Actor Christian Bale was far from the big screen on Wednesday but still surrounded by cameras, those of the journalists who came in large numbers for the inauguration of his project in preparation for 16 years. In the town of Palmdale, northeast of Los Angeles, California beyond the San Gabriel Mountains, the actor plans to build 12 foster homes, two studios to help children transition to independent living as well as a social center of 650 m².
The actor playing Batman in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy has removed his black crime-fighting superhero cape to help children placed in centers or foster families. But this story provokes a feeling of “déjà vu”, and that’s normal. The idea of financing a home for disadvantaged young people has already come to fruition in The Dark Knight Rises, where Christian Bale plays the main role. At the end of the film, the legacy of orphaned Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, indicated that his family’s old mansion should be turned into an orphanage.
In reality, Christian Bale said he was “stunned and furious” to see so many children in care in the state of California. “Imagine the absolute pain and trauma of losing your parents or being ripped away from your parents, and then losing your siblings on top of that. This is no way to treat children. And so, we will be the hub for that. I hope this village will be the first of many, and I hope that people, Californians and Angelenos, will come and join us to open our eyes to what is happening right under our noses. These are our children, and we must help them,” said Christian Bale.
So the actor created the organization Together California, which is leading the construction of a unique complex of facilities with the goal of keeping siblings in the foster care system together. The cost is estimated at $22 million.
The 2019 Golden Globe winner for Best Actor spoke about his passion for philanthropic service and community activism since his childhood growing up alongside an activist father. “I grew up with a father who was always very active and selfless. We would go to demonstrations and shout at Maggie Thatcher,” he says. But her desire to help foster children matured with the birth of her daughter Luka. “After our daughter was born, I tried to imagine what it would be like if we weren’t there. At the same time, I was looking all night to see what was happening in Los Angeles and where we could help,” he told Hollywood Reporter.
The actor used his connections to recover as much funds as possible. Among the generous donors: Leonardo DiCaprio. In total, the center which will open in 2025 will be able to accommodate 70. A number which has been criticized by some in view of the 22 million dollars invested. In response, Eric Esralian – a doctor at the University of California – said: “That’s 70 kids or 80 kids forever, and if even one of those kids ends up having an incredible life and potentially contributing to society and that This village made this possible for him, I think it’s a good deal.”
Christian Bale seems fully invested in his project but the actor will return to action this week since he has been chosen to play Frankenstein in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s next film with Warner Bros.
