Featured

Why Ben Affleck Is Living On $1.50 A Day

Desiree Coleman — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:22:23 +0000

Oscar-winning actor, producer, and director, Ben Affleck is known for his support of the Eastern Congo. In 2010, the star founded the Eastern Congo Initiative to provide its people with economic and social development opportunities. This month, Affleck and fellow stars Josh Groban and Jonah Hill are participating in the Live Below the Line campaign by living on $1.50 every day for 5 days (April 29-May 3).

You can participate and bring awareness to a poverty-stricken region close to your heart by taking the 5-day challenge (use #BelowTheLine on Twitter)! Think it’s crazy?... Get this:

1.4 billion people worldwide live on less than $1.50 a day
80 percent of the world’s population lives on less than $10 a day.
Read more about global poverty with our 11 Facts.

Donate these 5 things low-income families need most. GO

Source: ABC

Quote of the Day: Bradley Cooper

Desiree Coleman — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:52:16 +0000

"His story, first of all, needs to be told," said Bradley Cooper, "And it's also relevant on two fronts. One, gun control, and two, the needs to address this – the many soldiers that are coming back with post-traumatic stress disorder."

After learning of the murder of former navy seal and most lethal sniper in U.S. history, Chris Kyle, by the hand of a fellow vet suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Cooper insisted on speeding up production of the film project where he will play Kyle. The film-in-the-works, "American Sniper," was first intended to share the biography of Chris Kyle, but now will bring attention to the issues of gun control and post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans.

Did you know...?

1 in 3 veterans who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD. Check out these 11 facts about the disorder.
We asked our members what they thought about gun control. Check out our survey here.

Learn more about the symptoms and challenges of PTSD. GO

Q&A Exclusive: Sanya Richards-Ross (@SanyaRichiRoss)

Desiree Coleman — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:52:53 +0000

You may recognize Sanya Richards-Ross from the Olympic podium as she brought home 2 gold medals for the US in 2012 or as the sprinter of more than 6 World Championship titles. We’re psyched about all she’s accomplished, but even more amazeballs than gold medals is what she’s doing off the track. We got to chat with Sanya about how she’s creating change in education, sports, and health for young people around the world.

You are a 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist for the USA and World Champion sprinter. How has your sport helped define you?

The sport has taught me so many life lessons. It's taught me humility, perseverance, courage, and faith. Sport has given me the courage to chase my dreams and it has opened so many doors for me including the opportunity to work with wonderful organizations such as the Health & Humanitarian Aid Foundation (HHAF).

What causes are you super passionate about?

When I have found an organization that has the same humanitarian goals that I have, I tend to hold it close to my heart. This is the case with Win With Integrity, Livestrong, Feeding America and HHAF. Each of these organizations works tirelessly to improve lives, especially those of children. I am thrilled to be honored next month by HHAF at their annual Preston Robert Tisch Awards. Their health and humanitarian work in Ghana is making a huge difference in the lives of impoverished communities and I am so happy that I am able to help HHAF fundraise and raise awareness.

What inspires you to help children and teens both academically and athletically? I was inspired to start my Fast Track program because I know how blessed I am to be doing what I love to do, and I was fortunate to get a great education and athletic opportunities. I truly believe that a good education is fundamental for success. If I can help one child that may not have had that opportunity otherwise, I couldn't be happier.

What advice can you offer to teens with a dream? Never forget the importance of hard work, perseverance, and integrity on and off the track or in whatever your aspirations may be. Don't forget to thank people along the way that have helped you and to give back to those less fortunate through organizations like HHAF.

Follow in Sanya’s footsteps and take action around education. GO

7 Celebrities Who Support Arts in Education

Ravelle Mohammed — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:55:09 +0000

Studies over the last 10 years have shown that low-income students who are engaged in the arts are three times more likely to have high attendance records and four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. While researchers are still trying to pin down the reasoning behind these statistics, Kenneth Elpus (of the University of Maryland School of Music) believes that schools with arts education are more engaging places for students to be.

Unfortunately, 6 million children living in the U.S. have no access to arts education. Below are seven celebrities who believe in arts education and are working to lower and eliminate that number.

John Krasinski

Did you know “The Office” star originally sought a career as an English teacher? Yep, that’s right. When he’s not acting, directing, and screenwriting, Krasinski supports creative writing and the literary arts through his work with 826 National and ScholarMatch. Through the latter, Krasinski sponsors Bianca – a college student serious about learning and has an interest in the arts.

Jason Mraz

The Grammy Award winner is quite the activist for a variety of causes – all backed by his Jason Mraz Foundation. In terms of arts education, Mraz actively supports MusiCares, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, and the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC). In 2012, Mraz (a SPARC alumnus) returned home to Virginia to perform in the LIVE ART concert event that benefited SPARC, a non-profit corporation the singer-songwriter credits with kick-starting his imagination.

Meryl Streep

Unlike her award-winning performances, much of Streep’s charitable work goes unnoticed as she and her husband silently and humbly pay it forward through their charity, the Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts. Over the years, the couple has donated generous amounts to Vassar College, Opus 118 Harlem School of Music and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (to name a few).

James Franco

It’s no secret that Franco is a fan of education, and with a resume that reflects a love of the arts, it only seems fitting that the multi-talented actor also supports arts organizations in his spare time. Today, Franco volunteers with and contributes to both The Art of Elysium and 826 National. In 2011, he took part in “An Evening with James Franco,” a dinner to benefit 826DC in Washington, D.C.

Taylor Swift

In 2012, the country cutie showed her support for music education with a $4 million donation to the new education center being constructed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. That same year, Swift also partnered with Chegg to donate $60,000 to the music departments of six U.S. colleges.

Ben Affleck (and Jennifer Garner)

When the “Argo” star isn’t in Hollywood playing actor, director and producer, he’s home assuming the role of superhero father and husband or out advocating for numerous causes (including those backed by his Eastern Congo Initiative). On the arts side, Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner have shown support for The Art of Elysium, Music Rising and Milk + Bookies.

Justin Timberlake

JT has a clear (or – shall we say – “20/20”) passion for arts education. With a firm belief that music is an essential part of a child’s development, Timberlake started The Justin Timberlake Foundation in 2001 to ensure that all American school children have access to quality music education. More recently, Timberlake has also sought to keep the musical legacy alive in his hometown of Memphis, Tenn. In 2008, he donated $100,000 to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and another $100,000 to the Memphis Music Foundation.

Green your art room. GO

Sources: BBC, Americans for the Arts, Online Colleges, 826 National, Delta Sky, GAC, HuffPost Impact, SPARC, Jason Mraz Journal

Education

5 Celebrities With Dyslexia

Teresa.Roca — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:28:26 +0000

Whether you want to star on the big screen, score the winning goal in a championship game or be CEO of a company, any dream is possible—even when struggling with dyslexia. These five celebrities prove that with hard work and dedication, dyslexia can’t stand in the way of your success.

Tom Cruise. There is no doubt about it that Tom Cruise is the king of the big screen. But becoming one of Hollywood’s most famous actors didn’t come easy for him. “I would go blank, feel anxious, nervous, bored, frustrated, dumb,” he told People magazine. Cruise attributes overcoming dyslexia with “sheer will.” He is founding board member of Hollywood Education and Literacy Project. Mission: Un-impossible.
Will Smith. Before Will Smith was ‘gettin jiggy with it’ he was trying to overcome dyslexia. Like most people with this disability, he excels at seeing patterns. This inspired him to use a more mathematical approach when making movies. By the looks of his success, we’d say whatever he’s doing is working!
Keira Knightley. The “Anna Karenina” actress used dyslexia to her advantage. She made a deal with her parents that if she studied hard despite the disability, they would provide her with an agent. “I worked hard to get better and by the time I got to secondary school, it was much better.” It looks like Knightley held up her end of the bargain!
Orlando Bloom. At the 2010 gathering for the Child Mind Institute, our favorite pirate spoke about his struggle with dyslexia. "I had to work three times as hard to get two-thirds of the way. I was frustrated with that learning disability. It makes you feel stupid." The actor’s high IQ score proved him otherwise.
Vince Vaughn. Watching Vince Vaughn crash weddings and dodge balls makes it seem like he has a down to earth life, but the actor has his share of difficulties. He had the double whammy of having both dyslexia and ADD. “When you have these setbacks, you develop a really good work ethic because you have to try harder,” the comedic actor said.

Get the facts about dyslexia. GO

- Teresa Roca is a NYC writer who is obsessed with celebrities, sports and movies. Her favorite cause is bullying and violence.

Attachment	Size
Keira+Knightley+Dangerous+Method+UK+Gala+Premiere+NgXYwFzBxapl.jpg	36.19 KB
National+Movie+Awards+2010+Red+Carpet+Arrivals+1iydzwXDbonl.jpg	63.8 KB
149163483_620x350.jpg	40.15 KB
orlandobloomreturns.jpg	32.35 KB

Learning Disabilities

7 Celebrities Who Stand Up For Gay Rights

Teresa.Roca — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:46:50 +0000

Carly Rae Jepsen became a U.S. sensation with her catchy summer hit “Call Me Maybe.” Now the pop singer is using her voice in the name of LGBT rights.

Jepsen is boycotting her scheduled Boy Scouts of America Jamboree performance until the Boy Scouts of America lift the ban that prohibits gay boys from becoming members.

“I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level and stay informed on the ever-changing landscape in the ongoing battle for gay rights in this country and across the globe,” the singer tweeted.

Jepsen isn’t the only celeb we want to give a shout out to for supporting this cause. Check out the six below.

1. Anne Hathaway. The Oscar-winning actress has always been open about her support for her gay brother. In 2008, she took home an award from the Human Rights Campaign for her support of the LGBT community. She went above and beyond when she donated proceedings from her wedding photos to marriage equality groups. Now that's love.

2. Lady Gaga. Not only did our mother monster establish the Born This Way Foundation in 2001 to create a more accepting society for the LGBT community, but she also donated a whopping $1.2 million dollars!

3. Josh Hutcherson. Our favorite Hunger Games star teamed up with the Gay-Straight Alliance Network to help put an end to homophobia and transphobia in schools. Hutcherson was also the youngest recipient to receive the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards.

4. Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard. Stop, in the name of love! This comedic couple has been engaged since 2007 and has a baby on the way. So what’s the wedding hold up? Bell and Shepard refuse to wed until California legalizes same-sex marriages. (Too cute!)

5. Ellen DeGeneres. She has been a dedicated gay rights supporter since forever. Her most recent effort involved her posting a letter on her blog that urged the Supreme Court to overturn Proposition 8 so gay couples can marry in California.

6. Miley Cyrus. Cyrus wears her support in the form of an equal sign tattoo on her middle finger. She even posed for a NOH8 advertisement, which is a silent protest to those who oppose gay marriage.

Take action around this issue. Here's what you can do. GO

- Teresa Roca is a NYC writer who is obsessed with celebrities, sports and movies. Her favorite cause is bullying and violence.

Why You Should Wish Noah Cyrus Happy Birthday

Ravelle Mohammed — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:18:52 +0000

It’s not every day you turn 13 and Noah Cyrus (Miley’s lil sis) is doing it BIG.

She's asking fans to help her stop horse abuse:

We <3 a girl that can rock a cause she cares about – especially when it gets others to take action too!

Did you know that…?

New York City carriage horses are allowed to work 9 hour days, seven days a week.
There are no pastures for these horses to craze, run, or socialize with other horses.
It’s illegal for a NYC driver to operate a carriage when the temp is 90 degrees or higher or 18 degrees or lower. These guidelines don’t factor wind chill or humidity index.

Raise awareness about this issue at your school. GO

Top 20 Celebs Gone Good of 2012

Ravelle Mohammed — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 16:33:56 +0000

It’s finally here. We know you’ve all been anxiously waiting for this unveiling. Yep, that’s right we’ve got your top 20 Celebs Gone Good of 2012. They have 365 days to make a real impact and this group definitely went above and beyond.

20. Drew Brees

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees leads the NFL in yards and touchdowns. But in 2012, he put up his biggest numbers off the field. Drew and his wife, Brittany, donated $1 million to victims of Hurricane Sandy. The Super Bowl champ’s Brees Dream Foundation has even pledged another $2 million more to various New Orleans charities. He truly is a Saint.

19. Sofia Vergara

Turning 40 is a pretty big milestone. And for Vergara it was a no brainer how she’d be celebrating: by crowdfunding for charity. Duh. Together with giftiki, a group-gifting platform, the “Modern Family” actress helped raise awareness for Dreams without Borders. Every year the non-profit brings orphans from Vergara’s home country, Columbia, to Disneyland. She’s been going with the group since 2006.

18. Olivia Munn

2012 is the year we fell in love with Olivia Munn. Meanwhile, she’s quite the lover herself, especially of animals and the environment. She’s raised awareness about fur farms with PETA and worked with the USDA to combat the circus’s mistreatment of animals. She also kicked off DoSomething’s Green Your School campaign. Brains, beauty, and benevolence: what’s not to love?

17. Carrie Underwood

America’s favorite country music star has had a big year of giving. Underwood recently donated the proceeds from her last concert to charity. And also raised $350,000 for her Oklahoma hometown. The proceeds were given through her organization, Checotah Animal, Town, and School (C.A.T.S) Foundation, and went towards educational improvements. Additionally, Underwood is a huge supporter of The Humane Society and PETA.

16. Demi Lovato

The "Give Your Heart a Break" singer has had a pretty kick-ass year: judging X Factor and topping Billboard charts. Lovato has also done an amazing job of highlighting several anti-bullying campaigns, like “Mean Stinks” and Love is Louder, which helps people dealing with negative self-image, depression, and bullying. She also partnered with yours truly for our fifth annual Teens for Jeans campaign.

15. Ryan Seacrest

Hosting TV, radio, and awards shows like Ryan Seacrest is something most of us will never experience. But thanks to Ryan, thousands of kids with life-threatening injuries or disease will get a chance. The Ryan Seacrest Foundation builds radio stations in children’s hospitals all over the country. When they’re in the booth, the kids aren’t hospital patients; they’re American idols.

14. Emma Stone & Andrew Garfield

Besides being one of Hollywood’s hottest couples, this duo is one of the most creative at shining a spotlight on good. Stone and Garfield were spotted by paparazzi at a NYC restaurant and instead of running for cover, “The Amazing Spider-Man” stars walked out holding up signs that supported two charities: the Worldwide Orphans Foundation and Gilda’s Club.

13. Ben Affleck

A fierce advocate for residents living in a war-torn Eastern Congo, Affleck joined U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to speak at The Child Survival Call to Action earlier this year. The 40-year-old founded the Eastern Congo Initiative, the first U.S. based advocacy/grant-making initiative that is focused solely on the people of Eastern Congo. He was also honored at our Do Something Awards for his work.

12. George Takei

"Star Trek" went off the air in 1969 but George is still, well, a star. He is a huge advocate for marriage equality and tolerance in general. Proceeds from his “It’s OK to be Takei” apparel goes to charity. He even won the 2012 LGBT Humanist Award from the American Humanist Association for his advocacy in the LGBT community. Oh, my...

11. Jay-Z & Beyoncé

The world’s biggest power couple certainly used their power for good. Jay headlined a benefit performance at Carnegie Hall and supports underprivileged students through his Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. Bey’s Survivor Foundation assists victims of disasters, along with AIDS patients and the homeless. Her $5 million housing project will create 43 permanent housing units in her hometown of Houston.

10. Ian Somerhalder

This “Vampire Diaries” heartthrob has got it all – those dreamy eyes, the leading lady, and a heart of gold. He founded the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which works to educate and collaborate with people to positively impact the planet. Somerhalder is also a huge supporter of The Trevor Project. Oh yea, did we mention he loves animals? The 34-year-old took part in the “Strut Your Mutt” walk in Louisiana to help save shelter lives.

9. Selena Gomez

From the radio to the Internet, from Waverly Place to Transylvania, Selena Gomez is everywhere. So is her impact. The 20-year-old triple threat does work at children’s hospitals across the country. And her second-annual UNICEF charity concert raised $200,000 for kids in Africa. Needless to say, we love her like a, well, you know...

8. LeBron James

In 2012, King James made good on his promise to bring a championship to Miami. LBJ has come a long way, but he hasn’t forgotten his hometown of Akron, OH. Or the idea of a promise. His foundation’s Wheels for Education program provides support and school supplies to 300 underprivileged elementary schoolers. In return, they promise to stay in school until graduation. His PSA supports BoostUp.org, which gives at-risk teens encouragement and resources to stay in school. Meanwhile, the MVP is schooling people on the court.

7. Pink

The "Try" singer is a rock star in every sense of the word. Her American Music Awards performance can attest to that. It’s one of the many reasons we love her – that and the amazeballs work she does with PETA. She's a HUGE advocate of shelter adoption and animal rights.

6. Robin Roberts

Our fav morning news anchor has used her battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (once called pre-leukemia) to shine a light on bone cancer. She teamed up with BeTheMatch.org to spread awareness about bone marrow donation. Roberts’ 30-second TV spot on “Good Morning America,” her radio PSA, along with several ads saw over 44,000 people join the registry. (Baller!)

5. Justin Bieber

“Do something nice for someone else today. u know the truth...do it for the right reasons,” JBiebz tweeted this summer. He certainly has. His Believe Charity Drive raised over $1 million for charity. He works with Pencils of Promise to build schools in third-world countries. He visits young cancer patients. He donated $100,000 so homeless kids could go to school. All this, and he still has time to wink 5000 times a day.

4. Lady Gaga

Gaga has a sold-out world tour and 32 million little monsters RTing her more than anyone on the planet. But, fame hasn’t made her a monster. With a $1.2 million personal donation, Gaga started her Born This Way Foundation, which combats bullying and promotes acceptance of the LGBT community. And, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the she pledged $1 million to relief efforts.

3. Channing Tatum

This year was all about Channing Tatum, but People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive made 2012 about others, too. He and his wife, Luckiest Woman Alive Jenna Dewan-Tatum helped raise millions for the Rainforest Foundation They also supprt Angels for Animals and sponsor abused farm animals through Gentle Barn. No wonder Channing was so happy riding to “Pony.”

2. Miley Cyrus

Let’s see: she got engaged, shaved her head, turned 20, AND rocked a slew of causes. Cyrus spent her big 2-0 promoting Saving Spot! Rescue, a non-profit that is dedicated to finding dogs from high-kill shelters a home. The actress/singer also went barefoot earlier this year in support of TOMS’ One Day Without Shoes challenge. Cyrus has helped raise awareness for several other charities like: Save The Music Foundation, the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

1. Taylor Swift

The country-pop star continues to top the charts with her new album “Red” – but that’s not all. TSwift is our number one celeb gone good. She’s had quite a year being the YOUNGEST person to ever receive the Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for her charity work. The 23-year-old also donated 4 million (the largest sum yet!) to the Country Hall of Fame Museum. Not to mention, her tremendous work for young people battling cancer among many others.

Be your own celeb gone good by collecting jeans for homeless teens. GO

QB @TimTebow Calls Teen Injured in Car Crash

Ben Kassoy — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:44:50 +0000

Tim Tebow hasn’t scored a touchdown this season. But that doesn’t mean he’s not doing amazing things. Just ask one teen from Clifton Park, NY.

Earlier this week, 17-year-old Matt Hardy survived a car accident with a drunk driver that killed two of his friends. Hardy and classmate Bailey Wind, the fourth person in the car, were hospitalized after the crash.

The teens’ friends started two Twitter hashtags, #TebowCallMatt and #MissyCallBailey, urging the Jets quarterback and Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin to call the respective students.

The hashtags got the attention of the Twitter world. Tebow's was mentioned 106,290 times and Franklin’s, 42,483. The hashtags also got the attention of the athletes themselves.

After the call, Matt wasn't the only one who was touched.

"Thanks to everyone who got #TebowCallMatt trending & helped connect us. Matt truly inspired me. God bless y'all,” Tebow tweeted.

Franklin mentioned calling Wind on her Twitter, too.

"Called Bailey and left her a voicemail. Would still love to talk to her. Bailey and her community are in my thoughts and prayers #staystrong," tweeted the gold medalist.

For Michael and Bailey, those calls must have been pretty cool. Even better, both are on the road to recovery.

A celebrity can call your friends, too. For reals. Check out our Call of Fame. GO

Quote of the Day: LeBron James

Ravelle Mohammed — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:42:49 +0000

"I don't ever look for individual accolades. I do what I do because I love it and I want to continue to get better at it."

Miami Heat star LeBron James was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year Monday. A definite slam dunk for James who is the first NBA player to win the award since fellow Heat mate Dwayne Wade in 2006.

"LeBron kind of made it easy on us," Time Inc. Sports Group editor Paul Fichtenbaum told the Associated Press. "In a year that had really high standards, he just stood taller than everybody else."

ALSO READ: QB Drew Brees Donates $1 Million to Hurricane Relief

Not only is James killin’ it on the court, he also kicked things into gear for charity this summer. The Heat player runs an annual bike-a-thon in his Akron, Ohio hometown. “Wheels for Education” is a 2.6-mile ride that James and 20 pre-selected high school students take part in. The event is built around a two-week long camp that features reading and technology classes for 360 kids about to enter the third grade.

We love athletes that do good. Apply to be one of our Foot Locker Scholar Athletes and you could win a $20,000 scholarship. GO

Education