Watching CSI

Jorja Fox attended the Frederick’s of Hollywood 2008 Spring Collection Fashion Show to Benefit Clothes Off Our Back on Wednesday.

The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation is a 501c3 organization that hosts charity auctions showcasing today’s hottest celebrity attire. Items are put up for bid to the public with proceeds going to benefit children’s charities. Clothes Off Our Back was founded by actors and philanthropists Jane Kaczmarek (”Malcolm In The Middle”) and Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”) whose efforts, along with their celebrity and designer friends have helped improve the lives of children across the globe.

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Eric Szmanda and 25 other celebrities have “sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging him to ‘personally intervene’ to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient. The letter was organized by the US Campaign for Burma[officially the Union of Myanmar] and Human Rights Action Center and led by Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston.”

This summer, Eric went on a humanitarian trip to the Thai-Burma border to learn more about conditions of Burmese refugees who have fled Burma’s military campaign against the Karen ethnic minority.

The letter reads:

Dear United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,

We are writing to urge you to personally intervene to secure the release of the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Aung San Suu Kyi. As you know, she has been held under house arrest in the Southeast Asian country of Burma for 12 of the past 17 years. On June 19th, she spent her 62nd birthday under house arrest.

Aung San Suu Kyi is not just a charismatic leader, she is the elected leader of the Burmese people. In Burma’s last election, she won 82% of the seats in parliament, yet the military regime cruelly locked her up along with many members of her party. Meanwhile, according to the United Nations expert on human rights in Burma, the ruling military regime has burned down or otherwise destroyed over 3,000 villages in eastern Burma, forcing over 1 million and a half people to flee their homes.

This courageous, brave woman whom many call “Burma’s Nelson Mandela” should be released and the military regime should end its attacks on civilians. We urge you to take action to secure her immediate release.

Sincerely,
(In Alphabetical Order)

Jennifer Aniston
Anne Archer
Kabir Bedi
Julie Benz
Jane Birkin
Jim Carrey
Jorja Fox
Kris Hahn
Jack Healey
Dustin Hoffman
Anjelica Huston
Eddie Izzard
Mimi Kennedy
Walter Koenig
Christine Lahti
Padma Lakshmi
Laura Linney
Jimmy Miller
Damien Rice
Christina Ricci
Susan Sarandon
Liev Schreiber
Jason Schwartzman
Eric Szmanda
Bonnie Timmerman
Robin Williams
Owen Wilson
Elijah Wood
Robin Wright

Eric has also joined Jorja Fox at events for animal lovers. I’m not sure if he’s a vegetarian or just interested in animal rights. Kudos to Eric for joining these worthy causes.

Photo Source

burma, jorja fox, eric szmanda, csi, myanmar

Hill Harper continued to show his support for Barack Obama at the Friday’s BET Hip Hop Awards which was held in Atlanta.

On the BET red carpert.

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Jorja Fox attended the Sea Shepherd fundraiser “Breaking the Ice” Friday in Santa Monica. She even ran into Martin Sheen her castmate from West Wing days.

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Hi Resolution shots after the jump.

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Now that they’ve saturated the California offices with letters and currency, Jorja Fox fans have set their sights on CBS’ New York offices. Fans are being to asked to send letters or copies of campaign flyers(click on flyers after the jump to print) to the following address. No currency will be included this time.

Nina Tassler or Les Moonves
51 W 52ND St Suite 35
New York, NY 10019-6119

After you’ve mailed your flyers(s), email oldatheart99[at]yahoo.com with the number sent and New York Campaign in the subject line.

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Jorja and Marg have joined the Gal to Gal Virtual Walk to improve the lives of those diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. The Gal to Gal Virtual Walk was created by Jeanne Fitzmaurice, founder of Design-her-Gals(grooviest stationary ever!), in 2005 when she realized that most breast cancer money raised goes to research, prevention and treatment for earlier stages.

To join the walk you design an avatar for a $3 donation, dress yourself, add a personal story and then watch your virtual self walk from Boston to San Francisco against a changing landscape.  There are currently over 4,800 people walking the 31-city virtual route. Organizers hope that number reaches 1 million walkers.

If you sign up for the walk please send me the link or screenshot of your avatar. I’d love to feature our readers.  Click on the screenshots of Marg and Jorja to get a better look at their virtual selves.

jorja fox, marg helgenberger, breast cancer, csi, virtual walk

Emily dazzled on the red carpet at the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation’s 12th Annual Grand Slam.  Turquoise really is her color.

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I’m not sure how I missed this BUT a bottle of wine signed by Miami’s Eva LaRue AND Emily Procter is currently up for auction to benefit:

America’s Second Harvest
American’s Second Harvest is a network of more than 200 member food banks and food-rescue organizations that operates in every one of the 50 states.

The Art of Elysium
The Art of Elysium encourages working actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions. They provide artistic workshops in acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing.

World Education
World Education works around the globe in environmental education, community development, maternal and child health, school governance, integrated literacy, small enterprise development, HIV/AIDS education and prevention and care, and refugee training.

General Autism Research
Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. (To learn more about Austism visit 451’s Discussing Autism.)

The bottle of wine up for grabs is from Little Black Dress Wines. The listing doesn’t say what type of wine it is but the company produces Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Merlot. (I’m guessing it’s Merlot)

Hurry you’ve only got two days. The current price is $55. We can do better than that!

Eva LaRue, Eva La Rue, Emily Procter, Little Black Dress Wines, Autism, Hunger, World Hunger, Food Banks, Food Pantries, CSI, CSI Miami, Clothes Off our Backs, Auctions.

The campaign to keep Jorja Fox on board has escalated to a mind blowing level. In less than a week’s time, Jorja Fox fans have banded together and hired a plane to fly a banner over the CSI offices at Universal City. Yesterday, at 10 a.m PST a banner with blue lettering and pink hearts which read “Keep Jorja Fox on CBS” graced a clear California sky.

Another flyover is set for Thursday at the same time. In addition to the flyover, fans have sent more than 3,200 letters from 37 countries, including Australia, the Netherlands and Japan. Many of letters contain dollars, or currency equivalent, to “help” CBS give Jorja a raise.

Jorja Fox has struck a passionate chord with women around the world. Mel, a mother two currently residing in Canada, sees Jorja as a role model for all women.

“Why am I Jorja Fox fan? The reason is simple. She doesn’t try to convert into society’s idea of beauty and perfection. And this in turn makes her more beautiful. She didn’t set out to be a role model and is humble about it.”

Aimee, a single mom from Missouri, shares a similar sentiment.

“I would really hate to see Sara leave the show. She is an intelligent, driven, successful, beautiful woman and an excellent role model for women. She proves that a woman can be strong and smart, yet still be feminine and desireable. Sara proves that it’s COOL to be a geek and it would a tragedy for the show and the fans to lose such a gifted actress”

Reports that Jorja is leaving the show permanently have not been confirmed by the network or Jorja.

Video and of the flyover after the jump.

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Now that the Minature Killer storyline has wrapped, you can own a replica of Gil Grissom’s office created for the storyline. An Ebay auction is currently running and you could be the lucky fan to win the prize. The auction ends October 7th and proceeds will go to the National CASA Association.

451 Press actually have a CASA board member in our ranks. Margie, who runs that fabulous Battlestar Galatica blog, was kind enough to answer some questions about the organization.

KD: Can you tell us a little about CASA and what CASA does?
Margie:CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, and it is a national organization that works with abused and neglected children in foster care. Everybody knows that social workers and other people who work with abused children are over worked and underpaid, and there is simply more work and more abuse than our system can candle. CASA takes people who want to help and gives them extensive training, and then they are appointed by juvenile judges to specific children’s cases so they can investigate the situation, work with the children to get them the services they need, and help everyone involved determine what really is in the best interests of the child.

KD: What are some of your duties as a board member?
Margie: As a board member I work to help maximize the assets and energies of the CASA organization in my area of the country. That means I work on short and long term financial planning issues, provide support for the staff’s volunteer recruitment and fundraising efforts, and anything else I can to help serve more kids through CASA. It is an amazing organization, and both statistically and individually it makes a big difference in the lives of these kids. The stories of these volunteers are inspiring, it is a privilege to do what I can to help get the volunteers and the children the support they need to recover from these horrific situations and hopefully get their young lives back on track.

A recent audit shows that:

• 95% of children do not languish in long-term foster care.
• 90% of children do not reenter the child welfare system.

What a wonderful cause. Hurry and bid. You’ve got less than a week.

Note: It’s important to remember that CASA volunteers don’t actually decide placement.

csi, ebay, casa, minature killer, cbs, court appointed special advocates, william petersen, gil grissom

With the news that Jorja Fox may be leaving CSI for good, legions of fans have mobilized. Reminiscent of the Jericho Nuts campaign that saved an entire show, Jorja fans are hoping to save just one woman-Sara Sidle…or maybe it’s Jorja Fox. Whatever the case, a large grassroots campaign is responding to reports that Jorja Fox may leave the hit show due to a salary dispute The initiative actually has two parts.

(Campaign Updates can be found HERE, HERE and HERE)

Read on.

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Carmine Giovanazzo has been stomping to restore and perseve Ellis Island. While the Ellis Island Museum offers a terrific look at the history of the Island, many of the original buildings are in terrible shape.

From 1902 to 1954, more than 100 million immigrants were cared for in the hospital complex. Admittance came after processors in the Great Hall deemed immigrants medically unfit to enter the United States.

In many cases, illnesses followed a long, arduous journey in steerage or third-class quarters, which were cramped and unsanitary. An inspector’s suspicions that a new arrival might be suffering from measles, chickenpox, diphtheria, tuberculosis or ringworm could land the person in an isolation ward for days or even weeks.

Yet despite the fear these wards inspired, a vast majority of those treated in the south side buildings became eligible for entry into the United States. Only 2 percent were turned away and sent back home.

The goal of the fund-raising campaign is to restore everything from the hospital complex and contagious disease wards to the ferry house, the metal domed building where immigrants left the island for New York City.

Carmine is actually only second generation American. Hear his family’s inspiring story.

Source
ellis island
Carmine Giovinazzo
csi new york

Jorja Fox and Eric Szmanda attended  the 2007 Animal Acres Benefit on August 25.

Animal Acres is a farmed animal sanctuary and compassionate living center located just 45 minutes from Los Angeles.

Animal Acres works to promote compassionate living through its farmed animal rescue and refuge efforts, public education and outreach, and advocacy projects to prevent cruelty to farmed animals. Since we opened our doors in 2005, thousands of people have visited the sanctuary and learned that farmed animals need protection, and love, too.

Photo Source: JFO

jorja fox
eric szmanda
csi
animal rights
peta
animal acres

I was glancing around the Huffington Report and decided to see who our favorite CSIs (or at least the people that play them) are supporting for president. I was surprised to see that Gary Sinise hadn’t thrown his weight behind one of the more conservative candidates but I figure he’s waiting for the primaries to be done before he commits. Besides he just plunked down $35,000 to support a veterans hospital.

I wasn’t surprised that Hill Harper(First name Frank) supports Barrack Obama. They are law school friends and Hill has attended several of Obama’s fund raisers. Carol Mendelsohn has donated to two campaigns and Jorja Fox is behind John Edwards.

J Fox
Entertainer
Self Employed
John Edwards
$2,000
2008
11766 WILSHIRE BLVD
LOS ANGELES CA

Carol Mendelsohn
Writer/producer
Cbs Paramount (csi)
John Edwards
$2,300
2008
15260 VENTURA BLVD
SHERMAN OAKS CA

Carol Mendelsohn
Information Requested
Cbs
Barack Obama
$2,300
2008
827 DEVON AVE
LOS ANGELES CA

F Harper(Frank Hill Harper)
Actor
Self Employed
Barack Obama
$2,300
2008
249 N BRAND BLVD
GLENDALE CA

Melina Kanakaredes
Actress
Self Employed
Barack Obama
$500
2008
16161 VENTURA BLVD
ENCINO CA

Ann Donahue
Writer/executive Producer
Cbs
John Edwards
$2,300
2008
9696 CULVER BLVD
CULVER CITY CA

csi
csi new york
barack obama
jorja fox
john edwards
hill harper
Melina Kanakaredes

Thanks to CSI Fanatic for alerting us to a terrific opportunity. Jorja Fox and other CSI cast members are donating two great items to support Friends of El Faro Orphanage. The items up for bid are:

CSI JORJA FOX RECORDED PHONE MESSAGE

AND

CSI 6TH SEASON DVD + SCRIPT & PHOTO AUTOGRAPHED BY CAST

The auction started Friday and will last 10 days.

Here’s a a history of this wonderful charity.

Since November of 2000, Adam Smith and his wife Leigh Kilton-Smith have been traveling with a circle of friends to Tijuana, Mexico every four to five weeks to spend the weekend with the more then 100 children of “Casa Hogar Sion” orphanage.

It is here, where children, who have been abandoned or abused or neglected, have found a home, a place where they are safe and cared for, nourished and loved. It is here, where the Friends of El Faro do what they can take care of the children, and Mama Carmen and Papa Jorge and the staff, remarkable people who have created a home for children who did not have one.

Everything from cooking meals—so many meals, to drying tears, wiping noses, lots of hugs, playing games, talking, listening, breaking up fights and mediating peace; building playgrounds, changing diapers, showing outdoor movies, popping popcorn, and most importantly, letting the children know, and showing them that they are loved and cherished and important.

Over the years, more then two hundred friends have joined us on our weekend trips and when the orphanage lost their major funding severeal years ago friends of el faro rallied to put on an annual fundraiser to raise money to take care of our children. They are all our children.

For more information follow this link