Christian Bale‘s superhero days are far behind him, but that has not stopped the actor from continuing his philanthropic works. Proving to be a real-life hero, the actor officially opened a new foster care village in Palmdale, called Together California. As per reports, the actor helped create the foster care system with the aim of keeping siblings together.Described by organisers as the ‘first village of its kind’ in California, the facility is designed to provide children and their families with safe and nurturing surroundings while prioritising sibling connections, ABC7 reports. This arrangement is said to be uncommon for many children in foster care.
Christian Bale on giving children hope
Speaking at the opening, Bale highlighted the importance of helping children in the foster care system. He said, “It’s our job to turn their heartbreak and their pain into love and hope and a sense of future.”Speaking to Fox 11 Los Angeles, he explained the reason behind the project. Bale shared, “One of my sisters was in foster care briefly when I was growing up, and I don’t think that is necessary. I don’t understand why people would need to have an association with it to care greatly about it. If you got a heart, little human beings need help, they’re alone in the world. They’re alone in the world. Imagine, it takes only 30 seconds to be in their shoes to realise the terror of how that must be. And the necessity for caring adults to step in and while they might not be able to completely able to replace the parents, some kids come through briefly, and for some it becomes their home for good and sometimes the Together California parents will end up adopting those children.”“It is a beautiful thing. They get to stay with their siblings so there is not trauma on top of trauma.”Addressing the social media buzz about fans linking his charitable works to that of his onscreen superhero character, Christian said, “It wasn’t a couple of years until I started doing this, that I realised that Bruce Wayne started orphanages at the end of the movie.”The actor was referring to his film ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, where his character, Bruce Wayne, leaves Wayne Manor to the city of Gotham to be turned into an orphanage.
About the Together California foster village
As per reports, the 11,000-square-foot community features 12 furnished homes and has been designed to provide a stable environment for children and their families. According to organisers, the village will also offer programmes focused on stability, support and care.“A place where everyone is welcomed, a place that keeps families together, a place that creates community, a place where you can find hope in the most challenging of times,” said Together California Executive Director Tim McCormick.
Project funded through donations
Organisers said the project was made possible through donations, with the Austrian American Council West helping raise nearly USD 9 million for the initiative.
