Theatre folk Kevin Kline, Vanessa Redgrave, Mary-Louise Parker, Tony Kushner and Meryl Streep are among guest readers for The Academy of American Poets benefit presentation “Poetry and The Creative Mind,” set for April 6 at Lincoln Center. The second annual event, sponsored by Target, will begin at Alice Tully Hall at 6:30 PM. Read more information at Variety.com

Meryl Streep was invited by Equality Now to host their “Evening of Music and Reading”, yesterday in New York. The gala was hosted by Glamour Magazine, guests included her fellow co-star of “The Hours” and newlywed Julianne Moore and Hilary Swank

Meryl Streep served as auctioneer to help sell artwork in Fort Meyers to benefit survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. On the laser print “Jarros,” Streep sweetened the pot, saying – quote – “Maybe a kiss. Maybe a French kiss,” The bids jumped until the gavel finally fell at $3,500. Streep was good on her word, delivering an appreciative kiss to the buyer. The group raised over $296,000 in the auction. Visit this site for a full article and a photo of Meryl

According to Variety, stars from Broadway and Hollywood, including Kevin Kline, Bette Midler, Robin Williams and Meryl Streep, will take part in a one-night-only event to raise money to create the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at New York-Presbyterian Hospital The evening is entitled “42nd & Vine … Hollywood Hits Broadway” and will be held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Tuesday, November 12. The many performers will offer selections from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “West Side Story”.

Meryl Streep attended the “One World, One Child” benefit concert for the Children’s Health Environment Coalition in Los Angeles, yesterday.

Equality Now celebrates its 10th anniversary of fighting for women worldwide with an all-star gala at the Gramercy Theatre. Fauziya Kassindja, Alanis Morissette, Gloria Steinem, Kate Clinton, Edwidge Danticat, the Gina Gibney Dance Company and others will join the one and only Meryl Streep. Marie Claire sponsors (Text comes from Liz Smith’s Excite Column).

Afghan Women’s Summit delegates’ meeting with the United Nations Security Council urged that aid to Afghanistan be sent on condition of improving women’s rights. Shafiqa Habibi was head of the Women’s Radio and Television Broadcast Organization until the Taliban came to power. Meryl Streep joined the news conference to lend support, saying ina statement,

These women are strong and courageous, and their leadership and commitment are inspiring to all of us.

The website americanforests.org reported that Meryl Streep can now be heard narrating public service announcements for AMERICAN FORESTS, the nation’s oldest nonprofit conservation organization and a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration. The new PSAs are currently airing on ABC, CBS, HGTV, Animal Planet, and dozens of local network television affiliates and cable companies across the United States. Streep recently recorded the PSAs while she was in New York City, appearing in a theater production in Central Park.

A concert with a purpose brought stars of rock, soul, blues and country music to a giant tent on the White House lawn Saturday to support the cause of bringing music back to cash-starved schools around the country. The stars who did the introducing involved another roster of stars: Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey and Robert De Niro