Obama taps Jon Bon Jovi for new advisory board

By Ed O'Keefe



Rocker Jon Bon Jovi. (Skip Bolen Photo)

Looks like all those years of performing for Democratic candidates has paid off: President Obama is tapping rocker Jon Bon Jovi to serve on a new presidential advisory council.

The White House announced Tuesday that Bon Jovi (or is it just Jovi?) will join the new 25-member White House Council for Community Solutions, a panel established to provide advice on "the best ways to mobilize citizens, nonprofits, businesses and government to work more effectively together to solve specific community needs."

The 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act established the panel, which also includes eBay CEO John Donahoe and Starbucks Vice President Paula Boggs and Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin.

Jovi, the formerly big-haired rocker, is a well-known Democratic Party supporter who once made a cameo in support of fictional Democratic presidential candidate Matthew Santos on NBC's "West Wing."

More recently, Bon Jovi performed at Obama's inaugural concert and promoted the Obama administration's United We Serve initiative during his recent world tour.

But, on a serious note, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has partnered with public and private organizations to help combat homelessness. The efforts have yielded more than 260 units of affordable housing for low income individuals and families, according to his spokeswoman.

Obama has tapped several other celebrities to serve on presidential commissions and councils. Yo-Yo Ma and Sarah Jessica Parker are on the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, for example.

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