A Place Called Home

Debrah Constance founded A Place Called Home in 1993 as a Non-Profit Organization offering the gang-affected youth of Central Los Angeles a safe place to do their homework, get a snack and play with friends. Now home in a 10,000 square foot space on South Central Avenue, APCH has helped serve as many as 4,000 youth, annually, proving that what started out as just 12 kids in the basement of a local church has grown into an effective program for the youth.

APCH offers numerous services including tutoring, counseling, and mentoring. They even have a high school drop-out recovery program through Los Angeles Unified School District. APCH also helps to expand the curriculum through activities in music, dance, art, theater, computer lab, fitness, civics, and community outreach. Members are empowered to become the authors of their own lives and to make a positive difference in their communities and the world.  In 2003, A Place Called Home received the President’s “America’s Promise Award” and was recognized as one of the “Top 50 Teaching Examples” in the United States at the President’s Summit in 2007.

The “Gala for the Children” recognizes men and women who have demonstrated a unique and inspiring dedication towards helping youth realize their dreams and this year’s recipients are no different helping the youth in Central Los Angeles.

This Year’s Honorees

Writer and director of movie “Akeelah and The Bee,” A Place Called Home Board of Directors Chairman Doug Atchison had nothing but positive words for this year’s recipients. He stated, “I’m truly inspired by the generosity of these extraordinary individuals who find time in their demanding lives to support the young people of South Los Angeles.” Then he went on to say, “by championing APCH – and our programs in arts, education, and mentoring – our honorees infuse our kids with hope and courage that will lead them to productive, self-reliant lives.”

Ned Colletti has spent the past three seasons as General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and recently agreed to an extension. As the GM, he is responsible for overseeing the team’s baseball operations, including all scouting, player personnel and development. The first Dodger GM to do so, Colletti, in his three years at the helm of the club, has witnessed the team reaching the postseason twice.

At this year’s ceremony, Ned Colletti will be receiving the “Debrah Constance Humanitarian Award”.
 
Tyrese Gibson might best be known for his latest role as United States Air Force Tech Sergeant Epps, one he reprised earlier this year for the summer blockbuster “Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen”. He was also seen in Universal Pictures’ “Death Race”, a live action film opposite Jason Stratham and John Allan. Gibson is not just an actor, but he has managed to successfully conquer feats in the music and fashion industries as well.

“The Children’s Inspiration Award” is set to be given to Gibson at the upcoming event.

Modi Wiczyk and Asif Satchu are co-chairmen and co-CEOs of Media Rights Capital, the industry’s largest independent film, TV and digital studio. Media Rights Capital is a diversified media business with operations in filmed entertainment, television programming and original digital content. MRC specializes in the creation of premium entertainment content, partnering directly with leading creative talent and custom building distribution for each of its projects.
 
Wiczyk and Satchu will be awarded “The Angel of the Children Award” at the event later this month.
For more information on tickets to the gala, as well as APCH programs and services, please visit www.APCH.org.

Please support your troops by going to any of these websites and do what you can. You can make a difference in their daily lives! Make sure they know they have not been forgotten. You can donate directly at the USO website here…

At Troops Support, they provide a multitude of websites where you can support troops, veterans and families of the fallen and wounded. www.TroupsSupport.com

This Holiday Season brings a national call for Holiday Care Boxes and support for the troops! Let’s show them how much we each care and support them!

Support Our Troops^® makes this call on behalf of all 60+  troop-related groups across America who are routinely sending care packages to the troops. www.SupportOurTroops.org

The following are things the troops principally request:

The items on the list below have been specifically requested by the troops. If you want to send things to the troops, these are the most needed ones. Let’s do our part!

• phone cards (#1 most requested item; so they can phone their loved ones)
• VISA and M/C gift cards (#2 most requested item; gives them maximum flexibility
• personal hygiene items (American made for safety of course)
• wet wipes, individually wrapped in foil packs (not gel bottles)
• body wipes in plastic pull-out canisters
• disposable razors – men’s and women’s
• lip balm
• Floss
• toothbrushes
• foot powder and the like
• beef jerky and sticks
• powdered drink mix (to flavor their local water with)
• hard candy
• iTunes cards
• magazines (clean content)
• books (clean content)
• fun posters and calendars for dressing the place up
• AA batteries
• AAA batteries
• movie DVD’s (clean content)
• music CDs (clean content)
• iPODs (empty)
• small earphones
• 1 GB and 2 GB USB memory sticks (external hard drives) (blank)
• peanuts and nuts in cans with lids
• sun block
• tins and packets of flavored coffee and cappuccino
• gum
• breath mints
• small sporting equipment

You can make their most challenging journey a little less tough by doing this small favor. You’ll be happy you did! www.supportourtroops.org

Iraq Star, a non-profit foundation created by Maggie Lockridge, R.N. in February 2007, is dedicated to providing medical reconstructive surgeries to assist U.S. returning war veterans recovering from physical and mental injuries returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The foundation’s efforts are geared toward helping veterans heal from emotional trauma, develop and enhanced level of self esteem and ease their return to pre-war lives.

This is no ordinary fundraiser! This is also a day of relaxation, positive energy and healing for you! If you choose, you can relax and slip into a beautiful Spa robe when you enter. The robe is yours to keep! (Bring your own slippers).

The dynamic line up of speakers include:

Psychic Medium Cheri Mancuso

You will have the opportunity to meet and greet Celebrity Medium Cheri Mancuso, a Reiki Master: MSA, who will guide all 700 guests into a positive mediation and dazzle all as she psychically tunes into guests for fun!

Cheri is available for private readings on Sunday. Must R.S.V.P. Check out her website here. www.mediumcheri.com

Daryl L. Frazier, Professional Motivational Speaker, Certified Trainer of NLP and Hypnosis, Daryl will share how to understand the power of positive energy, create it and keep it  in our lives.

Actress & Vocal Artist, Patricia Welch, who played in the King and I as ‘Tuptim with Yul Brynner, played the role of Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘West Side Story’, Duet’s with Robert Goulet. She was Featured Soloist with Wayne Newton’s Show and Soloist for many Orchestra Concerts. Amazing vocalist you will not forget.

Guests Arrive: 2:30, Shop and Fun Starts: 3:00, Dinner: 4:30

Raffles to include: Getaway weekends, spa treatments, vein treatments, Botox, hair treatments, dinners and the list goes on…Raffle tickets: $20.00 for 25 tickets, you choose what you want to win!

Participating resorts include Hilton PS, Hyatt PS, Hotel Andreas, Riviera Resort, Hotel Zoso, Mira Monte Resort just to name a few. All raffle proceeds will benefit Iraq Star.

A great discount card is provided to shop at their great shopping boutiques including:

LA Di Da Jewelry, Reverge Boutique, Megumi Charms, Crystal Fantasy, Instruments of Inspiration Clothing, Marimendoza.com Arts, Jewel Energetics, Arbonne, Purses Just 4 U, Tracy’s Aura Photography, Balance by Design, Healthy Times Newspaper and the list goes on…!

And of course, there are free gifts for every guest, which include: Renown Jazz Composer, Sammy Nestico CD. Mr. Nestico will be available to autograph for you, along with other great gifts to value over $140.00

Marine Veteran Octavio Sanchez, Maggie Lockridge RN, Founder (and angel!), Marine SSgt. Tony Lino, Marine GySgt. Paul McQuigg

Visit IRAQ STAR at www.iraqstar.org

Reserve your ticket/table today.

760-870-4668, Office; event coordinator, Christine Fleming

760-289-2972, Elayna Freiberg  for tickets and more information.

You can also email them at: Christine@MasterOfCeremonyEnterprise.com

Website: http://masterofceremonyenterprise.com/Events.html

Tickets are $95.00 per person. The cost of entrance includes dinner and all of the fabulous giveaways.

Office Hours; Monday through Friday – 7:00 am – 8pm

Society of Young Philanthropists at Poker Night: Capitan David Moreno, Leila Kashani, Jessica Hekmat, Dina Rezvanipour, Dara Rezvanipour, Melody Nebati, Greg Levitan, David Duel, Ailin Dayani, Suraj Bhojwani and Shahab Neman.

The Society of Young Philanthropists hosted their 2nd Annual Prohibition Poker Night on Oct 14th at Aqua Lounge in Beverly Hills. Guests enjoyed sipping complimentary champagne donated by Pink Dot and snacking on appetizers by Aqua Lounge while they ‘wheeled and dealed’ like high-rolling poker and blackjack professionals.

SYP having fun while doing good

What is SYP?

The Society of Young Philanthropists (SYP), is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization designed to create a network of distinguished professionals by promoting philanthropic causes through charitable events. The goal of this organization is to offer an attractive and appealing opportunity for young professionals to contribute their resources and skills to charitable causes. Through these efforts, the Society of Young Philanthropists hopes to instill a commitment to philanthropy in the next generation of community leaders. Through these efforts, the Society of Young Philanthropists hopes to instill the next generation of professionals with.

The proceeds procured that evening went toward the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. In the midst of all the fires in California, SYP gives assistance to the many firefighters and their families who are faced with personal difficulties and tragedies. For more information about this cause please visit www.lafra.org and for more information about SYP please visit www.philanthropysociety.org

Here is what the best poker players won that night:

1st prize- 2 night stay at Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas

2nd prize – Play Station 3

3rd prize- Bottle service at Guys and Dolls

4th prize – Hair cut by celebrity hair stylist Theodore Leaf from Chris McMillan Salon

5th prize- car detail

6th prize- Grey Goose magnum bottle

7th prize- 5 private training sessions at Sports Club LA

8th prize- $100 gift certificate from Pink Dot

9th prize- Bulgari cologne set

10th prize – $50 gift certificate to Mary and Robbs Westwood Café

Prizes for 2nd Annual Poker Night

The Event took place at ‘Daves Garage’ Event Center in Torrance. Dave Parker’s vintage car collection was available to view. Many cars were from the private collection of Jay Leno.  Featured was a live performance from “27 Miles” with Kurt Custer formally of Lynyrd Skynyrd, a Hope Song runway show and a silent and live auction from “Gallery of Dream” which featured priceless signed memorabilia from the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

Project SHIFT is comprised of two amazing organizations Community’s Child & Visual Impact Now. These organizations help woman and children with eye care and shelter. The woman and children receive help with eye exams, eyewear, education, skills and training for everyday life. Project SHIFT is the stepping stone to help the woman and children break the patterns of poverty and move towards a better future.

Project SHIFT had a great celebrity turn out with Brian White, Adam Gaynor, George Grey, Tom Mallow, Travis Van Winkle, Carolina Bacardi and many more.

Run 4 Her Life 5k / 10k for Breast Cancer Research will take place on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. and feature a live musical performance by GRAMMY® award-winning recording artist and “Dancing With The Stars” contestant, Mýa. Registration fee is $35 in advance and $45 day of and includes a custom designed Affliction/Run 4 Her Life t-shirt ($82 value), gift bag and all event festivities, including entrance to the concert.  Team and Groups are also encouraged to participate.  Please visit www.Run4HerLife.com for additional details and to register.

The Americana at Brand, located in the heart of downtown Glendale, will offer entrants and guests a variety of live entertainment, expo and post-event party. In addition to the competitive 5k / 10k races the event also offers a 5k Family Fun Run / Walk. “Caruso Affiliated is honored to support this inaugural event and its critical mission of funding for breast cancer research. Our team is working hard to ensure that it also will be a delightful day for the entire family,” said Rick Caruso, president and CEO, Caruso Affiliated.

To get in shape for the October 2009 Race, lululemon athletica Glendale will conduct complimentary Sunday morning fitness classes at The Americana at Brand designed to improve your running while offering tips, motivation and camaraderie.  Located on two acres in downtown Glendale, The Americana at Brand is LAs newest shopping and dining destination developed by Caruso Affiliated. With residences built atop the shops and restaurants, race entrants will have a built in audience and cheering section at the start and finish lines.

Funds raised will support local California research at USC/Norris Lee Breast Center, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Michael Press, MD. PhD. and National Research. Grants are awarded as deemed by our Medical Advisory Board to have the most significance in the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer.

“We are grateful to be a part of this event to raise funds for breast cancer research,” said Michael Press, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pathology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the Harold E. Lee Chair for Cancer Research at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. “As we learn more about the molecular and genetic causes of breast cancer, we are positioned to attack this deadly disease at its origin and to prevent its development in thousands of women.”

Run 4 Her Life is green, breaking new ground with the worlds-first Eco-friendly Running Bib. The focus of Karin Purvis, Race Director, and Founder of ‘Run 4 Her Life’ and ‘Cure in the Canyons’ is to facilitate a healthy, eco-friendly race, allowing runners to participate in a “green” event. As a tribute to breast cancer research, emediagroup is providing bib numbers made from seed paper, which entrants can plant after the event and will bloom Black-Eyed Susan’s creating a lasting memory.  By combining breast cancer research awareness and environmentally friendly materials, emediagroup is proud to participate in this unique event.

Run 4 Her Life will feature live musical performances by Mýa, The Quiet, Lili Haydn, Jordan Johnson, and Margie Hauser and an interactive family friendly expo with 15 cabanas including Glendale Hospital offering orthopedic therapy consultations, and Katsuya and ONEHOPE Wine who will be hosting the VIP celebrity lounge.  The Nesquik Bunny will be greeting runners at the expo and plans to run the 5k as well!

Grammy Award® winning multi-platinum artist Mýa, became a star at the age of 18 with her eponymous debut album which yielded three Top-10 singles. In addition to releasing five full length albums, one of which went platinum and another, gold, she tangoed her way into our hearts in the acclaimed film Chicago. Mýa is currently a popular contestant on the hit TV show “Dancing With The Stars”!

As a philanthropist, Mýa continues to devote her time and resources to various causes. From 1998 to 2001, she became the spokesperson for Secret to Self Esteem. In 2005, Mýa founded TMATF: The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing disadvantaged youth growth and opportunity through arts & technology education, where she serves as both executive director and teacher. Mýa is also an advocate of breast cancer as her mother is a 10 year survivor. In 2006 & 2007 she collaborated with the Lifetime Television Network in the Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign, recording “My Bra” a song sold on iTunes donating 100% of proceeds to breast cancer research.

Sponsors include Affliction, ONEHOPE Wine, lululemon, Luna Bars, Katsuya, Paul Mitchell, Icy Hot, Gold Bond, Lange Productions, Alacer, Pop Chips, Power Bars, Powerade, Glaceau Smart Water, Emergen- C, Nesquik, Queasy Pops, Capco Labs Foot Cream, Hypoxy and Dole.

THE JENNIFER DIAMOND CANCER FOUNDATION 7TH ANNUAL GALA HONORS FREDERICK FRANK, BEVERLYE HYMAN FEAD AND AMGEN
 
On October 25, 2009, the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation will pay tribute to two distinguished people who have positively impacted those who live in a world changed by cancer, and a company whose strides are making a very important difference in cancer research
 
Frederick Frank is arguably one of the most influential people in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. He is credited as the leading investment banker worldwide for pharmaceutical company mergers, acquisitions and equity fund raising. Currently on the Board of Directors of PDL BioPharma and a consultant to Sinapsis Pharma, Inc., he is simultaneously Vice Chairman of Peter J. Solomon Company, forging some of the most innovative and vital financing, strategic alliances and acquisitions in the pharma and healthcare arenas. His credits are too many to mention, however he is a Chartered Financial Analyst, member of The New York Society of Security Analysts and a past President of the Chemical Processing Industry Analysts. He serves as Director and Chairman of the Board of Epix Pharmaceuticals, Chairman of the Board of the Irvington Institute for Immunological Research and sits on the Advisory Boards of The Harvard School of Public Health, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Biomedical Innovation, to name a few.  With the help of his expertise, there have been dramatic advances in cancer research. The Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation is honored to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Frank at the Gala.
 
Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise.  Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people in the fight against cancer, amongst other serious illnesses with a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines. The company’s state-of-the-art complex biotechnology manufacturing and development processes using living organisms help them to realize the potential of their biotechnological medicines and have made them a leader in the field.
 
Their outstanding track record of regulatory compliance, thanks to stringent controls and a superior quality system, allows them to continue to innovate newer and more efficient ways to produce therapies using biotechnology. Most importantly, Amgen has a track record of safely and reliably delivering medicines to patients who need them. For that reason,  Amgen will  receive the “Triumph Award.”
 
As an author and activist, cancer survivor Beverlye Hyman Fead has been an inspiration to tens of thousands of people who have read I Can Do This: Living with Cancer, Tracing a Year of Hope and Nana, What’s Cancer? In 2002 she was given two months to live. A survivor of Stage IV cancer as a result of experimental treatment, she shares her story of hope in many ways. She is an ambassador for the American Cancer Society’s Celebration on the Hill, and participated in the educational DVD Breast Cancer: The Path to Wellness and Healing. She has personally raised in excess of $1 million for cancer research. Beverlye will receive the “Gift of Life Award” from the Jennifer Diamond Foundation.
 
In the same year as Beverlye was diagnosed, Jennifer Diamond was not as fortunate. She succumbed to a rare untreatable form of cancer at only 30 years old. Knowing her fate, she still found it necessary to help others by encouraging her parents to provide needed information that was otherwise unavailable or simply too difficult to find. A few days before Jenn passed away, she signed the papers forming The Jennifer Diamond Foundation. The mission statement reads: “The Jennifer Diamond Foundation is dedicated to helping people win the fight against all forms of cancer. We are focused on empowering people with knowledge, as well as supporting research and healing programs that provide the tools to help treat the mind and body as one.”
 
In the short time since the Foundation was formed, under the passionate guidance of Alice and Harvey, seven Jennifer Diamond Cancer Resource Libraries have been donated to facilities in southern and central California: The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, weSpark Cancer Support Center, Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, St John’s Hospital in Camarillo, The Wellness Community Santa Monica, the Hearst Cancer Research Center at French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, with more planned over the next year and hopes of expanding to other geographical areas in time. In addition to the libraries, the Foundation has funded children’s programs including The Wellness Center’s Kids Circle Program.
 
The Annual Gala is the Jennifer Diamond Foundation’s largest fundraising effort of the year. It takes place this year on October 25 at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, with Master of Ceremonies Chris Schauble, NBC News anchor.  The evening will be hosted by Lee Marshall, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Disc Jockey.  The honorary committee includes Neil Diamond, Lainie Kazan, Peter Greenberg, Telma Hopkins, Ed Begley,Jr., Mare Winningham, Norm Crosby and Mindy Sterling. The event, featuring the “Walk Like a Man” musical review, is open to the public. Tickets are $250 each.
 
For information: (818) 700-6900 or alice@jenniferdiamondfoundation.com.

Master of Ceremonies:  Chris Schauble, “Today in LA” (NBC) co-anchor and Hosted by Lee Marshall, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Disk Jockey.

The honorary committee includes Neil Diamond, Scott Hamilton,  Lainie Kazan, Peter Greenberg, Telma Hopkins, Ed Begley, Jr., Mare Winningham, Norm Crosby and Mindy Sterling.  Honorees are author, cancer activist, motivational speaker Beverly Hyman Fead, renowned biotech giant Frederick Frank and Amgen for its strides in the treatment of cancer.

Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles

Open to public — $250 per person includes dinner, and entertainment by WALK LIKE A MAN

For ticket information, (818) 700-6900 or alice@jenniferdiamondfoundation.org.

Leighton and Gunn were there alongside domestic violence survivors and special celebrity guests to unveil a symbolic exhibit honoring all those who take a stand against domestic violence.

Tim Gunn and Laura Leighton (far left) join survivors under the symbolic arches

The exhibit of six unique arches featured information about the cause,  the organizations who have worked so courageously at putting an end to domestic violence, the names of the many organizations who have worked tirelessly to put an end to domestic violence and celebrity audio messages of support from Jennifer Love Hewitt, Rosie Perez, Martina McBride, Vivica Fox, Robin Givens, Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton and others.

Take a Stand, Get a Pair
The first 100 people who took a stand against domestic violence by walking through the exhibit received a free pair of shoes from Marshalls.  The exhibit remained at the Third Street Promenade until October 2nd for the public, and then is traveling to Union Square in New York City for another viewing on October 8th and 9th.

Shop ‘til it Stops
This event kicked off the national “Shop ‘Til it Stops” in-store program where for every pair of shoes purchased at Marshalls during October 1-15th, one dollar – up to $150,000 – will be donated to the NDVH to help put an end to domestic violence.  This also marks the 18th year that the off-price retailer has raised money and awareness for the cause.

Domestic Violence Statistics
One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and more than 600 families a day reach out for help to the National Domestic Violence Hotline to escape from domestic violence. The Hotline recently answered its two millionth call. It’s time to put an end to domestic violence before it begins.

Marshalls and the Shoe MegaShop
Marshalls is one of the nation’s leading off-price family apparel and home fashion retailers with over 800 stores spanning 42 states and Puerto Rico. Marshalls offers a wide selection of current season, top quality, brand name fashions for the entire family as well as giftware and domestics for the home at prices 20-60% less than department stores, specialty boutiques and catalogs.

The Marshalls Shoe MegaShop is 5,000 square feet of shoe-lovers heaven, featuring top brands and the latest styles found in department and specialty stores, but for up to 60 percent less. With an easy to shop layout featuring a variety of styles and sizes there is a perfect match for any shoe lover.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline was established by Congress in 1996 and is funded by Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funds. The Hotline is a nonprofit organization that provides crisis intervention, information and referral to victims of domestic violence, perpetrators, friends and families. The Hotline answers a variety of calls and is a resource for domestic violence advocates government officials, law enforcement agencies and the general public.

The Hotline serves as the only domestic violence hotline in the nation with access to more than 5,000 shelters and domestic violence programs across the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Advocates receive approximately 21,000 calls each month. The Hotline is toll-free, confidential and anonymous. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in more than 170 different languages through interpreter services, with a TTY line available for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing.

Tom Arnold and Stacy Broff happily showing support in going green.

Debi Mazar said she came out to support the Creative Coalition. Debi enthusiastically said, “ I have kids and I feel strongly about arts and education. It’s a very important part of their life.”

Here are the other A-listers that came out to support the charities and celebrate going green: Andy Serkis, Christian Clemenson, joined Amy Brenneman, Candice Cameron Bure, Antonio Sabato Jr., Tom Arnold, Daphne Zuniga, Debi Mazar, Andrea Bowen, Michael McGrady (NBC’s Southland), and Sara Rue. The Proposal’s funny guy Oscar Nunez, along with cutie pie Isabella Acres (Better Off Ted). Lorna Scott, Lee Reherman, (Showtime’s Look), Jane Graves, Corey Reynolds, Christina Robinson (Dexter), Kenny Johnston (Saving Grace), and Cassidy Lehrman (Entourage) where amongst the crowd too.

Michael McGrady from NBC's Southland signs the Project Green chair.

The fabulous green goods the stars were treated to were Dr. Garth Fisher’s new line of skin care products, Cellceutical SkinCare, Diamond Nexus, Lab Generated Diamonds and Jewels, as well as all the new natural products from Aubrey Organics.

Cellceutical Skin Care

Dr. Garth Fisher of Cellceutical and his lovely wife Jessica.

Garth Fisher’s new product, Cellceutical SkinCare, had a throng of guests wanting to know more about his new skin care line so we asked him for some skin tips for any age. Gary said emphatically, “Obviously everyone benefits from improving the quality of their skin and Paul and I have finally come up with what we believe is the most effective skin care system on the planet.

The award-winning CellCeuticals skin care system makes older skin behave as if it younger, and actually optimizes the performance of younger skin. You will definitely see and feel the difference!  Patients with “extra skin and sagging tissues”, will need not only support, but also will need excision of extra skin to provide a youthful appearance.”

Three Cheers for Bust-ease and Sonic Slimmers

Kathleen Kirkwood and E! News Producer, Lesley Robins with their Bust-ease.

Enhance the appearance of your bust line with these Kathleen Kirkwood’s Bust-ease Ultra-Sonic cups. The feather-light, seamless design offers a lifted look in bathing suits, body suits, or dresses, while wicking away moisture. LA’s The Place asked some female celebrities what they thought of Bust-Ease and Sonic Slimmers.

Here’s some of the fantastic feedback:

“I am a new mom, and need a lift! Great for easy transformations in future shows and performances”–  Beth Stolarczyk from MTV’s “THE REAL WORLD”• “In Hollywood, the amplified bossom is key to success, especially in the Horror Genre.“– Lorelle Newl from “GRIND HOUSE“ by Quentin Tarintino, Roadhouse Productions• “Bust ease will fit right and will be for future performances and costumes!!”– Janita Hiphill, Jaquesha Hemphill & Jacoby from ‘HEMPHILL KIDS” teen band• “A real push up like Bust-ease will give one the ideal help to have a perfect cleavage for red carpet. Don’t spend thousands on plastic surgery when you can have Bust-ease”  – Julia Verdin from “THE LEAST AMOUNG YOU” by HBO films• “Bust ease are great to create cleavage when you don’t have any.”– Candice Afia from ABC’s “GREY’S ANATOMY”• “On the red carpet nobody likes their foundations to outshine their dress. Now I can guarantee my clients a Malfunction-Free Wardrobe”– Catherine Wright, Emmy Red Carpet host and interviewer• “I am sick of control top tights. Sonic Slimmers is the perfect solution”– Amy Nicoletto from “LA INK” on TLC• “Chicken cutlets are heavy and these even work with implants. For lift…no double bubble” – Crystal Aguilar on ABC Family• “Sonic Slimmers are light so I won’t feel constricted and you can wear it daily instead of just for events.”– Lonni Paul from ”DESIGN STAR” on HGTV• “Bust-ease is genius – Sonic Slimmers gorgeous…nice combination!”– Cassidy Lehrman in “ENTOURAGE” from HBO Films• “Bust-ease makes women feel SEXY!” – Mae Wang from “COUGARTOWN” on ABCALIVE.

ALIVE! Expo’s Patrycja Siewert-Towns, Kim Shimmel with Amy Brenneman. Patrycja is wearing an Ann-Made recycled bracelet.

Ann-Made, LLC, maker of environmental jewelry using post-consumer soda can tabs with wire and bead embellishments. Recent recipient of the Green America Seal of Approval. www.AnnMadeArt.com

ALIVE! Expo Sponsors

The generous sponsors of ALIVE Expo were as follows:

Kathleen Kirkwood, Shape Wear; Aubrey Organics, 100% Natural Hair, Body & Skin care products; North American Herb & Spice, Oregano Oil; Explorer’s Bounty, Organic & Sustainable Coffee, Tea, Dehydrated Fruit and Chocolate Covered Nuts; Zico, Natural Coconut Water; Tuwa Elements of Earth, Natural Jute Bag; Egg Whites International, Perfect Protein Drink; We Pilates Clothing, Organic Wear for Pilates & Yoga; Dr. Barton Goldsmith, with his book ” Emotional Fitness for Couples: 10 Minutes a Day to a Better Relationship”. Michaels Naturopathic Products, Naturopathic Superior Antioxidant Complex; ; Diamond Nexus, Lab Generated Diamonds and Jewels; Natural Approach to a Healthy Relationship; Red Hair Girl Designs, Green Greeting Cards and Jewelry made from Recycled Materials; Fat Cat Energy Drink, Vitamin Energy Supplement; LA Limousine; Property Maid, eco friendly cleaning company; GotWheatGrass.com, Pure Organic Wheatgrass; AnnMadeArt.com, Recycling Can Be Beautiful; Fuzzy Green Monster, organic eco-friendly children’s apparel; Chews 4 Health; Zrii, Deepok Chopra health drink.Kenny Johnston and the ladies of Aubrey Organics.

www.aubrey-organics.com Aubrey Organics, 100% natural hair, body & skin care products
www.p-73.com North American Herb & Spice, Oregano oil;
www.explorersbounty.com Explorer’s Bounty, organic & sustainable coffee, tea, dehydrated fruit and chocolate covered nuts;
www.zico.com Zico, natural coconut water;
www.tuwadesigns.com Tuwa Elements of Earth, natural jute bag;
www.eggwhitesint.com Egg Whites International, Perfect Protein Drink;
www.wepilates.com We Pilates Clothing, organic wear for pilates & yoga;
www.michaelshealth.com Michaels Naturopathic Products, naturopathic superior antioxidant complex;
www.diamondnexus.com Diamond Nexus, lab generated diamonds and jewels;
www.redhairgirldesigns.com Red Hair Girl Designs, green greeting cards and jewelry made from recycled materials;
www.gotwheatgrass.com GotWheatGrass.com, pure organic wheatgrass;
www.annmadeart.com Ann-Made, LLC Recycling Can Be Beautiful;
www.chews4health.com Chews 4 Health, multi vitamin supplement;
www.zrii.com Zrii, multi vitamin health drink;

Non Profits:

www.oviemughelli34.com/community.htm Ovie Mughelli Foundation;
www.thecreativecoalition.org The Creative Coalition;
www.projectgreenusa.org Project Green and Back To Basics Summer Camp;
Paws & Claws Pet Club; CSA;

What is The Creative Coalition?

Antonio Sabato Jr. at ALIVE expo.

The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan social and political advocacy organization of the entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 by prominent figures in the creative community, including actors Alec Baldwin, Ron Silver, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon, Blair Brown and Stephen Collins, TCC educates and mobilizes leaders in the arts community on issues of public importance, specifically in the areas of First Amendment rights, arts advocacy and public education. www.thecreativecoalition.org

Project Green Educates

Project Green runs an annual “Back to Basics” Summer Camp for children and teens. “Back to Basics” teaches young people how to interact with one another focusing on building self-esteem and awareness for the environment by incorporation challenging and fun activities. www.projectgreenusa.org

Who is ALIVE! Expo Green?

Alive! Expo Green Pavilion is founded and led by Patrycja Siewert-Towns and Kim Shimmel. As specialists in ‘green’ and in creating brand entertainment /sponsorship opportunities that surround ‘official green’ Hollywood red carpet ceremonies, our focus is on ‘earth friendly’ clients. Our goal is to bring clients into programs that build a platform that will raise awareness in a collaborative effort for all participating members.  Alive! Expo Green Pavilion strives to familiarize clients with our additional brand entertainment services and build a comfort level around our capabilities as event producers and fundraisers. www.aliveexpogreenpavilion.com

The Andre Agassi Foundation showered A-list celebs like Tim McGraw, Brian McKnight, Daughtry, Dane Cook and Macy Gray with gifts in appreciation for donating their time and talent to the 14th Annual Grand Slam for Children benefit concert.

Celebrity gift-givers Distinctive Assets provided Gift Bags filled with gifts for a ‘koz’ and a Backstage Gift Lounge for the performers and guests at the Grand Slam concert at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas on September 25 and 26, 2009.

The Backstage Gift Lounge featured a “giving station,” hosted by GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz, where celebrities autographed their favorite new gift to be auctioned off to benefit the Andre Agassi Foundation.

Gifting Station Scores an Ace

Continuing its proud ten-year philanthropic tradition, Distinctive Assets featured an in-Lounge “giving station” hosted by GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz and his eponymous Koz Wine.  Koz Wine is available at Whole Foods stores nationwide and 100% of the profits benefit the Starlight Foundation. 

In honor of the powerful example set by celebrities such as Andre Agassi and Dave Koz, each celebrity attending the Gift Lounge will be asked to autograph their favorite new gift, which will then be auctioned off to support the Andre Agassi Foundation and benefit the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.

Celebs talk safely hands free with Novero’s “The First One” premium Bluetooth earpieces

Eco-friendly h20 from Refreshing Ideas

Chic portion-control Slimware dinnerware

Jack Lalanne’s Power Juicer Express

Oxygenetix makeup

Wet Cement light wear hoodies

Smart Heat hair tools

Soy candles from Makana Candle Studios, the fragrance of Hawaii

Karma Silver Tequila

Daisy Couture designer pet collars

Performance tees from Run Happy Tees

Sof-t by Pacific Cornetta 

WooLoot unisex sport watches

Deluxe Vegas entertainment package that includes:

Gourmet cupcakes from The Cupcakery

Donny & Marie show tickets

George Wallace show tickets

VIP tickets for ten to Chippendales

VIP tour of Dirk Arthur’s Tiger Habitat

Dinner for four  at Hash House A Go Go

Dinner at BB King’s Blues Club

VIP bottle service for four at Blush Boutique Nightclub

Palms Studio tour and more. 

Pacific Events, the most sought-after production company in Las Vegas, designed and arranged the Gift Lounge.

Gift Basket Goodies

And, of course, no Distinctive Assets gift experience would be complete without a Gift Basket filled with a bevy of items such as:

Muscle Flex“Premiere” Vata Brasil active wear collection, a complete set of SUDZZfx hair products

ME sparkling fruit beverages 

Holistic skincare from Petite Marie Organics by Julie Gabriel,

Biodegradable travel accessories from ecoLiving Essentials

Girl Wonders paper-folding fortune games from Cahootie

Old School Brand earth–friendly laundry soap

BSanitized anti-viral disinfectant from BEnvironmental

Gourmet meal delivery courtesy of California Fresh & Fit

A $5,000  two-week fitness bootcamp from Live In Fitness Enterprise.

Andre Agassi Foundation

Now in its 14th year, the Grand Slam for Children brings together international stars to build awareness and raise money for the Andre Agassi Foundation.  The annual event supports the Foundation’s efforts to transform education and benefits the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a K-12 public charter school in Las Vegas that strives to provide children with a first-class education. The Foundation opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in 2001; in 2009 the public charter school graduated its first senior class with 100 percent of graduates going on to higher education opportunities. The Andre Agassi Foundation’s work is directly impacting students in Las Vegas, but it has broader implications for education nationwide, as the Foundation works to increase investment in, and accountability for, public schools.  Since 1995, the Grand Slam has raised nearly $75 million to support a movement that’s improving education for all children. For additional information, please visit www.agassifoundation.org.

Distinctive Assets

Distinctive Assets is the premier celebrity gifting company as they are known for interactive backstage Gift Lounges at major Hollywood events such as the GRAMMY® Awards, Latin GRAMMY®s, Academy of Country Music Awards, TV Land Awards, Kids’ Choice Awards, American Music Awards and countless others. www.distinctiveassets.com

The event was masterfully run by On 3 Productions and the gift lounge saw Lipton Green Tea and CBS Cares team up to support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

From Emmy Host Neil Patrick Harris to a parade of Hollywood luminaries including Debra Messing, Patricia Arquette, and Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and more the backstage gift lounge was the ’suite-est’ place to be.

Stacy DeFino with Lipton Green Tea, a sponsor of the Emmy gifting suite.

Lipton Green VitaliTEA Challenge

Lipton Green Tea and CBS Cares teamed up to support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) with the Lipton Green VitaliTEA Challenge. For every celebrity Host, Presenter & Performer who stopped by and competed, Lipton Green Tea made a donation on their behalf to CASA. Court Appointed Special Advocates is an organization that recruits, trains and supports volunteers who help abused and neglected children navigate through the court system, and find safe, permanent homes.

For every star who guessed the new flavors in the Lipton Green Tea blindfolded taste test and shot hoops or played other fun on-screen activiTEAS, Lipton Green Tea made a donation on their behalf to The National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association.

Blake Lively signs for charity, Jamie Kennedy and Jennifer Love Hewitt takes the Lipton Tea Challenge!

Jennifer Love Hewitt and boyfriend Jamie Kennedy asked to be referred to as “Jamie Love” as they competed for the top spot in the Lipton Green VitaliTEA Challenge! Jimmy Fallon then rocked the Lipton Green VitaliTEA Challenge scoreboard with an incredible 24 points, knocking off the previous lead score from the two love birds. Blake Lively shined as she bested Fallon with a perfect 4 out of 4 on the Lipton Green Tea blindfolded taste test. Charlie Sheen also went 4 for 4 in the Lipton Green Tea taste test and while doing so shared that his favorite Lipton Green Tea flavor was Cranberry Pomegranate! Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter of Dexter, both big Lipton Green Tea drinkers, combined their score for a total of 20 points as they took 3rd place in the Lipton Green VitaliTEA Challenge!

Stars also shared with Lipton Green Tea how they add a little health into their daily routine. Private Practice star and former Grey’s Anatomy Doc Kate Walsh said “Oh, I don’t know, I work out, I love green tea.” Ricky Gervais shared that he sleeps covered in green tea and bits of cucumber! Entourage star Perry Reeves said “I drink a lot of green tea, and I’ve been a vegetarian all my life.  It’s so important to keep healthy.” “I like to ride my bike and go canoeing with me daughter,” said Stephen Moyer, star of True Blood. “I ride a stationary bike to keep healthy,” said Bob Newhart. “I’m trying to drink green tea more, but I exercise and drink a lot of water too,” said Sigourney Weaver.

Lipton teas tasted by the stars at the event were as follows:
Lipton Citrus Green Tea, Lipton Orange, Passionfruit & Jasmine Green Tea, Lipton Mixed Berry Tea, and Lipton Cranberry Pomegranate Green Tea. Check them out to find your favorite flavor at: www.LiptonT.com or on Facebook under the “Lipton Green Tea” fan page (which houses more Emmys stuff).

Palm Pre and Palm Pixi

The celebrities attending On 3 Productions Emmy Awards gift lounge were treated to a choice of either the Palm Pre phone or the just announced Palm Pixi Phone, complete with 3 months of service from Sprint. Gift lounge guests loved the sneak peak at the Palm Pixi as they became the first to have Palm’s thinnest phone to date while choosing from a selection of fun custom designs! Singer and songwriter Sarah McLachlan found the perfect word to describe the Palm Pixi as she exclaimed “cute” while selecting the hummingbird design. The Ghost Whisper star Jennifer Love Hewitt revealed that her character on the show uses a Palm Pre! Medium star Patricia Arquette loves that she’ll really be able to multi-task with the Palm Pixi as she admitted “I think I’m finally ready to upgrade from my ancient Palm Pilot.”

Kameleon Jewelry

Guests of the Lipton Green Vitali Tea Gift Lounge received Kameleon Jewelry pieces from the Kameleon Jewelry Sterling Silver Interchangeable Jewelry Collection. SNL alum and Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler picked up a pair of sterling silver and garnet stone earrings for her freshly pierced ears. Gossip Girl Blake Lively spread the word as she left with an armful of bracelets from Kameleon Jewelry with 19 interchangeable jewel pops to play with! Alyson Hannigan of How I Met Your Mother picked out a sterling silver tiered ring with blue and green stones from Kameleon Jewelry. Alyson was appreciative of the opportunity to show off the beautiful jewelry as she explained she hasn’t been wearing earring or pendants because her “6-month old is in a very grabby stage!”

Kameleon Jewelry dazzles on the red carpet.

Moroccanoil

Lounge attendees were also treated to an Exclusive VIP Gift Collection of Argan Oil Infused Haircare Products from Moroccanoil. True Blood hunky vampire Stephen Moyer was among the celebrities picking out products from Moroccanoil’s new Argan oil infused products. Kate Walsh already uses the Moroccanoil hydrating mask at home and said she “loves it”. Adorable couple Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jamie Kennedy shared that their stylist uses Moroccanoil’s much-talked about products on the set of The Ghost Whisperer. Raven-haired beauty Debra Messing was already enjoying a great Moroccanoil inspired hair day. She exclaimed “I love this stuff, I used it this morning!”

MorroccanOil is a new favorite with Dancing with the Stars, Maksim Chmerkovskiy!

Santoni

Stars backstage at Nokia Theatre were fitted for custom Italian hand-made shoes by world-famous designer Giuseppi Santoni! As she had her feet traced by Santoni, actress Sigourney Weaver shared that she lives in New York and would “live” in a pair of custom leather Santoni boots! Don’t be surprised if you see Blake Lively in a pair of thigh-high, high-heeled Santoni boots this fall as she was fitted for a pair by Mr. Santoni! If she gets her way you may just see a Karina Smirnoff-inspired line of dance shoes!  The Dancing with the Stars beauty may have convinced Mr. Santoni to craft a line of Santoni dance heels for the show as she slipped into a pair of red, strappy hand-made high-heeled sandals!

Tracy Morgan goes crazy for Santoni Shoes!

Nespresso

Emmy Award attendees also indulged in the Nespresso Ultimate Coffee Experience with the new Nespresso CitiZ Machine. Mentalist star Simon Baker almost lost his mind trying to decide between all the hip color schemes for the Nespresso CitiZ machine, he finally selected one in limousine black! Leighton Meester confessed she’s a “Sensitive Sally” (she loves Decaf) when it comes to coffee as she choose Nespresso’s satin chrome-colored Lattissima machine. Her Gossip Girl pal Blake Lively scooped up two of the Nespresso CitiZ machines, one for her and a second for her boyfriend and GG co-star Penn Badgely. The blonde beauty made it clear that things are still “brewing” between them! Starter Wife star Debra Messing loved how easy the Nespresso Lattisima machine is to use as she said “We love simple”.

Nothing beats Nespresso in your cup.

AMC Entertainment

Guests also received the exclusive AMC Signature Pass from AMC Entertainment. Stephen Moyer plans to take advantage of the pass by taking his daughter to see the new animated feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Chris O’Donnell put his AMC Signature Pass right in his wallet and exclaimed “two tickets to paradise!” TV legend Bob Newhart, ever the funnyman, said of his AMC Signature Pass: “I hope a good movie comes out soon, I’m running out of time!” Marcia Gay Harden and Mary Louise Parker both said they couldn’t wait to use the card. Entourage star Kevin Dillon was excited to renew the AMC Signature Pass he picked up in the gift lounge backstage at the Emmys last year – it’s his favorite gift of all!

AMC Entertainment dazzles the stars with the one year movie pass!

Anoname Jeans

Anoname Jeans presented their Cult of Individuality Women’s Denim Jeans and Men’s Denim Jeans. Hollywood’s hottest names at the On 3 Productions Gift Lounge got to check out the latest hot denim from Anoname and Cult of Individuality. Stars like Blake Lively, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Cat Deeley, Kate Walsh and many others got to pre-order the newest styles from both brands like the Anoname “boyfriend” jean for her and the Cult of Individuality “skinny” jean for him! Expect to see Private Practice star Kate Walsh out of uniform this Fall: The on-screen doctor chose to pre-order the super-light wash, vintage style called “Driftwood” from Anoname jeans. Turns out that actors Chris O’Donnell of NCIS: Los Angeles and David Boreanaz from Bones have the same taste as the Hollywood hunks both chose Cult of Individuality jeans in the brand’s latest Tobacco dirty-wash. Wife Tracy Pollan picked out the Hagen style from Cult of Individuality for hubby Michael J Fox, who shared that that’s the way it works!

Anoname Jeans... a must have for the celebs.

Aquaswiss Watches

Chris O’Donnell couldn’t decide between the large and smaller face styles from Aquaswiss Watches and finally said, “I like both sizes, but I’m going Big or I’m going home!” Dana Delaney picked out a black and silver Aquaswiss watch from their new Swissport collection and joked “I always need to know when the time is right!” Jamie Kennedy & Jennifer Love Hewitt insisted on matching his & hers Aquaswiss watches. Gossip Girl beauty Blake Lively said “I don’t mean to Gossip, but this watch is where it’s at!” Lively scooped up the newest style from Aquaswiss in Rose Gold!  Charlie Sheen was excited to get his wife Brooke Mueller the rose gold style and said, “A lovely watch for my lovely wife.”

Charlie Sheen picked up an Aquaswiss watch for his bride.

Flip MinoHD

So many stars at the Emmy Awards gift lounge shared that they were Flip enthusiasts and were thrilled with an upgrade to the new Flip MinoHD! Primetime Emmy Host himself, Neil Patrick Harris loves the Flip so much he said you’ll find one in his car at all times! Ricky Gervais said of his new Flip MinoHD: “It’s amazing, it’s amazing,” while his wife said “It’s perfect for you because it’s idiot-proof!” The New Adventures of Old Christine star Julia Louis Dreyfus planned to use her new chrome Flip MinoHD to capture Emmy festivities and then place the video on FaceBook for her fans! David Boreanaz requested a custom design; his Flip MinoHD will carry the Philadelphia Flyers logo as he’s a big fan and does a lot of work with the NHL! Karina Smirnoff of Dancing with the Stars uses her Flip MinoHD to record her dance routines so she can critique her work!

Neil Patrick Harris carries a Flip in his car.

Vera Bradley

Guests of Lipton Green Vitali Tea Gift Lounge, produced by On 3 Productions, were treated to Vera Bradley’s Limited Edition Nylon Jet Set Duffel and coordinating All in One Wristlet. Stars like Debra Messing, Mary Louise Parker, Vanessa Williams, Amy Poehler, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Blake Lively and Leighton Meester have it in the bag – they each left with all their goodies packed into Vera Bradley’s limited edition Nylon Jet Set Duffel with coordinating All in One Wristlet!

CRUNCH One Year Membership

We’re not sure if they can get any more toned but stars like Neil Patrick Harris, David Boreanaz, Blake Lively, Kevin Dillon, Johnny Galecki, Leighton Meester and Chris O’Donnell scooped up a one year membership to Crunch nationwide in the Lipton Green VitaliTEA Gift Lounge!

Altoids

Altoids gifted a year supply of SMALLS Mints. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Amy Poehler, Simon Baker and Kate Walsh were among the stars that scooped up a year supply of Altoids SMALLS mints in their favorite flavor!

Celebrity Guests

Guests included Primetime Emmy Host, Neil Patrick Harris, and Presenters, Performers and Nominees including Simon Baker (The Mentalist), Ricky Gervais, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Tracy Morgan (30 Rock), Bob Newhart, Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live/Parks and Recreation), Kiefer Sutherland (24), Sigourney Weaver, Patricia Arquette (Medium), David Boreanaz (Bones), Ellen Burstyn, Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory), Cat Deeley  (So You Think You Can Dance), Dana Delany (Desperate Housewives), Jimmy Fallon (Late Night With Jimmy Fallon), Michael J. Fox, Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory), Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother), Blake Lively (Gossip Girl), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer),  Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Stephen Moyer (True Blood), Chris O’Donnell (NCIS: Los Angeles), Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Kate Walsh (Private Practice), Christian Clemenson, Jamie Kennedy (The Ghost Whisperer), Debra Messing (The Starter Wife), Paul Aaron (Breaking Bad), Lisa Edelstein (House), Jeff Probst (Survivor), William Shatner (Boston Legal), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter), Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men), Perry Reeves (Entourage), Marcia Gay Harden, Michael Nouri (Damages), Neal McDonough (Deperate Housewives), Mary Louise Parker (Weeds), Kevin Dillon (Entourage), Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty), Toni Collette (United States of Tara), Sarah McLachlan, Maksim Chmerkovskiy (Dancing with the Stars), and Karina Smirnoff (Dancing with the Stars) and more!

For more info on On 3 Productions, visit: www.on3productions.com.

Consumers are invited to share stories (150 words or less) of why they, or a loved one, would like to be “blissed” by the Hershey’s Bliss diamond necklace. Visit www.hersheysbliss.com and share a story about yourself, your mother, wife, sister, daughter or friend. Five lucky women will be selected to share the 16.5-carat diamond necklace for two weeks and will receive the necklace, delicious Hershey’s Bliss chocolate and a signed copy of “The Necklace.” Each winner will be asked to share their experience with the necklace through a blog on the Hershey’s Bliss chocolate Web site and to help select the next winner, thus connecting women nationwide. The winners will be invited to meet in person for the first time at the Young Survival Coalition’s (YSC) spring 2010 charity benefit in New York City where the necklace will be “blissed” for the last time. Hershey’s Bliss will continue the company’s long-standing support of the YSC and raising awareness for breast cancer by donating the 16.5-carat diamond necklace to the organization’s annual fund raiser.

Hershey's Share the Bliss Contest prize.

For more information on Hershey’s Bliss chocolate and to enter for a chance to be one of five lucky women who will be “blissed” with the one-of-a-kind diamond necklace visit www.hersheysbliss.com.

Secret Room Events presented the 2009 “Think Pink” Emmy Awards Style Lounge, one of the most exclusive and talked about events surrounding the Emmy Awards. Emmy nominees, presenters, stylists and media were treated to luxurious products, services, Caribbean trips, martini bar and more as they help support breast cancer research at the 2009 “Think Pink” Emmy Awards Style Lounge, hosted by Secret Room Events and the SLS Hotel.

SLS: Super Luxurious Secret Room

Held at the fabulous SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, this invite only event benefited the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Tiger Lily Foundation. Both were on site to accept donations and inform guests about these most worthy causes. Celebrity guests signed a special Breast Cancer item that was auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Sally Kirkland, dressed in pink, shows her support for curing breast cancer.

Secret Room Events Swag

Secret Room Events invited some of the most luxurious and exclusive companies to showcase their products and services to guests and media at the “Think Pink” Emmy Awards Style Lounge.

As with the rest of the world that are utmost fans of Obama, stars lined up to pay tribute to President Obama and receive the Commemorative Edition Jorg Gray 6500 Chronograph watch that is worn on the wrist of the 44th President of the United States, a watch given to him by the Secret Service. For your own Obama watch or to see pictures of Obama with the Jorg Gray watch on, go to: www.JorgGray.com

Obama's watch of choice, the Jorg Gray 6500, presented by Teevor Gnesin.

Stars clamored to sample Julie Hewett’s stellar line of cosmetics at the affair. She is one of the foremost beauty makeup artists actively working in Hollywood today and is also a member of the exclusive Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, of which there are only 150 members internationally in the Hair and Makeup Category. An idea born of necessity on the set of Pearl Harbor, Julie needed to create her own line of long-lasting technicolor reds. The Noir Collection was the answer to the call for good, old-fashioned red lipstick made with today’s updated, more natural ingredients. www.juliehewett.net

Julie Hewett's newest Noir Collection.

Iso Professional caused a buzz with their sizzling colored flat irons ranging from raging hot pink to sassy animal prints . Their Professional Ceramic Hair Straighteners are the newest in technology and temperature control. They also feature Negative Ion Emitting technology to help straighten hair faster and make it smoother. www.isobeauty.com

Another happy actress with the Iso Pro Ceramic Straightener.

After celebs got a pedicure, Bare Sole was ready to make their feet red carpet ready with their made in USA, completely customizable sexy sandals and heels. Because each pair of Bare Sole is handmade, they can accommodate almost any foot issue.  Unlike mass produced shoes, they can add additional arch support, extra cushioning, narrow or wide widths, etc and the straps are interchangeable so you only have to have one pair to match any outfit. www.baresole.com

Owner Kate Longley (rt) of Bare Sole explains the interchangeable straps.

Beltali was there with their functional purse in a belt, hand-made from the softest most elegant Italian leather, as well as sexy leather ‘wraps’ to go over pants. The very sexy style is the way to be both fashionable and functional! It was a smash at the event! www.Beltali.com

Designer Tali Morrison and her Beltani line of fine leather wear.

No more dropping cell phones or losing it in your car when you take a turn with Mobigrips. Mobigrips are unobtrusive and affix to the back of your cell phone, giving you an elastic handle to hold your cell phone and giving your cell phone a surface that won’t slide around. www.mobigrips.com

Eccentric Symphony Clothing is music to the celebs' wardrobe.

Celebs were reveling in the urban yet luxurious Eccentric Symphony clothing line that combines the inspiration and talent of rock musician Nikki Lund and professional surfer Maikai Makena. Decadent, smooth against your skin cotton are the foundation for this distinctive line of embroidered, embellished t-shirts, pants and hoodies for men and women. Not only do you get a new piece of trend setting clothing, your ears will be happy too as each piece comes with a special edition CD of Nikki’s band, Secret Mind.Eccentric Symphony went straight to the top of the charts with the celebs www.eccentricsymphony.com

Project Runway's Season 1 winner, Jay McCarroll and manager Marc Marcuse.

Guests were generously gifted with products such as exotic Caribbean trips, jewels, clothing, footwear, skincare, children’s products, home decor and more from the following generous sponsors:

Diedre Hall with Carribean Living Magazine.

Lexli (lexli.com)
Caribbean Living (caribbeanlivingmagazine.com)
Hope Paige (hopepaige.com)
GoGo Squeez (materne.us)
Absolution ( absolution-cosmetics.com)
The Good Dog Food company (gooddogfoodcompany.com)
Tamara Comolli (tamaracomolli.com)
Gold Canyon Candles(goldcanyon.com)
Luvali Convertibles (luvaliconvertibles.com)
La Falaise (savonlafalaise.com)
Moonlight Pillows (moonlightpillows.com)
Original Sin (originalsin.com)
Beltali (beltali.com)
Geri G Cosmetics (gerigcosmetics.com)
Fanie (fanie.com)
Social Savvy (socialsavvyinvites.com)

Gold Canyon Candles infused the event with dreamy fragrances.As guests enjoyed live musical performances, they relaxed in the "Think Pink" lounge area and experienced an array of spa services, beverages and treats from the following companies:Pama and Hypnotiq cocktails keep the celebs refreshed and cool.

Hydrafacials (hydrafacial.com)
Pedicures and manicures by O.P.I. (opi.com)
Spray Tans, eye brow threading and party lashes by Make UMandy (makeupmandy.com)
Cake Pops (cakepopco.com)
Tasty Clouds Cotton Candy (tastyclouds.com)
Chocolate Superfoods truffles (chocolatesuperfoods.com)
Hint Water (drinkhint.com)
Hypnotiq Liquor (hypnotiq.com)
Pama Liquor (pamaliqueur.com)
Coca Cola (coca-cola.com)
Smart Water (glaceau.com)
Rosenthal Estate Wines (rosenthalestatewines.com)
Honest Tea (honesttea.com)

Cake Pops...it's cake on a stick!

Before leaving the “Think Pink” Emmy Awards Style Lounge, as if gifts from the event sponsors weren’t enough, a fabulous eco Green Chic gift bag graced each guest full of additional wonderful products from:

Better Botanicals (betterbotanicals.com)
Boogie Box Fitness (boogieboxfitness.com)
Canus (canusgoatsmilk.com)
Breezy Jewelers (pgonzales85@yahoo.com)
Miche Bags (michebag.com)
Yum Skincare (yumskincare.com)
Loop-2-Loop (loop2loopbelts.com)
Clips 4 A Cure (clips4acure.com)
LeTarte (letarteswimwear.com)

Founder Dr. Ahmed Abdullah and his aloe based skin care line Lexli.

Pooch Smooch Treats (poochsmoochtreats.com)
Shop Go Girl (shopgogirl.com)
Boho Magazine (bohomag.com)
Green Changes (greenchanges.org)
Melis (melis.com)
Yoga Sandals (yogasandals.com)
EBoost (eboost.com)
Organix Hair Care (organixhair.com)
Coolchange (cool-change.com)
Hair Free (noflatiron.com)
Earth Angel Minerals (tryearthangelminerals.com )
Coola Suncare (coolasuncare.com)
UV Sol Beads (uvsolbeads.com)
Aroma Baby (aromababy.com)
Astara Skin Care (astaraskincare.com)
Westside Medical Spa (westsidemedialspa.com)
Planet Beauty (planetbeauty.com)
ThermaFuse (thermafuse.com)
NySeas (nyseas.com)

Here are the fabulous celebrities that attended the Emmys Secret Room gifting suite:

Aaron Spears – The Bold and the Beautiful, Adriene Franz – The Young and the Restless, Alana Stewart – Delivered, Farrahs Story (producer), Alexa Dziena – Entourage, Nick and Noras Infinite Playlist, Alice Greczyn – Lincoln Heights/Privileged, Amanda Righetti – The Mentalist, Andrea Bowen – Desperate Housewives/King of the Hill, Andrea Roth – Rescue Me, Bradford Anderson – General Hospital, Carolyn Hennesy – Terminator 3, General Hospital, Conrad Green – Producer Dancing With The Stars, Big Brother UK, Christa Miller – Scrubs, Cindy Margolis – Seducing Cindy (new series), Colleen Shannon – Playboy Playmate/centerfold, Crystal Allen – Anaconda, Hanna’s Gold, Danielle Harris – One Life to Live, Dierdre Hall – Days of our Lives, Dorian Gregory – Charmed, Down AKA Kilo – Grammy winning hispanic rapper, Emily Wagner – ER, Emryhs Cooper – Mama Mia!, Elle Travis – The Days Men Don’t Lie, Francia Raisa – Secret Life of An American Teenager, George Eads – CSI, Hakeem Kae-Kazim – 24, Jan Anderson – Travel Show Host, Jay Karns, Julia Campbell & Kids, Jay McCarroll – Project Runway, Jeff Branson – Guiding Light, Jenna Fredrique – Passions, Noahs Ark, Jennifer Korbin – Lingerie, Jennifer Stone – Wizards of Waverly Place, Jesse Garcia – Locker 13, Josh Keaton – General Hospital, Josie Davis – The Sand, various roles on tv shows, Judith Owen – Singer, Judy Tenuta – Comedian, Kari Whitman – Designer To The Stars (tv show), Kate Flannery – The Office.

Comedian Judy Tenuta scopes out what to explore next.

Kate Linder – Young and the Restless, Katie Amanda Keane – Navy NCIS, My Name is Khan, Kim Coles – Ten Items Or Less, Kim Kilbey – Producer/Hells Kitchen, Dancing With The Stars, Kirk Acevedo – Fringe, Kirsten Warren – Desperate Housewives, Independence Day, Kunal Nayyar – The Big Bang Theory, Loni Love – Comedian, Chelsea Handler Show, Lonny Ross – 30 Rock, Loren Lester – Hung, Lorielle New – Postal, Lorna Scott – Surviving Suburbia, Marcy Rylan – Guiding Light, Maria Thayer – Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Marisa Ramirez – General Hospital, Mary McCormack – In Plain Sight, Michael Hitchcock – Men of A certain Age, Mad TV, Michael Sucsy – Director “Grey Gardens”, Michaela Corrozzo – iCarly, Mike Henry – Family Guy, Nancy Cartwright – The Simpsons (voice), Natalia Cigliuti – Raising The Bar, All My Children, Nya Rivera – Glee, Neil Cohen – Producer/ Tattoo Highway, gene Simmons Family Jewels, Nelsan Ellis – True Blood, Nick Verreos – Project Runway, Countdown to the Red Carpet, Oded Fehr – Sleeper Cell, Batman The Brave and the Bold, Riley Weston – Always and Forever, The Nanny Press, Robin COleman – American Gladiators, Rochelle Aytes – Various Roles on TV Series, Ron Artest – Rome is Burning, Patrick Kilpatrick – Daze, Minority Report, Various roles on TV Series, Peter Jacobson – Transformers, Phoebe Price – Red Carpet Personality, Sally Kirkland – The Last Gamble, Samantha Droke – Poor Paul, Sara ER Fletcher – Secret Girlfriend, Scott Bailey – Guidong Light, Shar Jackson – Everybody Hates Chris, Moesha, Sharon Lawrence – Priveleged, The Monk, Sonia Rockwell – Spread, The Passing, Sufe Bradshaw – Flash Forward, Dance Flick, Tamala Jones – Castle, Tanya Memme – Sell This House, Taylor Spreitler – Days of Our Lives, Tom Bergeron – Dancing With The Stars, Entertainment Tonight, Tom Malloy – Producer/Hero of the Underworld, Victoria Justice – Zoey 101, Wess Brown – Wes Brown, Zach Abel – Make It or Break It, and Zoe Myers – Dawn of the Dead.

Secret Room Events produces the most exclusive gifting lounges and private events surrounding such award shows as the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, MTV Movie Awards and Golden Globes as well as movie premiere parties and private celebrity events.
Secret Room Events is owned and operated by Amy Boatwright and Rita Branch. Secret Room Events is an independent events company and not affiliated with the Emmy Awards or the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Secret Room Event founders Amy Boatwright and Rita Branch wearing hats designed by Phoebe Price (rt).

www.secretroomevents.com

Legions of Hollywood insiders and fans will flood the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Saturday, October 10 through Monday, October 12 for The Hollywood Studio Collection’s movie studio clothing sample sale of the year.  Thousands of wardrobe pieces from various movie sets will be sold during the three-day event that consists of both vintage and contemporary clothing, shoes, décor, accessories and props that have been used by some of today and yesteryear’s hottest and most influential movie stars and blockbuster films.

President of The Hollywood Studio Collection and Emmy-Award winning producer and filmmaker James Ronald Whitney is opening this extensive collection to the public for a one-time offering during the three-day sale.  Many of the spectacular collectible items will be available at an incredible price.  The Hollywood Studio Collection will donate a portion of the proceeds to Childhelp USA, one of the world’s largest organizations that aid victims of child abuse and neglect, as well as a number of other child advocacy charities that are in need of funding.

“Childhelp USA is a tremendous foundation,” said Whitney.  “I have championed their efforts since they sponsored my first film ‘Just, Melvin’ at the Sundance Film Festival.  I am thrilled to be working hand-in-hand with them once again.”

“We are very grateful for the continuing support of Mr. Whitney and The Hollywood Studio Collection,” according to John Reid, Executive Director of Childhelp USA.  “Through wonderful organizations such as this, Childhelp USA can continue to help the many victims of child abuse and neglect.”

The sample sale will offer rare and one-of-a-kind items that would normally be sold for thousands of dollars, for as little as $10.  The pieces included in the sample sale are considered to be “unidentified,” which means that neither the film nor the actor associated with the motion picture has yet been researched and identified.

“This is part of the excitement,” continued Whitney.  “For the first time ever, both the fans and the general public can play researcher.  Maybe they’ll find the dress shirt worn by Tom Cruise in the infamous scene in ‘Risky Business’ or the sneakers Kevin Bacon debuted in ‘Footloose.’ The thrill is to purchase an item at a great price, only to later discover that it’s worth significantly more!”

The Hollywood Studio Collection movie wardrobe sale takes place Saturday, October 10 through Monday, October 12 over the Columbus Day Weekend from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the appropriately chosen Oscar Room on the second level of the famed Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, located at 7000 Hollywood Blvd., across from the world-famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Admission to this once-in-a-lifetime event is only $5, which includes a red-carpet sneak peek at some of the prized possessions in Vault  #4 of The Hollywood Studio Collection. Guests who purchase items that are $15 or more can present their receipt for validation and refund of entry fee.  For more information, visit www.TheHollywoodStudioCollection.com or call (818) 812-6068.

The event will be held at the Universal City Hilton on Sunday, October 4th. Participants and honored guests will be greeted by a red, white and blue carpet arrival while the focus of A Night For Honour’s charitable effort includes live and silent auctions featuring a variety of priceless items.

Chopper Donated To be Auctioned Off

The 2010 Orange County Chopper Original was donated by CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance, David McIntyre. The chopper was custom-made and is the OCC’s first-ever bike that they built to meet the standards of California admissions. They chose a special camouflage-inspired design for the chopper, including a matching helmet and embroidered Iraq Star logo on the seat. Before it is auctioned off the night of the event, the presented helmet will be signed by the VIPs and the Iraq Star soldiers. Although Dr. Phil has already claimed the chopper is worth $100,000, Iraq Star hopes to receive a minimum of $150,000 on the evening of October 4th.

The honoree of the evening for A Night For Honour will be actor Gary Sinise. The legendary actor currently stars on CSI: NY and is known for performances in films like The Green Mile, Apollo 13 and Forrest Gump.

His iconic turn as Lt. Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump serves as inspiration for the name of his Lt. Dan Band, which has traveled into war zones to entertain the troops for the USO. Sinise is an ambassador for Operation Iraqi Children (www.operationiraqichildren.org), a grass-roots program he co-founded in 2004. Operation Iraqi Children provides an avenue for Americans to reach out to children in war-torn areas of the world. Gary Sinise is also a spokesman for the U.S. Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation (www.avdlm.org).

Dr. Phil McGraw

Hosting the event will be Dr. Phil McGraw, who will be joined in attendance by his wife, Robin McGraw. Dr. Phil hosts the groundbreaking daytime television talk show by the same name and is the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers. Dr. Phil created The Dr. Phil Foundation (www.drphilfoundation.org) a nonprofit charitable organization committed to helping children and families at risk. The foundation further works to reward remarkable children who are working hard to overcome tremendous obstacles and give back to their family and community.

Dennis Miller

A Night For Honour will feature a special performance by actor, comedian and talk show personality Dennis Miller. The Saturday Night Live alum is a winner of 5 primetime Emmy Awards is known for his playful stream of consciousness type rants that rely heavily on obscure historical and pop cultural allusions. Miller also serves as an official spokesperson for USA Cares (www.usacares.org). USA Cares provides financial and advocacy assistance to post 9/11 active duty US military service personnel, veterans and their families.

Scheduled to Attend

Celebrities and distinguished guests scheduled to attend A Night For Honour also include Kelsey Grammar, Tom Selleck, John Voight, Kristy Swanson, Robert Davi, Tom Dreesen, David Zucker, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Farley, Kerri Turner, Kevin Sorbo, Angie Everhart, Allen Covert, Maeve Quinlan, Scott Baio, Jerry Douglas, Kim Douglas, Jonathan W. Flora, Marla Maples, Katharine McPhee, Angie Harmon, Adam Baldwin, John Ratzenberger, Col. Danny McKnight and Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston.

Event Festivities

In addition to live and silent auctions, A Night For Honour will showcase live musical entertainment from a very special recording artist and a formal dinner. Yet the true highlight of the evening will be the military men and women themselves as soldiers who have benefited from Iraq Star Foundation will attend and share their stories. The evening will also feature a slide show chronicling the work done by the foundation.

Iraq Star Foundation

Proceeds from A Night For Honour will benefit Iraq Star Foundation. Over 40,000 wounded veterans have returned to the United States from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and many have received injuries that require additional reconstructive surgery. Iraq Star’s Mission is to not let the Iraq and Afghanistan wars permanently disfigure young lives.

Marine Veteran Octavio Sanchez, Maggie Lockridge RN, Founder (and angel!), Marine SSgt. Tony Lino, Marine GySgt. Paul McQuigg

You can buy tickets here. Tickets are $175 per person, all 100% of proceeds will go to the organization.

For more information, they can call (760) 568-4039.

For additional information regarding the Iraq Star Foundation, visit www.IraqStar.org.

Sponsoring the Event

Lending their support to such a great cause will be three groups sponsoring the event, which include TriWest Healthcare Alliance, American Airlines and MilitaryConnection.com.

TriWest Healthcare Alliance (www.triwest.com) is a privately owned company based in Phoenix. They work with the Department of Defense to administer the TRICARE health benefits program for military service members and their families in the 21-state west region.

American Airlines (www.aa.com) provides flights for both domestic destinations and abroad. As an airline with a global network, American’s customers benefit from their products and services wherever they travel.

MilitaryConnection.com is an online and interactive resource, providing access to career and education information for ex-military, veterans, military spouses and family and on duty service members.

Orange County philanthropists Glenn and Mindy Stearns presented the Life Changing Lives Gala, a tribute to those who serve America and in honor of the men and women who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Over 500 supporters attended the Life Changing Lives Gala in support of three distinguished organizations; Wounded Warrior Project, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and Boys & Girls Clubs Orange County Alliance.

These non-profit groups represent the very best that America has to offer and epitomize the kind of sacrifice and service associated with 9/11 and those who continue to serve America today.

The couple were co-chairs for the 9/11 event held last Friday at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California. Life Changing Lives Gala honored American boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, NASA’s Charlie Duke and Holocaust survivor and Medal of Honor Recipient Tibor Rubin.

Gala Entertainment

After the sun set on an incredible day of luxurious relaxation, the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort hosted the night’s festivities during the Life Changing Lives Gala.

Kicking off the night was the Color Guard of Orange County and Broadway star Jenifer Lewis, who delivered a stirring a cappella rendition of the national anthem. The performance reached its climax as Jenifer sang “Land of the Free” and the American bald eagle Challenger took flight across the ballroom.

Life Changing Lives Gala Highlights

Gala co-chair Mindy Stearns hosted the event alongside Roy Firestone, the renowned and Emmy award-winning journalist.

Highlights of the Gala included inspirational speeches from the event’s honorees; boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, NASA astronaut Charlie Duke (one of 12 men to have walked on the moon) and Tibor Rubin, Holocaust survivor and Medal of Honor recipient.

American Idol Stars

The Life Changing Lives Gala also featured performances from American Idol finalists and favorites Bo Bice, Brooke White and Elliot Yamin. Bo shared stories of his time on the USO Tour and the joy he derived while visiting service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The crowd was riveted by Bo’s performance of American Blood, a song he wrote about his experiences on the USO tour. Brooke took to the piano with songs from her new album as well as the iconic Beatles song, Let it Be. Elliot was accompanied by guitarist Russell Ali as he performed his inspirational Free and multi-platinum hit Wait for You.

A Dance of Support

Offering their support of the gala were So You Think You Can Dance 2008 Winner Joshua Allen and the top female dancer of the 2008 season, Katee Shean. They performed the moving dance piece No Air, a dance that chronicles the story of a service member who receives notice that he’s headed off to war. The dance was choreographed by the Emmy nominated duo of Tabitha & Napoleon D’umo.

St. Regis Spa Gaucin and Vogue Salon

Also lending their support to the Caregivers Day of Appreciation was St. Regis Spa Gaucin and Vogue Salon. The renowned spa and salon provided the guests of honor with everything luxurious, including massages, manicures, pedicures and facials.

Terri Apanasewicz

Before the activities began that night at the Gala, the day began with the Caregivers Day of Appreciation, also hosted by the Stearns in association with P3 Beauty founder and make-up artist to the stars, Terri Apanasewicz. Apanasewicz’s celebrity clients include Cindy Crawford, Bridgette Wilson Sampras and Gisele Bundchen.

Terri Apanasewicz created a day of relaxation and luxury for the wives, significant others and siblings of injured veterans and California firefighters hurt in the line of duty as well as the families of children facing life-threatening illnesses. Terri’s team of Hollywood’s finest treated the guests with makeup application and hair styling.

Prodigal Daughter

Prodigal Daughter was also on hand. The ladies in attendance at the Caregivers Day of Appreciation received high-end gift bags from the fashion line Prodigal Daughter, complete with spa and beauty products in addition to hand dipped chocolate strawberries courtesy of Shari’s Berries.

After Party Entertainment

DJ Logic kept the dance-floor packed during the after party in the St. Regis lounge.

Silent Auction

At the heart of the Life Changing Lives Gala charitable spirit was a silent auction, which featured luxury items and special experiences donated by icons of music, television film and sports.

Geoff Reeves

Former Navy Seal Geoff Reeves, whose auction package included spending the day skydiving and shooting guns with the American hero, received a high bid of $8,500.

The Sopranos

Stars from HBO’s legendary show The Sopranos raised $16,000 by donating a private dinner with many of the show’s cast members, including Tony Sirico, Lorraine Bracco, Steve Schirripa, Michael Imperioli, Vince Curtola and Vincent Pastore.

The Dancers and the Boxer

A truly special moment was the impromptu contribution from So You Think You Can Dance’s Joshua and Katee, who found themselves so moved by the event they returned to the stage and donated private dance lessons. As the bidding escalated, Sugar Ray Leonard delivered a knockout punch by adding a round of golf with the boxing great as well as the chance to wear his Olympic gold medal and heavyweight championship belt. From the dance floor to the boxing ring, it was a perfect collaboration of footwork aficionados and the gift package solicited an incredible bid of $25,000.

Supporting America’s Finest

While exact totals are still being determined, Life Changing Lives proudly estimates the evening’s auction and events raised over half a million dollars, with 200,000 coming from the auction itself. The proceeds from Life Changing Lives Gala will benefit Wounded Warrior Project, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and Boys & Girls Clubs Orange County Alliance.

Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. The organization raises awareness while enlisting public support for the needs of severely injured military men and women. They help severely injured service members aid and assist each other and provide unique programs and services to meet their needs. For more information call 877 TEAM WWP (832-6997) or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Make-A-Wish Foundation, Orange County/Inland Empire:

The Make-A-Wish Foundation serves 69 chapters nationally and 28 internationally and has granted more than 148,000 wishes across the country. Established in 1983, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire has since granted over 3,000 wishes to children in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org

Boys & Girls Clubs Orange County Alliance:

The Boys & Girls Clubs offers programs and services that promote and enhance a young person’s overall sense of wellbeing, power, usefulness and influence by creating a safe place to learn and grow — all while having fun. The Club truly is The Positive Place For Kids. Boys & Girls Clubs enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. For more information, visit the Boys & Girls Clubs website at www.BGCA.org.

Headlined by Paul Rodriguez and Judy “The Love Goddess” Tenuta, they will be joined by Johnny Sanchez, Ashley Hamilton, Tina Kim and Dov Davidoff and an all-star list of stellar talent donating their performances in a benefit for veterans, specifically the LASD’s Military Activation Committee (MAC) and the LAPD’s Military Liaison Unit (MLU).

The one-time only show at the Laugh Factory, 151 S. Pine Ave., in Long Beach on Friday, September 11^th will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the Red Carpet and VIP Reception (sponsored by Outback Steakhouse) to begin at 6:15 p.m.  Numerous stars are scheduled to drop by to lend their support.  Tickets are available at www.cops4causes.org and are $30 per person (general admission) and $50 (VIP).  Sponsor packages are available for $1000 and include 10 VIP tickets.

COPS4CAUSES is comprised of all levels of law enforcement in raising funds and awareness to give back to the community and benefit children, adults and law enforcement personnel with life-altering afflictions. Cops4Causes is the hand that helps those in need devastated by life-altering circumstances. For the past four years Cops 4 Causes has achieved their mission by bringing together peace officers, members of the law enforcement community, musicians, artists, celebrities, civic leaders, financial benefactors and members of the community to raise funds in order to make a difference in the lives of others.  For more information, log on to www.cops4causes.org 

Chris “Ludacris” Bridges hosted a luxurious pre-party to the Miss Malibu pageant Saturday at a private estate in Malibu. The event was hosted in association with Timothy Durham, President of National Lampoon and benefited the award winning charitable organization, The Ludacris Foundation . Guests at the afternoon poolside party enjoyed private cabanas, bidding on incredible items in a silent auction and of course a live performance from Ludacris himself.

Borden Entertainment and Pacific Events

“For ten years now, our Malibu parties have been about the chic, fun and socially-conscious Southern California lifestyle,” said Glenda Borden, celebrity party planner and president of Borden Entertainment. Borden Entertainment collaborated with Lash Fary of Distinctive Assets to produce the 2010 Miss Malibu pre-party. Pacific Events was retained to handle all facets of the ambitious event setup and décor, which combined the elegance of the Mondrian with a splash of Vegas fabulous-ness. Event festivities included the costumed Champagne Showgirls, a 200-person gaming tent and “umbrella’d beach stations” on the rolling knolls of the estate.

Sponsoring the Event

Internationally popular DJ’s Caroline D’Amore and Adam 12 were spinning their hottest playlists while party guests enjoyed eco-friendly water from h20, wine from Barry Manilow Wines, delectable (and healthy) food from California Fresh & Fit, Asian-fusion niblets from Chef Shoshana Wolff’s springchow, Chelsea Handler approved noshes from Haute Mess Catering, oh-so-yummy cookies from Triplet’s Gourmet. Luxury car transportation was provided for talent by EuroCar Inc and environmentally-conscious plates, cups and utensils made from sugar cane were supplied by Wheatware.

Also in attendance and supporting the event was Janet Harris’ Skin Rejuvenation Center, who provided facial and body treatment including the renowned “fat melting” Velashape. Janet’s passion and compassion for women who want to look and feel younger is matched only by the trust her many clients place in her, including many well known celebrities. In addition to her role as a leading practitioner of the groundbreaking Velashape procedure, Janet also collaborated with her best friend Robin McGraw (wife of Dr. Phil McGraw) in co-writing the skin care chapters for Robin’s bestselling book, What’s Age Got to Do With It and has just signed her own book deal.

Shannon Tweed, Gene Simmons

Celebrities Supporting a Good Cause

Celebrities supporting the Ludacris Foundation and attending the event included Grammy nominee Ciara, Atlantic Records recording artist Ryan Cabrera, legendary rocker and TV star Gene Simmons, Pussycat Dolls Melody Thornton, actor Evan Ross, actor Andrew Keegan, actor Terry Crew, actress Jill Marie Jones, Miss California USA 2009 Tami Farrell, and E! Celebrity Correspondent Michael Yo.

E! Correspondant Micheal Yo, Khloe Kardashian

The Ludacris Foundation

The Ludacris Foundation is a non-profit Atlanta-based organization that serves as Ludacris’ vision to use music and the arts to connect with urban youth. The Ludacris Foundation has received numerous awards and accolades, providing over 30 grassroots non-profit organizations with grants and positively impacting millions of lives with their generosity.

The Ludacris Foundation’s mission is to show young people that they are the architects of their future and to provide a roadmap for them to achieve their dreams. For more information and to learn how you can support the Ludacris Foundation, visit www.theludacrisfoundation.org.

Meet Zac Sunderland at the Celebrity Regatta.

There will be pre and post-race activities at the Yacht Club, including the Skipper’s & Sailor’s party following the race. You are invited not only to view the terrific race; but you can also contribute $16 to the Foundation and enjoy the delicious barbecue following the race, at approximately 4:30PM. The day’s events are hosted by Harvey and Alice Diamond, parents of Jennifer Diamond, and founders of the foundation named in her honor. Jennifer passed away from a rare form of cancer. The Foundation strives to bring awareness about cancer and supplies libraries to various facilities, with the latest information on cancer detection, treatments and support, thus providing the tools to treat the mind and body as one.

Sail boats race to the finish for a good cause.

Racing for Good
Three classes of sailboats will be participating in the 2009 Regatta: Class A, Class B and Cruising Class, determined by the configuration of the boat. Racing keelboats and cruiser keelboats are also invited to participate. Costs to participate range from only $64 to $90 depending on the size of the boat.

Availability on the spectator boats (free with donations welcome) is limited and will be on a first come first served basis. Arrival should be 10:30AM for the noon race. After the race, the skippers, sailors, spectators and other invited guests will feast on a Bar-B-Q, Anheuser Busch Beer and other refreshments. Race coordinators, Harvey Diamond and Lee Lewis, will be presenting the awards to all the winners at the ceremony.

On August 22nd, a skillful sailor will take one of these home.

About Jennifer Diamond and the Foundation
Jennifer Diamond, 30, passed away on the evening of July 23, 2002, surrounded by family in her home in Los Angeles, California. A talented and accomplished artist, in the last days of her life she helped form The Jennifer Diamond Foundation.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 27, 1971, Jennifer was the loving and cherished daughter of Alice and Harvey Diamond. Raised with her brother Matthew in Studio City, California, Jennifer attended Dixie Canyon Elementary School, Milliken Junior High and Grant High School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University, and applied her artistic talent to animation, graphic design and web site projects. A great lover of the arts and children, Jennifer joined both of these passions by providing art classes to young people.

Jennifer gave many gifts to those who loved her, especially in the last two years of her life as she battled appendiceal carcinoma, a rare form of cancer. She will be remembered as a brave and graceful woman whose love for others was truly unending.

The Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation is dedicated to helping people win the fight against cancer. They are focused on empowering people with knowledge, as well as supporting research and healing programs that provide the tools to help treat the mind and body as one.

In the short history of the foundation, they have raised money for different programs and projects. Working in tandem with both The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club,they have created their first two of what they hope are many cancer research centers/libraries which will house the latest books, videos, periodicals, computers and research assistance. These centers will provide free and vital information for people and their families and friends who are learning how to live with and combat cancer.

Additionally, they donated monies for WeSpark, a Los Angeles-based cancer support center for cancer patients, their families and friends. The financial support has been allocated to supplement a children’s art program.

Remember to mark your calendar Aug. 22nd, 2009 as this is one race you do not want to miss.

For reservations and additional information about the fundraising 2009 Regatta: Harvey@jenniferdiamondfoundation.org or 818.700.6900.

www.jenniferdiamondfoundation.org

Photo of Zac Sunderland courtesty of www.zacsunderland.com.

Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries and has an AIDS reate close to twenty percent. The disease touches every aspect of daily life in the African nation, introducing immense chaos. Read how you can help here…

Shocking Statistics

Every 17 seconds, a child under the age of five dies from intestinal and diarrheal illnesses, which are caused by poor sanitation and insufficient clean water resources. The result is a daily death toll of approximately 5,000 children; more than those with HIV/AIDS, malaria and measles combined. In total, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports an estimated 2.5 billion people do not have access to satisfactory toilet facilities, resulting in the spread of multiple diseases for both children and adults.

Wherever the Need

Founded in 1997, Whatever the Need (WTN) addresses lacking sanitation infrastructure by collaborating with developing countries such as India, Kenya, Uganda and Sierra Leone to provide sanitation and water through specialized “eco-san” toilets. Whatever the Need also facilitates the conversion of human waste for local agriculture usage. Throughout their efforts, WTN emphasizes projects that are naturally sustainable and can be implemented without materials that damage the planet.

“It’s about time that sanitation, the lack of which causes the world’s biggest unaddressed public health crisis, stops being a dirty word,” says Rose George, proponent of eco-san toilets and author of The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why it Matters.

TwitterforSh-tters.com

Let’s face it. It’s hard to imagine an ensemble of celebrities singing lyrics about toilets. That’s why Whatever the Need has partnered with Skadaddle Media (www.skadaddlemedia.com) to launch TwitterforSh-tters.com (www.TwitterforSh-tters.com), a grassroots social media campaign hoping to get people talking shit again. “We firmly believe that the power is in the people, and what better way to ignite conversation about this age-old, taboo subject than via social media,” says Beverly Visty-Doman, executive director of Wherever the Need USA. “We all go to the bathroom, regardless of social status, location, age, or gender, yet no one wants to speak about it. Our goal is to drive awareness about the role sanitation plays in diminishing poverty and disease, while facilitating the construction of eco-sanitation toilets wherever they are needed.”

How You Can Help

TwitterforSh-tters.com is looking for a few good Tweeters. The hope is to get people with Twitter accounts (www.twitter.com) to mention the website in their tweets, increasing awareness and raising donations on behalf of Wherever the Need.
It doesn’t matter how many people follow you or what you want to talk about; sincere or humorous, the goal is to just shoot the, er, tweets off about anything that’s on your mind. People can sign up on the website as “Daily Dumpers”, tweet to raise awareness for WTN and may also follow the website through their twitter handle of @tw_tter4sh_tter (www.twitter.com/tw_tter4sh_tter).

Skadaddle Media

“With thousands of worthy causes, perhaps all of which are admittedly sexier and more approachable than sanitation, we felt it was important to create a grassroots communications initiative for Wherever the Need that addresses the issue in a bold manner,” says Todd Lieman, founder and co-president of Skadaddle Media, Inc.

Founded in 2008 by Lieman and Jon Wank, Skadaddle Media is a creative marketing
studio which specializes in the development and execution of ideas that solve specific communications challenges. The company is based in Sausalito and is the group behind Mutual of Omaha’s highly-successful national “aha moment” campaign.

Getting Involved

Often, charities that don’t seem glamorous are the ones that most need help from everyday people. Whatever the Need is the perfect example of a charitable organization that both needs and reflects what is wonderful about grassroots efforts and support. To learn more about the cause or how you can help, visit the aforementioned websites:

Whatever the Need: www.wherevertheneed.org
TwitterforSh-tters.com: www.TwitterforSh-tters.com)
Follow TwitterforSh-tters.com: www.twitter.com/tw_tter4sh_tter

Children Uniting Nations brought together two things Americans excel at: baseball and helping others. How better to spend a summertime Sunday than to support the LA Dodgers baseball team while making a lasting difference in the lives of thousands of at-risk and foster youth of LA County?

Mel B and Daphna Ziman, founder of Children Uniting Nations

Dodger Day 2009

Children Uniting Nations (CUN), one of the premier non-profit organizations working with foster and at-risk youth, facilitated a successful 2009 Dodger Day on Sunday July 26th. More than 1,500 foster youth, hundreds of mentors, and numerous celebrities came together at Dodger Stadium to share in the day’s excitement. The annual event celebrated LA County’s foster youth, parents, guardians, kinship care providers, mentors, and all of the community members who support the cause.

This special day exposed the youth to positive role models and experiences outside of their everyday situation. Festivities included breakfast, games, giveaways from 93.5 The Beat Radio for the youth in attendance, celebrity presenters, first pitch ceremony, taking the field, and of course the main event, the Dodgers vs. the Florida Marlins.

Actor Michael Copon from One Tree Hill shared his personal stories about foster children, Spice Girl Mel B told the children to stay focused on their dreams, and Ken Davitian from Borat shared words about hard work and not letting circumstances get in the way of achieving your dreams.

90210's Dustin Milligan is all smiles for the 1st pitch

Influential Advice

“Key legislators, celebrities and sponsors such as Coke, Ball Up, and The Beat all come together to make this day so special for our kids and we are so appreciative,” said CUN Founder Daphna Ziman. “Today we celebrated people coming together to serve America by serving our most needy children.”

Celebrity supporters who spoke and met the children included Mel B (Spice Girls; “Dancing with The Stars,”) Dustin Milligan (“90210”), Ken Davitian (“Borat”; “Get Smart”), Michael Copon (“One Tree Hill”), Kristina Guerrero (E! News), Gretchen Rossi (“Real Housewives of Orange County”),and Professor (Ball Up Street Team). Legendary Dodger Tommy Davis spoke to the kids about reaching their dreams. Political leaders also in attendance included Senator Price and Supervisor Ridley Thomas.

Dodger Day was a collaborative event sponsored by the LA Dodgers, Children Uniting Nations, United Care, LA County Dept. of Children & Family Services, LA County Probation, and numerous community members throughout the county.

For more information or how you can help LA’s youth, please visit: www.childrenunitingnations.org.

Photos Provided by: Robert Kenney

Academy Award nominee® Don Cheadle and professional Poker player/Celebrity Apprentice Star Annie Duke kept their poker faces on as they hosted the 3rd Annual Ante Up For Africa Charity Celebrity Poker tournament.

Don Cheadle antes up.

A-listers came out for the charitable event held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Celebs such as Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Mike Tyson, Sarah Silverman,Nelly, Dean Cain, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Jason Alexander, Hershel Walker, Brad Garrett, Cedric the Entertainer, Jennifer Tilly, Montel Williams, and poker greats such as Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, Joe Hachem, Jennifer Harman and Phil Gordon showed their support for the event, which raised $362,000 for the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

This year the celebrity-studded event garnered coverage from ESPN, which increased awareness to this important effort. Creating awareness generates passion in people – passion that gets communicated to governments and governments ultimately create change.

About Ante Up for Africa

Ante Up for Africa aims to raise money for relief efforts in Darfur through poker events. AUFA has raised over $2.1m for the Darfuri people over the last three years. The conflict in Darful has killed 400,000 people, and more than 3 million Darfuris have been forced to flee their homes. AUFA’s hopes are to create a dynamic international effort to forge a lasting and equitable peace for all of Sudan.

Dean Cane, Tiffany Michelle, Hershel Walker

Coming Up

AUSA’s next event will be October 29th at San Manuel Casino. To learn more about AUSA, or to donate to their worthy cause, please visit www.anteupforafrica.org.

Sarah Silverman, Brad Garrett (l) Ben Affleck, Annie Duke were all in.

It was all about making the day extra special for a group of women from Project Fresh Start of the New Image Shelter Organization. “This event is a very special to me because, during this time of uncertainty, we look to our celebrities as role models and I believe that responsible change has to start with ourselves. By giving back to those who are truly in need as well as celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of those who entertain us makes perfect sense to me.

Everyone deserves to feel special and know that there is no shame in asking for help or letting someone help you. It’s even more special to me because our first day of the gift suite is my birthday, and I can’t think of a better way to spend it than helping to make these women look and feel beautiful,” states event coordinator Rohn Padmore of Enigma Public Relations.

Janelle Walker and Kandee Johnson

Volunteering their time and expertise were professional make-up artists Janelle Walker (janellewalkermakeup.blogspot.com) and Kandee Johnson (kandeethemakeupartist.com) with product donated by Larenim Mineral Make Up (larenim.com). Within a couple hours Janelle and Kandee put their brushes and skills to work and you could see the smiles appear. It was clear these women truly enjoyed be treated like a queen for the day.

Immediately following the makeovers, health and wellness expert Brenda Underwood (gotwheatgrass.com) shared some healthy living tips and simple ways to improve their health altogether. The ladies were gifted with a Larenim everyday concealer as well one of their beautiful shadows. After lunch, they enjoyed massages from LA Body Points Mobile Spa (labodypoints.com), received great looking hats from Rebel Spirit Clothing (rebelspiritcloting.com). The ladies from Project Fresh Start of the New Image Shelter Organization enjoyed a day they won’t soon forget.

Playboy, in association with The Hi-Line Group and The Prive Group, will host the Third Annual Hot Summer Nights at Playboy Mansion on August 15, 2009. Benefiting United Breast Cancer Foundation, the party will feature lovely ladies, sensational sounds, a celebrity poker tournament and the 2nd Annual 2009 Concorso Exotica car show. This is the not-to-be-missed hottest party of the summer!
Event Hosts

Hot Summer Nights is hosted by The Hi-Line Group (www.hi-linegroup.com) and produced by The Prive Group (www.theprivegroup.com), a luxury lifestyle entertainment and event production company.

Providing the star power will be hosts Traci Bingham, former Baywatch star, and “Premier UFC Octagon Girl” Arianny Celeste. Co-hosting the Hot Summer Nights benefit at the Playboy Mansion will be Miss Maxim USA Tami Donaldson and model Sarah Stage.

Event Festivities

Rocking the Playboy Mansion grounds will be performances by Terra Inconita (featuring Prophet), Strawberry Blonde and over 250 gorgeous models including Playmates, sexy Copa Swimwear and Benchwarmer International Models, go-go dancers and body painted models. As if that wasn’t enough of a reason to attend, guests will also be treated to a 4-course gourmet buffet and premium open bar all night long while taking part in the world renowned Playboy Mansion experience and enjoying the ambient tunes from several world-class DJ’s.

Additional events taking place during Hot Summer Nights include the 2nd Annual 2009 Concorso Exotica car show. Sponsored by RPM Lounge, the car show will take place on the front lawn of the Playboy Mansion from 8:00 pm until 10:00 pm.

On display will be exotic cars from different manufacturers. Body painted models will showcase exotic car sponsor logos and designs. A celebrity poker tournament will also take place during the 2009 Consorco Exotica, while a separate media wall will be displayed for the car show sponsors and car industry media to conduct press coverage and pictures.

Check out our coverage of last year’s Hot Summer Nights…

Attending the Event

For more information on the Hot Summer Nights visit www.hotsummernights.biz (Promo Code CEG1503).
 
Ladies interested in being considered for a complimentary invitation may register at www.copatalent.com.

For celebrity guest list, press & media consideration, please contact Steven Yamin at Conscience Entertainment Group. steven@conscience-entertainment.com

United Breast Cancer Foundation

Proceeds from the evening will support the United Breast Cancer Foundation’s (UBCF) grants to local L.A. area health care centers and mobile mammography programs. Founded in 2000, the United Breast Cancer Foundation (UBCF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to serving patients and families who are managing breast cancer. You can learn more about UBCF’s programs and ways to support the United Breast Cancer Foundation by visiting www.ubcf.info.

HI-Line Group
 
Event host The HI-Line Group was founded in 2007 by select individuals who owned
their own businesses located in California’s Central Valley region. With a vision of organizing (primarily California) charity events, the organization strives to provide an ongoing charity event platform throughout California that continuously raises the awareness of certain diseases or cultural issues that need voluntary funding. The HI-Line Group is a unique partnership and is committed to helping others who are less fortunate.