Awesome News! After a great time on the show a few weeks ago, I'll be making guest appearances on the Happy Hour radio show with Keryl Pesce, Frankenberry Wczx Mix and Jonna Spilbor. You can tune in on Thursday nights from 9 pm to 11 pm by listening online to www.MIX97FM.com.
I'll be talking about celebrities, their causes, their stories and how you can get involved!We're also working on getting live celebrity interviews during my appearance so stay tuned!

In the meantime, it's been a pretty busy few months since I've posted. I've been writing celebrity articles for publications and getting my son through his senior year in high school and off to college -- 2 down, 1 to go! The other day I had the pleasure of interviewing Montel Williams for a health article where we talked about his MS and snowboarding (he loves it!). We also chatted about his work with various charities, including his own Foundation and his work with the Fisher House Foundation. He and I will be talking again soon about the great work he's doing and I'll be posting that interview here!

Gloria and Emilio Estefan honored for work at Miami's Children's Hospital

Gloria and Emilio Estefan are going to be inducted into the Ambassador David M. Walters International Pediatric Hall of Fame at Miami Children’s 2011 Diamond Ball for all the great work they do.

"Miami Children’s Hospital has been an institution in our community for decades," said Gloria and Emilio. "We have personally been involved with the hospital and foundation on many levels and have witnessed firsthand the incredible care and service they provide to their patients and families. To be recognized and receive an honor of this caliber from an organization that does such great work for our families is truly an honor."

This is the highest honor bestowed by MCH Foundation. Other advocates include Beyoncé, Dwyane Wade, Barbara & Jack Nicklaus, Kelly Preston, Jonas Salk and Walt Disney, to name a few.

The Estefans were selected for their work on behalf of children, not just in their own backyard, but on a global scale. For years, they have donated countless amounts of money and created awareness for a variety of leading children's causes through the Gloria Estefan Foundation. They are active supporters of MCH Foundation as well as other non-profits. Much of the time, their donations are made anonymously.

To learn more about becoming a part of the 2011 Diamond Ball, contact Morgana Rolle at mrolle(at)mchf.org or 786.624.2038 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              786.624.2038      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              786.624.2038      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              786.624.2038      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              786.624.2038      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              786.624.2038      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              786.624.2038      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              786.624.2038      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Congratulations to Gloria and Emilio Estefan!

Buy wristbands to benefit Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation

To commemorate his upcoming milestone, Derek Jeter will wear "DJ3K" wristbands, which he designed with Major League Baseball and the Yankees. The bands feature the Turn 2 Foundation and Yankees logos and are available for purchase at the MLB.com Shop, retail outlets and Yankee Stadium. Proceeds from sales of the bands will benefit Turn 2's 2011 Jeter's Leaders Leadership Conference in July. The conference brings together Jeter's Leaders from New York City and West Michigan to present eight workshops to other youth leadership programs.

For more information on Turn 2, visit here.

Ride for a Cure

Over 450 riders rallied at the Roundabout Plaza in downtown Nashville, ready to Ride For a Cure in support of the T.J. Martell Foundation and its research for leukemia, cancer, and AIDS. Thanks to the riders and generous donations, the event was a huge success and raised $70,000!

Performers included Bo Bice, Eric Paslay, Dean Alexander, Kalleigh Bannen, and Cali Rodi took the stage for the morning jam. By 10:30am the riders headed south to Harley-Davidson Columbia where Little Big Town hosted an afternoon jam. Storme Warren of GAC’s Headline Country, and WSIX’s Big D, co-host of the popular syndicated radio show Big D and Bubba joined the event as emcees, and additional artists appearing included Jake Owen, David Nail, Jarrod Niemann, and Laura Bell Bundy.

The T.J. Martell Foundation is a national non-profit organization that supports innovative research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS research through eleven top research hospitals in the United States. In Nashville, the Foundation annually supports cancer research through the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. The Frances Williams Preston Laboratories were established in 1993 in honor of Frances Williams Preston, past President of the T.J. Martell Foundation and former President and CEO of BMI. For more information about the T.J. Martell Foundation, log onto www.tjmartellfoundation.org.

 

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Toby Keith and the OK Kids Korral

So I was in the car last night listening to the radio and heard an interview with Toby Keith. I never knew about Toby's Foundation and he was talking about the OK Kids Korral, a nurturing home for pediatric cancer patients and their families to stay while they are undergoing medical treatment. Toby and his wife have been working hard at fundraising for the Korral and are finally able to break ground soon. Congratulations Toby and keep up the great work!

Golf & Celebrity-Am Tournament and Charity Concert

Want to golf with a celebrity. If you're in California, check out the Golf and Guitars Celebrity-Am Tournament and Charity Concert, May 17 at the Alister MacKenzie Golf Course in Sacramento, Calif.

The event, hosted by Jack Ingram, also includes Clay Walker, Jimmy Wayne, Steel Magnolia, Chuck Wicks, Ty Herndon and more. It includes a silent auction, concert and celebrity golf tournament. After the auction, there will be a four hour concert.

Concert tickets are only $30 and can be bought here.

Help Japan

To help Japan during their devastating recent tragedies, Charity Buzz is connecting you with your favorite celebrities all for a good cause, including Kim Kardashian, Jimmy Kimmel and James Taylor. Check out Charity Buzz!

Jo Dee Messina helps to raise $20,000

My absolutely most favorite country music singer ever...EVER!

WITH HER “INSPIRATIONAL EVENING OF WORDS AND MUSIC WITH JO DEE MESSINA”

Over 1,500 people were part of a special evening of music, love and giving back this past Saturday evening (12/4) at Brentwood United Methodist Church in Nashville.

Country artist JO DEE MESSINA performed a free Christmas concert for the second year in a row on behalf of Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation, a non-profit, faith-based organization in South Nashville. Concert-goers were asked to donate a “love offering” for this incredible cause and raised over $20,000.

For more information, read the rest of this info on Jo Dee's website here....

Didn't get a chance to go? Still want to donate in Jo Dee's name? Visit Harvest Hands here and send in a donation.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx hosts contest to raise money for charity!

Cy Curnin, lead singer for The Fixx, has an innovative competition that will help benefit the Love Hope Strength Foundation. The winner will get two weeks at Cy's place in France for 10 years. Ah, serenades around the dinner table! Bucolic splendor! Sheep!

http://www.lagaucherieholidays.com/

Enter this now! It's for a great cause and Cy's place is beautiful!

Attention New York Giants Fans!

New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin will host his sixth annual charity gala on Friday, October 1, at Cipirani’s in midtown Manhattan.

All proceeds from the "Champions for Children" gala will benefit the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, which provides financial assistance and emotional support to families of children with cancer. The special honorees of the evening are Charles W. Allen, President and CEO of Athlon Sports Communications Inc; and Jerald F. Irving, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of ICAP Securities USA LLC, who will be honored for their philanthropic work for children. Both honorees exemplify excellence and teamwork in their fields of endeavor as well as outstanding civic leadership.

Scores of current and former New York Giants -- including Eli Manning -- are expected to attend the event, which has raised over $3 million since its inception in 2005. There will also be a major silent auction as the foundation pursues a fundraising goal of $600,000.

The event will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. with a red carpet cocktail party and silent auction, followed by a formal sit-down dinner and live entertainment. WNBC-TV Sports anchor Bruce Beck will serve as master of ceremonies.

Following the "Champions For Children" gala, the Giants will take on the Chicago Bears at the Meadowlands on Sunday, October 3rd. The season opener is September 12th at home against the Carolina Panthers.

About The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund

Founded in 1996, The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation was created in the honor of Jay McGillis, a member of the Boston College Football team who developed leukemia while a member of the team.

Then-Boston College head coach Tom Coughlin was inspired by the courage, compassion and faith he and his family demonstrated during the course of his illness. It is the mission of The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation to assist children with leukemia and other cancers and their families by providing emotional and financial support to help improve the children’s quality of life and to help reduce the family stress associated with going through this crisis. This allows the families to focus on what matters most – the health of the child.

The Jay Fund has expanded its outreach to pediatric oncology patients in the New York area by adding therapeutic diversion programs at the NYU Langone Medical Center; sending 10 pediatric oncology patients to Camp Happy Times this summer; and establishing an emergency fund at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey to aid families in crisis with transportation and household expenses.

Wynonna Wins The Cecil Scaife Visionary Award

Wynonna Judd will receive The Cecil Scaife Visionary Award for 2010. Governor Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte will be on hand for an evening of music and heartfelt memories on Tuesday, August 24th, as Nashville celebrates Wynonna for her countless contributions to the Nashville community and future generations who wish to pursue a career in the music industry.

The Cecil Scaife Visionary Award was founded in the name of the Music Row pioneer and veteran, who was instrumental in the formation of the music business program that is now known as the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

Passionate about the music industry and education, it was Scaife’s vision to form a college level program to produce successful musicians, artists and music business executives by giving students an opportunity to formally learn about the industry that was so fulfilling and exciting for him.

“Wynonna personifies the spirit of this award. She has given so generously of her heart, talent and time to help the next generation realize a better life and better chance at success through her work with youth in our community and students pursuing a career in the music industry,” said LaRawn Scaife Rhea. “It is a great honor to award The Cecil Scaife Visionary Award to Wynonna for the many special opportunities that she has made available to students through her special mentorship.”

About Cecil Scaife
Cecil Scaife was highly respected for his love of the music industry and education. It was his vision to see the formation of an educational program to produce successful musicians, artists and music business executives by giving students an opportunity to formally learn about the industry that was so fulfilling and exciting for him.

It was Cecil Scaife who originally conceived the idea of creating a music business program and, along with the assistance of many friends from Music Row and good friend Bob Mulloy, founded the program that grew to become The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

Scaife, a native of Helena, Arkansas, started his career in the music business working at KFFA radio in Helena. He went on to work for legendary producer Sam Phillips, and was the first Marking Manager/Promotion Manager at Sun Records during the early days of Elvis Presley's career. Over the years he worked with artists Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and others. Cecil Scaife was a founder of the Gospel Music Association, President of NARAS, Nashville, and founder of Music, Inc.

Congratulations Wynonna!