Mel Gibson, Gene Simmons, Vince Vaughn and Andrew Garfield Support Mending Kids

By Heather Newgen

Beverly Hills was buzzing with excitement as Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Andrew Garfield and Gene Simmons hosted a poker tournament at Citizen—a new eatery located next door to celeb hotspot, Spago. The A-listers along with the World Poker Tournament (WTP), threw the event to raise money for Mending Kids International—an organization that provides life-saving surgical care to children worldwide.

CEO of the World Poker Tournament, Adam Pliska, explained their involvement.

“We were approached by Mending Kids, and the WTP supports a handful of charities that really makes [sic] a positive difference. Over time, we’ve raised about $6 million dollars and brought a lot of awareness to charities that really contribute the lives of young people. Mending Kids is ideal, because you can’t find a charitable organization with more impact. They are going into villages—in places where the idea of having a life-changing surgery was a dream. They’re so inspiring, and we’re honored to be here.”

As fans gathered around the restaurant trying to catch a glimpse or photo of the Hollywood stars, the Braveheart actor/director, and Kiss frontman, talked to The Voluntourist about their ties with the charity and why it’s so important to them.

“I’ve been involved with Mending Kids for a long time. I met some kids a long time ago who needed help. We helped them, and the organization formed around that. We have teams of doctors going into third world countries where they can’t afford surgeries, and we began to bankroll some of that stuff,” Gibson said.

He added, “I think they’ve done such good. The most amazing thing about this organization in particular is .95 cents on every dollar goes to the kids, and goes to life-saving operations. We’re in 63 countries around the world including the United States. We go where we’re needed. The more contributions we get, the more good work we can do. There’s an ocean of need, and I think it’s an important charity. It really does a lot of good. We’re all prepared to lose at poker tonight so they can win.”

For Simmons, he has a deeply personal reason why he gives back, which he shared with The Voluntourist.

“I came to America when I was 8-years-old. I am my mother’s only child. My mother was in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany when she was 14-years-old, and it’s through my mother’s eyes that I learned from the grace of God, I could have been in a concentration camp. Or I could have been born some place without an arm or a leg. People are lucky to be born in America where you have plenty to eat, and all you have to complain about is traffic. There are children around the world who have lots to complain about and we’re here to lesson their pain.”

The rock star continued, “When children are hungry, you can almost fix that by sending money. If they need a new t-shirt or something, you can send t-shirts. But what happens when they’re born with a disease or physical problem? So, what Mending Kids does is send doctors for free around the world to provide free operations where they live. They also teach local doctors how to do the operations. If it wasn’t for Mending Kids, you’d have many more kids dying. You’ll never end the suffering, but this is the least we can do.”

But this isn’t the first time Simmons has helped children globally.

“Before this, I paid for an entire mission for the Starkey Foundation to provide hearing aids for 4,000 children in China and Mongolia. Many of the children had never heard their mother saying I love you.”

For more information on Mending Kids you can check out www.mendingkids.org

Unite4Humanity Honors Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, Olivia Wilde & Seth Rogen

Academy Award winners Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey were honored in Beverly Hills for their philanthropic work at the third annual Variety’s Unite4Humanity, presented by Karma.

Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (5597647ax)

Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey Variety’s Unite4:Humanity Gala, Arrivals, Los Angeles, America – 25 Feb 2016
Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (5597647ax)
Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey
Variety’s Unite4:Humanity Gala, Arrivals, Los Angeles, America – 25 Feb 2016

McConaughey received the Creative Conscience Award for his work with his foundation, Just Keep Livin,’ which is dedicated to empowering high school students by providing them with the tools to lead active lives and make healthy choices for a better future. The Voluntourist talked to the “Dallas Buyers Club” actor at the event, where he proudly chatted about his non-profit organization.

“We want to make sure we teach somebody good habits. There’s a science I think to health and satisfaction, so that’s when I said ‘kids,’ and then it was, ‘which kids,’ and I thought about, ‘what’s the last years before you’re out on your own?’ You don’t get a second or third chance where you don’t have to listen to a principal, parent,” he said.

Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (5597647bu)

Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey Variety’s Humanity Gala, Arrivals, Los Angeles, America – 25 Feb 2016

He added, “You’re on your own. Life out in the real world has a lot bigger bite. You may end up in jail or dead. So if you’re on the right path, let’s keep you there. If you’re on the wrong path, there’s going to be some alternatives. I’m happy to say that over 90% of our kid’s attendance has improved with our curriculum within the school that they’re in.”

Karma Award honoree Freeman received a standing ovation for his commitment to the Tallahatchie River Foundation, which he founded in his home state of Mississippi with his daughter, Morgana Freeman, to enhance educational opportunities for underserved youth — “the unfortunate of the unfortunate,” per Freeman. “I don’t think of this as charity,” said Freeman in his speech. “This is what I have to do.”

“Vinyl” star Olivia Wilde was the recipient of the “unite4children Award” for her work with the organization, “Save the Children,” for which she focuses on the issues of maternal health in developing countries. “I’m just excited to be able to share a little bit about what Save the Children does, and why it’s something I believe so deeply in. I’m really proud of the work they do. In 2014 alone, they reached 40 million women and children. Every year, six million children under the age of five die from preventable causes—half of those are newborns. So when you hear numbers like that, you’re inspired to act and you know you want to do something,” she told The Voluntourist.

Photo by Buckner/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (5597652d)

Lauren Miller and Seth Rogen

Variety’s Unite4:Humanity Gala, Inside, Los Angeles, America – 25 Feb 2016

Seth Rogen and his wife Lauren Miller received the “unite2gether Award” for their work with “Hilarity for Charity,” and Golden Globe winning actress Gina Rodriguez—who was visibly emotional in her speech—was presented with the “Young Humanitarian Award” for her work in creating her “We Will Foundation.”

Photo by Amy Tierney/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (5597654f)

Gina Rodriguez Variety’s

Humanity Gala presented by Karma Automotive, Los Angeles, America – 25 Feb 2016

“Among the many emotions of pride, I also can’t help but feel I shouldn’t be accepting this award,” said Rodriguez, who humbly credited her parents for instilling in her a philanthropic streak. “I grew up in the ‘hood of Chicago. We didn’t have much, but that didn’t stop my parents for doing everything they could to provide for their kids. They set the trend—they taught me that being good was a standard that doesn’t need praise or recognition. This isn’t an award that we work toward. This is me—this is my heart. This is a reminder that the world I want to live in is one of service.”

Unite4good also used the evening to launch its #whatsgood campaign, where celebrities, fans and regular folks will challenge each other to post pictures and videos of things that make us smile, acts of kindness, volunteerism and heroism. The idea is to create a positive chain that inspires and promotes a greater social good.