raise funds for the Global Poverty Project, according to TV Guide. Josh, who participated last year,said “It’s amazing how much we take for granted not having to live in hunger.” Last year, more than 15,000 people participated in the challenge, and raised over $3 million

They’ll be tweeting their adventures as the poor as well, ironically from their top-of-the-line smartphones.

The campaign runs Monday through Friday, and participants are encouraged to “live below the line” for all five days. Anyone (including you) can help by signing up here.

Posted in: Celebrity, Giving Back, Lifestyle

Neil Diamond Performed Sweet Caroline Live At Fenway Park

April 21, 2013 5:59 pm / Leave a Comment / comicsrus

Ceremonies before the game, postponed because of the massive police manhunt for suspect #2, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, honoring victims of Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings, as well as the city’s police and fire departments, featured a live, 8th inning performance of “Sweet Caroline” by singer Neil Diamond, who came in unannounced an unplanned for the performance.

His 1969 hit is the unofficial anthem of the team and played during every home-game eighth inning since 2002. He last sang it live at Fenway for the 2010 season opener. This week, it was played in MLB ballparks throughout the country Tuesday to show support for Boston.

Diamond was quoted as saying that he was humbled and honored to be in Boston and to be able to personally thank and express his gratitude to the first responders and law enforcement officers.

“What an honor it is for me to be here today!” Diamond told the 35,000 in attendance, “I bring love from the whole country.”

The song was actually inspired by John F. Kennedy’s Daughter, Caroline.

The Boston Red Sox had a 4-3 victory over Kansas City, with a lot of help from Daniel Nava’s three run homer in the 8th inning.

Posted in: Celebrity, Giving Back, Music / Tagged: Boston

Heidi Klum Saved Her Chidlren In Hawaii

April 3, 2013 9:33 pm / Leave a Comment / comicsrus

(PCM) Supermodel and TV personality Heidi Klum added “Hero” to her resume, along with with her bodyguard/boyfriend, Martin Kirsten, saved her 7-year-old son and two nannies from drowning in Hawaii Sunday.

“We got pulled into the ocean by a big wave. Of course, as a mother, I was very scared for my child and everyone else in the water,” Klum told Us Weekly in an exclusive statement Monday. “Henry is a strong swimmer and was able to swim back to land. We were able to get everyone out safely.”

Klum was on vacation in Oahu and her children Henry, 7, Leni, 8, Johan, 6, and Lou, 3.

She left her second husband, singer Seal, in January 2012.

Posted in: Celebrity, Fashion, Giving Back, TV

Actress Emily Deschanel Highlights Marine Animal Plight In New Video For Humane Society

March 6, 2013 3:50 pm / Leave a Comment / Kristyn

(PCM) Animal advocate Emily Deschanel, star of the popular Fox TV series “Bones,” has taken on a new role as narrator of a powerful video that drives home the real numbers behind the slaughter on the high seas of marine species. Produced by The Humane Society of the United States, the creatively animated short piece raises awareness of crucial protections urgently required for marine animals, including polar bears, sharks, whales and turtles.

The international commercial wildlife trade has a heavy impact on marine animals’ survival and is responsible for the decline of wild populations of a number of marine species. The video’s release coincides with a major international conservation meeting that takes place every few years, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, where decisions are made by 178 nations on regulations for international trade.

“I think that people invariably respond to the bare facts and that’s why I hope this video will make viewers, most importantly, the delegates at CITES, sit up and take note of the shocking numbers of marine animals that are being decimated. Not only is this an animal protection concern, but it is also of immense importance to the overall health of our oceans,” says Deschanel.

Through March14 in Bangkok, CITES member countries are meeting to decide which species should be protected, and to impose controls or bans on their international commercial trade by adding them to one of the treaty’s appendices. An animal (or a plant) placed on Appendix I of CITES receives the highest level of protection – international commercial trade in its parts and products is effectively banned. An animal or plant listed on Appendix II allows for international trade, but with regulations.

A delegation from The HSUS and its global affiliate Humane Society International is at the meeting, championing more than 40 proposals to provide greater protections for wildlife. Some of the marine life proposals include advocating for the transfer of the threatened polar bear, the freshwater sawfish and the African manatee to Appendix I; the African manatee is the only manatee species currently without top-level protection. The HSUS and HSI also support the U.S.-backed proposal to list the oceanic whitetip shark and proposals by other countries to list porbeagle sharks, hammerhead sharks and manta rays on Appendix II.

“Like the intelligent, tenacious character she portrays in “Bones,” Emily is respected as a dedicated animal advocate, who is always willing to go that extra mile to take action for what she believes in. We are so grateful that she agreed to voice our video at such a crucial time for marine animals,” says Beverly Kaskey, senior director, HSUS Hollywood Outreach program.

The HSUS and HSI work on a number of campaigns to protect marine species. Among other efforts, we fight to maintain the moratorium on commercial whaling, to end the finning of sharks, and to protect sea turtles and the endangered right whale from ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement. We also work to improve the welfare of captive marine mammals and ultimately to end their public display, as well as to end the slaughter of harp seals in Canada and the shooting of sea lions on the U.S. West Coast who are killed for eating salmon.

Posted in: Celebrity, Giving Back

Join Music For Relief And Linkin Park And Give Back On #GivingTuesday

November 20, 2012 10:36 pm / Kristyn

(PCM) Just in time for #GivingTuesday (November 27), Linkin Park, together with Music for Relief and the United Nations Foundation to support the work of the United Nations, are announcing a way for fans to give a unique holiday gift to friends and family this season to provide clean energy solutions for people who have no access to electricity.

Here’s how it works. You can give a solar light, solar power for hospitals in health clinics, or Power the World’s latest clean energy tool, the SOCCKET, which is a soccer ball that is also a portable generator at powertheworld.org. You make a donation on behalf of a loved one, they get an e-card, and someone without electricity gets the safe, clean energy they need to improve their quality of life.

Linkin Park established Power the World in support of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative. Building on previous Power the World efforts to bring solar lights to homes in Haiti and solar power to health clinics in Uganda, the Grammy-Award winning band has launched a new campaign to combat energy poverty by bringing the first eco-friendly portable generator housed in a soccer ball to Latin America.

Energy poverty is the lack of access to modern energy services such as electricity and cooking facilities that do not cause air pollution. One in five people globally lacks access to electricity and three billion rely on highly polluting solid fuels such as wood, coal or charcoal for cooking. At 2012 World Economic Forum energy poverty was named one of the worst forms of poverty because it undermines all aspects of development. This holiday season, Power the World is offering several ways to give gifts that help alleviate energy poverty.

To bring clean energy to areas suffering from energy poverty in Latin America, Linkin Park, through their non-profit organization Music for Relief, is working with Uncharted Play, a social enterprise that designs and manufactures the SOCCKET. Designed to amplify existing play behavior. The SOCCKET provides a healthy energy alternative by improving access to lighting and electricity. With just thirty minutes of play a household has access to three hours of light.

You can also make a donation to benefit families affected by Hurricane Sandy this holiday at Musicforrelief.org. Music for Relief is encouraging supporters to kick off the giving season on November 27th for #GivingTuesday, a movement to celebrate giving, and establish a day of giving right after the Thanksgiving holiday and nationally recognized shopping days that follow. This first-of-its-kind effort, launching on November 27, 2012, will harness the collective power of a blend of partners, including charities, families, businesses and individuals, to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.

Linkin Park’s official fan club, Linkin Park Underground, launches it’s 12th year on November 15, 2012. Linkin Park Underground has always been more of a community, rather than just a fan club. Membership to LPU allows fans into the Linkin Park world with access to the completely redesigned LPUnderground.com, meet and greets, exclusive pre-sales, special events and early entry into Linkin Park shows.

“I don’t think of the LPU as a fan club. I think of it of as a community,” says Linkin Park bassist Dave ‘Phoenix’ Farrell. “Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet thousands of members of the LPU all over the world, and one thing continues to impress me. It’s not how open, friendly, and giving you are with us, but rather, with each other.”

This year’s membership package includes a t-shirt, water bottle, carabiner key chain, guitar pick, laminate and lanyard plus a $5 credit to the LPU store (http://lpunderground.com/store). Each year, Linkin Park Underground also releases a new CD to members only, filled with never before released demos chosen by the band members. For a limited time only, fans can purchase the CD for only $1 when they join Linkin Park Underground. As an added bonus, all fans who join LPU between November 15 and December 1 will be entered into a contest for a chance to win 2 tickets and a meet and greet to a future Linkin Park show of their choice. For more information on, go to www.LPUnderground.com

Posted in: Giving Back, Music

Carrie Ann Inaba Launches Animal Rescue Foundation

November 7, 2012 5:32 pm / Leave a Comment / Allie

ABC’s Dancing With the Stars judge, Carrie Ann Inaba, is fabulous. I am not only saying that, because I too love animals and am concerned about their well-being. But, I got the opportunity to interview her during a TV Land awards red carpet and she is wonderful. Not only is she absolutely breath-taking in person, but you could tell she has a warm and sweet demeanor to her.

So sweet that she decided to start helping out those who don’t have a voice. Obviously her passion for proper feet placement during dances as well as sexy numbers performed by the stars on the show, isn’t the only thing she cares about. She really has gone above and beyond for such a good cause.

She announced the Carrie Ann Inaba Animal Project, which supports the rescue and well-being of animals. Her goal is to raise $1 million in the first year, and will even auction off tickets to the DWTS finale. All of this was inspired by her cat Shadow.

According to PerezHilton.Com, “It was always clear to me that I needed to give voice to those who couldn’t speak out for themselves,” she said. “When you’re really going after your true dreams, you’re afraid of failure,” she says. “I can’t fail because this isn’t for me, it’s for the animals.”

Posted in: Celebrity, Giving Back, TV

Save Children Around the World: vitaminwater to Donate Money for Every Video View

October 25, 2012 6:45 pm / Allison

(PCM) The letter A. Where would we be without it?

Well, at quick thought, the highest grade we’d ever be able to earn would be a B, Pretty Little Liars would not exist, me, my name would be “llison” and who even knows what “America” would be known as. That’s just the surface. As the third most used letter in the English language, “A” is crucial to communication and understanding.

Vitamin A is just as crucial for children. An estimated 190 million children under the age of five suffer from vitamin A deficiency, a deficiency that is a major underlying cause of child mortality and blindness around the world.

vitaminwater has teamed up with Vitamin Angels, a charity dedicated to providing essential nutrients to undernourished children around the world, in order to give back and do good. And we can all join in.

There are three videos (below) created in conjunction with the Tongal community by vitaminwater to raise awareness of this vitamin and it’s all too widespread deficiency. But vitaminwater is raising more than just awareness – they’re raising money. For every single view of each video, vitaminwater will donate $0.25, the equivalent of one year’s worth of vital Vitamin A for a child.

It’s true. Vitamin A deficiency is a major problem with a simple solution. Twenty five cents.

The videos are tremendously inspiring, draw attention to the Vitamin Angels mission, raise awareness of the importance of Vitamin A and earn money towards the cause with every view. What are you waiting for? Check them out!

Already, vitaminwater has helped Vitamin Angels reach more than 2 million children through a monetary donation and with the views on the videos below, they’re aiming to reach another one million children!

You help just by watching. With one simple click to play, you’re helping malnourished children around the world get the vitamins and nutrients they need. Be sure to pass along the video and the word to get more people to watch and get more Vitamin A to kids who need it.

Posted in: Giving Back, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle