Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Attend DNC Fundraiser

Justin Timberlake and wife/actress Jessica Biel attended a Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser, headlined by President Obama, at Harvey Weinstein and wife Georgina Chapman‘s Manhattan home on May 13, reports Deadline.

The fundraiser for the DNC and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) was to raise funds for the 2014 midterm elections.

Approximately 65 guests attended the fundraiser, paying between $16,200-$20,000 a ticket. Among the guests at Weinstein’s house, were Steve Martin, Melanie Griffith, Steve Buscemi, Uma Thurman, as well as fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and White House staffers Dan Pfeiffer and Jay Carney.

The New York Post reported that Saturday Night Live comedian Jay Pharaoh impersonated Obama in a skit and was assisted by Timberlake, Biel and Martin who played White House staffers.

This was the first Hollywood-hosted fundraiser since Obama’s 2012 election. Obama tapped celebrity hosts such as George Clooney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Anna Wintour to host fundraisers in 2012.

 

‘House of Cards’ star fundraises for Cory Booker

Actress Kate Mara, who plays dogged reporter Zoe Barnes in the political drama ‘House of Cards’, attended a fundraiser for Newark Mayor Cory Booker on April 1.

Booker is allegedly contemplating a run for New Jersey’s Senate seat. Current Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) recently announced his retirement.

Politico reports that the reception took place in Washington D.C. and was for a potential Senate run. Tickets ranged from $40 to $100 and 300 people were expected to attend, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Actress Kate Mara with Newark Mayor Cory Booker.
Credit: Kate Mara @_KateMara

Later this month, Hollywood mega-donors including Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Bruce Willis are planning to host a fundraiser for Booker at producer Jerry Weintraub‘s house in Beverly Hills.

Stephen Colbert Hosts Fundraiser for Sister in South Carolina

Comedian Stephen Colbert hosted a $5,200 a plate fundraiser for his sister, Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, who is running for the vacant 1st Congressional House seat in South Carolina, Feb. 23.

Colbert-Busch is vying to be the Democratic nominee for the seat previously held by Sen. Tim Scott before he was appointed to fill Sen. Jim DeMint‘s seat who retired from Congress.

Colbert headlined a fundraiser for Colbert-Busch in New York City on Feb. 22, with tickets ranging between $500 – $2,500 dollars, according to the New York Daily News.

The South Carolina event was reportedly hosted at bowling alley in Charleston, where the siblings are originally from. The next morning, the duo served a breakfast for supporters.

In the past, Colbert has contemplated a career in politics. In both 2008 and 2012, Colbert mulled a presidential run.

Celebs Donate Last Minute To Romney, Obama

Although election day is just hours away, some celebrities are sending their last minute checks to their candidate of choice.

POLITICO reports that actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Zach Galifianakis, Renee Zellweger, Susan Saint James Ebersol and Amanda Seyfried have donated to President Obama’s reelection effort in the final days of the campaign.

Meanwhile, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has received contributions from actor Kelsey Grammer, Denver Broncos executive John Elway and former game show host Bob Barker.

Obama Has 16-1 Hollywood Fundraising Advantage

As of Oct. 28, President Obama has managed to out-raise Mitt Romney in Hollywood donations at a rate of 16-1, reports TheWrap.com.

A total of 208 “celebrity” donors have given $712,874 to the Obama campaign compared to 15 donors who have given $46,500 to the Romney campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, an organization that tracks donations.

The list of actors, directors and producers that donated least $5,000 include: Cameron Crowe, Will Ferrell, Ron Howard, Scarlett Johansson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Eddie Murphy, George Clooney, J.J. Abrams, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Brian Grazer, Adrian Grenier, Tom Hanks, Mariska Hargitay, Will Smith, Aaron Sorkin, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, Quentin Tarantino, Marlo Thomas, Sam Waterston, Ben Stiller, Oprah Winfrey, Kirk Douglas, Hilary Duff, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jack Black, Anne Hathaway, Bette Midler, Tobey Maguire and Rita Wilson.

Other celebrities who donated less than $5,000 include Susan Sarandon, Zach Braff, David Arquette, Martin Scorsese, Don Cheadle and Chevy Chase.

The website also reports that many in the music industry have given $5,000, including Don Henley, Gwen Stefani and Randy Newman – as well as many more who have contributed lesser amounts.

The list also includes authors, athletes and individuals in the fashion industry. This list consists of author Steven King, NBA players Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony and former NBA player Magic Johnson, designer Michael Kors and model Christie Brinkley.

Obama also has a long list of ‘bundlers’ who collect funds from friends, family and associates and then contribute the funds in one large gift.

Some of those that top the list from the industry include Dreamworks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, Harvey Weinstein, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and Ron and Kelly Meyer as well as actors Wendell Pierce, Tyler Perry and Eva Longoria.

Many of these individuals collected $500,000 according to the Center for Responsible Politics.

The Romney campaign’s list isn’t as prominent, but still has a few big Hollywood names including  Scott Baio, Jerry Bruckheimer, Neil Simon, Orson Bean, John O’Hurley, Jack Hanna as well as Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

 

 

Michelle Obama Attends Star-Studded Park Avenue Fundraiser

First Lady Michelle Obama attended a ritzy Park Avenue fundraiser in New York City on Wednesday, reports POLITICO.

Celebrity attendees included: Sigourney Weaver, Chris Rock, James Earl Jones, Blair Underwood, Cynthia Nixon, Sam Waterston, Cherry Jones, Geena Davis and Jeffrey Wright. Director Mike Nichols, husband of Diane Sawyer, was also in attendance.

The 350 guests in attendance paid $1,000 per ticket. Prior to Obama’s speech, some of the actors, (many who had coincidentally played presidents or first ladies on screen), read some classic selections from Twain, Whitman and Morrison about America.

A short time after the readings, Obama went on stage and expressed her regret for missing the readings.

“Everybody goes, ‘You’ve got a great event. This person is going to be there!’” Obama joked.  ”And I’m like, am I going to be there? ‘No, actually, you’re going to miss everything.’ So was the case tonight.”

photo credits: Getty Images

Michelle Obama Headed to Will Smith Fundraiser

(Photo: Reuters)

First Lady Michelle Obama is returning to Los Angeles October 25 for a fundraiser held at actor Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith‘s house in Calabasas, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The fundraiser will be co-hosted by actress Salma Hayek, Roc Nation co-founder Jay Brown and wife Kawanna, film producer James Lassiter and wife Mai, and Lady Gaga manager Troy Carter and wife Rebecca.

Tickets for the lunch are going for a $2,500-per-person contribution to the Obama Victory Fund. A $10,000-per-couple donation for a photo with the first lady. Guests willing to pay $40,000 will get lunch for two, a photo with Mrs. Obama and an exclusive meet-and-greet before the meal.

This isn’t the first time the first lady fundraised in Los Angeles. She attended a fundraiser earlier this summer held by singer and fashionista Gwen Stefani in Beverly Hills.

The Smiths and some of the other co-hosts have previously co-hosted fundraisers for the Obama campaign, specifically in fall 2011.

President Obama recently wrapped a star-studded fundraising weekend in Los Angeles that apparently netted the Obama campaign close to $10 million.

Obama Attends Star-Studded Los Angeles Fundraisers

Picture from actress Emmanuelle Chriqui’s Twitter (@echriqui)

President Obama attended star-studded fundraisers in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Obama began with a private fundraiser at Jeffrey Katzenberg’s house in Beverly Hills, where he apparently addressed a handful of large donors along with former President Bill Clinton.

The Commander-in-chief then made his way downtown to the Nokia Theater, where he addressed nearly 6,000 supporters.

Katy Perry, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Earth Wind & Fire and Jon Bon Jovi all performed. George Clooney came out and introduced Wonder.

After the concert, Obama went to Wolfgang Puck‘s WP24′s restaurant where 150 donors paid $25,000 per plate. Clooney and Bon Jovi also made their way to the fundraiser.  Seth MacFarlane, actress Emmanuelle Chriqui, Harvey Weinstein and producer Chuck Lorre were also in attendance.

On Sunday night and Monday, Perry tweeted photos of her nails before the concert that  had Obama’s face on them. She later tweeted a photo of herself for the For All campaign.

Singer Katy Perry

Celebrities Attend Obama Fundraiser in Paris

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour continues to fundraise for President Obama around the world. This time in Paris.

Wintour held a fundraiser for the Obama Victory Fund Oct. 1, with celebrity guests including Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, Stella McCartney, Mick Jagger and Lee Radziwill, according to the Daily Mail.

The exclusive fundraiser, held in a ritzy area of Paris was apparently sold out far in advance. The evening raised an estimated $350,000 for Obama’s reelection campaign.

In late September, Wintour co-hosted a similar fundraiser in London with a slew of celebrities. The fashion icon has been a key bundler for the Obama campaign during the 2012 election cycle.

Jimmy Buffett Performing at Obama Fundraiser

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Singer Jimmy Buffett will be performing at an Obama fundraiser in Florida hosted by celeb-lawyer, John Morgan, reports The Orlando Sentinel 

The event is private and will be held at Morgan’s Lake Mary mansion on Oct. 12. The title of the event is dubbed  “A Musical Evening with Jimmy Buffett.”

Prices start at $500 for a ticket to the concert,$1,000 for VIP seating; and $5,000 for a meet-and-greet opportunity with Buffett himself.

“Remember, it’s five o’clock somewhere.  Come get your margaritas, cheeseburgers and paradise at Morganritaville!!” Morgan states in an invitation cover letter.

The Sentinel reports that proceeds will be split up between the Obama For America committee, the Democratic National Committee, and state Democratic committees in Florida, Ohio and several other “swing states.”