Janet Jackson, who has been seen at various Milan Fashion Week events in Milan, Italy in the past week, made a special appearance at La Permanente to attend amfAR’s Inaugural Milan Fashion Week Event to add her starpower to the drive to raise much needed funds for The Foundation for AIDS Research. Janet was joined on the red carpet by current Out magazine covergirl Donatella Versace but she graced the stage all on her own during the event … here are a few photos:

US singer Janet Jackson lent her star power to a gala charity in Milan that raised more than a million dollars for AIDS research, organisers said. “This battle needs all of us to be brave warriors,” Jackson said during a brief appearance at the Monday evening dinner and dance organised by the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). The evening’s biggest sale was a Dsquared jacket signed by Janet Jackson and other celebrities, snapped up by Diesel designer Renzo Rossof for 36,000 euros (53,000 dollars). Earlier a pair of handmade boots decorated with some 3,000 stones, made for Michael Jackson but never worn by the late king of pop, went for 10,000 euros. He died June 25 aged 50.

Janet Jackson is a real trooper … it’s very commendable for her to lend her name to such an important cause. She’s had a difficult year and I’m sure her work has kept her grounded but it’s really amazing that she also is making time to do much needed charity work as well. Keep up the amazing work, Janet!!

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

Prince Harry was on hand to present awards to some of the UK’s bravest children coping with serious illness at The Children’s Health Awards in London, England yesterday. One of the night’s award recipients, Alex Burke, wasn’t convinced that Prince Harry was really a prince because he wasn’t wearing a crown … Harry insisted that he is the real deal and sent the little tyke on his way. I understand this funny bit was among the highlights of the evening:

He may have one of the most recognisable faces on the planet but young Alex Burke was determined to check that Prince Harry was the real deal. Looking puzzled as he met the third in line to the throne at a charity awards ceremony this evening, the six-year-old said: ‘Are you sure you are Prince Harry? Where’s your crown?’, before asking for good measure: ‘So you’re not William then?’ Fortunately, Harry, 25, took it all in his stride as he scooped Alex up into his arms. ‘I’m sorry, you’ll have to put up with me!’ he spluttered. The prince, who was on a day off from training to be an army helicopter pilot, was at the WellChild Children’s Health Awards in London, which recognises the courage of youngsters coping with serious illness. Alex, from Manchester, has Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a genetic condition which causes non cancerous tumours to grow on the nerves in his body prompting a host of painful health problems. The lively youngster takes his condition in his stride, however, and was full of beans as he accepted his award from Harry yesterday – celebrating by blowing bubbles in the prince’s face. His mother, Sarah, 26, a full-time carer, said; ‘The only kind of princes that Alex knows about are the ones in stories who wear cloaks and crowns. ‘I have been showing him pictures of Harry and his brother, trying to explain who they are but he couldn’t understand why he wasn’t wearing his crown. I just told him that he wasn’t allowed to take it out with him.’ Among the other award winners was Lucy Tutton, eight, named the most caring child in the country for helping with her poorly sister, Sophie, five, who suffers from Rett Syndrome, a severe neurological disorder. Lucy, from Bristol, screamed with excitement and gave Harry a flower made out of balloons. Afterwards she said; ‘Oh wow – I felt like a princess.’ Harry got a fit of the giggles himself when he was presented with a framed picture of his elder brother by another brave young guest, saying: ‘Oh no, look who it is!’ He was given the photograph by Harrison Holmes, eight, from Barrow-in-Furness, who suffers from chronic lung disease and met William earlier this year on a trip with WellChild to the Lake District. The chatty youngster bowed as he handed his prized posession over to Harry and made him promise to give it to William. Harrison told him that William, who he calls his ‘Prince of Cuddles’, had promised to come to his house. ‘Oh, he is so sweet,’ said Harry, ‘I will definitely remind him of his promise.’ And the prince liked the balloons so much he took them home…

What an amazing awards ceremony. I love that these brave children were allowed a night in the spotlight so that they could be honored for having to endure their serious illnesses. That a member of the royal family would be on hand to do the honors of giving out the awards to these brave children is very impressive. As we are well aware, Prince Harry is no saint … but he deffo has his heart in the right place and I wholeheartedly commend him for his tireless charity work. Much congrats goes out to all the award recipients last night … here’s hoping for speedy recoveries!!

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Michael Phelps, Olympic Gold Medalist and sometimes partyier, is featured in a new ad campaign for the Until There’s A Cure Foundation to help raise awareness and much needed funds for HIV/AIDS research. The campaign advertises the sale of specially created bracelets that raise money for charities that exist to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and to help those afflicted with the disease. Here is our first look at Phelpsie’s new Until There’s A Cure campaign ad and some info about the foundation:

Until There’s A Cure® is a national organization dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness and funds to combat this pandemic. Our dream is that no one else will become infected with HIV. For those who are HIV positive, we are dedicated on their behalf to educating all people about the virus and the overwhelming need for love and compassion in fighting this pandemic. Our goal is to fund prevention education, care services, and vaccine development using The Bracelet as the tool. The Bracelet will not only serve as a bridge to unite people to fight HIV/AIDS, but will help to increase awareness, compassion, understanding, and responsibility.

You know, Michael Phelps may engage in questionable behavior that lands him in hot water from time to time (I mean, who among us hasn’t?) but I have to commend him for working with the Until There’s A Cure Foundation to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness. He gets kudos from on on this endorsement deal, that’s for sure. If YOU would like to join the fight against HIV/AIDS and would like to purchase your own Until There’s A Cure bracelet (available in a few different styles) then you can order one directly from the foundation HERE.

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Yesterday afternoon I met up with Darion and his friends at Will Rogers Beach in Pacific Palisades, CA for a day of volleyball fun as teams competed in the 2009 YPC (Young Professionals Council) Beach Volleyball Tournament to raise money for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center here in SoCal:

The event was crazy fun and more than $40,000 was raised for the center!! While I did not play I was a very willing athletic supporter and did my best to not only donate but cheer on all the players … and what a fine body of players they were ;) After the jump, check out some of the photos that were snapped of yesterday’s tourney along with some photos from the fun afterparty …

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Angelina Jolie and her eldest child Maddox Chivan were spotted making their way thru LAX Airport this week bound for the Middle East where Ange will be doing a bit of work as Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) … while her hubby-like partner Brad Pitt was spotted tooling around LA on his hog:

Presumably, Dad Pitt will remain at the homestead to care for the rest of the Brangelina brood while Angelina is off saving the world. Santa Angelina has already made her way to Baghdad, Iraq to do her good work. Here is a photo and some deets on Angelina’s visit to the affected region:

Angelina Jolie took a day trip onThursday to Baghdad. The actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador is there to speak out for aid on behalf the millions of Iraqis displaced within their own country and the 1.5 million more Iraqis displaced out of the country. This is her third visit to the country in recent years. On Tuesday afternoon Jolie and eldest son Maddox took off from LAX, where they were heading to the 24th annual Arab Children’s Congress in Amman, Jordan. The pair were reportedly going to be staying with Jolie’s friend Queen Noor.

You can read the full text of the UNHCR press release HERE. I’m always amazed at how much time and devotion Angelina puts toward her charity work. It makes ones head spin just thinking about all commitments Angelina keeps in her every day life … whether they be personal, professional or philanthropic, Angelina Jolie works hard, y’all! Kudos to her for her continued zeal to try and help heal the world.

[Photo credit: X17; Source]

Despite the fact that explicit NSFW images and screencaps from a sex tape have made their way to the Internets earlier this week, Dustin Lance Black is not letting the drama bring him down or curb his work. DLB was on hand at the Sunset Gower Studios here in Hollywood, CA yesterday to be honored by Lifeworks for his volunteer efforts with mentoring gay youth. Here are a couple pics of Black at yesterday’s event:

Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black was honored at the Life Out Loud 4 event for his work in support of gay rights at Hollywood’s Sunset Gower Studios on Saturday (June 13). The event benefited gay youth-mentoring group Lifeworks . Earlier this week, three-year-old photos of Dustin , 35, surfaced of himself engaged in what appears to be risky sex with another man. “It is unfortunate that individuals and other outside parties are trying to profit from material which is clearly private,” Dustin said in the statement released to E! . “I have had the privilege to speak to people across the country, both gay and straight, on a number of critical issues including safe sex. More important than the embarrassment of this incident is the misleading message these images send. I apologize and cannot emphasize enough the importance of responsible sexual practices.”

It is plainly evident that Dustin Lance Black is not letting the sex tape scandal impede his present course of action. In light of the leak of the photos, what else is there to be done? He has addressed the matter and has clearly moved on. In the wake of a terribly embarrassing incident like this, DLB is handling the who matter perfectly.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Celebrities of varying import made their way out to the Wadsworth Theater in LA yesterday for the 20th Annual A Time For Heroes Celebrity Carnival which benefits the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. As you can see, former Hills star Lauren LC Conrad and new Hills star Kristin Cavallari managed to bury the hatchet long enough to make appearances at the charity event … tho, the ladies were not photographed in each other’s close proximity:

Selena Gomez, rockin’ a new shorter ‘do, came to the event without her new friend Taylor Lautner (much to the other female attendees dismay, I’m sure) and Melissa Joan Hart was among the celebrity parents in attendance who brought along their little ones. For 20 years, the A Time For Heroes Celebrity Carnival has helped raise funds for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation which attempts to fund research for children suffering from AIDS. It may not seem like much but this annual event does much to raise much needed funds for this very important charity. Kudos to all the celebs who continue to make time for events like this.

[Photo credit: Splash News]