Uma Thurman
Actor
Member of The Board of Directors of Room to Grow
Mother of Maya, 10, and Levon, 7
"I got involved with Room to Grow on the ground floor—literally the ground floor, because 10 years ago, I lived in the same brownstone as founder Julie Burns, who was just starting it. I was expecting my first child, and we got to know each other in the tiny foyer, where I would see her come in with bags and bags of baby goods. My main function is in fund-raising for the organization, which provides clothing, gear, and developmental toys to children ages 0 to 3 who are living in poverty in New York City and Boston. Clients of Room to Grow meet with social workers on a regular basis for two hours at a time; it's very dignified and private. People can contribute in a million ways. Volunteering for the clothing and book drives is valuable, and so are donations. When I had my second baby shower, I told people not to give me anything, but to send gifts directly to Room to Grow. You can team up with friends to buy a stroller or just send a book. Can you imagine a child arriving in kindergarten having never held a book? It's great to be able to help another mother who has all the same aspirations for her children you do but lacks the resources."
See how you can join Uma Thurman and all the current and past Smart Cookie honorees in making the world a better place at ChangingThePresent.org/cookie.
