Jen works for CHANGE

via People

Jennifer Garner wants you to spend time with your parents. The actress and mom of two is the new spokesperson for Save the Children’s Make Time for CHANGE campaign. When parents log on to the Save the Children website and pledge to spend an extra hour with their kids, Frigidaire (yep, the fridge company) will donate $1 to the CHANGE program. CHANGE stands for Creating Healthy, Active, and Nurturing Growing-up Environments, and the program helps out underprivileged kids by providing healthy food and nutrition education. Says Jen: “It’s important that we just spend a minute of our time to help other kids in our own country.”

To team up with Jen and help out kids (while spending some quality time with the fam too), get your parents to log on to the Make Time for CHANGE website and pledge their time. Need some ideas for how to spend that extra hour? Check out our 11 ways to do something with your family.

Action stars act good

via Gear Live

Wolverine and 007 joined forces last night for their cause. Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig were both out to support the Worldwide Orphans Foundation Benefit Gala in NYC. Naomi Watts and hubby Liev Schreiber were also there, and Hugh’s wife was even honored for her work with children. The WWO says its mission is “to transform the lives of orphaned children by taking them out of anonymity and helping them become healthy, independent, productive members of their communities and the world.”

Did you know that the foster care system is a leading cause of teen homelessness? Look over our info on the top reasons for teen homelessness, and then get inspired by reading how Brick Award winner Ashley Rhodes-Courter is working to fix the foster care system.

Madonna's Malawi mission

via The Guardian

Madonna is back in Malawi and no, she isn’t adopting again. The queen of pop was there yesterday to lay the foundation stone of the girls’ school she is building through her organization, Raising Malawi. The org helps out orphans, many of whom lost parents to the AIDS epidemic, by providing food, water, medical care, and schooling. Madonna also met with the president of Malawi to discuss what else her charity can do for the impoverished country.

Malawi seems to be Madonna’s number one cause lately – she’s adopted two of her children from there, is selling a line of jewelry to benefit Raising Malawi, and has even pledged to personally match donations to the organization. Look over our 11 Facts About Education Around the World, and then check out the Raising Malawi site to see more of the great work they’re doing.

Mary works for women

via Farai Today

Mary J. Blige is bringing a lot of good to the women of Yonkers. The legendary R&B singer was back in her hometown of Yonkers, New York to open the Mary J. Blige Center for Women. With financial help from Gucci, the brand-new center will help girls and women bounce back from traumatic experiences through programs like career development, personal mentoring, and scholarships.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Blige shared her personal inspiration for opening the center. "As a child, I never saw a confident woman – I only saw women being abused… I want every girl and woman who walks through this door to know that she is loved – no matter who is telling her she isn’t loved.”

Make like Mary and stand up for women's rights. Make sure you're well informed on the issue, then take the Harvard Implicit Bias test, which may uncover some biases you didn't even know you had!

Nicole Kidman - politician?

via Top News

Nicole Kidman was in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to talk to lawmakers about violence against women. The actress took the trip as part of her duties as a goodwill ambassador for the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). Nicole was there to demand more funding from Congress for the International Violence Against Women Act, which would enable the U.S. to work to reduce violence against women and girls in countries with the highest levels. Nicole was also asked about how movies portray women as weak sex symbols, and she responded: “I can’t be responsible for all of Hollywood but I can certainly be responsible for my own career.” Nicole will soon head to Kenya to do more work with UNIFEM.

One out of four women worldwide will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. Let your local politicians know that you (and Nicole!) want them to spend time and resources fighting violence against women. Check out our tips on how to organize a letter writing campaign so you can spread the word and send your message.

Concert fights cancer

via Extra

Disney stars are at it again! Pop superstars (and BFFs!) Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato will join Jesse McCartney on stage at the second annual Concert for Hope this Sunday in downtown Los Angeles. The concert will benefit the City of Hope cancer center. Last year’s concert raised more than $1.2 million for cancer research and treatment. But Miley won’t stop there – she’s also donating $1 from every ticket sold during her world tour.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so get the facts on this deadly disease. Then make like Miley and organize your very own concert to benefit your cause. You don’t have to be particularly musical to pull it off – we’ll help you through it!

Nicole and Joel play around

via Getty Images

Homeless kids in Los Angeles will soon have a place to play, thanks to Nicole Richie and Joel Madden. The reality starlet and her Good Charlotte boyfriend were on-hand yesterday to break ground on a new playground at a homeless shelter in downtown LA. The duo are funding the project through their organization, the Richie-Madden Foundation, which does tons of work all around LA helping out underprivileged moms and kids. “We are giving these children a chance to have an imagination & be free” Nicole Tweeted after the event.

Think homelessness only affects adults? Over 1.5 million Americans under 18 will experience homelessness this year. Helping out can be as easy as volunteering at a soup kitchen for the day. Have more than a day to give? Run a food drive or organize a clothing collection for young people in need.

Justin golfs for good

via Getty Images

Justin Timberlake is famous for being a golf nut, and this weekend he used his favorite sport to raise some cash for his cause. Every year, the former ‘N Syncer hosts the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The Shriners Hospitals for Children are a group of 22 hospitals around the world that treat sick kids under 18 – for free! The golf tournament is open to professional golfers, who compete for a PGA Tour title, and golf-loving celebs, who play to raise money for the hospitals. This year’s stars included George Lopez, Alice Cooper, and Oscar De La Hoya.

Head over to the America’s Blood Centers website for info on how you can organize a blood drive at your school or local community center.

Brangelina's back

via SOS Children's Village

Do they ever stop doing good? Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were in Amman, Jordan this week to visit the kids who live at the SOS Children’s Village, which provides a stable family environment for impoverished orphans, many of whom are refugees. The superstar couple had been invited by Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan (yes, the Queen!), who started the program. It was Brad’s first visit, but back in 2003, during Angelina’s first trip to the village, she was so moved by the experience that she decided she would cover the entire yearly expenses of one family living there.

Do you know enough about global poverty? Read up, then organize an art show to raise some cash for your favorite anti-poverty organization. And be sure to check out the SOS Children’s Village website to learn about the great work they do.

Quote of the day: Reese Witherspoon

via Reader's Digest

"I used to judge myself so harshly... But you start to realize that none of it is really all that important. As long as you're comfortable, the best parts of yourself come through no matter what." – Reese Witherspoon