Celebrity & Charity, Celebs helping the world with star power

The Associated Press announced Monday that Jimmie Johnson is its 2009 Athlete of the Year. Johnson is the first race driver ever chosen in the 78-year old history of the award.

The four-time NASCAR champ is praised as an all around “good guy” on and off the race track. Through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, he and his wife have donated millions to charity, mostly to improve education for kids and helping our Habitat for Humanity. In 2006, Johnson donated his entire winner’s paycheck to victims of wild fires in San Diego and this year has dedicated to house families of the fires.

Charmin teamed up with celebrities Mario Cantone, Mario Lopez, Martina McBride and Sherri Shepherd to design toilet seat covers for charity. TV personality Mario Lopez performed the ceremonial first flush at the Charmin Restrooms in Times Square.

Visit the Charmin Restrooms this holiday season to help raise money for charity. In addition to providing tourists and New Yorkers with a free, clean and family-friendly place to “enjoy the go.” For each consumer visiting the Charmin Restrooms between December 17 and December 31, Charmin will donate one dollar to the celebrity’s charity of choice up to $50,000

I can vouch for this “relieving” experience when my friend Blaine and I roamed around Times Square this weekend. Charmin’s “Go Team” who braved the cold in toilet costumes as they dance and sing shows their dedication to giving this holiday season.

Hallmark Cards, Inc. and actress Alison Sweeney, known as the host of “The Biggest Loser” recently hosted the Celebri-Tree Holiday Open House to support Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Celebrities like Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards, Jane Kaczmarek, and Marlee Matlin personalized Hallmark ornaments, cards, DVD’s and a recordable storybook: “The Night Before Christmas.”