Red Cross Boosts National Celebrity Cabinet

Anika Noni Rose, Amanda Peet, Julianne Hough 'On Call' For Charity

Jul 31, 2009 Amber Nasrulla

Since WW1 celebrities have used their star power to help Red Cross in fundraising drives and during national disasters

Amidst the news that actress Rachel LeFevre is feuding with Twilight producers for giving her role to the higher-profile actress Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of director Ron Howard); and that custody of Michael Jackson's children has been awarded to his mother, there was buried a good story. A story that actually has some news relevance.

Celebrities on the Cross

The American Red Cross has a National Celebrity Cabinet (who knew?), a group of celebrity supporters from the worlds of film, sport, and television who donate their time in moments of crises and disasters. And this week Anika Noni Rose (Dream Girls), country singer Julianne Hough (Dancing With the Stars), Disney Channel Star Demi Lovato (Camp Rock opposite the Jonas Brothers), and actress Amanda Peet (Syriana) joined the club.

Peet is already a supporter of the Red Cross Measles Initiative. In a press release she says, "As a mom, I feel privileged to support the American Red Cross in their efforts to vaccinate millions of children around the world ... I commend the American Red Cross for tackling this global health problem in developing countries, where measles remains a leading cause of death, despite the availability of a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine."

United We Serve

The announcement came hot on the heels of First Lady Michelle Obama's official launch of the United We Serve initiative, which is a nationwide service to help communities. The initiative runs to the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11.

Since World War 1, the Red Cross has benefited from the involvement of public figures and celebrities. Over the years, actors, artists, and sports figures committing their time and talents to the organization have played an important role in raising public awareness of Red Cross services nationwide.

Big Names for Big Causes

The National Celebrity Cabinet also includes Pierce Brosnan, Jackie Chan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, George Foreman, Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Heidi Klum, Patti LaBelle, Marlee Matlin, Dr. Phil McGraw, Jane Seymour, and Jimmy Smits. The stars are "on-call", donating their time, skills, and connections to help the Red Cross highlight important initiatives and emergency response efforts (as opposed to the factoids that the pump their own gas or drink coffee from Starbucks or take yoga classes - as breathlessly highlightd in weekly celebrity tabloids or online gossip zines.)

The American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, collects and distributes nearly half of the nation's blood supply, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and families.

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Miley Cyrus