Celebrities Give Back: Usher Gives Philanthropy a "New Look"

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.

Celebrities Give Back: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Donate to Global Action for Children

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."

Sactown Magazine Features Uptown Liz

I had the privilege of being featured in the December/January, 2nd Anniversary Issue of Sactown Magazine. In the article, "Butterfly Effect" (page 93), I talk about the misdiagnosis that led to my 28 year old sister's death from breast cancer. I also discuss why I created Uptown Liz as part of her legacy.

My deepest gratitude to Elyssa Lee (Co-Editor In Chief) for her thoughtful and touching article and the opportunity to continue to grow Liz's legacy. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Elyssa, Rob Turner (her husband and Co-Editor in Chief) and photographer Chris Kaufman (who did a beautiful job shooting me for three hours with live butterflies).

Sactown (click here for newsstand locations all over California) has quickly become the magazine to read for in-depth stories on people, places and things in Northern California. Pick your copy up today!

World AIDS Day: Penelope Cruz Celebrates with Unbreakable Kiss

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.

Shop for a Cause: New San Francisco Store Makes Philanthropy Fashionable

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.

Shop for a Cause: Learning is an Art Provides Creative Fun That's Seriously Academic

Learning is an Art (LiA) sells educational toys, games, and DVDs for kids, teens, and adults that encourage learning through creative, hands-on play. The goal is to make learning fun, and to encourage families to play and learn together while also promoting enjoyment, and thus retention, of academics.

Educators and husband and wife team John and Jennifer Fong, co-founders of LiA, feel a calling to help people all over the world. Joined by a team of education and design experts who are also dedicated to the cause, 100% of the profits earned by LiA, after taxes and expenses, are donated to top-rated charities.

LiA also provides a home-based opportunity that allows people to make a difference while earning an income. LiA consultants sell products at home parties, educational workshops, through individual consultant Web sites, fundraisers and more.

LiA supports the following charities: America's Second Harvest - the Nation's Food Bank Network is the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization, with a network of more than 200 member food banks and food-rescue organizations. Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption - the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America's foster care systems ready and waiting to be adopted. FINCA International - FINCA provides financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living. Physicians for Peace - Physicians for Peace is an international, humanitarian, nonprofit, medical education organization dedicated to building peace and international friendships in developing nations with unmet medical needs and scarce resources through medical education and training, clinical care, and donated medical supplies. READ Foundation - the Reading Excellence and Discovery (READ) Foundation targets economically disadvantaged students and teens in New York City, and employs one-on-one research-based reading instruction to prepare at-risk children to become proficient readers. Toys for Tots - the primary goal of Toys for Tots program is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

To shop product from LiA, go to the games and toys page on Uptown Liz.

Graphic caption: product from LiA.

Ramona Russell of Uptown Liz on FOX News

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.