Jason Lewis, the actor who plays Samantha’s love interest in Sex and the City, might be busy promoting the new movie, but he’s not so busy that he can’t make time for a good cause. He spent some time in New Zealand in April to host a charity party for the KidsCan Charitable Trust.
KidsCan’s goal is to basically level the playing field in less affluent areas, regardless of whether the parents are truly poor or are wasteful of the money the have — either way, the children aren’t to blame. Many Kiwi kids come to school without their basic needs being met, and even more miss school during the winter due to inadequate clothing. KidsCan provides some of these basics for kids so that they can not only come to school, but come to school with pride.
Programs like Raincoats for Kids, Shoes for Kids, and Food for Kids are making a big difference in some New Zealand schools. Attendance during the rainy months is up, and now that more attention is being brought to the inadequate nutrition some kids receive, more parents are making an effort to give their kids three square meals. And, for those families that truly can’t afford it, the program provides free food to kids.
Jason feels strongly that celebrity and politics go hand in hand, looking to Bono as inspiration. He said, “I’m not a brain surgeon, I’m not curing cancer, but if I can show up and do an interview and that is going to raise awareness and someone’s going to give money to the hardworking people of this charity, great. I think it is the best use of celebrity that is out there.”
Photo courtesy of starpulse.com
