Causes and Initiatives's Articles

Forest and Keisha Whitaker with Celebrity Friends at Every Monday Matters

May 4th, 2010 1:13 PM - Categorized under Causes and Initiatives, Events-Videos-Interviews

We patrolled Smashbox Studios Stage 1 in West Hollywood, California for the The Every Monday Matters Foundation together with Forest and Keisha Whitaker to launch the “Our Schools Matter” sponsorship program. The event was a star-studded benefit aimed to celebrate the official launch of this program.

This movement has captured the minds and hearts of hundreds of thousands of children, schools, corporations, and citizens, encouraging individuals to take small actions, 52 times a year, that can change their lives, communities, and the world. The event will serve to generate awareness and donations for the launching of the Every Monday Matters Foundation’s “Our Schools Matter” Sponsorship Program.

Every Monday Matters started as a book written by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza. It has since turned into an international movement. The book, company, and foundation (a California-based 501c3) all communicate that it is the plain, simple, ordinary individual, either acting alone or together with others, who can change the world. People matter. YOU matter. Through a year-long campaign on Oprah.com, a weekly column syndicated in 400 newspapers, speaking engagements, the YOU MATTER K-12 Curriculum, the EMM Corporate Social Responsibility Program, social networking media, and the efforts of EMM’ers around the world, Every Monday Matters has been a movement that is changing the world…one Monday at a time.

We spoke to the celebrities and asked them what makes this cause dear to them:

Keisha and Forest Whitaker

Keisha Whitaker: “I’m a mommy and you know, I love my three daughters and I encourage them to be themselves no matter what that means and I just think,you know, just my own life experiences, like they are by the grace of God. I’m here on a pink carpet talking to you guys. They are by the grace of God, it’s like pinch myself. For all intents and purposes, I should have maybe statistically failed - here I am and I did it.

Forest Whitaker’s advice to the youth: Believe in yourself and know that there is a spark inside of you that is divine and you can make, like, anything happen, that you can control your universe – if you believe.”

“I think it’s very important for the press to come together to let them know that we are here and believe and we want to make things happen and also for people to understand that they have the right, that they matter, they have the choice.”

Tiffany Dupont (Greek)

Tiffany put her money where her mouth is! She does volunteer work for Every Monday Matters. “I’ve just help out doing odds and ends, running errands. Honestly, like the little pick-up things. I am actually in the middle of finishing writing a few pieces for their website.”

The 29-year-old actress wore an A.L.C. striped maxi dress which she described as a classic piece. When asked if she gets complimented that she resembles actress Eliza Dushku, she immediately replied, ” You know I get almost anyone with brown hair and brown eyes from Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Eliza, Alyssa Milano when I was little, I mean everybody. I think I look like kind of like my parents but I want be myself. I think I look like myself. They are all beautiful but we are all individuals.”

Catt Sadler (E!)

Catt: “You know I have two kids and they are both in public schools and so anything and everything with schools mattering, I’d like to show up and give my voice to. Aside from that I am absolutely a huge fan of that man down there (points to Forest Whitaker) Mr. Forest Whitaker. He is my top five fave actors of all time. He is just a kind, generous, and loving artist that anything he would attach himself to, I think I would be there to support.”

The pretty 34-year-old host wore a cute black number with a matching clutch both by Rebecca Minkoff and teamed it with Steve Madden platform pumps.

Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy)

Jesse: “Just to support the work of the organization, I was a teacher myself. The importance of education just can’t be worked on enough. I think that anything that we can do to help tremendously. It’s personal for me. You know it’s something that I focus on a quiet bit and I think specially in urban areas and low income areas, education is incredible undeserved in this country.

I taught high school in Philadelphia for several years as well as tutored. Both my parent are teachers.”

On 1 in 8 children in the US grow up not knowing how to read: ” I have seen it myself, I have taught high school, high school kids can’t read or read the clock or some of the basic things that we take for granted. I think it is just a testament to a lot of things. It’s not just the school system but it’s obviously something that we need to really take seriously if we really want to, kind of be invested in the future of this country.

Jesse just wrapped the season for Grey’s Anatomy so he has a month and half of a well deserved R & R. He will be traveling to Africa, Europe and also to Brooklyn.

Ashlan Gorse (E!) Ashlan: “Growing up is so hard and I think that schools right now specially with the budget cuts are struggling and teachers are struggling spending their own money so anytime we can actually help and raise funds for them is something we need to do for the kids.” Aside from hosting E! every night, Gorse is busy writing a book about how much growing up sucks. “Because it really does,” she joked. She was “sexy and sassy ” in a salmon Trina Turk dress cinched at the waist with an H & M belt and “her secret weapon” a Pour La Victoire studded sandals.

Taylor Armstrong (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills)

Taylor: “I’m all about any charity that supports children. I do a lot of for domestic violence and for children of domestic violence. I think that supporting our schools help our kids that have problem at home. Any way that I can do, that’s what I am all about.”

Taylor, who wore a hot pink Christiane King dress, is busy with domestic violence cases and with shelters.

Ashley Argota

Ashley: “I’ve talked to some of my teachers from elementary school because I went to a public elementary school and they always tell me the kids aren’t doing well as they used to and I feel so terrible that I hope I can do something to help. I actually went to my old elementary school and I read to the kids for their assembly and I had to encourage them, ‘please keep reading and stay in school and listen to your teachers, because they know what they are talking about and they are trying to help you are talking.’”

Ashely wore a a tiger print dress by Guess with her favorite shoe brand, Steve Madden.

Tia Carrere

Tia: “We’ll because I am a mother and I believe that our schools need much support as they can get and I think it’s great that Forest and Keisha Whitaker

are championing this cause because they got all of you out here tonight.”

On only 48% of high school students in the top 50 cities in the U.S. actually graduate: “That’s crazy to me, but what’s crazier is that they are furloughing schools in Hawaii one day a week and they suggested it for California. The last thing we should doing is giving our kids one less day in schooling a week.”

The Every Monday Matters Foundation presents 1st Annual Party with a Purpose to launch the Our Schools Matter

Jessica Hall

Jessica just got back from Las Vegas working for a Playboy Radio event but that didn’t stop her from coming to this event. Coming from a huge family of ten brothers and sisters she tells her siblings to “stay in school and join as many after school programs as you can can”. “I think it just helps them with everyday life and stay out of trouble and education is very important. Stay in school and go all the way,” Hall added.

Tommy Davidson

Tommy: “Trying to help in any way I can to try to get arts pumping into these schools, that’s what it’s all about. We should be like Cuba where the literacy rate is way up there, you know, what I mean. It just doesn’t make any sense for our children you know, we’re the number one, you know, richest country in the world and our kids can’t read so here’s an opportunity for us to do something to make sure that we help. It’s pretty sad and since no government allotted money for that, then somebody has got to do something. You know I was really lucky that I create music programs in my school – starting all the school plays, you know, I had opportunities, so I think it’s fair that they get opportunities.”

Michael Copon

Michael on 1 in 8 children in the US grow up not knowing how to read: “I know how easy it is to get away. I remember me in the second grade, my mom she used to make me read books but I want to read the little paragraphs of the books, you know, the ones with pictures in it. I’d read the little paragraphs first then go back and read the big ones thinking it was going to save time so I’d read everything out of sequence. Until she caught me and she said, ‘What are you doing? No wonder you don’t know anything about the book after you read it.’”

Michael’s message to the kids: ” If you are not part of an organization after school, become part of one, if you love the dance, if you love to take pictures – be a part of the yearbook staff. If you love sports, get into sports – anything you really do just to keep yourself active and always learning because we never stop learning, you know.Kids, you got to matter I only matter because you matter. Keep active and connect with other people.

Forest Whitaker and director Garry Marshall (Valentine’s Day)

Garry: “This is a wonderful organization. Forest Whitaker is one of my idols, wonderful actor, a wonderful person who helps people and gives back and we’re here to help the arts, help kids.”

Garry mentioned about this policeman who once said he never arrested anybody who played an instrument. “That’s very telling, you know. These kids we are going to try to help, this organization is putting together plans in certain days and we will help you. So try to stay in school and read, it’s really important to read. You could have a good time for free – just reading!”

Monique Coleman (High School Musical)

Monique: “You know, really I mean, if I could do it everyday, I would do it to be perfectly honest. Yesterday, it was the Lollipop Theater Network and today it’s Every Monday Matters, Our School Matters. If you notice there is a theme and it’s young people. I am really an advocate for our youth and I think that I feel so blessed to have been part of the movie that was a pop sensation for that specific demo which really put me in a position to be able to really reach that audience and hopefully shed some awareness on issues that are going on and education, I am a huge advocate for education. So this event is so perfect for me.” Monique looked hot in her little black dress by Theory and Sam Edelman pumps.

From L-R: Victor Newman, Executive Producer and CEO of Win Win Global (Record Label) and X2

Victor Newman: “We just gave a couple of cell phone watches to the charity this evening. My friend and I invented a cellphone watch, we wanted to donate some to give back to the kids. First and foremost for the children.”

X2: “We love them back. It’s a win-win message. Me, personally I came up with recreation centers and all that. I am all for anything to help the kids and motivate them what they got to do in life.”

Victor just finished a record with Snoop Dog and X2 and his other artist Mista Perkins. “Win Win Global is a positive hip-hop company where we are teaching kids – you can be hard but you don’t have to be offensive, you can be intelligent and be a rapper, singer or anything of that nature, ” Newman said.

Booboo Stewart

Booboo: “Afterschool programs of Every Monday Matters, I know it’s really awesome – gives kids something to look forward when you wake up super early in the morning to go to school. Like after school you get to play around with my friends, so that’s pretty awesome you know. When I was in school from kindergarten to fifth grade and I actually I went to L.A.’s best an afterschool program afterward, but you always have to do your school work before you start playing around. Sometimes I forgot.”

Stewart wore Hot Topic jeans, K-Swiss kicks, Ed Hardy tee and a Toxic Hazard leather jacket he likes to wear a lot.

Watch Booboo’s interview:

Lollipop Theater Network’s Game Day

May 2nd, 2010 9:10 PM - Categorized under Causes and Initiatives, Events-Videos-Interviews

We patrolled the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank for the Lollipop Theater Network’s GAME DAY for a day of fun and laughter that gives kids of all ages the chance to relive their favorite board games which comes to life in giant sized versions. The red carpet was hectic with child and teen stars who just just want to be part of this great cause.

Watch the video:

About the Lollipop Theater:

Lollipop Theater Network is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to bringing the magic of movies currently in theaters to children confined to hospitals nationwide due to chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

It’s goal is to create a fun escape from the daily reality of the illnesses these children face and to offer them and their families a moment of normalcy in an otherwise stressful environment.

We chatted with some of these celebrities who took their Sunday off to be part of this wonderful cause.

Jennifer Stone who channeled a 1960′s look with her vintage halter dress and Velvet Angel pumps had to slather her skin with sunscreen because she burns easily. “I burn and I look like a lobster.” She loves the Lollipop Theater Company because she loves movies. “It’s what makes me wake up every morning so I can’t imagine being stuck in the hospital and not being able to see the new releases so I think that it’s great that they bring those to kids. Movies are such great escapes and such a great thing to see.” The “Wizards of Waverly Place’ star is such a movie fanatic that she watches everything from indie productions to blockbusters. “Everywhere in the spectrum I’ve seen it and I love it.” Since she never took formal acting classes, movies are her inspiration. “I really learn from reading a lot of books and watching a lot of movies of my favorite actors and just sort of how they function and how they work.” She cites Johnny Depp and Cate Blanchett as her favorites because “they are character actors and they get to play the leading parts.” Monique Coleman talks highly about the Lollipop Theater. “I think it’s an incredible organization – the work that they are doing – to really bring entertainment to the hospital room. I think that is really something.” She said she was nervous to play Jenga because it’s been awhile but what she was really excited about was the Connect Four and Twister. “I am all over it, I mean, shoes off, handstand, whatever I need to do!” Coleman came prepared as she did some stretching before heading out to the event. ” Just in case, so I can do back flips and whatever I need to do.” She jokingly said she will move a kid out of the way. “I don’t care if you are four, you gotta move!” The “HSM” star who wore J Brand jeans, James Perse tank and layered it with a yellow Mona La Rue tank is busy finishing her book “From Ramen Noodles to the Red Carpet,” a guide to becoming who you are without forgetting who you were. “I’m like dying for it to be done because it’s just been an incredible process – an awesome learning experience but also very challenging.”

Madison Pettis couldn’t contain her excitement attending this event. The 11-year-old was eager to meet the kids, get glitter tattoos and play some boardgames. The self-confessed scrabble addict said she has been playing the board game since she was 7 and can play hours on end. We were at a loss for words when she said she had already scored in the 400+ range and now wants to go to a scrabble competition. For this event, Madison was paired up with a buddy from the hospital.
Anna Perez de Tagle calls herself the “ultimate game-board player”. She was looking forward to play Candyland and Jenga with friends. The “Camp Rock” star admitted that she had to take dance classes to prepare for role in the latest “Camp Rock 2″ out in the Fall. “It’s pretty crazy because I’m not really a dancer.” The 19-year-old actress wore a vintage top, Betsey Johnson jewelry and Zara platform sandals.

“True Jackson VP” star Ashley Argota was ready for a fun-filled day in a colorful dress her mom bought her from Image boutique in Beverly Center topped with a Forever 21 jacket teamed with Steve Madden boots. She was also excited “about bringing movies that are out in theaters to a bunch of kids in the hospital” and being able to “play a bunch of games like life-size board games.”

Meaghan Jette Martin was really “pumped up for the event”. “I was here last year. It’s such a great cause. I love the Lollipop Theater Network. I went to the Children’s Hospital in L.A. these past week and I wrote a song with a bunch of kids and it was really fun, so I think they are just a great organization, you know, bringing happiness and fun to the beds at hospitals.”

She was looking forward to playing Connect Four and Jenga and all the other games even if she knows she’s going to lose in all of them! Catch Meaghan in Camp Rock 2 this fall and “10 Things I hate About You”. She wore a strapless dress and flat sandals both by Urban Outfitters.

Funny man Steve Carrell also dropped by the event.

Bella Thorne

Sammi Hanratty in Tilly

Kyle and Chris Massey

Watch the video interviews soon!

photo credit Chris Nguyen

Miley Cyrus Celebrates World Wish Day with Make-A-Wish Foundation

April 28th, 2010 9:11 PM - Categorized under Causes and Initiatives, Events-Videos-Interviews

Miley Cyrus Performs At Make-A-Wish Foundation's World Wish Day

We patrolled The Grove Mall in Los Angeles for the first-ever World Wish Day by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Earlier today, Miley Cyrus granted 30 “wishes” of children with life-threatening medical conditions – to meet the teenage pop sensation.

Before Miley came on stage at around 6:30 pm, we were treated to special performances by Dancing with the Star’s Mark Ballas and a number of licks from recording artist Jordan Pruitt. When Miley came onstage to perform ‘The Climb’ to the crowd of screaming fans, the 17-year-old had this to say:

“Ive been involved with Make-A-Wish for awhile now. I think I’ve granted 105 wishes or something like that. I’ve met a lot of amazing people, survivors and fighters and very courageous people. Thank you so much for supporting me and I’ll support you too and some people have gotten involve with my charity ‘Get Ur Good On’, it’s basically a bunch of kids just getting involved and I’m so happy to be standing here and say that I am involved with something I’m passionate about and I just want to continue to encourage kids to do the same thing – find something that you are passionate about and pull your strength into that and Make-A-Wish is that for me.”

Watch the video of Miley singing ‘The Climb.’

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world. With the help of generous donors and more than 30,000 volunteers worldwide, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 240,000 wishes around the world since its inception. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America is partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation International for World Wish Day. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish.

On April 29 2010, 30 years after a young leukemia patient named Chris was granted his wish to be a police officer in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish Foundation representatives around the globe will celebrate World Wish Day in honor of the day that sparked a global wish-granting movement.

Photos by C. Nguyen and Luisa P.B.