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Ramona Russell of Uptown Liz was featured in the Dec/Jan issue of BusinessWeek Small Biz Magazine. In an article featuring several entrepreneurs, she discusses how long distance running helps reduce stress and gives her focus to run a business.
To read the two-part article, click here for part one and here for part two.
"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." - Robert Brault
Jenny's Light (jennyslight.org) was created after the tragic and untimely passing of Jenny Gibbs Bankston and her baby boy, Graham Gibbs Bankston, on December 19, 2007. Jenny had suffered silently with postpartum depression and psychosis.
The name of the foundation was created to reflect the 'bright light' that Jenny was to everyone who had the privilege to know (or even just to meet) her. She was kind, caring, creative, beautiful, poised, and athletic. Her love of life was evident to all of those around her.
By raising money through Jenny's Light, the foundation will be able to help so many new mothers who suffer from this terrible illness. They want to shed light and increase awareness about the seriousness of postpartum disorders (PPD), and also educate and support women and families dealing with it.
With the money raised, they plan to help fund research, pay for distribution of literature in hospitals, become a key resource that women and families can refer to for information and support about PPD, set up more support groups, advertise, support chosen efforts, and help spread hope where so many hearts may feel desperate, desolate, and dark.
Usher Raymond IV (aka Usher), best known for his grammy award winning music and awe-inspiring abdominals, recently joined the long list of Hollywood elite who rock the vote, with the launch of his non-profit's national "I Can't But You Can" Voter Registration Campaign.
The nationwide campaign, geared toward children under the age of 17, was designed to educate America's youth about how political issues affect their lives and encourage them to be vocal about their needs. It also provides a vehicle for youngters to participate in the election, by hosting voter registration drives in their communities. The first of its kind took place this summer with 350 kids in Atlanta.
This isn't the first time Usher has been active on the political front. Just prior to the Voter Registration Campaign, Usher joined Senator John McCain, Senator Barack Obama, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the ServiceNation Summit in New York City, an event where 500 leaders from businesses, universities, foundations and politics unite for the purpose of creating a plan for addressing America's greatest social challenges.
Usher's foundation, Usher's New Look, was established in 2005 to provide leadership, guidance and support to help youth become successful in all aspects of their life - in their communities, careers and as citizens. It's signature event is Camp New Look, a two-week annual youth summit for children ages 12-17, that gives them a chance to leverage their talents and explore opportunities in the sports and entertainment industries.
Thanks to Usher's multiple efforts, the forecast for America's youth is "looking" up.
Hollywood's biggest givers, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, started the holiday season off by making a difference. The couple, who have six little ones, donated $100,000 to Global Action for Children through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.
This is the couple's second donation to the nonprofit; in 2006, they donated $1 million.
"With the holiday season upon us, we hope the generous gift from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation inspires others to give and focus on assisting orphans and highly vulnerable children around the world," the charity's executive director, Jennifer Delaney, said. "Each and every donation can truly make a difference in the life of a child."
Penelope Cruz, actress and AIDS activist, opened the Unbreakable Kiss Mistletoe Installation in New York City's Madison Square Park today.
For every couple who kisses under the mistletoe now through December 4, A Diamond is Forever will donate $5 to the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) in honor of World AIDS Day. The company will also give away a piece of jewelry every day of the campaign.
The money raised will support EJAF's grant-making initiatives of HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS in communities across the Americas and the Caribbean.
According to EJAF: Across the globe, over 33 million men, women, and children are living with HIV/AIDS, and every year 3 million more become infected. Over 56,000 of those infections occur right here in the United States, 34% in young people age 13-29.
"Until we have a cure and a preventive vaccine, teaching people how to prevent HIV infection is one of the most important things we can do right now to bring an end to this terrible epidemic. That has been EJAF's mission from day one," remarked Sir Elton John.
For more information please visit http://www.adiamondisforever.com/.
To support this cause through shopping, go to the HIV/AIDS page on Uptown Liz.
A new San Francisco boutique is revolutionizing the way women think about buyer's remorse and changing the world at the same time.
Philanthropist, a trendy, upscale Presidio Heights clothing boutique, has done something very fashionable with its profits - donate them to charity. That's right. All of them. 100%.
This amazingly generous concept is the brainchild of partners Jessica Moment and Sally Fowler, two ex-Gap employees who feature well known collections from the likes of Rachel Roy and Zac Posen in their store, as well as designs made by local up-and-coming fashionistas.
Like their clothes, the chosen charity changes with the seasons. The first beneficiary is Raphael House, a non-profit dedicated to helping at-risk children and their families achieve stable housing and financial independence.
There's nothing like changing the world, one stiletto at a time.
FOX News was looking for "stress horror stories" from female, business owners; they wanted to know how they dealt with a major stressful event in their lives while owning a business. I had the priveledge of being profiled for this story, where I shared how I have dealt with the loss of my 28 year old sister, Liz, while launching and running a company.
Special thanks to Ladies Who Launch, a membership-based community of women business owners nation-wide, who pitched my story to FOX News. This is one of the many incredible opportunities I have benefitted from through my membership.
To read the article, "Retail Philanthropy: The Story Behind Uptown Liz", click here.
The Giving Back Fund, an organization designed to encourage philanthropy, recently released its annual list of the 30 most generous celebrity donors. To no one's surprise, Oprah Winfrey topped the charts at $50.2 million donated in 2007 alone. The media maven, who donates through The Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Oprah's Angel Network, is very well known amongst her fans for spontaneous on-show giveaways and her South African Leadership Academy, which opened in 2007.
Barbra Streisand, the late Paul Newman and Mel Gibson were also among the top five most generous celebrity donors, with power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt not too far behind.
Clothing designer, Geoffrey Beene, who pioneered such causes as the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center and Geoffrey Beene Alzheimer's Initiative, dropped off the list after coming in second in 2006 with $44 million.
And if you're wondering how this information is compiled, The Giving Back Fund puts it together each year using media reports, PF-990 tax forms and information from celebrity publicists, attorneys, agents and client managers.
All we have to say is "Hooray for Hollywood."
StinkyKids™, an apparel company built around 10 unique and inspiring characters who share the philosophy of being a little stinKer yet doing good and making positive choices , is one of the most creative endeavors out there. Britt Menzies, the founder and designer, is a non-stop, mom, mogul with great passion and drive. So it's no surprise that in it's short existence, StinkyKids has received national press - such as The Today Show and The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch - and landed in the department store wonderland known as Nordstrom.
Boarding for Breast Cancer, a nonprofit that supports youth-focused education, awareness, and fundraising, is having their 1st Annual Save Our Breast Friends Event. Hosted by Kelly Rutherford and Sarah Wynter, this evening will be filled with fun, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, art and silent auction to support the organization's educational outreach program. Make sure to wear your best beach inspired cocktail attire so you can rock out to DJ Kris Graham.
Uptown Liz and Fuffy J. Couture appeared on Good Day Sacramento this past Monday, October 13. The segment featured the Liz Collection, the new Just beCause Bags by sisters and stay-at-home moms, Lyndi Eimerl and Kristin Morrow, that support breast cancer awareness. The chic handbags, which were named in memory of Elizabeth "Liz" Overturf, are black with pink lining, with an inspirational quote inside, and a charm that you can have personalized.
Liz's story has been featured in the new GALS planners at FranklinCovey. This is something that has been in the works for several months, and when Design-her Gals and FranklinCovey decided to partner on a special collection supporting the Gal to Gal Foundation, I was asked to write about Liz, Uptown Liz and my connection to the foundation (in order to read Liz's story, you will have to see the planners in person).
This came about because of my personal and business relationship with the founder of Design-her Gals and the Gal to Gal Foundation, Jeanne Fitzmaurice, who is a tireless advocate and warrior for breast cancer. Although we have never met in person, we have formed a "virtual", mutually supportive friendship that has meant so much to me. I first discovered Design-her Gals just a few months after Liz passed - the company was so Liz; she would have loved it. I contacted them and wrote how grateful I was that they were bringing attention to such an awful disease as stage IV breast cancer. Jeanne was the one to respond, and the rest is history.
In loving memory of Dorit Shapiro, President of the Gal to Gal Foundation, who passed away on October 12, 2008 from Stage IV breast cancer. Dorit was only 38 years old and had two children at the ages of 8 and 4. Please read her inspiring letter (below) and help us honor her memory by granting her only wish this October and raise $250,000 on the Gal to Gal Foundation Virtual Walk. Click Here to join the walk today. To see a video tribute of Dorit, click here.
Uptown Liz has joined Facebook and we would love for you to become a fan. Be the first to hear about new products, company news and much more! To join our Facebook, click here.
In honor of breast cancer awareness month, Target, the nation’s fifth largest retailer in sales revenue, has unveiled a fun and stylish new line of pink products.
The Brita Water Pitcher, Bialetti Cupcake Carrier and KitchenAid Pink Two-Slice Toaster are just three of the boob-friendly items that will join the 35-40 existing products (our fave: the Conair Ionic Styler and Dryer), already promoting breast cancer awareness on Target's Web site. But the pink doesn't stop there. Using proceeds from sales of its pitchers, Brita will donate a total of $50,000 to the City of Hope during the 2008 campaign, and Trudeau will donate 5% of the proceeds from the sale of its Drive Time Travel Mug to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
It's no doubt that The Target Corporation, best known for its corporate responsibility and philanthropic efforts in the fields of education and environmental awareness, has continued its quest to "do good" for the community, while keeping its shoppers "pretty in pink."
The 2nd Annual Gal to Gal Virtual Walk starts today! For just a few dollars, you can design your own gal (and now guy) to virtually walk through 31 cities across the country with Larry King, Stephen Covey, Marg Helgenberger, Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards and the cast of Guiding Light and many others. All the funds raised will go to Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families.
To honor Paul Newman's memory, I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes (that happen to be from him).
"I don't think there's anything exceptional or noble in being philanthropic. It's the other attitude that confuses me."
"The concept that a person who has a lot holds his hand out to someone who has less, or someone who isn't hurting holds his hand out to someone who is, is simply a human trait that has nothing to do with celebrity. I am confounded at the stinginess of some institutions and some people. I'm bewildered by it."
"I respect generosity in people, and I respect it in companies too. I don't look at it as philanthropy; I see it as an investment in the community."
"I had such a string of good fortune in my life, but these kids have been brutalized by luck and most won't get the chance to turn it around. Those who are most lucky should hold their hands out to those who aren't."
"Make sure you live life, which means don’t do things where you court celebrity, and give something positive back to our society."
"I had no natural gift to be anything — not an athlete, not an actor, not a writer, not a director, a painter of garden porches — not anything. So I've worked really hard, because nothing ever came easily to me."
"From the beginning, our management philosophy was, 'If we ever have a plan, we're through.' "
"There are three rules for running a business; fortunately, we don't know any of them."
“If you don't have enemies, you don't have character.”
“People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked.”
"I've repeatedly said that for people as little in common as Joanne and myself, we have an uncommonly good marriage. We are actors, we make pictures — and that's about all we have in common. Maybe that's enough. Wives shouldn't feel obligated to accompany their husbands to a ball game, husbands do look a bit silly attending morning coffee breaks with the neighbourhood wives when most men are out at work. Husbands and wives should have separate interests, cultivate different sets of friends — and not impose one upon the other."
"I'd like to be remembered as a guy who tried — tried to be part of his times, tried to help people communicate with one another, tried to find some decency in his own life, tried to extend himself as a human being. Someone who isn't complacent, who doesn't cop out."
Academy Award winning actor and well-known philanthropist, Paul Newman, passed away from cancer on September 26. He was 83.
Newman, who had an extensive film career spanning over fifty years, and received an Oscar for his performance in The Color of Money, will undoubtedly be remembered more for his entrepreneurship and undying devotion to philanthropy than his iconic film performances.
In 1988, Newman co-founded the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a summer camp for seriously ill children with locations in the United States and abroad. And his famous food line, Newman’s Own, which started with his signature salad dressing and eventually expanded to pasta sauce, salsa, wine and more, became the major vehicle with which Newman funded his charitable work. It is estimated that Newman’s Own generated over $250 million in revenue, all of which, after taxes, went to donations.
Newman was also an outspoken activist for American civil liberties, which he supported through the PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award, presented each spring to a U.S. resident who has fought courageously, despite adversity, to safeguard the First Amendment right to freedom of expression in the written word.
In June 1999, Newman also donated $250,000 to the relief of Kosovo refugees.
On June 1, 2007, Kenyon College, Newman's alma mater, announced that Newman had donated an astounding $10 million to the school to establish a scholarship fund as part of the college's current $230 million fund-raising campaign.
Newman, who famously shunned the Hollywood spotlight, has done the impossible – leaving a legacy of charitable work so large, it will undoubtedly overshadow his cinematic triumphs. And that’s probably the way he would have wanted it.
To see a short video tribute to Paul Newman, click here.
Stuart Weitzman, shoe designer extraordinaire and well known philanthropist, knows the way to a woman's heart - through her feet.
This September, in honor of ovarian cancer awareness month, Weitzman fortified his commitment to ending the silent killer with the launch of his eighth annual celebrity shoe auction. This year, almost 30 celebrities, including Blake Lively, Jessica Alba, Jessica Simpson and Eva Longoria Parker, customized a Weitzman stiletto for one lucky fashionista bidder. Many of the exceptionally detailed and radiant shoes are autographed and/or come with signed posters of the "celebrity-designer."
Proceeds from the auction will support the work of Dr. Marsha Moses of the Folkman Institute at Children's Hospital in Boston. Moses and her team are working to develop a urine test for ovarian cancer.
Shoe shopping never felt so good.
Toyota Motor Corporation, the world's largest automaker, has come to save the day for Hurricane Ike survivors. It recently pledged a total of $1 million in contributions to support in the relief efforts of The American Red Cross and Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund, which aids Toyota dealership employees and their families after disasters in the Gulf States region.
On top of the donation, Toyota is also offering customers impacted by the hurricane a multitude of payment relief options, including extension of payment deadlines and even deferrals.
This generous donation should come as no surprise to Toyota fans. Toyota's history of philanthropic endeavors is extensive. Through its U.S.A. foundation alone, Toyota has donated millions of dollars over the past 20 years to organizations like Girls Inc., the Academy for Educational Development, the American Museum of Natural History and the Ocean Institute, to name a few.
It's clear that Toyota - whose slogan is "Moving Forward" - is definitely helping the Texas coastline and its residents do just that.
Brad Pitt, actor, philanthropist, father of six and one half of Hollywood's hottest couple, is adding a new title to the end of his name - activist.
Pitt, whose new movie Burn After Reading was released on September 12, is taking a stand against discrimination by donating $100,000 to the civil liberties organization, Californians Against Eliminating Basic Rights, the group responsible for spearheading the movement to stop California's Proposition 8 from passing.
Proposition 8 is a California initiative slated to appear on the 2008 California General Election ballot and is designed to eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry. As of fall, 2008, same sex marriage is only recognized in California and Masschusetts.
Brad Pitt, who famously declared his intent to marry longtime girlfriend, Angelina Jolie, only after marriage became available to all Americans, is now one of the most visible proponents of equal rights and gay marriage.
Academy Award winner, Denzel Washington, announced this week that he, along with a star-studded cast of athletes, musicians and celebrities, will partner with the Boys and Girls Club of America to launch a new youth advocacy campaign called BE GREAT.
BE GREAT was created to address the serious dangers facing today’s youth, including academic failure, gang violence, teen pregnancy, poverty, drugs, weapons in schools, obesity and inadequate familial support. The BE GREAT campaign, which formally urges politicians and citizens to become a part of the solution to the American youth crisis, marks the first time in Boys and Girls Club history that alumni of its organization, 57% of whom credit the Club with saving their lives, are coming together to further the generation-changing efforts of the 102 year-old organization.
Washington, who says the Boys and Girls Club dramatically changed his own life, will be joined in the fight by fellow celebrities and Boys and Girls Club alumni Muhammad Ali, Swin Cash, Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Michael Jordan, Queen Latifah, Mario Lopez, John Mellencamp, Edward James Olmos, Smokey Robinson, John Singleton, Ruben Studdard, Usher, Courtney Vance, Mark Wahlberg, and Kerry Washington.
The Boys and Girls Club of America is the nation’s largest youth development network. For more information about the Boys and Girls Club BE GREAT advocacy campaign, click here.
The Oakland Natives Give Back Fund (ONGBF) held their 1st Annual Back To School Youth Expo in August to give back to the city of Oakland, while empowering youth with what they consider to be the building block of success – education.
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and the City of Oakland partnered with OGNBF to give over 730 book bags with school supplies at Oakland City Hall as part of the OUSD's Attend and Achieve campaign. The organization also received support from the Future Foundation, Usher’s New Look Foundation, The Lost Ones, and the Effective Teachers for Oakland Task Force.
More than 900 people attended Youth Expo 2008, where they enjoyed an afternoon filled with fun activities, gifts and entertainment. Youth learned about the importance of education as well as violence prevention and public safety as part of the city of Oakland’s Measure Y campaign.
The event provided of a variety of entertainment and appearances by celebrities and professional athletes which included: the Fashion Rocks youth fashion show, spoken word artists Ise Lyfe and Oakland native Jimmy Reign, dance trio Total Package, Sacramento Kings’ Forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Boston Celtics’ Leon Powe , San Francisco 49ers’ Allen Rossum, and Oakland natives MTV News Host Sway Calloway, Tony! Toni! Tone! recording artist Dwayne Wiggins and his nephew, 13-year-old Ali-Khan Lochin, who served as the DJ.
Motivational speeches were given by various city and school officials, including Oakland Chief of Staff Leslie Littleton, Director of Education Kitty Epstein, OUSD State Administrator Vincent Matthews and OUSD Interim Superintendent Roberta Mayor. Other notables included speaker Keith L. Brown, who served as the event’s master of ceremonies and entrepreneur Michael Parker, founder of Lifeskills 411.
Oakland Natives Give Back Fund was co-founded by Delicia “Dee Dee” Abdur-Rahim, Nyeisha DeWitt and Tameka Raymond (all natives of Oakland) who want to be an example to all Oakland natives by declaring that “your commitment to the community in which you reside should not supersede your contribution to the community in which you were reared”. Currently, ONGBF is fiscally sponsored by the Future Foundation.
Uptown Liz founder, Ramona Russell, was happy to volunteer at this event by passing out book bags to the eager students. To support education by shopping, go to the education page on Uptown Liz.
Photo captions: Top left photo - the crowd at the Youth Expo 2008. Bottom right photo - Co-founders Tameka Raymond (left), Delicia "Dee Dee" Abdur-Rahim and Nyeisha DeWitt.
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A retailer of Uptown Liz, Wendy Brandes, who makes beautiful, high-quality jewelry, is auctioning off one of her sterling silver Diana necklaces. This auction is to help, Stephanie Nielson (aka NieNie), who is a fellow blogger that was injured in a small plane crash last month. She has burns over 80% of her body, her husband, Christian, is burned over 30% of his and their flight instructor, Doug Kinneard, died in the crash. The young couple, who are in their late twenties and reside in Arizona, have four children.
On Saturday, the New York Times wrote about bloggers' efforts to raise money for medical and other expenses. One sentence in the article makes it clear how devastating Stephanie's injuries are: "Last week, during reconstructive surgery on Ms. Nielson’s badly damaged face, doctors retrieved enough tissue from parts of her body to craft a new nose and ears." (You can stay up-to-date on the couple's progress through Stephanie's sister's blog, C Jane.)
The retail price of the Diana necklace is $250. The full amount of the winning bid will go to the Stephanie Nielson Fund. To bid on the necklace, go to Wendy Brandes's blog entry. The auction ends Friday, September 12th.
Photo caption: Diana Necklace
Tomorrow on September 5th, ABC, CBS and NBC will simultaneously broadcast live and commercial free the Stand Up To Cancer show at 8 p.m. EST.
With large media support, the historic event will also feature the following celebrities: Casey Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, Josh Brolin, David Cook, Dana Delany, Fran Drescher, Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Edwards, Jon Favreau, America Ferrera, Neil Patrick Harris, Salma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Masi Oka, Danica Patrick, Christina Ricci, Robin Roberts, Commissioner Allan H. Bud Selig, Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron, Goran Visnjic, Forest Whitaker, Jessica Alba, Charles Barkley, Halle Berry, Jack Black, Abigail Breslin, Kate Bosworth, Sheryl Crow, Ellen DeGeneres, Melissa Etheridge, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Garner, Brad Garrett, Angie Harmon, Tony Hawk, Marg Helgenberger, Diane Keaton, Rob Lowe, Mandy Moore, Don Newcombe, Sharon Osbourne, Josh Peck, Mekhi Phifer, Keanu Reeves, Jimmy Smits, David Spade and Carrie Underwood.
According to their Web site, Stand Up To Cancer, a nonprofit organization, has announced an innovative approach to research designed to bring together the best and brightest investigators from leading institutions around the world. This unique initiative, which will foster scientific collaboration and accelerate the discovery of new therapies, will be administered by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) under the direction of a Scientific Advisory Committee led by Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT.
Every day, cancer kills 1,500 Americans— one person every minute. This year, more than 550,000 Americans and six million people worldwide will succumb to this vicious disease. One out of three women and one in every two men will be diagnosed in their lifetimes. With advances in technology and research, scientists are close to pushing cancer from a disease that all too often takes lives to one people largely triumph over. This is where the end of cancer begins.
Writer, director and actor, Ben Affleck, won a charity poker event which raised $60,000 for Paralyzed Veterans of America.
The poker enthusiast defeated over 100 players, including two professional poker players, and celebrities Seth Myers, Sarah Silverman, Richard Dreyfuss and Montel Williams, in a six hour time period.
The tournament, which was held in Denver during the Democratic National Convention (DNC), was sponsored by the Poker Players Alliance. The organization paid for the event space, the dealers, tables, open bar and $500 buy-in for the players.
Next stop for the Alliance: another charity tournament at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Minnesota.
According to their Web site, The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a congressionally chartered veterans service organization founded in 1946, has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of our members—veterans of the armed forces who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction. The organization will use that expertise to be the leading advocate for: quality health care for their members, research and education addressing spinal cord injury and dysfunction, benefits available as a result of their members’ military service and civil rights and opportunities which maximize the independence of their members.
To support military causes, go to the Military page on Uptown Liz.
The most decorated Olympian in history, Michael Phelps, used his $1 million bonus from Speedo to start a charity that will promote water safety and youth swimming.
The bonus from Speedo was contingent on the swimmer winning seven gold medals in one Olympic Games. The company will partner with Phelps to launch a program called "Dream, Plan, Reach" which will be promoted in eight cities across the United States. The program will educate and help children to live healthy, active and responsible lifestyles.
Phelps who won eight gold medals in Beijing - giving him a total of 14 golds - and holds 26 world records explained to Matt Lauer of the TODAY show, “because this sport has done so much for me, and for me to be able to welcome other kids and share the experiences that I‘ve had for the past 15 years of my life.
“I feel it's only appropriate that I continue the momentum that Speedo helped to create by committing my bonus to the establishment of the Michael Phelps Foundation, which I hope will help me inspire others to achieve their dreams, and give back to the sport that has given me so much,” Phelps said in a statement.
You have a chance to see Oprah and several Olympians in Chicago.
Place: Millennium Park
Time: The park opens at 6 am. Admission to the lawn will be first come first served basis.
Date: Wednesday, September 3rd
For more information and surprises about the event, go to Chicago2016 Channel.
Delicate tuberose. Zesty grapefruit. Energizing mint. These are just a few of the gorgeous, natural scents found in the Soulstice bodycare collection.
Scott Harrison, the founder of charity: water, is using his birthday to make a difference for the second year in a row. Last year he asked people to donate money toward a well in Kenya instead of buying him gifts. He also called out to others born in September to do the same. The result was $159,000 raised that went toward a water system at three hospitals and one school in Kenya. All donors - no matter the size of the donation - had their name on the well at the Mogotio Health Clinic.
From Scott Harrison's birthday page:
I want my 33rd birthday to make a difference this year, and I need your help.
I recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia, where I visited 33 villages without clean water that you see on the homepage. The people I met there broke my heart. Some walked hours each day, breaking their backs carrying dirty water. Others drank water with leeches in it. I promised to help each and every one of them get clean water. And then to keep going and fight for others - to really make a dent in Ethiopia's water crisis.
I'm asking for your help. I want to raise $1.5 million to build at least 333 wells in Ethiopia. Those wells can give more than 150,000 people clean and safe drinking water. To do that, I'm giving up gifts that I don't want or need, and asking for your donations of $33, $330 or whatever you can give.
100% of all donations go DIRECTLY to build wells that will be proved on Google Earth, and all donations will be matched by a group of compassionate friends and businesses.
So $33 = $66, and $330 = $660.
If we're successful, we'll drill a well live from Ethiopia on September 7th, so you can see exactly what your money will do.
It's not just designer duds coming down the runway at Saks Fifth Avenue - it's clean water as well. The high-end department store hosted their Summer Gala - a fundraiser for charity: water - with 1,000 guests including celebrities Jennifer Connelly, Mischa Barton and Adrien Grenier.
At the time of actor Heath Ledger's death, he was filming the movie The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law joined the cast to play different versions of Heath's character.
The three actors decided to donate their earnings from the film to Ledger's daughter, Matilda, when learning he had not updated his will to include her. Please support the work of these generous men by seeing this movie and their future projects. Johnny Depp - The Rum Diary, Dark Shadows, Shantaram, and Public Enemies. Colin Farrell - Dirt Music, Ondine, Triage, and Pride and Glory. Jude Law - Repossession Mambo and Rage.
Kelly Ripa, Molly Sims, Christy Turlington and other celebrities put their shopping skills to the test for a good cause. Super Saturday, an event held in the Hamptons, raises thousands of dollars for The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund every year.
Referred to as the "Rolls Royce of Garage Sales" by The New York Times, the shopping extravaganza has over 200 designers - from Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Theory, Maxx New York and more - at deeply discounted prices.
According to their Web site, the mission of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is to fund research to find a method of early detection and ultimately a cure for ovarian cancer. In support of their mission, they help patients and their loved ones understand the disease and its treatment, and provide outreach programs to raise public awareness.
To shop for products on Uptown Liz that support Ovarian Cancer, click here.
Mariska Hargitay, star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, hosted the first annual Joyful Heart Gala which benefited the nonprofit she started to help victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Hargitay and friends such as Hillary Swank, Marcia Gay Harden, Bobby Flay, and Jill Hennessy raised $1.2 million for the foundation.
"I started the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2002 to help survivors of sexual assault heal their minds, bodies and spirits and reclaim their lives. Playing Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit opened my eyes to the epidemic of sexual assault in this country. It wasn't just in the scripts for the show, but in the many emails I received from viewers disclosing their stories of sexual assault for the first time.
I felt a great responsibility to these brave women to let them know that they had been heard and that they could have hope. I studied the subject, trained to become a crisis counselor, and have used my visibility as an actress to become an advocate. The result was The Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support and encouragement for survivors of sexual assault.
In creating programs for our members, we quickly realized that everyone heals differently. We provide an extensive network of resources for women and our own groundbreaking retreats that include art therapy, surf camps, swimming with dolphins in the wild, yoga and writing workshops that complement traditional counseling and therapy. When women are abused and assaulted, it is like the doors to their souls slam shut. The goal of Joyful Heart is to let the light, and the life, back in--to banish the darkness and let the healing begin." (From the Joyful Heart Foundation's Web site).
To shop for products on Uptown Liz that support sexual assault victims (and the Joyful Heart Foundation), click here.
Charles Barkley, author and former NBA player, was a generous tipper to busboy Christian Abate of Philadelphia. He offered to help him with his college tuition and gave him the length of his meal to accept.
He's a nice kid," Barkley said of Abate. "He was working with kids, I loved that he wanted to be a teacher, and I wanted to help him".
This is not the first time Barkley has reached into his own pocket for education - he has given over $3 million to schools in his home state of Alabama.
Famous rapper, Kayne West, and MTV's Sway Calloway surprise war veterans from Iraq on the upcoming special "Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming". The special features Kayne and Calloway visiting with three veterans - Tirann Laws, Shameeka Gray and Lorenzo Zarate - in their homes and listening to the difficult challenges they face after coming home.
"There are hundreds of veterans out there who are falling through the cracks. They make the ultimate sacrifices for us by laying down their lives, but it seems like a lot of them just get forgotten about," West said. "I know my music inspires and helps a lot of people, but you can always do more. I teamed up with MTV and took the opportunity to share the spotlight with these veterans and hear their stories. I went to their homes to listen and get their firsthand experiences. I wanted to hear their stories."
West also helped each veteran out - either with financial debt or monthly bills - with the help of MTV and the Dr. Donda West Foundation which was created in West's late mother's memory.
"The stories of the veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are important and worth telling," Dave Sirulnick, executive vice president for MTV News and Production, said in a statement. "In conversations with veterans over the last year, it became clear that Kanye's music is used by soldiers in Iraq as a way of connecting to home. Once these veterans return home, their stories are so moving that you can't help but want to do the right thing and help them out."
The one-hour special, which airs July 28 at 10 p.m. ET, will give viewers information on how they can help the 1.5 million veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars through Choose Or Lose and the Dr. Donda West Foundation.
October 2006: Ramona Russell created an e-mail newsletter for breast cancer awareness that sparked the idea for Uptown Liz.
March 2007: Ramona Russell decided to go forward with Uptown Liz.
April 2007: Ramona Russell starting working on the business by joining a Ladies Who Launch incubator and forming a focus group with some of the members.
July 2007: Ramona Russell launched Uptown Liz on July 17th.
August 2007: Ramona Russell interviewed by former CNN news anchor, Daryn Kagan.
August 2007: Web site reached over 95,000 hits.
September 2007: Web site reached over 127,000 hits.
October 2007: Uptown Liz featured on Great Day Houston.
October 2007: Ramona Russell and Uptown Liz featured on Good Day Sacramento.
October 2007: Web site reached over 158,000 hits.
January 2008: Uptown Liz featured on KillerStartups.com.
January 2008: Uptown Liz featured on Lucky magazine's blog.
January 2008: Web site reached over 190,000 hits.
March 2008: Web site reached over 220,000 hits.
April 2008: Ramona Russell invited to particpate on the business panel for Microsoft Office Live Small Business' Vision to Venture Conference.
May 2008: Ramona Russell interviewed by SBTV.com.
July 17, 2008
Happy Anniversary to Uptown Liz! One year ago today, I launched this business in memory of my 28 year old sister, Liz, who died from breast cancer on what would have been her thirtieth birthday. I feel incredibly blessed to have this business and want to thank all of my family, friends, colleagues, retailers and nonprofits who have been so supportive. Your inspirational stories and thoughtful e-mails continue to drive me and, with your help, I have been able to create a legacy for my sister and shine a light on people who are making a difference in the world. It has been such a wonderful first year; I like to think that Liz is working her magic for me.
In gratitude,
Ramona Russell
Founder
Fellow actors and friends, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon have launched an advertising campaign to bring awareness to Myanmar.
The ad, sponsored by the activist group Not On Our Watch, states that the country's regime is putting putting their people at risk by preventing foreign aid from entering since the Cyclone Nagris disaster. "Burma’s neighbors have the power to help victims who remain desperately in need," a quote from the ad which was signed by many surrounding countries’ presidents.
According to Not On Our Watch, Burma (also known as Myanmar) is governed by one of the most brutal military regimes in the world, led by General Than Shwe. Since 1990, fair elections have not been held. Democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, where she has been held for 12 of the last 18 years. Under Than Shwe, the regime continues to perpetrate gross human rights violations against Burmese citizens. It is estimated that the military has destroyed over 3200 tribal villages, violently suppressing opposition forces through torture, rape and execution. In the wake of Cyclone Nargis, Than Shwe repeatedly prevented foreign aid and emergency supplies from coming into the country, a stance that sharply increased death and disease in those regions hardest hit.
Over 130,000 people have died or disappeared from Cyclone Nagris.
