NASCAR Drivers Win is $1M for Habitat for Humanity
NASCAR driver Paul Menard has a lot riding on the upcoming Daytona Beach race, specifically a one million dollar donation to Habitat for Humanity if he places first.
PEAK Automotive Products will be donating one million dollars in Menards store credit to local Habitat for Humanity chapters if Paul Menard, driver of the No. 27 Chevrolet, places first at the international motor racing event at Daytona Beach, Fla. on Feb. 26. Continue reading
Athletes and Celebrities to Participate in BTIG Charity Day
Athletes and celebrities will once again team up with BTIG, a global financial services firm, for its 10th Commissions for Charity Day on April 18, 2012…Since 2003, the international Commissions for Charity Day has raised more than $17 million from equity, fixed income and derivative trading commission profits in support of various nonprofit organizations. In the past nine years over 300 different children’s charities have benefited. The BTIG event is unique in that it is a client driven event. BTIG clients nominate charities and non profits for donation consideration. BTIG encourages clients to select child focused organizations.
Joe Namath, Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, Justin Tuck, Rex Ryan, John McEnroe, Joe Girardi, Michael J. Fox, Reggie Jackson, Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira, Jorge Posada, Allan Houston, Bode Miller (above) and Jim Boeheim are among the celebrities who will be attending this year’s Commissions for Charity Day in BTIG’s offices around the country in support of the event and their charitable foundations. Continue reading
Els to Host Historic Charity Golf Event
Golf Hall of Famer, Ernie Els, is set to host the second annual Els for Autism Golf challenge, which has become the largest charity-driven, amateur golf tournament in history.
Backed by SAP, one of his top corporate sponsors, Els said: “SAP has taken over the golf challenge, so they’ve come in all guns blazing this year, and I think we’re going to have a wonderful time. I think we can double what we did last year.” Continue reading
Poker Philanthropist Jamie Gold and Celebrity Friends Officially Open New Poker Room
Professional Poker Player and WSOP 2006 winner Jamie Gold, celebrated the official grand opening of the Jamie Gold Poker Room at the new Tropicana in Las Vegas over the weekend, and Athlebrities was honored to be part of the celebration.
After interviewing Gold in September of last year about his philanthropy, there was little doubt that the weekend festivities would attract a slew of ‘good’ people, and it did…friends and celebrities in attendance to support Gold (AKA ‘The Poker Philanthropist), included UFC fighter Randy Couture, actress IIena Oliver, Soprano’s star Robert Iler, Ricki Lake (above), Boys II Men’s Nathan Morris, Twilight actor Billy Burke, actor Joe Reitman, professional snowboarder Adam Reynolds and many others. Continue reading
Drogba Unites Ivorians Via Sport
Athlebrities has had a long standing crush on Cote d’Ivoire/Chelsea player, three time English Premier League champ, two-time African Footballer of the Year hottie Didier Drogba…long before he was even named in TIME Magazine’s Top 100 of 2010.
In 2005 when Cote d’Ivoire qualified for their first World Cup, Drogba gave his fellow Ivorians an inspirational and heartfelt speech that caused the divided nation to briefly pause: “Ivorians, men and women, from the north and the south, the centre and the west, you’ve seen this. We’ve proved to you that the people of Ivory Coast can live together side by side, play together toward the same goal: qualifying for the World Cup. We promised you this celebration would bring the people together. Now we’re asking you to make this a reality.” Continue reading
Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton to Speak at So-Cal Church
Athlebrities favorite female surfer, Bethany Hamilton, will speak at the VantagePoint Church in Eastvale January 22.
Hamilton’s story has been depicted in the inspirational movie ‘Soul Surfer’ after she lost an arm to a shark when she was 13. “She’s become an inspiration for so many people who want to find hope in their lives,” said Mark Lee, lead pastor of VantagePoint. “She was given the option of continuing her surf career or giving up,” he said. “She chose to continue.” Continue reading
Kelly Slater Among Laureus Award Winners
Kelly Slater has been named as the 2012 Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year during the annual awards ceremony.
This is the fourth win for King Slater-which equals the soon-to-be-defunct Laureus record of Roger Federer.
Other winners include Novak Djokovic who took home the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year…FC Barcelona won the Laureus World Team of the Year Award… Continue reading
David Beckham Nearly Naked in H&M Super Bowl Ad
David Beckham…underwear…I mean Bodywear…available at H&M…commercial to air during the 2nd quarter of the Super Bowl.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.
Djokovic-Nadal Epic Australian Open Final
Sensational action this morning coming from that crazy Serb, Novak Djokovic. Djokovic was victorious over our tapa Rafael Nadal in the mens final match of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament and afterward he respectfully brushed off Nadal with a little palm-tickle handshake.
Djokovic won the championship 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 before ripping-off of his shirt ala Hulk and howling at the stands. Continue reading
Sarah Burke: Give Forward
Awesome website Athlebrities wants to give a Sunday shout-out to, it’s called Give Forward. And it’s amazing.
Here’s how it works: Create a page describing your fundraising; Spread the word: Receive your funds: Pay it forward by sharing the site. Yeah it’s that easy.
So far the site has raised almost $10 million for medical expenses and other causes.
The most notable fundraiser on Give Forward is Sarah Burke’s family. Continue reading
NASCAR Legend Jeff Gordon’s Rwandan Visit
NASCAR great Jeff Gordon and his family took a trip to Rwanda last month for his Children’s Foundation and documented the journey through a series of amazing photos and blog posts.
The mission of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation is to support children battling cancer by funding programs that improve patients’ quality of life, treatment programs that increase survivorship and pediatric medical research dedicated to finding a cure…he does this both in the US and abroad. Continue reading
Kelly Slater Among Laureus World Sports Nominees (Again)
Kelly Slater Among Laureus World Sports Nominees (Again)
On Monday, February 6, the international sports world will take over London’s Central Hall for the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognize sporting achievement, are the premier honors on the international sporting calendar. The winners, as voted by the Laureus World Sports Academy, the ultimate sports jury, made up of 47 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time, will be unveiled at a globally televised Awards Ceremony staged at Central Hall, Westminster, in London….proceeds from the Laureus World Sports Awards directly benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports 91 community sports projects around the world. Since its inception, Laureus has raised €40 million for projects which have improved the lives of more than one-and-a-half million young people.
The full list of Nominees for the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards is available on Look to the Stars, but we here at Athlebrities would like to give a mighty-fine shout-out to some of our favorites we’d like to see win:
Usain Bolt for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, nominated alongside Lionel Messi…tough call, I think Messi will take it. Continue reading
Usain Bolt’s Charity Work Not Lost in Sir Richard Branson’s Beard
Usain Bolt’s Charity Work Not Lost in Sir Richard Branson’s Beard
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has teamed up with smoking-hot billionaire Sir Richard Branson in an epic battle of ‘Who is Richard Branson’.
In a series of ads promoting Virgins ‘lightening fast’ broadband service, Bolt attempts a laughable impression of Branson before the real thing interrupts him. It’s cute, funny, and a well placed partnership which sees Bolt sporting Branson’s trademark silver-beard. Continue reading
E! Entertainment TV Stole Athlebrities
E! Entertainment TV Stole Athlebrities
Most of you have been wondering what’s up with Athlebrities™ lately. Many of you have emailed me regarding the confusion created by the use of Athlebrities on E! Entertainment TV’s on-line section titled ‘Athlebrity Zone.’
Do they have my permission to use my company name? No. Did they steal it from me? Yes. Am I trademarked and otherwise legally protected? Yes.
It started in 2004 when I met with the oh-so-good peeps at E!TV about developing an ‘Athlebrities on E!’ segment. They loved the idea and strung me along through several well-documented production meetings. Then nothing.
But I pressed on, believing that by following my passion, I could develop Athlebrities into an informative, fun and resourceful site that sports fans could visit for all the info relating to celebrity athletes and what makes them a ‘celebrity’ outside of sports.
Over the years, Athlebrities’ coverage morphed into something better-athletes and their charity work. Many of you from the NPO world know me and know my sincerity. Many of you watched me struggle to put Athlebrities on the map and make a name for myself-which I did.
And many of you know the pain I felt upon discovery of E! Entertainment Television and its parent company NBC Universal using my previously presented concept to them without my permission.
So, to answer all your questions….No, I am in no way shape or form related to E! Entertainments on-line Athlebrity Zone other than the fact that I presented the concept to them and they decided to use it after-the-fact, and after it had been legally protected and well-established by ME.
Obviously, I am exploring my options, but in the mean time, I am not going away. This is my baby that’s been high-jacked. I am Athlebrities and ETV’s on-line Athlebrity Zone is nothing but a direct-theft from me. Period.
That’s all.
As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com
Right To Play Soccer
Soccer Babes With A Splash of Tonic Please
Luca-Toni-Peppe-Roni: Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what this is all about, but it’s Luca Toni and it’s Friday and I get to have fun on my blog…Bayern Munich’s sexy Italian striker Luca Toni (L) played ‘table football’ on the world’s largest table against comedian Matze Knop® at the “f.re.e” travel and leisure trade fair in Munich. Seems that Toni is representing Italy at the stand…that’s about all I can figure out about the ‘event’ but it did lead me to this ridiculous video where Knop performs his latest single ‘Numero Uno,’ a bizarre and embarrassing tribute to ‘Luca Toni, pepperoni’…
The Beautiful Game for All
While we have fun with our soccer babes, it’s important to remember the children around the world who don’t get the chance to play the beautiful game. Recently, there was a soccer tournament in Juba (Sudan), which was used to reach out to an entire generation of children who have been traumatized by the civil war. Although the war ended four-years ago, more than half the kids didn’t finish their primary education…as we know, they’ve all got a Right to Play, so let’s not forget to help.
The Right to Play World Cup is planned to take place at Stamford Bride May 22. If you’re like me, then the following info should warm your bones like a topless David Beckham or a knee-sliding post-goal Drogba…
- The Right To Play World Cup is a unique opportunity to live that dream and play on the hallowed turf of one of the world’s biggest football clubs whilst supporting a global sport for development charity working in 23 countries across the globe. We believe that when children play, the world wins! It’ll be a chance for you and 9 of your colleagues to live out your playground fantasies while supporting the valuable work we do with young people around the world. When: Friday 22nd May. Where: Stamford Bridge, Chelsea FA full 5 a-side footy tournament on the pitch with full pitch finals. Form a team of 10 colleagues and compete for the title of Right To Play World Champs. Why: Enjoy a once-in-life time experience of playing at this famous stadium and support the Right To Play aims of providing sport and play programs to vulnerable children. Chelsea Quiz Evening – The World Cup will be followed by an evening’s entertainment at the stadium, with a sports quiz and exclusive sporting prizes.
Basically, you get to play at Stamford Bridge and party like a rock-star with the players while supporting a damn good cause. While I’m not really into running on the field, I’d make an amazing cheerleader or towel girl, so pa-lease, take me with you. RIGHT TO PLAY.
STOP IT
David Beckham can play anywhere he wants…AC Milan or the Galaxy-I don’t care…but good gawd Beck’s…for the love of soccer, stop taking your shirt off and causing me to revert to ‘huh’ instead of ‘charity’.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Soccer Stud Diego Sends Out An SOS
Soccer Stud Diego Sends Out An SOS
Nothing warms my heart like a wickedly fine soccer babe doing good things for needy kids…case in point, Werder Bremen’s Brazilian midfielder Diego has been nominated as ambassador for the SOS Children’s Villages. Hot stuff met kids in the German city of Worpswede yesterday as they celebrated his nomination…SOS Children’s Villages is an international non-governmental social development organisation committed to children’s needs and concerns…located in 132 countries and territories, their activities focus on giving serious love to children without parental care or kids of families in difficult circumstances….for example, you’ll find an SOS Children’s Village in Phuket that was built after the tsunami, and a program in Gaza which is currently helping approximately 900 children!
Check them out at SOS Children’s Villages. It’s a great program that’s really doing some amazing things to improve the lives of children who really, really need help.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Hard Hats for Humanity
Hard Hats and Hotties for Charity?
Love this one…Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity is auctioning off autographed hard hats for charity… more than 70 hats have been signed and donated for the charity auction…bid on hard hats signed by such artists/humanitarians as U2, Ricky Martin, Justin Timberlake, The Jonas Brothers and more… while there are no “athlete” signed hard hats on the chopping block, I can’t resist anything Bono related, especially when I see him swinging a hammer and building a house. Ditto goes for Ricky Martin.
“I have had the chance to personally give the keys to several families moving into homes sponsored by the Ricky Martin Foundation in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, an organization I’ve been involved with for many years. I’ve been fortunate enough to see with my own eyes the difference a home makes in the life of a child,” said Ricky Martin. “Now, by simply bidding on an item in an auction, you have the chance to change lives and build hope.”
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles launched the online auction today at Clothes Off Our Back…the auction will run through March 6th at 5:00 pm PST with 100% of the proceeds helping to build more affordable homes in Greater Los Angeles. “Through our non-profit organization, Music for Relief, and our ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity we have had the opportunity to not only sponsor homes, but also to go and build the houses ourselves, and to meet the families that were moving into them,” said Dave “Phoenix” Farrell of Linkin Park. “We hope this hardhat auction will raise awareness for Habitat’s mission and help raise funds for families in need.”
The following is a partial list of celebrities who have autographed hardhats for the auction: 30 Seconds to Mars, Alejandro Sanz, Carrie Underwood, Chris Pine, David Archuleta, Enrique Iglesias, Gavin Rossdale, Governor Schwarzenegger, Green Day, Kate Beckinsale, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, Kellan Lutz, The Jonas Brothers, Josh Groban, Justin Timberlake, Kyle Howard, Linkin Park, First Lady Maria Shriver, Michael Johns, Miley Cyrus, Neil Diamond, Ne-Yo, the Pussycat Dolls, Ricky Martin, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Third Day, U2, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron. A complete list of celebrity supporters of this auction can be found at the auction site: CLOTHES OFF OUR BACK.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Vacation…
VACATION
I’m taking the week off kids-see ya Monday the 23rd.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Athletic Champions Pose Naked for AIDS Awareness and Charity
Athletic Champions Pose Naked for AIDS Awareness and Charity
I don’t know how this one snuck by me…it opened October 30 at the National Portrait Gallery in London and runs through March 8, 2009…Terrell Owens (above), Matt Dawson and Thierry Henry are just a few of the beautiful sports babes who participated in ‘Champions,’ an amazing black and white nude portrait project by photographers Anderson and Low that benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The ‘Champions’ exhibit has over 30 previously unseen nude portraits on display, of some of the hottest athletes shot by photographers Anderson & Low. The collection of images took several years to complete-making me wish I had been along on that road trip…they visited three different continents to shoot the hotties after the photographers conceived the idea to support the Elton John Aids Foundation and to raise awareness of the global issue of HIV/AIDS…consider my awareness ‘raised’…
“Transcending cultural and socioeconomic boundaries the universal appeal of these athletes made them the ideal subjects for this project,” reads the press release. “Their nudity in the portraits is symbolic, illustrating both their physical beauty and prowess alongside their vulnerability and humanity.”
If you’re in London and want to check out the images, admission to the Gallery is free…they are also selling a book in the gallery’s bookshop: The ‘Champions’ book by Anderson and Low, which contains 138 images of the participating athletes…and yes, I would love a copy from someone for my birthday next month. For more images and information about the incredible photography of Anderson and Low click here.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com