On April 28, Meryl has attended the MindUp Gala, held by her friend Goldie Hawn’s The Hawn Foundation. Pictures can be found in the image libary. The MindUp program features lessons to improve behavior and learning for children. More information can be found at the foundation’s official website.

Between April 18 and April 28 eBay will host charity auctions for Mother’s Day gifts donated by celebrity moms to support women-oriented charities. They will also help Women for Women International raise money for its programs for women survivors of war through several celebrity charity auctions on eBay Giving Works eBay’s charity fundraising program. Women for Women will auction off three unique celebrity experiences: a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Ashley Judd, a red-carpet experience and meet-and-greet in the U.K. with Meryl Streep during the premiere of her new film, “The Iron Lady,” and a trip to New York to visit with kate spade’s creative director Deborah Lloyd, plus a $1000 kate spade shopping spree.

Actress Kate Winslet will author a book of celebrity self-portrait photos by Ben Stiller, Jude Law, Meryl Streep and others to support autism that will be released later this year. Winslet organized the collection of self-portrait photos for the book titled “The Golden Hat” after becoming inspired by an HBO documentary she narrated called, “A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back To Autism”. The film shows Keli Ericsdottir, an Icelandic boy who suffered from severe non-verbal autism, eventually being able to communicate. He now composes poems, including one describing a magical hat that enables an autistic boy to communicate. The book derives its name from Ericsdottir’s poem. Winslet asked more than two dozen celebrities to take a self-portrait photo wearing one special hat that was passed along. Other well-known figures in the book include comedian Ricky Gervais, tennis player Maria Sharapova, singer Christina Aguilera and actresses Naomi Watts and Julianne Moore. Proceeds from the book’s profits will benefit Winslet’s autism charity “The Golden Hat Foundation.” (source: Reuters).

Many thanks to Equality Now for bringing this to my attention. In a new online video PSA, Meryl Streep talks about Equality Now’s efforts on behalf of women and girls around the world. The video can be watched on Youtube and in the video archive. Be sure to watch :-)

For the second year in a row, Barilla is encouraging families to “Share the Table” and Mario Batali, Julianne Moore and 10 other notable celebrities have joined together to create the limited edition Celebrity Pasta Lovers’ Cookbook. Available until October 15 at www.ShareTheTable.com, the free cookbook is packed with family meal-sharing tips and exclusive new Mario Batali recipes inspired by favorite pasta dishes from celebrities including Meryl Streep, Andy Roddick and Jimmy Fallon. Barilla’s Share the Table initiative was created to help families make the most of their shared meals through a host of expert and celebrity tips, recipes, giveaways and more – all available at www.ShareTheTable.com. When consumers affirm their belief in meaningful meals, they are also helping to make a difference in the lives of others. For every visitor who clicks on the icon that says they believe in meaningful meals, Barilla will donate $1 to Meals On Wheels Association of America, up to $150,000, and consumers then download the free cookbook – including Meryl’s recipe for Penne with Cauliflower, toasted pine nuts and romano cheese. Many thanks to Jaclyn for letting me know about this!

With many thanks to dvdguy2011, here comes another great find from the past. In 1986, Meryl hosted a public service announcement for “Amnesty International”. The clip can be watched in the video archive, a transcript of her speech is below the preview.

All dictators have fantasies that they can suffocate and divide people in their own country. We know that what they’re afraid of most is world opinion and criticism of their tyranny. Your efforts and prayers saved my life. And thanks to your support I can have an opportunity to live as a human being. A letter sent to us at Amnesty International by a released prisoner of conscience, the republic of Korea. Join us, you’ll never forget the first prisoner you free.

A starry cast, featuring Marcia Gay Harden, Alfred Molina, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Elias Koteas, Viggo Mortensen, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Reuben and Debra Winger, presented a concert reading of Ariel Dorfman’s “Speak Truth to Power: Voices from Beyond the Dark” May 3 to benefit Habitat for Humanity’s earthquake relief efforts in Chile.

According to the Public, “Speak Truth to Power chronicles the true-story accounts of heroic people withstanding horrific human rights abuses across the globe. Voices from around the world cry out against violence and oppression — from world leaders like Desmond Tutu to the unknown activists working on the ground level. Speak Truth to Power is a powerful and moving testimony of the will of the human spirit to rise up against injustice, even in the face of incredible darkness.”

Tony Award winner Marcia Gay Harden will join the previously announced Elias Koteas, Alfred Molina, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen, Aidan Quinn, Gloria Reuben, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, and Debra Winger for a reading of Ariel Dorfman’s Speak Truth to Power: Voices From Beyond the Dark, adapted from the book by Kerry Kennedy. David Esbjornson will direct the benefit performance, at the Public Theater on Monday, May 3 at 7pm. The reading is presented by Dorfman, Kennedy, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, and The Public. It chronicles the true-story accounts of heroic people withstanding horrific human rights abuses across the globe. Proceeds from the reading will benefit the relief efforts of Habitat for Humanity in Chile. All ticket holders will be invited to an exclusive post-show reception featuring the cast and creative team.

For more information, visit www.publictheater.org.

After watching herself portrayed by Meryl Streep, Northern Irish civil rights leader Inez McCormack stood on stage with the actress and discussed her causes – and what it felt like to watch Streep in action. “She’s better at me than I am,” McCormack said. The clip can be watched in the video archive.

The hallmark women’s magazine is hosting an event to honor influential females during their 125 years of publication. On April 12, in honor of their 125th anniversary, leading women’s magazine Good Housekeeping will host a one-night event in honor of our nation’s most influential women. According to a release, the event, which is being called “Shine On,” will salute icons, visionaries, goddesses, and even “hellraisers.” The New York City event is being staged to raise money to build the first permanent location for the National Women’s History Museum in Washington D.C. “Shine On” will be an original 90-minute long production featuring stars of both the stage and screen including Meryl Streep, Kristen Bell, Fran Drescher and Ann Hampton Callaway. Lynne Taylor-Corbett is directing the show, which will honor “women whose combination of intelligence, imagination and nerve changed our lives forever.” These luminaries include Susan B. Anthony, Martha Stewart, Sally Ride, Dorothy Parker and Madonna. Tickets for “Shine On” are available now on the NY City Center website.