A time for heroes -- to benefit the Pediatric AIDS Foundation

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Celebrities gathered en masse on the lawn of Veterans Administration for ‘A Time for Heroes,’ a June 12 benefit for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. As the day’s heroes, the stars, including Ashlee Simpson, Ashley Tisdale, Olivia Munn, Laila Ali, Mira Sorvino, Eva La Rue, Angus T. Jones, Melissa Rivers and Zachary Levi, mingled among guests and manned carnival-style booths.

Chad Michael Murray of ‘One Tree Hill” supervised a rock-climbing wall, while Tatyana Ali of ‘The Young and the Restless’ helped youngsters string beads. Tia Carrere handed out prizes at a ball toss, alongside Constance Marie, who confided that she often moved the target to accommodate youngsters. ‘We want everyone to have a good time,’ she said.

Ali Landry of ‘Eve,’ Judy Greer of ‘Mad Love’ and Joe Manganiello of ‘True Blood’ all stopped by the popular denim-decorating booth, 77kids by American Eagle, where Minnie Driver painted jeans with her son Henry, and Denise Richards helped her daughters, Lola and Sam, add sparkle to their new denim duds. Bella Thorne of ‘Shake it Up!’ created a jeweled heart on a back pocket, only to decide to hang up her shorts as art. ‘I don’t want to sit on the heart,’ she said.

Willow Bay said the charity chose an African theme this year to draw attention to the severity of the pediatric AIDS problem in Africa. Bay’s husband, Robert Iger, is chief executive of the Walt Disney Co., sponsor of the event, which grossed $1.1 million and drew 1,500 guests to play games, construct craft projects and sample foods from top L.A. restaurants.

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Upper photo: Denise Richards and daughters Sam and Lola. Credit: Alexandra Wyman / WireImage

Lower photo: Ashlee Simpson. Credit: Alexandra Wyman / WireImage