Sofia Vergara tops the highest paid TV personality 2012

Saturday Night Live host Colombian actress, comedian and model Sofia Vergara tops the list of the highest earning woman on television, according to estimates calculated by Forbes magazine. Vergara made $19 million over the past year, with $7 million coming from her hit show "Modern Family" and $12 million from endorsement deals.

Forbes calls Vergara the biggest Hispanic crossover star since Desi Arnaz, and says companies who want to reach the $1 trillion Hispanic market are clamoring for Vergara. KMart alone is paying her $7 million for her eponymous clothing line. "The truth is out that we're in this country and we're taking over," Sofia told Forbes.  

"To see people paying attention to the cultural changes ... is fantastic." Vergara, 40, was born into a Colombian farming family. In addition to her personal earnings, the media company she founded in 1996, LatinWE, earned $27 million in revenues in 2011, its best year ever. Kim Kardashian came in second on the Forbes list at $18 million, and another Latina actress, Eva Longoria, came in third.

Penelope Cruz selected as ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue and EIF

Penelope Cruz with Oscar

Pirates of the Caribbean star Penelope Cruz is selected EIF(Entertainment Industry Foundation) ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue's Key To Cure Campaign. Saks Fifth Avenue and the entertainment industry announce the selection on july 12.

In the 14 years since the inception of the Saks Fifth Avenue charity shopping weekend, the company, together with its vendors and partners, has raised $31 million for cancer research.

Celebrated designer Carolina Herrera created a limited-edition T-shirt exclusively to benefit Key To The Cure that will retail for $35 at Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and on saks.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds from each shirt sold will be donated to EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund, benefiting charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, better treatments and eventual cures for women's cancers.

The T-shirt debuts at Saks Fifth Avenue on October 1st.

"I am honored to join the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund and Saks Fifth Avenue to raise awareness for women's cancers. By purchasing this year's SAKS FIFTH AVENUE KEY TO THE CURE t-shirt, designed by Carolina Herrera, you can help continue the innovative research already in progress. Cancer has affected each and every one of us in one way or another and I am thrilled to be involved with this wonderful cause,” says Penelope Cruz.

Steve Sadove, Chairman and CEO, Saks Fifth Avenue, said, “Partnering with Carolina Herrera, EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund, and Penelope Cruz—and having the continued support of various charities throughout the country, as well as the support of our clients, vendors and Associates—is a testament to Key To The Cure’s legacy in uniting our communities to raise critical funds for awareness about this cause year after year.”

Carolina Herrera states, "It is a pleasure and honor to partner with Saks on the Key to the Cure project this year. It's wonderful to see both fashion and philanthropy brought together to serve a greater purpose. The design of the t-shirt had to be both meaningful and pleasing to the eye and I think we've accomplished just that."

Ms. Cruz will appear in a national public service announcement (PSA) wearing the Carolina Herrera limited-edition T-shirt. The Key To The Cure PSA will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in September and October.

Saks Fifth Avenue’s charity shopping weekend will take place Thursday through Sunday, October 18 to 21, at all Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores nationwide and on saks.com.

Saks Fifth Avenue initiated its charity shopping weekend in 1999. Since then, the company has donated $31 million to women’s cancer research and treatment organizations throughout the United States. Organizations benefiting from these funds include: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation; EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund; Cleveland Clinic; Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Nevada Cancer Institute and many others.

With the success of the February Charity Program, in which Saks customers gave 5% of all registered purchases made with a registered Saks Fifth Avenue credit card back to charity, Saks Fifth Avenue is bringing its charitable initiatives under one banner for the first time. A new Saks Gives logo will highlight Saks Fifth Avenue’s dedication to charity. Saks Gives will brand the company’s charitable service through philanthropic giving and active outreach, both locally and nationally.

Taylor Swift responded to the appeal to be a cancer victims prom: nice to see Swift

Taylor Swift

Numerous crazy fans want to go on a date with Taylor Swift. So, what makes 18-year-old Kevin McGuire from Somerdale, New Jersey any different from the pack of Swift's would-be suitors?

Well, there are a few things, which I'll go over in a minute. But, suffice to say, McGuire, who recently asked Swift via Facebook to be his prom date in June, stands out for the response he got. Swift declined the offer...but asked him to accompany her to a prestigious awards show in April, instead!

How did this all happen? The backstory: McGuire has had a painful struggle with leukemia since he was 13 years old. He went into remission in 2010, but sadly relapsed and is currently battling cancer for a second time.

His older sister, Victoria, impressed with her brother's bravery and character, started a Facebook campaign with the hope of granting his greatest wish--convincing Swift to attend prom with him.

"All throughout Kevin's treatment he kept his character intact, remained playing basketball, and even started varsity football as a freshman," Victoria McGuire explained on Facebook. "Kevin is the kindest, most noble 18-year-old a person could even fathom meeting, and through out his ups and downs Kevin never even questioned 'why me?'

"Nothing, and I mean NOTHING brightens Kevin's day more than Taylor Swift," she continued. "Kevin DESERVES more than anyone a special event in his life."

Victoria's idea caught the attention of local news, who interviewed her about it. "[Kevin] said 'who would want to go to the prom with me? I am going to be bald, my appearance is going to change,'" she told an NBC affiliate.  "We both looked at each other and I said, 'What if I got Taylor Swift to go to the prom with you?'"

After the campaign attracted responses from nearly 90,000 people, Swift herself responded to McGuire's sister's plea on her own Facebook account Friday afternoon. She politely declined his offer to go to prom, but asked, "I was wondering, the ACM Awards are coming up.. Would you be my date?"

The startled teenager told local news after reading the post in a bed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that he didn't know what to say. "I was just trying not to throw up." (He recovered enough composure to accept the invitation, provided he's feeling well enough when the date arrives.) The Academy of Country Music Awards will take place April 1 in Las Vegas. Kevin, you're not old enough to gamble yet, but you're already a big winner.