Richard Gere gives to local rehab facility
The actor, recently in town shooting "Franny," gave an undisclosed sum to the Livengrin Foundation.
R ICHARD GERE went method after filming "Franny" in Philadelphia last year.
In "Franny," Gere plays a philanthropist and addict who embeds himself in the lives of a young couple, played by Dakota Fanning and Theo James (who just hit box-office gold this weekend as Four, the male lead in "Divergent").
I hear that Gere donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Livengrin Foundation, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers servicing the tristate area.
Gere, who was born in Philly and received the Marian Anderson Award in 2007, is no stranger to giving. He's known specifically for his work fighting AIDS/HIV and for working with the people of Tibet.
"While every gift we receive is appreciated and extremely helpful, this contribution will not only help provide treatment for patients in need, but will also help focus attention on the issue of addiction in our society and remind people that help is available, and recovery is possible," said Richard Pine, Livengrin's CEO.
No release plans have been set for "Franny," but I'll certainly keep you updated when I hear.
Rendell a gramps (again)
Former guv/mayor and current Daily News columnist Ed Rendell and U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Midge Rendell became grandparents for the second time yesterday. Rendell's son, Jesse, and daughter-in-law, Beka, welcomed Rosalind Rendell.
Yesterday, Rendell tweeted that Rosalind "arrived in our screwed up world today" and that he "hope[s] she can make it better."
This is the second child for Jesse, former musician and current principal at Rendell Management & Consulting, and Beka, owner of styling agency Styled Creative. Their first child, Dean Thompson Rendell, was born in June 2012.
Stigall and Swift
Guess who Talk Radio 1210 WPHT morning-show host Chris Stigall hung out with last week? Berks County's own country-pop superstar, Taylor Swift. The two hung out at the City of Hope charity dinner in New York, benefiting the cancer-research center and hospital.
Bright 'Light's
Malvern's People's Light & Theatre is celebrating its 40th year with some big to-do actors. Academy Award nominee David Strathairn, who stunned as iconic journalist Edward R. Murrow in the George Clooney-directed "Good Night, and Good Luck," will star alongside Oscar-nodded actress Mary McDonnell (who can be seen on TNT's "Major Crimes") in a production of Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard." The show is slated to run Feb. 11 to March 8, 2015.
"King of Queens" fans will also recognize Victor Williams, a/k/a Deacon, who will star in August Wilson's classic "Fences." The show runs Sept. 10 to Oct. 5.
Cecily on GMA
Did you watch 6ABC's own Cecily Tynan on "Good Morning America" and "ABC World News" this weekend? The weatherwoman guest-prognosticated for the national set. The 6ABC weather crew is no stranger to cameos on the national morning show. Adam Joseph and Melissa Magee have also done spots.
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