Lisa Ling Bites into the Horror of Puppy Mills on the Oprah Winfrey Show

No stranger to witnessing human suffering, investigative reporter Lisa Ling, turned her focus on another kind of suffering - animals in puppy mills. The shocking discovery of how man's best friend is treated in these abusive, factory-style breeding operations, aired on the Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday. The hard to watch video of dogs who have spent their entire lives in small cages, never to walk outside, with injuries untreated only to be put down when they are deemed no longer useful, sent a powerful message to animal lovers everywhere.

What can you do to help? According to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the number one way is to stop buying animals from pet stores (who obtain their animals from puppy mills) and adopt from shelters or rescue groups instead. There are millions of companion animals in shelters across the U.S., and one out of every four dogs at your local shelter is a pure-bred. Most shelter animals have already been spayed or neutered and have received all their vaccinations and veterinary checkups. It is estimated that over 4 million dogs and cats are put down every year in shelters in the United States alone.

The American Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (ASPCA) 10 ways you can fight puppy mills:
1. Do Not Buy Your Puppy From a Pet Store
2. Make Adoption Your First Option
3. Know How to Recognize a Responsible Breeder
4. See Where Your Puppy Was Born and Bred
5. Internet Buyers, Beware!
6. Share Your Puppy Mill Story with the ASPCA
7. Speak Out!
8. Tell Your Friends
9. Think Globally
10. Act Locally!

To support animal causes by shopping on Uptown Liz, go to our Animal Cruelty page.

Ramona Russell of Uptown Liz at Vision to Venture

I have been invited to particpate on a business panel for the Vision to Venture conference. This event for women entrepreneurs is hosted by Microsoft Office Live Small Business, and will have experts share insights and practical advice on how to take your business to the next level.

Make your dream of being a successful business owner a reality. Whether you've already launched your business or are thinking of starting one, join other enterprising women for this unique blend of high-impact sessions and networking opportunities.

Attend in a city near you or register to view the event online for FREE.

Wentworth Miller Fans Raise Money for UNICEF

Wentworth Miller, star of the hit TV show Prison Break, has a loyal and charitable fan base. They recently joined together to raise money in the actor's name for UNICEF. The fundraising effort, appropriately named Wentworth Miller Fans For Charity, will run from April 1st - June 30th.

According to their website, UNICEF is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. They have the global authority to influence decision-makers, and the variety of partners at grassroots level to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. That makes them unique among world organizations, and unique among those working with the young.

Miller, 35, adds, "It’s my privilege to be a part of the entertainment business, an industry that has reached out to and touched the lives of billions of people around the world. It gives me tremendous pleasure to think that many of those same people have been motivated to reach out to others in turn. This charitable effort was conceived, organized and executed by a group of generous fans willing to donate their time and energies to a worthy cause. I’m honored to participate in this process, and I thank you for doing the same.”

McClatchy Varsity Baseball Team Goes Bald for Childhood Cancer

My friend and head varsity baseball coach of C.K. McClatchy high school, Mike de Necochea, is helping to strike out childhood cancer. Mike, along with his players and assistant coaches, will be shaving their heads to help bring awareness for the St. Baldrick's Foundation - the world's biggest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer. In eight years, events have taken place in 18 countries and 46 US states, raising over $34 million, and shaving more than 46,000 heads.

The C.K. McClatchy baseball team's event takes place on Saturday, April 5th at 12:00 p.m. at the CKM varsity baseball field and everyone is welcome to attend. To donate and help with this wonderful cause, go to the CKM Baseball page. If you would like to go bald or volunteer, you can register online and start sending out the message that CKM Baseball cares about their community.

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.