Taylor Swift gives 50G to CHOP

SEVEN-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift is donating $50,000 to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The money will pay for a music cart that will allow teens to create and produce their own tunes while at CHOP's Cancer Center.

"[Swift's] gift will help lift the spirits of many CHOP patients during a difficult time," Dr. Steven M. Altschuler, chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The Berks County-raised Swift has a history of working with CHOP. Last summer, she visited kids at Ryan Seacrest Studios, a closed-circuit radio station and multimedia center. In 2013, she took former CHOP patient Kevin McGuire to the Academy of Country Music Awards when she could not attend his prom.

Swift's donation has nothing to do with the Roger Daltrey/Joan Jett concert to benefit Teen Cancer America that I told you about Monday, but the money will go to the same place. Teen Cancer America is raising money to open a spot at CHOP's Cancer Center that caters specifically to teens.

Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera, stars of "How to Train Your Dragon 2," will head to CBS3 to lend a helping hand to an Alex's Lemonade Stand phone bank from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.

Joining Ferrera and Baruchel are CBS News correspondent Tracy Smith (who will serve as co-host); actress Bailee Madison; "Survivor" contestant Gervase Peterson; Astro, of "The X Factor"; ex-Eagle Ron Jaworski; and Food Network star and Alex's Lemonade Foundation board member Marc Summers.

Personalities from CBS3 and CBS Radio properties also will be in attendance to pick up pledges, which can be made by credit card or check by calling 1-844-977-CBS3 or online at CBSPhilly.com. Viewers can also donate $10 to the cause by texting "lemonade cbs" to 85944.

This weekend also marks Lemonade Days, during which people throughout the country set up lemonade stands to benefit the locally based charity that funds research to fight pediatric cancer.

Ben Simmoneau, formerly of CBS3, has appeared on two recent episodes of FX's "Louie," starring funniest guy alive Louis C.K. Simmoneau, who is now an anchor on Fox 5's "Good Day Wake Up" in New York City, played against type. The reporter acted as a weatherman. "Louie" airs Mondays at 10 p.m.

* In other TV news, Philly's own Phouryrak Van will be on "The Price is Right" at 11 a.m. Friday on CBS.

* Lauren Weedman, who plays Doris, the best character in HBO's "Looking," was spotted touring Eastern State Penitentiary and grabbing a bite at Headhouse Oyster & Crab Co. (119 South St.). Weedman is in town with her one-woman show, "Well I Think You're Beautiful Philadelphia," at the Adrienne Theater (2030 Sansom St.) this weekend. Speaking of Headhouse, they'll have a blue-claw crab Beer Week special tomorrow, with a portion of proceeds going to Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) from 7 to 11 p.m.

* Charles Barkley has decamped in Philly for a bit and I hear he's taken his gym time to Joltin' Jabs Boxing Fitness (4303 Main St.), where he's gone for past workouts while in the city.