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Bet Awards Star Power Delivers For Hiv/Aids Prevention: Stars Donate Personal Goodies For Auction.
Date: July 6, 2006
The star power showcased at the BET Awards literally lit-up the stage at LA’s Shrine Auditorium. But backstage in the Celebrity Gift Retreat Lounge the stars shared their power to light up the cause of HIV/AIDS prevention.
With the help of BET and Backstage Creations - the organizer/host of the Celebrity Gift Retreat Lounge - the LA based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) collected a ton of celebrity swag (that’s Hollywood speak for the free luxury gifts and services offered to the stars as gratuities for their participation).
The stars from Lil John and Three 6 Mafia to Thandie Newton and Boris Kodjoe graciously donated their loot to benefit AHF Prevention and Testing Programs that focus on HIV/AIDS education, testing and outreach to women of color.
According to Deya Smith-Starks (that’s right; the same Deya many of us know as an actor and many more know as the social and political commentator Deya Direct!) AHF will place the gifts donated by the stars on eBay for auction this week.
“I was pleased to find so much knowledge, concern and generosity from so many of my brothers and sisters in entertainment,” said Deya, who serves as AHF’s Manager of Advocacy and Marketing for Prevention Programs.
“I was truly impressed by T.I. who had just collected the BET Award for Best Male Hip Hop Artist and hadn’t collected any gifts but said ‘I’m going to give you something good’ and then handed me the Chanel shades he had just worn on stage to receive his award. Deya continued, BET Humanitarian Award Recipient Harry Belafonte, after declaring the importance of activism around HIV/AIDS on stage, backed his words up by giving us everything in his bag. Will I. Am of the Black Eyed Peas said ‘give them everything’ and handed over his entire gift bag filled with over a $1,000 worth of loot as did actor Boris Kodjoe, and impresario Russell Simmons with rapper Dro.”
Lil John kicked-off the giving by declaring, “I heard there are 15,000 infected people in LA who don’t know their status – we’ve got to keep it crunk and get tested.” Rapper Chamillionaire donated a rare red Rapstor watch, which retails for around $4,000. Oscar winners Three 6 Mafia gave up gold earrings and a Roca Wear jacket saying, “I love it! [We’ve] been blessed and gotta keep giving…”
Others who gave include: BET Lifetime Award winner Chaka Khan, Rihanna, Paul Wall, Remy Ma, the Good Times Cast, Marlon Wayans ( his signed bag says “…let’s get it cured), and Ali Woodson of the Tempataions.
BET Host and R&B singer, Ray J offered white gold earrings and said, “Knock-out entertainment gives back,” while actress Thandie Newton may have best summed-up the spirit of the BET Awards celebrity givers when she said, “It’s my pleasure to give.”
Source: Eurweb.com
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