American actor, producer and singer Rosario Dawson, 29, grew up in a squat in New York. She supports online travel agent Trip Advisor’s More Than Footprints Scheme, which is donating $1m to five charities (see www.tripadvisor.com/Cause)
What is the first charity you can remember supporting?
When I was 10, I handed out leaflets on saving trees. I grew up in New York in the concrete jungle, but I used to love family trips into the mountains. My parents told me how trees create your oxygen and eat your carbon dioxide, and that was a revelation.
Which cause do you feel most passionately about?
I work with several, so it is difficult for me to choose one. A special one is the Lower East Side Girls Club, a programme helping girls to avoid leaving school and child pregnancy, and to keep them off the streets and HIV-free. Another is Voto Latino, which gets young Latinos into the electoral process.
How did growing up in a squat affect your view of charity?
I recognised the tenacity of others; seeing what they could do and thinking I can do it too. I learnt about taking care of myself, viewing the situation around me and making choices. I learnt to appreciate how much strength I have, and that no matter how little you have, you can always help out. Just lick envelopes, or whatever it is, we can all help to make the machine run smoother. My mother, who had no money, used to volunteer at the hospital. So we were poor, but there was a community.
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