What does it take to be a “real life rock star of social change?” That’s what celebrities including members of the cast of The Vampire Diaries, the Backstreet Boys, The Office‘s Brian Baumgartner and 90210‘s Tristan Wilde found out Monday night. Social change site DoSomething.org held its annual “Do Something Award Kick Off,” during which the initiative officially nominates five young people (all under the age of 25) who have shown a dedication to social change to be in the running to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice. The five nominees, who are “Do Something Award Finalists,” also receive a $10,000 grant.
In honor of the other big premiere happening Monday night in New York City — that would be the Sex and the City 2 premiere, the theme of the Do Something event was the “Other Sex” and the City. Four drag queens dressed like Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha greeted guests as they arrived at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem where the DoSomething.org Awards took place. Event attendees were also treated to performances by the Backstreet Boys (so now would be the appropriate time for a “Backstreet’s back, all right!”), Peter Buffett and Art Alexakis from Everclear.
In addition to the announcement of the five finalists, DoSomething.org honored three captains of industry who have made major contributions to humanitarian efforts over the past year. These honorees were director and producer Brett Ratner, Tom Calderone, the president of VH1, and Icema Gibbs, the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Jet Blue Airways.
The winner of this year’s Do Something Award — and the recipient of $100,000 to present to the charity of his or her choice — will be announced July 19 during the Do Something Award telecast on VH1. The awards will be hosted by none other than Sue Sylvester herself, also known as the inimitable Jane Lynch. Last year’s grand-prize winner, Maggie Doyne, used her life savings to start an orphanage in Nepal when she was only 17.
Feeling inspired to, well, do something? Find out how you, too, can be a rock star of social change at DoSomething.org.
Photos by Steven Saldana.