Lin Manuel Miranda Named to DoSomething.org’s Annual Celebs Gone Good List

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Lin Manuel Miranda has gone good…

DoSomething.org has released its annual Celebs Gone Good list for 2017, with the 37-year-old Puerto Rican Tony Award-winning Broadway star and Hamilton musical creator making the grade.

The list recognizes celebrities who used their impact to affect social change in the world, as these celebs helped raise awareness for causes such as mental health, education, gun violence, LGBTQ, sexual assault, hurricane/disaster relief and the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Miranda, who comes in at No. 12, partnered with a nonprofit, and in November, announced a $2.5 million hurricane recovery fund to help the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

But Miranda isn’t the only Latino/a celebrity to make the list.

Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui comes in at No. 13.

The 21-year-old Cuban American singer has been vocal about women’s rights, and has donated to charitable groups including Chime for Change, ACLU, UNICEF, Planned Parenthood and more.

Jennifer Lopez, who appears on Miranda’s Puerto Rico hurricane relief single, comes in at No. 14.

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican superstar had been vocal about helping the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and in September, she put her money where her mouth is. The singer and actress announced at a press conference with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that she would donate $1 million to help Puerto Rico rebuild.

Demi Lovato comes in at No. 16.

The 25-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress continued her mental health advocacy work this year, which has also earned her the Artistic Award of courage. She also celebrated five years of sobriety by donating thousands to charity, including $5,000 to Ace of Hearts, an animal rescue group.

Bruno Mars ranks No. 20.

The 32-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer donated $1 million from his sold-out Michigan concert in August to help those who have been impacted by the city of Flint’s water crisis. “Ongoing challenges remain years later for Flint residents, and it’s important that we don’t forget our brothers and sisters affected by this disaster,” he said in a statement. “As people, especially as Americans, we need to stand together to make sure something like this never happens in any community ever again.”

The organization also selected eight Celebs to Watch in 2018, featuring young talent who give back, including Riverdale star Camila Mendes.

View the 2017 Celebs Gone Good rankings below:

Chance the Rapper
Colin Kaepernick
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Beyoncé
JJ Watt
Kesha
Yara Shahidi
Zendaya
Bethenny Frankel
Nicki Minaj
Lin Manuel Miranda
Lauren Jauregui
Jennifer Lopez
Shawn Mendes
Demi Lovato
Ava DuVernay
John Legend & Chrissy Teigen
Miley Cyrus
Bruno Mars

Celebs to Watch in 2018

Jacob Sartorius
Skai Jackson
Halima Aden
Camila Mendes
Chloe and Halle
Cameron Boyce
Rowan Blanchard
Kiersey Clemons

Selena Gomez Named Billboard’s 2017 Woman of the Year

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is the belle of the Billboard ball…

The 25-year-old Mexican American singer has been named Billboard’s 2017 Woman of the Year.

Gomez, a two-time Billboard 200 chart-leader will be presented with the award on November 30 at the annual Women in Music dinner and awards gala, held at Los Angeles’ Ray Dolby Ballroom.

Gomez, an award-winning singer, producer and actress, will join an all-star cast of previous Woman of the Year honorees including Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Pink, Katy Perry, Fergie, Beyoncé and last year’s winner, Madonna, who delivered a moving speech that touched on feminism, sexism and much more.

“Not only is Selena soaring on the charts, but she continuously inspires young women everywhere to be authentic, give back and to not be afraid to use their voice,” said John Amato, president of The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group. “She is never afraid to speak her mind and has used her platform to advocate for the needs of others. We are thrilled to be able to honor her as our Woman of the Year.”

Gomez’ career has never been in better shape. In 2015 and 2016, she enjoyed top 10 Billboard Hot 100 smashes with “Same Old Love” and “Hands to Myself” and “We Don’t Talk Anymore.” The trend continues, with hits “Bad Liar,” “Fetish” (featuring Gucci Mane) and “It Ain’t Me” (with Kygo) in the past year.

Five of her albums have cracked the top 10 of the Billboard 200, with the studio albums Revival (2015) and Stars Dance (2013) leading the chart.

Not confined to music, Gomez also executive-produced the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why, launched partnerships with Coach and Puma, and worked tirelessly across various philanthropic endeavors, from the Step Up Foundation to coaching for World Kindness Day, and raising more than $500,000 for the Lupus Research Alliance. Also, Gomez has been an active ambassador for UNICEF since 2009.

The event, held in conjunction with the publication of Billboard’s Women in Music issue, also recognizes the most powerful female executives in the industry. Additional Women in Music honorees will be revealed at a later date.

For the first time, the Women in Music event and a red-carpet pre-show will be broadcast live for on Twitter from 9:00 pm-midnight EST on November 30.

Jennifer Lopez Partners with UNICEF for Special Halloween Fundraiser for Hurricane Maria Relief

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is helping to collect treats this Halloween for the victims of Hurricane Maria…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is enlisting kids in collecting donations through “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.”

Lopez teamed up with UNICEF for the annual fundraiser, which this year asks kids to use the entire month of October, along with Halloween night, to help gather aid for the devastation left by Hurricane Maria.

Donations will go directly to Puerto Rico, J.Lo‘s family’s home island, which still is without electricity more than a month after the storm.

Michelle Centeno, senior officer of humanitarian emergencies and executive communications for UNICEF U.S.A., explained, “While conditions in Puerto Rico remain challenging, UNICEF U.S.A. is there, working to support children and families as they rebuild. The scale of need demands that we all play a role in this ongoing effort, and work closely with partners to put children first.”

Lopez appeared in a UNICEF ad calling for children to help them make a difference, holding up the little box any American can remember receiving when they were younger in public school during the weeks prior to Halloween.

“When you trick-or-treat UNICEF U.S.A, you get to be a hero no matter what your costume is. You get to help save other kids around the world,” Lopez pleaded.

Salma Hayek Partners with UNICEF to Raise Money for the Victims of Mexico’s Recent Earthquakes

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek is doing he part to help her native country…

The 51-year-old Mexican actress and producer’s fundraising efforts for the victims of Mexico’s recent disasters were approaching the $300,000 mark today, a day after she launched the Crowdrise project for UNICEF.

“After the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City,” Hayek says in a video on the Crowdrise page, “I was evacuated from my building. A lot of friends died, including an uncle that was very, very close to me. I have lived through the aftermath of a disaster of this magnitude and it’s horrific.”

Hayek launched the fundraiser with her own $100,000 match contribution.

Media reports today put the death toll at more than 250 following Tuesday’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Mexico City. That disaster was preceded by an 8.1-magnitude earthquake on September 8.

Tuesday’s quake is one of the deadliest since the 1985 earthquake survived by Hayek, which killed more than 5,000 people.

By mid-day today, Hayek’s day-old campaign had raised $288,662.

Both Shawn Mendes and Ricky Martin canceled Mexico City concerts this week, with promises to reschedule.

Other celebrities tweeted their support for Mexico and fundraising pleas, including Guillermo de Toro, pledging that anyone in Mexico who needs to post urgent messages can do so via his account.

Olga Tañon to Receive Legacy Award at the Premios Tu Mundo Awards

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Olga Tañon’s legacy is being celebrated…

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican singer will be honored with the Jenni Rivera Legacy Award at the sixth edition of the Premios Tu Mundo, according to Telemundo.

Tañon, a multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winner, is being recognized for her more than 25 years in music, as well as her philanthropic achievements.

Tañon has used her voice to seek change, serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and lending her talent for charitable causes including benefit songs, “Somos El Mundo,” “El Ultimo Ádios” and “Nuestro Himno.”

On the Billboard charts, Tañon holds the record for most top 10 hits (27 to be exact) for a female artist on the Billboard Tropical Airplay chart.

But Tañon won’t be the night’s only honoree…

The legendary Panamanian-born Spanish singer Miguel Bosé will receive the El Poder en Ti award to honor his “unlimited fame power” that helps thousands of people through different non profit organizations worldwide, such as Fundacion Patrimonio Indigena MX (of which he is president), his Gala SIDA fundraising event in Spain and the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation to fund a full $200,000 scholarship to a Berklee College of Music student pursuing a career in Latin music.

Telemundo will honor TV host Maria Celeste Arraras with the Estrella de Tu Mundo Award in celebration of her 15 years hosting the news show Al Rojo Vivo.

This year, boy band CNCO leads the nominations for the Premios Tu Mundo awards, that will be broadcast live on August 24, 2017 at 8:00 pm.ET from the American Airlines Arena in Miami.

Shakira Receives Humanitarian Award at the World Economic Forum

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira has a crystal heart…

The 39-year-old Colombian superstar, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which provides education for children in Colombia, received a humanitarian award at the World Economic Forum as it kicked off in Davos, Switzerland.

“We should be devastated that, in 2017, there are still 250 million kids under 5 who are still at risk, who will likely be stunted physically and intellectually,” Shakira said in a speech while accepting the WEF’s Crystal Award.

“Now take that in for a second. We’re talking about nearly the population of an entire country the size of the U.S. This is a tragedy for those children and an epic, epic failure for all of us.”

Shakira urged global government, business and academic leaders to advocate for the world’s children.

“We need to apply the brains and strategies of business and the assets and human resources and talents of your companies to do social good and to solve social problems,” she said, speaking passionately in English.

“Today’s babies will drive tomorrow’s business. Their capacity to contribute will shape tomorrow’s societies, will solve tomorrow’s problems.”

The WEF also gave humanitarian awards to violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, whose educational foundation provides scholarships and finances instruments for young musicians, and actor Forest Whitaker, who has worked as an advocate for youth empowerment in violent and impoverished communities.

Shakira Calls for Global Education Reform

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is calling for educational reform globally…

The 39-year-old Colombian superstar and activist appears in a new video calling for action on education.

“Our future generations will surpass our greatest expectations if we give them the tools to do so,” Shakira says in a video for The International Commission on Financing Global Education (also known as The Education Commission), that coincides with its new report on financing global education.

“They have the talent the potential and the power to change the world for the better. But we know that their future will be written by how we act today… Education is their birthright, not a luxury.”

Shakira, whose Pies Descalzos Foundation has built schools in Colombia, is a member of the United Nations commission, alongside current and former heads of state, Nobel laureates and education experts who include Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, former Mexican president Felipe Calderón, and Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of UNICEF.

The Commission’s report calls for national governments to “reform their education systems to maximize learning and efficiency and to ensure that every child has access to quality education, free from pre-primary to secondary levels, through the progressive and sustained increase of domestic financing.”

That amounts to a tripling of the to over three trillion dollars a year by 2030.

Gomez Named Pantene’s Newest Spokesperson

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is tressed to impress…

The 22-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer has been named the newest spokesperson for Pantene.

The new role, which the former Disney Channel star announced on Monday morning via her social media platforms, is her latest endorsement deal.

In the past, Gomez has also worked with brands like Adidas Neo and Kmart, as well as served as a UNICEF ambassador.

In an effort to promote the #SelenaXPantene hashtag, Gomez shared a short promo video and a photos of herself getting the Pantene glam treatment via Instagram, touting her “baby hairs.”

Gomez, one of the most bankable stars in music and film, has a combined 120 million followers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, She’s the latest Latina spokesperson hired by a global beauty brand. Pantene previously hired actress Eva Mendes as its spokesperson in 2011.

Gomez’s appeal transcends her Latina roots, making her a perfect global ambassador.

On the music front, Gomez teased her new single “Good For You” over the weekend, announcing that it will arrive on June 22.

Fonseca Pens Anthem for Change, “Rise Up,” with Jon Batiste

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fonseca is encouraging the masses to rise up…

The 35-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter has partnered with American jazz artist and composer Jon Batiste to co-write “Rise Up,” the theme song to a special one-day summit of the same name.

Fusion, the television and digital company launched as a joint venture between Univision and Disney/ABC Television, will host its first RiseUp summit on November 19 in Washington, D.C.

The one-day event will bring together global activists, artists, politicians and technologists from around the world.

As part of “RiseUp,” Fonseca and Batiste penned the theme song, which is available on iTunes now.

The track is being called an anthem for change (“Stand Up to the world, rise up for what you care,” says the chorus) with jazz and pop influences. All proceeds from the song will be donated to UNICEF.

Fonseca and Batiste will perform “Rise Up” at the summit during an evening concert directed by producer Andres Levin. It will also feature his fusion band, Yerba Buena.

The RiseUp summit will spotlight recent youth-led movements and activism in places as far-flung as Venezuela, Egypt, Taiwan and Turkey.

Shakira Releases First Image of Son

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Following his adorable feet first moment, Shakira’s newborn son Milan Piqué Mebarak is getting his close-up.

“Meet our baby boy Milan,” Shakira tweeted on Monday, along with a link to the digital charity baby shower she’s holding with UNICEF. The singer was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2003.

But don’t look for Shakira in the photo. Instead, baby Milan gets a kiss from his father, FC Barcelona star Gerard Piqué.

Milan was born on January 22, in Barcelona.

Shakira will be back in the public eye soon… She’ll be replacing Christina Aguilera on NBC’s The Voice as a coach this spring. The reality competition returns for its fourth season on March 25.

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