USA: Singer-songwriter Jewel joins forces in philanthropy with British billionaire Sir Richard Branson

Record ID: 777810

  • Title: USA: Singer-songwriter Jewel joins forces in philanthropy with British billionaire Sir Richard Branson
  • Date: 7th July 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER JEWEL SAYING: "Richard (Branson) is great you meet a lot of people that are very successful men and they act and behave like successful business men and he really acts more like an artist he is a creative thinker. He reminds me of a hippie actually."
  • Embargoed: 22nd July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA6KB9M1I9B556RVCXM11LURBMR
  • Story Text: Flamboyant British billionaire Virgin Group chieftain Sir Richard Branson made a grand entrance on a horse to the Rock the Kasbah benefit honoring his mother in Los Angeles, California on Monday (July 2).
    "Well Richard was so crazy that I am amazed that he only broke one leg you know I mean if you brought up a son like Richard you would have just as much trouble. Anyhow it was great fun never a dull a moment and he has kept it up ever since," Eve Branson said of her son Richard.
    Singer Jewel performed in at the gala at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, benefiting Virgin Unite's charitable projects in Morocco, which are being spearheaded by Richard's mother, Eve Branson.
    "Last time I rode a horse I was eight years old and I was jumping and jump and I feel off the jump and I broke my rib and I swore never to ride a horse again. I turn up at the event and I'm told here is your outfit get on the horse and get on. Anyway he was a very well behaved horse despite all the flashes of the lights," Sir Richard Branson told Reuters.
    The event featured celebrity guests, live and silent auctions, dancing and performances by multi-platinum singer-songwriter, Jewel and Naked Rhythm.
    "Virgin Unite is Richard Branson's charitable arm of his company and what they are doing tonight is called "Rock the Kasbah" and it's to raise for these indigenous people that live Atlas mountains of Morocco, about one hour outside of Morocco, and actually the whole night is in honor of Richard's mother Eve who has really been a force behind Richard his whole life," said actress Mariel Hemingway who hosted the Rock the Kasbah benefit.
    The event honored Eve Branson, Richard's mother, and raised funds for projects that Eve, with the support of Virgin Unite, has undertaken in rural Morocco.
    Virgin Unite's goal is to develop sustainable approaches to forgotten and overlooked social and environmental issues around the world.
    Eve has focused her efforts on Morocco, providing training, supplies and new workrooms to Berber people in three Atlas Mountain villages.
    These advancements have helped villagers to produce and sell hand-embroidered clothes, carpets and knitted items, creating a much-needed, self-sufficient income source.
    "Well Morocco came about because I was trying to fly around the world in a balloon and I was based in Morocco because the jet streams are very strong right over ahead. We kept waiting for the right jet stream, waiting for the right jet stream and while we were doing that she (mother Eve) went up looking in the mountains and fell in love with this beautiful kasbah called the kasbah Tamadot and she came down one day and said, "If I am gonna wait for you anymore to go up in your bloody... You are going to have to buy the kasbah and I will look after all the people in the area there, so anyway that's what happened," Richard Branson said.
    Launched in the United Kingdom in 2004, Virgin Unite is the independent charitable arm of the Virgin Group. Virgin Unite was created by Richard and Virgin Group employees around the world to harness Virgin's people, resources and energy to make a difference. Virgin Unite was established in the US and Canada in 2006 and is also operational in the UK, South Africa and Australia.
    Once homeless herself, Jewel also recently spoke at a U.S. Congressional hearing as part of her work on behalf of Virgin Unite's Youth Homelessness Campaign.
    "Richard is great you meet a lot of people that are very successful men and they act and behave like successful business men and he really acts more like an artist he is a creative thinker. He reminds me of a hippie actually," Jewel said on the red carpet.
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