Charity

Megan Sorel

While she may play tough as nails detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, this Hollywood actress is showing off her big heart, by using her spare time to give back to women in need. Hargitay and her Joyful Heart Foundation joined forces with philosophy to build “healing kits” for women in shelters throughout the LA area to draw attention to the massive budget cuts to the state’s domestic violence services. Along with her handsome hubby Peter Hermann, celeb pals Debra Messing, Sharon Lawrence and Shohreh Aghdashloo and other volunteers, the group filled the kits with philosophy’s charity shower gel, a cozy shirt from Michael Stars and other goodies. “These kits say to a survivor: you’re not alone,” Hargitay told PEOPLE. “ I want to inspire these women with a sense of joy and possibility.” Hargitay partnered with philosophy to create a shower gel and body lotion which 100% of proceeds go to her Joyful Heart Foundation. “These products are so beautiful,” gushed a proud Hargitay. “The make women feel so good, it’s about watering your soul and heart and feeling good.” Support the cause by purchasing your own Joyful Heart shower gel, $20, from philosophy.com.– Jen Garcia

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Courteney Cox and David Arquette have headed back to the design studio just in time for the holidays. The husband-and-wife design team have been working with Satya Jewelry since 2007 on a collection of butterfly-inspired jewels to benefit the EB Medical Research Foundation, a cause close to the Arquettes’ hearts. “There is a beautiful child named Brendon, the son of one of our dear friends, Andrea Pett Joseph, who was born with Epidermolysis Bullosa or EB [a rare skin disease],” David tells Vogue.com. “We were not aware of the condition until it affected us personally but, of course, once we got to know this incredible child we wanted to do whatever we could to help.” Since the launch of their EB jewelry collection, the Arquettes and Satya Jewelry have raised over $200,000 to benefit EBMRF. For this upcoming holiday season, David and Courteney have added three new pieces to their collection, including a new butterfly pendant, a new “hope” pendant and an onyx, blue topaz and turquoise bracelet with a sterling silver charm. The collection ranges from $38-$68, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the EBMRF. Click here to shop Courteney and David’s EB collection for Satya Jewelry.

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First Marc Jacobs, went Gaga, and now M.A.C is joining the fan club. The makeup brand has named the ultimate fashion muse, Lady Gaga, and the ultimate party gal, Cyndi Lauper, as the newest faces of the M.A.C AIDS Fund for the “From Our Lips” campaign, reports WWD. Two new lipsticks inspired by the colorful artists will be unveiled on March 18, 2010 — one called “Gaga” and the other “Cyndi.” Each tube will cost $14, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the M.A.C AIDS Fund, which has invested more than $150 million to organizations in more than 67 countries since it was founded in 1994. Tell us: Will you buy Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper’s M.A.C lipstick?-Kristin Larson

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Jimmy Choo Founder and President Tamara Mellon stepped out in London last night to host the global launch party of the brand’s ‘Project PEP’. The limited edition collection with its rock ‘n’ roll, punk-inspired print will raise funds for the Simelela Rape Centre in Cape Town, a project started by Mellon and the Elton John Aids Foundation in 2005.  “When you buy one of these products here tonight, it will release the PEP medication straight to the women in Africa,” Mellon told PEOPLE as she greeted guests such as Guy Ritchie and bikini designer, Melissa Odabash, who was modeling the sky high gladiator ‘PEP Loop’ heels. Jimmy Choo will donate 25% of the net sales from this capsule collection to fund the pioneering centre where rape victims exposed to HIV are given anti-retroviral drugs to stop the virus developing. “I went to South Africa earlier this year, and I’m planning another trip in 2010,” said Mellon, adding “It was emotional but it was also an uplifting experience to see that this really does make a difference, it takes the shame away from these women.” So how does the multi-tasking Mellon, who has a H&M collaboration launching next month and a perfume in the works, juggle all of this with charity work and bringing up her 7-year-old daughter Araminta: “I don’t know!” she laughs, “I do enjoy several coffees in the morning, that tends to keep me going.” The collection is available worldwide from 4th November or buy online at jimmychoo.com.

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When co-founder and Global Ambassador Alicia Keys wanted to raise money for her charity Keep-A-Child Alive, a charity that is dedicated to providing life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care and support services to families whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India, she called upon her famous friends, of course. Stars like Halle Berry, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Queen Latifah, Iman and Padma Lakshmi joined the singer for a night of glitz and glam in New York City where Halle proved to be the night’s heaviest bidder, taking home a one-of-kind, 18k gold, blue kyanite and ruby necklace for $40,000 — all of which benefited Keep-A-Child-Alive. The necklace, which was co-designed by Alicia for jewelry line The Barber’s Daughters, is inscribed with an inspirational quote from the singer that says “Always shine/ light on the/world./Alicia Keys”. And while Alicia proudly wore the necklace during the event, Halle took it home. You can find similar (and less expensive) versions of the necklace at thebarbersdaughters.com.

Landov

What’s better than one hot store opening in a new location in West Hollywood? Two hot stores opening at once, of course! When Diavolina and Madison launched with a single party benefiting the Susan G. Komen foundation Thursday night hosted by Current/Eliott designers Meritt Elliot and Emily Current, Lucy Hale, Tichina Arnold, and Mandy Moore came out to celebrate. Moore, who works with Current and Elliot (they are also stylists) regularly, had something else her mind: her husband of seven months, Ryan Adams. “I’m learning every day,” she said of being married. “I’m lucky because I get to spend every day with my best friend and he’s a great influence.” And their pals second the emotion, with Elliot saying of the couple, “Being around both of them is a joy. They’re super fun.” Mandy also praises Emily and Merritt in turn, enthusing, “I’m always happy to support them, I couldn’t be more excited for their success. You know when hope for people and they deserve it and then it happens to the good people — there is justice in the world. I adore them and I am always happy to come out. Anything to show my love.” The other stars were focused on love of a different kind — retail love! “I’ve never been to Diavolina before but, of course, I’ve been to Madison,” said Hale. “I saw a really cute studded bag in there so I’m going to check that out.” Arnold was thinking bigger. “There are a red pair of Yves Saint Laurent shoes over there. I must have those. It’s perfect for the holidays.”

Flynet

The Oscar-winning star might be a high-fashion muse to the house of Dior, but for her next stylish collaboration, Charlize Theron is taking a more casual approach. The actress has teamed up with Give and Take Tees to create exclusive apparel to benefit the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, a foundation that helps provide funding for a mobile health and computer clinic to visit high schools in South Africa’s rural communities, which are among the poorest and most severely affected by HIV and AIDS. “Give and Take is a socially responsible company and I’m thrilled to have their support,” Theron says in a statement. “The kids that are being helped through my African Outreach Project are so incredible and vibrant. These T-shirts capture the spirit of South Africa and give everyone a way to help.” Charlize has already been spotted rocking of the brightly colored, vintage-inspired T-shirts herself. T-shirts start at $42 with fifty percent of the proceeds directly benefiting the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project. Buy yours exclusively at giveandtaketees.com.