With her lovable and quirky smile, Alyssa Milano, lights up the room as she shows up for our shoot, ready to rock-n-roll. Humble, genuine and charismatic, this catalytic woman has made her way not only through the silver screen, but through the very unpaved road of philanthropy.
Beginning with her highly acknowledged roles on hit TV series such as “Who’s the Boss”, “Melrose Place”, “Charmed” and “My Name is Earl”, she has also juggled silver screen appearances including “Hugo Pool” co-starring Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr., the Imagine/Universal film, “Fear,” “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” and “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” which she both stars in and produced. But with accomplishment and glory comes a tremendous social responsibility that Milano holds very close to heart.
She has unceasingly been engaged in philanthropic hands-on work, while also bringing to fruition personal visions within other mediums of art. In 2003, Milano was invited as a National Ambassador for UNICEF as a result of her consistent support and involvement with charitable organizations. 2004 marked her first trip with UNICEF as they journeyed through Angola, Africa seeing first hand the issues plaguing the newly liberated country. That trip was then followed with a visit to India in June 2005. She is currently working with the organization to educate the American youth about international issues crucial to the evolution of the mentioned countries and to bring an overall awakening to those who feel powerless to make a social impact.
In August of 2002, Alyssa hosted a photography exhibition and auction in L.A. to raise funds for efforts in South Africa. An avid photographer, Alyssa displayed her own work, as well as that of L.A.’s Venice Arts program students. The event raised close to $50,000 for Nkosi’s Haven, an organization that runs care centers in South Africa for AIDS-afflicted mothers and children. As a result of this, Alyssa was granted a humanitarian award from Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations.
Just when you think that’s all this inspiring young woman has done, she surprises us with yet another artistic and entrepreneurial talent. Alyssa has managed to use her extreme love for baseball as an inspiration for her clothing and jewelry line, TOUCH by Alyssa Milano. Launched in Spring of 2007, the line was created to provide stylish gear for the average fashionable sports fan. She has now partnered with G-III Apparel Group and Major League Baseball to design and distribute a line of juniors’ ladies MLB apparel. Yet, it is not only available to MLB, as she also collaborates with the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, Major League Soccer, Minor League Baseball and The Kentucky Derby to make TOUCH available to their fans as well.
As we can all see, there is nothing that the savvy, magnetic and alluring Ms. Milano can’t achieve as she strives to produce work that exemplifies excellence and depth, all characteristics that define her as well. Want to know what’s next for the starlet? Let’s start by checking out her appearance in the February “must-see” comedy “Hall-Pass” where she worked alongside Owen Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jenna Fischer and Jason Sudeikis. Just for the record, we’re keeping Alyssa on the radar as she continues to outdo herself, even when that’s not even possible…It is for her!
By: Hugette Montesinos / Photography By: Vaunn Yevo
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