Actor Kevin Bacon Teams Up With U. Of Md. For Social Media 'Do-Good Challenge'
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WJZ)— Doing good in Maryland with the help of Kevin Bacon. The actor was in College Park to award University of Maryland students who came up with the best charitable idea.
Andrea Fujii has the story.
A big round of applause for Kevin Bacon who was on the University of Maryland campus challenging students to do good.
"By doing this kind of challenge we're encouraging the idea of doing good and giving back, but we're also trying to get new ideas from them," Bacon said.
The School of Public Policy Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership partnered with Bacon's charity called SixDegrees.org.
Six teams were chosen as finalists to come up with the best way to encourage change through social media.
"Some of the finalists' ideas I've read, and I'm like 'That's just a great idea,'" Bacon said.
Students say the concept alone is inspiring.
"See, students who are broke and don't have any money can make a big difference," said Meredith James, student.
Bacon, along with former Terp basketball coach Gary Williams and nutrition expert Joy Bauer, helped pick the winning do-gooder.
And their votes went to the Food Recovery Network, students who collected uneaten campus food and gave the meals to local shelters.
"We recognized the social opportunity present and the impact we could make if we connected food waste and hunger," a student from the winning team said.
Bacon's goal is to use creativity to help others, which he says every team accomplished.
"I think you guys did a killer job," he said. "Way to go."
The Food Recovery Network says so far they've distributed 6,700 meals to homeless shelters. With their win they'll receive $5,000.
College Park's School of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership is just two years old. School officials hope this partnership with Bacon will help it become a destination program.
