Will Ferrell

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

Celebrities are raising their voices to support the U.S. Campaign for Burma. The people of Burma are being attacked by their own government, and many are unjustly imprisoned, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi (who is the leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma and the only Nobel Peace Prize winner currently imprisoned).

In addition to this, Burma was hit by a cyclone on May 2nd — a cyclone of which the government was aware but refused to warn its people — and the death toll could be as high as 60,000, with hundreds of thousands left homeless. Still, the Burmese government has blocking any international aid.

Fortunately, Hollywood is stepping up, hoping to get one million voices involved in Burma: It Can’t Wait over 30 days. This campaign is a part of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, and is using celebrity videos to help make people aware of the human rights being violated there and get people like you and me involved.

Will Ferrell’s video was Day 1, and Day 2 consisted of a humorous skit involving Jennifer Aniston and Woody Harrelson. Other celebrities who already have videos up (and we’re only on Day 7) are Sarah Silverman, Eddie Izzard, and Jason Biggs.

So what are you waiting for? Go, check it out, watch their videos, and add your voice. I just did.

Photos courtesy of askmen.com

Comedian Will Ferrell isn’t joking when it comes to helping some folks in South Central Los Angeles. He is taking part in the Solar Neighbors program, a program started by Edward Norton in which BP donates a solar system to a low-income family every time an invited celebrity purchases a similar system.

But Ferrell is taking it one step farther. He will be the first to benefit a multi-unit building — the historic St. George Hotel.

The beautifully restored St. George provides a permanent home and support for people who have been chronically homeless. Aside from the environmental benefit solar paneling provides, it lessens energy costs substantially, and for these families, that’s no laughing matter.

The Solar Neighbors program will officially be unveiled next month, with Norton and possibly Ferrell in attendance. It seems to me like this is a mutually beneficial program — the celebrity gets the product he or she wants, a family’s energy bills are brought down, the environmental impact from both households is reduced, and BP gets to be a hero. It’s a win/win!

Photo courtesy of AskMen.com