The Craig Morgan Charity Ride is set for Saturday, August 7th and Sunday, August 8th, 2010, in Morgan’s hometown of Dickson, Tenn. (30 miles west of Nashville). Proceeds from the two-day event, which includes a ride and concert will benefit the Craig Morgan Charity Fund.
On Saturday, August 7th, the event will kick-off in Van Leer, TN (near Dickson), where you can join professional motocross riders Kevin Windham, Cowboy Kenny Bartrum, Fred Andrews, Barry Hawk and others for a motocross exhibition and a group trail ride – fun for the entire family. Gates will open at 8 am, exhibition and ride begin at 10 am and lunch will follow at 11 am.
The Ride tickets are as follows:
Pre-registration: Ride Tickets $40.00 and includes lunch
Day of Registration tickets $45.00 and includes lunch
Spectator tickets are available for $15 and include lunch.
Sunday, August 8th, Craig will host an acoustic concert with special guest Aaron Tippin at the Dickson Middle School in Dickson, TN. Doors will open at 6 pm the show will start at 7:30 PM. Tickets for this event are $35.
The mission of the Craig Morgan Charity Fund is to build and maintain a home called Billy’s Place for temporarily displaced children in Dickson County Tennessee and to provide lasting funding to the home and various other children’s organizations whose primary goal is to ensure the well-being of children, integrating outdoor activities in their daily lives with the long term goal of starting such homes around the country.
Did an interview with the amazing Valerie Smaldone today! I'm looking forward to being a regular guest on her radio show on WOR710 talking about the celebs and their causes! I met Valerie when I interviewed her and her work on behalf of Ovarian Cancer research. Tune in!
Taylor Hicks released a single to benefit SOS Children’s Villages, to support homeless and abandoned children. “SOS (Save My Body, Save My Soul)" was written by Genevieve Rose is available now on both Amazon and iTunes.
Taylor will perform the song at a world kickoff concert for SOS Children’s Villages, taking place at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on September 26.
I'm a huge Taylor fan, and I absolutely love the way he sounds in this song! Click here for to buy on iTunes and here to buy on Amazon - just $1 for charity, and you get a great song!
Update: Thanks to a reader of this blog, I was told about this article that shows Taylor and the work he's doing for the Alabama area that was hit by the oil spill. Keep up the celeb-do-good work Taylor!
Derek Jeter was named USA Weekend's 2010 Most Caring Athlete for his work through his Turn 2 Foundation. The mission of his program is "To create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and "TURN 2" healthy lifestyles. Through these ventures, the Foundation strives to create outlets that promote and reward academic excellence, leadership development and positive behavior. Turn 2's goal is to see the children of these programs grow safely and successfully into adulthood and become the leaders of tomorrow."
I'll admit I was one of those people who underestimated Bret Michaels at the start of The Celebrity Apprentice. But he grew on me. Not because of his illness, but because of his creativity. Several of the contestants have personal connections to their causes, but I have to pick someone to win, right? It's not that I want others to lose, but I want Bret to win. It's very hard to overcome a party hardy, I-seem-to-care-about-nothing-but-women (Rock of Love) rock-star image, but Bret has done it. If you're interested in donating to Bret's cause, visit The American Diabetes Association.
I borrowed Three's Company's DVDs from the library the other day (I used to watch this all the time when I was growing up) and learned a little about the beloved John Ritter (I am a huge fan of his work and he was definitely taken from us too soon). I found out that John, who was the younger son of Western film star and country music great, Tex Ritter, and Dorothy Ritter, founded the United Cerebral Palsy's affiliate in Los Angeles. John's brother has cerebral palsy and for more than 15 years, John was one of the national hosts for UCP telethons to raise funds and awareness for UCP.
As part of NF Awareness month, celebrity doodles are available for auction on eBay during May. Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disorder of the nervous system which causes tumors to form on the nerves anywhere in the body at any time. This progressive disorder affects all races, all ethnic groups and both sexes equally. NF is one of the most common genetic disorders in the United States (one in every 3,000 to 4,000 births).
These doodles raise money that will benefit NF, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing support to individuals and families affected by neurofibromatosis (NF).
Taylor Swift Auctions off an Experience to Make a Difference in Children’s Lives.
MyWorkButterfly.com presents this auction with Taylor Swift to help raise funds to benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, which relies on donations to execute its mission. The highest bidder will win two Tickets to Taylor Swift’s Fearless Concert on June 2nd, 2010 at the Verizon Center in Washington DC, Meet & Greet, A Personalized Autographed Acoustic Guitar, two Roundtrip Domestic Air Tickets from JetBlue to Washington DC, Hotel Room for One Night, gift Bag from MyWorkButterfly.com. Bidding will take place over a ten-day period, May13-May 23, 2010. Visit MyWorkButterfly.com to bid on “A Night to Remember with Taylor Swift.”
Recreational surfers will be joined by pro-surfers and celebrities from TV and film as they compete to put up the best wave each hour from 12 noon Saturday, June 19th to 12 noon Sunday, June 20th. One surfer will receive the “SURF 24 Surfer of the Year” trophy.
Celebrity surfers include Sam Trammel (True Blood), Dylan Bruno (Numb3rs), Jesse Spencer (House), Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints), Chad Lowe (24), Michael Munoz (Amazing Race), Eric Balfour (24), Brandon Boyd (Incubus), David Chokachi (Beyond the Break), Gregory Harrison (Trapper John, MD), Chris Bruno (Dead Zone) and Kathy Zuckerman (Gidget). Surf luminaries participating include James Pribram, Matt Beacham, Mary Osborne, Angie Reno and Jon Rose (more names to be added.)
Project SOS: SURF 24 coincides with International Surfing Day, which was established by Surfrider Foundation and Surfing Magazine to celebrate the sport of surfing and to give back to our oceans, waves and beaches.
A new contest, “Give Back. Simply Win.” sponsored by Bayer Diabetes Care will shine a spotlight on people with diabetes who are making a difference in their local communities. Three grand prize winners will meet international singing sensation Nick Jonas and Bayer will donate $5,000 to three not-for-profit charitable causes, one selected by each winner.
This Mother's Day I'd like to thank a professional football player who is making a difference in the lives of single mothers, of which I am one. It doesn't matter what football team you like or don't like, you have to respect Jarvis Green, a defensive end with the Denver Broncos and what he does on the field is impressive to most, but what he does off the field is what is even more impressive to me. He founded the Jarvis Green Foundation, a non-for-profit organization that provides support to single working mothers in disadvantaged, low-income areas.
I know how they get neglected by the government, especially those who work for a living and have one or more kids. I lost a lot of family with Hurricane Katrina and the best thing I could do is help a few families each year.
I contacted my CPA and we put together a foundation, do events and started plugging away, doing luncheons and networking and meeting people.
Have you gotten to know the moms you're helping?
The first mom we helped, Michele Jefferson, is a single mom family of four and after Katrina we couldn't find one of the fathers who was involved. Another father is still around and we a relationship with her.
(Jarvis donated $25,000 to Michelle Jefferson, a single mother from New Orleans, to assist with her recovery after Katrina.)
We contacted the government to find out the worst case scenario, and they gave us the names of the recipients who really need it, whose working a consistent job. We always get emails through Facebook -- letters from other people who suggest friends that they know. It's hard to help everyone.
Where does your giving come from?
When I was younger, we didn’t grow up in a big house, but we still went out and helped others, from the church to the school to different charity. It was doing those little things. Now I have the means to do what I want to do. We can help people now.
How do fit the events in to your schedule?
It’s not hard. I have a good team -- a good publicist, marketing team. Those people help to make things easier. I'm also very proactive, making phone calls, going to different events. We still have time and my wife is very understanding -- it was hard when I first started, but it's become a norm now.
Things I do outside of football I don’t do for notoriety or for a pat on my back, I do them because I’m able to. God blessed me with all the things I have. The reason I am here is not because of me but because of people who helped me. People look at football on the negative side, but there are a lot of guys that care not just about themselves.
George Lopez celebrity golf tournament was held to benefit The Ann & George Lopez-Richie Alarcon CARE Foundation. Read about it here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers go bowling for charity! " James Loney has been the host of the State Farm Dodgers Dream Foundation Bowling Extravaganza for three years running, and he still isn't the best bowler in the family." Read the rest of the article here.
Beloved television sitcom comedian Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond, Men of a Certain Age) takes the stage in New York City's newly renovated SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street) on Friday, May 14th to perform his Vegas-style comedy act in a rare New York appearance. The Queens-born performer will be coming back to his home town for this performance specifically for this one night only special event, to be a part of a fundraiser for ovarian cancer research.
A Ray of Hope, in its inaugural year, is an event to benefit the early detection, treatment and cure of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer, and one of the five leading causes of cancer death among women in the United States.
Each year, approximately 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States and about 15,000 American women die from the disease. These numbers are underscored by the sobering fact that currently there is no reliable screening test for the early detection of ovarian cancer. The majority of cases (81%) are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced, at which time a woman’s survival is significantly compromised.
One hundred percent of the evening’s proceeds will go through the Sass Foundation for Medical Research with monies funnelled to Mt. Sinai Hospital and NYU Langone Medical Center, to help fund research projects for ovarian cancer.
Valerie Smaldone also co-producer of the event will emcee the event. Broadway performer Craig Schulman will perform some of the best loved songs from Broadway and Jon Manfrellotti, from Men of a Certain Age, will introduce Ray and his vegas Style act.
WHEN: Friday, May 14. Doors open at 8 pm, performance begins at 9. There will also be a VIP after-party, where ticket holders will be treated to craft beers, wine and cheeses as well as Italian pastries.
WHERE: SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, between 8th and 9th
ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Merchandise available for sale, live auction of exciting products from Coach, Brooks Brothers, Bose, Tiffany & Co. as well as a condo in Naples, Florida and a trip to Vegas to see Ray Romano's show, with a Ray Romano meet and greet!
On the Path to Cure Ovarian Cancer starring Ray Romano was conceived by Linda John, an ovarian cancer survivor (and Ray's first cousin) after she went through treatment for the disease. John, CEO of Corporate Family Network, felt that there was not enough targeted research being done for early stage testing and wanted to be actively involved. In addition to her work with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliances's Survivors Training Program, Linda wanted to do more. She enlisted the help of media personality Valerie Smaldone, who has created events in the past for ovarian cancer awareness and funding, and had herself dealt with ovarian cancer years ago, to co-produce and emcee the event.
The Sass Foundation for Medical Research, Inc. was established in 1986 as a non-profit, non-sectarian foundation dedicated to medical research, education and patient care programs for cancer and related diseases. For more information go to www.sassfoundation.org or www.arayofhopeforovariancancer.com
Several months ago I had the absolute pleasure to see The 39 Steps on Broadway and starring in the show was Arnie Burton. Honestly I laughed so hard my stomach hurt at the end of the show. The entire cast was hilarious and they certainly put a smile on my face for days. (Arnie Burton played the character next to the driver in the front seat.)
How appropriate then that after putting smiles on the faces of his audience members, Burton supports The Smile Train charity which is focused on solving a single problem: cleft lip and palate. Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where there are millions of children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly. Aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job. And face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache. They want to smile and laugh like I did when I saw The 39 Steps.
Arnie, why did you pick The Smile Train to support?
I did some research on it and it speaks to that kid in you. I felt different and alone as a kid and I was incredibly shy. I had few friends, and I didn’t like sports, I liked theater, so I always felt very alone. I saw these pictures and I knew how they must feel. My supporting them was an outward manifestation of how I felt and what that could bring to them.
That started a few years ago, when I was in the play Eugene’s Home playing someone with cerebral palsy, so I went to the UCP in Manhattan and I met and worked with people with CP. I learned so much about them and I had preconceived notions because it wasn’t on my radar. People think they are mentally handicapped because they are physically handicapped. Most of the people with CP are completely functional and brilliant, but they have this muscular disease. They have the same struggles as everyone else -- more so -- falling in love, sex, working.
How do you support these organizations?
When I was a struggling actor I would write checks to charities because I always felt that I could give something each month, even if I was broke and I’ve been doing it ever since. Struggling actor -- write checks to charities and give money.
Everyone on Broadway gives back so much. Is that discussed at all or is it just known that if you’re on Broadway you help out?
We’re very much a community. After awhile everyone knows each other. We do what we do, not for the money, but because we love theater. Theater happens live and it’s affecting people right there, it’s interactive with the public. When AIDS came upon us in the 80s/90s, it really affected the theater community and when you feel part of the community, it’s easier to band together and you can make a difference.
What can your fans do?
Anyone can give something. It enriches your life so much. There’s just something that changes how you feel about yourself and it enlarges you. If you give five dollars, it will make a difference in how you feel about yourself.
For Celebrity-do-Gooder readers -- here's a special discount to see Arnie in The Temperamentals!
After a sold-out summer run, Michael Urie (UGLY BETTY) and Thomas Jay Ryan (IN THE NEXT ROOM) return to the stage in Jon Marans' intelligent and witty hit new play, THE TEMPERAMENTALS.Set against a backdrop of 1950's Hollywood and the McCarthy Era, the play brings to light and life the moving and engaging story of the first gay rights organization in the United States. THE TEMPERAMENTALS is "excellent drama, excellent entertainment"; "a worthy tribute" that "you must see"!
"With style and a sense of humor, THE TEMPERAMENTALSmixes politics with campy comedy and unexpected bursts of emotional candor."
- Time Out New York
DISCOUNT OFFER:
$49.50 (Reg. Price: $65.00)
HOW TO ORDER:
1. VISIT www.BroadwayOffers.com and use code TEOFFER110
2. CALL (212) 947-8844 and mention code TEOFFER110
3.BRING a printout of this discount to New World Stages at 340 West 50th Street
RESTRICTIONS:
This offer is valid through 5/9/10.Limit 10 per customer. All prices include $1.50 facility fee.Subject to availability. Additional Blackout dates may apply.
I'm finally done with my next book that's coming out in June. Betcha never guess what it's about. Nope, not celebrities (although I have written books on Ellen DeGeneres and Will Smith). It's about bowling! LOL. Yup, my Bowling for Dummies book will be out in July!
So over the next few weeks I have several athletes for you, the infamous coach of the New York Giants, Broadway personalities and many many more! So stop back frequently!
Coming back in March. My apologies. I don't want to let blogs lapse, but I was busy with a new book. Will be back soon with several interviews and great celebrity charity news!
Comedian TOMMY DAVIDSON will help deliver toys to homeless children at the PATH Homeless Center, 340 North Madison Avenue in Los Angeles today! There's nothing a comedian likes more than to see someone smile.
Tommy and I are going to chat tomorrow so check back to see when his story will be published!
Davidson, who was in the foster system as a young child in Washington DC , has a personal story to tell.
I just want to thank everyone who follows this blog, the celebrities who contribute and the behind-the-scenes people who help me set up interviews and keep this blog running. Please have the happiest and healthiest of holidays and don't forget to give to the less fortunate. My charity of choice at holiday time is St. Jude's.
Many people ask what I want for Christmas -- not the mushy stuff, but what I would 'really' want for the holidays. Let's start with this...
Well, I can hope! LOL...In addition to my traditional Christmas festivities with the family, I'll be seeing Sherlock Holmes this weekend! Enjoy your holiday!
