What’s up? I think you all are up to speed on the films I’ve been making, so there’s something else I’ve been doing I want to tell you about.
I am a die-hard supporter of Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA), which is a small organization that packs a huge wallop. ANSA works in Africa and America to combat AIDS, assist AIDS orphans, and defend human and civil rights. Last week, I was interviewed in Variety about ANSA. Here’s what I said about why I support them: “I don’t mind giving to green causes. I don’t mind saving a tree. But I’d rather save a person.”
There’s an easy way you can help me out. ANSA’s program to “Help African Children Orphaned by AIDS” has been entered into the American Express Members Project. (You’ve probably seen the Members Project TV ad with Martin Scorsese, Alicia Keys, Ellen DeGeneres, Andre Agassi, etc.)
Artists for a New South Africa’s program to Help African Children Orphaned by AIDS was just voted into the Members Project Top 25 out of more than 7000 projects. We’re now in the running to win up to $5 million but ANSA’s project is up against huge organizations with massive budgets, mailing lists and staffs so we need some superhero-style action. It’s easy. Go to the front page of my site and right in the center you’ll see the banner. Click on “Vote Now;” and you will be taken to www.membersproject.com all you have to do is register and cast a vote.
There are only 5 days [now only 4] for our project to make it to the Top 5. Voting for this round runs from Tuesday, July 17 at 12 am EST through Sunday, July 22 at 11:50 pm EST. Every American Express cardholder can vote, whether or not you voted before.
As I said when I was playing Jules in Pulp Fiction, “Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children.”
In South Africa, there are over 5.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS and over 1.2 million AIDS orphans, more than any other nation in the world. I’ve been to see those kids and their lives are really tough. So help me and ANSA help some lost children.
All you have to do is cast a vote and shout out to your friends to get involved. To find out more about ANSA or support their work directly, go to www.ansafrica.org. To watch a video about ANSA, click on the link on the front page of my site. And yes, that’s me in the very back on the far left in the opening group shot.
A’ight?
Peace,
SAM
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