Live From Lincoln Center, the Emmy-Award winning PBS series, is presenting a special nationwide broadcast of jazz September 17 as a benefit for hurricane relief. The Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert, live from Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, will feature Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Cyrus Chestnut, Peter Cincotti, Bill Cosby, Elvis Costello, Robert De Niro, Paquito D’Rivera, Jon Hendricks, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, Bette Midler, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Roberts, Paul Simon, Meryl Streep, James Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Cassandra Wilson, Buckwheat Zydeco, and many others. Read the full article here

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie will join Meryl Streep as the centerpieces of a Haitian relief event to benefit Wyclef Jean’s charity Yele Haiti. Clef and Norah Jones will perform at the function, which will take place at a private residence in the Hamptons on Aug. 27, according to the New York Post.

Academy Award winners Meryl Streep and Marisa Tomei, and comedienne Sarah Jones, are featured in a public service announcement spot by Equality Now. Scheduled to premiere on Lifetime Television at the end of December 2004, the PSA will also air on other cable stations throughout 2005. Visit Equality Now for more info on the foundation and to see the spot.

Meryl is among many celebrities, including Liam Neeson, Kate Winslet, Ewan McGregor, Charlize Theron and Marcia Cross, who auction the dresses they wore to the Golden Globes in order to raise money for the Tsunami victims. Meryl’s auction page can be found at C Market

Theatre folk Kevin Kline, Vanessa Redgrave, Mary-Louise Parker, Tony Kushner and Meryl Streep are among guest readers for The Academy of American Poets benefit presentation “Poetry and The Creative Mind,” set for April 6 at Lincoln Center. The second annual event, sponsored by Target, will begin at Alice Tully Hall at 6:30 PM. Read more information at Variety.com

Meryl Streep was invited by Equality Now to host their “Evening of Music and Reading”, yesterday in New York. The gala was hosted by Glamour Magazine, guests included her fellow co-star of “The Hours” and newlywed Julianne Moore and Hilary Swank

Meryl Streep served as auctioneer to help sell artwork in Fort Meyers to benefit survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. On the laser print “Jarros,” Streep sweetened the pot, saying – quote – “Maybe a kiss. Maybe a French kiss,” The bids jumped until the gavel finally fell at $3,500. Streep was good on her word, delivering an appreciative kiss to the buyer. The group raised over $296,000 in the auction. Visit this site for a full article and a photo of Meryl

According to Variety, stars from Broadway and Hollywood, including Kevin Kline, Bette Midler, Robin Williams and Meryl Streep, will take part in a one-night-only event to raise money to create the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at New York-Presbyterian Hospital The evening is entitled “42nd & Vine … Hollywood Hits Broadway” and will be held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Tuesday, November 12. The many performers will offer selections from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “West Side Story”.

Meryl Streep attended the “One World, One Child” benefit concert for the Children’s Health Environment Coalition in Los Angeles, yesterday.

Equality Now celebrates its 10th anniversary of fighting for women worldwide with an all-star gala at the Gramercy Theatre. Fauziya Kassindja, Alanis Morissette, Gloria Steinem, Kate Clinton, Edwidge Danticat, the Gina Gibney Dance Company and others will join the one and only Meryl Streep. Marie Claire sponsors (Text comes from Liz Smith’s Excite Column).