J.Lo Plays Santa By Asking Fans For Donations To Charity

J.Lo is playing Santa this Christmas.

The singer/actress is launching a gift drive and asking fans to donate to three of her favorite charities: Boys & Girls Clubs, the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, and the American Red Cross. One lucky donator will receive two tickets to J.Lo's "Dance Again" tour.

"I love going and shopping for Christmas presents for everybody and making gifts for people and seeing their faces light up and surprising them; that's where I get my joy," Lopez told the Associated Press.

Lopez reportedly included the Red Cross on her list because of the organization's work after Hurricane Sandy. The singer grew up in New York City, which was greatly damaged during the late October storm. She told the Associated Press that she has not been back to the City since the storm occurred, but she knows from her ex-husband, Marc Anthony, how bad the devastation was.

"My babies (4-year-old twins Max and Emme) had to go there and visit their dad shortly after, and it was like, kind of a scary proposition to send them because I didn't know what it was going to be like," she said. "He was saying how his house had a tree fall in his front yard, and he couldn't stay there and there was no electricity. Just knowing how so many people were affected by it and when you really hear the stats of it ... there's not enough you can do."

According to the website for the contest, which ends early Tuesday morning, the winner will get to watch the show from premium seats and also receive airline and hotel fare. The prize also includes backstage tickets to meet Lopez herself. In addition, those who donate at least $20 will get a chance to win a "JLO swag bag."

Lopez also took some time to speak to the Associated Press about the late Jenni Rivera. As we previously reported, the Mexican-American singer was killed in a plane crash back on December 8.

"I didn't know her personally but I knew of her," Lopez said. For me, just being on tour right now, you live the same type of life. You know what I mean? It's traveling, it's doing shows," She considered herself a businesswoman as well, besides an artist, and she had kids and I'm sure she was rushing home to get home to her kids at that time so she took the flight at 3 in the morning. So you go like, wow, it's just like a wake-up call for everybody. It's tragic. She was so young, so young, and she had five kids. It just wasn't her time, it feels like."