On his 32nd birthday (December 8, 2010), Somerhalder created the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which focuses on creating awareness about central topics: habitat conservation, species protection, and green energy initiatives. The charity raises money to distribute to notable charities who work to protect each of the topics ISF tries to raise awareness for. One of the things that attracted this organization to me was that it really promotes working together. We're all creatures of the Earth, so any change that happens is going to need to come from ALL OF US. It's incredible for a charity to come along and say, "We're going to try to link everyone together." Most charities try to do their own thing.
Somerhalder recently spoke in front of Congress to introduce ISF, in which he explained, "environmental conservation has not just been a passion of mine, but a priority." He went on to say, "When I began to find through my work as an actor that I was gaining an increasingly prominent platform from the American public, I knew immediately what I needed to do. The IS Foundation is my attempt to use this opportunity of the share of the public's attention for the greater good."
Ian was gracious enough to take a few minutes out of his busy Vampire Diaries' schedule to answer a few questions about some of the topics his foundation aims to eliminate. Along with Ian, we were also able to ask a few questions of the IS Foundation's Executive Director, Kim Klingler, who Ian has said is the backbone of the ISF team.
ISF covers a wide variety of issues, from deforestation to animal cruelty to going green. What is your main goal? You've mentioned that we all have to work together, with each other & with the planet to save it, essentially, has this idea been easy to instill in people since the creation of ISF?
Deforestation- why is it important to spread the facts about what cutting down forests does to our planet? I love that you refer to it as "taking away the lungs" of the planet.
Can you explain a little bit about how medical research is affected by animal extinction? How much of an impact extinction of different species actually has?
What are your thoughts on the Internet & social media? It takes people farther and farther away from nature, but it allows organizations like yours to grow rapidly? Yay/nay?
Okay, so how can all of us get involved?
Where do our donations go?
For Ian's & Kim's answers to these questions find the full interview here
Follow Ian on Twitter
For more info on ISF visit the website
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