Happy 2009!

What a great year this is going to be. Barack Obama was sworn in just a few hours ago and we're heading toward a new direction!

So is this blog! LOL (Did you like that lead in???) I have a few interviews lined up for the next few weeks -- look for an interview with former NBA superstar Alonzo Mourning and with Survivor winner Ethan Zohn. I also should have an interview with former N'Syncer Chris Kirkpatrick. All of these men are working very hard for charity and awareness.

This year, I plan on bringing you more events and more interviews, possible contests, and even a bigger website!

So onward to a great year. I hope you're doing your part to help those less fortunate than you.

Chris Kirkpatrick does good after NSync!

Chris Kirkpatrick and his foundation, The Chris Kirkpatrick Foundation, partnered with The Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families for 2 major fundraising Halloween events that took place in Orlando, Florida over the last few weekends. The events were The Mask Car AID Bash and the Halloween SPOOKTACULAR.

Chris Kirkpatrick, founding member of *NSYNC, along with former band-mates Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, Orlando Magic, Wesley Jonathan, Denyce Lawton and others attended. Both fundraising events celebrating classic Halloween fun focused on raising money for children in need for the Chris Kirkpatrick Foundation whose mission is to enhance the lives of under-privileged children throughout the United States.

Says Kirkpatrick, “I am thrilled to host these Halloween events for my foundation and to have my friends join me in my fundraising efforts which will allow me to continue to create life changing opportunities geared toward enhancing the lives of children through health care, educational and developmental programs.”

I'm hoping we'll hear more from Chris in a future blog post!

Justin Timberlake Takes A Swing At Childhood Illness

Justin Timberlake continues to solidify his good guy image with his latest foray into charitable do-gooder territory. He hit Sin City on Monday but it was for an angelic cause. Timberlake took to the links for the first day of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

The tournament ends Sunday but not before Timberlake joins Rihanna, The Jonas Brothers, Adam Levine, and others for a charity concert on Friday. Proceeds will benefit an international health care system that provides specialty pediatric care.

Timberlake, who started playing the sport about 5 years ago, says he looks forward to melding two of his favorite things.

"The partnership with the Shriners came about when I was trying to get involved with the PGA TOUR because I'm such a fan," Timberlake said. "And the Vegas spot seemed like a good fit for me and for celebrities alike, and it was already a Pro-Am, so we tacked onto that and obviously in the process we got involved with the Shriners, who is the beneficiary of the tournament. And so it's great."

But he says he's still coming to grips with his name bolstering the event.

"I don't think it's really hit me yet," he said. "I sort of had a glimpse of it when I saw the first logo on one of the flags...I was kind of like, 'Wow, this is really happening.' It's kind of been a small dream of mine to host an event. The first time I ever played a Pro-Am in golf was at the Bob Hope in the desert. I had a great time. I thought to myself, it would be amazing if one day I could be able to, A, host an amazing event and, B, raise some money for charity. The Shriners Hospital, obviously we're going to do some great things for them in raising money with this week coming up in October. So I'm excited. I'm really, really excited about it."