[NEWS] KATY PERRY AND CHRISTINA AGUILERA RAISE MONEY FOR LGBT

London, Dec 7 (PTI) Pop stars Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera and Steven Tyler are raising money for homeless gay youngsters by donating prizes to Cyndi Lauper''s winter charity auction.

Perry has handed over an autographed Baby Taylor acoustic guitar, Aguilera is offering up two tickets to a taping of ''The Voice'' in April, and Tyler is inviting a fan to meet him on the set of American Idol, reported Contactmusic.

Money raised from the Charity Buzz auctions will benefit Lauper''s True Colors Fund, which helps young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people suffering tough times.

Lauper, a longtime advocate for gay rights, has also donated an evening of her time - she''s promised to take her winning bidder bowling in New York City.

Source: MSN

[PAY IT FORWARD] HILLARY CLINTON'S HISTORIC HUMAN RIGHTS FIGHT FOR FREE AND EQUAL DIGNITIES AND RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE

Every Straight, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Asexual persons should 'Share' this spectacular, groundbreaking message to people everywhere in every community, in every city, in every region, in every state, in every country, in every fashion to effectively reach those for and against free and equal dignities and rights.

The following is a transcript of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Human Rights Day speech, delivered today in Geneva. Text posted with permission from the White House Office of Communications:

Good evening, and let me express my deep honor and pleasure at being here. I want to thank Director General Tokayev and Ms. Wyden along with other ministers, ambassadors, excellencies, and UN partners. This weekend, we will celebrate Human Rights Day, the anniversary of one of the great accomplishments of the last century.

Beginning in 1947, delegates from six continents devoted themselves to drafting a declaration that would enshrine the fundamental rights and freedoms of people everywhere. In the aftermath of World War II, many nations pressed for a statement of this kind to help ensure that we would prevent future atrocities and protect the inherent humanity and dignity of all people. And so the delegates went to work. They discussed, they wrote, they revisited, revised, rewrote, for thousands of hours. And they incorporated suggestions and revisions from governments, organizations, and individuals around the world.

At three o'clock in the morning on December 10th, 1948, after nearly two years of drafting and one last long night of debate, the president of the UN General Assembly called for a vote on the final text. Forty-eight nations voted in favor; eight abstained; none dissented. And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. It proclaims a simple, powerful idea: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. And with the declaration, it was made clear that rights are not conferred by government; they are the birthright of all people. It does not matter what country we live in, who our leaders are, or even who we are. Because we are human, we therefore have rights. And because we have rights, governments are bound to protect them.

In the 63 years since the declaration was adopted, many nations have made great progress in making human rights a human reality. Step by step, barriers that once prevented people from enjoying the full measure of liberty, the full experience of dignity, and the full benefits of humanity have fallen away. In many places, racist laws have been repealed, legal and social practices that relegated women to second-class status have been abolished, the ability of religious minorities to practice their faith freely has been secured.

In most cases, this progress was not easily won. People fought and organized and campaigned in public squares and private spaces to change not only laws, but hearts and minds. And thanks to that work of generations, for millions of individuals whose lives were once narrowed by injustice, they are now able to live more freely and to participate more fully in the political, economic, and social lives of their communities.

Now, there is still, as you all know, much more to be done to secure that commitment, that reality, and progress for all people. Today, I want to talk about the work we have left to do to protect one group of people whose human rights are still denied in too many parts of the world today. In many ways, they are an invisible minority. They are arrested, beaten, terrorized, even executed. Many are treated with contempt and violence by their fellow citizens while authorities empowered to protect them look the other way or, too often, even join in the abuse. They are denied opportunities to work and learn, driven from their homes and countries, and forced to suppress or deny who they are to protect themselves from harm.

I am talking about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, human beings born free and given bestowed equality and dignity, who have a right to claim that, which is now one of the remaining human rights challenges of our time. I speak about this subject knowing that my own country's record on human rights for gay people is far from perfect. Until 2003, it was still a crime in parts of our country. Many LGBT Americans have endured violence and harassment in their own lives, and for some, including many young people, bullying and exclusion are daily experiences. So we, like all nations, have more work to do to protect human rights at home.

Now, raising this issue, I know, is sensitive for many people and that the obstacles standing in the way of protecting the human rights of LGBT people rest on deeply held personal, political, cultural, and religious beliefs. So I come here before you with respect, understanding, and humility. Even though progress on this front is not easy, we cannot delay acting. So in that spirit, I want to talk about the difficult and important issues we must address together to reach a global consensus that recognizes the human rights of LGBT citizens everywhere.

The first issue goes to the heart of the matter. Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct; but, in fact, they are one and the same. Now, of course, 60 years ago, the governments that drafted and passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were not thinking about how it applied to the LGBT community. They also weren’t thinking about how it applied to indigenous people or children or people with disabilities or other marginalized groups. Yet in the past 60 years, we have come to recognize that members of these groups are entitled to the full measure of dignity and rights, because, like all people, they share a common humanity.

This recognition did not occur all at once. It evolved over time. And as it did, we understood that we were honoring rights that people always had, rather than creating new or special rights for them. Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less human. And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.

It is violation of human rights when people are beaten or killed because of their sexual orientation, or because they do not conform to cultural norms about how men and women should look or behave. It is a violation of human rights when governments declare it illegal to be gay, or allow those who harm gay people to go unpunished. It is a violation of human rights when lesbian or transgendered women are subjected to so-called corrective rape, or forcibly subjected to hormone treatments, or when people are murdered after public calls for violence toward gays, or when they are forced to flee their nations and seek asylum in other lands to save their lives. And it is a violation of human rights when life-saving care is withheld from people because they are gay, or equal access to justice is denied to people because they are gay, or public spaces are out of bounds to people because they are gay. No matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we are, we are all equally entitled to our human rights and dignity.

The second issue is a question of whether homosexuality arises from a particular part of the world. Some seem to believe it is a Western phenomenon, and therefore people outside the West have grounds to reject it. Well, in reality, gay people are born into and belong to every society in the world. They are all ages, all races, all faiths; they are doctors and teachers, farmers and bankers, soldiers and athletes; and whether we know it, or whether we acknowledge it, they are our family, our friends, and our neighbors.

Being gay is not a Western invention; it is a human reality. And protecting the human rights of all people, gay or straight, is not something that only Western governments do. South Africa’s constitution, written in the aftermath of Apartheid, protects the equality of all citizens, including gay people. In Colombia and Argentina, the rights of gays are also legally protected. In Nepal, the supreme court has ruled that equal rights apply to LGBT citizens. The Government of Mongolia has committed to pursue new legislation that will tackle anti-gay discrimination.

Now, some worry that protecting the human rights of the LGBT community is a luxury that only wealthy nations can afford. But in fact, in all countries, there are costs to not protecting these rights, in both gay and straight lives lost to disease and violence, and the silencing of voices and views that would strengthen communities, in ideas never pursued by entrepreneurs who happen to be gay. Costs are incurred whenever any group is treated as lesser or the other, whether they are women, racial, or religious minorities, or the LGBT. Former President Mogae of Botswana pointed out recently that for as long as LGBT people are kept in the shadows, there cannot be an effective public health program to tackle HIV and AIDS. Well, that holds true for other challenges as well.

The third, and perhaps most challenging, issue arises when people cite religious or cultural values as a reason to violate or not to protect the human rights of LGBT citizens. This is not unlike the justification offered for violent practices towards women like honor killings, widow burning, or female genital mutilation. Some people still defend those practices as part of a cultural tradition. But violence toward women isn't cultural; it's criminal. Likewise with slavery, what was once justified as sanctioned by God is now properly reviled as an unconscionable violation of human rights.

In each of these cases, we came to learn that no practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us. And this holds true for inflicting violence on LGBT people, criminalizing their status or behavior, expelling them from their families and communities, or tacitly or explicitly accepting their killing.

Of course, it bears noting that rarely are cultural and religious traditions and teachings actually in conflict with the protection of human rights. Indeed, our religion and our culture are sources of compassion and inspiration toward our fellow human beings. It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it. And let us keep in mind that our commitments to protect the freedom of religion and to defend the dignity of LGBT people emanate from a common source. For many of us, religious belief and practice is a vital source of meaning and identity, and fundamental to who we are as people. And likewise, for most of us, the bonds of love and family that we forge are also vital sources of meaning and identity. And caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human. It is because the human experience is universal that human rights are universal and cut across all religions and cultures.

The fourth issue is what history teaches us about how we make progress towards rights for all. Progress starts with honest discussion. Now, there are some who say and believe that all gay people are pedophiles, that homosexuality is a disease that can be caught or cured, or that gays recruit others to become gay. Well, these notions are simply not true. They are also unlikely to disappear if those who promote or accept them are dismissed out of hand rather than invited to share their fears and concerns. No one has ever abandoned a belief because he was forced to do so.

Universal human rights include freedom of expression and freedom of belief, even if our words or beliefs denigrate the humanity of others. Yet, while we are each free to believe whatever we choose, we cannot do whatever we choose, not in a world where we protect the human rights of all.

Reaching understanding of these issues takes more than speech. It does take a conversation. In fact, it takes a constellation of conversations in places big and small. And it takes a willingness to see stark differences in belief as a reason to begin the conversation, not to avoid it.

But progress comes from changes in laws. In many places, including my own country, legal protections have preceded, not followed, broader recognition of rights. Laws have a teaching effect. Laws that discriminate validate other kinds of discrimination. Laws that require equal protections reinforce the moral imperative of equality. And practically speaking, it is often the case that laws must change before fears about change dissipate.

Many in my country thought that President Truman was making a grave error when he ordered the racial desegregation of our military. They argued that it would undermine unit cohesion. And it wasn't until he went ahead and did it that we saw how it strengthened our social fabric in ways even the supporters of the policy could not foresee. Likewise, some worried in my country that the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don’t Tell” would have a negative effect on our armed forces. Now, the Marine Corps Commandant, who was one of the strongest voices against the repeal, says that his concerns were unfounded and that the Marines have embraced the change.

Finally, progress comes from being willing to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. We need to ask ourselves, "How would it feel if it were a crime to love the person I love? How would it feel to be discriminated against for something about myself that I cannot change?" This challenge applies to all of us as we reflect upon deeply held beliefs, as we work to embrace tolerance and respect for the dignity of all persons, and as we engage humbly with those with whom we disagree in the hope of creating greater understanding.

A fifth and final question is how we do our part to bring the world to embrace human rights for all people including LGBT people. Yes, LGBT people must help lead this effort, as so many of you are. Their knowledge and experiences are invaluable and their courage inspirational. We know the names of brave LGBT activists who have literally given their lives for this cause, and there are many more whose names we will never know. But often those who are denied rights are least empowered to bring about the changes they seek. Acting alone, minorities can never achieve the majorities necessary for political change.

So when any part of humanity is sidelined, the rest of us cannot sit on the sidelines. Every time a barrier to progress has fallen, it has taken a cooperative effort from those on both sides of the barrier. In the fight for women’s rights, the support of men remains crucial. The fight for racial equality has relied on contributions from people of all races. Combating Islamaphobia or anti-Semitism is a task for people of all faiths. And the same is true with this struggle for equality.

Conversely, when we see denials and abuses of human rights and fail to act, that sends the message to those deniers and abusers that they won’t suffer any consequences for their actions, and so they carry on. But when we do act, we send a powerful moral message. Right here in Geneva, the international community acted this year to strengthen a global consensus around the human rights of LGBT people. At the Human Rights Council in March, 85 countries from all regions supported a statement calling for an end to criminalization and violence against people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

At the following session of the Council in June, South Africa took the lead on a resolution about violence against LGBT people. The delegation from South Africa spoke eloquently about their own experience and struggle for human equality and its indivisibility. When the measure passed, it became the first-ever UN resolution recognizing the human rights of gay people worldwide. In the Organization of American States this year, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights created a unit on the rights of LGBT people, a step toward what we hope will be the creation of a special rapporteur.

Now, we must go further and work here and in every region of the world to galvanize more support for the human rights of the LGBT community. To the leaders of those countries where people are jailed, beaten, or executed for being gay, I ask you to consider this: Leadership, by definition, means being out in front of your people when it is called for. It means standing up for the dignity of all your citizens and persuading your people to do the same. It also means ensuring that all citizens are treated as equals under your laws, because let me be clear – I am not saying that gay people can’t or don’t commit crimes. They can and they do, just like straight people. And when they do, they should be held accountable, but it should never be a crime to be gay.

And to people of all nations, I say supporting human rights is your responsibility too. The lives of gay people are shaped not only by laws, but by the treatment they receive every day from their families, from their neighbors. Eleanor Roosevelt, who did so much to advance human rights worldwide, said that these rights begin in the small places close to home – the streets where people live, the schools they attend, the factories, farms, and offices where they work. These places are your domain. The actions you take, the ideals that you advocate, can determine whether human rights flourish where you are.

And finally, to LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this: Wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone. People around the globe are working hard to support you and to bring an end to the injustices and dangers you face. That is certainly true for my country. And you have an ally in the United States of America and you have millions of friends among the American people.

The Obama Administration defends the human rights of LGBT people as part of our comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign policy. In our embassies, our diplomats are raising concerns about specific cases and laws, and working with a range of partners to strengthen human rights protections for all. In Washington, we have created a task force at the State Department to support and coordinate this work. And in the coming months, we will provide every embassy with a toolkit to help improve their efforts. And we have created a program that offers emergency support to defenders of human rights for LGBT people.

This morning, back in Washington, President Obama put into place the first U.S. Government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad. Building on efforts already underway at the State Department and across the government, the President has directed all U.S. Government agencies engaged overseas to combat the criminalization of LGBT status and conduct, to enhance efforts to protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, to ensure that our foreign assistance promotes the protection of LGBT rights, to enlist international organizations in the fight against discrimination, and to respond swiftly to abuses against LGBT persons.

I am also pleased to announce that we are launching a new Global Equality Fund that will support the work of civil society organizations working on these issues around the world. This fund will help them record facts so they can target their advocacy, learn how to use the law as a tool, manage their budgets, train their staffs, and forge partnerships with women’s organizations and other human rights groups. We have committed more than $3 million to start this fund, and we have hope that others will join us in supporting it.

The women and men who advocate for human rights for the LGBT community in hostile places, some of whom are here today with us, are brave and dedicated, and deserve all the help we can give them. We know the road ahead will not be easy. A great deal of work lies before us. But many of us have seen firsthand how quickly change can come. In our lifetimes, attitudes toward gay people in many places have been transformed. Many people, including myself, have experienced a deepening of our own convictions on this topic over the years, as we have devoted more thought to it, engaged in dialogues and debates, and established personal and professional relationships with people who are gay.

This evolution is evident in many places. To highlight one example, the Delhi High Court decriminalized homosexuality in India two years ago, writing, and I quote, “If there is one tenet that can be said to be an underlying theme of the Indian constitution, it is inclusiveness.” There is little doubt in my mind that support for LGBT human rights will continue to climb. Because for many young people, this is simple: All people deserve to be treated with dignity and have their human rights respected, no matter who they are or whom they love.

There is a phrase that people in the United States invoke when urging others to support human rights: “Be on the right side of history.” The story of the United States is the story of a nation that has repeatedly grappled with intolerance and inequality. We fought a brutal civil war over slavery. People from coast to coast joined in campaigns to recognize the rights of women, indigenous peoples, racial minorities, children, people with disabilities, immigrants, workers, and on and on. And the march toward equality and justice has continued. Those who advocate for expanding the circle of human rights were and are on the right side of history, and history honors them. Those who tried to constrict human rights were wrong, and history reflects that as well.

I know that the thoughts I’ve shared today involve questions on which opinions are still evolving. As it has happened so many times before, opinion will converge once again with the truth, the immutable truth, that all persons are created free and equal in dignity and rights. We are called once more to make real the words of the Universal Declaration. Let us answer that call. Let us be on the right side of history, for our people, our nations, and future generations, whose lives will be shaped by the work we do today. I come before you with great hope and confidence that no matter how long the road ahead, we will travel it successfully together. Thank you very much.

Source: HuffingtonPost

[TWEET] @THEREALXTINA: 'SUPPORTING ASHLEY WHO LOST BEST FRIEND TO LEUKEMIA...'

[CLICK THE SCREENSHOT TO FOLLOW THE LINK]

[TWITVID] @THEREALXTINA: 'HERE'S MY NEW @WLDHUNGERRELIEF PSA FOR @YUMBRANDS!'

[SMART-PHONE FRIENDLY]

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA LENDS POWERFUL VOICE FOR WORLD HUNGER RELIEF THIS SEPTEMBER

MUMBAI: Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company and parent of KFC and Pizza Hut, announced that multi-Grammy Award winner and pop superstar Christina Aguilera is giving hunger a powerful voice by filming a new Public Service Announcement for the Company’s World Hunger Relief effort that benefits the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies.



Yum! Brands’ annual fall World Hunger Relief effort is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief initiative, spanning 110 countries, approximately 38,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants and more than one million employees, to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds for WFP and others. Consumers can visit www.FromHungertoHope.com or donate in the restaurants this fall.



There are nearly 1 billion hungry people around the world today. Hunger and malnutrition are the number one risk to health worldwide – greater than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Among the key causes of hunger are natural disasters, conflict, poverty, poor agricultural infrastructure and over–exploitation of the environment. Despite significant economic progress in the past decade, India is home to about 25 percent of the world's hungry poor.



“As a mother, the idea that even one child could go to bed hungry is unacceptable and that's why I'm so passionate about fighting global hunger. I'm excited about my new PSA for World Hunger Relief and hope it will raise more awareness about the issue and move millions of people from hunger to hope." said Christina Aguilera, the global ambassador for “Yum! Brands World Hunger Relief effort.



Christina has served as global spokesperson for Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief effort since 2009 where her participation has helped raise nearly $50 million for WFP and other hunger relief agencies. She also serves as an “Ambassador Against Hunger” for WFP where she has traveled on relief trips with the organization.



“The fact that India alone is the home to a quarter of the world’s undernourished population is disheartening. Every year through various awareness and fund raising initiatives across the country, we address this grave issue. In 2010 we raised Rs 1 crore through our brands Pizza Hut, PHD, KFC and Taco Bell and every rupee raised was directed towards United Nations Food Program’s operations for fighting hunger in India. This year we aim to make the initiative bigger through on-ground events and even the digital media.” said Niren Chaudhary, Managing Director - India at Yum! Brands.



In an attempt to make this initiative bigger and stronger, the Yum! family in India will once again come together this September to spread the awareness and generate funds to help more families across the country to lead a more healthy life.



Since World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, Yum! has collected nearly $85 million, more than one million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than 21 million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has helped WFP and other hunger relief organizations to provide over 350 million meals and save the lives of millions of people in remote corners of the world.



WFP is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.



Source: Radio&Music

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA RECORDS LULLABY FOR YUM BRANDS HUNGER RELIEF CAMPAIGN

As famine ravages Africa, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Christina Aguilera has a new video geared to helping the fight against world hunger.

It will show her singing a lullaby to a group of children with lyrics that stress the need to care about people who don’t have enough to eat.

The video stems from Aguilera’s work as a global spokeswoman for YUM! Brands Inc., which owns thousands of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants worldwide. The company set up the public-service video, scheduled to air on U.S. television beginning in September, as part of its 4-year-old campaign against world hunger.

“After I had my son, Max, I knew I wanted to get involved in causes that help children,” said Aguilera by e-mail about her 3-year-old son. “When I learned how millions of children go to bed hungry, my only response was, ‘What can I do to help?’”

Aguilera, a spokeswoman for YUM Brands’ World Hunger Relief program since 2009, said, “We tried to incorporate a classic lullaby but give it a new twist.” The company declined to provide a title or lyrics for the song.

Aguilera has sold about 50 million albums worldwide and has served as a co-star and coach on NBC’s “The Voice.” Since joining Yum Brands’ efforts, the 30-year-old Staten Island, New York, native has helped the company raise about $50 million. Proceeds go to the United Nations World Food Programme.

She will also appear in KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell ads promoting the hunger-relief campaign. “Christina is an incredible humanitarian,” Jonathan Blum, a YUM Brands senior vice president in Louisville, Kentucky, said by phone. “She’s using her status to create awareness for hunger relief.”

FAST-FOOD EMPIRE

The company is one of the world’s largest restaurant operators, with 38,000 outlets in 110 countries. Its Harvest program has donated more than $500 million of food to the hungry in the U.S.

Since launching its World Hunger Relief initiative in 2007, it has raised about $85 million for the World Food Programme and other relief organizations, Blum said. As part of her ambassadorial work, Aguilera traveled to Haiti last year after the January earthquake to observe hunger- relief efforts firsthand, Blum said.

“In order to effect great change, we need to look at how we can help those in our own communities as well as globally,” Aguilera said. “We take food for granted, but it isn’t a luxury for many people.”

Source: Boomberg

[VIDEO] CHRISTINA AGUILERA MAKES AN APPEAL FOR THE HORN OF AFRICA

[SMART-PHONE FRIENDLY]
World Food Programme:

With famine in southern Somalia and more than 13 million people in desperate need of food assistance in the region, countless lives hang in the balance. Just 50 US cents per day is enough to feed a hungry child or mother on the edge of survival.

We urgently need more resources to expand our emergency relief operation.

TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE CLICK HERE

[PAY IT FORWARD] LOOKING FOR A CURE FOR LEUKEMIA, IN HONOR OF AYDIN

One thing that is truly admirable about Christina Aguilera is that she gives back with her devotion to several causes i.e. domestic abuse, world hunger, etc. Not only that, her music and message have helped us get through some of the most difficult times. So we should continue this trend and take a note from Miss Christina, herself, to help those in need.

I have made this page in honour of my nephew Aydin Hassan who has been diagnosed with Leukemia. Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of white blood cells. Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases. In turn, it is part of the even broader group of diseases called hematological neoplasms. In 2000, approximately 256,000 children and adults around the world developed some form of leukemia, and 209,000 died from it. About 90% of all leukemia is diagnosed in adults. Aydin is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. He is a fighter and we all hope and prey he will overcome this to live a long, happy and healthy life. Just last week he decided to get a jug and ask for gold coin donations to give to charity for others in need. This amazed us, the idea coming from a 6 year old! I wanted to help Aydin out, so created this page to collect small donations for him to put towards the Leukaemia Foundation. Donations can be made at http://www.everydayhero.com.au/zerin_hassan Or to me in person or paypal. 100% of all donations will be going to the Leukeamia Foundation. Thanks for supporting my page. Will keep you all updated on Aydins progress. Much love Aunty Zizi Zerin xx

Please support this cause and 'LIKE' Aydin's Leukemia Page on Facebook. More information included.

[PAY IT FORWARD] HELP THOSE IN NEED, PREVENT SUICIDE, IN HONOR OF ZACH

Christina Aguilera has truly inspired us all with her music and has helped most of us get through the most trying times and has helped us overcome many obstacles and continues to do so for us. It's time we as fans start paying it forward and help someone in need.

On April 8, 2011 we lost our son Zachary. While we are deeply saddened by his early departure to Heaven it is our hope that through discussion, links, articles and input from others we can help those in need.

According to the CDC, Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-old Americans and 1 in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 take their lives each year. It's time we stop judging and pointing fingers at families who lose their loved ones to suicide and open our arms, eyes and hearts to this epidemic.

This group is open to everyone.

Please note* We are NOT professional therapists or grief counselors! We are only here to provide articles and resources we have found to be helpful in dealing with our own grief.


If you or someone you know is considering suicide - PLEASE seek PROFESSIONAL HELP IMMEDIATELY! Call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255

Please FOLLOW THIS LINK and "LIKE" Zach'sFriends.org Facebook Page and Pay It Forward.

[PHOTOS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA BEING HONORED AT VARIETY LUNCHEON

[NEWS] CHRISTINA WILL BE HONORED TODAY AT VARIETY'S FIRST ANNUAL 'POWER OF WOMEN'

Multi-Grammy Award winner and pop superstar Christina Aguilera will be honored today at Variety’s first annual Power of Women luncheon for her philanthropic efforts to fight hunger as global spokesperson for Yum! Brands, KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell’s annual World Hunger Relief campaign (http://www.fromhungertohope.com). Variety is recognizing Aguilera, along with seven other of Hollywood’s most philanthropically impactful women in entertainment, who through her efforts, has made a significant difference to the World Hunger Relief campaign.



The goal of Variety’s Power of Women is to honor high profile women, such as Christina Aguilera, in order to inspire and empower women everywhere to get involved and give back. Christina will be honored specifically for her work with Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief effort. The exclusive luncheon will host four-hundred invite-only guests made up of Hollywood insiders and talent, to celebrate, support and pay tribute to Aguilera and others in the entertainment industry for utilizing their positions to further awareness and affect change for various charitable causes.



"As a mom, I can’t accept that even one child could go hungry or that a child dies every six seconds from hunger. That’s why I’m so passionate about this cause,” said Aguilera. "World Hunger Relief makes a huge difference by providing relief for millions of hungry people, especially schoolchildren in developing countries. I hope by lending my voice to this cause I can raise awareness and move millions of people and children from hunger to hope,” added Aguilera.



"We congratulate Christina for her recognition at Variety’s Power of Women for her passion to fight world hunger,” said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. "We are thankful for Christina’s partnership to help us raise attention to the critical hunger issue and save millions of lives.”



Yum! Brands’ annual World Hunger Relief campaign is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief effort, spanning 110 countries, 36,000 KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food restaurants and over one million employees, to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies.



Aguilera is raising awareness of the hunger issue by appearing in the World Hunger Relief campaign’s new global public service announcement and advertisement, made possible by KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, that will start airing at the end of September. The black and white PSA captures Aguilera, accompanied by a guitarist, attracting a crowd on a busy corner in Los Angeles as she sings Beautiful to raise money for hunger relief. Graphics illustrate that everyone can do something to help, "all it takes is a dollar and you, hope is in your hands.” The new :15, :30 and :60 second PSA was created by DraftFCB in Chicago, directed by the award-winning Phil Joanou and edited by Beast in Los Angeles.



Aguilera will also appear in World Hunger Relief restaurant posters with the quote, "Together, we have the power to save lives and go from hunger to hope” and online efforts, including the campaign’s web site FromHungertoHope.com. Consumers can log on to FromHungertoHope.com or go to any KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s or A&W All-American Food restaurant to donate (no purchase necessary).



Global hunger has reached epic proportions this year – with more than 1 billion hungry people around the world – due to the convergence of the global economic slowdown; high food prices; increased competition for products that produce energy; severe droughts and floods due to climate change; and increasing demand from growing economies in Asia and South America.



World Hunger Relief kicks off its month-long campaign in the U.S. starting Sept. 24 (Long John Silver’s/A&W All-American Food), Sept. 27 (Pizza Hut), Sept. 28 (KFC) and Oct. 8 (Taco Bell). The Yum! Foundation will be covering WFP’s administrative fee so that funds collected online and at its restaurants will go directly towards feeding poor school children in the developing world and helping villages become self-sustainable. Every U.S. dollar raised will provide four meals for hungry children.



Since World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, more than 1 million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than 9 million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has raised $36 million for WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide approximately 160 million meals and save the lives of about 4 million people in remote corners of the world.



Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYSE:YUM) based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants, with more than 36,000 restaurants in over 110 countries and territories. The company is ranked #239 on the Fortune 500 List, with revenues in excess of $11 billion in 2008. Four of the Company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s – are the global leaders of the chicken, pizza, Mexican–style food and quick–service seafood categories, respectively. Outside the United States, the Yum! Brands system opened more than four new restaurants each day of the year, making it a leader in international retail development. The company has consistently been recognized for its reward and recognition culture, diversity leadership, community giving, and consistent shareholder returns.



Christina Aguilera is one of the most successful recording artists of the past decade, selling more than 42 million records worldwide. Aguilera’s 1999 self–titled debut album spawned three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Aguilera has won four GRAMMY Awards and one Latin GRAMMY Award.



WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, and the United Nations’ frontline agency for hunger solutions. In 2009, WFP aims to feed 108 million people in 74 countries.

[PHOTOS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA SEES HUNGER FIRST-HAND IN GUATEMALA

Source: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Date: 23 Sep 2009

Wanting to see the impact of hunger with her own eyes, the Grammy award-winning artist recently traveled to Guatemala and met some of the beneficiaries of WFP's nutrition programs there. For Aguilera, it was an unforgettable experience.

GUATEMALA CITY - Christina Aguilera just wanted to hug the young woman she met in a Guatemalan village: Concepción, 25 years old, her little daughter clinging to her legs, a second baby on the way.

Concepción was standing in a dirt floor hut, smoke filling the room from a wooden stove. She has no job, no money, her husband has just left her. She said the only food she receives is from WFP.

Aguilera explained: "I wanted to see with my own eyes what hunger means. As a mom my heart just breaks when I see how young mothers like Concepción struggle to feed their children. I don't think I can ever forget these images," the music superstar added.

Rampant malnutrition

Aguilera and her husband Jordan Bratman traveled with WFP to villages in the Guatemalan highlands near Lake Atitlan, where up to 80 percent of the indigenous children are malnourished. Guatemala has the fourth highest child malnutrition rate in the world.

"The people of WFP do such a great job helping hungry children and mothers,"said Aguilera. "I'm thankful for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful project and incredible team." Her husband added: "This trip was a life-changing experience".

WFP brings life-saving food assistance to some 350,000 people in Guatemala – mostly women and children. It works closely with the Guatemalan government to battle chronic hunger.

"Keep feeding children"

"WFP urgently needs donations to keep feeding some 150,000 women and undernourished children – I want to raise awareness and open people's eyes so they can get the funds they need to keep on working," said Aguilera.

Many of the children Aguilera saw were much shorter than normal for their age - a consequence of not getting enough healthy food at an early age.

"One of the biggest lessons I'm taking away from this trip is the importance of healthy food. If a child under two doesn't get the nutrients they need, we can never fix the damage later on," the singer said.

[VIDEOS] 'FROM HUNGER TO HOPE' PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT'S + MAKING THE PSA

:60 PSA

[SMART-PHONE FRIENDLY]

:30 PSA

[SMART-PHONE FRIENDLY]

MAKING OF PSA

[SMART-PHONE FRIENDLY]

Cannot wait to see them on TV!

Click Link to view them from the official site.

http://www.fromhungertohope.com./PSA/default.asp

[PHILANTHROPY] FROM HUNGER TO HOPE, DONATE $1

Hey Everyone,

I'm Glad to hear Christina is the Globalspokeperson for "From Hunger to Hope". She is going to Inform the world about how we can make a difference by donating $1 to feed a child.

I just finished Donating money, enough to feed a child for an entire academic school year. (sounds like alot?) it isnt its only $50 dollars to feed a child for an entire year. I was going to spend the money on something i really dont need. I feel good about myself and i know a child is going to live because i wasnt selfish.

Donate $1 dollar, it seems like nothing but to some, its more than you think, one dollar will feed 4children.

Here is what you can do to help the cause.

#1 – Help the Movement: Donate now and save lives
#2 – Grow the Movement: Spread the word with friends and family.
#3 – Be the Movement: Volunteer for a hunger relief organization in your local community.

Click here to Donate!

[NEWS] PEREZ HILTON ON CHRISTINA: 'LOOKING GOOD, DOING GOOD'

This is what he had to say:

"We like it when celebs go all crazy wild at parties and events, but we love it when they actually do good. Okay, we like the crazy more!

Recently, we mentioned how Christina Aguilera was starting to bequite the humanitarian.

Xtina was even named the global spokesperson for the World Hunger Relief organization!

And she's already working hard to help raise awareness for the cause.

Just yesterday she took to the streets of Hollywood to film a PSA for the From Hunger To Hope campaign, which is scheduled to air nationally this fall.

Thankfully, she decided to leave her trannylicious makeup at home.

Well, most of it at least."- PEREZHILTON

Source: PerezHilton

[PHILANTHROPY] AGUILERA RAISES AWARENESS OF HUNGER ISSUE

Aguilera Raises Awareness of Hunger Issue by Appearing in PSA, Advertising, Posters and Online Campaign

Louisville, KY, July 15, 2009 – Yum! Brands announced today that five-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera is giving hunger a powerful voice by becoming the global spokesperson for World Hunger Relief. Aguilera will help raise awareness of the hunger issue this fall by appearing in a new public service announcement, advertising and posters made possible by KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. She will also get the message out by appearing on the World Hunger Relief web site, FromHungertoHope.com, and in other online hunger relief efforts.

Global hunger has reached epic proportions this year with more than 1 billion people starving around the world due to the convergence of the global economic slowdown; high food prices; increased competition for products that produce energy; severe droughts and floods due to climate change; and increasing demand from growing economies in Asia and South America.
“It’s unacceptable a child dies every six seconds somewhere around the world from hunger,” said Aguilera. “By lending my voice for World Hunger Relief, I hope to raise awareness about the issue and move people from hunger to hope.”

Yum! Brands annual World Hunger Relief campaign is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief effort to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds to benefit the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies. More than 36,000 company and franchised KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food restaurants located in more than 110 countries participate in the World Hunger Relief.

“We are extremely excited about Christina’s passion to join the fight against hunger,” said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. “Christina’s global iconic status will raise tremendous attention to this critical issue, and more importantly, will save millions of lives.”

Since the World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, more than one million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than nine million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. The effort has raised $36 million for the WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide approximately 160 million meals and save the lives of about 4 million people in remote corners of the world, where hunger is the most prevalent.

At the Clinton Global Initiative last year, Yum! Brands pledged to do the following over the next few years: raise and donate at least $80 million to help WFP and others provide 200 million meals for hungry school children in developing countries; donate 20 million hours of hunger relief volunteer service in the communities in which it operates; donate $200 million worth of its prepared food to hunger agencies in the United States and use the Company’s marketing clout to generate awareness of the hunger problem, and convince others to become part of the solution.

Yum! and its brands have been committed to fighting hunger for more than a decade by donating more than $46 million of prepared food annually to the underprivileged in the United States. Since the company went public in 1997, it has donated more than $500 million of its food to hunger relief agencies in the U.S.

Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYSE:YUM) based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants, with more than 36,000 restaurants in over 110 countries and territories. The company is ranked #239 on the Fortune 500 List, with revenues in excess of $11 billion in 2008. Four of the company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s are the global leaders of the chicken, pizza, Mexican style food and quick service seafood categories, respectively. Outside the United States, the Yum! Brands system opened more than four new restaurants each day of the year, making it the leaders in international retail development. The company has consistently been recognized for its reward and recognition culture, diversity leadership, community giving, and consistent shareholder returns. For the second year, the company launched the world’s largest private sector hunger relief effort in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme and other hunger relief agencies. To date, this effort is helping to save approximately 4 million people in remote corners of the world, where hunger is most prevalent.

Christina Aguilera is one of the most successful recording artists of the past decade, selling more than 42 million records worldwide. Aguilera’s 1999 self-titled debut album spawned three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Aguilera has won four GRAMMY Awards and one Latin GRAMMY Award.

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency and the United Nations frontline agency for hunger solutions. In 2009, WFP aims to feed 105 million people in 74 countries.

Click Link: http://www.fromhungertohope.com/

Source: ChristinaAguilera.com