Matt Damon on Setting a Charitable Example for Daughters
 Alpha/Landov |
For Matt Damon, philanthropy is a way of life — and it’s the only life he’s ever known. The 39-year-old actor credits mom Nancy for instilling in him at an early age the importance of giving back.
“When I was a boy, my mom had a magnet on the refrigerator with a little picture of Gandhi along with a quote from him. It said: “No matter how insignificant what you do may seem, it is important that you do it,’ Matt recalls in a new interview with PARADE. “As a child, I was raised to believe that, and to this day I do my best to live it.”
He’s also doing his best to pass that mindset on to daughters Alexia, 11, Isabella, 3, and Gia Zavala, 13 ½ months. “I can’t think of any more important value to instill in our children than the desire to help others,” he explains.
“I feel strongly about setting an example for them. Real problems can be solved by the next generation if we instill in them the right values. I’m not a politician, and I don’t want to tell anybody how to live. But I must say, all these years later, I still think Gandhi had the right idea: No matter how small the contribution we make may seem, it’s crucial that we all do our part.”
While the girls are still young, Matt says that they’ve been staying behind with mom Luciana during his visits abroad. Someday, however, he says he’s looking forward to having their company as he comes face-to-face with those he’s working to help with Water.org and the ONE campaign. “It’s really powerful when you get to meet the people and shake their hands and listen to their stories,” he says.
“We don’t like to be separated, but we both feel it’s so important to learn about these things. There’s so much I don’t know. In the future, I know these trips are something we’ll do as a family.”
Source: PARADE
– Missy
- Posted on Oct 18, 09 at 7:00PM
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- 9 Comments
October 18th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
What a refreshing and down-to-earth guy! He seems like an awesome father, husband, and human being.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I think that’s a wonderful mindset to instill in your children.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I have to say that both the Damons and the Afflecks come off as really nice families in interviews.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
His mother’s parenting book is very good.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Nice guy in Hollywood….didn’t know that their were that many.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:55 am
I loved him on Entourage he was hilarious getting Vince to donate to his charity!
October 19th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Fantastic!
October 19th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
I love how Matt Damon took on parenting his wife’s oldest daughter too. Not many men are like that & I’ve always seen Matt refer to Alexia as his daughter. It makes me respect him more!
October 20th, 2009 at 7:41 am
I agree. When we were kids my parents always took in kids to stay with us. Sometimes whole families would be with us and to me that was ‘normal’.
Our house was called, ‘Shelter Rock’ and when you pulled up to the gate that was engraved in the cement wall. It really was a shelter and a rock for a lot of people going through a rough time.
I became a foster parent at 25 and although it was very trying and so hard sometimes, it was also rewarding to be able to help someone else in need.
I dont do it anymore for now because I want to focus on having a child of my own but once that is accomplished, my heart and my home will always be a Shelter Rock for anyone who needs a place to rest their weary bones or souls.
My parents taught me that no matter how little you have, its more than most will ever have so never question breaking your bread in half to share it. Just do it!