Categories Behind the Scenes Charity Football/Soccer Gallery Personal and Family Life Philanthropy Supported Causes Video

Faces of Soccer Aid by Andy Gotts

Soccer Aid Portraits for Auction

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | September 24, 2022

Some of the world’s biggest stars from the entertainment and sporting industry have been photographed by legendary celebrity portrait photographer, Andy Gotts MBE, for an exhibition at Maddox Gallery in Westbourne Grove, London. The online auction will open at 9:00 am on September 30 and runs through October 9, 2022. Damian’s Lot number is #23. Presented in a floating black wood box frame (with grain), the large Fine Art Giclée Archival Print measures 168 x 117 cm (sheet size 152 x 102 cm). Soccer Aid team: England. Appearances: 5

The stunning portraits were taken behind-the-scenes at Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2021 and 2022, and all proceeds from the sales of the signed prints will support UNICEF’s work helping children around the world to get the best start in life. By tackling the issues that turn childhoods upside down – from war and disaster to hunger and disease – UNICEF helps children to learn, rebuild their lives and gain access to healthcare so they can get back to just being kids.

Continue reading Faces of Soccer Aid by Andy Gotts

Categories Charity Philanthropy Summertime Supported Causes Video

Damian Raises Awareness for CureEB – June 26, 2018

Damian’s Children Throw Water Balloons at Him for ‘EB Pop, Make the Blisters Stop’ Campaign

by Damianista | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | June 26, 2018

source: Cure EB Facebook Page

First things first.

Same wonderful charity.

Same great mission.

Same brilliant patron.

NEW NAME!

Continue reading Damian Raises Awareness for CureEB – June 26, 2018

Categories In Development/ Pre-Production Media Personal and Family Life Print Media Supported Causes Twitter

The Money Run: A CrowdFund Campaign – July 4, 2017

The Money Run

A $20 million helicopter heist in the middle of the Vietnam War. What could possibly go wrong?

Damian’s brother, Gareth Lewis, a screenwriter, director and producer living in London, is developing a screenplay in order to bring this remarkable story to the screen the way it should be.  Flare Pictures, Gareth’s small independent production company in London, is:

raising money early on to create a script in hopes  it will not only attract a stellar cast, but also remain true to the source material and the men who fought in Vietnam.

Damian and his brother last teamed up for The Baker, also known as Assassin in Love and we all know how great the collaboration turned out!   The brothers will collaborate again on The Money Run.  Once the project is greenlit, Gareth will direct and  Damian will star in it. Damian tweeted in support of his brother:

This is your chance to get in on the ground floor for an unforgettable ride.  For more information on how to lend your support for The Money Run, visit Indiegogo.

 

 

For more of an in depth review of the project, visit Fan Fun with Damian Lewis

Categories Charity Personal and Family Life Philanthropy Supported Causes

Designing His Own Philanthropy, Part 2 – May 18, 2017

Designing His Own Philanthropy, Part 2

by Lynda – guest blogger for Fan Fun With Damian Lewis – May 18, 2017

Part II of Lynda’s detailed survey into Damian’s generous heart. In case you missed Part I, it is here.

Programs benefiting children are near and dear to Damian’s heart. Since 2000, he has donated his valuable time serving as an Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust. In 2008, in a brief street interview on London news, Damian spoke about the importance of The Prince’s Trust providing opportunities for at-risk young people who might not otherwise follow positive paths in life.

In June 2013, for the 30th anniversary event at the Centre, he and Helen, also an Ambassador, donated their time at the vocational center Enterprise Programme, which supports youth development, mentorships, self-confidence building, and entrepreneurship. There, they actively engaged with program participants, learning about the benefits of the program and offering encouragement.

Most recently, on February 9, 2017, Ambassadors Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory attended The Prince’s Trust “Invest in Futures” formal reception enjoying the company of Prince Charles himself.

source: Getty Images

Continue reading Designing His Own Philanthropy, Part 2 – May 18, 2017

Categories Charity Personal and Family Life Philanthropy Print Media Supported Causes

Designing His Own Philanthropy, Part 1 – May 11, 2017

Designing His Own Philanthropy, Part 1

by Lynda – guest blogger for Fan Fun With Damian Lewis – May 11, 2017

Part I of Lynda’s detailed survey into Damian’s generous heart. In case you missed Part II, it is here.

Lynda, one of Fan Fun With Damian Lewis’ first and constant supporters, has been a consultant working with charitable families, foundations and trusts throughout the U.S. for more than 25 years. We are extremely thrilled to have her as a guest blogger putting her expertise to work in a survey about our favorite actor’s philanthropic efforts.

Philanthropy, a word derived from ancient Greek roots, means love of humanity. In modern terms, it is the act of promoting the welfare of others through charitable donations and charitable acts.

GIVE and GET are two critical commandments in the world of philanthropy.   Philanthropists GIVE their money plus their time, often rolling up their sleeves to undertake physical, onsite work days on behalf of a cause important to them, whether building a house or needed playground or making an educational film or counseling young aspiring entrepreneurs. It is impossible for any one person or one family to give to all of the worthwhile charities in the world. So, people have to ask themselves, “What issues or challenges are important to me and my family?” Strategic giving involves setting charitable priorities and selecting recipients wisely through vetting and paring down. Some philanthropists sponsor fundraising events – luncheons, banquets, galas, marathon runs – that “get” or encourage others to give. And public figures can also lend their celebrity to make meaningful contributions to charitable causes. In doing so, they can GET others to donate money, time and effort. In the case of Damian Lewis, he has mastered so many of these generous strategies.

We cannot speak to the sums of money that Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory have donated to charities in the U.K., the US and internationally. We can only assume that their pounds and dollars support the organizations to which they have given their time and for which they have solicited dollars and time from their friends, their fans, and the public. And, although I tried several times during my recent London trip to get Damian to tell us for this Fan Fun post about his charitable priorities and his family traditions of giving (to no avail on the mini-interview front, I’m sorry to say), we can look at the recipients of his generosity over the years to infer some of his philanthropic priorities.

Source: Sohana Research Fund

One prominent example, which we follow regularly on this blog, is how Damian has brought his celebrity – his visibility – to Sohana Research Fund. A “rare disease” needs the help of a celebrity to shine a light on the cause and to help raise funds for needed medical research and treatment. In February 2012, as a celebrity supporter of the Fund, Damian went to Number 10 Downing Street as part of ICAP Charity Day. Damian became a patron of the Sohana Fund in 2013. He explained:

 “My children are at the school Sohana went to and we became good friends with her. I wanted to help so I became Patron of the Sohana Research Fund which raises money for stem cell research and gene therapy for kids with the condition.” (Mirror UK, February 22, 2015 updated)

Most recently, Damian named Sohana Collins as the living person he most admires.

“A little girl I know who’s extremely brave.” (March 16, 2017 Vanity Fair Proust Questionnaire).

In February 2015, Damian made a straightforward explanatory video about recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB or EB), interviewing leading research scientist Professor John McGrath of Kings College London. This informative video is found on the website of Sohana Research Fund and is used by the organization at its fundraising events.

Continue reading Designing His Own Philanthropy, Part 1 – May 11, 2017

Categories Events Red Carpet Supported Causes

Damian Attends MOMA Film Benefit: A Tribute to Tom Hanks – Nov 15, 2016

Damian Attends MOMA Film Benefit: A Tribute to Tom Hanks

by Gingersnap – damian-lewis.com – November 15, 2016

Damian attended the 9th annual Museum of Modern Art film benefit for Tom Hanks on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. Other guests included, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, Anna and Graydon Carter, Clint Eastwood, David Geffen, Ron Howard, Karl Lagerfeld and Julianne Moore. The event, presented by CHANEL, honored Mr. Hanks as a steadfast screen presence of more than 30 years, from the early days of his career to his greatest accomplishments.

Both Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were instrumental in Damian’s early career, casting him as Dick Winters in the famed HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.

All proceeds of the event benefited the Department of Film, MOMA.

Damian with Alessandro Nivola. Source: Getty Images

Arriving at the Event – Damian with Rajendra Roy and Alessandro Nivola. Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Patrick McMullan. Source: Getty Images

See more photos of the event here and here

 

 

 

 

Categories Broadcast Media Charity Philanthropy Supported Causes Video

Stick Out Your Tongue at EB – July 5, 2016

Stick out your tongue out at EB because Sohana and other EB kids can’t. Due to blistering and scarring in her mouth, which makes eating painful, Sohana cannot stick out her tongue. She has lived with the pain of EB for all her life and before she turns 14, we are asking you to join our campaign and “Stick out your tongues at EB.”  Text CURE to 70300 to give £3 or SOHANA to 70500 to give £5. For more information, visit Sohana Research Fund.

Categories Behind the Scenes Broadcast Media Charity Personal and Family Life Philanthropy Supported Causes Video

Damian Interviews Professor John McGrath About EB – Feb 16, 2015

SRF patron Damian Lewis interviews Professor John McGrath from Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Trust, Kings College, London to learn more about EB.

Epidermolysis Bullosa is a genetic skin blistering condition that affects over 500,000 people around the world, but very few people have heard of it. Those who have realise what a devastating impact it has on sufferers and their families. It is unrelenting in its pain and unrelenting in the distress it causes. – Sohana Research Foundation

Categories Supported Causes

Damian to perform at Friendship Works Gala Show and Dinner on November 24

Jonathan Pryce, who has gathered a merry band of fellow thespians to take part in the annual Friendship Works gala show and dinner on November 24 at the Café de Paris.

They’ll be raising funds for the organisation, which helps children and young people in London who need the friendship and support of a mentor.

Pryce will be singing two numbers made famous by the Ink Spots — Don’t Get Around Much Anymore and I Don’t Wanna Set The World On Fire.

Tom Hiddleston (busy rehearsing Coriolanus for the Donmar, about which I’m hearing great things) will give us his rendition of The Bare Necessities, while Homeland star Damian Lewis will sing On The Road To Morocco. Why? Because he’s just been filming there.

Janie Dee and Celia Imrie will perform songs from their cabaret acts. A seven-piece band will accompany all the artistes.

Source: Daily Mail

More info available at the Friendship Works website.

Categories Gallery Supported Causes

We need a lesson in what criticism does to children

Prince’s Trust ambassadors Damian Lewis and Helen McCroryPrince’s Trust ambassadors Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory

Here’s a short article from The Times on The Prince’s Trust with mention of an event Damian and Helen McCrory attended on May 23rd.

Last Thursday I sat in on a visit to the Prince’s Trust by two of that organisation’s ambassadors, the actors Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis. They were there to listen to — and encourage — some of the young people supported by the Trust’s Enterprise programme, which offers advice and low-interest loans to disadvantaged young people hoping to start their own business.

There were seven such beneficiaries present, aged between 25 and 36, five men and two women. Each gave a potted version of their lives — seven different stories from different towns and cities, each with a sad start yet each, thus far, with the happy outcome of a life turned around and a business venture established.

Most of the stories had something else in common, something you hear all too often. As children, most of these young people were struggling with physical or mental impairment and/or a difficult or dangerous home life. Yet, when the state had its best chance to improve their lot, ie, when it had them in its care for the 11 years they were in school (or at least supposed to be) not only did the state fail to make their lives better, it made their lives worse.

Read the rest of the article here at our gallery.

Thanks to Kaz for the scans!