Marcus Baksh & Chad Owens
Toronto Argonauts star receiver/kick returner Chad Owens has launched a fundraising campaign to help 13-year-old Marcus Baksh in his battle with cancer.
I talked to Owens about his reasons for doing this and his responsibility to the community for Samaritan Mag.
To read the story go here.
Filed under Jock Stuff, Shameless Promotion
12-12-12 Concert Benefiting The Robin Hood Relief Fund To Aid The Victims Of Hurricane Sandy
The Risky Fuel household experienced an electric jolt of concern recently after finding out that Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein didn’t appreciate an uncomfortably valid characterization Sarah made about Kristen Stewart in an article she wrote about the aftermath of the 12.12.12 documentary gala screening at TIFF 2013.
During a post-screening Q&A Weinstein talked about how, for $500,000, they had arranged for the Twilight actress to meet ‘n’ greet with an Arabian prince while at the charity concert to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy. And, there’s more… but you’ll have to ask her about it in person.
Let’s just say we had the conversation “What if I get blacklisted?” Our conclusion: you can’t blacklist people who don’t actually have much of anything to be blacklisted from, so here’s to being poor, powerless, insignificant and… free.
Weinstein was also mighty unhappy the concert’s organizing posse couldn’t force Led Zeppelin to reunite.
To actually understand what all I’m talking about, head over to Huffington Post Music Canada and read the story here.
Filed under Concerts, Films, Shameless Promotion
Mike Prosserman of Unity Charity
The Unity Festival is happening this weekend in Toronto. The marquee event for this gathering of aspiring and established hip-hop artists will be a free Talib Kweli show tonight at Yonge-Dundas Square.
There is, however, a far greater purpose to Unity than putting on a big concert. The Unity Charity, an after-school arts and leadership program based in disadvantaged neighborhoods, has been help young adults grow and develop.
I talked to Mike Prosserman, a former competitive breakdancer and founder of the charity, to explain exactly what they do and why they do it.
To read the story head over to Samaritan Mag here.
Filed under Culture, Dance, Music, Shameless Promotion
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan likes to do good things for the world and because it’s do-good-things season our Sarah spoke to her about some of those things.
The double Ss talked about McLachlan getting Bill Clinton to make an appearance for her right in the middle of the U.S. election run, her music school’s charity single, and those ASPCA commercials she does that have those sad puppies you want to adopt.
To read the story head over to Huffington Post Music Canada by clicking here.
Filed under Music, Politics, Shameless Promotion
Arcade Fire
To coincide with TIFF 2012 the Arcade Fire, K’naan, Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk performed at a fancy charity show to help Haiti put on by a group called Artists For Peace And Justice.
The party was filled with A-listers like Jude Law and Eric the vampire (Alexander Skarsgard).
Sarah was there. And when she wasn’t somehow constantly running afoul of Paul Haggis (dude, you’re not that important) she managed to write about it for Spinner.
To read the story, click here.
Filed under Concerts, Music, Shameless Promotion
I Overcame My Autism And All I Got Was This Lousy Anxiety Disorder: A Memoir
Risky Fuel 