Jonathan Morgan Heit
Los Angeles, CA – Child Actor and budding philanthropist/activist, Jonathan Morgan Heit noted for his roles in Bedtime Stories, Valentine’s Day and Date Night has just launched a campaign on the popular fund raising site Crowdrise to raise a minimum of $11,000 in honor of his upcoming 11th birthday. Inspired by his Aunt, Lauren Segal-Avenna the founder and Executive Director of NextAid, and her dedication to improving the lives of children in Africa, Jonathan set out on his own campaign to do good. He will be visiting Kenya in July to engage with kids at the Kawangware Vision Centre and inspire activism among his peers and fans back home. For more information and to donate visit http://www.crowdrise.com/JonathanHeit.
Kawangare Vision Centre is a community based youth driven business started 9 years ago to get youth off the streets. They make custom silkscreened gift bags out of recycled paper and have sold to over 130 companies around Kenya. Currently they are operating out of a rented facility in the slums. They are now being trained in ecological construction and are building a new facility on their own piece of land on the outskirts of the slum.Continue reading
Jonathan has been acting since he was 4 1/2 years old and has appeared in top films such as Bedtime Stories, Valentine’s Day and Date Night, and is currently the voice of Cubby on Disney’s hit animated series , “Jake and the Neverland Pirates.” He has also written and directed two shorts of his own. He has always been proactive in helping others and has participated in other philanthropic programs including the Los Angeles Mission, Book Pals, Autism Speaks, and the Lollipop Theater Network.
During Jonathan’s first trip to Kenya, he will also be visiting the Red Rhino Orphanage outside of Nairobi, the Nyumbani Children’s Village in the hills outside of Kitui, and the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy in Kenya’s most notorious slum. These are the projects that have inspired NextAid and will soon inspire Jonathan and his fans as he reports back on this journey.
“The whole world would be a much better place if all kids had the opportunity to go to school, be healthy and safe, and to one day earn enough money to live, be happy and raise a family. Everything would change!” he says. Now this very grown up 11 year old with a giant heart, will have a first-hand education, deeply understanding the true meaning of these statements, and forever after becoming an even more educated and passionate advocate for Kenyan kids.
About NextAid:
NextAid’s mission is to improve the lives of children, youth, and women in Africa by promoting and implementing sustainable solutions. NextAid raises awareness for, and partners with, community-based projects and grassroots organizations in Africa and believes that an integrated approach is the best formula for establishing real and lasting change. Through music events and public education initiatives, NextAid provides empowering opportunities for concerned individuals to make a difference. www.nextaid.org
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For more information please see www.nextaid.org or contact Susan on Seggern on susanvonseggern@nextaid.org or 213-840-0077.