Ken Paves and Eva Longoria Parker Raise $2 Million for Epidermolysis Bullosa

Celebrity hairstylist, Ken Paves, and Desperate Housewives star, Eva Longoria Parker, hosted a charity event to raise money and awareness for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). The event, held at Parker's new restaurant Beso in Hollywood, was attended by Paves' celebrity friends Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox Arquette, David Arquette, Orlando Bloom and raised over $2 million. To continue the fundraising, celebs donated items for Ken Paves Big Give Charity Auction on Ebay - the auction starts today at 1:00 p.m.

According to the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation (EBMRF), EB is a group of diseases characterized by blister formation after minor trauma to the skin. This family of disorders, most of which are inherited, range in severity from mild to the severely disabling and life-threatening diseases of the skin. This rare genetic disorder affects all ethnic and racial groups. Estimates indicate that as many as 100,000 Americans suffer from some form of EB.

Another way to support EB is by purchasing the beautiful butterfly necklaces that were designed by Satya Jewelry. For more information go to the Epidermolysis Bullosa page on Uptown Liz.

Maloofs Help Oprah Show Contestants Give Big

Living in Sacramento for the last 10 years, I'm definitely a Kings fan. I'm also a fan of the Maloofs (owners of the Kings) for their millions of dollars in charitable giving to the Sacramento community. Ironically, my first job out of college was at a non-profit that benefited from the George J. Maloof Sr. Community Cup - a $100,000 donation that is given to one organization annually.

So I was not surprised when Joe and Gavin Maloof made an appearance on Oprah's Big Give this past Sunday and gave each contestant $100,000 to benefit people in need. They also donated $20,000 for the funeral costs of one of the first African American police officers in Miami - Ralph White. And if that weren't enough, the next day the Maloof brothers gave $30,000 to the audience members at The Oprah Winfrey Show.

"The benevolent influence of our parents instilled a strong belief in assisting those in need," Gavin Maloof said. "We are very fortunate to be able to give back and really enjoy lending a helping hand to those within the communities we live."

Jolie and Pitt Put Their Money Where Their Foundation Is

It's a great thing when celebrities use the media attention to focus on people who are less fortunate. According to FOX news, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt donated over $8 million to worthy causes in 2006. Through the Jolie Pitt Foundation, the actors each gave away over $4 million. Some of the organizations that benefited are: Doctors Without Borders, Global AIDS Alliance, Namibia Red Cross Action Program, and the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

Oprah Opens Up Shop - For a Cause

Want to get Oprah's favorite things and help her charities at the same time? All you have to do is stop by the new Oprah Store, located near her television studio, where you can shop for over 900 products chosen by Ms. Winfrey herself. Browse among note cards, pajamas, baby clothes and even personal items from her own closet. Some of these items will have proceeds going to Oprah's Angel Network and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy. The online store will be available in early summer. To visit or call the store - 37 North Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL 60607 and 312.633.2100.

Scarlett Johansson Dates for a Cause

If you're a frequent Ebayer then you may have noticed an opportunity to go out with one of the hottest young actresses working today. Scarlett Johansson, who recently co-starred in The Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman and Eric Bana, auctioned off a date to support charity. The winning bidder will accompany the star to the premiere of her new movie, He's Just Not That Into You, in Los Angeles next June. The effort raised over $40,000 for Oxfam International - "a confederation of 13 organizations working together with over 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice".

Brad Pitt and Former President Clinton Make It Right in New Orleans

This past weekend, Brad Pitt and Former President Bill Clinton worked with hundreds of volunteers in the Lower 9th ward of New Orleans in support of the Make It Right foundation. Headed by Pitt, the organization's focus is to build affordable, sustainable, green housing for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Clinton, who broke ground with Pitt, was there to promote the Clinton Global Initiative - a program designed to encourage college students to make a difference in the global community. Pitt says, "We hope to see a huge change here in the next six months."

Simon Cowell Shows Some Heart

On today's episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, American Idol judge, Simon Cowell, wrote a personal check to help a family in need. Amy and Randy's three year old daughter, Madeline, suffers from cancer and receives treatment over 100 miles from their home. Going from two incomes to one in order to care for their daughter, the couple were struggling to pay their mortgage. But thanks to Simon, the $162,000 mortgage was paid off today.

And the giving doesn't end there. Idol Gives Back, the music celebration that raised over $76 million for charity last year, will air on April 9th. This year the celebrity packed event will include Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend and Snoop Dogg (more celebrities will be announced). The money raised for this event goes to organizations all over the world that help disadvantaged children through medical care, food, literacy and other vital programs.

Word Game = Free Rice to Thousands

What do you do if your son won't study for the SATs? If you're computer programmer, John Breen, you create an online word game that increases knowledge and generates food for thousands of starving people. Free Rice, launched in October 2007, is a 10,000 plus multiple choice vocabulary quiz that donates 20 grains of rice to the U.N. World Food Programme for each correct answer. Since its inception, Free Rice has raised 20 billion grains of rice - that amount could feed one million people for one day. According to Breen, "Ending hunger is doable. It's just a question of getting the word out."

To improve your vocabulary skills and feed the hungry, go to http://www.freerice.com/.

Home Depot co-founder SHARES a blank check for injured soldiers

I am a very proud sister of a soldier serving in the United States Army. My 26 year old brother, Nathan, decided to join the military right after we lost our 28 year old sister, Liz, to breast cancer. He wanted to use his life to make a difference, and in his short time enlisted he has excelled in all their physical demands and shown (to no surprise to his friends and family) to be a great leader. He is my baby brother and only sibling left, and I worry a great deal about the danger he may encounter while at war.

That is why I was so touched to hear of the limitless generosity of billionaire philanthropist, Bernie Marcus, who has agreed to fund the care, transportation and housing of any wounded soldier, sailor or Marine approved for treatment by the renowned brain and spinal injury clinic, the Shepherd Center. Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, will start paying the bills and hopes others will join him and Humana Military Healthcare Services in their efforts through the SHARE initiative.

According to the Army, an estimated 10 to 20 percent of troops leaving Iraq have concussions or mild traumatic brain injury. The military health-care system is overwhelmed with these injuries and the damage often goes undiagnosed, says the CEO of Shepherd, Gary Ulicny. "The mild ones can be more deceiving than the serious ones — the guy looks fine and is walking around talking," he said. "He becomes overly emotional, becomes very impulsive and becomes frustrated easily and this makes it hard for him to hold a job."

The Shepherd Center, faced with loss of funding before Marcus stepped in, has specialized care the military doesn't. "We scan all [the wounded] for brain injuries and they are taken care of," Brig. Gen. Donald Bradshaw said. "It's not that the military can duplicate Shepherd. ... We don't have its expertise."

I feel grateful that my brother is healthy (and unharmed), but for those of you who are not so fortunate, I wish you and your families comfort and peace wherever you may find it.

For more information on the Shepherd Center, go to http://www.shepherd.org/.

Bare Escentuals' customers give Rebirth to Direct Relief International

Bare Escentuals, a leader in mineral-based cosmetics, reached out to their customers to help create a new eyecolor to benefit charity. bareMinerals Rebirth Eyecolor, an iridescent denim shade, will benefit Direct Relief International, a nonprofit organization that provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people victimized by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world. Customers chose Direct Relief as a BE Cares (Bare Escentuals' corporate philanthropy program) beneficiary because of their continued aid to the vicitms of Hurricane Katrina. Direct Relief is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that has received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for five consecutive years and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California’s largest international nonprofit organization based on private support.

A self-proclaimed make-up junkie (and former make-up artist), I'm always excited to try new products. I have been wanting to try this mineral-based cosmetic line for some time, but was skeptical of the loose powder being hard to control and ending up all over my face and bathroom. I'm happy to admit I was wrong - the eyeshadow went on my eye lid and no where else. This unique blue gray color is gorgeous and can go with any skin tone, and the container is designed to keep the loose powder in place and not spill on everything you own. I don't know how they did this, but it's genius.

For every purchase of Rebirth Eyecolor, 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to Direct Relief International and an additional amount equal to 50% will be donated by Leslie Blodgett, CEO of Bare Escentuals. “The creation of Rebirth is a testament to our appreciation of our customer community and our joint passion and commitment to bring attention to important causes that affect us all,” said Blodgett. With beautiful cosmetics that are good for your skin and a generous philanthropic program, it's no surprise that Bare Escentuals is one of the fastest growing cosmetic companies in the United States.

Rebirth will be available March 3rd through April 27th, 2008 for $13.00. For more information or to purchase, please go to the Beauty page on Uptown Liz.

Health food for your lips

Is it possible to get long-lasting lip color without it drying your lips out? Not only is it possible, it can also be good for you. Tarte Cosmetics created "the first-ever lipstick that will nourish, moisturize and rejuvenate lips". Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick is powered by Borba nutraceuticals, which include grape seed extract, acai juice extract, vitamin E, green tea extract, chamomile extract, vitamin A, lychee extract, jojoba seed oil, vitamin K, shea butter and beeswax. And if it couldn't get any better, the product is also paraben and preservative free.

Maureen Kelly, founder and CEO of Tarte, says "I wanted easy-to-use products that would help me recreate beautiful, makeup-artist-inspired looks without all of the unnecessary steps. I wanted products that looked like stylish accessories when I whipped them out of my purse (and to that end, I wanted compact products that would fit in my purse!). Above all, I wanted healthy products that were doing good things for my skin."

She definitely accomplished that with this product. My lips never felt so good as when I was wearing Sweet Dreams - a bright rose color in a chic case - and after eating lunch, the lipstick was still there. If it weren't enough that Tarte is eco-friendly and has given to over 20 charities, proceeds from the Sweet Dreams lipstick (selling for $22) go to the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) - the only international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer.

For more information on Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick, Tarte or their cause, go to the Beauty page on Uptown Liz.

Drew Helps Fill the Cup

We love when someone uses their celebrity to give back. On March 3, 2008, Drew Barrymore gave $1 million to the World Food Programme on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Her personal donation is the start of the WFP's "Fill the Cup" campaign to raise $3 billion to feed 59 million children in developing countries around the world.

“I have seen with my own eyes what a difference a simple cup of nutritious porridge can make in a child’s life,” said Drew Barrymore.

Last year, WFP fed a daily cup of porridge, rice and beans to more than 20 million children. Their dream is to feed 10 million hungry school children in Africa by Thanksgiving Day. And the program comes full circle with 70 percent of WFP’s food purchased from farmers in the developing world.

It takes almost nothing to feed these hungry children - just 25 cents to fill one of the Red Cups. For more information or to donate, click here. To support the WFP by shopping, please check out some of the items that donate to this wonderful cause on Uptown Liz.