Feeding America

Nick Cannon volunteering at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Film star, comedian, TV and radio host, musician, writer, director, executive producer, philanthropist, you name it, Nick Cannon has done it!

While he enjoyed tremendous success on Nickelodeon, Cannon’s career catapulted onto the big screen when he made an appearance alongside Will Smith in “Men in Black II” before landing a leading role in the feature film “Drumline.” On June 8th, Cannon will begin his career as a judge on NBC's America’s Got Talent. 

Even with a crazy work schedule, Cannon has always made the time to give back to those in need - working with nationally recognized organizations such as Feeding America. He is also involved with Boys and Girls Club, Stomp Out Bullying, The National Kidney Foundation and many more!

The multifaceted entertainer recently participated in Feeding America's Stamp Out Hunger campaign, and is a member of the organization's Entertainment Council. If he weren't busy enough, Cannon and his wife, world famous entertainer Mariah Carey, are the proud parents of twins.

Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. They provide food to more than 37 million people through 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in communities across America.

Feeding America's Stamp Out Hunger campaign immediately put their newly acquired resources to work in the aftermath of the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma. Thanks to the campaign that ended on May 11th, The Food Bank for Oklahoma was extremely well stocked with 300,000 pounds of food that was collected by letter carriers during the recent drive. This food is now being handed out to victims in devastated Moore, Oklahoma and the surrounding areas. 

Feeding America

Nick Cannon in action with his NCredible crew as part of NCredible's 'Giveback' weekend.

For more info on Feeding America go to feedingamerica.org, or facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow them on Twitter @FeedingAmerica.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What’s your charity and how are you involved?

Nick: One of the charities I support is Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Feeding America, and their network of more than 200 food banks across the country, provides food to 37 million Americans each year. I’m on the Entertainment Council of Feeding America, and I support the organization through volunteering at food banks with my NCredible crew every winter and raising awareness through media and social media. Most recently, I was the spokesperson for the Stamp Out Hunger campaign for the third year in a row. Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive.

Q: Can you tell me about particularly moving moment you have had when working with this charity?

Nick: Hunger-relief particularly hits home for me as a cause to support because, as a child, I knew what it felt like to not know where your next meal would come from. My Mom and I visited food pantries and soup kitchens from time-to-time when I was young, so I know firsthand what it feels like need help. I recently visited the Los Angeles Mission with my NCredible group, 4 Count, and it was an amazing experience to speak with and serve meals to people in need.

Q: What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Nick: My mother gave me life. I will always be in debt to my mother for making the decision to keep me [as a teen Mom] even though it wasn’t a popular decision at the time. And to my wife for giving me children.

Giacinta Pace/NBC News

Charity minded Chef Chris Nirschel at a Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis fundraiser.

Cause Celeb highlights a celebrity’s work on behalf of a specific cause. This week, Celebrity Chef Chris Nirschel talks about his work with The Food Bank for New York City.

Chris Nirschel aka the "Culinary Bad Boy" began his career as a young chef by training at The French Culinary Institute. He starred on The Food Network's "The Next Food Network Star" and "Chopped" and currently serves as the Executive Chef at EVR in New York City. EVR is the first brick and mortar business to accept the digital currency Bitcoins and also hosted Chaka Khan's star-studded 60th birthday party.

The Food Bank for New York City has become the city’s major hunger relief organization and is one of the largest food banks in the country. Their mission is to end poverty by obtaining and distributing food, income support and teaching nutritional information.

Q: What are the charities that you support?

Chris: I feel very strongly about the New York City Food Bank because the government has cut funding. Being a young, innovative, entrepreneurial chef, I feel it’s really important to be as philanthropic as possible, whether it’s doing your best for an organization or donating money. Kids and food are in my heart. My roommate is the director of Music For Tomorrow which has Dave Mathews and Jude Law on the board. It’s a great organization that started after Katrina that actually gets gigs for jazz musicians. We have charity dinners that bring these two organizations together. We’ve had two large dinners where we bring in Music For Tomorrow's great jazz band and we donate part of the ticket proceeds to the New York City Food Bank. I just reached out to them and I would love to do something around Christmas time too. There’s a major shelter in Harlem and I would love to do a dinner at the shelter as well.

Q: How can people help?

Chris: People can donate or they can volunteer at the food bank.

Q: What’s the nicest thing someone has done for you?

Chris: The nicest thing someone has done for me is just giving me opportunities, I’m sort of a rebellious egg with a great heart and I think a lot of people want to do good for me and I want to do good for others because good energy feeds good energy.

Q: What charity act has been most satisfying for you?

Chris: I went all the way to Boston to cook for one night for a great organization with kids who can’t afford classes and they’re called the Electric Youth and these kids were just really electric! I’m the 'Culinary Bad Boy' so they did a Broadway rendition of the song Bad Boy, Bad Boy and I came out, did a really fun cooking demo and it was such a phenomenal experience because I’m about food, fashion and entertainment, but I’m also about giving back. Traveling 5 hours in a snow storm was one hell of an experience and it was really a lot of fun! 

Cause Celeb highlights a celebrity’s work on behalf of a specific cause. This week, Sandra Lee and Trish McEvoy talk about their work with Girl Scouts of Greater New York.

2012 marked Girl Scouts of America’s 100th anniversary, and this year The Girl Scouts of Greater New York are celebrating their centennial.

The Girl Scouts of Greater New York is New York City’s largest girls-only youth and leadership development organization. 26,500 girls representing almost every zip code participate in their programs - learning to lead with courage, confidence, and character to make their communities and the world a better place. And over 9,000 volunteers help them along their journey. They believe, “when girls succeed, so does society.”

Asha A. Wills, currently an Ambassador Girl Scout and 2012 Future Woman of Distinction of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York sums it up best, “To me, Girl Scouting means empowerment. Particularly throughout my high school career, being a Girl Scout has given me the confidence to make a meaningful, sustainable impact in my community through my Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting. More importantly, it has enabled me to inspire my peers in my local, church and school communities to take more of a proactive, involved role in positively impacting the lives of others through community service.”

Cookie sales end in New York, May 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm EST. Here is where you can find your last minute cookies before time runs out! 

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Kelly Marsh

Sandra Lee and Michelle Lee with local Girl Scouts at their 100th Anniversary Gala.

Sandra Lee Interview

Sandra Lee (born Sandra Lee Christiansen) is an American television cook and author. She is known for her "Semi-Homemade" cooking concept, which Lee describes as using 70 percent pre-packaged products and 30 percent fresh items.

Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee premiered on the Food Network in 2003 and her second series, Sandra's Money Saving Meals, began airing in 2009. Over the years, she has released 25 books, including Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade: Cool Kids Cooking and a memoir, Made From Scratch.

Q: What is your charity and how are you involved?

Sandra: The Girl Scouts of Greater New York! In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Girl Scouts from across New York City stepped up to help their neighbors and neighborhoods recover. That's when I got involved. More recently, I was with Girl Scouts from Brooklyn when they helped clean up Prospect Park as part of a 100 year commitment to the park.

Q:  What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?

Sandra: I grew up without any contacts, silver spoon or social place. I've been very fortunate to have many, many women lift me above their shoulders by opening doors that would have otherwise been shut, make introductions that would have been impossible for me on my own. Their generosity, kindness and insulation were an enormous gift and one I try to pay forward daily.

Q: What is the charity act that has been the most satisfying for you?

Sandra: Giving back. The Girl Scouts teaches girls not only about leadership and self-esteem, both worthy endeavors on their own, but the organization also teaches girls and gives them opportunities to make the world a better place.

Trish McEvoy Interview

Kelly Marsh

Trish McEvoy, third from left, with Girl Scouts of Greater New York representatives.

Makeup artist and entrepreneur Trish McEvoy was born into beauty through her grandmother’s Berlin perfumery. She founded Trish McEvoy Beauty when she was only twenty-five years old, and turned it into a multi-million dollar company by the age of thirty.

Trish has been the artist of choice for many of Hollywood’s biggest stars, from Angelina Jolie to Dame Judi Dench. Her collection of skincare, cosmetics, makeup brushes, fragrance, and organizational accessories can be found in more than 200 luxury department stores and boutiques throughout the United States, the UK, and Ireland.

Q:  What is your charity and how are you involved?

Trish: Girl Scouts! I'm on the board and also spend a lot of personal girl time with the troops. Several times a year I visit Twin Parks Middle School in the Bronx, which is part of Girl Scouts’ Career Exploration Program, specifically designed to serve under-privileged schools. They are not traditional troop members but participate in a weekly class with a Girl Scouts employee on Girl Scouts values. In my visits we often read and discuss excerpts from Maria Shriver’s book JUST WHO WILL YOU BE? Among other books I feel will inspire the girls. I ask the girls about the sort of person they want to be when they grow up, we discuss their dreams and I give them a chance to participate whether it is sing, dance or tell a story. I love being with the Girl Scouts and watching them grow. Moving forward I am also going to get more involved with the troop leaders—the influencers from within the organization.

Q: What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?

Trish: It's actually the "little" things, the daily acts of kindness that mean the most to me. When busy people make a personal sacrifice of time or effort to come through for me or one of our team members, oftentimes without even having to be asked, it means the world to me. My company is independently owned and we all wear a lot of hats. My favorite three words are, "Consider it done!"

Q: What is the charity act that has been the most satisfying for you?

Trish: In addition to Girl Scouts, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has become incredibly important to me since my husband became diagnosed with Parkinson's. I'm also very proud of my company's involvement in Citymeals-on-Wheels. For two years now we have participated weekly in their meal delivery program to home-bound elderly New Yorkers, and I go along when I can. It is a privilege to spend time with people whose lives and memories are longer than our own, and nothing pains me more than to think of anyone being overlooked after living a life of dignity.

Feeding South Florida

Tori volunteering at Glory Temple, Agency of Feeding South Florida and the 3rd stop on her Fill a Heart Tour.

Tori Kelly is a 20 year-old singer/songwriter/producer from Southern California. She self-released "Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly" last May. Kelly started singing at age three and picked up drums, piano and guitar shortly thereafter. She has built a YouTube channel that has garnered over 36,000,000 views and a following that spans the globe.

More than one in five children and more than one in three Latino children in the US may not know where their next meal is coming from. Hungry children can suffer serious consequences to their health, well-being and educational achievement. ConAgra Foods and their foundation is building a community of people to help, from top musical acts, to parents, kids and employees. Their goal is to donate up to 3 million meals. For each 8-digit code found on specially marked ConAgra Foods products and entered at www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com or Facebook.com/ChildHungerEndsHere, ConAgra Foods will donate the monetary equivalent of one meal to Feeding America.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your charity?

Tori: I’m working with ConAgra Foods on their Child Hunger Ends Here program to help raise awareness of child hunger in America to benefit Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization.

Q: How are you involved?

Tori: When I found out more than 1 in 5 children in the U.S. may not know where their next meal is coming from, I was shocked and wanted to bring awareness to the issue by providing a hopeful message. So when I was asked to help create a new song for the issue, the words and notes just came to me. “Fill a Heart” is the title song of my concert tour this month across the country. I’m also singing the song during my volunteer visits to food banks across the country.

Q: How can people help?

Tori: It’s easy for people to get involved – when you’re shopping at the grocery store, simply look for the red pushpin on participating ConAgra Foods packages and enter a code at www.childhungerendshere.com to donate the equivalent of one meal to Feeding America. The exciting part is up to three million meals can be donated, and we’ve already raised almost one million. We still need everyone’s help!

Q: What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?

Tori: It's hard to think of one particular thing! Kindness is everywhere.

Q: What is the charity act that has been the most satisfying for you?

Tori: The fact that I wrote a song ["Fill A Heart"] for charity and it ended up being performed by Jewel at the American Country Music Awards is an amazing feeling. So fulfilling to see my work growing and changing lives.

Jeff Vespa, Wireimage

Seth and Lauren attend 2012's Hilarity For Charity event.

Seth Rogen began his career as a stand-up comic in Vancouver, Canada. The comedian is known for his performances in "The 40 Year Old Virgin", "Knocked Up", "Step Brothers", "The Green Hornet" and most recently, "The Guilt Trip." A talented voice artist, Rogen is also in the animated films "Kung Fu Panda" and "Monsters vs Aliens". He is currently filming "Townies" with Zac Efron and Rose Byrne.

Hilarity For Charity was founded in 2012 by Rogen and his wife, Lauren Miller whom he married in October 2011. The group focuses on raising awareness about Alzheimer's Disease among a younger generation. Through an annual variety show in Los Angeles, the charity uses humor to bring attention to an issue that is not so funny. This unique organization raises money for research toward finding a cure as well as the creation of support groups. Their hope is to expand and have events throughout the year, all around the country, for people of all ages. Hilarity For Charity aims to make Alzheimer's a cool cause that all young people want to be involved with!

Last year's inaugural event raised over $300,000 for the Alzheimer's Association. This year's Hilarity For Charity "House Party" is hoping to raiser even more. It will be held on Thursday April 25th at Avalon Hollywood and features a special performance by The Backstreet Boys. Tickets are available and can be purchased here.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your charity?

Seth And Lauren: Our charity is called Hilarity For Charity and its focus is to raise both money and awareness for Alzheimer's. After going to many charity events in Los Angeles over the year, we decided it would be a great idea to make one that is more targeted to ourselves. Younger people who are just beginning to question how they can contribute to the world in a charitable way.

Q: How are you involved?

Seth And Lauren: We, along with some awesome friends, founded Hilarity For Charity in 2012. Together, we are all involved in every aspect of putting on our Hilarity For Charity variety show: finding talent, sponsors, food, swag, everything involved in putting on an event for 600 people. We also make videos to help spread the word online. We are actively involved in spreading the word on social media, and promoting the event like this!

Q: How can people help?

Seth And Lauren: Giving money is a great way to start. Learn about Alzheimer's, how it's growing, and tell a friend. The more people who are talking about Alzheimer's, fighting the fight, and demanding a cure, the sooner a treatment will be found. Write to the government and demand more funding. Join a walk through the Alzheimer's association and raise money on your own. Start your own charity event!

Q: What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?

Seth And Lauren: When Matthew Bass came to us in June of 2011 with the idea for Hilarity for Charity, we were blown away by the generosity of his idea to do something for Alzheimer's - which hasn't affected him super personally. Since then, the amount of people who have come together to create Hilarity For Charity is continues to make us feel like the luckiest people in the world.

Q: What is the charity act that has been the most satisfying to you?

Seth And Lauren: Alzheimer's is a disease that most young people don't understand if they haven't been personally touched by it. It can be frustrating to explain the disease, the lack of hope, and the devastation it brings to the family of the people who are affected by it. However, every time we educate someone that has no idea about the Alzheimer's epidemic, we feel closer to finding an end to it.

Karli Cadel

Ronay Menschel Director of the Museum of the City of New York and President of the South Street Seaport Museum Susan Henshaw Jones and singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash attend a reception after Cash's performance to raise funds for the Lettie G. Howard.

Rosanne Cash keeps her head down and shows up for work. Daughter of country icon Johnny Cash, Rosanne has recorded eleven number 1 singles, blurring the genres of country, rock, roots, and pop. She has received one Grammy and twelve nominations, as well as other awards and accolades. A prolific writer, she has authored Bodies of Water, Penelope Jane and recently penned her memoir Composed. Her last record album, The List, won the Americana Music award for Best Album of the year and was a critical and commercial success.

She is currently writing an album of songs about Southern people, places and themes with her life partner and musical collaborator, John Leventhal.

The Lettie G. Howard is one of few surviving examples of the fishing schooners once in wide use in the North Atlantic. The designated National Historic Landmark arrived at South Street Seaport Museum in 1968. In 1994, after an extensive two-year rebuild, she was certified as a Sailing School Vessel by the U.S. Coast Guard and began carrying students of all ages on educational voyages.

This year Lettie turns 120 years old. In celebration of this milestone the South Street Seaport Museum has undertaken a campaign to raise a quarter of a million dollars for critical repairs and restoration. Working in partnership with New York Harbor School, plans are to have Lettie sailing with students in 2014.

Karli Cadel

Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash and husband John Leventhal performed at the April 2013 gala event. More than $75,000 was raised for the Lettie.

UPDATE: The South Street Seaport Museum has met its goal to raise $250,000 to restore 120-year-old schooner Lettie G. Howard, thanks in large part to a recent gala fundraising performance by singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash. Repairs will begin following interviews with shipyards. The goal is to make Lettie seaworthy once again so that she can continue to train future generations of students.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your charity?

Rosanne: The South Street Seaport Museum and its schooner, Lettie G. Howard. It started with my friendship with Captain John Doswell. He took me and my family out on the John J. Harvey fire boat several years ago and we became friendly. After that, I went on a couple of sails on the Pioneer around the harbor and grew more and more interested in New York's maritime history and the beauty of the harbor, and the steadfast work of the folks at the Seaport Museum. Lettie G. Howard is one of New York City’s most important vessels, but with age it fell into significant disrepair. It's beautiful, historically important, and it has a unique role in that it is a teaching vessel. There aren't many of those. It’s so important not only because it’s educational but because it connects people to the maritime history of New York City.

 Q: How are you involved?

Rosanne: I love the people at the Seaport Museum and the Museum of the City of New York. On April 8^th I held a special performance to raise money to restore Lettie. Personally, this is important to me because New York is a maritime city, and the reason we are such a great city is because we started at the harbor front. I love that history, and my own family history.  They were sailors and mariners and came over from Scotland in the mid 1600s.  William Cash, one of my ancestors, was a whaler. In 1839, Captain Cash shipwrecked on one of his early voyages off the coast of Long Island, on a ship called the Edward Quesnel. I've been to the spot where the ship foundered many times. It's an eerie kind of time travel.

Q: How can people help? 

 Rosanne: Well, I hope people learn more about Lettie and understand the importance of preserving history. Once they do, they can donate to the Seaport Museum to help them reach their financial goal. I encourage people to visit the southstreetseaportmuseum.com website to learn more!

Q: What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?

Rosanne: My husband read aloud to me when I was recovering from brain surgery and I will never forget it. [On November 27, 2007, Cash was admitted for brain surgery for Chiari Malformation Type I. Although the surgery was a success, the recovery was slow. She resumed writing, recording and performing in late summer of 2008.] It was a quiet kindness that fit who I am and what I like. In fact, during the whole recovery, so many people were kind to me-- brought me food, flew in from other states, gave me movies and books-- I will never forget those kindnesses. 

Q: What is the charity act that has been the most satisfying for you?

 Rosanne: I recorded a song called 'Jim And George' about 15 years ago, and it was just sitting there, unreleased. I gave it to the Church of St. Luke's in The Fields here in New York City a couple months ago, for their outreach programs for homeless LGBT youth and People Living With AIDS. They put it on their website and sell downloads for $1.99, and every cent goes to their programs. It was really satisfying for me that a song I wrote about a gay couple, which had never been released, is now helping people with AIDS and LGBT youngsters who live on the streets.

Aris Kamarotos www.ariscamarotos.com

Greek Actress Theodora Voutsa

Theodora Voutsa is a Greek actress and producer. Over the years she has starred in six television series and participated in numerous films including "The Free Diver" directed by Alki David with Adam Baldwin, Camilla Rutherford and Judd Nelson.

Voutsa has also acted on stage in Athens in plays by such greats as Moliere, Shakespeare, Wilde and Coward. She had the honor of performing in Epidaurus and Irodion in Ancient Greek Theaters with the National Theatre of Northern Greece.

This Jane-of-all-trades also recently published a book about her famous father called, “Thoughts of My Father.” Her father, Costas Voutsas, has been an actor for over 63 years and is considered a Greek living legend.

Voutsa is currently living in Rome where she is working with the English Theatre of Rome and the Independent English Theatre. She has just completed filming the movie “il Tour di Davide” directed by Nicola Sersale.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your charity and how did you get involved?

Theodora: To Hamogelo or "Child's Smile" is a voluntary, non-profit organization. Their main concern is to defend the rights of children not only in theory but in practice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. [They also] ensure [the] necessary means for their [the children's] physical, mental and spiritual balance.

The organization supports children who [have] disappeared, children in hospitals and children being taken advantage of. They help the children by taking them into the organization's "houses" or medical units and offering them social and psychological support.

To Hamogelo partners internationally with other organizations, governmental or non-governmental, with similar goals and values.  Through it's participation with the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children (MCE), To Hamogelo has the ability to work with other European organizations toward the goals of eliminating sexual and psychological abuse of children and identify missing children across Europe.

To Hamogelo is also a member of the Board of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), working with the other members, including the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to find solutions and implement programs worldwide to eliminate the phenomena of extinction and exploitation of minors. An example of this worldwide action at work is the promotion and processing of data on the international missing children website - www.missingkids.com.

Q: Why is this charity important to you?

Theodora: To Hamogelo is very important to me because it helps children! [Children are] members of our community who can not take care of themselves and are forgotten by our society. I could go into the cliches, children are our future etc...but words like these do not count if you haven't seen a child being helpless looking around for someone to hold on to. That is what To Hamogelo does.

Psychologists say that our personality is formed [during] the first 7 years of our lives, and what we see and learn through these 7 years will guide. Where will an abandoned, sexually abused, mistreated child be guided to? To Hamogelo offers not only emotional support, but security, by taking these children and putting them in the houses the organization has created [and] giving them books, food and warmth.

To Hamogelo is often there, where it is needed, near the children, even before the government organizations. Their work is very important.  Especially now, during a very difficult time for Greece and many other European countries, where cuts are occurring everyday in the social structure.

This organization is not government funded. It relies " the kindness of strangers".  I was first approached by Mr. Gianopoulos, their president, to help them out as a comedian in a TV marathon they were organizing to raise funds. I got to know this man and his vision and continued helping them in any way I could. Mr. Gianopoulos had a son who died at the age of 10. His son's last wish was to help other children. Mr. Gianopoulos quit his job and sold everything to make his son s dream come true, and created To Hamogelo Tou Paidiou.

Q: Why should celebs support charities?

Theodora: As mentioned before, because of the crisis, because of taxes, because of cuts in funds and people dealing with major issues, charities seem to come last on the list, or not even get on the list. Celebrities should support these organizations and be their link to the world. Artists should hold the mirror up and tell people, "Look, if you do not like what you see you have the power to change it, and this is how..." All we need is someone to take the first step and the rest will follow.

Giacinta Pace

Teen Kids News Reporters Hannah & Cailin Loesch interview David Copperfield on the red carpet for The Croods premiere.

David Copperfield has been hailed by audiences and critics alike as the greatest magician in the world. He holds 11 Guinness World Records and has sold more tickets than any other solo entertainer in history, with ticket sales in the billions. Copperfield has also appeared on both Television and Broadway and is famous for illusions such as making the Statue of Liberty disappear and Walking Through the Great Wall of China. Copperfield is currently performing at the Hollywood Theatre in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The magic man's proudest achievement, however, is his charity Project Magic. Since 1982, Project Magic has been helping patients from all walks of life in a thousand hospitals across 30 countries worldwide. It is a therapy program especially designed by Copperfield to give back to those in need. Teams of magicians and occupational therapists work together to teach magic to physically-challenged patients to aid in their rehabilitation. 

The tricks taught in Project Magic functions on several different levels, and were designed to help improve dexterity, coordination, visual perception, spatial relationships and cognitive skills. Another, and perhaps, more important benefit of Project Magic, is that it motivates the patients' therapy and helps them to build self-esteem.

The American Occupational Therapist Association has endorsed this program as being an authentic therapeutic tool and when Copperfield's busy schedule permits, he works directly with the patients and gives seminars to introduce and discuss his form of treatment.

Q: Can you tell us about your charity?

David: I have a program called Project Magic which is in about 1000 hospitals in 30 countries around the world. It uses magic as a form of therapy for people with disabilities.

Q: Why do you choose to support this charity when there are so many other ones out there?

David: Because I invented it!

Q: Have you had any memorable experiences while working with them?

David: A lot of the people that have gone through the program actually teach magic to patients now. So people have come full circle and that’s really very rewarding!

Q: How can people help?

David: Go to Project Magic's website or through my website and you can read all about it. It is pretty cool. It’s been building up for many many years so it’s been good.

Mia Hamm Foundation

Sports star Mia Hamm works hard to save lives.

Mia Hamm is a soccer legend and sports icon. As an all‐time leading scorer, Hamm has been US Soccer Player of the Year five times, which is the most any player has been honored.

In 1997, Hamm’s brother, Garrett, passed away from complications related to AplasticAnemia, a bone marrow disease. In his honor, she established the Mia Hamm Foundation. The Foundation’s focus is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for bone marrow transplant patients and their families.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your charity & how are you involved?

Mia: I created the Mia Hamm Foundation to benefit issues that have affected me. The Mia Hamm Foundation has two areas of focus: raising funds and awareness for families needing marrow or cord blood transplants and continuing growth in opportunities for young women in sports.

Tom’s of Maine is making a donation to my foundation as part of their Wicked Cool! Story Hour and Live Chat, which I hosted today. I've teamed up with Tom's of Maine to talk about what's inside a healthy routine and share some tips around looking at your own family’s routines and seeing how you can make them better.

Q: How can people help? 

Mia: People can learn more about my foundation via the website miafoundation.org.

Q: What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?

Mia: I have had the fortune of experiencing a lot of people's kindness. I am grateful for all of the acts which have not only impacted me but the work and assistance people give us, as we try to help others through our organization and various projects. 

Q: What is the charity act that has been the most satisfying for you? 

Mia: On Sunday, we had our 5th Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge in which Tom's of Maine was a sponsor. During this event, we encouraged those who were watching and participating to register at the provided kiosk into the national bone marrow registry. I am proud to say that we registered over 200 people this weekend and over the past 4 years we have had two marrow matches for a patient waiting to have a life saving bone marrow transplant.

Aaron Henriquez/Joe Henriquez

Goodbye Friday is (L-R) Anthony, Rocco, Aaron & Mark.

 Goodbye Friday is Mark Braun, Aaron Henriquez, Rocco Costanza and Anthony Arcia. This 4 member teenage indie pop/rock band is based in New Jersey. They pride themselves in being an exclusively G-rated group and have a compelling style that showcases varied influences. Their latest self-produced EP is called "Love.”

Musicians On Call (MOC) brings music to the people that need it most – hospital patients. Since 1999, MOC has brought live and recorded music to the bedsides of over 350,000 patients in healthcare facilities across the country.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your charity and how did you get involved?

Goodbye Friday: We have a number of charities that we regularly support, such as The American Cancer Society, Wounded Warriors and Musicians On Call. We raise funds and donate our time to each of them. MOC is probably our favorite charity because we get to see immediate results. 

We got involved with MOC after reading an article about them and the difference they were making in patient care.  They were looking for volunteer musicians so we donated our time and 100 tickets to the New Jersey State Fair at the Meadowlands.  We were headlining a few dates at the Meadowlands and thought it was a great idea to provide free tickets to sick children and their families that were able to attend.

Q: Why is this charity important to you?

Goodbye Friday: MOC is important to us because through them we get to deliver the healing power of music. We get to perform our music in hospitals and hospices for many different people all of whom need their spirits lifted. We perform live, in-room music to patients undergoing treatment or unable to leave their beds. Our performances help to add a dose of joy to patients’ lives in various healthcare facilities. We enjoy cheering up a lot of really sick people and their families, including many children and young adults. Our music usually cheers them up, brings a smile to their faces and heals their souls. That immediate gratification is very satisfying to us.

Q: Why should celebs support charities?

Goodbye Friday: Celebrities should support charities because it is a good thing and the right thing to do. It is a win-win situation whenever you are able to give back. Celebrities are in a unique position to bring needed attention to charitable causes and can lend their voices, influence, resources and connections to worthy endeavors.

Q: Do you have anything else to add?

Goodbye Friday: Everyone can make a difference and should strive to make that difference a positive one. Helping others can also be very therapeutic.  If we all give a helping hand, maybe together we can make the world a better place. 

Tanja Lippert

Clay Walker a man with a mission!

Clay Walker is a country star who began his career working nights as a desk clerk at a Super 8 Motel. He first topped the Billboard country singles chart in 1993 with "What's It to You" and followed with his second consecutive No. 1 hit, "Live Until I Die." Since then he's placed 31 titles on Billboard's singles chart including such additional chart toppers as "Dreaming with my Eyes Open," "If I Could Make Living," "This Woman and This Man," and "Rumor Has It."

Walker founded the charity Band Against MS (BAMS) after he himself was diagnosed with the disease back in 1996. Ever since then he has been on a mission to help others facing the challenges of Multiple Sclerosis. BAMS is hoping to raise more funds and awareness with its new initiative Stick With It. For every action the public takes to promote awareness, including liking the Facebook Page or sharing their favorite Stick With It routine, Teva Pharmaceuticals will make a $1 corporate donation to Clay’s organization to help fund vital MS research (up to $25,000).

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your charity of choice and how did you become involved with it?

Clay: Band Against MS (BAMS), Inc. is a 501 (c) (3), or not-for-profit, public charity committed to providing educational information for those living with multiple sclerosis (MS), funding programs researching a cure for MS, and funding programs helping those living with the disease.  I established BAMS in February 2003 because I wanted to help others living with the same disease I was diagnosed with in 1996.

Q: Why is this cause important to you?  

Clay: After living for several years with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), the most common form of MS,  I decided to DO something about it. The first thing that crossed my mind when I was diagnosed in April 1996 was, what exactly is MS? The truth is, not much is known about the cause of the disease. I created BAMS to launch a diligent battle to not only get answers, but also to help find solutions for a multitude of struggles that MS and RRMS patients go through on a regular basis.

Q: Do you have anything else to add?

Clay: Through my journey with RRMS, I have learned personally that it can be a tricky disease to manage because it affects everyone differently. It took me almost a year of working with my own neurologist to find the routine that worked best for me. A key part of BAMS’ is to provide educational resources to help patients make informed disease and lifestyle management decisions and to encourage others affected by this disease to do what I’ve done and work with your neurologist to find a groove that works for you and stick with it.

Giacinta Pace

Dr. Ruth Westheimer at one of the many charity events she regularly attends. This photo was taken at a dinner a few years ago for The National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer aka Dr. Ruth is a psychosexual therapist who pioneered speaking frankly about sexual matters on radio with her program, Sexually Speaking. Dr. Ruth is active and energetic and does it all! This mother and grandmother is the author of thirty-five books, and counting, a teacher, a media icon and can be followed on Twitter (@AskDrRuth) too!

Currently Dr. Ruth is an Adjunct  Professor at New York University, an Associate Fellow of Calhoun College at Yale University, and a Fellow of Butler College at Princeton University. She is also a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and in addition to having her own private practice, she frequently lectures at universities across the country and has twice been named "College Lecturer of the Year."

Dr. Ruth is also an unstoppable philanthropist and a regular on our Cause Celeb page. Check out her very first Cause Celeb and a more recent one she did with us just last year.

The Zamir Choral Foundation is at the center of a growing network of Jewish choirs, creating a new world of Jewish music, musicians and pluralistic Judaism. This organization is the only one of its kind to use Jewish choral singing as a vehicle to foster Jewish identity, community and continuity. Through its extensive programming, education, and outreach Zamir has been bringing people together for years. 

The Foundation was begun by Director Matthew Lazar in 1990. At that time Lazar brought the Zamir Chorale (an adult choir established in 1960) under the umbrella of the Zamir Choral Foundation. In 1993, he established HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir in order to give Jewish teenagers the opportunity to sing first-rate Jewish choral music at the highest performance level.

This year 300 singers from 22 cities across the U.S. and Israel will take part in a special HaZamir event marking the 20th anniversary of these concerts. The concert will take place at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Sunday March 17 at 3pm and at 6:30pm.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your cause?

Dr. Ruth: I support the HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir, a program of the Zamir Choral Foundation.  HaZamir has 22 chapters in 21 American cities and in Israel.  Each chapter learns the same Jewish choral music over the course of a year, and then they all come together to sing this music together in a major New York concert venue.  These concerts are glorious musical events, but they are also important, character-building opportunities for young people to learn to make new friends and to work with others toward a common goal.  Every year lifelong friendships are made. This year's concert, at Jazz at Lincoln Center, is the organization's 20th anniversary concert.

Q: What is your role with the charity and how did you get involved? 

Dr. Ruth: I have a special relationship with the Zamir Choral Foundation, an organization led by Matthew Lazar, whose goals I believe in deeply.  I especially love and support HaZamir, directed by Vivian Lazar, a program that teaches teenagers to respect and collaborate with one another through a process that encourages them to open their hearts to one another and create things of beauty together. I have become more directly involved by sponsoring a scholarship for HaZamir, which is named in memory of my late husband Fred Westheimer.

Q: Why when there are so many other causes out there is this one important to you?

Dr. Ruth: Investing in young people is an investment in our future. HaZamir is a choir, but it is not only a choir:

It is a community-building experience where young Jews of different backgrounds, and denominations, and those who are unaffiliated, understand one another, treat each other with respect.

HaZamir is a learning experience where young men and women get to study many different kinds of Jewish texts as they learn to sing those words through music that often was composed to sustain us in times of hardship and need.  HaZamir helps create literate Jews who have fun singing about their history and culture.

HaZamir also trains future leaders through its leadership program, so the entire social structure of society is encompassed in the HaZamir experience.  It's really quite remarkable.

Q: Do you have anything else to add?

Dr. Ruth: Seeing the faces of 300 Jewish teens from across the United States and Israel as they sing so passionately and together, is an inspiring thing to watch.  It gives us the encouragement to know that our future will be forged by a committed and knowledgeable generation which has been prepared to deal with the challenges that it will inevitably face.

Paul Morigi: Getty Image/WireImage

Rocsi Diaz Visits Washington D.C. Students with the Get Schooled Victory Tour

Rocsi Diaz is currently the weekend host and daily correspondent on Entertainment Tonight and was previously seen on BET's hit show 106 & Park. Rocsi is in the process of launching her new site RocsiDiaz.com which will include her own blogs about fashion, fitness, celebrity and much more.

Philanthropy is a core value for the entertainer. Rocsi is a native of New Orleans and created RocStar Foundation to rebuild schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Her work as a Get Schooled celebrity ambassador continues her commitment to education and empowering youth.

Get Schooled was founded as a stand-alone non-profit in 2010. They work with celebs such as Nicki Minaj, One Direction, Tyra Banks, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman and Jennifer Hudson to inspire and engage students in an effort to improve high school graduation rates and empower more students to go to and succeed in college.

In the coming months, Get Schooled’s digital platform – online, social media and mobile apps – will reach and engage millions of young people who need support, direction and a community to help them make their way through high school and college. Young people will come to their digital platform to play games, track their own educational progress, get answers to questions and connect with people who can offer them the information, inspiration and support they need to succeed.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: Tell us about your cause?

Rocsi: I'm so excited to be working with Get Schooled, a national education non-profit that engages students on the importance of school attendance and earning a high school diploma. Get Schooled encourages students all over the country to get to school all day, every day through celebrity wake-up calls, online games, and in-school challenges like their national attendance challenges. Recently I visited with the students of Washington D.C.'s Browne Education Campus who came out on top in Get Schooled's National Attendance Challenge. I was so thrilled to congratulate the students for working hard and for coming together as a community to raise their attendance rates! Get Schooled is making a real difference in schools just like Browne Education Campus all over the country.

Q: Why is this charity important to you?

Rocsi: Education and empowering youth has always been a passion for me. When Hurricane Katrina hit my home city New Orleans, I knew I had to do something to give back. I founded RocStar Foundation, which raises money to build and refurbish schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Get Schooled was a fit for my interests and passion.

Q: How did you get involved?

Rocsi: I first got involved with Get Schooled just over two years in February of 2011 when the City of New York partnered with Viacom and the Get Schooled Foundation to launch their Wake-Up NYC! campaign to reduce truancy and chronic absenteeism in City schools. The goal of that program was to get New York City students excited about going to school.  I participated in the Wake-Up Call program in which celebrities make calls to students in the early morning encouraging them to get up out of bed and to school.  It is so important that we make school a place where kids want to be and engage them where they are at - on their cell phones, on social media, and in their schools. That's what Get Schooled does best - engage kids in a way that they can relate and using the power of pop culture and technology to do it! And that's why I'm proud to continue to partner with them over two years later!

Q: Anything you would like to add?

Rocsi: Visit GetSchooled.com for more info! You'll be seeing more of my work with Get Schooled and my very own RocStar Foundation on my upcoming entertainment site RocsiDiaz.com.

Paulina Samborska

Photo from The Society's 2013 Annual General Meeting, inaugurating new President, Bob Titley and his fellow board members followed by a reception and dinner with entertainment from Jim Dale, MBE.

Jim Dale is an accomplished man of many talents. Throughout his career, Dale has won a Tony for "Best Actor" in the Broadway musical, “Barnum,” five Tony Nominations, four Drama Desk Awards, four New York Critics Awards and a BAFTA Nomination for “Best Newcomer.” The versatile artist was also nominated for an Academy Award for writing the lyrics for the film title song, “Georgy Girl.”

As a narrator, Dale has won a record ten Audie Awards, the Oscars of the narrating world. He recorded all seven audio books in the Harry Potter series, winning two Grammy Awards and seven Grammy Nominations including, “Narrator of the Year 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008,” and “Audio Book of the Year 2004.”

If that weren't enough, the entertainer also holds two Guinness World Records. One for creating 146 different character voices for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” and another for occupying the first six places in the “Top Ten Audio Books of America and Canada.”

In recent months, Dale has been inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame, and the American Audio Hall of Fame as well as honored by Queen Elizabeth II with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).

St. George’s Society of New York was founded to assist those born under the British flag who found themselves in desperate straits in New York. In recent years, the Society has extended its reach to include people of Commonwealth descent and over the years St. George’s has helped thousands of needy persons in the New York area.

Members are indispensable to the success and growth of St. George’s Society and there are many benefits of joining. With approximately 800 members, the Society provides an influential network to expatriates and anglophiles and hosts several events each month.

GEORGE is the Society’s sub-brand for vibrant, dynamic professionals that hosts regular social and networking opportunities. All GEORGE events support the charitable mission of St. George’s Society and its biggest fundraiser is known as ‘The Bash’ featuring live entertainment, dinner, dancing and a British-themed auction.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is the St. George's Society of New York and how long have you been involved?

Jim: One of the oldest charitable organizations in New York, St. George’s Society (named after the patron saint of England) was founded by Englishmen living in New York in 1770 to celebrate St. George’s Day and to assist fellow countrymen in need or distress. At first membership was restricted to natives of England but over time as the world has changed enormously, the Society has adapted. Membership is now open to people of all origins but that usually have some affinity to Britain. It provides stipends and emergency grants to needy people from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth living in the New York area. While the assistance St. George’s Society provides has changed over time, the purpose has remained the same – to help those who cannot help themselves. Since its founding 242 years ago, it has aided thousands of British and Commonwealth persons. I have been involved in St. George’s for the past ten years.

Q: How did you get involved with this group?

Jim: As an actor, my one day off each week is Monday when all New York theatres are closed.  Most charitable organizations plan their fund raising events based on this, knowing that they have an abundance of actors they can approach to support their various charities. Over the years I have spent more Monday evenings as host at these various functions than I have as a couch potato at home. One day I was asked by John Shannon of St. Georges to join them one Monday evening and help promote London theatre as many in the audience intended to visit the British Isles that Spring. Afterwards we sat around and thought up a monthly Monday evening for the St. George members. It would be called the Arts Initiative Evening. We would hire a room large enough for a hundred or so ticket buyers, have a bar, and invite visiting British artists from the theatre world to promote a short excerpt from their work, or song from their concert. This was something I had been focused on for the past twenty years - promoting British plays / actors / writers / directors / musicians – anything British! Now I had the chance to be a genial host and not only promote them but interview them, introduce them to New Yorkers, and most important, try out comedy material for a future one man show I had in mind. The evenings were a tremendous success and the monthly Arts Initiative events lasted five years.

Q: Why is it important for celebrities to support charities?

Jim: I do think it most important for celebrities to become involved in certain charitable events. Their mere name can bring along their ardent admirers, resulting in those admirers hearing about and possibly wishing to join that particular charity. Most actors are not in a financial position to buy a table for ten at an event, but merely having their names on the flyers / programs and just being there will be their invaluable contribution. 

For press inquiries please contact nicole@nbtalentservices.com @nbtalent

Olympic Skater, Sasha Cohen

Sasha Cohen is an acclaimed U.S. figure skater. She is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World Championship medalist, the 2003 Grand Prix Final Champion, and the 2006 U.S. Champion. In 2012, Cohen was a contestant on NBC's "Tylenol Cold Improv Ice" with other skating champions such as Jeremy Abbott, Mirai Nagasu and Johnny Weir.

Figure Skating in Harlem is the first nonprofit organization of its kind, combining the power of education with the discipline of figure skating to transform young lives and help undeserved girls achieve academic success as well as physical and emotional health. The organization celebrated it's 15th Anniversary in 2012 and is currently looking for a new home for year-round skating and educational programming that will allow them to greatly increase their number of participants.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your cause and how did you get involved?

Sasha: I work with a variety of causes but I have worked the longest and most consistently with Figure Skating in Harlem.  We raise money every year in April at our Gala at Wolman Rink.  The founder, Sharon Cohen, reached out to me, asked to me to be on the board and lend support through spreading awareness and participating in their yearly event.  I believe I have been involved for nearly 10 years now.

Q: There are so many charities and causes out there, why is this one important to you?

Sasha: This cause is dear to me because it is based on skating, and through skating one develops a strong character that will help in overcoming obstacles throughout life.  Many of these underprivileged girls have gone on to receive scholarships at schools like Brown University.

Q: What do you hope for the future of this organization?

Sasha: To expand to other sports and other platforms maintaining the same concept.  By learning the skills to persevere, sacrifice, and dedicate oneself early on in life, the possibilities for life achievements increase dramatically.  This strong mentality, high self esteem and fighting attitude start in ice skating but really will change these girls lives forever.

Fernando Cuestas

Bumblefoot, Brimstone & Tony Harnell together at the launch of their line of sauces and spices.

Bumblefoot also known as Ron Thal is an American singer/songwriter and current lead guitarist of the legendary rock band, Guns N’ Roses.  In the past 20 years Bumblefoot has released 9 studio albums, a live DVD and has worked with numerous artists as a producer and guest artist on multiple CDs.  He’s toured internationally; headlining tours and festivals to sold-out crowds of over 150,000.  Bumblefoot has written TV jingles including the theme song for the VH1 show That Metal Show and the music for the New York Islanders 2008/2009 season, theme songs and background music notably on shows including Smallville, WWE RAW, Hogan Knows Best, Real World and many more.

Brimstone also known as William Kucmierowski has had a successful and rewarding career participating in and administering numerous entertainment careers spanning well over three decades – boasting a list of titles including professional wrestler, actor, author, food critic and comic book/animated/children’s book hero.  He is currently an entertainment entrepreneur who although has retired from pro-wrestling; continued to keep and brand the stage name Brimstone. As the co-founder, President and CEO of Hound Comics, Inc. (Hound Entertainment Group), Brimstone and his team of creators launched a comic book series based on his wrestling persona called Brimstone and the Borderhounds to which is the flagship brand of the company. 

Philanthropy:  A portion of the proceeds from Hound Comics’ newest issue of Brimstone and the Borderhounds Issue #8 entitled Zero Tolerence will go to the Project Meridian Foundation.  Bumblefoot and Brimstone just released an award winning line of hot sauces, sauces and seasonings together with CaJohn’s Fiery Foods with a portion of the Bumblebabe Hot Sauce proceeds going towards Breast Cancer Research. 

Project Meridian Foundation was founded in 2003 in Washington D.C. Project Meridian Foundation also known as PMF is run by a group of professionals with a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds in international and domestic law, security, psychology, finance, and technology. The team also consists of many retired law enforcement, veterans and terrorism experts. PMF works to stop human trafficking and has made many strides in this area through awareness and training. They are currently working on the launch of SAFE HOUSE which is an initiative to help victims of human trafficking who need medical help, counseling and any other services to help them resume a normal life. 

Interviewed By: Giacinta Pace

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

Q: What is the charity that you support?

Brimstone: Wow. I mean, there’s so many…

Bumblefoot: The two of us are very philanthropic. The one big thing we are currently doing is donating a portion of the proceeds from my Bumblebabe Hot Sauce to Breast Cancer Research. The Bumblebabe Hot Sauce is a delicious sauce with chocolate and cherry and has woman’s enjoyment in mind!  Something inspired by my wife and every other wonderful woman in my life.

Brimstone: Along with the Bumblebabe stuff; Hound is dedicating the next issue of the Brimstone and the Borderhound series, Issue 8 to supporting our initiative against the trafficking of children and woman.  I’m the celebrity spokesperson for The Project Meridian Foundation, and we’re relentlessly trying to get the word out there.  It is important to let people know what’s happening by raising awareness and essentially assist in acquiring funding for PMI.

Q: Why did you choose these specific issues and how much of the proceeds will go to the charities?

Bumblefoot: As far as the issues; usually what happens is something unexpected… you meet somebody, you talk to someone or something happens to a person you know that just raises your awareness to that thing in particular. For example, in 1997, a close friend of mine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis; so he started a nonprofit organization to which all his friends and family volunteered.  We did concerts, dinners, comedy shows and all kinds of things to raise money that went directly to the labs.  Nobody ever took a dime; it was all donated with him in mind.  It’s not like you go through a book and ask “what matters to me?” Something happens that you didn’t expect and it makes you aware of it.

Q: Why the trafficking and woman’s issues?

Brimstone: As far as the trafficking is concerned, it kind of fell on me. A couple of good friends of mine were involved in this foundation and they told me that this is something that’s been taking place in our own backyard – I had to find out more information.  The more I dug the crazier it got.  Apparently, there have been countless instances here in NYC for many years!  A matter of fact, there has been a couple of major busts that have taken place recently.  The victims were young woman who were being trafficked as sex slaves… It’s a really crazy.  Not only woman; but young children are being taken as well!  It’s just one of those things; I’m all about fighting for the ones who can’t.  It was a cause that I just had to get behind.  Since signing on with PMI, I’ve really been working hard to get the word out there.  We’ve been heavily promoting and trying to ensure people are aware of what is taking place… these girls are daughters, sisters, mothers… I signed on with them and it’s been a fight ever since!  PMI is incredible - my daughter is 15 and one of her close friends actually went missing about 6 months ago; so the first person that I contacted was Nathan Wilson who is the head of the Project Meridian Foundation.  None of the local police could find her, they couldn’t do anything.  Within 24 hours of me letting Nathan know what was going on; she was safe at home.  That’s what these people do and that’s why I need to be out there, promoting and pushing to let people know that there’s a serious need for Project Meridian.  A portion of the proceeds from our upcoming issue of the Borderhounds will proudly go towards helping to fund PMI.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Bumblefoot: There’s so much. I mean, where do I begin?

Brimstone: We need Bumblefoot and Brimstone for Celebrity Apprentice, that’s what we need to do! Trump should do team Celebrity Apprentice and watch Bumble and Brim kick the snot out of everybody else on the show... Trump fears us.

Bumblefoot: I fear him! I’m not going near that show.

Brimstone: I’ve got your back; nobody’s going to yell at you with me around.

Bumblefoot: Alright.

Bumblefoot and Brimstone's new line of seasonings and sauces won seven major awards at this year’s recent ZestFest taking home a total of five Golden Chile Awards including 1st Place for Luscious Lip Smack'in Raspberry Vodka Barbecue Sauce, Bumblefoot: Bumblicious, Brimstone: Sweet Heat Treat, Bumblefoot: Normal, and Bumblefoot: Abnormal. You can get your bottles right here. 

Antoine Verglas

Swizz Beatz knows how important music is to our children's future.

Swizz Beatz born Kasseem David Dean is an American recording artist and producer. Beatz began producing at the age of 16 and sold his first beat at 17 which then became DMS’s hit single “Ruff Ryders Anthem” He began working with multiple artists and production groups including Roc-A-Fella Records, Ruff Ryders and Bad Boy Entertainment to name a few. Beatz has his own record label which has worked on albums for artists like Jay-Z and 50 Cent. Beatz releases his first solo album in 2007 entitled One Man Band Man and his second album Naute Living is on the way. Beatz released his latest single last November “Everyday Birthday” featuring Chris Brown and Ludacris.

Music Unites  is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music education to kids in underfunded inner city school systems. The goal is to connect children and adults through music by providing communities with a rich musical experience. Music Unites has many different programs in which people of all ages can enjoy the magic of music including: The Empowering Woman Through Music Initiative which does exactly as it states, helping female artists establish themselves in the music industry, The Music Unites Choir which is an after school vocal ensemble, and many performance opportunities helping new audiences discover a variety of musical styles and genres.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

Q: What is your cause and how did you get involved?

Swizz: I've always had a passion for youth and the arts, so when I heard about what Music Unites was doing for children and arts programs, I wanted to get involved.

Q: What is the most important thing people should know about this charity?

Swizz: My most important goal is helping to create outlets for expression, from music programs in schools to art programs in our hospitals.  However we can impact a child's life through the arts I support fully!!!

Q: What is the charity working on right now?

Swizz: We are focused on our Music Unites “Five Borough Campaign”, creating an after school music program in a school in each of NYC's five boroughs. We are currently launching our first Los Angeles program at Centennial High School in Compton end of this month. The goal is to set up Music Unites Academy's similar to a community center where students can come to study, record and practice music in these creative facilities -- a safe haven for all Music Unites students. We hope to start our first orchestra in Las Vegas since there is a huge revitalization in arts education in downtown Vegas thanks to Tony Hsieh's Downtown Project and expand our programs to other cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Washington, DC. We'd love to be able to one day also help send our gifted students to college through setting up a scholarship program.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

 Swizz: Our children are the future!! We have to be willing to support organizations that ultimately affect the youth of today.

Tweet Juanita Kelly @goddessbyjkelly

Juanita Kelly inspires woman to be strong, independent and focused woman through her foundation The Juanita Kelly Foundation.

Juanita Kelly is a fashion designer from Plainfield New Jersey. She is a Master Seamstress and holds multiple degrees from Rutgers University. Kelly started out modeling at the age of 10 and after 14 years decided to open her own modeling and talent agency. At the same time, Kelly launched her first clothing line called ETC Fashions. In 2000, Kelly was diagnosed with cancer and had to take a break from all her business endeavors. After years of fighting, she won the battle and was able to continue working in the fields that she loved. In 2008 Kelly started Goddess by Juanita Kelly, a plus-size clothing line. Not to mention Kelly has her own online radio show called Goddess Talk as well as her own magazine called Goddess Magazine. Think there’s anything Kelly hasn’t done? Think again! In 2010, Kelly launched The Juanita Kelly Publications and Juanita Kelly Productions as well as starting New Jersey Fashion and Beauty Associations.

Juanita Kelly Foundation was first started with support groups in Juanita Kelly’s home which she opened up to women that were suffering in 2010. Since those home meetings the foundation has expanded to any and all woman who need help in different aspects of their lives. They focus on helping every woman live a life of strength and direction. The Foundation helps those who suffer from cancer, addiction and domestic violence as well as helping those in need of a transformation, some emotional stability, business mentoring and training and offering woman scholarships grants and empowerment.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

Q: What is your charity?

Juanita: Juanita Kelly Foundation: Changing Women’s Lives One Women at a Time.

Q: What is your role with the organization?

Juanita: The Juanita Kelly Foundation started in 2010 by Juanita Kelly who is a survivor of domestic violence as well as brain cancer. Juanita first started by opening her home for support groups to women that suffered through abuse, cancer and addiction problems. As a life coach, Juanita was able to help women regain their inner beauty and love for themselves. The foundation itself is focused to all women including women who have or have had cancer, experienced domestic violence, in need of transformation counseling, emotional stability, self-help, education on health and wellness, business mentoring, job training for low income women, scholarships, grants and women empowerment. We want all women to be able to live a life of independence, strength and direction and so, as an organization we wish to make that possible.

Q: Why does this charity stand out above the rest?

Juanita: The Juanita Kelly Foundation, a non-profit organization exists to provide transitional counseling to women of all ages through the use of support groups and life coaching. Our mission at The Juanita Kelly Foundation is to join women from all walks of life through friendship, trust, and unconditional love and acceptance, while providing the tools necessary for them to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. We at The Juanita Kelly Foundation do not question the women’s values nor do we make decisions for them. Rather we offer a safe haven; a supportive atmosphere free of judgment in which to facilitate positive changes within their life following battles with addiction, domestic violence, and illness. The Juanita Kelly Foundation provides support group help, counseling and support to all the women in New Jersey who are trying to improve their many aspects of their lives. Our groups are motivational and meet once a week and discuss how we feel about ourselves. We cry, laugh and share together. We learn to love ourselves and heal ourselves.

*Grief Support

*Battered Womens Support

*Learn to Love Yourself Support

*Women Encouraging Women

*Teen Girls Support

*Womens Weightloss Support

We also help motivate women reach their fullest potential with life coaching. Life coaching is a less diagnostic, analytical, branch of psychology, which focuses directly on the clients’ goals and readiness to make changes in their lives. The purpose of life coaching is to work either one on one or within a group, where a “coach” contributes by offering helpful advice and support. The Juanita Kelly Foundation offers a combined 35 years of experience in bringing support to women of all ages in reaching their goals, while providing a safe haven where judgment is left at the door. Although all women are welcome to try our life coaching services, The Juanita Kelly Foundation specializes in-group or individual sessions pertaining to: Relationship Coaching, Personal/Leadership Coaching, Business Coaching, Time Management Coaching, Parent/Adolescent Coaching, Grief/Mourning Coaching, Addiction/Recovery Coaching, Retirement Coaching, Weight Loss Management Coaching, and Creativity Coaching.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Juanita: We at The Juanita Kelly Foundation are happy to inform you of our present and past event which are geared to motivate, empower and help those less fortunate.

Present events:

Prom Dress Drive February2013- May 2013 - Proms all around the world are coming up soon and many young women would love to have the luxury of an event such as prom, but are not able to due to monetary situations especially with the hard times of our economy. Juanita Kelly Foundation hosts an annual prom drive where we ask for donations of new or gently used prom dress, good conditioned shoes, and or accessories.

Past events of 2010-2012

Christmas Coat/Toy Drive December 2012 - During the Christmas season the Juanita Kelly Foundation would like to spread Joy and Happiness. We host our annual coat/toy drive to give back to less fortunate children by keeping children warm and in the Christmas spirit during winter by collecting new or gently used coats and unopened toys.

Thanksgiving Food Drive - For Thanksgiving Holiday we at the foundation provide turkey dinners with trimmings to needy families. The donations are given to families to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.

Cash for Curtains - The Juanita Kelly Foundation joined with Metropolitan Window Fashions and its “Cash for Curtains” trade-in promotion to provide low-income families with gently used window treatments. Customers of Metropolitan Window Fashions who choose to take advantage of this trade in opportunity received a credit of up to $100 in value per window towards the purchase of new, energy efficient window coverings. Those donate window treatment were than given to The Juanita Kelly Foundation and we than had them cleaned and donated them to needy women who could use these window treatments .

Easter Basket Drive - Juanita Kelly Foundation runs an annual Easter Basket Drive. We ask for Easter Baskets for boys/girls to help ensure that a child enjoys the Easter holiday season.

Back to School Drive - Juanita Kelly Foundation believes that every child deserves to start his or her first day of class fully equipped to learn. With the support of caring community members, our annual Back to School Drive provides essential supplies for children in need. We are dedicated to preparing kids for their academic futures. With donations we are able to provide backpacks and supplies directly to needy students. We collect new backpacks and school supplies for children ages Kindergarten through 6th grade for the 2012-13 academic year. In order to help these children put their best foot forward on the first day of school, we are also collect $10 gift cards to Payless Shoe Source, as well as $10 gift for Supercuts.

I am Beauty, I am Love, I am Me - Young girls between the ages of 13-19 join us for a day of fun, games and togetherness. . The Juanita Kelly Foundation is hosts its annual I am Beauty, I am Love, I am Me teen girls self-esteem event. This event not only brings awareness to teen girls on how important self-esteem is to their friends and to themselves but how teens should embrace and support one another by coming together and having fun for a day. 

For inquiries please contact Nicole Bandklayder, NB Talent Services at nicole@nbtalentservices.com

Tweet Eric: @erickelly

Cancer has hit champion boxer Eric Kelly's family many times. He's now working to help other families dealing with the challenges of cancer.

Emmanuel Cancer Foundation was founded in 1983 and has been serving children who are suffering with cancer and their families ever since it’s conception. They help families primarily in the New Jersey area. ECF provide these families with emotional support, counseling and advocacy services with a professional team of caseworkers. As well as providing food, toys, clothes and household items families may need. For families in a crisis situation, ECF provides emergency financial support. Their mission is to provide a variety of specialized services at no charge to any New Jersey family facing the challenges of caring for a child with cancer.

Eric Kelly is an American boxer who was born in Titusville, Florida and then was raised in Brooklyn, New York. Kelly is a 4-Time National Boxing Champion and was ranked number 1 twice in the United States. He was also ranked many times as one of the top boxers in the world, with his highest ranking as four. Not to mention that Kelly is a 2-Time Golden Glove Champion. Kelly now works as a boxing trainer at Church Street Boxing Gym and has three children.

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: What is your charity?

Eric: A charity that I am passionate about and love working with is the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation based in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

Q: What is your role with the charity? 

Eric: I've helped raise money for the charity from donating private training sessions with myself as well as doing some modeling for the charity at their annual fashion show fundraiser event.

Q: Why did you choose this charity to support over other charities? 

Eric: All charities that are for a good cause stand out to me but I single out the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation because I've been able to meet some of the people who are being helped by the charity and hear their stories. I've lost family members to cancer, I lost two brothers and a niece to cancer so this is something that hits home with me!

Q: Everything else you would like to add? 

Eric: I love working with charities and helping to make the world a better place. Nothing is perfect but we can try as hard as we can to make this world our utopia and one thing that I am passionate about is good health as well as an anti-drugs and alcohol stance. I've never had alcohol or a smoke, etc and I believe that we all need to give sobriety a chance because drugs and alcohol really play a bad role in our lives and it's killing us. Let’s find joy in sobriety and live life as substance free as possible!

For press inquiries please contact Nicole Bandklayder, NB Talent Services, nicole@nbtalentservices.com.

Director/Actor Matthew Lillard, @matthewlillard

Matthew Lillard works on 24 Hour Rush, a charity event in support of The Baby Dragon Fund every year to help raise money for youth in the Los Angeles area.

Matthew Lillard is an actor, director and producer. He is best known for his work as Brian Speer in the critically acclaimed film The Descendants. He has also known for his role as Stu Macher in Scream and Stevo in SLC Punk in which he was awarded Best Actor at the Mar Del Plata Film Festival. Lillard has taken his turn in animated work as well playing Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo film series as well as the TV show.

The Baby Dragon Fund was established in the memory of Hunter Allen who was nicknamed ‘Baby Dragon’. He ended his own life after losing all hope of recovering from his crystal meth addiction. The Baby Dragon Fund works to help the youth of Los Angeles live fully and courageously in the face of addiction, depression and issues of sexual identity. They offer an array of essential recovery programs at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center for youth and mental health.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

Q: What is The Baby Dragon Fund and how are you involved?

Matthew: The Baby Dragon Fund was established in loving memory of Hunter Allen, a gay man who struggled with a crystal meth addiction and in the end, lost hope in his own recovery and took his life.  The organization supports youth mental health services and crystal meth recovery for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.  Each year the charity produces an event called the 24 HOUR RUSH and I’ve been privileged to be a part of that event since its inception. 

Q: Why did you decided to work with this group?

Matthew: I have a personal connection with Zibby Allen, Hunter’s sister and the woman who started the Baby Dragon Fund.  When you come in contact with inspiring people, the people that light the world on fire, I find it’s always best to stay near them.  To help them in any way you can.  When Hunter passed, Zibby took her grief and used it to affect change.  She immediately started to shape the world for the better in Hunters name.  She’s an inspiration to me and the people that know and work with her. 

Q: Is there a moving experience you have had working with them?

Matthew: Every year The Baby Dragon Fund produces a show called 24 HOUR RUSH in Hollywood California.  30 actors, 5 writers and 5 directors come together at 8PM on a Sunday night. 24 hours later in front of a packed house they perform 5 original shows in a one night only event. It’s an amazing journey of art and adrenaline and every year I’m proud to be a part of the madness. The audience is filled with young adults who struggle with their addictions and mental health issues and for those two hours they get to be reason for the night, the recipients of love and attention and the labors of some of Hollywood’s finest talent. Meeting those kids and seeing the look on their faces as the world rallies to support them is a profound experience. 

Q: What are your current projects you are working on?

Matthew: I just directed a movie called FAT KID RULES THE WORLD that’s been a labor of love for 10 years now.  We won the SXSW Film Festival audience award last March which launched our film on an incredible journey.  One that’s finally winding down in limited theaters around the US and a VOD/iTunes platform release.  I also recently completed a pilot for FX called THE BRIDGE and I’m currently shooting a film with Patrick Stewart and Carla Gugino. 

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Matthew: Thank you for offering me the platform to tell the world about this. THE BABY DRAGON FUND!  There are two other charities I’m involved with that also make a profound impact on people’s lives. 

MADISONS FOUNDATION And CHILDREN'S’ HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES

For press inquiries please contact Nicole Bandklayder, NB Talent Services, nicole@nbtalentservices.com.

St. Jude's Research Hospital

Marlo Thomas is an American actress, producer and a Cause Celeb regular. She is best known for her role on the TV series That Girl in which Thomas won a Golden Globe and was nominated for 4 Emmys. She won an Emmy for the children’s TV special Free to be…You and Me which is produced and starred in as well as the special Nobody’s Child in which she won a Best Actress Emmy. Thomas has made many other TV and film appearances including Frasier, Friends, Ally McBeal, Law & Order: SVU, Ugly Betty and many more.

Sabrina Soto has made appearances as host of various HGTV shows including The High Low Project, Real Estate Intervention and Get It Sold. She’s made guest appearances on White House Christmas, HGTV’s Green Home, Band For Your Buck, House Hunters, Showdown, Buying & Selling Secrets and HGTV’d. It’s obvious that Soto is an expert on all things home related and continues to help people redesign their homes. She’s one of the most sought after design experts and has been featured in Elle Décor, People, Time Magazine, InStyle, Esquire and USA Today. She also makes appearances and has contributed to The Today Show, Rachel Ray and Nate Berkus Show among many others.

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital was founded in 1962 by the late Danny Thomas. His vision from the beginning was to be the world leader in advancing treatment and prevention of catastrophic diseases in children. They make this happen by providing outstanding patient care, conducting basic translational and clinic research, improving diagnosis, enhancing treatment outcome and by educating health care and scientific research professionals. No child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a families ability to pay. For the past 7 years, St. Jude’s has launched their Thanks and Giving Campaign with their corporate partners Kmart, CVS/pharmacy, Dicks’ Sporting Goods, Williams-Sonoma Inc. and Sterling Jewelers. The campaign is in support of St. Jude’s mission of finding cures for kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases.

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Marlo Thomas

Q. What is new with the St. Jude Thanks & Giving campaign this year?

St, Jude's Children's Hospital

St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign featuring Marlo Thomas with patients Sheidelys and Donovan (left to right

Marlo: We are so excited to be celebrating the ninth year of the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign. Once again, from November to December, more than 60 leading brands have been asking their customers to “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not.” Consumers can make a donation at checkout or purchase special merchandise that benefits St. Jude. In addition to our wonderful returning partners -- like Kmart, CVS/pharmacy, ANN INC., DICK’S Sporting Goods and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. -- new brands have joined the campaign, from Coca-Cola, Carnival Cruise Lines and Coldwater Creek to ICING and the online retailer Gifts That Give. And everyone’s been so terrifically creative with their awareness and fundraising ideas! Kmart hosted shopping sprees with St. Jude patients; Coca-Cola included St. Jude as a benefactor of its My Coke Rewards program; Kay Jewelers and New York & Company have run Facebook campaigns; and many partners -- GNC, Domino’s Pizza, National CineMedia -- have integrated the campaign into their mobile apps! We also added Sofia Vergara and Michael Strahan to our beloved family of celebrities who support St. Jude -- which includes Jennifer Aniston, Robin Williams and many other big stars. It’s been a great year!

Q. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. What are your thoughts about this milestone?

 Marlo: I am so proud of all that has been accomplished over the past half-century. St. Jude has developed protocols that have helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent to more than 80 percent. In fact, when the hospital opened in 1962, the survival rate for the most common form of childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was only 4 percent. Today, because of the work of St. Jude, our survival rate is 94 percent. Our groundbreaking research is what puts us on the cutting edge, and we continue this work day after day -- from researching brain tumors, bone marrow transplants and sickle cell disease, to pushing forward on our genome project, which is aimed at understanding the genetic origins of childhood cancers. Our one goal is to cure all children of these dreaded, deadly diseases so that they can live normal, healthy and happy lives. Our future is exciting at St. Jude, because we never stop looking for cures.

Q. What is the most important thing you want people to know about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital?

Marlo: It’s important for people to know that St. Jude is a national resource. Our labs may not be in your community, but our discoveries are. This is because St. Jude’s research and discoveries are always freely shared with doctors and scientists around the globe, so that children everywhere can benefit from the hospital’s pioneering work. It’s also important for people to know that we are keeping true to the promise that my father made when he opened the hospital: that no child is ever turned away for a family’s inability to pay. We pay for everything -- treatment, travel, food, lodging -- whatever it takes to make a child well. It costs $1.8 million a day to run the hospital; and because we are not-for-profit, we must get 75 percent of our funds from the public while most hospitals only have to get 7 percent of their budget from the public. So donations are the life-blood of St. Jude. And your support will help us continue to do our life-saving work.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Marlo: At this joyous time of year, there are some children who won’t be spending the holidays at home with family and friends. They will be spending the holidays fighting cancer and other deadly diseases at St. Jude. So we want to make this time as special as we can for these children, too. And give them the greatest gift of all -- hope. Any gift you can spare today will go a long way to help make this happen. Please shop at our partners’ stores, wherever you see the St. Jude logo. A complete list of partners is available at stjude.org. You can also make a donation online at stjude.org or call 1-800-4STJUDE (1-800-478-5833). And Happy Holidays, everyone!

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Sabrina Soto

Q: Why did you decide to get involved with St. Jude?

St. Jude's Research Hospital

Sabrina Soto visiting kids at St. Jude's.

Sabrina: My mom and I visited the patients and families of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital last year. We toured the hospital and hosted a fun arts and crafts activity at Target House, which is a home away from home for patients and their families while they are receiving treatment at St. Jude. It costs $1.8 million each day to operate the hospital, but thanks to the generosity of donors, no family ever pays St. Jude for anything. Treatment, travel, meals and lodging are all taken care of so the family can focus on the most important thing: the health and well-being of their child. St. Jude has developed protocols that have helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent when the hospital opened in 1962 to 80 percent today. And St. Jude is a national resource with a global impact. All of their research findings are freely shared, which helps improve care for children around the world.

Q: Tell us about your experience with the New York Give thanks. Walk. and Open House events?

Sabrina: I loved the concept of the St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. the moment I heard it. The idea of thousands of people in 90 cities nationwide walking in support of St. Jude on the same morning was so powerful! I jumped at the chance to be a part of the New York City walk, and formed a team. I’m happy to report that Team Soto was the top fundraising team for the NYC event, bringing in more than $5,000 for the hospital’s lifesaving mission! Due to the impact of Superstorm Sandy, we took the New York City St. Jude Give thanks. Walk. indoors this year. It was so much fun to spend time together that morning to give thanks for our St. Jude friends here in the region and across the country.

Q: Has there been a particularly moving moment you have had with the charity?

Sabrina: I was very grateful to meet two girls at the New York City event, Ashley and Morgan. Getting to know the girls and their families was a privilege and a truly heartwarming experience. It’s always touching to meet with the kids and to hear their stories. There is no greater or rewarding feeling than spending time with them and seeing the smiles on their faces.

Q: Why should celebs support charities?

Sabrina: The theme for St. Jude Thanks and Giving is “give thanks for the healthy kids in your life and give to those who are not.” It is vital to give back to society. It’s important to spread the word and be a voice to hopefully make a big impact for the cause or charity. A simple act of raising awareness to make a difference can influence others to do the same. One by one we can truly make a great impression on the world. Getting involved and working together will make that happen.

EYEam.shooter

Tony Rock arrives to his myROCK Foundation's 2011 Live to Laugh charity toy drive at the W Hotel in Hollywood, CA

Tony Rock is an actor, comedian and younger brother to comedian Chris Rock. Rock first appeared on the UPN show All Of Us as well as Everybody Hates Chris where he was a recurring character. Rock hit the big screen too with such films as Hitch, Three Can Play That Game and Life Support. Just this past year, Rock starred in C’mon Man & The Redemption of a Dog, made a cameo appearance in Think Like a Man, co-headlined two comedy tours The Royal Comedy Tour and No Sleep Till Brooklyn Tour and played host to the newly revamped talent competition Apollo Live.

MyRock Foundation is a charity founded by Tony Rock to help build awareness and prevention of diabetes among African Americans. MyRock sponsors annual events in New York and California that include fundraising, awareness and prevention programs and family building activities. Live to LAUGH is an event created by the MyRock Foundation in which comedians, actors, athletes and musicians come together to help bring laughter to those in need.  Live to LAUGH provides low income families struggling with terminal illnesses caused by diabetes 100 gift baskets.

Introduction By: Meg Ztini

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: Why did you decided to start this foundation?

Tony: The foundation was started as a tribute to my Father (he passed due to health complications from Diabetes). He always told my brothers and I about responsibility to others. MyRock is an example of my responsibility to educate people about diabetes.

Q: What is your role with the organization?

Tony: My role with MyRock is to serve as spokesperson. I'm just like the people that I'm trying to educate in that I don't have all the information or facts about diabetes. We can learn together.

Q: How does being a comic inform your charity work?

Tony: MyRock is a venture outside of my stand up. Stand up has given me a platform to hopefully reach more people.

Q: What do you hope is the future of this charity?

Tony: My hopes for MyRock are very ambitious. I hope it becomes as popular as J.D.F in its impact on education and raising funds for research.

Q: Anything else?

Tony: For more information about MyRock foundation go to TonyRockComedy.com and don’t forget to tune-in every Thursday night to Apollo Live at 8pm on BET.

Segal Centre for the Preforming Arts

Zalmen Mlotek presents "The Golden Land" which celebrates immigration to America of over 1 million Jews.

Zalmen Mlotek is the Artistic Director of The National Yiddish Theater- Folksbiene and an internationally recognized leader on Yiddish folk and theater music. Mlotek made his way to an Broadway stage in 1991 with Those Were the Days where he acted as co-creator, music director and conductor. The show was honored with a Drama Desk Award and nominated for two Tony Awards. The original version of The Golden Land was an off Broadway hit that toured nationally and was produced in Italy. Mlotek is also a teacher in Yiddish culture and music having taught classes at Columbia University, Yeshiva University, The University of California at Berkeley and Hebrew Union College.

The National Yiddish Theater – Folksbiene is the longest continuously producing Yiddish theater company in the world. It was founded in 1915 and is the only lasting Yiddish theater from the early 20^th century. Folksbiene became an independent nonprofit in 1998 and now present more than 100 programs and performances to a combined audience of over 20,000 people. Folksbiene has outreach programs including The Folksbiene Troupe – a group of 7 performers who bring Yiddish theater to audiences who are unable to attend main stage productions, Folksbiene @ CUNY – which sponsors free performances of staged readings of classic Yiddish plays and concerts at City University of New York, and Kids and Yiddish – where kids of all ages and their parents can experience a mixture of music styles including of course Jewish folk music. Through these programs and shows, The National Yiddish Theater will continue to show us the magic that is Yiddish culture and magic.

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

Interviewed Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Q: Why did you decide to get involved with The Folksbiene and what is your role?

Zalmen: In 1997 I was the composer and musical director for a play that the Folksbiene was producing- then at the Central Synagogue. The play was Yankl der Shmid or in English The Blacksmith's Folly and having had some experience in producing shows in NY, Off-Broadway (The Golden Land at the 12th Street Second Avenue Theater in 1986) and also on Broadway (Those Were the Days, 1990, nominated for two Tony Awards) I was disheartened by all the work we put into preparation of the show and then the audiences were smaller and smaller and older and older. I felt very strongly then, as I do now, that with the Folksbiene being the only professional Yiddish theater company in NY and in the United States for that matter there would be an audience, if it were marketed differently and more broadly. My role at this point is that of Artistic Director which basically means that I am responsible for the choices and quality of the performances that we undertake now.

Q: When there are so many other performance arts causes out there, why does this one stand out above the rest?

Zalmen: As one of the oldest continuously running theater companies in the world, the Folksbiene has an exciting and challenging role, to present performances, concerts, theater, to audiences for whom Yiddish is not their mother tongue- and for whom Yiddish has no nostalgic connection at all. It is a language and culture that is a window into the lives of a people that has gone through many struggles yet maintained a need to create, and perform, sometimes under the most difficult circumstances. It is a performance art that has depth and meaning for all that experience it.

Q: What do you hope for the future of this organization?

Zalmen: The National Yiddish Theater- Folksbiene has grown from an organization that presented one play a year- 3 times a week (Saturday nights and 2 performances on Sundays) to a performing arts organization that produces two or three main stage productions, a travelling outreach troupe, made up of young actors and singers who present revues of Yiddish Theater for audiences all over the metropolitan area--a children’s show called Kids and Yiddish, which introduces the joys of Yiddish to young parents and young children, in a Sesame Street meets Saturday NIght Live format, lectures, Yiddish classes, special programs for the Holocaust, major cultural galas in places like Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, and others as fundraisers for the organization. Recently the company is mentoring a group of young Russian performers, who are developing their own theater piece, called Lost and Found, which explores how they as young 20 year old Russian Americans relate to their cultural past and present. We also now have a program that tours schools and camps in the summer. We hope to have a home in NYC one day that can be a center of creativity in different art forms related to this culture. We hope to have classes where people can learn about this culture. Concerts, readings, events for children, a museum celebrating the Yiddish Theater and its role in NY and American cultural life,  a home for our shows and a spot where tourists from all over the country and world can learn about and experience the newest and most creative expressions of Jewish culture.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Michael Priest Photography

Bob Ader, Cooper Grodin, Stacey Harris and Daniella Rabbani in The Golden Land.

Zalmen: Our present show The Golden Land, which celebrates the immigration to this country of over a million Jews at the turn of the last century, is a celebration of the determination of a people through songs and scenes, taking the material that these immigrants created and presenting them in ways that are accessible to today’s audiences. Yiddish is heard throughout, sprinkled in for flavor and authenticity, but the musical is basically in English. So when people assume wrongly that since this is being presented by The National Yiddish Theater, they will not understand. I want to stress that this is an experience that everyone can appreciate whether they understand a word of Yiddish or not, performed by a marvelous cast from December 20- 30th with a possibility of one more week.

We're all super excited "The Golden Land" recovered so nicely from being so hard-hit by Sandy losing that first week of previews.  The fun resumes on December 20. "The Golden Land" is providing New Yorkers, especially young people and their families, with a comprehensive overview of the Jewish immigrant experience in New York. (I think it's not a stretch to say that this show is a sociology lesson brought to theatrical life.) Emphasizing how the show’s Jewish story is a quintessentially American one, Folksbiene welcomes school groups from across the city on Thursday & Friday December 20 & 21 at 11am. The school groups will be invited to stay for a talk-back with the cast after the show.  If it is anything like what we did a few weeks ago with the Duke Ellington School in the Bronx last month, the conversations will be most illuminating.

We had this nice hit over the weekend to help celebrate Chanukah.

U.S. Fund for UNICEF

UNICEF Ambassador Vern Yip is all smiles with students at a dormitory school in Khuvsghul province, Mongolia.

Vern Yip is an interior designer who has been designing across America changing one room at a time. He has appeared on 4 seasons of TLC’s Trading Spaces and 4 seasons of HGTV’s Deserving Design with Vern Yip. Not to mention his work on NBC’s Home Intervention, HGTV’s Design Star where he appeared as a panel member and episodes of HGTV Showdown, Bang For Your Buck and First Time Designer. Yip has his own design company Vern Yip Designs based in Atlanta, Georgia. Yip is known across the country for his work and has been recognized with multiple design awards such as 2000 Southeast Designer of the Year, 1999 Best New Restaurant, 1999 Best New Nightclub, and Deserving Design with Vern Yip was nominated for a 2009 NAMIC award for best Original Life Style Programming. Yip was appointed a UNICEF Ambassador in November 2010 and has worked closely with the charity ever since.

UNICEF also known as The United Nations Children’s Fund was created in December 1946 by the United Nations to help children in war-torn Europe, China and the Middle East. By 1953, the needs were extended to all children in the developing world and now they work in 190 countries and territories around the world providing health care, immunizations, clean water, sanitation, nutrition, education and emergency relief. UNICEF works for the survival, protection and development of children worldwide. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States. Together, they are working toward the day when zero children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood.

Interviewed Via Email Conducted By: Giacinta Pace

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

How did you get involved with UNICEF?

Vern: I got involved with UNICEF over four years ago when I was trying to figure out the most effective way for me to dedicate time and resources to an organization that I felt was doing the most good for the world’s neediest children. I started by volunteering my efforts in designing the annual UNICEF Snowflake Ball in New York and have just now finished my fourth year working in that same capacity. Subsequently, I helped get the annual UNICEF Experience in Atlanta started over two years ago. Both of these events are so different but each allows attendees to experience all of the good that UNICEF does for children around the world. After my first experience working with UNICEF, I knew that I had made the right decision for me.

What sets UNICEF apart from other organizations?

Vern: There are a lot of wonderful organizations out there working on behalf of children and I don’t want to begin saying why I personally think one is better than the other. What I can say is that UNICEF was, and still is, the right organization for me to work with. My parents fled China during the Cultural Revolution and landed in Hong Kong briefly before committing to moving to the U.S. They made that decision in order to afford me and my sister the best possible life, which meant top level medical care if we needed it, access to plenty of nutritious food, and a wonderful public education system. Years later, when I would travel back to China with my mother on business, I would see a plethora of faces that looked just like mine plowing fields or working in very low paying labor intensive jobs. It occurred to me that the main difference between me and those people was that I was given access to the basic fundamental building blocks of life because my parents made that critical decision to move to the U.S where they knew that most children turn on faucets and see running water and where clean and decent public schools were plentiful. As I began traveling the world for work, I would see children all over the world that were not meeting their physical and mental potential because they weren’t being afforded those basics that most of us take for granted. UNICEF has saved more children’s lives around the world than any other non-profit organization and refuses to let difficult geographic or political situations keep them from accessing children in need. For these reasons and so many more, I’ve chosen to focus my efforts on UNICEF and look forward to many more years of seeing children around the world helped by their good work.

Have you had any memorable personal experiences working with the charity?

Vern: I’ve had so many memorable experiences working with UNICEF, including many from being in the field this past September in Mongolia. Hearing about all of the ways UNICEF helps children around the world is both insightful and impressive. It made a huge difference, however, to be in the field and experience everything first hand. Mongolia is the world’s eleventh largest country in the world in terms of land mass but has a population of less than 2.8 million. These statistics alone begin to already reveal the issues that the children of Mongolia must overcome. From lack of accessible water and indoor plumbing to a dearth of nutritious food that has led to stunting being the number one issue for children of Mongolia, meeting with and talking to these children was unforgettable. In a remote region of the country, I met a young high school girl who desperately wants to become an interior designer just like me. It’s been her dream since she was a child but she has to overcome so much more first. Aside from the fact that she has had to live in a dormitory since the age of six (common for children in the rural areas of Mongolia where a nomadic lifestyle means homes are too far from the centralized schools), she contends with unheated classrooms despite the fact that it gets to forty degrees below zero in the winter and a complete lack of indoor plumbing that makes fighting contagious diseases a struggle. She drew me a poster of her distant dreams of someday being able to design but preceded by an immediate dream of having some heat in her dorm so that she can sleep at night without being on the precipice of freezing. Children all over Mongolia…and frankly all over the world…contend with these huge, adult-sized issues instead of being able to be children and dream about their big and bright futures. Despite all of this, I was blown away by the determination of this young girl and her fellow classmates. There is a 97% literacy rate in Mongolia and the vast majority of children are learning to speak English perfectly. Imagine what they could do with some heat, water, and food.

Anything else you would like to add?

Vern: When I started with UNICEF over four years ago, 26,000 children a day were dying from something easily preventable. These children were dying needlessly because they didn’t have access to decent medical care, a basic vaccine, nutritious food, or clean water. It was such a startling number to share with folks that someone would usually tell me that I must have meant 26,000 children a month. Just recently, I learned that this number has gone down in part to UNICEF’s hard work around the world. Today, 19,000 children die needlessly every day. This is still an unbelievably sad statistic but it certainly is much better than 26,000. I think it’s so astonishing to understand that when we work together, we can help achieve great things like the reduction in the daily mortality rate of children. For this reason, UNICEF will not rest till this number is zero and they will have my support until that goal is reached.

DFStudio

50 Cent works to feed families nationwide.

50 Cent also known as Curtis James Jackson III was born and raised in Queens, NY and quickly rose to fame in 2003 with his album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ which went platinum 8 times. He didn’t stop there, 50 Cent released The Massacre (2005), Curtis (2007), Before I Self Destruct (2009) and his most recent Street Kind Immortals is set to be released in January. 50 Cent was ranked 6^th best artist of the 2000s and 4^th best male artist by Billboard magazine. 50 Cent is not only a rapper but also an entrepreneur and an actor. He has appeared on The Simpsons and in his semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

Feeding America is the leading domestic hunger relief charity in the United States that supplies food to more than 37 million Americans each year including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. They provide low income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and thrive. They work with a nationwide network of member food banks and tirelessly work to end hunger and engage Americans in the fight to end hunger.

Interviewed by: Giacinta Pace

Introduction by: Meg Zrini

Q: How did you get involved and what inspires you about it?

50 Cent: With Feeding America. Initially, I was doing a street clean project and I ended up partnering with The United Nations World Food Programme to provide meals. I was trying to target famine in Africa and United Nations made a great collaboration at that point. I realized you don’t go fixing the hole in someone else’s roof before you fix the hole in your house so I double backed around to Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger relief charity. Having two hundred food banks and providing the food bank of New York. It’s exciting to be associated with it. I’m an ambassador for the entertainment counsel, me, Rachael Ray, a few other people but Rachael Ray is one of my favorites so I’ll mention Rachael Ray. It was an exciting collaboration. I chose hunger as my charitable philanthropic portion of my career. I want to make a difference there. Considering within America, 1 in 6 Americans are hungry. Kids [are] going to school relying on school lunch to function and more than 1 in 5 kids are experiencing that. I wanted to do something that was continuous instead of a one time offering. With SMS Audio, I set it up with Feeding America, where we provide 250 meals with every headset that’s sold with SMSAudio.com

Q: What does this event mean to you today?

50 Cent: It means a little more to me considering it’s New York based. I’m New Yorker to the core. I’m from Queens. We wear these Yankee hats almost religiously as representation of where we’re from.

Q: Have you had any memorable moments?

50 Cent:  Every time it’s exciting. I went to the City Harvest and worked there. It’s interesting to see how many different programs [they have] in one place to provide things to not be wasteful and actually have it end up somewhere where it’s effective.

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50 Cent helps to serve Thanksgiving dinner for families with Feeding America and The Food Bank For New York City.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

50 Cent: Just that I’m enjoying myself. They’re probably excited that I’m here but I think I’m a little more excited than they are.