Sting Joins Elton John and Lady Gaga for The Rainforest Foundation Charity Concert

Sting and Trudie Styler hosted the 16th annual Rainforest Foundation benefit concert to celebrate the organization’s 21st anniversary at Carnegie Hall on Thursday night. This year’s performers included Elton John, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Debbie Harry, Mary J. Blige and Shirley Bassey.

The event – which has been the Foundation’s main fundraiser since 1989 – was dubbed as an evening of 1980s hits and stars (“Sting told me we’re doing a show of ’80s nostalgia,” said Springsteen. “I said, ’That’s easy! We’re both ‘80s nostalgia!’”).

And the concert didn’t let fans down, with Sir Elton covering Madonna’s Material Girl and The Boss singing a version of Bryan Adam’s Cuts Like A Knife. Sting duetted with Lady Gaga on Stand By Me, while Gaga joined Sir Elton for Speechless/Your Song. Sting also joined Mary J. Blige for their 2003 duet Whenever I say Your Name. Both Elton and Sting joined Shirley Bassey for Hey Big Spender, and the evening ended with everyone on stage for Don’t Stop Believing.

Slash Leads Rockers For Charity

Motorhead frontman Lemmy, former KISS star Ace Frehley and legendary guitarist Slash rocked Los Angeles on May 7 for the sixth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert in honor of former First Lady Betty Ford and to raise money for the famous Betty Ford Center she founded.

In addition to raising money for the MusiCares MAP Fund – which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment –
Samantha Ronson also DJed during the event in memory of tragic death of Adam ‘DJ AM’ Goldstein, who died after suffering an accidental drug overdose last August.

The Betty Ford Center provides effective alcohol and other drug dependency treatment services, including programs of education and research, to help women, men and families begin the process of recovery.

Mary J. Blige to Headline Cinema Against AIDS at Cannes

Mary J. Blige will give a special performance at this year’s seventeenth annual amFAR Cinema Against AIDS event on May 20 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France.

Hosted by Alan Cumming, the black-tie event – which features a cocktail reception, dinner and live auction – has become one of the most aniticpated events held during the Cannes Film Festival.

The Cinema Against AIDS event includes many of the celebrities and personalities associated with the film festival, while also attracting familiar faces from the worlds of fashion, music, business, and international society.

Event Chairs include: Giorgio Armani, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Blunt, Kenneth Cole, Milutin Gatsby, Ryan Kavanaugh, Michel Litvak, Vincent Roberti, Carine Roitfeld, Sharon Stone and Harvey Weinstein.

Since 1993, Cinema Against AIDS events around the world have raised more than $50 million for lifesaving AIDS research.

Jay-Z Launches Roc Nation Aviators With Skullcandy

Jay-Z has teamed with Skullcandy to release the Roc Nation Aviator headphones in a new joint venture between the two companies.

According to reps for Skullcandy, the new partnership will “push new levels” of style and sound in the marketplace.

“Our passion is creating amazing music,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “We’re dedicated to delivering the best in live performances. Now with the Roc Nation/Skullcandy partnership, we’re offering the best way for people to experience the soundtrack of their lives.”

According to a press release, the Roc Nation Aviator is designed with superior metals, polycarbonate headphone cups, plush memory foam ear cushions and materials previously used in designer eyewear.

“This partnership is an incredible opportunity for Skullcandy,” the company’s CEO Rick Alden said. “By teaming up with Roc Nation on both the creative and marketing direction of these new products, we are able to set the bar at a new high - challenging the future quality of what emerges in the industry from here on out.”

The Roc Nation Aviators will be released this June.

Pam Anderson Asks Congress: End Harmful Chimpanzee Experiments

Pamela Anderson is pressing Congress to help find a cure for hepatitis C — a disease she’s battling — without experimenting on chimpanzees.

She’s calling on both Rep. Frank Pallone and Rep. Henry Waxman to ban invasive chimpanzee experiments and support modern, human-based research methods. In a letter dated May 13, Ms. Anderson asks the congressmen to co-sponsor the Great Ape Protection Act (H.R. 1326). The bipartisan legislation would phase out invasive chimpanzee experiments and release all federally owned chimpanzees to sanctuaries. The bill currently has more than 140 congressional co-sponsors.

“As one of the more than 3 million Americans living with hepatitis C, I am writing to ask that you take steps to end ineffective and cruel research using chimpanzees and direct federal funds to modern, human-based research methods that will be more effective at finding a vaccine and treatment for hepatitis C and other deadly diseases,” writes Anderson. "I implore that you encourage the National Institutes of Health and other agencies to invest in more effective and efficient human cell based technologies that are more likely to yield successful results.

“I have a personal interest in supporting the search for a vaccine for this disease and others, but it is clear that confining chimpanzees to small cages for decades, at great cost to these highly intelligent and social animals, is not moving us closer to that goal.

“I am writing to you now to urge you to call for a hearing in the Energy and Commerce Committee about the Great Ape Protection Act, a bill that would end ineffective and harmful experiments on chimpanzees and release federally owned chimpanzees to sanctuaries.”

More than 1,000 chimpanzees currently live in laboratories in the United States. Many live in cages about the size of a kitchen table for decades. The United States is the only country still using chimps in large-scale research.

Diddy Teams Up with M&M's to Throw a Color Party in NYC

For the past month, Americans have been visiting www.MMS.com to vote for their favorite M&M'S® character – Red, Ms. Green, Yellow, Orange or Blue. Today, M&M'S® Brand announced a unique partnership with Diddy that gives consumers an entirely new reason to vote.

To celebrate the M&M'S® character voted America's favorite, internationally-renowned music superstar and business mogul, Sean "Diddy" Combs will produce a special M&M'S® Color Party in New York City. This will be the first time consumers will be able to choose the color of one of Diddy's legendary events. The guest list? One M&M'S®-loving American and 20 friends who can win by registering for the "Party Like Diddy Sweepstakes." Diddy will also meet the winner in advance to help plan his first-ever Red or Green or Yellow or Orange or Blue Party.

"This year, I'm touring North America and Europe to promote my new album, Last Train to Paris, so unfortunately I can't throw my annual White Party," said Sean "Diddy" Combs. "But I wanted to make sure there was at least one colorful affair on the calendar this summer, so I'll be producing the M&M'S® Color Party, in honor of America's favorite M&M'S® character. It's the first time people can pick the color of one of my parties."

Eligible U.S. residents can enter for their chance to win the M&M'S® Color Party produced by Diddy by registering for the "Party Like Diddy Sweepstakes" at www.MMS.com between noon on May 13 and noon on July 6, 2010. In addition to the once-in-a-lifetime party experience, the winner will receive travel and accommodations for them and a guest to meet Diddy to help plan the party, as well as travel and accommodations for 20 of their friends for the party.

Fans can also register to win other amazing prizes while casting their vote for their favorite M&M'S® character, including a$50,000 cash prize, a special M&M'S® branded guitar and a $25 M&M'S Discover® debit card – among other prizes. For more information about M&M'S® character vote, visit www.MMS.com or www.facebook.com/mms.

Lance Armstrong Has 48 Hours To Raise $75,000 For LiveStrong

Lance Armstrong has 48 Hours to raise $75,000 for the LiveStrong Foundation and he needs your help.

“This morning we launched I RIDE FOR LIVESTRONG, a dynamic, virtual version of the Tour of California, where I will be racing starting on Sunday,” said the super cyclist. "This online event allows you to create your own virtual bike, tell us who you ride for (a survivor or caregiver who has inspired you) and race through the California landscape using your story to invite more people to join us in the fight against cancer.

“When we talked to our partners at RadioShack about the campaign, they raised the stakes: If we can get 10,000 people to join the ride in the next 48 hours, RadioShack will donate $75,000 to LIVESTRONG. It’s an amazing opportunity and we are thankful for their support. But we can’t get there without your help.

“This year, cancer will become the #1 killer in the world. If we get 10,000 people to join the ride, the $75,000 gift will go a long way toward supporting survivors and pushing leaders around the world to dedicate more resources to the fight against cancer.

“The Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America, kicks off on Sunday, and each of us at Team RadioShack will bring a personal hero along for the ride. The I RIDE FOR stickers on our bikes will bear the names of survivors and caregivers who inspire us. At even the steepest climb in the race, they’ll remind us that, in the fight against cancer, unity is strength and no one should ride alone.

“But we’re just eight guys and there are millions of stories to tell. That’s why we launched I RIDE FOR LIVESTRONG, a virtual version of the Tour that allows you to create your own bike and tell your own story about who inspires you. Now, more than ever, we need to talk about the global cancer crisis—if something doesn’t change, one in two people will have to fight cancer by 2030. We have to fight back, we have to tell our stories and we have to push leaders around the world to dedicate the energy and resources necessary to see a world without cancer in our children’s lifetimes.

“I RIDE FOR LIVESTRONG is a great way to build our movement and today we have a huge opportunity to generate support for the cause by raising $75,000. We need your help. Will you join the ride?”

For more information, please log-on to www.livestrong.com

Lenny Kravitz To Headline Gulf Aid Benefit Concert

With a home in New Orleans, its no surprise that Lenny Kravitz was the first performer to commit to ‘Gulf Aid,’ the benefit concert to raise funds for efforts to stop the Gulf oil spill from destroying our wetlands.

The April 20 explosion aboard an oil drilling rig leased by British Petroleum took the lives of 11 people and is one of the biggest oil spills in history in the Gulf of Mexico. Efforts to contain the leak (about 210,000 gallons a day) are underway, and there is a massive local movement to try to trap the oil before it reaches the sensitive wetlands and bayous – the heart of Louisiana’s fishing industry.

‘Gulf Aid’ is one such movement. The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 16, from noon to 10 p.m. at that city’s Mardi Gras World River City. The amazing line-up of artists expected to join Kravitz include Allen Toussaint, Mos Def, Ani DiFranco, the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars (including Tab Benoit, Dr. John and Cyril Neville) and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, among many others.

Tickets are $50 and will be sold through Elevate Tickets. All proceeds will go to organizations that help Gulf Coast fishermen and the area’s seafood industry as well as those that address environmental issues. For those who can’t make it to the show, ‘Gulf Aid’ will also be broadcast on the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage radio station WWOZ 90.7 FM.

Proceeds will be managed and distributed by Gulf Aid, a 501(c3) nonprofit corporation created in partnership with WWOZ to ensure that all proceeds and donations are distributed to organizations to focus on two key elements of recovery – the wetlands/coastal environmental issues and the well-being of fishermen and the regional seafood industry.

Tony Hawk Joins Movement For Less Cancer, More Birthdays

The latest celebrity to join the American Cancer Society's More Birthday's campaign is legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk.

With this announcement, Hawk joins celebrities such as America Ferrera, Chicago, Taye Diggs, Justin Bieber, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as the latest celebrity committed to helping save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

“Determination, a ‘Never quit, never give up’ attitude is what it takes to succeed,” said Hawk. “The American Cancer Society has an unwavering commitment to fighting cancer and will not rest until the job is finished! Everyday, working toward a world free of cancer.”

To learn more about the American Cancer Society’s ‘More Birthday’s’ Campaign, please log-on to http://morebirthdays.com/morebirthdays/

Tony Hawk's Charity Donates To Skate Park

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk is donating again! The iconic skateboarder, through his Tony Hawk Foundation is donating $25,000 for a skating park near Atlanta’s Beltline.

The Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark will be a 15,000-square-foot facility and was chosen because of a lack of recreation space, the foundation said.

“The Atlanta BeltLine is honored to be selected by the Tony Hawk Foundation for this generous grant,” said Brian Leary, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “This is an endorsement of the amazing collaboration between the City, Atlanta BeltLine, and our incredible local skateboard community. The inspiration came from the vision, will, and determination of the community. Combined with the City’s strong support, and now this outstanding gift, the new park – Atlanta’s first fully designed skate park – will be one of the best skate facilities in the U.S.”

A total of nineteen projects are recipients of the Tony Hawk Foundation Spring 2010 Skatepark Grants. Worth a total of $150,000, the awards bring each of the recipients closer to their goal of building a free, quality public skatepark in their community.

“We are proud and honored to support the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark project in Atlanta,” said Tony Hawk. “It represents everything we stand for at THF – community involvement that benefits at-risk youth in an area that traditionally has had very little support for sports like skateboarding.”

The Tony Hawk Foundation seeks to foster lasting improvements in society, with an emphasis on supporting and empowering youth. Through special events, grants, and technical assistance, the Foundation supports recreational programs with a focus on the creation of public skateboard parks in low-income communities.

For more information on the Tony Hawk Foundation, please visit www.tonyhawkfoundation.org

Christina Aguilera is Haiti-bound for Charity Mission

Christina Aguilera is Haiti-bound for Charity Mission

Five-time Grammy Award winner, Christina Aguilera, was today named “Ambassador Against Hunger” for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) – an appointment she revealed during her appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”.

“A child dies every 6 seconds of hunger which is a huge statistic for me,” Aguilera told Oprah Winfrey. “After having my own child I just had to be a part of it and do something about it and help change that situation.”

Aguilera, one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, has a track record of interest and commitment to hunger issues. Last year, she traveled to Guatemala to see WFP’s maternal/child health programs. She serves as the Spokesperson for World Hunger Relief, a global campaign created by Yum! Brands that generated awareness and nearly $60 million in funds over the past three years for WFP and other hunger relief agencies.

In January, she performed in MTV’s ‘Hope for Haiti’ telethon that raised more than $ 60 million for disaster relief in Haiti, including for WFP relief work. Later in May she plans to travel with WFP to Haiti to see first-hand how food assistance projects are helping to rebuild devastated communities.

Aguilera described her work with WFP as a life-changing experience and said she plans to go to Haiti soon: “I want to check on the situation there and help to deliver food. I want to visit orphanages and schools there and try to do my part in helping.”
“Christina Aguilera’s passion and dedication to hungry children runs deep, and it will make her a wonderful champion in the fight against hunger,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP, welcoming Aguilera to the WFP team.
Aguilera is asking her fans to join her in the fight against hunger, by going to www.wfp.org/christina or texting WFP to 90999 (US only) to make a $5 donation – enough to feed a child in school for an entire month.

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Russell Simmons hosts his Annual Gala in Dallas, TX

On Saturday, November 14th Russell Simmons hosted his annual Fundraising Gala, Dallas Rocks in Dallas, TX for his Diamond Empowerment Fund charity.

Sisters Vanessa and Angela Simmons presented Jenna Bush-Hager and Barbara Bush with the Rising Star Empowerment Award for the charitable work they’ve done in Africa. Dallas Rocks is an annual event benefitting The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.), a non-profit organization founded in 2007 to raise funds for programs that empower through education in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource. To learn more visit www.diamondempowerment.org

Dr. Dre's Music and Headphones in BEST BUY Stores!

Best Buy Co., Inc. today announced the introduction of Club Beats(TM), a new in-store destination created in partnership with Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre(TM), founded by legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records. As people continue to evolve their ways of consuming music, Club Beats provides a destination for consumers to learn how to create and individualize their listening experience. Club beats will be launched nationwide.

Existing in concert with many Best Buy Musical Instrument stores, Club Beats offers a full service entertainment experience that encourages interaction with the latest and greatest in music, audio, entertainment and technology products including DJ equipment, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and in some locations, the newly introduced HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition laptop.

Houston Rapper BUN B helps feed the hungry

To aid in the fight against hunger this holiday season, Boost Mobile has teamed up with Houston hip hop artist, Bun B, to host a food drive to benefit the Houston Food Bank. The event will take place at the Boost Mobile retail store in Westhill Village . Boost Mobile will also be presenting a $5,000 donation to Bun B's charity of choice, Bethel's Place, a local community development and outreach center.


The Event is on Wednesday, November 25

1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Celebrity Power Magazine supports the RED PUMP RED TIE AFFAIR

Coors Light teams up with Daddy Yankee

Coors Light and Daddy Yankee are teaming up to promote the artist's release of a new single, "Grito Mundial," as a prelude to the launch of his new album, "Daddy Yankee Mundial," slated to be on the market in early 2010.

Coors Light En Exclusiva (In Exclusive) is a series of VIP events taking place in six cities across the country where legal-drinking-age fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet the Latin superstar.

The first release event will kick off in Orlando, November 18, where hundreds of adults gain access to the intimate and exclusive appearance through a text messaging and/or radio promotion. The Grammy-award winning artist will then travel to Houston, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago to meet and greet fans En Exclusiva.

"We know how popular Daddy Yankee is within the Hispanic community, and an opportunity to meet him, up close, in an exclusive environment is a real thrill to loyal fans," said Pamela Palacios, associate brand manager for Coors Light. "This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some very lucky people, thanks to the world's most refreshing beer."

The En Exclusiva single release event of the Grammy Award-winning artist provides a powerful reassertion of Daddy Yankee's commitment to the urban movement that has been the artist's signature since he began his career more than 10 years ago.

Serena Williams and other sports stars launch MISSION Skincare

MISSION Skincare®, the innovative skincare company founded by tennis star Serena Williams, soccer professional Mia Hamm, and other world class athletes, will be launching "Active Lifestyle Skincare Destinations" in the beauty aisle of more than 5,000 CVS/pharmacy locations across the country beginning this week. Stocked with innovative lip, face, body and sun care products, MISSION and CVS/pharmacy have set out to establish the latest category in the marketplace - "Active Lifestyles" - designed specifically for consumers who live an active and healthy lifestyle.

To celebrate the partnership, MISSION will be launching six new products - Revitalizing Lip Therapy Gel in Peppermint, Mega Balm Antioxidant Lip Refreshers in Blueberry-Pomegranate and Acai-Lemonade, Replenishing Hand + Body Moisturizer and Rejuvenating Face Moisturizer. The nourishing skincare and lip care products featuring vitamins and antioxidants will be available exclusively in the "Active Lifestyle Skincare Destinations" at CVS/pharmacy starting in November.

Celebrity PSA

Russell Simmons' Art for Life teams up with Bounty

Students from New York City public school PS 165 assisted Procter & Gamble's Bounty brand along with Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation co-founder and entertainment mogul Russell Simmons, hip-hop pioneer Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, American fashion designer and humanitarian Tory Burch, and artist Amanda Williams in unveiling the completed Building Bounty-ful Bridges 33-foot painted mural. The mural is a compilation of all the completed pieces of the traveling arts program that toured the nation sponsored by Bounty in partnership with Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.

Through Bounty's partnership with Rush Philanthropic, children from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C., New Orleans, and Cincinnati have collaborated in creating a large-scale painting depicting a bridge in their city and representing the "space between us." Youth groups in each city were able to showcase their creativity by being inspired by the city they live in and learn by doing the project with other children. This is in perfect sync with Bounty's mission to provide children with fun, hands-on activities that nurture their creativity and curiosity outside the classroom.

For more information on Bounty's partnership with Rush Philanthropic and fun, at-home art activities, visit www.bountymakeamessterpiece.com.