Tag Archives: International Rescue Committee

Rosie Perez to Take Part in “Stars in the House” Telethon to Benefit Victims of the War in Ukraine

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Rosie Perez is helping raise money for the people of the Ukraine…

The 57-year-old Puerto Rican Oscar-nominated actress is among an all-star roster of film, television and theater performers who’ve signed up for a 10-hour telethon to raise money for the victims of the war in Ukraine.

Rosie PerezEntitled “Stars in the House,”the special will air on Saturday, March 26 from noon-10:00 pm Eastern.

In addition to Perez, the other celebrities scheduled to appear on the telethon include Steve Martin, Annette Bening, Billy Porter, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Chenoweth, David Hyde Pierce, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin, as well as Tituss Burgess, Kelli O’Hara, Donna Murphy, Annaleigh Ashford, Jessie Mueller, Josh Groban, Judith Light, John Stamos, Lindsay Mendez, Laura Benanti, Norman Lear, Betty Buckley, Mandy Patinkin, Rachel Bloom, Patrick Wilson, Shoshana Bean, James Monroe Iglehart, Brittney Johnson, Santino Fontana, Judy Kuhn and Norbert Leo Butz.

The event also hopes to feature Ukrainians, including Oleg Karpenko, a Ukrainian theater and film actor who co-starred with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Servant of the People.

The special can be viewed and listened to on the series’ site, the Stars in the House YouTube channel, as well as SiriusXM Stars109.

Donations made during the event will benefit the International Rescue Committee and its humanitarian efforts for those affected by the war in Ukraine.

Stars in the House is a live-streamed concert series created by SiriusXM Broadway host Seth Rudetsky and producer James Wesley that has raised over $1 million for the Actors Fund’s COVID-19 relief program and other nonprofits.

It’s just one way the theater community has tried to help Ukrainians: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS awarded $300,000 in emergency grants to ameliorate the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and a portion of ticket sales for “The Minutes” will go to Save the Children’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.

Mendes Appearing in PBS’ “Half the Sky” Women’s Issues Series

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Eva Mendes is hoping her recent visit to Sierra Leone will help shine a spotlight on the serious issues affecting girls and women across the globe.

The 38-year-old Cuban-American actress’ trip to the West African nation is all part of a special PBS series based on the best-selling book by the husband-wife team of Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.

Eva Mendes

The new series introduces Mendes and other celebrities, including America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde to women and girls living under harsh circumstances, ranging from maternal death to prostitution.

Mendes, who will be starring in HBO’s Clear History with Larry David, kicks off the four-hour series – airing October 1 and 2 at 9:00 pm ET on PBS – with her visit to Sierra Leone, where she meets with activist Amie Kandeh, a survivor of gender-based violence working with the International Rescue Committee to help other survivors toward safe, productive futures.

“I knew I was in for a life-changing experience,” Mendes says of participating in the project. “This experience has profoundly affected me. I was so shocked and saddened to learn the extent of gender-based violence taking place in Sierra Leone every day and that trip has made me want to be a part of the solution.”

Canela & Feliciano Join Voices for “Aleluya”…

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Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” has been released as an official cover by some 200 artists in various languages… And, now Jencarlos Canela is lending his voice to the song, with an assist from a living legend.

The 23-year-old Cuban-American singer/actor has released a Spanish version of “Hallelujah” with the one-and-only José Feliciano, along with a video of the two performing the song in Miami.

Jencarlos Canela

“For me, it’s an honor that the master José Feliciano has me given the opportunity to record a duet with him,” says Canela, who is best known for playing the lead in the telenovelas Más Sabe el Diablo and Mi Corazón Insiste. “It;s a dream come true. Everyone has listened to the music of this talented man who is considered a musical legend. I hope the public will enjoy it as much as we have.”

Entitled “Aleluya,” the acoustic version of the hymn captures the heartfelt message about celebrating life. The video is quite moving, showcasing Canela and the 66-year-old Puerto Rican legend strumming their guitars.

The single will be the official anthem for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the group’s efforts to help child refugees in Haiti. Canela is an official spokesperson for the organization and had lent his voice to the cause.