Buy Angelina Jolie's Jacket for Charity

You could own the leather jacket worn by Angelina Jolie in her new movie, Wanted, and 100% of the price goes to a great nonprofit PLAN!T NOW (the organization formerly known as the Grenada Relief Fund started by the Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman). According to their Web site, this organization advocates empowerment of people through information and connection and provides dialogue between people living in hurricane and severe-storm affected areas and those who should prepare in coastal regions of the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Operating with the understanding that no matter where you live, a natural disaster can happen at any time, PLAN!T NOW advocates the power of preparedness.

For more information or to bid on the jacket, click here.

Bare Your Soul with Philosophy

Sephora and Philosophy are teaming up for a contest that lets your inner philosopher shine. Share your personal mantra, words of wisdom or inspiration and they might be on an exclusive Philosophy shower gel launching during Sephora's 10-year anniversary. The winning author will also receive five bottles of their branded shower gel and $500 of their favorite Philosophy products. Three second place winners will receive $250 of product. So get the creative juices bubbling and click here to enter the contest.

For more information about Philosophy's products that give back to charity, go to the Uptown Liz beauty page.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Donate $1 Million to Children Affected by War

The acting couple known for their philanthropy, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, donated $1 million dollars to educational aid to children affected by the Iraq war in both Iraq and the United States.

The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict reported that three groups in Iraq received $500,000 to provide aid to over 5,700 children from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation. The money will go to refugee children, books, supplies and school rehabilitation programs. Another $500,000 went to Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program to provide tutors and counseling to over 2,500 children in the United States who have lost a military parent (or are separated from one) to the war in Iraq.

Angelina Jolie stars in the new action thriller Wanted, coming out this Friday.

Steve Carell Gets Smart About Cancer

Steve Carell, star of the hit show The Office hosted a screening of his new movie, Get Smart, at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The event supported The Zachary Carson Brain Tumor Fund, named after a teenager suffering from cancer who Carell met on the set of his television show through Make-A-Wish Foundation. Carson died at the age of 19, after a 27-month battle with diffuse pontine glioma - a pediatric cancer that causes an inoperable malignant tumor in the brain stem.

The 40 Year Old Virgin is no stranger to charitable events. In June 2007, he organized the Boston premiere of Evan Almighty to fund research for this aggressive cancer.

"It was a great group of people, is a great group of people, and I just felt very honored to be included in that circle," Carell said of the Carson family. "His mom is a remarkable woman and so much of his legacy I think lives through her and the rest of his family."

Prevention Magazine Names Vicki Tashman "Health Hero"

Vicki Tashman, breast cancer survivor and founder of Pink-Link, was named "Health Hero" in the July 2008 issue of Prevention Magazine. "It's an incredible honor," says Ms. Tashman, who founded Pink-Link in 2005, "and it happens to coincide with the anticipated 2,000 registered member, which should happen in July! We are all thrilled!"

According to their Web site, Pink-Link is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower women in obtaining a healthy survivorship of breast cancer. They provide an online support service for women; their Web site creates an intimate and personal link among the patient, survivor, friends and family, using an online searchable database, as well as other supportive services. The resulting connections give women the knowledge needed to promote life and enhance the quality of living with breast cancer.

Currently, Pink-Link has over 1,900 members represented in all 50 states and worldwide. To read the article, either purchase the July issue of Prevention Magazine or click here.

Be Charitable with a Prison Break

Fans of the hit television show, Prison Break, now have an opportunity to see stars Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Amaury Nolasco (and others) in action. charitybuzz, an online auction Web site that supports nonprofit organizations, has a visit for two to the set of Prison Break.
This auction supports The Jorge Posada Foundation, which was started by New York Yankees’ All-Star Catcher, Jorge Posada, and his wife, Laura, because their son, Jorge Jr., was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis when he was ten days old. The nonprofit organization reaches out to those families in need, whose children are affected by Craniosynostosis, and provides them with financial and emotional support. The foundation also raises awareness and encourages further research of this medical condition.
According to their Web site, Craniosynostosis is a congenital or birth defect, characterized by the premature closure of one or more sutures, which causes an abnormally shaped skull. The skull is normally composed of bones which are separated by sutures. As an infant’s brain grows, open sutures allow them to expand and develop a relatively normal head shape. When one or more sutures close early, it can cause the skull to expand in the direction of the open sutures. This often results in an abnormal head shape and in severe cases, places excessive and damaging amounts of pressure on a growing brain.
The bidding for the Prison Break set visit ends June 24th and is good until November 17th of this year. For more information (or to bid), click here.

Reese Witherspoon Visits Japan as Avon's First-Ever Global Ambassador

Actress and first-ever Avon Global Ambassador, Reese Witherspoon, visited Japan where she promoted the Women's Empowerment Bracelet to breast cancer survivors. The bracelet, presented by the United Nations Development Fund for Women and Avon, has proceeds going to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.

During a Japanese Tea Ceremony, Witherspoon commented, “While their courage is inspiring, I was saddened to hear that only about 12% of women in Japan receive regular breast cancer screening. The lack of testing equipment and breast cancer experts in Japan means that many women here do not have access to the medical technology and care that is critical to diagnose and fight this deadly disease.”

Witherspoon has served as an honorary chairman of the Avon Foundation since 2007, which on a global level has raised over $525 million dollars for breast cancer research.

Ramona Russell of Uptown Liz Interviewed by SBTV.com

In April of this year, I had the privilege of sitting on the business panel for the Vision to Venture conference in San Diego. This event for women entrepreneurs was hosted by Microsoft Office Live Small Business, and had experts who shared insights and practical advice on how to take a business to the next level. One of the many wonderful opportunities that came from this was an invitation by Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO of SBTV.com (Small Business Television), to do a podcast interview with her company. Lisa Constance of SBTV.com asked great questions and it turned out to be one of the best interviews I have ever had. To hear the interview, click here and scroll down to the Vision to Venture Audio section and click the play button underneath my photograph.

According to their website, SBTV.com is the first television network on the web devoted 100 percent to the small business market - from business start-ups to established enterprises. They believe that being an entrepreneur is a way of living - not just a way to make a living.

Planet Dog Supports Best Friends

Over the past several years, Planet Dog has evolved into an award-winning, socially responsible, values-based design house. The fire in their belly is to conceptualize, innovate and develop premium products "made for dog, by dog lovers" all the while being fully dedicated to satisfying both you and your best friend's needs.

At Planet Dog, they pride themselves on being known as the pet industry's leader with proven socially responsible initiatives that bring people and dogs together for fun and mutual support. They "romp the romp" by providing financial resources to those in need, educating consumers about canine-related issues, creating an array of non-toxic and recyclable products, and keeping the tails of their "pack" wagging.

Planet Dog's flagship initiative is the Planet Dog Foundation (PDF). The foundation, whose philanthropic mission is to promote and celebrate programs that enable dogs to serve and support their best friends, receives 2% of every Planet Dog purchase. These vital funds, augmented by individual financial contributions and a growing endowment, are donated back to non-profit canine service programs nation-wide. In 2007 alone, PDF donated more than $200,000 in cash and product donations.

Their internal mantra of "think globally, act doggedly," keeps them focused on the higher cause of why they entered this industry...wagging, drooling, sniffing, snuggling, howling, romping dogs.

Photo caption: 100% of the sales of the doggie-durable, buoyant, bouncy, minty Glow for Good Ball (made in the USA) go directly to the Planet Dog Foundation. For more information, go to the pets page on Uptown Liz.

Paul Newman Quietly Donates over $120 Million to Charity

I have always admired Paul Newman for a variety of reasons - his talent, his modesty, the fact that he has lived his life out of the Hollywood limelight for decades, how he has turned the tragic events in his life to make a difference for others, and his charity work.

So I was not surprised to learn (from reports) that during 2005 to 2006, he turned over his entire ownership in Newman's Own - his company that makes salad dressing, pasta sauce and a variety of snacks - to charity. His donations to the Newman's Own Foundation come to an impressive $120 million, and in 2006 he personally gave away over $8.7 million to organizations that support children, hurricane relief, education and the arts. The total amount donated to charity by Paul Newman and the Newman's Own Foundation total a staggering $200 million dollars.

Married to actress Joanne Woodward for over 50 years, Newman created the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp with seed money from Newman's Own. Their mission, in collaboration with its associated camps in the United States and abroad, provides children with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions a camping experience of the highest quality, while extending year-round support to their families and health care providers. The organization also runs camps in Africa every year to help ill and poverty-stricken children.

ek designs jewelry with passion and inspiration

Wonders of nature, strength of spirit and the charm of daily life permeate every piece of Elizabeth Kissick's jewelry. Lovingly designed and crafted in an inviting home studio, this tasteful and timeless collection reflects life's moments that are joyous, stirring and fun.

What started out in 1992 as a fun hobby that fulfilled an artistic need, ek designs has morphed into a premier jewelry design firm. With little more than a good word of mouth chain, ek designs has grown into a company with revenues that continually double each year. Their lines of jewelry can be seen in over 100 retail locations throughout the United States. Every woman will find the ideal jewelry accessories in the assortment developed by owner and designer, Elizabeth Kissick. The entire collection is created with the finest of precious metals, Swarovski crystals, exclusive hand blown beads, and their custom designed silver bead frames, beads and toggles that befits these distinguished designs. In its fifteen years of existence, the business consistently has held excellence in materials, workmanship and service in the highest regard.

In keeping with a desire to contribute to the surrounding community, ek designs offers jewelry symbolic of struggles and triumphs of various afflictions and contributes to them in multiple ways. ek designs jewelry donates proceeds from the sale of such pieces to organizations that represent these diseases. The wearer of a Breast Cancer Bracelet or AIDS Awareness Bracelet garners strength from the power of the piece and the kindness of the designer. Elizabeth's first cause bracelet was a Breast Cancer bracelet in honor of her Nana who died from the disease. ek designs jewelry donates proceeds from the sale of such pieces to organizations that represent AIDS, breast cancer, suicide prevention, autism, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

Elizabeth shares her passions of the heart with those who wear her jewelry. Poems and inspirational messages have been selected thoughtfully to accompany many of the pieces. As a lovely bauble for someone dear or as a beloved treasure for one's self, these gifts are meant to be cherished through the ages.

For more information or to purchase some of the jewelry from ek designs, go to the bracelet page on Uptown Liz.