Lewis Hamilton Launches Foundation
LEWIS HAMILTON FOUNDATION
Lewis Hamilton…I don’t care about the fact that you’re chasing supermodels around…I do care that you met the former President of South Africa and peace prize winner Nelson Mandela during his his 90th birthday bash in London. Hamilton even got a one-on-one with Mandela: “When I met him it was like walking in to see the king. To be put in front of god. To me, and millions of others around the world, Nelson Mandela has been a true inspiration and not only that, he’s a hero. He has fought bravely, suffered patiently, and forgiven absolutely. Only a truly special man can emerge from 27 years of unjust imprisonment, without rancour and without bitterness, and get straight back to work. Nelson Mandela has taught me the importance of self-belief, integrity, reconciliation and hope. By working together and looking to the future, we can make a difference and we can make a change.”
Don’t know about you, but I got goose bumps…true to his words, Hamilton has taken his first step towards making this world a little bit better by launching the Lewis Hamilton Foundation. The Lewis Hamilton Foundation (LHF) aims to provide funding to a range of existing charities and good causes while also developing its ‘Rise Above It’ program. The ‘Rise Above It’ program is about giving youth and their families access to the tools and the skills to develop their own path for the future by helping them identify their dreams and goals and helping them to achieve their objectives through life experiences and educational programs. The LHF also aims to support existing charities In the following categories: Seriously ill children and young people; Children and young people with disabilities; Helping children and young people out of poverty. (Lewis Hamilton Foundation) Need I say more?
As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.com
Francesco Totti Endorses New Website, Ronaldinho’s Asia Tour Summer 2008, Out With the Old Golden State Warriors-In With the New, Brian Clay is Golden
FRANCESCO TOTTI
A new website, Giovani, launched on Monday, with the goal of encouraging young people to express themselves on issues from politics to sex and sport. And who better to encourage ‘young people’ than AS Roma babe Francesco Totti. The new site allows users to upload their own videos, photos or other content, and encourage them to participate in forums of discussion…Totti shot a short video (that I can not find anywhere) in which he noted how important it was to allow young people to express themselves. “The silence of youth should scare us. We must not allow them to isolate themselves. Young and less young, should be allowed to speak about everything they hear and feel,” Totti said in the video message. “Come on youngsters, do not be silent. Speak, speak your mind.”
And in efforts to promote Totti’s message, here’s an older Pepsi ad featuring David Beckham and a young boy who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. Priceless.
RONALDINHO’S ASIA TOUR SUMMER 2008
The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Ronaldinho, participated in a charity match in Venezuela last weekend, before heading to Tokyo to kick off his Asia Summer Tour…next stop: Seoul and Shanghai. And can you believe that the majority of Ronaldinho news is criticism over his weight? The critics seem to think he’s “hideously overweight” and refer him as the “little fat one.” After the charity game in Venezuela, Ronaldinho hinted that he might be saying buh-bye to Barcelona and hello to AC Milan? “Now I am thinking about working and returning to my level of play as soon as possible, it does not matter where,” Ronaldinho said after the game. “It was a beautiful story, everything that we conquered. The supporters will never forget it, just like I never will. Everywhere I go in Barcelona I am treated very heartily.” Ah- maybe avoid using the word “heartily” about now…
FRESH GOLD FOR THE WARRIORS
The 14th selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, Anthony Randolph (2nd-R) and second round selection Richard Hendrix® of the Golden State Warriors meet some children from the community following a press conference at ORACLE Arena June 30, 2008 in Oakland, California…love the new picks for the Warriors, they need some fresh blood, and with Baron Davis taking his ego to So-Cal, there’ll be pa-lenty of room for some good guys…within hours of the deadline on Tuesday, Baron opted out of the $17.8 million owed him in the final season of his six-year contract to sign with the Clippers and be to closer to the posee’s of weed stealing punks they got in Carson.
GOLDEN CLAY
Brian Clay won the gold medal in the Decathlon with a score of 8,832 during day four of the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials on June 30, 2008 in Oregon. Clay’s score is his personal best, an Olympic Trials record and the best score by an American in 16 years…which definitely earns him some love from this girl.
As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.com
Celebrity Athletes Charity Work: Yao Ming Fundraiser, Samuel Eto’o Soccer Clinic in Nairobi, Brendan Haywood Hoops with Kids.
YAO MING BUILDING SCHOOLS AFTER EARTHQUAKE
Yao has been a very busy ‘relief-effort-bee’…the Houston Rockets star held a fundraiser last Thursday for his Yao Ming Foundation. More than 100 people attended, including teammate/humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo…the little shin-dig raised about $150,000 dollars to help earthquake victims in his native China. Yao began his relief efforts by making an initial, personal commitment of $2M after the May 12 quake, and the first initiative of Yao’s Foundation is earthquake relief efforts that focus on rebuilding earthquake-resistant, high-quality schools. “It is very hard to put into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction,” said Yao. “My thoughts and actions are now focused on helping to rebuild the schools that were destroyed in this tragedy and I hope that others around the world will join in our efforts.” If you wanna join Yao in his efforts to help, please visit his Foundation for more info.
Speaking of Dikembe Mutombo…he was featured in the June issue of ‘Icon Magazine’. I highly recommend reading “Netting His Dream,” it’s a phenomenal article which accurately portrays why he is one of the most sincere and ethical humanitarian ‘athletes’ you could ever hope for…and I gotta say it-Dikemebe is looking pretty hot in the photo spread…sorry kids, I may have shifted my focus towards athletes and their chairty work, but my libido is still honed in on mighty-mighty-fine-sexy-men.
ETO’O FOR THE KIDS
Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o brought skills and smiles to grateful African school children during a soccer clinic on the outskirts of Nairobi today. As part of his ‘OMO 10 out of 10 Nationwide Soccer for Life Skills’ program, the three-time African Player of the Year is making the rounds and is expected to meet a total of about 400 kids from around the area to teach them basic soccer lessons…
BRENDAN HAYWOOD YA COME TO MY TOWN?
Back in May, Washington Wizards hottie Brendan Haywood inadvertently caused some hefty donations to be made to the Cavaliers Youth Fund after he (rightly) called Lebron James a ‘crybaby’ for complaining about hard fouls. Haywood’s ‘crybaby’ comments sparked those wonderful Papa Johns t-shirts and ensuing .23 pizza sales and a $10k donation to the Cav’s Youth Fund…so dude’s okay in my book…especially after this weekend when hot-stuff was hooping it up with the kids during the Kia Motors Performance Challenge as part of the NBA Nation Tour…because sometimes the off-season can be a beautiful thing.
As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.com
Charles Barkley To Play Poker for Charity: Ante Up for Africa; Steve Nash Kicks it for ‘Showdown in Chinatown’ Celebrity Soccer Event
BARKLEY ANTE’S UP FOR AFRICA
The 2008 Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament at the World Series of Poker will be held on July 2 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The event, which raises money and awareness for the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, raised more than $700,000 last year, and this year, you can expect them to raise even more…thanks in part to Sir Charles Barkley, who kept good on his “not gambling” promise during the Pro Team Sports Challenge despite the fact that the event was held, in part, at a casino. “We were at a casino and he said he was on the wagon,” said Jason Kidd, a participant in the Pro Team Challenge. “He’s strong. He didn’t gamble. I think Charles, once he decides not to do something, I think he’s pretty good at keeping his word.” Barkley has pledged to donate all of his winnings to one of the two designated charities if he wins the event in Vegas…Past celebrities, athletes and poker professionals giving some love to Darfur via the Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament include: Ben Affleck, Jason Alexander, Hank Azaria, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Cheryl Hines, Mekhi Phifer, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler, Martin Sheen, Donnie Wahlberg, Montel Williams, Doyle Brunson, Annie Duke, Antonio Esfandiari, Chris Ferguson, Jamie Gold, Phil Gordon, Barry Greenstein, Joe Hachem, Jennifer Harman, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Mike Matusow, Daniel Negreanu, and many others.
STEVE NASH CLEATS UP FOR CHARITY
Steve Nash is taking off his sneakers and putting on some cleats to take part in the “Showdown in Chinatown” celebrity soccer match for charity. The face-off, which includes New York Red Bulls midfielder Claudio Reyna along with celebrity athletes from two of the most beautiful games in the world-soccer and basketball- takes place in New York City on June 25. Nash and Reyna will be joined by former Liverpool FC stars Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler as well as NBA players Raja Bell®, Leandro Barbosa, Nate Robinson and David Lee.
LUOL DENG: WHAT A MIGHTY FINE MAN
His name should be familiar to you if you’ve been a regular reader of mine…Chicago Bull Luol Deng. Remember his name. He’s one of the good guys-right alongside Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Nash and Yao Ming-in terms of really, really making a difference in this world, but specifically for his work with the NineMillion.org campaign. Deng has been a staunch supporter of the cause, donating $50 for every basket he scored to the organization that helps more than nine million refugee children gain better access to education, technology and everything else we take for granted.
Today, Deng, who is a former refugee from Sudan, will receive the 2008 UN Refugee Agency’s Humanitarian of the Year Award at World Refugee Day in Washington, D.C. ”I am honored to receive the UNHCR’s ‘Humanitarian of the Year’ Award,” Deng said. “Giving back is important to me. The ninemillion.org campaign is a cause that is very close to my heart, and I am committed to helping refugees make a new life for themselves.”
As always, thanks for reading.
delinda@athlebrities.com