04:24 PM EDT 05/30/2012
Good Deeds
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Sean Penn Hosts Star-Studded Benefit in Cannes
Originally posted 05/19/2012 12:00PM
Sean Penn was in a jovial mood Friday night at the Cannes Film Festival where he hosted a benefit for Haiti, which raised about $1.5 million.
The actor and activist hosted a starry affair attended by David Schwimmer, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Diane Kruger, Jessica Chastain, Michelle Rodriguez, Ewan MacGregor, Gerald Butler and Penn's onetime gal pal Petra Nemcova, among others.
At one point Penn joked to the crowd: "I want to ask every woman here to turn to the man next to her and say I won't sleep with you tonight unless you make a big donation."
Two U2 VIP concert tickets and one of Bono's Gretsch guitars fetched 200,000 euros apiece, and three people shelled out $100,000 each to spend three days in Haiti with Penn.
The upbeat evening was a change from Friday afternoon when Penn went on a profanity-laced tirade about how the media and the world has abandoned Haiti in the wake of a devastating earthquake there.
– Dana Kennedy
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Mariah & Nick Bid $21,000 on Shoes at Charity Event!
Originally posted 05/16/2012 06:00AM
Days after celebrating their twins' birthdays – in Paris, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon arrived hand-in-hand at the Opera Gallery in N.Y.C. for an arty fundraiser.
The pair was spotted laughing and enjoying themselves, sipping soft drinks and checking out tunes by DJ Mos at the event, which benefitted the Urban Arts Partnership. The happy couple – who recently renewed their vows – was apparently in a very charitable mood: Cannon placed the night's highest bid, nabbing a $21,000 Project Canvas shoe, that was paired with a diver watch, designed by Audemars Piguet.
Carey was among the celebrities who designed shoes for the event. Her creation, which was snatched up by BET chairman Debra Lee for $2,000, earned the highest price for a single pair of shoes during the evening.
Other celebrities contributing shoe designs at the event: Ellen DeGeneres and Swizz Beatz.
– Carlos Greer
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Prince Harry Receives Humanitarian Award in D.C.
Originally posted 05/07/2012 09:10PM
Prince Harry has now joined the ranks of Bono and Bill Clinton.
Harry, 27, arrived in Washington, D.C., to receive the 2012 Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council, an international affairs think tank, at its annual awards dinner on Monday. The U2 frontman and former president are among the awards event's past honorees.
The prince, in his first-ever visit to the U.S. capital, was recognized for his work with military veterans, servicemen and women that he does through the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry. He accepted the award on his brother's behalf.
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Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz Bid Against Each Other at Charity Auction
Originally posted 05/07/2012 06:00AM
Alicia Keys laughed and giggled the night away with pal La La Anthony at the annual Bronx Charter School for the Arts auction.
The ladies were joined by their husbands – Carmelo Anthony and Swizz Beatz – and an onlooker tells us, "Alicia and Swizz looked more in love than ever, gazing into each other's eyes and kissing like no one was watching."
But their affectionate demeanor didn't stop the duo, who attended with 6-year-old song Kaseem Jr. (from Swizz's previous marriage), from bidding against each other for a guitar signed by the Rolling Stones during the Ciroc Vodka-sponsored event.
In the end, though, Keys ended up taking home a penguin drawing created in collaboration between her husband and some schoolchildren, and Swizz took a turn spinning tracks behind the deejay booth at the party.
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Biggest Loser Winner Jeremy Britt: 'I Was Given a Great Gift'
Originally posted 05/02/2012 10:25AM
Jeremy Britt, who was crowned the winner of The Biggest Loser: No Excuses on Tuesday, said the first thing he plans to do with his $250,000 winnings is buy a minivan for fellow contestant Buddy Shuh – who quit the show before the finals.
"When he left he said all he wanted was a minivan out of the show," Britt, 22, tells PEOPLE. "I promised him if I won I would get a minivan. So I owe Buddy a minivan."
Britt lost 199 lbs. (more than half his body weight) during the course of the competition. And he says he wouldn't have been able to do it without the help of his family, including his sister and fellow contestant Conda Britt, who lost 115 lbs. and also made it to the finals.
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Patrick Dempsey Rescues Teen from Car Crash
Originally posted 04/30/2012 09:40AM
The Avengers, move over.
Patrick Dempsey played a real-life action hero last week, when, using a crowbar, a fire extinguisher and quick timing, the Grey's Anatomy star pulled a teenage boy to safety after his car flipped over near Dempsey's Malibu, Calif., home.
"I was scared for my life. I was upside down," driver Weston Masset, 17, told ABC News after he lost control of his Mustang, which rolled over three times, trapping and leaving him barely conscious. (Watch the interview here.)
After rescuing Masset, Dempsey, a father himself, called paramedics and stayed by the teen's side along with his wife Jillian and three neighbors as Masset was airlifted to the hospital. He was treated for a concussion and an eye injury and is expected to make a full recovery.
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Pink Pays $10,000 for Marilyn Monroe Painting
Originally posted 04/30/2012 10:40AM
It may have taken Pink as long to write the check as it took Erik Wahl to create the painting.
Nevertheless, the pop star, 32, snapped up Wahl's image of Marilyn Monroe – which he painted in just three minutes – for a cool $10,000 on Saturday night.
The occasion was a graffiti art performance and auction for charity in Brentwood, Calif., where Wahl whipped up the pristine portrait of the screen siren in front of guests – including Pink and her husband Carey Hart.
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Kate Quietly Volunteers with Scouts on Anglesey
Originally posted 04/27/2012 01:15PM
Away from the posh frocks and official royal appearances, the Duchess of Cambridge has quietly found some rewardingly work volunteering with kids – helping scouts near her home on Anglesey in North Wales.
Keeping the promise she made in January as she announced her official charities, Kate, 30, has been spending time with youngsters and even putting her knowledge of sailing to use in the process.
"She's used her experience as a sailor to help them with knotting," a local scouting source tells PEOPLE. "She's been involved in managing games and joining in art and crafts activities. ... We also pitched tents indoors in one of the sessions, and she remembered pitching tents."
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Kate Wears Patriotic Bling at Charity Event
Originally posted 04/26/2012 10:00AM
The Duchess of Cambridge wore some special bling as she stepped out with husband William on Thursday.
Kate, 30, decorated her blue ensemble by Rebecca Taylor with a simple $40 enamel brooch in the shape of a poppy, the red flower symbol of the Royal British Legion charity.
Dubbed "poppy bling" by a Legion spokesman, the brooches are for sale online at Poppyshop.org.uk.
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Angelina Jolie Takes Break from Galápagos for UN Work
Originally posted 04/23/2012 11:25AM
After jetting to the Galápagos Islands last week after she and Brad Pitt announced their wedding engagement, Angelina Jolie resumed her humanitarian work, this time in her new role as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
Over the weekend, while their six children remained in the Galápagos, Jolie (whose former UNHCR title, for more than a decade, was goodwill ambassador) spent time with refugees by the San Miguel River, in Ecuador.
"Her work does go substantially beyond what we would typically see as being the normal role of a goodwill ambassador," Geneva-based UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told reporters late last week, noting that Special Envoys are unpaid positions.
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