Pete wants you to run for your water

via NY Mag

Friend of Do Something Pete Wentz is at it again. The Fall Out Boy bassist has teamed up with Jessica Biel to participate in Live Earth’s Run for Water. To raise awareness about the problem of access to safe drinking water, Live Earth is organizing 6 kilometer races around the country – the average distance that people in developing countries are forced to walk to get clean water. The runs will be held in cities around the world on April 18th, 2010, with concerts and activities at each one.

Did you know that one out of six people worldwide don’t have access to clean water? Water access issues have serious environmental, health, and social consequences – read up on the problem and then head to the Run for Water website to see how you can participate. And check out Pete's PSA below.

Madonna puts her shoes where her mouth is

via Babble

The queen of pop is a reigning do-gooder. Madonna has donated one of her favorite pairs of shoes to be auctioned off to benefit an organization called Ovidiu Rom. The Romanian charity supports kids’ education in the Gypsy community. Gypsies, also known as Roma, are an ethnic minority in eastern Europe, and are often the victims of prejudice and hate crimes. A few months ago, Madonna got booed during a concert in Turkey when she said that discrimination against Gypsies must end.

We love that Madonna didn’t let a negative reaction discourage her from supporting her cause. And those gold Christian Dior stilettos are certainly going to do some good for the Gypsy community. Discrimination is also a serious problem here in America, but there are things you can do to combat it. Education is the first step, so read about the basics of racial discrimination in America and then get active about it!

Orlando's latest role

via People

Pirate hottie Orlando Bloom is the latest celeb to be named a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. Over the past few years, Orlando has visited UN projects in Bosnia, Russia, and Nepal, so UNICEF knew he’d be up for the challenges of being an ambassador. While in Nepal, Orlando even participated in a radio show produced by local school kids – so cute! Next up for Orlando is a PSA he’ll film about the importance of access to clean drinking water.

Orlando will be in good company – other ambassadors include
David Beckham and Shakira. Ambassadors are vital to the work UNICEF does because they raise awareness about global poverty and influence policy on behalf of children. UNICEF works around the world to bring clean water, education, and safe housing to children. We already wrote about their famous trick-or-treat campaign – if you haven’t gotten your orange box yet, what are you waiting for? Make like Orlando and help out children around the world.

Will and Jada are "Nobel"

via People

Their kids were just named youth ambassadors for Project Zambi, and now Will and Jada Pinkett Smith are doing good too. The actor/rapper and his actress/singer wife are set to co-host this year’s Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Norway on December 11th, the day after the award ceremony. Wyclef Jean and Toby Keith are set to perform, along with a number of other singers and bands from around the world, and the concert will be televised in over 100 countries. The secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said of the multi-talented married duo: “Together they’ve had a global impact on the arts and philanthropy and will be excellent ambassadors for peace.”

Today it was announced that President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Apparently Obama didn’t even know he was in the running, and everyone at the White House was surprised at the choice. Head over to the News Box to read more about the announcement and what this prize is all about.

Quote of the day: Tyler Perry

via Oprah

“Forgiveness has been my weapon of choice. It has helped to free me. If you’re having a hard time getting over something in your life, maybe you can try forgiveness too. It’s not easy, but it does bring forth healing.”

Tyler Perry recently took to his website with a personal message to fans, where he talked about the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse he experienced as a child and how he rose above it to become a comedic superstar. Use Tyler’s letter as a chance to read up on child abuse and start an awareness campaign at your school.

Simon's donation for dogs

via Contact Music

He may be the meanest judge on American Idol, but Simon Cowell apparently has a soft spot for animals. Simon has donated a whopping $30,000 of his own money to the World Heart Foundation, which is a Los Angeles animal shelter that helps homeless, abandoned, and abused animals. The foundation was having financial trouble, and without Simon’s generous donation, they would have been forced to close down! The shelter is run by the actress Linda Blair – you may know her as the girl whose head spins around in the classic horror flick The Exorcist – and Simon says that after seeing photos of the dogs she’s helped out, he was compelled to write the check.

Don’t have $30,000 to spare? Don’t worry! You can still do a lot to help out animals in need. Call your local animal shelter and ask what they need most – maybe they’re short on blankets, toys, leashes, or grooming supplies. You can then organize a collection drive at your school and give the donations you receive to the shelter. Want to spend time with the animals themselves? Volunteer to walk dogs, play with cats, or clean cages. And if you’re looking to get a new pet, read up on why you should adopt, not buy.

Carrie flips for cancer

via NY Daily News

Carrie Underwood is on her way to becoming a CGG superstar - we've already covered her work for music education and animal welfare, and now she's raising awareness about breast cancer. The American Idol champ paid a visit to the legendary Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville to flip a giant switch that turned the concert hall’s famous barn backdrop pink, to symbolize the fight against breast cancer. The event was in support of the breast cancer charities Women Rock for the Cure and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Carrie was then joined onstage by other country music artists for a concert.

Says Carrie: “We’re here to help those who have been diagnosed, and we’re here to raise awareness, and hopefully find a cure.”

Breast cancer is usually seen as a disease of older women, but young women are susceptible as well, and their cancer may more aggressive and less likely to respond to treatment than with older women. More than 250,000 American women battling the disease were diagnosed at the age of 40 or younger, and it’s the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54. So join Carrie in the fight against breast cancer – get inspired by reading one young woman’s story of breast cancer, and then organize a benefit concert with the proceeds going to your favorite breast cancer charity.

United Nations gets "ugly"

via ET Online

Ugly Betty recently made history by becoming the first comedy show allowed to film inside the United Nation’s NYC headquarters. An upcoming episode will feature the UN’s Nothing But Nets campaign, which is a grassroots movement to provide mosquito nets to people in Africa. Mosquito bites can cause malaria, which is a leading killer of children in Africa, and it’s a disease the UN has been working hard to end.

Be sure to tune in to Ugly Betty on Friday, October 16th to check out this special malaria-themed episode. In the meantime, head over to the Nothing But Nets website to find out how you can help fight malaria in Africa.

DJ AM's legacy

via The Insider

Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ A.M., tragically passed away from an accidental drug overdose on August 28th, but Adam’s legacy will live on thanks to MTV. Adam was a recovering drug addict, and had spoken openly about his struggles with substance abuse. Before he passed away, Adam filmed a reality series for MTV called Gone Too Far, which features young drug addicts and their families as they attempt to get help and become sober. No one was sure what would become of the show after Adam’s death, but his family just announced that they’ve given MTV permission to air the series.

“Adam was fully aware that if it were not for his own sobriety he never would have achieved the level of success and happiness he had found” says his family. So, what do you think? Will Adam’s show inspire people struggling with addiction, or is MTV just looking for ratings? Sound off in the comments, and then read our 11 shocking facts about teens and drug use. And if someone you know is struggling with drug abuse, check out a list of hotlines you can call for help, advice, or just someone to talk to.

John lends his voice

via Pop on the Pop

John Mayer plans to end his year on a high note. John and his band, known as the John Mayer Trio, just announced that they’ll play two shows to benefit veterans’ charities. The band first got together to benefit victims of the 2005 tsunami, and they’ve also played on a cruise ship to help out one of our favorite causes, VH1’s Save the Music. The Trio will play in San Diego on December 29, and then play a New Year’s Eve performance at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

John’s quickly becoming a charitable superstar – his tour bus runs on biodiesel, and just recently he challenged TMZ to find his old mugshot from when he was arrested for driving with a suspended license. They did, so John donated $25,000 of his own money to two animal charities. If you can’t make it to John’s shows, you can still help out by organizing a benefit concert for your favorite charity or recycling your old electronics to help our troops.