HOLLYWOOD—Christmas is just around the corner. We need some energy boosters from fighting the crowds at the mall. These days amid the hustle and bustle, can we still manage to maintain a happy disposition? So many of us are filled with emotional tumultuous that sometimes we tend to forget that when you’re smiling, the whole world really does smile with you. Spreading holiday cheer is now part of the season. Happiness is truly contagious and people do pass on their good cheer even to total strangers.
A few weeks ago, passengers were asked “What do you want for Christmas?” by a kiosk before boarding their flight in Toronto. After they landed, WestJet Airlines had a surprise waiting for about one hundred of their passengers. The looks on their faces were priceless and caught on YouTube. The travelers were treated to a Christmas miracle that turned an airport into Santa’s workshop. The Canadian airline, with the help of a tech-savvy Santa Claus, learned what passengers at the Toronto and Hamilton International Airports-who were waiting to board flights to Calgary-had on their Christmas wish lists.
Once everyone boarded, the WestJet team took off on their shopping sprees, played by WestJet employees as part of the Santa’s elves. Before the flight landed, they personalized their gifts, wrapping them and delivering them to the Calgary airport before the unsuspecting passengers landed. Upon arrival, the travelers received their gifts at baggage claim. It was truly a Christmas miracle and the YouTube video will make you cry. The now-viral video, titled “Christmas Miracle,” has more than 27 million views on YouTube. The gifts ranged from socks and underwear to a big-screen TV. The passengers had no idea that they would actually receive their requests. It was truly heart-warming to watch.
Tis the season, of giving. Celebrities, just like us love to give. New Jerseyrocker Jon Bon Jovi is extremely generous with his pay-what-you-can-eat restaurant Soul Kitchen; he comes first on the Forbes media list. Paul McCartney, who conferred $1,065,013 on PETA, is second on the list about 1.4 percent of his personal publicity value. Coming in third is U2, donating publicity worth $1,021,768 or .72 percent of front man Bono and the rest of the group total media value to the One Campaign (Through private equity firm Elevation Partners, Bono holds an indirect stake in Forbes Media). Oprah Winfrey has raised over $80 million for good causes across the globe. To continue in the season of giving, celebrities including Julianna Margulies, Stephen Colbert, Kerry Kennedy, Kate Mulgrew, Matthew Broderick, and Catherine Keener were among the list of attendees at the Robert F. Kennedy Center Ripple of Hope Holiday Gala on December 11, who also donated items to the auction. The Seventh Annual Ripple of Hope Holiday Auction, ended on December 17. The auction benefits the RFK Center’s work advancing human rights efforts around the world. The online auction featured memorable experiences with top-notch figures in the entertainment industry including lunch with David Arquette, meeting the cast of ABC’s “Trophy Wife,” along with joining Martin Sheen and Rory Kennedy for lunch. Those were some of the items that were available for bidding exclusive to Los Angeles. Stephen Colbert served as master of ceremonies.
Rose’s Scoop: Charlie Sheen is furious that ex-wife Denise Richards is refusing to let him spend Christmas with their two daughters and won’t let them call him is threatening to reduce the $55,000 a month in child support she gets, TMZ.com reports. The couple had a brutal custody battle in 2008, but later patched things up. Hopefully they can come to an agreement before Christmas, which would be a Christmas miracle.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!
