Julianne Moore's Valentine to Charity

[February 05, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Julianne Moore has a loving new way to help struggling kids in America: Send a valentine.

Just before Christmas, the 47-year-old actress read to elementary school students and met with parents in White Oak, Tenn., on behalf of Save the Children. The organization aims to improve children's quality of life through literacy, physical activity and nutrition programs.

Afterward, Moore, a mother of two, was inspired to offer Valentine's Day cards online in return for donations to Save the Children. The cards, featuring children's artwork, can be printed or e-mailed, and are available through Feb. 14 on the charity's Web site.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Moore said she hopes the initiative will catch on in schools where classmates exchange valentines.

"I know my kids are very service-oriented, and they're very into the idea of charity -- particularly when it comes to other kids," she said of son Caleb, 9, and daughter Liv, 5.

"It's just sort of a nice way to acknowledge kids who were struggling in America," Moore said. "It's like kids loving kids."

The four-time Oscar nominee has also shown support for striking Hollywood writers. She was photographed picketing with Robin Williams and other stars outside New York's Time Warner Center the first week scribes walked off the job in November.

"Everybody really really wants it to be resolved -- but at the end of the day, jobs are much more important than awards," she said. "So we really want this settled so that everybody can go back to work."

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On the Net:

Save the Children:
http://www.savethechildren.org/

[Associated Press; By ERIN CARLSON]

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