Breaking News: Former first lady Betty Ford dies at 93 years – Rest In Peace

CNN.com reported on Friday, July 8, 2011 the Betty Ford, the widow of late President Gerald Ford and a co-founder of an eponymous addiction center in California, has died at the age of 93, according to the director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.

In 1982, Betty Ford and Leonard Firestone founded the Betty Ford Center to serve patients and save families. Per TMZ.com some of the celebrities that have sought treatment at the facility — includes Lindsay Lohan, Chevy Chase,Kelsey Grammer, Elizabeth Taylor, Anna Nicole Smith, Ozzy Osbourne, Drew Barrymore, Johnny Cash, Liza Minnelli, Billy Joel, and David Hasselhoff.

The Betty Ford Center is located at 39000 Bob Hope Dr Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. Mrs. Betty Ford is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

On Betty Ford Memorial Website at www.BettyFordMemorial.com posted the following statement:

April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011

The family of President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford issued the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that we inform you that our beloved mother Betty Ford has passed away at 93 years of age. She died peacefully today at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California.

Mother’s love, candor, devotion, and laughter enriched our lives and the lives of the millions she touched throughout this great nation. To be in her presence was to know the warmth of a truly great lady.

Mother’s passing leaves a deep void, but it also fills us with immeasurable appreciation for the life we and Dad shared with her.”

Susan Ford Bales
Steven Meigs Ford
John Gardner Ford
Michael Gerald Ford

Funeral details for Mrs. Betty Ford, wife of the 38^th President of the United States Gerald R. Ford, will be provided to both the media and the public and will be posted on www.BettyFordMemorial.comas information becomes available.

For those considering sending flowers or making a contribution in honor of Mrs. Ford, her family has requested that contributions and donations in lieu of flowers be made to the organizations found on the Contributions page.

To send a message of condolence to the Ford family, click here: Condolence Book

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor are offering extended hours in their lobby areas for those who wish to express their sympathy to the Ford family, including signing a condolence book.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Museum lobby will be open 24 hours a day until further notice beginning at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, July 8th in order to enable the public to sign a condolence book. The Museum’s other areas, including all exhibit galleries and the gift store, will be closed for approximately 7 days beginning Saturday, July 9th.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Library lobby will be closed until Monday, July 11th at 9:00 a.m. and then open 9:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

About Betty Ford: Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford (April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011^[1][2]), better known as Betty Ford, was the wife of former United States President Gerald Ford and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. As First Lady, Ford was active in social policy and shattered precedents as a politically active presidential wife.

Throughout her husband’s term in office, she maintained high approval ratings despite opposition from some conservative Republicans who objected to her more moderate and liberal positions on social issues. Ford was noted for raising breast cancer awareness following her 1974 mastectomy and was a passionate supporter of, and activist for, the Equal Rights Amendment. Pro-choice on abortion and a leader in the Women’s Movement, she gained fame as one of the most candid first ladies in history, commenting on every hot-button issue of the time, including feminism, equal pay, ERA, sex, drugs, abortion, and gun control. She also raised awareness of addiction when she announced her long-running battle with alcoholism in the 1970s.

Following her White House years, she continued to lobby for the ERA and remained active in the feminist movement. She is the founder, and served as the first chairwoman of the board of directors, of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction and is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal (co-presentation with her husband, Gerald R. Ford, October 21, 1998) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (alone, presented 1991, by George H.W. Bush).

About The Betty Ford Center: Betty Ford Center is an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center. Often referred to generically, as a drug rehabilitation clinic, the Betty Ford Center provides treatment for alcohol and drug abuse/dependency in a safe, state of the art, licensed addiction hospital. If you or a loved one is suffering from drug or alcohol abuse/dependency.

Sources: Wikipedia, CNN.com, http://www.bettyfordcenter.org, TMZ.com

Photos credit to: http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov

12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards Returns to Las Vegas & Air on Univision Network

On Thursday, May 19, 2011 from Miami The Latin Recording Academy announced that Latin music’s most prestigious awards telecast, the 12thAnnual Latin GRAMMY^® Awards (www.latingrammy.com), returns once again to Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center on Thursday, Nov. 10,2011, and will air live on the Univision Network from 8 – 11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central).

Nominations for the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at a live press conference in Los Angeles (venue to be announced shortly).

“What better place to host the Latin GRAMMYs than Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center and once again offer music lovers unique and memorable performances,” said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy^®. “We are delighted to return to the entertainment capital of the world and showcase the best and brightest in Latin music, as well as highlight new and established programs and initiatives throughout Latin GRAMMY Week. We look forward to another successful Latin GRAMMY season.”


Since the annual Latin GRAMMY telecast debuted on Univision entirely in Spanish in 2005, the show has consistently earned increased ratings year after year worldwide. Additionally, the Latin GRAMMYs has become one of Univision’s highest rated shows, as well as the most watched and highly regarded award events by Hispanics.

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization’s social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/latingrammys, and a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

Source: The Latin Recording Academy
Photos credit to: Wikipedia


Editor’s Note: For coverage, photos, videos, updates and breaking news on The 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, please come back to Diversity News Magazine

Jimmy Kimmel to present first Annual Right to Laugh Award to Fred Willard

Bill Maher, Jimmy Kimmel, Bob Odenkirk, Dana Gould, Dave Koechner, Garfunkel & Oats, Ali Wong and others will be the star performers at the second annual RIGHT to LAUGH comedy event on April 27, 2011, supporting The Alliance for Children’s Rights, the only free legal service organization in Los Angeles solely dedicated to the protection of impoverished and abused children. The event will be held at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood beginning at 6pm for a cocktail reception with the show at 8pm.


On the evening it will be the presentation of the first-ever Right to Laugh Award, which will be presented to comedy icon Fred Willard by television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Hosted by the Friends of the Alliance, a group of individuals who support The Alliance for Children’s Rights, the event is expected to bring in more than 300 supporters from the entertainment, corporate and philanthropic communities. The event will raise funds for The Alliance to maintain the vital resources needed to continue to protect the rights of impoverished and abused children.

“There is nothing funny about the plight of abused children in Los Angeles, but luckily the gift of comedy has the power to connect people, build awareness, and raise resources, and that is why this is such a special evening,” commented UTA co-founder Peter Benedek who is co-chairing the event.

About Jimmy Kimmel: James Christian “Jimmy” Kimmel (born November 13, 1967) is an American television hostand comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central‘s The Man Show andWin Ben Stein’s Money. Kimmel is also a television producer, having produced shows such asCrank Yankers and The Andy Milonakis Show.
About The Alliance for Children’s Rights: Is Los Angeles’s preeminent free legal services organization dedicated solely to protecting impoverished, abused and neglected children. Since its founding in 1992, The Alliance has been a consistent safety net for over 100,000 children and families. For more information visit www.kidsalliance.org


Photo credit to: Albert L. Ortega/PR Photos

Source: Wikipedia

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Official Movie Trailer & Release Date Feb. 11th

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (The Movie)

Follows Justin Bieber with some footage of performances from his 2010 concert tour.



Director: Jon Chu
Starting: Justin Bieber, Boys II Men, Miley Cyrus, Sean Kingston, Ludacris, Jaden Smith, Usher Raymond and more.
Studio: (Paramount Pictures)
Release Date: 02/11/2011

Production Companies

• Insurge Pictures
• Island Def Jam Music Group
• MTV Films
• Magical Elves Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)

About Justin Bieber:
Justin Drew Bieber^[7] (pronounced /ˈbiːbər/ BEE-bər, born March 1, 1994)^[1] is a Canadianpop-R&B singer.^[2][3][4] Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun,^[8] who happened to come across Bieber’s videos on YouTube and later became his manager. Braun arranged for him to meet with Usher in Atlanta, Georgia, and Bieber was soon signed to Raymond Braun Media Group (RBMG), a joint venture between Braun and Usher,^[9] and then to a recording contract with Island Records offered by L.A. Reid.^[5][10]

His debut single, “One Time“, released worldwide in 2009, charted in the top 30 in over ten countries. His debut release, My World, followed on November 17, 2009, and was eventually certified platinum in the United States. He became the first artist to have seven songs from a debut album chart on the Billboard Hot 100.^[11] His first full studio release, My World 2.0, was released on March 23, 2010 and has since received similar success; it debuted at number one and within the top ten of several countries and was certified platinum in the United States. It was preceded by the worldwide top-ten single, “Baby,” in January 2010. For more information visit http://www.justinbiebermusic.com/


Sources: IMDB, Media Max Online, Wikipedia & http://www.justinbieberneversaynever.com/

Editor’s Note: EPK.TV provided by Media Max Online to Diversity News TV, Diversity News Magazine, published by Diversity News Publications, a media and public relations firm.

Sharon Tay from KCBS/KCAL-TV Attends Hydrogen Magazine Launch, Fashion Show & Succeed Foundation Fundraiser

On Thursday, December 16, 2010 News Anchor Sharon Tay from KCBS 2/KCAL 9 Los Angeles -TV Attends Hydrogen Magazine Launch, Fashion Show & Succeed Foundation Fundraiser. The event was held at La Bodeguita de Pico located at 5047 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90019.

Other people the attended the event were: Dante Basco And Lina So, Gabriel Tang, Fashion Guru Haus of M,  Grey Damon And Jack Briggs, Jaimie Hilfiger, Sanaz Abdi, Grey Damon and Jessica Rizo.


About Sharon Tay:

Sharon Tay (born October 15, 1966) is an Asian American journalist and former host of two programs on the MSNBC network^[1][2].
Sharon Tay was born in Singapore and emigrated to the United States at the age of seven. Her family settled in Connecticut for several years before relocating to the Philippines. She spent hersophomore year at the International School and then returned to the United States to complete her high-school education in Massachusetts. Sharon Tay attended Boston University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism, with a minor in International Relations^[1].


Sharon Tay’s first big break came in Boston, where she anchored, wrote and produced a weekend news show for a local cable station. In 1993, KCCN-TV, now KION in Salinas, California, hired Sharon Tay for special investigative reports. Soon thereafter, Tribune Broadcastingrecruited Sharon Tay for its KTLA-5 Los Angeles staff as a general assignment reporter. She went on to become a weekend anchor and, ultimately, an anchor for the early morning edition of the news^[1].
Sharon Tay left KTLA in December 2004 in order to pursue opportunities at MSNBC. Her hosting duties at MSNBC included stints at “MSNBC at the Movies” and “MSNBC Entertainment Hot List”, where she either hosted or co-hosted the show^[2]. Those shows were cancelled and, for a time, she was off the air completely, most likely waiting out her contract. However, Sharon Tay was seen on several episodes of KTTV‘s Fox 11 weekend entertainment show “That’s So Hollywood” and on NBC‘s drama Las Vegas as a news reporter. Sharon Tay is currently working for CBS 2 and KCAL 9, where she anchors on KCAL 9 weeknights at 8pm and 10pm^[1].


In 2004 Sharon Tay posed for a sexy pictorial for the now defunct Razor Magazine^[3][4].
Sharon Tay is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association.

Sharon Tay is the official spokeswoman for The Directors Edge, a product line of Romar Entertainment, Inc. Sharon has also appeared in several movies as a reporter, including an appearance in Independence Day and Eagle Eye.


Sources: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Editor’s Note: We are honor to feature our Colleague Sharon Tay and we wish her the best in life.


Photos (C) 2010 & courtesy of Diversity News Magazine, published by Diversity News Publications media partner Allen Berezovsky from Star Pics Today & Photographer for PR Photos.

Diddy, Hollywood Album Release Party For “Last Train To Paris”

On Thursday, December 16, 2010 it was held the official Sean John Combs “Diddy”, Hollywood Album Release Party For “Last Train To Paris” at Supperclub Los Angeles.

Diddy’s album “Last Train to Paris” (features Dirty Money, a group consisting of Dawn Richards, formerly of Danity Kane, and singer-songwriter Kalenna Harper, who perform on the album alongside a total of sixteen guest vocals from the likes of Grace Jones and Usher from Interscope Records).

Supperclub Los Angeles is located at 6675 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA 90028. Some of the celebrities the came to support and celebrate Diddy’s Album release were Ciara, Dijon Talton, Ray J, Meagan Good, Eugenaw Washington, Kelly Price and Saleisha Stowers.


About Sean John Combs AKA Diddy:
Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969^[1]), currently known by his stage name Diddy, is an American record producer, rapper, actor, and men’s fashion designer. He has won threeGrammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award.

He was originally known as Puff Daddy and then as P. Diddy (Puff and Puffy being often used as a nickname, but never as recording names). In August 2005, he changed his stage name to “Diddy”. He continues to use the name P. Diddy in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the latter after a legal battle with another artist, Richard “Diddy” Dearlove.^[2] In June 2008 Combs’ representative denied rumors of another name change.^[3]


His business interests under the umbrella of Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide include Bad Boy Records; the clothing lines Sean John & Sean by Sean Combs; a movie production company; and two restaurants. He has taken the roles of recording executive, performer, producer of MTV’s Making the Band, writer, arranger, clothing designer, and Broadway actor. Combs’ net worth was estimated at US $346 million in 2006.^[4]


About Supperclub Los Angeles:
Built in 1934, the 13,500 square foot historic Vogue Theater has transformed into supperclub los angeles, offering a multi-sensory experience in a city that defines world-class cuisine and nightlife. supperclub los angeles is a multi-purpose dining and nightlife venue featuring a stunning bar lounge and ultra-modern amphitheater as the main dining room. With a constantly evolving menu and entertainment, supperclub los angeles is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. supperclub los angeles is part of a privately held international hospitality and entertainment company headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, that includes supperclub restaurants, music, spirits, and other related businesses. Slated to open in Fall 2010, supperclub los angeles is the sixth in an international family of supperclub restaurants, from the original in Amsterdam in 1990 to locations in Istanbul, London, Singapore and San Francisco. For more information, please visit http://www.supperclub.com

Sources: Wikipedia

Editor’s Note: Photos courtesy of Diversity News Magazine, published by Diversity News Publications media partner Allen Berezovsky from Star Pics Today.

Former American Idol Fantasia Makes Her Milkshake at Millions Of Milkshakes Culver City

Former American Idol Season 3 Winner Fantasia makes her own custom Shake at Millions of Milkshakes on November 24, 2010 in Culver City, CA. Her shake consists of ‘The Southern Paradise Shake’ which comes with Strawberries, Pineapple, Coconut and Vanilla Cream.


Fantasia took photos with her daughter Dion Barrino.

About Fantasia:
Fantasia Monique Barrino (born June 30, 1984) commonly known as Fantasia, is an American R&B/pop singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the television series American Idol in 2004. She has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. After playing the part of Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, she has been cast to be in the film adaptation of the musical.


In 2004, she released her debut single, “I Believe“, which debuted at the top spot of theBillboard Hot 100. Subsequently, she released her debut album, Free Yourself, which went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA and garnered Barrino four Grammy nominations in 2006. In 2006, she released her second album, Fantasia, which featured the number-one R&B hit “When I See U“. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA and received three Grammy nominations in 2008. She then played the part of Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple. Her third studio album, Back to Me, was released worldwide on August 24, 2010 and features the top-ten R&B hit “Bittersweet“. For more information visit: http://www.fantasiaofficial.com/us/home

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasia_Barrino & Hollywood TV

Editor’s Note: Photos Courtesy of Gisele Rebeiro from Party By 5

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