Anda’s Spirit joined stars of the silver screen and Broadway for the second annual "A Fine Romance" event benefiting the Motion Picture & Television Fund. This is the second year that Anda’s Spirit sponsors the star-studded love affair between Hollywood and the theatre.
Hundreds of entertainment industry talent and executives attended the event, which was held on Saturday, Nov. 18 in Hollywood.
"Zimand Entertainment, as it increasingly becomes a part of the Hollywood community, is pleased to be continuing its affiliation with the Motion Picture & Television Fund. My mission is to inspire the entertainment industry to continue to do good deeds in the world," said Henri Zimand who attended the glittering event with Anouska De Georgiou.
Catherine Zeta-Jones returned this year to headline and to welcome special guest host, Harry Connick, Jr. Other performers included Christina Applegate, Kristen Bell, Jennifer Hudson, Audra McDonald, Shirley MacLaine, Andrea McArdle, Patrick Wilson and Rita Wilson.
Zimand presented the second annual philanthropy prize, sponsored by Anda’s Spirit, to two recipients, Catherine Zeta Jones and Fox Filmed Entertainment Chairman Jim Gianopulos.
“It is an honor to be back here this year and to be able to present the second annual philanthropy prize,” Zimand told the star-packed audience. “I have something to say to Hollywood, center of the world’s most influential film industry. Because the world copies what they see in films, it would behoove you to add one good deed into the script of every film. I know that we can change the world into a better place, a place where love, hope and inspiration can be found.”
For 85 years, the Motion Picture & Television Fund has been a major service organization, promoting the well being of California's entertainment community. It provides healthcare, retirement care and charitable social services with compassion and respect for the dignity of the whole person. For more information about MPTF visit
For more information about MPTF visit
www.mptvfund.org.
Anda’s Spirit was one of the sponsors of the first United Nations Youth Summit dedicated to helping the young people of this world. The theme of the summit and gala event was "Expanding Intergenerational Mentoring" and brought together over 400 young delegates from every country. At least 86 percent of the world’s youth live in less-developed countries.
“An event like this is a chance for a partnership across borders, across cultures and across divides,” said Henri Zimand. “We need a global community to collaborate and share ideas, gain inspiration and promote dialogue. These are all Anda Spirit ideas.”
Actor Kirk Douglas made a special address to the young delegates. “I am thrilled to be part of this evening. It is critical, today more than ever, for us 'old guys' to mentor and guide the next generation in shaping the world for future generations,” Douglas said.
The four-day event was the culmination of a series of regional youth meetings that brought together recognized young leaders between the ages of 18 and 30 from various parts of the world. Celebrities that joined Douglas and Zimand for the gala evening were Anne Buydens, Bette Midler, Dana Delany, Martha Stewart, Serena Williams and Willie Nelson.
For more information about the United Nations go to www.un.org
Zimand Entertainment in conjunction with The Screen Actors Guild Foundation introduced the first annual children's writing contest to promote and encourage literacy amongst children in Los Angeles. Children were urged to enter the contest, "Love Equals," which ran through December 31st, culminating with a party on Valentine’s Day for the winners who will receive great prizes and cash awards.
Children, age 6-11, in the public and private schools of greater Los Angeles were invited to send letters, essays and poems expressing what "Love" means to them. Prizes will be given to 60 young authors, as well as their teachers and schools, and all the winning writing samples will be published in a book. A team of professional writers and celebrity judges will read the entries among them, Jane Kazcmarek (Malcolm in The Middle), Masiela Lusha (George Lopez Show), Rain Wilson (The Office, Six Feet Under), JoBeth Williams and K.J. Steinberg (writer & producer on ABC's new show The Nine).
Winners will be selected based on literary flair, enthusiasm, sincerity, humor and originality. Applicants will be judged in their own age group based on the age of the applicant by the December 31st deadline.
The Grand Prize is $5,000 and teachers of the winning applicants will also receive a Valentine's Day gift.
“Valentine’s Day was always special to Anda and me and I find this to be a perfect project to honor that love and at the same time encourage children to write,” said Zimand.
For more information go to www.npg.si.edu
Henri Zimand, Anda’s Spirit founder, made his first official visit to Japan in November to speak before
Japanese audiences about the Anda’s Spirit message and to meet with key people on issues such as health, women, children and the homeless.
Japanese was one of the first languages into which the Anda Spirit website had been translated after its inception, and has since received attention and interest from the people of Japan.
The vision of Anda’s Spirit is to inspire people to believe that good is stronger than evil and that we can reach new heights and new thoughts and can influence our environment positively and make the universe a better place in which to live,” Zimand told audiences at the Yamamoto School in an event attended by Israeli Ambassador Mr. Eli Elijahu. Anda’s spirit’s Japan director, Meguri Ikunaga, accompanied Zimand to Tokyo Medical University Hospital where he met with hospital officials. Zimand’s itinerary also included meetings and speeches at the Children’s Cancer Association of Japan, a press conference at the Foreign correspondents’ Club and a visit to the Nonohana-No-Ie (House for abandoned and neglected children.)
“If each one of us would be responsible for our own actions and not always blame others, the world would already be a better and safer place,” Zimand told Japanese audiences.
Zimand says he especially enjoyed being with the children of Nonohana-no-ie. “I encouraged them to have hope and set a goal in life,” said Zimand. "Japan is very advanced in some areas, but not in others, such as volunteering, women's status, cancer etc. I would like to come back to Japan soon." For more information please click on www.wif.org
Zimand Entertainment was one of the sponsors of the La Femme Film Festival held in Hollywood in early
October to showcase women filmmakers. The second annual festival was established to act as a platform for talented women in the entertainment industry and to bring their commercial films to a worldwide audience.
“La Femme Film Festival is more than just a festival,” said Henri Zimand. “It’s about empowering women. The festival also held a gala fundraiser to benefit UCLA’s breast cancer research center, and that’s certainly a cause close to my heart.”
The winning entries were selected for their unique voices.
“The filmmakers present a world we all know from a different perspective,” said Zimand. “I like that it is a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse film festival.”
For more information go to www.lefemme.org .
Anda Ramat Hasharon, the Israeli women’s basketball team named for Anda Zimand, finished the first round of national league games with six victories and three losses putting the team in second place. In the European league, Anda Ramat Hasharon made it to the second round of games with five wins, and one loss. Boosting the team this year is Israeli player Limor Mizrahi, 36, a veteran athlete who played for Anda Ramat Hasharon during its successful 2002/3 championship season. She has been captain of the Israeli team for many years as well as having played in Croatia, Iceland, Poland and the U.S.’s ABL semi-pro team - the New England Blizzard. Joining the team this season is Jennifer Fleischer, a 22-year-old American who was named first in Ivy League rebounds. She played for the University of Pennsylvania. Her father, Bob Fleischer, played professional basketball in Israel in the 1970s for two of Israel’s major teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv. A WNBA player, Mwadi Mabika, returns to the team after a six-year absence during which she played in Russia and for the Los Angeles Sparks.
“We’ve been trying to get her back all these years but it didn’t work out each time for various reasons,” says Coach Orna Ostfeld. “I’m glad that finally we have succeeded. From my point of view she is returning home.” At the end of the season Anda Ramat Hasharon is slated to participate in a WNBA exhibition game against the Washington Mystics for the opening round of the 2007 WNBA season. Playing for the Mystics is a former Anda Ramat Hasharon player Chasity Melvin.
Anda Ramat Hasharon, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, will be the first European team to play in a WNBA exhibition game. “This is something new, prestigious and historic, the first of its kind in Israeli women’s basketball,” said Rachel Ostrowitz, Anda Ramat Hasharon chairman. “We hope this will become a tradition.”
Proceeds from the game will be donated to women’s cancer research and aid to abused women.
