Fighting Breast Cancer One Celebrity at a Time

Pairing celebrities and charity is nothing new. Just last week, the hit television series American Idol raised over $30 million with its "Idol Gives Back" special. There's nothing mysterious about the public's fascination with celebrity and for all of our complaining about celebrity culture and the public's obsession with the rich, famous and sometimes infamous, there have been a few savvy citizens who have figured out just how to better the world with it.

Take Lisa Spodak and Kelly Wold. Together, the two have worked together to marry the public's fascination of the celebrated and marry it with the fight against breast cancer with Lisa's Project Teddy Bear. Waiting hours after events and premieres to meet with celebrities in hopes of getting a photograph with one of their trademark bears and an autograph, they then go on to auction the fruit of their ventures and, as a result, combat a disease that plagues women and their families who suffer with them. I was able to talk with the girls behind the bears and find out just how one girl's idea turned into over $23,000 for Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

1. First of all, tell me what made you want to raise money for Avon Walk for Breast Cancer?

Kelly: Actually, this was started by my good friend Lisa Spodak in NYC in 2004. She first got involved with Avon Walk after her mother, cousin, and step-mom were all diagnosed with breast cancer within a few years. They survived, fortunately, and Lisa was inspired to start doing the Walk.

2. How did you come up with the idea of getting celebrities involved?

Kelly: Again, it was all Lisa's idea. She enjoyed going to Broadway shows in NYC and hanging out at the stage door to meet the celebrities. She was looking for a new and exciting fundraising idea, so she started Project Teddy Bear. You can read all about it on her web site: www.lisawalks.com/ptb2007. Last year, I volunteered to help her out by collecting celebrity autographs and photos on the west coast since I attend movie premieres and red carpet events from time to time. I still help her out. My latest one is Jay Leno, who happily agreed to participate last week outside the NBC studios in Burbank.