USA: Singer Bette Midler uses her sixtieth birthday celebrations toward a good cause in New York City

Record ID: 785393

  • Title: USA: Singer Bette Midler uses her sixtieth birthday celebrations toward a good cause in New York City
  • Date: 5th November 2005
  • Summary: TALK SHOW HOST PHIL DONAHUE ON THE RED CARPET (IN COWBOY COSTUME)
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA61OUMICOBSHNUYV52HUAW0REH
  • Story Text: Singer Bette Midler celebrated her 60th birthday with a "Hulaween" gala in New York City on Monday night (October 31, 2005) that saw a range of celebrities in outlandish costumes raising a toast to the diva. Midler, whose actual birthdate is December 1st, combined her Halloween birthday celebrations with the 10th anniversary of her New York Restoration Project (NYRP), a non-profit group that reclaims, restores and develops under-resourced open spaces in New York City's five boroughs.
    Since 1995, NYRP is supposed to have removed 80,000 tons of garbage and debris from project sites and saved and revitalized more than 100 community gardens. The "Hulaween" gala worked as a fund-raiser for the NYRP, raising over 2 million U.S. dollars. Dressed as a rose for the gala, birthday girl Midler, reflected on the highlights of her journey so far. "I have had a wonderful career but I must say that the work that I do in parks and gardens for the citizens of New York, is the best work that I've ever done. It's a tremendous, tremendous...it just gives you so much heart. You clean it and it's clean, it's a satisfaction and you give people a park and suddenly they're there," she said.
    Also on the red carpet before the kick off to the gala were loud photographers and celebrities like pop star Mariah Carey and actor John Lithgow. Carey said that the best part of taking part in the gala was Bette Midler herself. "It's Bette Midler, and its because I feel that what she does for the community is amazing, and she's so talented that it's wonderful to be in her presence," she said.
    Former wimbledon champion John McEnroe attended with his wife Patti. He said he admires the work done by the NYRP. Speaking about why he attended the gala, McEnroe said: "It's (NYRP) a great cause and we're New Yorkers and Bette's a great friend of ours. She's a wonderful advocate for the city, plus it's a fun night." The gala included a celebrity auction with items ranging from a 2006 Toyota Prius delivered by Midler and actress Sarah Jessica Parker; an opportunity to listen to Faith Hill record an album in her studio, a chance to go backstage at a Dave Matthews Band concert, to a day with businesswoman and domestic diva Martha Stewart. Speaking about her involvement in the auction, Stewart said: "I've donated a morning in Bedford at my farm, and an afternoon at my house in Maine with meals and I hope it goes for a lot of money, because it's going to be a lot of fun."
    John Lithgow, who appeared as Andy Warhol for the gala, has another connection with Midler apart from his admiration for her work with NYRP. He also happened to have turned sixty recently. "I love the fact that she's celebrating her sixtieth birthday in high-high style, saying I'm 60 and I'm great. I say that - acknowledging the fact that I turned 60 last week, so I say - so Bette and I are, we're greeting old age with good spirits," Lithgow said.
    For Yoko Ono, John Lennon's former wife, attending the gala was one way of doing good work. "I think it's very very important that we all do this and I'm very thankful that Bette is doing this," Ono said. Also thankful for Midler's work is actor Chevy Chase who emphasized there was a lot to enjoy that evening. "The best part is being here with Jayni (his wife) and just enjoying the evening, enjoying where the money is going and I'm hoping that Bette will enjoy the next 60 years," he said.
    A crowd of approximately one thousand people attended the gala and were entertained by Sir Elton John. Also at the event, Sting and Trudie Styler received the "Wind Beneath My Wings" Leadership Award for their environmental work.
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