September 2008

Ashlee Simpson, Angie Harmon, Tori Spelling, and Marissa Jaret Winokur are each getting the opportunity to be designers, but not in the same way as it seems every other celebrity on the planet is a designer. These hot mamas (or mamas-to-be) will design one Maclaren stroller each as part of the Celebrity Mom “Style My Stroller” Campaign benefiting the CJ Foundation for SIDS.

The strollers will be on display at NYC’s Union Square Babies “R” Us, and an auction for these strollers will run over at charityfolks.com beginning at 10 a.m. EST on October 6 and ending on October 13 at 9:30 p.m. The dates are meant to coordinate with SIDS Awareness Month. Bidding starts at $500 with all proceeds going to help the CJ Foundation for SIDS achieve their goal of eradicating SIDS.

The CJ Foundation was started by a couple who lost their daughter to SIDS 15 years ago, and co-founder/chairman Joel Hollander said that, after that tragedy, “[W]e knew it was our destiny to help raise awareness and support research to help eradicate SIDS. It’s an honor to have these incredible celebrity moms join us in our race to end SIDS.”

Photo courtesy of ashlee-star.com

I normally try to keep things pretty light and happy here, but this sad news deserves to be noted. One of the greatest philanthropists of our time, Paul Newman, passed away this weekend at the age of 83 after battling lung cancer.

While Newman always wanted the world to be a better place, one of the things that helped him make it so started off as a bit of a joke in his basement — Newman’s Own. It quickly became, as written in a statement issued by the Newman’s Own Foundation, a “highly respected, multi-million dollar a year food company.” Rather than profiting personally, Newman donated all profits and royalties to thousands of charities around the world, totalling over $250 million.

The Foundation’s statement went on to say, “Paul took advantage of what life offered him, and while personally reluctant to acknowledge that he was doing anything special, he forever changed the lives of many with his generosity, humor, and humaneness. His legacy lives on in the charities he supported and the Hole in the Wall Camps, for which he cared so much.”

The statement also offered a quote from Newman’s own lips, that I think is a beautiful way to sum up the way this great man, who we’ll all miss so much, viewed the world and his own circumstances: “I wanted to acknowledge luck; the chance and benevolence of it in my life, the brutality of it in the lives of others, who might not be allowed the good fortune of a lifetime to correct it.”

I encourage you to do something for a cause you believe in today, in honor of Paul Newman. I will.

Photo courtesy of GreenDaily.com

Oats add nutrients and fiber to these yummy chocolate chip cookies…

Make them small to fit little hands and to decrease calories for bigger kids like us! These and oatmeal raisin cookies are popular sweet treats at my house…

Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies

1¾ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
8 oz. (1 stick) butter
8 oz. (1 stick) margarine
½ cup sugar
1¼ cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups oats, regular or quick cooking
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix flour, soda and salt together and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugars, butter and margarine until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beat well, then mix in milk and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture until well combined. Sir in oats and chocolate chips by hand, then use a tablespoon scoop to drop the dough onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7 to 9 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 4 ½ dozen.

Cookie monsters at your house? Remind them that cookies are a “sometimes food”, so freeze extras in small batches for a sweet treat another day…

In this months GQ, Forest Whitaker announced the launch of the Hope North Mentor campaign in northern Uganda. The campaign includes a 40-acre campus for refugees, orphans, and escaped child soldiers where they can feel safe, attend secondary school or join a vocational training center.

The idea for Hope North came from Okello Sam, who is a well-known Ugandan dance and theater artist who was abducted, along with his brother, by rebels. His brother was killed, but Sam went on to be released and purchased land for Hope North. He landed a job choreographing Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland and, along with other members of the Hope North community, actually appeared in the film.

After learning about Hope North, Whitaker felt compelled to help. He took a trip to visit the community, and said, “[When] I went up to Hope North, all of the children were either displaced from refugee camps or former child soldiers. I spent time with them, watched these kids have joy, dance and sing … It was a beautiful example of what happens when people truly care, step in and become involved and so I wanted to be involved.”

You can get involved, too — for as little as $10, you can help change the lives of children affected by Uganda’s 22-year civil war. Go here to make a donation.

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com

The first thing many of us think of when we hear the name Brigitte Bardot is the hair. Oh, and the bikini, I suppose. But, the bombshell is becoming well known as an activist, and her words are included in a new book coming out called One Can Make a Difference, which contains numerous essays by famous names such as The Dalai Lama and Paul McCartney.

Bardot shares some words of wisdom in the book, saying, “I think animals help us live; they’ve helped me live. It was only when I began to devote myself to protecting animals that I blossomed completely. Taking care of them, looking out for them, has given my life true meaning, a meaning I hope future generations can experience.”

She goes on to say that she has a lot of faith in today’s youth: “Young people are always a hope. More of them must realize that the animal is not an object for profit, not a toy for our amusement, hunted for sport, not something to be cut up for his fur. They may see that the animal has the right to live, just as we have the right to live. We, the animals, the plants are the whole, and the whole makes a chain, and if we break that chain, all of humanity will pay. That’s it.”

As always, I love hearing about people using their fame and influence for a worthy cause — kudos to Brigitte!

Photo courtesy of perfectpeople.net

Will Ferrell might be a funny man most of the time, but on occasion, he gets serious about certain issues. Recently, the actor hosted the Cancer For College Golf Classic and Live Auction. The event was a huge success, raising around $250,000 and giving out 15 or 20 scholarship checks.

Ferrell began the event as one of his most-loved characters, Ron Burgandy (from Anchorman), saying, “It is a glorrrious day here in beautiful San Diego, we’ve got a record turnout. I thought there’d be more media here frankly, for some one of my stature. In fact, I’ll have to say as I look out into the face of the media here, you guys look like a bunch of idiots compared to when I was in the newes game. Have some class, some dignity. I don’t see anyone wearing a suit.”

Cancer For College has long been supported by Ferrell, and for good reason. It was founded by his college buddy, Craig Pollard, who is a two-time cancer survivor. Pollard found strength in knowing that, after getting a bone marrow transplant, he would return to college, and he wants other kids and young adults to have that same opportunity.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Many celebrities support a variety of causes, but when that celebrity makes the effort to see that charity in action, it makes a big difference in not only how they feel about the cause, but the impact they have on other people regarding the cause. I’m far more likely to contribute after hearing a first-hand account.

Scarlett Johansson visited Rwanda recently on behalf of the (RED) organization. She wanted a better understanding of what exactly the health crisis there entailed, and, in addition, she drew more attention to the country’s fight against AIDS. She wasn’t just there to look on, either — the starlet worked with volunteers to help those who were sick and needy.

She said, “I came here with an open mind, wanting to listen, understand and learn; I leave with the overwhelming understanding that the small action of making a (RED) choice in your purchases in the West has an enormous impact on the lives of people in countries like Rwanda.”

Johansson knew that seeing this health crisis first hand was the only way to truly understand what she was fighting for and supporting, saying, “It’s not until you’ve had the privilege of meeting healthcare providers who are fighting the daily battle, heard from people who are now getting antiretroviral drugs to stay alive, and met mothers whose babies are born healthy because they received treatment that stopped the transmission of HIV, that you understand that we absolutely can do something to reverse the AIDS crisis in African countries.”

Maybe we can’t all see it first hand, but Johansson’s passionate plea will certainly be in my mind the next time I have the option to purchase a (RED) product. How about you?

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

I love to bake…I feel so creative when I can serve a homemade dessert that tastes so much better than the store-bought version. And home baking also gives me the opportunity to make some healthy substitutions along the way.

Win-win? Not exactly. Homemade or not, pies, cakes and cookies can still pack a hefty number of calories. My delicious choco-chini cake is certainly lower in fat and healthier than a zucchini-free equivalent, but it is still a dessert…

Can we indulge in sweets without too many extra calories? Yes! Try these tricks to incorporate sweets into a healthy diet…

• Serve individual portions. When I talk with my young patients about sweets, I often tell them to “eat one cookie, not five cookies”. That may seem obvious, but it is not so easy when the serving plate is piled high. 
  

• Smaller servings. Of course, smaller portions have fewer calories. So measure cookie dough with a tablespoon scoop for smaller and more uniform cookies and they will also bake more evenly.

• Special times. Save fancy desserts for special occasions and special meals. The only “dessert” that most of us can afford to have every day is fresh fruit.

• Just enough. I made cookies for my son’s scout meeting today, but I baked only half the batch. I’ll freeze the remainder of the dough (or refrigerate for up to a week), then bake just a few cookies at a time.

• Out of sight, out of mind. Avoid temptation by keeping sweet treats out of sight. Store extra cookies or baked goods in the freezer, or better yet, share extras with neighbors and co-workers. They will love you for it!

• Add fiber. Fiber-rich ingredients make healthy additions to dessert recipes because fiber can decrease the absorption of fat! (Hmmm…like oatmeal cookies! ) Fruit and veggie ingredients (like applesauce, carrots and zucchini) add moisture that can replace some of the fat in a recipe…another calorie saver.

Tip of the day…Next time you make chocolate chip cookies add 2 cups of oats along with the 2 cups of chips (and decrease the flour in the recipe by ½ cup). I love the texture of chocolate chip oat cookies so much better than plain. You might never make plain chocolate chip cookies again!

Jenna Fischer’s character on The Office isn’t the biggest cat-lover on the show — Angela takes home that honor. But, in real life, Fischer is just as fond of the little furballs as her co-worker/co-star, admitting, “In the show, Angela has all these elaborate procedures for her cat. I’ve done all that — the eye drops and ear swabs. I’ve checked their poop and massaged their tummy.” Fischer can add one more thing to her list of things she does for cats — the actress hosted L.A.’s Kitten Rescue’s first annual Fur Ball celebration.

According to their website, “Kitten Rescue is devoted to rescuing cats and kittens from the streets and shelter euthanasia.” The majority of their cats are rescued right before they are scheduled to be euthanized. Fischer is well aware of the good work Kitten Rescue, the area’s largest no-kill animal rescue group, does — she’s not only a long-time supporter, but also a former volunteer.

As a matter of fact, the feline-friendly celebrity even ran her own kitten crisis line for a year. Additionally, she has fostered nine cats. Sounds like she was a good choice for hosting this event!

The evening featured cocktails and dinner, live entertainment, a Kitten Rescue film presentation, silent auction, and awards for certain Kitten Rescue members, including Burn Notice’s Tricia Helfner. Other celebrities celebrating the saving of over 9,000 lives over 10 years were Bones’ Emily Deschanel, Reno 911’s Wendi McLendon-Covey, and General Hospital’s Kent King.

Photo courtesy of ecorazzi.com

I’m not going to lie — I love a good commercial. I can get just as much enjoyment out of them as a television show. And, I don’t know about you, but I really like Kelly Ripa’s commercials for Electrolux. You know the ones — she’s a dinner host, slumber party mom, she checks for monsters under the bed, and of course, everything works out perfectly.

It looks like I’m going to have a couple more years to enjoy this coupling — Ripa will stick around for two more years and just announced that she will work with them to raise $500,000 over that period of time for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

They’re raising money in a couple of different ways. First, starting this month (which is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month), whenever someone buys one of Electrolux’s turquoise (the color of the blue ribbon symbolizing the fight against Ovarian Cancer), the company will donate $100. Second, you can purchase a limited edition t-shirt (with all proceeds going to the cause) or send a virtual t-shirt to friends through Kelly Confidential, for which Electrolux will donate $1. What’s even better is that the t-shirts are cute. As in, if you buy it, you’ll totally wear it!

Photos courtesy of kelly-confidential.com

This should come as no surprise, but it’s worth mentioning — shoot, I think it’s worth celebrating – that Oprah Winfrey came in at Number One on The Giving Back Fund’s second annual list of the most generous celebrities. And how much did she give to earn this prestigious spot, you ask? Oh, just $50.2 million! That money went toward a number of different causes, including education, health care, and advocacy for women and children.

The top five spots were rounded out by Herb Alpert, Barbra Streisand, Paul Newman, and Mel Gibson, followed by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who shared the Number Six position on the list.

A mix of actors, comedians, athletes, and other personalities filled out spots seven through 30, with seven different celebs tying for Number 20 by giving a million bucks. I really suggest reading the full list — it’s so interesting to see what these large amounts of money are going toward. Many of the donations were made to the donor’s own foundation, while others benefited churches, schools, athletics, refugees, healthcare, and more.

This made me wonder — if you had, say, a million dollars earmarked to donate to the charity (or charities) of your choice, what organization or type of charity would you choose?

If you’ve ever watched Days of Our Lives (and if you’re a follower, I won’t tell. But OMG, Stefano is out his coma! What’ll happen with his estate?), you probably know Alison Sweeney as the scheming Sami Brady. She’s also been hosting The Biggest Loser, although the drama there is slightly different.

Anyway, she might play a character I love to hate on TV, but in real life, she sounds like somebody I’d like hanging out with. She’s a big believer in doing what you can — whatever you can — for the environment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean giving your home a complete green makeover or changing your whole life around. The little things add up, too.

Alison said, “People get caught up in saving the world. But I think the little things are just as important. We’re big on recycling at my house. My son Ben is three and understands the concept of recycling … We turn the lights out when we leave a room. Then there’s just taking off your shoes when you go in a room so you don’t have to vacuum as much or use as many cleaning products.”

She doesn’t stop there, giving some more good advice, “Instead of using cleaning agents, you can mix water with vinegar and clean with that. It saves money, helps the environment because you don’t use plastic bottles, and it helps your baby stay healthy.”

Alison is absolutely right — these things do make a difference, especially when everyone does them. Lately, Days of Our Lives has taken an eco-friendly turn — I wonder how much she had to do with that!

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com

It’s almost 7 pm on Friday night and I’m just getting home. Usually we eat out on Friday nights, but this morning I was inspired to thaw some chicken breasts…too bad I didn’t have a plan…

Oh well. I’ll set the timer for an hour to see how I do…

In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil; throw in ½ cup chopped onion to sauté. Rinse, dry and cube 1 lb.boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Brown half of the chicken pieces, adding salt and pepper and a chopped clove of garlic while cooking. Turn once after fully browned on one side.

While the chicken cooks, prepare 2 cups pasta (dry measure) al dente.  Choose a fancy shape, like fusilli, so the pasta holds more sauce.

Remove the first batch of chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm. Replenish the olive oil in the pan and sauté the second batch. Cut 2 garden-fresh tomatoes into 8 pieces each and set aside. Take 6 leaves fresh basil (also from the garden), roll them, slice thinly and reserve with the tomatoes.

Chicken done? Add a splash of white wine or chicken broth (about 1/3 of a cup) to deglaze the pan (scrape up all those tasty bits), then lower the heat. Add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (another great flavor-enhancer) and simmer  gently until the “sauce” thickens, just another minute or two. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chicken, tomatoes, basil, and cooked pasta, stir well and cover for a few minutes to let the last additions heat through.

The final touch is a dusting of grated Romano or Parmesan cheese.

This quick meal is really tasty. All the flavors stand out…the browned chicken, the carmelized onion, the sweetness of the wine and balsamic, the fresh tomato and basil, the tang of the cheese. And we sat down with 15 minutes to spare!

Yes, you should try this at home!

Last Friday night held two major, start-studded events — Stand Up To Cancer and Fashion Rocks. One of my favorite singer/designers, Justin Timberlake, performed for Fashion Rocks to celebrate the relationship between music and fashion.

A bunch of famous faces joined him, and the female singers, including Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, Natasha Bedingfield, Carrie Underwood, Fergie, and Sheryl Crow, to name a few, sang Just Stand Up, an unprecedented collaboration to support the fight against cancer. The song was beamed to the Stand Up To Cancer telethon.

Aside from Just Stand Up, there were a number of other musical performances by the likes of Kid Rock, the Pussycat Dolls, Keith Urban, the Black Eyed Peas, and Duffy. Justin and Beyonce also teamed up for a duet that completely rocked the house.

And remember, JT is serious when it comes to charity work. You might remember his golf tournament last year, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Well, he’s planning on hosting it once again this year, October 13 through 19 in Las Vegas.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

I have yet to meet anyone who isn’t a Michael Phelps fan. What’s not to love? He’s an incredible athlete, a good son to his mom, and he doesn’t look so bad in a swimsuit, either. And now, he’s taking that good guy act to a whole new level — he’s using the highly publicized million-dollar bonus he received from Speedo to start his own charity, the Michael Phelps Foundation.

Already Speedo International and Warnaco have donated an additional $200,000 to get the foundation started, and Michael is putting his plans into effect, starting with an eight-city tour across the U.S. to discuss his experiences with children. The tour will be the launch of an education program — Dream, Plan, Reach.

The Dream, Plan, Reach program will teach children about planning, goal-setting, and responsibility, which are qualities that are important in athletics, in the classroom, and in life in general.

Michael is proud of his accomplishments, but he also knows he didn’t get there by himself. “Thanks to a lot of hard work, some good fortune, the inspiration I drew from so many supporters around the world, and my incredible teammates, I was able to achieve that dream by winning eight Gold Medals in Beijing,” he said. “Now, my goals reach beyond the pool, to helping others realize their dreams, and continuing to grow the sport I love so much. I feel it’s only appropriate that I continue the momentum that Speedo helped to create, by committing my bonus to the establishment of the Michael Phelps Foundation, which I hope will help me inspire others to achieve their dreams, and give back to the sport that has given me so much.”

Photo courtesy of americajr.com

Did you have a chance to watch the Stand Up To Cancer telethon? If not, you definitely missed out. It was truly a magnificently star-studded event, although there was absolutely no celebrity attitude — everyone was there for a cause, and that took precedence over anything else.

Halle Berry, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Garner, and Casey Affleck read accounts of people who have or currently are battling cancer, some with inspiring, happy endings, and some ending in tragedy. Patrick Swayze, who announced earlier this year that he’s battling pancreatic cancer, made an appearance and looked remarkably healthy.

An incredible list of the world’s best known singers, including Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow (both cancer survivors) lent their voices to a new song, called Just Stand Up, but even those who weren’t singing kept busy. Plenty of other celebs, like Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Christina Applegate, Keanu Reeves, Jack Black, and Hilary Swank took part in different ways, but perhaps the most memorable “performance” was by Brad Garrett of Everybody Loves Raymond, who underwent a prostate exam live on TV.

The basis of this telethon, which was broadcast by ABC, NBC, and CBS for one hour on Friday, was that there simply isn’t enough funding for cancer research, and that with more funding, a cure could be found. If you didn’t have a chance to donate during the show, you can make a donation now by visiting the Stand Up To Cancer website, or you can place a bid in an auction to meet a number of celebrities by visiting ebay.

Photo courtesy of reuters.com

There’s a lot to be said for tradition, especially somewhere like Buckingham Palace. However, the royal family has been open to certain changes, implementing new, more eco-friendly practices left and right. And now, it appears they might trade in the guards’ old bear fur hats for a cruelty-free, animal-friendly alternative, perhaps to be designed by vegan designer Stella McCartney or fellow Brit Vivienne Westwood.

Traditionally, the hats worn by the Buckingham Palace guardsmen are made strictly of black bear fur, and each hat requires one entire bear. That’s a lot of bears to kill and skin, and PETA, along with other organizations, has been trying for years to convince the powers that be that, in this day and age, there’s just no need to use real bear fur because there are so many faux fur options.

PETA has gotten a meeting with Baroness Taylor, who is in charge of acquiring all military equipment, and they will discuss possible replacements for the bear fur. PETA thinks Vivienne Westwood is the right designer for the job, but Stella McCartney, along with her U.S. designer Marc Bouwer, is more than willing to take on the challenge.

Seeing as how 50 to 100 new hats are needed each year, I certainly hope this meeting goes well, and that the Queen’s guards go faux!

Photo courtesy of smh.com.au

I love inviting friends over for dinner…even on short notice. Last minute invitations might require a simple menu, but you can still impress your friends (and the kids) with a fancy dessert!

This simple apple tart is attractive to serve, but also easy and healthy. It has only about 170 calories per serving…so move over, apple pie!

The tart comes together with only five ingredients that are easy to keep on hand. Use sweet but firm apples, like Fuji or Gala. Granny Smith apples also have a wonderful taste and texture for baking, but you will need to add more sugar because they are so tart.  Be sure to slice the apples as thinly as possible so they will cook quickly…

Simple Apple Tart

dough for one 9 inch pie crust, purchased or homemade*
3 or 4 large apples, peeled, cored, halved and sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons peach or apricot jam, heated

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With the dough at room temperature, unroll into a 10 inch tart pan. Arrange the apple slices on the cutting board, then transfer by sections to the unbaked crust. Sprinkle the apples with sugar and dot with butter. Bake for about 40 minutes, until the apples are soft and bubbling. Remove the tart from the oven. While still warm, brush the apples with the jam to add sweetness and a shiny golden color. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 8.

Delicious!

Many of us who love to read have a book we remember from our early childhood that really turned us on to reading. I remember reading No, No, Joan when I was a wee little preschooler, delighting in the fact that I could read it all by myself. Never mind that the only words in it were, “No, no, Joan,” until the final page. But still, it was a story I could read alone, and I never looked back, finding new favorites like Anne of Green Gables and Island of the Blue Dolphins.

As fascinating as I’m sure it is to hear about the books that got me hooked, I’m sure you’re far more interested in hearing about some celebrities! Many famous names have attached themselves to a fantastic initiative called What Book Got You Hooked? for the First Book charity, which strives to provide children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own a first new book.

Want to know what Rebecca Romijn’s book was? Or Stephen Colbert’s? How about R.L. Stine? You can find out all about Scarlett Johansson, Edward Norton, Patty LaBelle, and many, many other celebrities’ favorite first books at the What Book Got You Hooked website. And, you can join in the fun as well — enter the book that got you hooked, explain why, and then vote for the state you think should receive 50,000 brand new books for kids in need.

Photo courtesy of askmen.com

Nick Jonas, the youngest member of the band The Jonas Brothers, is on a mission. He was diagnosed with diabetes a couple of years ago, at the age of 13, and he’s not only determined to find a cure, but to help other kids cope with the disease. His initial response was, “Why me?” because he had nobody to relate the disease to — no athletes or Hollywood hotshots in his age group were really talking about it. Now, Nick wants to be there for other kids.

The latest move Nick and his brothers are making is to invite people with diabetes to enter a sweepstakes called “Walk In Nick’s Shoes” (W.I.N.S.). Four winners will get to meet Nick in L.A. and join “Team Jonas” in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to Cure Diabetes on November 1. And while, of course, those lucky fans will surely be elated, they won’t be the only ones.

“It’s going to be really exciting to meet the winners who will walk with other young people and their families to raise awareness and funds for juvenile diabetes,” said Nick. “I’m lucky to have great support from my family, friends, and fans. By working with Bayer to help people see life in my shoes, I hope that we can motivate others to better manage their diabetes.”

Nick noticed early on that people don’t like to talk about diabetes, that many people, especially kids, feel embarrassed about it. I think it’s absolutely wonderful that he’s not only fighting for a cure but also letting kids (and adults) know that it’s okay to have diabetes, and the first step to take is to manage your disease. There’s nothing embarrassing about that!

Photo courtesy of mtv.com

Anjelica Huston is standing up for some of Hollywood’s actors — trained apes. She is narrating and distributing a PETA documentary about the cruelty towards monkeys and apes in the entertainment industry.

Huston said, “Having worked with actors for many years, I find it hard to believe that anyone would have to be dragged, kicking and screaming into show business. But the next time that you see a chimpanzee in a movie, on TV, or in an ad, chances are, that’s exactly what happened… Great ape mothers are fiercely protective of their newborns, which means that they must be tricked, sedated, or forcibly restrained when their infants are pulled from their arms. This cruel practice leaves lifelong emotional scars on both the mothers — who go into a deep depression — and the babies.”

Additionally, most chimpanzees grow too strong to be handled by the time they are eight years old, and, according to PETA, are often discarded at “dismal roadside zoos or pseudo-sanctuaries.” What makes this infinitely sadder is that chimps can live to be 60 years old, meaning they can spend decades in what is, essentially, a jail.

Huston makes a good point in saying that using an ape for an ad or a show, which might bring us a few moments of pleasure, can create a lifetime of suffering for that animal. To learn more about the treatment of monkeys and apes in Hollywood, visit NoMoreMonkeyBusiness.com.

Photo courtesy of anjelicahuston.net

Denzel Washington believes strongly in the importance of after-school and extra-curricular school programs. He’s even gone so far as to say, “If there were no athletic programs in Mount Vernon, I would not be the Denzel Washington that you know today.”

And so, when the Oscar-winner  heard that the his hometown was going to have to cut all of it’s after-school programs, including sports programs, he decided to step in and take action — he donated $100,000 to keep the programs going!

After-school and sports programs really are so important — they give kids a chance to grow and explore their talents, and it’s hard to imagine how many of us truly would be totally different people had we not had the chance to play basketball or join the school band. Good for Denzel for helping out so many kids. And keep in mind that, even if you can’t make a major donation for a cause like this in your area, every little bit will help pay for uniforms, coaches, facilities, and more!

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com