Jeff Bridges joins the campaign to publicize and stamp out childhood hunger.

[Contrary1]

:thumbsup:



The Most Significant Thing He’s Ever Done

It’s all the rage in Washington, the search for common ground, and if there’s one thing everybody agrees with, it’s that children shouldn’t go hungry in America. Back in the day when senators of opposing parties thought it was their job to work together, Republican Bob Dole and Democrat George McGovern, no shrinking violets when it came to partisan politics, paired up to expand the school lunch program and establish the federal feeding program for women, infants, and children—known as WIC—that is rightfully enshrined as a sacrosanct program whatever administration is in power.

The reforms they put in place in the 1970s have been heralded, but the work they started is far from over. There are nearly 17 million children living in “food-insecure homes,” actor Jeff Bridges told the National Press Club on Thursday, in his new role as national spokesman for the No Kid Hungry Campaign, which is dedicated to stamping out childhood hunger by 2015. Bridges had met that morning with two Obama cabinet officials, Agriculture’s Tom Vilsack and Education’s Arne Duncan, but he has never met President Obama, and says he tries to steer clear of partisan alliances.

“Poverty is a very complex issue, but feeding children isn’t,” he said, unveiling an initiative that suits today’s political and economic climate because it requires no new money, or program. Federally funded programs are in place but only half the kids eligible for a government-funded breakfast receive it, and only 15 percent of kids eligible for assistance during the summer get it. Bridges has signed on with Share Our Strength, a nationally recognized nonprofit, in what he says is “like a public-relations assignment,” to publicize the gap and get governors to commit to closing it.

In his prepared remarks, the ruggedly handsome and silver-haired Bridges seemed a bit uncomfortable at first, putting on and removing his glasses and reaching for water. Losing his place at one point, he quipped, “Let me back up—in movies, you can say ‘Take 2.’” When he was asked his biggest challenge as a famous person, he paused for what seemed like an eternity and then, visibly choked up, said, “This is the most significant thing I have ever done.” My first reaction was, this guy’s a very good actor. But hearing him out and talking with him after the speech, I found him to be a very real, no B.S. kind of guy. “My profession is getting into other people’s shoes,” he said, explaining his empathy for parents who can’t provide for their children, and adding, “I have another kind of hunger, a hunger to contribute.”

More: http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/12/the-most-significant-thing-he-s-ever-done.html

[jpgray]

1. Here's to future Lebowski Little Urban Receivers

:toast:

:D Kudos to Mr. Bridges.

[Dyler Turden]

2. Who's this guy?

K&R

[OneGrassRoot]

3. I keep meaning to ask you....

if that image is from "The Fisher King"?

:hi:

[Dyler Turden]

4. From The Big Lebowski.

Notice the white russian?

[OneGrassRoot]

5. I really suck with movies...

I still need to watch "Network" and I've never seen "The Big Lebowski" either, so I'm clueless as to the cultural references...lol.

Maybe that's what's wrong with me.

B-)

Thanks!

[Initech]

6. The Dude abides.

[hlthe2b]

7. I have adored Jeff Bridges for years. Good on him.

He's one of the really good guys in Hollywood (his brother is as well).

[and-justice-for-all]

8. No one in this country should be hungry...

it is revolting that millions do.

[Odin2005]

9. The DUDE abides!

:D

[Divernan]

10. Thank you, Mr. Bridges.

Would there were more like you in this world.