Brew Bits: Fake goods help Haiti

New York City is shipping 125,000 pounds of fake designer gear to earthquake victims in Haiti. The goods bore lables from the likes of Ed Hardy, Nike and True Religion. The Brooklyn District Attorney said normally, confiscated knock-offs are burned, but he received special permission from the real label heads to remove the fake insignia and donate the clothes. Nice!
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Brew Bits: Wyclef Raises $9 Million+ For Haiti

Wyclef’s Yele Haiti organization has raised close to $10 million since the January earthquake in Port-Au-Prince. That’s despite scrutiny over its accounting practices, payments to a personal assistant and Wyclef’s alleged affair with his former manager.

Wyclef has always maintained his innocence though, even tweeting:

“...I have been spending money n my country since I was a Fugees! why is it now after the Quake I am being Excuse! They fear I’m gaining ground.”

Whatever’s going on behind closed doors though, $10 mil is good news for the people of Haiti if they get the donations.

Click here if you want to donate to various charities working in the relief effort.

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Brew News: Rapes On The Rise In Haiti

Adding insult to injury in Haiti, rapes are on the rise as that country’s capital city continues to recover (using that word loosely) from January’s devastating earthquake.

Women and girls (as young as 2) are reportedly being raped (some, gang raped as well) in alarmingly high numbers as many residents continue to live in tent cities as a result of the quake. Those tent cities have no lighting and there’s really not much security to speak of from the country’s police force, so when night falls, attackers target women. Adding to concerns about security are the 7,000 prisoners who escaped their jail cells during the earthquake. So, you can imagine the utter mess going on there.

Rape was already a major problem in Haiti anyway, but now there are increased concerns about higher STD and HIV rates. One in 50 Haitians are infected with HIV, the highest infection rate in the Western hemisphere.

The media may have turned off its spotlight on Haiti but the country is still in need. If you want to donate to the relief effort, click here.

Photo: UN/Marco Dormino
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Brew Bits: Palin Puts Out!

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin reportedly donated $1,700 to Red Cross disaster relief for Haiti and Chile. She recently made the donation in one of those fancy Oscar suites where starts usually load up on free products like fetus creme for their faces. Palin only left with a bottle of perfume. Nice!
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More Fashion For Haiti

There are 2 new ways you can help out the survivors of last month’s earthquake in Haiti.

Pras, one-third of the Fugees, has designed the PrAsperity Haiti Relief bracelet. The $25 bracelet is made of Tiger eye beads with a crystal pave bead and circle pendant with the PrAsperity logo to symbolize life, re-birth and prosperity. Click here to buy one.

And, Beyonce is the face of the “To Haiti With Love” tee made by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Learn more about the $25 tee by clicking here.

Haiti still needs our help. Have you done your part?

Coco Wants You To “Go Hard” For Haiti

Coco is using her ass fame to raise money for Haiti’s earthquake survivors. She tweeted this pic, asking her followers to “Go Hard” for Haiti by purchasing this shirt. Problem is, she’s so intent on showing us her crack, that she forgot to flip the pic so we can actually read the shirt.

By the way, if you’re in Baltimore today, Coco’s making an appearance at a crab shack or some type of establishment til 4 pm.

Brew Bits: Good News From The Pokey

Who says only shady dealings go down behind bars?

Indiana inmates and staffers raised more than $11,000 to help Haiti's earthquake survivors.  Prisoners held bake sales and silent auctions in an effort to raise money across the state's corrections system.  A juvenile facility also raised collected canned food items.  The money and food were donated to organizations in the area who are working to help Haiti. 

Warms my little heart.

It's been a month since the tragedy in Haiti.  Have you done your part this month to help?

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Humping For Haiti......

Hey if you're gonna grind your kibbles n bits on strange pervs for cash, let it be for a good cause! A strip club in Ohio came up with the brilliant idea of donating the proceeds from their nightly "grind off" to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti..... good ish!

Nude strip club Marilyn's on Monroe (which is on Monroe Street in Toledo, Ohio, you see) donated all the money from Sunday's $10 cover charge to the International Services of Hope charity.

The name of the event was, in fact, somewhat misleading - while strip clubs are legal in Ohio, lap-dances are not.

The club's manager, Kenny Soprano (yes, that's what he's called), said it had been hard to find a charity that would accept money from a strip joint. He said Marilyn's had been considering a charity fund-raiser since before the Haiti earthquake to help improve the club's reputation.

Linda Greene, the CEO of International Services of Hope, told the Toledo Blade that she was happy to accept donations from an adult establishment. 'I don't have a problem with it,' she said. 

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Brew Music: Kirk Franklin + Friends – “Are You Listening”

We told you Kirk Franklin was amassing a team of gospel’s finest to record a song for Haiti relief… and here it is!  The project is called "Are You Listening" by Artists United For Haiti.

Beautiful! He had me at Clark Sisters though. I kinda stan for them.

Click here to learn more about the “Are You Listening” campaign and how you can help donate to the effort.

Thanks, Kirk, for not talking through the song too. #justsayin

R. Kelly Wants Your Help

...speaking of Haiti.  R. Kelly is doing his part to help the people of Haiti.  But, there's something flat out creepy about this "PSA."

Maybe it's his appeal to help the kids... or is it the dogs?  Or maybe it's his confusion of a text number vs. a real phone number.  I dunno.  You watch.  You decide.

Will You Watch?: BET's Haiti Concert

BET is getting in on the Haiti relief effort all late and whatnot.  The network plans to do a concert for Haiti next month, with Diddy, Queen Latifah and Pharrell on deck as hosts. 

The two hour concert/telethon, called "SOS Saving OurSelves — Help for Haiti," will be broadcast live from Miami and it'll mark Chris Brown's first "major" return to TV.

Wyclef Jean, Mary J. Blige, Drake, Robin Thicke, Monica and Lil Wayne are also scheduled to perform. Proceeds from the event will go to Yele Haiti, CARE and other charities.

"SOS Saving OurSelves — Help for Haiti" airs on BET, MTV, VH1 and Centric at 8 pm (ET) on February 5th.

So, will you watch?

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Brew Funny: Presidential PSA

By now, we've all seen the rather awkward public service announcement featuring former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush appealing to Americans to donate to the Haitian earthquake relief effort.  Well, Dutch comedian Joezjny did some crafty editing to create some "behind the scenes" footage of the PSA.  Watch as Clinton nails (no pun intended) his lines, and Bush struggles.

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Travolta Travels to Haiti

Actor John Travolta packed his private jet with food and family and flew to Haiti to help earthquake victims. Okay that part of the story gives me hope however Vinne Barbarino didn't just bring aid, he also brought a crew of Scientologist ministers. These "ministers" wear yellow shirts and use the power of "touch" which reportedly soothes victims of trauma. Sorry, boo boo but if I'm the walking wounded in that heat the last thing I would want is to be is "touched" by some joker who believes White Jesus is an alien but hey that's just me. The aid is appreciated John but is this the time to be Proselytizing? Just sayin'....

“Hope For Haiti Now” Raises Major Coin

Friday's "Hope For Haiti Now" telethon raised $58 million dollars for the earthquake relief fund in Haiti. That's a new record for donations made by the general public through a disaster-relief telethon. The amount only includes donations made via phone, text and online. It doesn't include private donations made by large companies, nor does it include the money raised by digital downloads on iTunes, where Justin Timberlake's and Matt Morris' duet of "Hallelujah" is the top download from the night's performances.

If you missed it… here it is.

 
Do your part… click here to donate. Haiti's going to need our support for a long time.

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It Must Be Nice To Be Diddy’s Kid

Diddy's eldest son, Justin, celebrated his 16^th birthday over the weekend. Aside from being featured on MTV's "My Super Sweet Sixteen" and arriving with Nicki Minaj on his arm, Justin got a $360,000 Maybach for his birthday. 

 

I'm twice this kid's age and I don't have a $360,000 anything.  What should he look forward to at 18? At 21? At 30? At 40? Is there anything left? 

 

Oh, Diddy did give the kid a $10,000 check to donate to Haiti.

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"Hope For Haiti Now" Performances

If you missed last night's "Hope For Haiti Now" telethon, here are some of the night's performances.

Stevie Wonder - "A Time To Love"/"Bridge Over Troubled Water"

 

Mary J. Blige - "Hard Times"

Wyclef Jean - "Rivers of Babylon"

Madonna - "Like A Prayer"

Jay-Z, Bono, The Edge & Rihanna - "Stranded"

Christina Aguilera - "You Lift Me Up"

Jennifer Hudson - "Let It Be"

Sting - "Driven To Tears"

Beyonce - "Halo"

Don't forget, you can do your part by clicking here to donate.

Haiti Relief: Deductions & Donations

Not that you give because you want to get… but… Congress is working on a plan to allow taxpayers to write off cash donations made to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti on their 2009 tax returns. The House passed a bill Wednesday that would make donations made after January 11^th and before March 1^st deductible for 2009. The plan is to allow the deductions so more people will be encouraged to give.

The Senate is also working on a similar bill.

Do your part! Donate now.

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“We Are The World” – part deux

The fact that it's been 25 years since "We Are The World" kinda makes me feel friggin' old. But I digress… here's the story.

Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are convening a new crop of stars (many of whom weren't even around for the first song…another fact that makes me feel old) to do a 25^th anniversary version of "We Are The World."

The singers taking part will stay an extra night after the Grammy awards to do the song in LA. So far, Usher, Natalie Cole and John Legend are on board.

The song is right on time since the people of Haiti can use any money raised by the sale of the song.

Aww, now I've got a case of the "I miss Michael Jackson" sads. 

By the way, the Grammy Awards air on CBS, January 31 at 8 pm (ET).

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Kirk Franklin Pens Song For Haiti

Kirk Franklin is in on the Haiti relief. He gathered some of gospel's elite to record a "We Are The World"-like track. Proceeds from the song will go to a fund that supports the survivors of last week's earthquake.

Among the list lending their voices: Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Fred Hammond, Tamela and David Mann, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, J. Moss, Smokey Norful, Marvin Sapp, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kiera "KiKi" Sheard, BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans and Marvin Winans.

Of course, don't forget… Kirk will be on the track…talkin'. The song was recorded over the weekend and it's expected to drop on iTunes later this week. So look for "A Song For Pain" the next time you're on iTunes and don't be a weasel and try download it for free.

In other Haiti relief news… this song right here actually caused me a little pain. OUCH! I'm sorry Bob.

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Brew Fashion: More Help For Haiti

Designers are doing their part to lend a hand to the people of Haiti.  Of course, you could donate directly to a host of organizations, or you can buy a product to mark your support for the cause.

Refinery 29 has this list of designers who are helping out:

Ken & Dana Design Necklace—Pick up their Rights necklace with $30 from each sale going to the Red Cross. The text on the necklace symbolizes the date of the passing of the Immigration and nationality Act of 1965 that abolished national origin quotas.
Necklace, $85, available at Ken & Dana Design

Solid Gold Rags "Save Haiti" T-shirt—100% of the proceeds go towards Haiti earthquake relief efforts.
T-shirt, $100, available at Solid Gold Rags



Alexis Bittar Jewelry—Between January 18-January 22, 100% of the sales (<3) go to wards Haiti relief programs (Catholic Relief Services to use 93% of donations).
Jewelry, available at Alexis Bittar

Bond No.9 The Scent of Peace—For every bottle sold, 10% of sales will go to the Red Cross and another portion will go towards Seeds of Peace, an organization dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions in conflict.
Bond No.9 Perfume, $150 for 50 ml, available at Bond No.9


Tucker Paisley Love for Haiti Scarf—Shop their lightweight scarves and 10% of each purchase will be donated to the American Red Cross.
Scarf, $62, available at Tucker Paisley

Toms Shoes, Trovata, Williamson PR Event—Attend the fundraiser at Brinkley's tonight. All proceeds will go to relieft efforts.
Tuesday Januray 19th 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm, Brinkley's 406 Broome St. @ Centre St., $5 donation for entry.

Bird Sale—Shop Bird and see 10% of all sales go towards Haiti.
Where: Bird, 220 Smith Street, (corner of Butler Street), Cobble Hill; 718-797-3774; 316 Fifth Avenue, (between 2nd and 3rd streets), Park Slope; 718-768-4940; and 203 Grand Street, (between Bedford and Driggs avenues); Williamsburg; 718-388-1655.

Whatever way you choose to help out... do your part!