Childhelp celebrity ambassadors

John Stamos is an actor, singer and musician, best known for his work in television on the ABC sitcom Full House. Stamos also starred in General Hospital, Jake in Progress, ER and Thieves and has performed on Broadway in Bye-Bye Birdie, Cabaret, Nine and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. John plays the drums, keyboard, guitar, bass and various percussion instruments and has performed with the Beach Boys since the 1980’s.

Most recently John has guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, FOX TV smash hit Glee and Two and a Half Men. John has also been seen in a series of commercials for Dannon’s Greek Yogurt, with the first commercial airing during the 2012 Superbowl. John joined The Beach Boys for their 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour, and has taken the lead role on the new FOX drama Little Brother.

John has been an active and devoted Childhelp Celebrity Ambassador for more than 20 years.

Growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Melissa Peterman first made a name for herself when she was cast in the local production of “Tony and Tina’s Wedding.” She went on to perform in over 600 shows and became a staple on the comedy and improv scenes. She also starred as “Bonnie Wheeler” in ABC Family’s #1 rated comedy series “Baby Daddy,” which went on to win the People’s Choice Award in 2017. Melissa is well known for her starring role as Barbra Jean on the hit series “Reba”. Childhelp is honored to have had Melissa as the Master of Ceremonies for multiple Childhelp events. Her comedic and joyful spirit makes her an ideal celebrity ambassador spreading the word about Childhelp with her good humor and loving heart.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Ukrainian-American Ballroom dance champion, choreographer and instructor, Maksim Chmerkovskiy was born on January 17, 1980 in Odessa, Ukraine. Maks began dancing at the age of four and by his teenage years, his talent had taken him to a competitive level. He was introduced to television audiences in 2006, when he first appeared on ABC’s #1 hit television show, Dancing with the Stars. With a passion for teaching, Maks founded his first dance studio in 1997, Rising Stars Dance Academy (RSDA), located in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. The success of RSDA led Maks to launch one of the nation’s leading Latin and Ballroom dance studios, Dance With Me, which currently has four locations; Ridgefield, New Jersey, Long Island, New York, Stamford, Connecticut and New York City, New York.

Maks has contributed his expertise and choreography skills to shows including Le Rêve – The Dream at Wynn Las Vegas, Broadway’s Burn the Floor and additional television spots. Maks is spearheading and implementing a dance-based Art Therapy program at Childhelp.

Click here to see Maks talk about Childhelp on the Hallmark, Home and Family Show.

John O’Hurley Actor, singer, author and philanthropist, John O’Hurley is one of television’s busiest and most versatile stars. Best known as “J. Peterman” on Seinfeld, he has appeared on television sitcoms, soap operas, feature films and live theater. John is a New York Times Bestseller author with his book, It’s OK to Miss the Bed on the First Jump: And Other Life Lessons Learned from Dogs and was also a contestant on the first season of Dancing with the Stars.

Outside of the entertainment industry, he is an entrepreneur and Renaissance man. Life truly imitates art for him, as he is the real John Peterman’s business partner and part owner of the J. Peterman Company! He is also a private venture capitalist and co-founder of Energy Inc., a company dedicated to facilitating clean, green energy production.

John has been involved with Childhelp for a number of years, always eager to support the prevention of child abuse through his talents and skills.

Click here to see John O’Hurley promote the Childhelp Run the Course.

Kathie Lee Gifford is a television host, actress, singer, songwriter, author and playwright. She is best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. Kathie Lee has received 11 Daytime Emmy nominations and won her first Daytime Emmy in 2010. She has been seen on Name that Tune, NBC’s Today Show, The Insider and Good Morning America. Currently Kathie Lee is the co-host of the fourth hour of Today on NBC and will soon have the musical rendition of her play debut on Broadway, Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson (November, 2012).

Kathie Lee has been involved with Childhelp as a celebrity ambassador for 20+ years. She is the spokesperson for Childhelp’s Speak Up Be Safe abuse prevention education curriculum. Kathie Lee has often appeared and spoken at the Childhelp National Day of Hope on Capitol Hill, and was a Childhelp’s Woman of the World award recipient.

Kathie Lee often mentions Childhelp on Today, helping to raise national awareness and selflessly donates immeasurable proceeds from all of her children’s books and CD’s.

Click here to see Kathie Lee Gifford talk about Childhelp National Day of Hope on The Today Show.

Jen Lilley is currently starring as a lead role in NBC’s Days of Our Lives and previously starred as Maxie Jones on ABC’s General Hospital. Her film credits include the Academy Award-winning movie, The Artist, The Back-up Bride and One Small Hitch. She has also guest starred on numerous television series including Criminal Minds, Two and a Half Men, Castle, Hannah Montana and Rules of Engagement.

Jen attended the Childhelp National Day of Hope luncheon in Washington, DC, and the Childhelp Wings Fashion Show in the spring of 2012 as a celebrity guest. Jen is instrumental in raising social awareness about child abuse through her Twitter account, and recently has raised funds for Childhelp through a social media birthday campaign, and Stars Strike Out Child Abuse, a celebrity bowling tournament.

Cheryl Ladd possessing an effervescent personality and embodying the beauty, grace, class and charm of old Hollywood, it’s no wonder Cheryl Ladd remains one of Tinseltown’s favorite actresses. Since her big break as one of the beloved Charlie’s Angels, Ladd’s career has traversed television, film, and Broadway, and the beautiful actor-singer-author is still very much a triple-threat!

Starring on Broadway in Annie Get Your Gun, numerous guest appearances on The Rookies, The Partridge Family, Happy Days, Carol Burnett Show, The Muppets, CSI Miami, Vegas, NCIS, and more than 30 made for TV films, with a recent film wrapped in Capetown, South Africa, Cheryl continues to traverse easily through all mediums.

Cheryl Ladd has been involved with Childhelp for over 30 years, and was an esteemed recipient of the Childhelp Woman of the World Award.

Nancy Grace is a television host, legal commentator, journalist, author and former prosecutor. She is the host of Nancy Grace, a nightly news, current affairs debate show on HLN and was also the host of Court TV’s Closing Arguments, as well as, Swift Justice with Nancy Grace, a syndicated courtroom reality show. Nancy co-wrote the book Objection!(2005), independently authored her first work of fiction, The Eleventh Victim (2009), and penned a second novel, Death on the D-List (2010).

Nancy Grace received Childhelp’s Positive Impact in Media Award in 2012 and has been a longtime supporter and treasured friend to Childhelp. Nancy frequently mentions Childhelp on her HLN program, helping to elevate national awareness and educate viewers about Childhelp as a valid and incomparable resource. Childhelp founders, Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, have been guests on the Nancy Grace show numerous times, and Nancy consistently and passionately advocates for the rights of abused children.

Jane Seymour British born, award-winning actress Jane Seymour has appeared on Broadway, in film, and on television in her Golden Globe-winning role as “Dr. Michaela Quinn” on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, among many other roles.

Seymour’s past films include the James Bond movie Live and Let Die, the now cult classic Somewhere in Time, and the comedy smash hit Wedding Crashers. Her other television credits include an Emmy Award winning performance in Onassis: The Richest Man in the World, East of Eden, for which she won a Golden Globe, and the mini-series War and Remembrance. Jane has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was “Special Correspondent” for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. In Jane’s spare time, she was a celebrity contestant on Dancing with the Stars where she partnered with another Childhelp Celebrity Ambassador, Tony Dovolani.

Jane has been involved with Childhelp for more than 30 years and has received Childhelp’s Woman of the World award.

Shaquille O’Neal is a retired professional basketball player, former rapper and current analyst on Inside the NBA. Throughout his 19-year career in basketball, Shaq used his size and strength to overcome his opponents for points and rebounds. He first started his basketball career with the Orlando Magic, leading the team to the 1995 NBA Finals. He then joined the Los Angeles Lakers where he won three consecutive championships, later winning his fourth Championship with the Miami Heat. Shaq rounded out his later career with the Phoenix Suns, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics before retiring.

Shaquille O’Neal has supported Childhelp through various social media campaigns using his outreach on Twitter and Facebook. He also starred in a 2009 Childhelp PSA called “Shaq Dreams” and co-starred in a recent Childhelp PSA with Betty White, Buckcherry and Childhelp founders, Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson.

Rosevelt Sings is using her music to give children silenced by abuse a voice. She performs moving songs of love, faith, family and fun at venues like the Herberger Theater, and through her growing YouTube Channel—Rosevelt Sings. She has collaborated with Stars from The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and Dancing With the Stars—to name a few.

Rosevelt has the voice of an angel and the heart of a warrior, and she has used both as a Childhelp Youth Ambassador since 2018. She wants to make the world a better place one child at a time.

Mary Millben is an award-winning singer and actress whose powerful vocal artistry has made her a global symbol of faith and love of country. A native of Oklahoma, she has performed rousing arrangements of America’s patriotic music and international anthems on stages around the world, appearing for five consecutive U.S. Presidents, world leaders, and at high-profile events spanning major sporting occasions, diplomatic functions, and cultural celebrations.

Trained in classical vocal performance, she has also distinguished herself as a cultural ambassador, engaging in global artistic exchanges and using her platform to encourage unity and honor those who sacrifice their lives for freedom.

As a Childhelp Celebrity Ambassador, Mary champions the Childhelp mission as an advocate for safe children, sharing her talent with a heart to support survivors of child abuse and neglect. Learn more about Mary on her website.

Paulie Harraka has been a Childhelp Ambassador since 2009. At that time, Harraka was a full-time NASCAR driver, and leveraged his position as a professional athlete to drive awareness and fundraising for Childhelp. Childhelp’s logo and hotline were featured on his race vehicles at multiple events and he wore a helmet designed by children at Childhelp’s villages.

After winning 14 NASCAR races and a NASCAR championship, Paulie retired from full-time race driving. Even so, he has continued working with Childhelp, collaborating with National and with multiple Chapters on fundraising and volunteer initiatives.

Paulie completed his Bachelor’s degree at Duke University and is currently pursuing his MBA at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.