On September 5th, all three major networks will collaborate on an unprecedented historical commercial free fundraising event for the fight against cancer with the broadcast of “Stand Up To Cancer”. The networks are donating an hour of commercial free time in hopes of rallying the public around the goal of ending cancer. “Stand Up To Cancer” is a new initiative founded to raise money to accelerate the funding of cancer research to find life saving treatments for cancer patients. Stand Up to Cancer will feature actors, sport figures, recording artists, and entertainment industry professionals who will perform and present filmed content & news about cancer. Where we are, where we are going. Network news anchors Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson will report on research that could save lives speaking with patients and scientists.
Laura Ziskin is the Producer of Stand Up To Cancer. A few of Ziskin’s film credits include the Spiderman movies, As Good As It Gets, and Pretty Woman. She also produced the 74th and 79th Academy Awards. Laura Ziskin is a cancer survivor. Ziskin’s goal is to get everyone at home to start having a conversation about cancer, creating passion in a positive direction towards fighting this disease.
Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a charitable organization established by media, entertainment and philanthropic leaders. The people’s lives in the foundation have been touched by cancer in so many ways.
Cancer claims one person every minute. Half a million people a year die from cancer. Research has come a long way as there are 10 million cancer survivors in the U.S. today. Can we take this one step further? We are so close to the edge of finding new treatments and perhaps the cure for cancer.
A few of the artists who will appear on “Stand Up To Cancer” include Fergie, Jennifer Anniston, Jessica Alba, Charles Barkley, Halle Berry, Jack Black, Abigail Breslin, Kate Bosworth, Sheryl Crow, Ellen DeGeneres, Melissa Etheridge, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Garner, Brad Garrett, Angie Harmon, Tony Hawk, Marg Helgenberger, Diane Keaton, Rob Lowe, Mandy Moore, Don Newcombe, Sharon Osbourne, Josh Peck, Mekhi Phifer, Keanu Reeves, Jimmy Smits, David Spade and Carrie Underwood. They will join a previously announced line-up Casey Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, Josh Brolin, David Cook, Dana Delany, Fran Drescher, Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Edwards, Jon Favreau, America Ferrera, Neil Patrick Harris, Salma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Masi Oka, Danica Patrick, Christina Ricci, Robin Roberts, Commissioner Allan H. Bud Selig, Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron, Goran Visnjic, and Forest Whitaker. Network news anchors Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams.
The music single to benefit the charity, “Just Stand Up” will be performed by female recording artists Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes, and Carrie Underwood. The single will be available on iTunes and mobile carriers worldwide.
The following have appeared in PSA’s or videos for “Stand Up To Cancer” in commercials or on the web. Jessica Biel (MLB PSA), Ken Griffey Jr. (Print), Ryan Seacrest (SUTV), Larry David (SUTV), Tony Hawk (PSA), Tilda Swinton (PSA), Elle Fanning (PSA), Tobey Maguire (PSA), Christy Turlington Burns (PSA), David Fincher (dir. PSA), Edward Norton (Manifesto), Henry Winkler (SUTV), Jodie Foster (PSA), Sidney Poitier (PSA), The cast of The Daily Show (SUTV), Morgan Freeman (PSA), Keanu Reeves (PSA), FunnyOrDie.com (SUTV), Balthazar Getty (Print), Paul Rudd (SUTV), Topher Grace (Manifesto), Susan Sarandon (PSA).
Major League Baseball, one of the first donors unveiled it’s text to donate initiative seen in the PSA’s with Jessica Biel that has and is running in Baseball Stadium’s throughout the country over the summer. Commissioner Selig unveiled the program alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Sheryl Crow.
As a human being this is your time to shine with the stars. It is a moment in time that can forever change the lives of the people around you. Together we can make an impact one person at a time to stop this disease right in its tracks. Everyone is touched by cancer. I am one of those people. When it happens it changes the lives of the people around the affected person forever. It is time to end reign on cancer, and make it like polio a part of our past history. If you have cancer, you are not alone. You can find some resources at the “Stand Up To Cancer” website www.standup2cancer.org.
Save a life.
For more information please go to www.standup2cancer.org. Don’t miss the broadcast September 5th, 2008 at 8pm prime time to join the rest of the U.S. to stand up and make cancer a disease of the past.