"For the children" - Aid Still Required Joins the Clippers and Maccabi Tel-Aviv for Migdal Ohr Benefit

In 2007, the New York Knicks and Maccabi Tel Aviv sold out Madison Square Garden in the first basketball benefit game for Migdal Ohr, the world's largest orphanage located in Northern Israel.

As the benefit was such a success, Migdal Ohr created two pre-season exhibition games for 2009, one rematch in NYC and the other at the Los Angeles Staples Center with the LA Clippers facing the Maccabis.

Migdal Ohr Executive Director Robert Katz had heard about ASR's work with the NBA players and offered ASR an invitation to participate.  Proceeds went to Migdal Ohr, with a percentage of sales going to help the work of other NGO's such as ASR and LA's Best, in addition to area synagogues.

Over 26,000 people total attended the two games.  Andrea and Hunter sat in the midst of a lively group of male middle-schoolers, who could barely stay in their seats.  When they weren't hooting and hollering, the young men were texting the latest scoop.  Founder and president Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, alos the 2009 Caring Institute International Humanitarian of the Year, addressed the crowd at half-time.  A delicious post-game feast was held for VIPs and the athletes.  In addition to meeting basketball legend Rick Barry, Andrea was espcially happy to meet up with her old friend, talented marketer, Lauren Becker.

This West Coast game went off without a hitch, though the same could not be said about the game at the Garden, where Maccabi coach, Pini Gershon, had to be removed from the game over a heated disagreement with a referee.  We were glad to see him more at ease here in LA!

"June 20th" quickly became an ASR household buzzword with weeks of tireless preparation, culminating into A Night of Culture for a Cause.  Actress and ASR friend Barbara Bosson hosted the fete at her stunning Pacific Palisades home.  Thanks to Marble Arch Fine Afts and the Cracking Art Group, guests were greeted by eco-friendly, larger-than-life animal sculptures made out of recycled plastic, highlighting ASR's commitment to environmental issues.  Animals included giant bulldogs and terriers, oversized sneaker-wearing chihuahuas, goats, giraffes, and alligators.

Giant terrier with goat friends guarding the premises.

Colorful chihuahuas enjoying the poolside with N. African art hanging in the back.

ASR's various projects in the tsunami region in Southeast Asia, Sudan, and New Orleans were featured on displays in the living room while silent auction items were lined up on tables on the poolside veranda.

With close to a hundred people in attendance, Whole Foods and Taste of Hope Catering provided a topical spread for dinner - authentic Northeast African food from Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan were prepared and served by chefs from those countries in their traditional apparel.  There was also Ethiopian coffee, ground directly by these women in the idyllic backyard of Ms. Bosson's home.

Saba and Mbraty putting together a wonderful meal!

Coffee-making Station

Tracks from ASR's upcoming All-Star Tsunami Relief CD played quietly in the background as guests perused the North African art on display.  Representing the ASR project area of New Orleans, whiskey-voiced rollicking pianist Bob Malone played smokin' Nawlins style jazz keyboards, as shown below.

Renowned interior designer, animal activist, and philanthropist Bobi Leonard, as seen below, was a lively auctioneer, whipping up excitement for items including a getaway trip to Tuscany, an ASR shirt worn and signed by Kobe Bryant, "Holding Onto" sculpture by Iranian American artist Rebecca Setareh, gift certificates to local spas and neighborhood restaurant legends like Michael's, Amici's, Cafe Delfini's, Giorgio's, and Rustic Canyon, photographs by award-winning conflict photographer Ron Haviv and the irrepressible Cat Gwynn, and custom-made stone jewelry made by Benita Pautz, also hairdresser extraordinaire, whose jewelry will soon to be made available for sale on ASR's online store.

After a night of discussion, bidding, and winning, the guests left with their minds, stomachs, and hands full of cultural experiences.  On their way home, guests received party favors of original photographs taken by Andrea and Hunter themselves of Sudan's landscape and beautiful people as well as Sumbody salt scrub samples, scented with the Indonesian and Sudanese tropical flowers, herbs, and fruits.  It was a wonderful night to say the very least, and we thank all of our attendees, supports, and volunteers for making it a success!

Andrea with sculpture artist Rebecca Setareh and actress, philanthropist, designer, model, ASR volunteer Sulinh LaFontaine.

[All photographs were taken by Barry Schwartz.]

ASR thanks METal [Media Entertainment Technology Alliance] for showcasing their VRAI video at A Taste of METal Media Festival on June 11th at the Los Angeles Center Studios.  For more about the wonderfully things being done by this group, check out their site at www.tasteofmetal.com.

On June 3rd, in conjunction with hiving.net, philanthropist Sarah Nicole Dolgen hosted a Cocktails for a Cause Karaoke Night in honor of Aid Still Required at her lovely apartment off of Sunset Strip.  It was a night of great Thai food from Sarah's favorite neighborhood Thai joint, great drinks, and vivid discussion, with many young socialites in attendance, engaging Andrea and Hunter with incisive questions.  We hear the singing went on until the wee hours.  Thank you to Sarah and all the attendees!

Sarah Nicole Dolgen introducing the Paynes

Andrea with attendee, Jessica Reid

ASR was invited to participate in HOPE Artist's Vice for Nice Poker Invitational at Fred Segal Conveyor in Santa Monica, CA.  The store was transformed after hours into a mini-Las Vegas with players crowded around gambling tables, gambling for good!  Hope Artist Founder, Andi Scull Steidle is shown below with Hunter.

Andi's husband, Marine Capt. Brian Steidle, was one of the key influences who inspired Andrea and Hunter's work on behalf of the people of Darfur.  They met Brian at a 2006 traveling art exhibit, "Darfur, Darfur," where Brian shared some of his experiences working as a photojournalist in Southern Sudan and Darfur for the African Union.  Brian's experiences were made into a riveting, heart-wrenching documentary produced by Global Grassroots, "The Devil Came on Horseback."

Good Charlotte vocalist, DJ, actor, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and philanthropist Joel Madden co-hosted the event.  Here he is, strategizing his next move against fellow players, including ASR founder, Hunter Payne.

Thanks to Andi and Joel for a wonderful night of awareness and fun!

Andrea and Hunter attended the ceremony for the Feminist Majority Foundation Global Women's Rights Award at the Beverly Hills Hotel on April 29th.

They had the pleasure of seeing Jay and his wife Mavis there. They first met Jay and Mavis in a parking lot a couple of years ago to talk about what happening in Darfur. Two days later, Jay had George Clooney on the Tonight Show and and they discussed the history of the conflict, giving Darfur its due air time.

Also at the April 29th event, Andrea and Hunter had a run-in with Christiane Amanpour, who  was one of the honorees that night.  She did a CNN special on genocides called "Scream Bloody Murder," in which a clip from ASR's public service announcement with Kobe Bryant was shown [http://www.aidstillrequired.org/media.html].  Check out the link for more on her special:http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/scream.bloody.murder/.

Three minute video and description on why we need to do this.

Village Reforestation & Advancement Initiative

Christiane Amanpour’s documentary on genocide featuring Kobe’s Aid Still Required PSA aired tonight.

Just visited our project village for The Village Reforestation & Advancement Initiative and saw why 40% of the villagers have had to leave.  The center of the village is now one large sand drift.  Some of the houses have been crushed by the sheer weight of the sand.  Other houses have added a second story which now serves as the ground floor.

There is one area of the village which looks normal.  It’s the area on the north end where a break of trees has been planted.

The solution is so simple!

http://www.aidstillrequired.org/media.html

We drove through the desert today in Sudan – and I mean “drove through the desert!”  Seven hours ago we left Khartoum and have been traveling over flat, hot, relentless desert ever since.  Just sand, sand, sand – forever.  How the people  survive here is beyond me.  There’s barely a bush in sight, and no shade from the blasting sun.

Just a few minutes ago, one of our hosts told us that much of this desert was forest just a decade or so ago.  The 40-year drought has really taken a toll.

Along with Derek Fisher, Don Cheadle, and Participant Media, ASR hosted a roundtable discussion for 87 invited celebrities, athletes, and dignitaries.

Aid Still Required is featured in today’s Reuters story “NBA will not gag players competing at Beijing Games”.  Check out NBA Commissioner David Stern voicing his support of the players’ right to free speech.

Reuters

This AP story was picked up around the world by USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Sports Illustrated, International Herald Tribune, CBC, and others.

AP Wire

Always good to have our hometown paper chime in….
LA Times

LeBron joins the chorus! 
Wall Street Journal

This morning ESPN’s Outside The Lines aired an news segment on athletes and activism. LeBron James, who last spring (2007) had declined to sign former Cavalier teammate Ira Newble’s letter from NBA players to the government of China about their policies in  Sudan, has come out voicing strong support for human rights and an intention to mobilize the NBA Olympic team to speak out regarding Darfur and other issues.

Kobe’s Darfur PSA streaming around the world – AOL, Yahoo, and, of course YouTube too…!

Now playing in the hood….!

FSN airs Kobe’s PSA and interviews him about Darfur.

Kobe Bryant’s and Steve Nash’s ASR public service announcements for Darfur are featured along with an ESPN interview with Grant Hill.  The Darfur story is becoming a household issue.

Article on Ira Newble’s and Aid Still Required’s work for Darfur.
NY Times

We've finally launched our Darfur outreach campaign!  And what a launch it was!

Today ESPN featured public service announcements we shot with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash about Darfur, and also interviewed Grant Hill on the subject.

These past few months NBA stars have been speaking out about the Darfur conflict.  Along with Kobe and Steve, ASR shot PSAs with Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza, Luke Walton, Baron Davis, Emeka Okafor, Ira Newble, Eric Snow and Matt Barnes.

These guys are surprisingly focused on Darfur.  Steve Nash said after his shoot, "I'll do anything I can to help that my schedule permits." Derek Fisher is working with us on a Darfur Roundtable event for the summer.  Both Tracy McGrady and Ira Newble took trips a few months ago to visit refugee camps in Chad on the Darfur border.

The Darfur conflict has appeared primarily on Op-Ed pages up to now.   This kind of outreach will help make it a household issue.

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