Bullock Honored By High School In New Orleans

Actress Sandra Bullock was honored last Friday by a New Orleans high school–inducted into their Hall of Fame, actually–for her generous donation toward the school’s rebuilding efforts. Warren Easton Senior High took a huge beating by Hurricane Katrina in ‘05, incurring nearly $10 million in damages for almost 10 feet of floodwater. Bullock swooped in for support.

The under-the-radar philanthropic force, whom Glamour magazine fittingly dubbed “The Undercover Activist” in an 2006 article, took the podium to a 300-person standing-O crowd in the school’s auditorium last Friday, May 15th. In true Sandy B. credit-shirking style, she said, “I just write the checks.” She then added that she simply “rides the coattails of people who do amazing things,” but also called it “the best investment I ever made.”

Bullock, who lives in Austin, TX, has visited the school many times since Katrina slammed New Orleans. During that time she was also something of a regular fixture at the Austin convention center, assisting with food, clothing, and shelter for evacuees. The donation to Warren Easton helped to fund scholarships and auditorium renovations, as well as to buy new band uniforms. The latter was especially important to Bullock because of the city’s rich music history. “It’s not just reading, writing and arithmetic,” she said. “Where’s the joy in life? In New Orleans, it’s in music.”

Bullock with hubby Jesse James at a Dallas Stars vs. L.A. Kings game

After 9/11, Bullock wrote a million-dollar check to the American Red Cross to help attack victims, and yet another (yep, million-dollar check) to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Asia after the ‘04 tsunami. She also financially backed creation of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, named for the former Texas governor who died of esophageal cancer in 1995, and whom Bullock idolized. “She was an awesome broad–that’s like the highest compliment.”

Although immensely active in charity work over the past few years, Bullock’s film career is still at full throttle. “The Proposal” with Ryan Reynolds comes out next month, followed by “All About Steve” in September, costarring Thomas Haden Church and Bradley Cooper. Currently, Bullock is in Atlanta filming “The Blind Side” with Tim McGraw, which depicts the story of NFLer Michael Oher, set to release in November.

Also an entrepreneur, Bullock owns Bess Bistro in Austin, as well as Walton’s Florist & Nursery, and just last Friday opened a modern version of a general store called Walton’s Fancy & Staple in a pre-1900’s renovated building, targeting the downtown Austin biz crowd. (Not that she could be present for the grand opening; coincidentally, it was the same day she accepted the Warren Easton award).

Gotta say, love this gal. I’ve always been a huge fan not only of her work, but of how she carries herself, sets her priorities, and of her obvious passion for embracing life. Her kick-ass efforts for those in need only cap off the package and make her that much more awesome. A true Hugbacker!

KIDMAN & URBAN DONATE HALF A MIL TO RED CROSS FOR AUSSIE FIRES

Superstar couple and Down Under natives Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, who appeared via satellite during a telethon to raise funds for the Australian bushfire appeal, made a $500,000 donation to the Red Cross.

Said Kidman, “As Australians, I think the biggest thing is that no matter where you are in the world, we support each other. We’re Aussies, and we support each other and we rally. We would like to donate a half a million dollars on behalf of our family to the families that need it now.”

Par for the course, for the very classy couple.

American Idol Contestant Donates Proceeds of New Song to ALS and Red Cross

Michael Johns may not have won American Idol, but the season seven contestant wins big for a very cool move he recently made in the world of giving. In 2006, when the realization hit that he wouldn’t be returning to his homeland of Australia for Christmas, Johns penned a song in the middle of the night, called “Another Christmas,” about missing loved ones. Though his first post-Idol album hasn’t dropped yet (look for it in March ‘09), “Another Christmas” was released December 9th on iTunes. The crooner’s only condition for releasing it? That proceeds go to charity: 50% to Red Cross, and 50% to Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). His friendship with Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell sparked the idea for the ALS donation, as Nancy lost her mom to the disease earlier this year. The move is a great way to support Red Cross and especially ALS, one of those diseases which, as Terrell Suggs stated about Sickle Cell, we don’t hear very much about, and which doesn’t get nearly the funding it needs. Go to iTunes, buy it, burn it, send it!

Michael Johns with pal Nancy O'Dell of Access Hollywood

PHOTO: Lisa Rose/lisarosephoto