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Word of Madonna film reaches village of David Banda's father
Some 100 miles from Malawi's capital, the dusty village of Lipunga has no movie theaters or video players, let alone electricity. But villager Yohane Banda has at least heard that Madonna's new documentary is meant to draw attention to this southern African country's poverty.
It's a subject Banda knows well. Poverty forced him to put his son in an orphanage — and now Madonna is on the verge of adopting his son, David Banda, who turns 3 in September.
Banda said David's mother died when his son was just a month old. He believed that he could not care for him alone and that placing him in an orphanage was his "surest" chance to survive.
Some 100 miles from Malawi's capital, the dusty village of Lipunga has no movie theaters or video players, let alone electricity. But ... more -
Rihanna touring for kids in need
Singing sensation Rihanna has jumped on the celebrity charity band-wagon.
Her charity "The Believe Foundation" got together with Island Def Jam, local foundations in three cities and Escada to sponsor the event, called "A Girl's Night Out".
The next "A Girl's Night Out" concerts are scheduled for March 28 at San Francisco's Ruby Skye and April 9 at New York City's HighLine Ballroom.
It's nice to see celebs give back.
Singing sensation Rihanna has jumped on the celebrity charity band-wagon. ... more -
Ozzy Osbourne sells his stuff ...
for charity. Ozzy's glasses, clothes and other items were auctioned off on Friday to benefit The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA.
The auction raised more than $800,000.
So when all their stuff was auctioned off, did they have to but new stuff? for charity. Ozzy's glasses, clothes and other items were auctioned off on Friday to benefit The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program... more -
Mia Farrow Launches Fund for Darfur
Actress Mia Farrow launched a fund to support survivors of the fighting in Sudan's Darfur region Sunday, and said that the jailing of a British teacher in the African nation showed the cruelty of its leadership.
"This is the first genocide of the 21st century and the one genocide that is ongoing as we speak," said Farrow, a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF who has visited Darfur seven times since 2004. "We have a regime that launched a military campaign on an unarmed population for no other reason than that they are not Arab." Actress Mia Farrow launched a fund to support survivors of the fighting in Sudan's Darfur region Sunday, and said that the jailing of ... more -
Hollywood Starlets Give It Up for Charity
Scarlett Johansson works with Oxfam, Natalie Portman stumps for women in developing nations, and Hayden Panettiere makes waves for dolphins. Even tweens such as Dakota Fanning want to save the world. Many in Young Hollywood, especially actresses, are aligning themselves to social causes like never before. There are companies devoted to matching celebrities with charities, even a reality show in the works that hopes to capture every hug.
"We now live in the world of the actor-brand," says Howard Bragman, founder of Fifteen Minutes PR, a Los Angeles public-relations firm that specializes in crisis management. "And for an actor, that brand is defined by the acting, the fashion and the social choices that you make."
I'm not quite sure what to make of this. It's common knowledge that a growing number of celebs are utilizing philanthropy as a PR launch pad for their careers, and my feelings are conflicted.
For the most part, I'm quite glad for the exposure of worthy causes to people following celebrity activity, but another, decidedly more jaded part of me feels like it's all a bit gross.
Except for Natalie. Everything that girl does mesmerizes me.
What do you think?
Scarlett Johansson works with Oxfam, Natalie Portman stumps for women in developing nations, and Hayden Panettiere makes waves for dol... more
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Celebrity Charities
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Celebrity Charities
