Photo Credit: Matt Eisman/WIREIMAGE

What an honor! Ronald McDonald House® New York announced that it has appointed Jake T. Austin as the organization’s FIRST EVER youth ambassador spokesperson to provide a new voice for children facing the greatest challenge of their lives as they battle pediatric cancer. Jake will be introduced during the organization’s 20th anniversary gala event on Monday, May 21st at the Waldorf Astoria Grand Ballroom.

“It’s an honor and a pleasure to have a bright and talented young man like Jake T. Austin representing the House. His dedication to our organization is already a hopeful beacon for so many of our family members who look up to him and appreciate him for his charitable endeavors, as well as his work in Holllywood. We welcome him to our family.”

– William T. Sullivan, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House New York

Jake’s activities on behalf of the House will include starring in a public service announcement promoting the mission of New York City’s “home away from home” and all of the services the House offers to pediatric cancer patients and their families.

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Jake T. Austin attended the first annual NICHOLAS SPARKS CELEBRITY FAMILY WEEKEND in New Bern, North Carolina, this past weekend, Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22. The fun filled weekend included the premiere of Nicholas’ new film, “The Lucky One,” which stars Zac Efron, as well as a celebrity golf tournament, 5k run, welcome and farewell brunch, and special dinner at the Sparks residence.

Check out photos under the jump to see Jake at the event!

photo credit: J. Everette Perry

Jake T. Austin will be joining in the fun this weekend, as he makes a special appearance and personal donation at the 9th annual Kids Party For A Cure, benefiting the cure-focused work of the Diabetes Research Institute at Dave & Busters (1504 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY 11590) on Sunday, March 25th. The event will feature activities for kids of all ages, sweepstakes, a silent auction, and a private meet and greet photo session with Jake for eligible sponsors. Austin has generously agreed to donate his time to the Kids Party and will be personally presenting a check at the event in the amount of $2,500.00 to support the DRI’s important research.

“I’m excited to be a part of the Kids Party for A Cure that benefits the Diabetes Research Institute. My grandfather has struggled with this disease, and it’s been important for me to learn more about diabetes and how to support the kids here who have it. I know that the DRI is solely focused on finding a cure and that gives me a reason to believe that a cure for diabetes will happen in our lifetime.”

-Jake T. Austin
The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute leads the world in cure-focused research. As the largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is aggressively working to shrink the timeline toward the discovery of a biological cure for this disease. The Diabetes Research Institute was created for one reason – to cure diabetes – which is and will continue to be its singular focus until that goal is reached. For the millions of people affected by diabetes, the DRI is the best hope for a cure.

If you can hangout with Jake this weekend, or you’d like to donate, please click HERE.

Photo Credit: JSquared Photography

“Wizards of Waverly Place” star Jake T. Austin has booked a guest appearance on Lifetime‘s hit show “Drop Dead Diva!” In the new episode titled “Home,” Jake will play ‘Sam,’ a 16 year old multi-millionaire CEO and video game designer, who enlists Jane (Brooke Elliott) and Grayson’s (Jackson Hurst) help to sue for emancipation from his father Bruce. “Drop Dead Diva” will debut this summer on the Lifetime network. Make sure to tune into the episode!

Disney Channel‘s “Wizards of Waverly Place” star Jake T. Austin is set to appear in a brand new episode of “LAW & ORDER: SVU” airing tonight on NBC! In the episode titled “Home Invations,” Jake plays ‘Rob Fisher,’ the boyfriend of a girl whose family is brutally murdered.

“It’s an honor to be a part of such a respected series. Being a New Yorker myself, I’m a huge fan of the show,”

Jake said in an exclusive statement to The Huffington Post.

Noah Munck, best known for his gregarious role as the shirt-shedding Gibby on the Emmy-nominated Nickelodeon series “iCarly,” is in final negotiations to join the cast of “Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn” as Ben Rogers opposite Jake T. Austin and Joel Courtney. Fresh off of Sony Picture’s adult comedy “Bad Teacher” Munck will head to Bulgaria in August after wrapping season #4 of “iCarly.”

“Being a part of a classic American story is an honor,”

shares Munck.

“Plus I get to scratch ‘Visit Bulgaria’ off my bucket list!”

“Bad Teacher” is currently in theaters, where Munck plays opposite Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake and Jason Segel. In the film’s trailer, Noah is mercilessly beamed in the face with a basketball by co-star Diaz who plays his teacher.

“Cameron had to hit me in the face with the ball about 10 times so we could get the scene right,”

explains Noah Munck of his on-set work on “Bad Teacher” opposite Cameron Diaz.

“We should have done a few more takes because Cameron felt so bad she ran over and hugged me after each take. It was nice. She’s awesome!”

Check out the new trailer for “New Year’s Eve”, which is jam-packed with celebrities!

“Wizards of Waverly Place” star David Henrie “tweeted” the above photo after the cast won a Creative Arts Award for the show. Congrats!!