•• Star gazing was the order of the evening last nite as scores of celebs checked into the Banff Springs Hotel for the Fairmont Banff Springs Sports Invitational hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and friends. The two-day, three-night event benefited Waterkeeper Alliance, the fastest growing environmental movement in the world.

For many, the event’s highlight was Saturday evening’s Awards and Gala Dinner, which raised an impressive $885,000 through live and silent auction items. A fave event was the Saturday evening performance by Grammy Award-winner Michael McDonald of Doobie Brothers fame who was joined on stage by fellow Grammy winner Kenny Loggins. Talk about rocking the house!

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Events in 2012 > January 12th » The Fairmont Banff Springs Sports Invitational

Once again, Virginia is giving up her birthday (September 11th) to charity: water and she is asking your donation as her birthday gift from all you. This year her campaign goal is $15,000 so please join and make your donation here! 100% of your donation directly funds clean water projects in developing nations.

In Virginia’s words:

Dear Friends! Last year was the best birthday because of the well all your donations helped to build. It was better than a present wrapped in pretty paper, better than a box of candy or a picture frame and any other ‘stuff’ I don’t need in my beautiful home. The only thing I really truly need is for my son to be happy, healthy and well cared for…ok so, that means I do need a job! But the point is, what if my child could not have a simple glass of clean water? What if my son had no way to take a shower or brush his teeth? Just the simple act of washing his hands could mean he might get sick, and in some places in our world, not only does lack of water mean illness, it means death. We don’t have that danger here. We are fortunate.
So I am giving up my birthday and asking you to give JUST WHAT YOU CAN to help build a well. Simple right? Let’s do it! 100% of the money raised goes to building the well! A village gets clean water and we all get to be a part of something that changes lives.
Thank you.

Join Virginia Madsen with a party of four for a fun-filled wine tasting at Mel & Rose! For more information, please visit www.melandrose.com. The proceeds for this item benefit Waterkeeper Alliance. Place your bid here!

Virginia has teamed up with Botox and drug maker Allergan, Inc. to deliver up to $250,000 to three deserving charities in a campaign called “BOTOX Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness.”

Fill out a profile at ExpressKindnessCampaign.com, and $25 will be sent to your choice of three charities: Make It Right, Dress for Success or Children’s Action Network.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has announced its intention to protect the view of the famous Hollywood Sign by purchasing 138 acres on Cahuenga Peak in Los Angeles. TPL must raise $12.5 million by April 14 in order to prevent the land from being developed for luxury homes.

She is joined by other Hollywood stars including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Katherine Morris, Aisha Tyler, John Slattery, Julian McMahon, Tippi Hedren, James Kyson Lee, and Beau Garrett.

“With the support of donors such as The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, TPL and its partners are in a campaign to raise a total of $12.5 million by April 14,” said Sam Hodder, California State Director for TPL. “The Hollywood Sign is one of America’s iconic views and that view would be ruined forever if estates are built behind it.”

Once the TPL is able to purchase the acreage, the land will be added to Griffith Park which, at 6.52 sq mi of land, is one of the largest urban parks in North America.

Check out the official site here for more information!

More than 80 entertainers and political figures including Julia Roberts, Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pine, Jessica Biel, Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper, Lance Bass, Dave Matthews, Jared Leto and Charlie Sheen have contributed signatures and/or enhancements to a set of “Defend Equality – Love Unites” original prints with a design by Shepard Fairey which became well-known during California’s campaign against Proposition 8. The image below was enhanced by Virginia Madsen.

The project (undertaken in partnership with entertainment networking group HOMOtracker and its annual fundraiser ‘FallOut’) will go up for auction on November 10 on the website Charity Buzz and will benefit the grassroots marriage equality group FAIR. The group is also holding an event in West Hollywood on November 12 at which the prints will be on display.

Source: Towleroad.com