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Avril calls in to Good Morning America to discuss her battle with Lyme disease and to premiere her new song and video "Fly" for Special Olympics. Watch the interview here.

MTV Act Sweet Tweet: Avril Lavigne Hits Up Summer Camp For Youth With Disabilities

by Danica Davidson, MTV ACT

August 21, 2012

The Avril Lavigne Foundation recently pitched a tent at camp with Easter Seals, an organization helping the disabled gain greater independence. ALV founder and skt8r gurl Avril stopped by Easter Seals Camp Oakes in Big Bear, California, to brighten the campers’ day! On her blog, Avril shared deets about her trip with the Easter Seals. “The Avril Lavigne Foundation supports recreation programs because I believe they provide an opportunity for kids with disabilities to have fun and just be themselves,” she wrote. “As soon as we began to walk around the camp, I was happy to see that this is exactly what was happening! People of all ages with disabilities were laughing and hanging out, swimming, singing and dancing.” The “What the Hell” singer talks about meeting some of the cool campers (and they get a shoutout on her blog!). During her camp stay, she also got an archery lesson from a staff member who is gonna try out for the paralympics archery team. We hope they make it! Avril points out that the staff consists of volunteers who really believe in what they’re doing. Some of them come from the other side of the country to help out at this camp, and many of them don’t get their travel expenses paid for, either. In fact, members of the staff are also known to help disabled kids raise money so they can go to the camp. Avril’s not the only one who’s inspired by all this.

Contact Music:Avril Lavigne Gives Grants To Youth Programmes

Singer Avril Lavigne has taken it upon herself to help support those living with disabilities by providing special grants through her new charity.

The Complicated hitmaker, who created The Avril Lavigne Foundation last year (10), has partnered with officials at Easter Seals, a non-profit organisation which provides fun activities to those with special needs.

And as part of her goodwill mission, Lavigne has given away four additional bursaries to help various Easter Seals centres across America stay afloat while faced with economic hardship.

She says, "Recreational programmes allow children and young people with disabilities to develop critical social and emotional skills and also just have fun. As great as these programmes are, a lot of times when budgets are tight these will be the first programmes cut. My goal is to help bring more resources to these great programmes."

A number of the grant recipients plan to expand their programming to include after-school music lessons and art camps.

WBIW Topeka: Capper Foundation Receives Avril Lavigne Grant

WBIW - July 29, 2011

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A popular singer will help some local children with disabilities truly rock.

Topeka's Easter Seals Capper Foundation learned Friday it's one of the first four grant recipients from the newly created Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club. It's a collaboration with the national Easter Seals organization to support recreational programs for children with disabilities.

Capper will use its grant for an art therapy camp. The first are planned for this fall. They'll take place for three hours on a Saturday and be staffed by Emporia State Univerity art therapy students and a licensed art therapist. Children will explore their individual creative skills and develop social skills.

"Some children with disabilities require round-the-clock supervision; this camp will provide a fun morning of learning and creating for these young Rock Stars, it will also provide a brief respite for their parents as well," Easter Seals Capper Foundation CEO Jim Leiker said. "We are excited to be one of four national affiliates selected to partner with Avril Lavigne, her foundation and Easter Seals; it speaks highly of our organization, Topeka, and the northeast Kansas community. Avril Lavigne, a young, talented artist, actively demonstrates her passion about sharing a message of inclusion - that kids and young people with disabilities want to laugh, have fun with their friends, and just fit in – like all of us!"

Other grant recipients are in Youngstown, Ohio; Boston, M assachusetts; and Glendale, California.

For more information about the ARTSTAR camp at Easter Seals Capper Foundation, call 785-272-4060 or visit www.capper.easterseals.com or www.theavrillavignefoundation.org.

Avril Lavigne: Abbey Dawn Japan Tee!

JustJared.com - July 15, 2011

Avril Lavigne drops by The Grove on Tuesday (July 12) to chat with Mario Lopez on Extra in Los Angeles.

The 26-year-old Canadian rocker wore an Abbey Dawn tee that she designed to support Japan. 100% of the proceeds will go toward the Avril Lavigne Foundation to support Mercy Corps‘ “Comfort for Kids” program, providing post trauma assistance to kids after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

You can pick up your own tee like Avril’s over at AbbeyDawn.com.

Click here to view the post on JustJared.com

Support Japan with Avril Lavigne!

Kiss & Wear - June 30, 2011

Although the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan a few months ago, we still need to continue to support Japan as well as aid them in their recovery efforts. It is for this reason that I recently bought this Abbey Dawn ♥ Japan T-shirt by Avril Lavigne, priced at just $25. Not only is the tee cute but I know that my purchase is going towards a good cause.

100% of the net proceeds are going to The Avril Lavigne Foundation to support Mercy Corps’ “Comfort for Kids” program, in partnership with local partner Peace Winds. Comfort for Kids trains caregivers to help children through the trauma of disaster. The goal is to bring help and hope to the children and youth of Japan who have been affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Click Here To buy the AD Japan Oversize Tee:
Click here to read the full article.

Star Pulse: Avril Lavigne Donates Instruments To UCLA Children's Hospital

Pop star Avril Lavigne has donated instruments to a children's hospital in Los Angeles following a visit to the facility in April. The Sk8er Boi hit-maker visited Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA and toured the wards meeting with sick children before putting on an impromptu performance with them. She returned last week and brought some musical cheer by presenting the youngsters with instruments to learn while they recover. The star and her musician pal Evan Taubenfeld helped teach their young protégés the basics, with Lavigne taking to Twitter to write, "EvanT giving impromptu guitar lesson (at) UCLA Health Mattel Children's! We just donated instruments 2 them! "THANK YOU EvanT for helping The Avril Foundation donate instruments (at) UCLA Health Mattel Children's!"

Avril Lavigne In New Music Video ‘Goodbye’

"Rocker Avril Lavigne recently got in touch with her softer side for her most recent studio album “Goodbye Lullaby” which was released last year. Since then she’s been on the road performing and meeting her fans, so as the album cycle comes to an end with her last show, she wanted to thank her “little black stars” for all the support& help..."

Before the video begins, the canadian punk-rock chick thanks her fans and encourages them to help sick and disabled kids by going to The Avril Lavigne Foundation site.”

Avril talks about her work with the Avril Lavigne Foundation on AOL Music.

by Steve Baltin

Excerpt:

"We had a chance to talk last year at Nancy Davis' Race to Erase MS about your clothing line and all the different things you do. How do all the different entities merge for you? How do your side projects influence your music?

I've had an incredible opportunity to have a clothing line and that's called Abbey Dawn. I have two fragrances, Black Star and Forbidden Rose, and the newest thing, which is very important to me, is starting the Avril Lavigne Foundation, and a little bit of acting and, of course, music. To be able to grow and expand and touch on other areas is part of who I am tremendously. I am very involved. It is a reflection of me, it all goes hand-in-hand because it is mine and I'm designing or creating fragrances and it all ties in with my music.

How is the Avril Lavigne Foundation going?

It's very exciting for me because through my career I've had the opportunity to work with really great foundations like Make-A-Wish and contributing to different compilation albums. For me, it felt really good and it was part of my responsibility to give back if you can in any way. I started the Avril Lavigne Foundation and my focus is on sick and disabled children and youth. I'm developing that now and getting it on its feet and I'm very excited. I'm very excited to announce that shortly."

Avril Lavigne Teams Up With Easter Seals To Help Disabled Children

Singer Avril Lavigne has taken it upon herself to help support those living with disabilities by providing special grants through her new charity.

The Complicated hit-maker, who created The Avril Lavigne Foundation last year, has partnered with officials at Easter Seals, a non-profit organization which provides fun activities to those with special needs.

And as part of her goodwill mission, Lavigne has given away four additional bursaries to help various Easter Seals centers across America stay afloat while faced with economic hardship.

She says, "Recreational programs allow children and young people with disabilities to develop critical social and emotional skills and also just have fun. As great as these programs are, a lot of times when budgets are tight these will be the first programs cut. My goal is to help bring more resources to these great programs."

A number of the grant recipients plan to expand their programming to include after-school music lessons and art camps.

Avril talks about the hard work that goes into her Foundation in Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone - June 28, 2011

When Avril Lavigne decided to launch a foundation aiding children with disabilities last year, she quickly learned that doing the right thing was going to be harder than she thought. "It's such a major deal," says Lavigne. "You have to have everything in place and have to have a really good team. It's very serious. Music comes naturally. I have to push myself when I get up and talk about this in a room."

Lavigne is one of a growing group of musicians — including Madonna, John Legend, Bono, Shakira and Wyclef Jean — who have set up charities and foundations to tackle issues from world hunger to inner-city education. "The relationship between a musician and their audience is far more powerful than the one between an actor and their audience," says Trevor Neilson, co-founder of the Global Philanthropy Group, which assists artists (including Lavigne, Legend and Shakira) with their charitable efforts. "A musician with a large fan base has an opportunity to mobilize people that might be more powerful than their opportunity to write checks."

Click here to read the full article.

Q&A With Avril Lavigne

The singer-songwriter talks about her music, her healthy habits, and her efforts to help those with multiple sclerosis.

"Q: What disease or condition would you most like to see eradicated in your lifetime, and why?

A: Cancer. Cancer comes in so many forms and has such a high rate of mortality. Just an awful disease that continues to cause so many deaths."

Avril Lavigne Goodbye Video Debuts

'This exclusive video is for my fans! Please consider showing your support by making a donation to the Avril Lavigne Foundation: http://www.theavrillavignefoundation.org/support. Together let's help sick or disabled children!' she wrote in the description for the video on her YouTube account.'

The Avril Lavigne Foundation, Easter Seals Announce Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club

Giving Kids & Youth with Disabilities the Opportunity to Express Their Individuality and Have Fun

The Avril Lavigne Foundation announced today the creation of the Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club at Easter Seals, an initiative to support recreational programming for children and youth with disabilities, their families, and communities. The first four Easter Seals affiliates selected to receive an Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club at Easter Seals are Easter Seals Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana in Ohio; Easter Seals Capper Foundation in Kansas; Easter Seals Massachusetts; and Easter Seals Southern California.

Earlier this year, Easter Seals affiliates from across the U.S. and Canada were invited to apply for an Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club at Easter Seals grant. The grants’ initiative evolved from the collaboration between Easter Seals and The Avril Lavigne Foundation originally announced in September 2010 to identify and support recreational programs for kids with disabilities and their families and communities. Thirty affiliates applied for a grant. Following a review of the top 12 applicants, award-winning singer/songwriter and philanthropist Avril Lavigne and The Avril Lavigne Foundation selected four Easter Seals grant recipients.

"It was really tough to pick just four,” said Lavigne. “I was inspired by the creativity of everyone who applied and the exciting range of opportunities the Easter Seals affiliates presented. Recreational programs allow children and young people with disabilities to develop critical social and emotional skills and also just have fun. As great as these programs are, a lot of times when budgets are tight these will be the first programs cut. My goal is to help bring more resources to these great programs."

The four initial grant recipients were chosen based on their overall impact and embodiment of the Avril Lavigne Foundation’s R.O.C.K.S. mission: R espect, O pportunity, C hoices, K nowledge, and S trength.

The unique programs supported by the grant will include a program to connect teens with disabilities with other kids in their community at Easter Seals Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana in Ohio; an art camp at Easter Seals Capper Foundation; an overnight camp at Easter Seals Massachusetts; and an afterschool music program at Easter Seals Southern California. To learn more about these exciting programs, please visit The Avril Lavigne Foundation website at www.theavrillavignefoundation.org.

"We are so lucky to have such an incredible partner in Avril and The Avril Lavigne Foundation. She cares deeply about making sure kids and young people with disabilities have every opportunity to live life to the fullest, pursue their dreams, and find happiness. She’s also passionate about sharing a message of inclusion, that kids and young people with disabilities want to laugh, have fun with their friends, and just fit in – like all of us,” says James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals. “We also know when it comes to Easter Seals, Avril was most inspired by our recreational programming; services where kids and teens with disabilities can just be kids through social events, music, theater, sports, arts, leisure time, hobbies, getting out in the community and camp. That's what The Avril Lavigne Rockstar Club at Easter Seals is all about."

Betty Confidential: Avril in her Abbey Dawn Japan Tee!

Bettyconfidential.com - July 21, 2011

By Kenneth Thapoung

Spread the love. Avril Lavigne is raising support for the recovery of Japan’s children after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami by selling “Abbey Dawn ♥ Japan” T-shirts from her Abbey Dawn line of clothing.

The T-shirts sell for $25, with 100 percent of the net proceeds going to The Avril Lavigne Foundation. It raises awareness and support for youth living with serious illnesses and disabilities and supports Mercy Corps’ “Comfort for Kids” program in Japan. Mercy Corps is also in partnership with Peace Winds.

“Comfort for Kids trains caregivers to help children through the trauma of disaster,” Avril said in a message. “The goal is to bring help and hope to the children and youth of Japan who have been affected by this disaster.”

It’s never too late to help. To purchase your own T-shirt and support the relief efforts in Japan, visit the Abbey Dawn site.

Avril Lavigne Designs and Sells "Abbey Dawn Hearts Japan" Charity T-Shirts

SamaritanMag.com - June 28, 2011

By Karen Bliss

Avril Lavigne has designed a T-shirt with heart. The Canadian pop singer, who has her own clothing line called Abbey Dawn, created the shirt to help raise money for those affected by the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan in March.

The T-shirts are black with a big red heart along with her brand name situated at the top and the word "Japan" at the bottom; together, it reads "Abbey Dawn ♥ Japan."

Lavigne who recently launched her own Foundation, eponymously named The Avril Lavigne Foundation, will filter 100 percent of the net proceeds from the sale of the shirts through her foundation to Mercy Corps, a worldwide organization that has the Comfort For Kids program in Japan and works alongside local partner Peace Winds.

Click here to read the full article.

Avril Lavigne & Abbey Dawn Heart Japan

Coco Perez - June 29, 2011

Add Avril Lavigne to the list of celebrities who are making relief efforts fashionable.

The Canadian singer has designed a $25 t-shirt under her Abbey Dawn clothing label to raise money for kids in Japan.

100% of the net proceeds of this product will go to The Avril Lavigne Foundation to support Mercy Corps’ "Comfort for Kids" program in Japan to provide post-trauma assistance to children following the Japan earthquake and pacific tsunami.

Click here to get yours
Click here to read the full article.

The Haute Gossip: Avril Lavigne's Charitable Tees by Abbey Dawn

thehautegossip.com - July 20, 2011

By Courtney Sybesma

Rally around Avril and The Avril Lavigne Foundation to support recovery for the earthquake and tsunami with Mercy Corps’ Comfort for Kids program in Japan – Abbey Dawn Japan T-shirt – now available!

The t-shirt is $25, with 100% of the net proceeds going to The Avril Lavigne Foundation to support Mercy Corps’ “Comfort for Kids” program, in partnership with local partner Peace Winds. Comfort for Kids trains caregivers to help children through the trauma of disaster. The goal is to bring help and hope to the children and youth of Japan who have been affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The Avril Lavigne Foundation R.O.C.K.S. Respect, Opportunity, Choices, Knowledge, and Strength in support of children and youth living with serious illnesses and disabilities. The foundation partners with leading charitable organizations to design and deliver programs, raise awareness and mobilize support for children and youth living with a serious illness or a disability. To learn more about the Avril Lavigne Foundation, please visit theavrillavignefoundation.org