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[gkfi]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/09/07/cause.celeb/

(InStyle.com)From the humanitarian crisis in Darfur to art therapy and literacy programs, find out about the favorite charitable organizations and causes of some of Hollywood's biggest names.

Hearts and crafts

A worn homemade Playbill hangs on the wall of the All Saints Health Care hospital room that David Anguiano, 17, shares with his pet turtle and another patient. On the announcement Anguiano's name is more prominent than that of his famous collaborator, Kirsten Dunst, and a fan letter from the actress hangs nearby. "My dear David," it reads, "I will always love you. Marry me, please (or at least consider it!). All my love. Your girl, Kirsten XOXO."

"He's a witty little flirt," says a laughing Dunst, who met Anguiano last year during her first hospital visit for the Art of Elysium, an L.A. charity that pairs artists with young people battling serious medical conditions, like cancer and AIDS.

The actress regularly does artistic projects with kids in the program, some of whom are limited by conditions requiring ventilators or tracheotomies. "A lot of the kids can't communicate, but it's amazing how much they say to you with their eyes," says Dunst. "Their faces light up when they hear music or see dancing."

The Art of Elysium offers many projects, from sculpture to jewelry making and sand art, to foster creativity in patients, no matter what their challenges.

"We bring the paint to their beds and finger-paint," says Dunst, who helps by opening their fingers and guiding them on the page. "It is great for them to feel the paint on their hands," she says. "It's all sensorial."

Last year she worked with more than 20 children to create a mural-size painting from overlapping handprints, which was then auctioned off at a fund-raiser. Dunst, who plans to contribute her own paintings to help raise money, has seen the group gain momentum during her weekly hospital visits. In 2005 the charity worked with 5,000 children; last year it was 25,000. "It's nice to be there to watch it grow," says Dunst, "and to grow with it."

[hamlet]

It's tough to see serious illness in young people.  There are those who would just as well avoid them.  Kirsten does some wonderful things.  May she always have a kind heart and the courage to show it.

Hamlet

[hamlet]

I see on the news on the other side (gallery), that Kirsten and many other celebs were designing lunch boxes to auction off, and raise some money for some people who don't have much.  Just another thing she does that is sweet. 

Hamlet

[prkctyguy]

She is so awesome! Now that shows an inner beauty that truly defines a person. I only hope  I can refind someone with that inner beauty she has! 

[kforab]

I was just reading that she took one of her costumes of Spiderman 2, sold it at Ebay for 34.000 Dollar and gave al money humanitarian organistations....

She is so great 

Maybe she would got more money to sell a dinner with herself - like many stars are doing. 

[kforab]

at http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20071107/NYW03707112007-1.html I found:

Celebs Do Lunch ... Boxes, to Help End Hunger
100+ Celebrity-Designed Lunchboxes Go on the Auction Block to Benefit Hunger-Relief Organizations - Food Bank for New York City & The Lunchbox Fund


NEW YORK, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One-hundred-plus iconic celebrities from the entertainment, fashion, art, music, literary and culinary worlds, remind us that food matters, by creating personalized lunchbox art to be offered for online auction to benefit two hunger relief organizations - Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa. The Lunchbox Auction will go live on Friday, December 7, 2007, at (12 a.m. EST) during a star-studded, invitation-only, fundraiser preview party and mini- auction, hosted by Michael Stipe, at Saatchi & Saatchi, beginning at 8 p.m., 375 Hudson Street. Manhattan. The auction at www.thelunchboxauction.org will run through Friday, December 21, 2007.

Among the 100+ 'power lunch' ... box designers are: Alek Wek, Amy Lee of Evanescence, Anna Sui, April Bloomfield (Spotted Pig), Beastie Boys, Ben Kingsley, Billy Crudup, Bob Gruen, Bright Eyes, Built By Wendy, Cameron Diaz, Casey Affleck, Cat Power, Chris Martin, Christie Bush, Christopher Makos, Citizen Band, Cobra Starship, Courtney Love, Cynthia Rowley, Daisy de Villeneuve, Danny Clinch, David Bowie, Drew Fuller, Elton John, Eric Dane, Eva Mendes, Flea, Gordon Cheung, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Heatherette, Helena Christensen, Hilton Brothers, Iman, Interpol, James Franco, Jessica Biel, Jimmy Fallon, Joaquin Phoenix, John Mayer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles, Kanye West, Kevin Mazur, Kevin Smith, Kirsten Dunst, Kobe Bryant, Lamberton Truex, Lily Allen, Marchesa, Marianne Pearl & Adam Pearl, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Marilyn Minter, Mark Selinger, Mario Batali, Michael Stipe, Mick Rock, Mike Myers, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Patti Smith, Paul Solberg, Pete Yorn, Peter Sarsgaard, Piper Perabo, Rachael Ray, Reese Witherspoon, Richard Branson, Rockstar Games, Rodney Dickson, Rosanne Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Rui Matsunaga, Sam Rockwell, Scissor Sisters, Sienna Miller, Simon Keenleyside, Some Odd Rubies, Swarovski, Temperley of London, Terry George, The Bravery, TV on the Radio, Yoko Ono, You Tube Founder (Chad Hurley), and Zac Posen.

Each lunchbox is reflective of the artists' personal expression and no two lunchboxes are alike. Each lunchbox is signed and numbered.

Hunger is a global problem. Whether it is New York City or Soweto, South Africa, the children of the world are the ones most severely affected. In New York City, 1.3 million people turn to food assistance programs, like soup kitchens and food pantries, for assistance and one in five is a child. South Africa, a country that is rich and prosperous, is also a country in which an estimated eighteen million people live without adequate food, water or sanitation. Children are often forced to make a decision to learn or to eat.

"I'm honored to once again be a part of The Lunchbox Auction," said comedian Mike Myers. "The Lunchbox Fund and Food Bank For New York City have created a wonderful way to raise money and awareness about hunger and poverty in South Africa and New York."

Food Bank For New York City is the major supplier of food for 1.3 million New Yorkers though our network of more than 1,000 emergency and community food programs throughout the five boroughs -- including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, low-income daycare centers, Kids Cafes and senior, youth and rehabilitation centers. Those in need include women and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the working poor. For every $1 donation, 97 cents goes toward food acquisition, distribution and programs. In addition to food, the Food Bank offers education and technical support to our network of programs and serves as a research and public policy resource center for legislators, the media and the public. In July 2007, FoodChange, Inc. became a subsidiary of the Food Bank. For more information, go to www.foodbanknyc.org

The Lunchbox Fund is a non-profit organization that provides lunch to school children in South Africa. Often, it is their only meal of the day. Many of these children are AIDS orphans running child-headed households, who have to make a choice to either eat or go to school -- the $15 a year education fee is barely attainable. Through The Lunchbox Fund, these children are provided with the food they need to sustain themselves. You cannot teach a hungry child. It takes just twenty-five cents to fill a child's lunchbox for a day. For more information, visit the website at www.thelunchboxfund.org.

Website: http://www.foodbanknyc.org/
Website: http://www.thelunchboxfund.org/

[kforab]

In the new interview from "Joy" which John posted yesterday on the main website Kirsten told that she visits with her friends from time to time people in hospital, talks and plays with them.

She is soooo great 

[prkctyguy]

  This thread makes me want to donate to charities near me.

I always like to keep in mind the phrase from Forrest Gump, "Theres only so much money a man really needs." (Forrest Gump, 1994)

I encourage everyone to volunteer, donate, or help out in whatever way you can, wherever you live.

You know, you don't have to be famous to be someones hero. 

[kforab]

Yeah, evenyone can do something good...like Baden Powell *founder of Scout* said DO EVERY DAY SOMETHING GOOD

[prkctyguy]

Just think if you are ever in need how grateful you would be if their were contributions to your need. 

[kforab]

I think everyone needed help one time and everyone should be grateful for help 

[kforab]

seen at http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-08-2007/0004701166&EDATE=


    NEW YORK, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One-hundred-plus iconic
celebrities from the entertainment, fashion, art, music, literary and
culinary worlds, remind us that food matters, by creating personalized
lunchbox art to be offered for online auction to benefit two hunger relief
organizations - Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South
Africa. The Lunchbox Auction will go live on Friday, December 7, 2007, at
(12 a.m. EST) during a star-studded, invitation-only, fundraiser preview
party and mini- auction, hosted by Michael Stipe, at Saatchi & Saatchi,
beginning at 8 p.m., 375 Hudson Street. Manhattan. The auction at
http://www.thelunchboxauction.org will run through Friday, December 21, 2007.
    Among the 100+ 'power lunch' ... box designers are: Alek Wek, Amy Lee
of Evanescence, Anna Sui, April Bloomfield (Spotted Pig), Beastie Boys, Ben
Kingsley, Billy Crudup, Bob Gruen, Bright Eyes, Built By Wendy, Cameron
Diaz, Casey Affleck, Cat Power, Chris Martin, Christie Bush, Christopher
Makos, Citizen Band, Cobra Starship, Courtney Love, Cynthia Rowley, Daisy
de Villeneuve, Danny Clinch, David Bowie, Drew Fuller, Elton John, Eric
Dane, Eva Mendes, Flea, Gordon Cheung, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow,
Heatherette, Helena Christensen, Hilton Brothers, Iman, Interpol, James
Franco, Jessica Biel, Jimmy Fallon, Joaquin Phoenix, John Mayer, Josh
Hartnett, Julia Stiles, Kanye West, Kevin Mazur, Kevin Smith, Kirsten
Dunst, Kobe Bryant, Lamberton Truex, Lily Allen, Marchesa, Marianne Pearl &
Adam Pearl, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Marilyn Minter, Mark Selinger, Mario Batali,
Michael Stipe, Mick Rock, Mike Myers, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Patti
Smith, Paul Solberg, Pete Yorn, Peter Sarsgaard, Piper Perabo, Rachael Ray,
Reese Witherspoon, Richard Branson, Rockstar Games, Rodney Dickson, Rosanne
Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Rui Matsunaga, Sam Rockwell, Scissor Sisters,
Sienna Miller, Simon Keenleyside, Some Odd Rubies, Swarovski, Temperley of
London, Terry George, The Bravery, TV on the Radio, Yoko Ono, You Tube
Founder (Chad Hurley), and Zac Posen.
    Each lunchbox is reflective of the artists' personal expression and no
two lunchboxes are alike. Each lunchbox is signed and numbered.
    Hunger is a global problem. Whether it is New York City or Soweto,
South Africa, the children of the world are the ones most severely
affected. In New York City, 1.3 million people turn to food assistance
programs, like soup kitchens and food pantries, for assistance and one in
five is a child. South Africa, a country that is rich and prosperous, is
also a country in which an estimated eighteen million people live without
adequate food, water or sanitation. Children are often forced to make a
decision to learn or to eat.
    "I'm honored to once again be a part of The Lunchbox Auction," said
comedian Mike Myers. "The Lunchbox Fund and Food Bank For New York City
have created a wonderful way to raise money and awareness about hunger and
poverty in South Africa and New York."
    Food Bank For New York City is the major supplier of food for 1.3
million New Yorkers though our network of more than 1,000 emergency and
community food programs throughout the five boroughs -- including soup
kitchens, food pantries, shelters, low-income daycare centers, Kids Cafes
and senior, youth and rehabilitation centers. Those in need include women
and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the working poor.
For every $1 donation, 97 cents goes toward food acquisition, distribution
and programs. In addition to food, the Food Bank offers education and
technical support to our network of programs and serves as a research and
public policy resource center for legislators, the media and the public. In
July 2007, FoodChange, Inc. became a subsidiary of the Food Bank. For more
information, go to http://www.foodbanknyc.org
    The Lunchbox Fund is a non-profit organization that provides lunch to
school children in South Africa. Often, it is their only meal of the day.
Many of these children are AIDS orphans running child-headed households,
who have to make a choice to either eat or go to school -- the $15 a year
education fee is barely attainable. Through The Lunchbox Fund, these
children are provided with the food they need to sustain themselves. You
cannot teach a hungry child. It takes just twenty-five cents to fill a
child's lunchbox for a day. For more information, visit the website at
http://www.thelunchboxfund.org.

[kforab]

I would love more to have only lunch - without boxes with Kiki 

I forgot: At http://thelunchboxauction.org/ its abouut this auction

[prkctyguy]

Guess I will have to start taking a lunchbox to work. 

[kforab]

I take every day a lunchbox...... for breakfast and dinner