Haiti

Alyssa Milano Will Follow You on Twitter (For a Price)

Alyssa Milano, one of the most influential celebrity tweeters out there, has launched the first ever celebrity tweet auction on eBay and it's all in the name of charity. With 100% of the winning bid set to go to aHomeInHaiti (an organization that builds shelters, homes, and schools for Haitians devastated by the earthquake) this is a great chance to realize the ultimate Twitter fantasy and get yourself an A-list celebrity follower, and A-list celebrity retweet, and an A-list celebrity shout-out all while doing something good for the world. The lucky winning bidder will be followed by @Alyssa_Milano for a minimum of 90 days plus she'll give you a personal shout out using your @twitterhandle and will retweet at least one of your posts (lets hope it's a good one). The auction just started and with over 9 days left is already up to $3,050. She'll probably be the most expensive Twitter follower you ever pick up but who knows, with the kind of pull Alyssa has online this just might be your chance to 'make it big' in the Twitterverse (and make a few Haitians' days too).

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Tags: alyssa milano, haiti, haiti earthquake, most expensive, twitter

Airport Hotel Project Planned For Haiti

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

A new hotel project is coming to Haiti. Argentine entrepreneur Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster, the president of Basic Energy Ltd. and Haiti-based WIN Group have announced an agreement to develop a 240-room hotel with conference facilities adjacent to Port-Au-Prince's Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport. According to a press release, the property will break ground by the end of the year and will be completed within 18 months. The $33 million project will be Haiti's first airport hotel. It will be independently operated and will have an on-site power plant, water treatment, sewage, and related facilities.

The release says that the seven-story project will be built through a combination of standard construction methods and pre-fabricated processes. It will have full conference facilities able to host up to 400 people for a single event. There will also be a fitness center, swimming pool, spa facilities and more. The hotel will have a Creole style and will be surrounded with lush tropical landscaping. Everything will be built to meet or exceed all international earthquake standards.

"We recognize the importance of having facilities that can house individuals during the rebuilding process," said Gonzalez-Bunster, whose holdings include energy investments in neighboring Dominican Republic. "It is currently extremely challenging to secure accommodations since so much of the infrastructure was decimated by the earthquake." Bill Clinton also gave the project praise saying that that "an adequate network of hotels is crucial to the country" and that this project is one of the many needed to help rebuild Port Au Prince.

Tags: haiti, haiti earthquake, haiti hotel, haiti relief, HaitiEarthquake

First "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Specials Fetching Big Bucks at Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity, Celebrity Design

A Lotus may seem like an exotic supercar, but the superlight British machines never approach the six-figure prices you'd expect from the likes of Ferrari or Lamborghini. But even that can change in the name of good will.

The first three examples of the special-edition "Naomi for Haiti" Lotus Evoras, created in conjunction with supermodel Naomi Campbell on which we reported recently, went up for auction during London Fashion Week, fetching prices in excess of GBP 300,000, or nearly $500,000 American. Campbell's boyfriend Vladimir Doronin got his hands on the first one. The remaining five examples are up for auction now at naomiforhaiti.com, with bidding ending on February 28.

Tags: auction, charity, charity auction, CharityAuction, disaster relief, DisasterRelief, evora, haiti, london fashion week, LondonFashionWeek, lotus, lotus evora, lotus evora naomi for haiti, LotusEvora, LotusEvoraNaomiForHaiti, naomi campbell, naomi for haiti, NaomiCampbell, NaomiForHaiti, vladimir doronin, VladimirDoronin

Lotus and Naomi Campbell Team Up for Haiti Relief

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity, Celebrity Design

Lotus isn't the first to pitch in for the relief efforts in Haiti. And godwilling, it won't be the last. But it is the latest, and every bit helps. The British sportscar-maker has teamed up with supermodel Naomi Campbell for a limited run of special Evora sportscars that will be auctioned off, with proceeds going towards relief on the disaster-struck Caribbean island.

Each of the eight examples of the "Naomi for Haiti" edition Lotus Evora gets a special paintjob designed by Campbell and Lotus, bearing the Haitian flag, coupled with a special interior and all the options. The first example will be auctioned off live during London Fashion Week, with the seven remaining examples up for grabs at naomiforhaiti.com.

Gallery: Lotus Evora "Naomi for Haiti"

Tags: campbell, disaster relief, DisasterRelief, evora, haiti, haiti relief, HaitiAid, HaitiEarthquake, HaitiRelief, lotus, lotus evora, LotusEvora, naomi, naomi campbell, naomi for haiti, NaomiCampbell, NaomiForHaiti

Scarlett Johansson Designs Handbag for Haiti Relief

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Charity, Celebrity Design

Scarlett Johansson Designs Handbag for Haiti Relief

Scarlett Johansson is the new face of Mango and has helped design an exclusive handbag to go on sale in more than 1,390 Mango stores worldwide in March. All profits from the Haiti Handbag will be donated to Oxfam's Haiti Earthquake Response Fund.

The tote is emblazoned with an ancient map of the Caribbean country, with the message "Supporting the People of Haiti" written and signed by Johansson.

"I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Mango to benefit Oxfam. By purchasing this bag, you're helping to provide life-saving assistance, like clean water, to the people of Haiti," Johansson said. Recently Johansson auctioned an evening of her company to four fans to help benefit the relief effort as well.

The Haiti Handbag will retail for £16.90 (about $26.50 USD).

Tags: celebrity design, celebrity designers, CelebrityDesign, CelebrityDesigners, charity, Haiti, Mango, Scarlett Johansson, ScarlettJohansson

Miley Cyrus Plans Auction For Haiti

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Charity

Miley Cyrus is doing her part for Haiti earthquake relief with an auction that starts tomorrow. The auction on eBay includes many donations from her celebrity friends. Britney Spears has donated the Versace dress she wore during her much celebrated return to glamour at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. Nicole Ritchie will contribute a few pieces from her House of Harlow jewelry line. Miley herself is giving the Herve Leger dress she wore to the Grammy Awards this year as well as a pair of tickets to the premiere of her new movie, "The Last Song." All proceeds will support the Red Cross's efforts in Haiti as the Caribbean nation continues to recover from last month's devastating earthquakes.

Following the Hope for Haiti telethon, donations have continued to roll in from the rich and famous. Check out a few of the big givers in the gallery below.

Gallery: Haiti's Big Givers

Tags: haiti, Haiti aid, haiti earthquake, haiti relief, HaitiAid, HaitiEarthquake, HaitiRelief, miley cyrus, MileyCyrus

Continue reading “Miley Cyrus Plans Auction For Haiti”

300 Celebrities at Golden Globes sign a Chrysler for Haiti Relief

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Charity

When disaster strikes like it has in Haiti, it's hard to find the silver lining. But if there's one to be found, it's how people come together to lend a hand.

At the Golden Globe awards this past Sunday, Chrysler showed up on the red carpet with one of its top-of-the-line 300C luxury sedans and invited the celebrities attending to sign it. Among the 300 celebrities who put their names down for the cause included Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Morgan Freeman, Sigourney Weaver and Neil Patrick Harris,

The car was equipped with such eco touches as cork and bamboo interior, donated personally by Chrysler brand CEO Olivier Francois (pictured above) and was specially branded for the cause. It's is set to be auctioned at an event soon to be announced to raise funds for the American Red Cross in its relief efforts in Haiti.

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Tags: american red cross, AmericanRedCross, celebrity, chrysler, chrysler 300, chrysler 300 c, Chrysler300, Chrysler300C, diaster relief, DiasterRelief, Golden Globe Awards, golden globes, GoldenGlobeAwards, GoldenGlobes, haiti, haiti earthquake, HaitiEarthquake, red cross, RedCross

Stars Auction Clothes For Haiti

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity

We've already covered a variety of stars donating money to help the victims of the Haiti quake and now stars are holding auctions to raise money. Meryl Streep, Gerard Butler, Amy Poehler and Olivia Wilde are donating their outfits worn at the 67th Golden Globes. The outfits will be auctioned off by Artists for Peace and Justice and sold to the public on eBay.

In other auction news, Serena Williams has set herself the goal of raising $92,000 in 92 days through an online auction of her personal clothing and memorabilia to raise money for Haiti earthquake victims, as well as schools and charities. Her eBay auction began Monday with items and includes so far tennis outfits, sneakers and a Phoenix Suns jersey signed by Steve Nash. She plans to put up new items each week.

Friday's "Hope for Haiti" telethon will be hosted by George Clooney, Wyclef Jean and Anderson Cooper. Christina Aguilera, Bono, Alicia Keys, Sting and Justin Timberlake have signed on to perform and Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts have signed up to answer phones.

Gallery: Auctions For Haiti

Tags: amy poehler, AmyPoehler, Gerard Butler, GerardButler, haiti, Meryl Streep, MerylStreep, olivia wilde, OliviaWilde, serena williams, SerenaWilliams

Big Givers Donate To Haiti

by Amanda Gordon (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Big Givers

The response to the earthquake tragedy in Haiti was almost immediate, and just days afterward, millions of dollars have been raised, a lot of it through small donations of $5 or $10 transmitted through the humble text message. But there's another kind of giving that has emerged too: Single donations in much larger amounts, from the likes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Olivia Wilde, Tiger Woods, Madonna. Hopefully the list will grow and grow.

Why is it so gratifying though to hear about celebrities making donations? Perhaps because by doing so, they're doing something we've already done, something that thousands of ordinary people are doing. A crisis reminds us that we're all vulnerable, we're all responsible for helping. And that's what it is going to take to bury the dead, take care of the living, and rebuild Haiti.

So when George Clooney asks for your donation tonight, during the Hope for Haiti telethon he is hosting on MTV, you won't just be saying "yes" to an incredibly magnetic movie star, you'll be joining a community of people wanting to help. It's as simple as that. Celebrities undeniably bring some glamour and sparkle to the task of fundraising, and that's okay. It is after all a difficult and serious business. We're lucky to have them.

Check out the gallery below for a look at the amounts donated so far.

Gallery: Haiti's Big Givers

Tags: angelina jolie, AngelinaJolie, ben stiller, BenStiller, brad pitt, BradPitt, brangelina, celebrity donations, CelebrityDonations, donations, earthquake, haiti, yankees

Hollywood Director To Sell Haitian Art Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

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Oscar-winning film director Jonathan Demme ("Silence of the Lambs") is an avid collector of Haitian art. Demme, who has made several film documentaries about Haiti, is selling 300 of the folk art pieces he has collected at an auction by Slotin Auction in Buford, Georgia on November 10. The sale will be dedicated entirely to self-taught art, including masterworks by more than 400 folk artists with Demme's collection being featured as a major highlight. The work shown above, "Seven Headed Lion Beast With Ten Horns" by William Blaney is estimated to sell for $15,000-$20,000.

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Tags: art, auction, folk art, FolkArt, haiti, haitian art, HaitianArt, jonathan demme