Actress Eliza Dushku and screenwriter-director Joss Whedon launched a fundraising event in San Francisco to raise money for ThriveGulu, a charity founded by Dushku's mom, Judy, which aids survivors of Uganda's civil war.
Whedon kicked the night off with a powerful speech about the unique and utter necessity of spreading ThriveGulu's cause.
"The most basic human need is humanity. The most basic human need is to have something to strive for, to have an identity, to be heard," Whedon said.
"This is ground zero for what I think is the most important concept... the concept that is behind all of the work that I do as a writer, which is human connection and respect. We want to show people that we respect them and we want to show ourselves that we're worthy of respect. That's what we're doing here tonight."
When asked about her experiences in Uganda, Dushku called upon an almost familial connection with the victims, referring to Rose, a 27-year-old woman who was abducted when she was nine and now stands as a powerful force in the program's Center, helping other women share their stories.
"We get well through sharing what's happened to us," Dushku said, citing social media as a vital form of connection.
After she started using Twitter, Dushku realized how many people she could truly reach, and how many were willing to listen and support through cyberspace.
In terms of gaining support for ThriveGulu, she said, "We did newspaper articles and a lot of promotion but 80 percent came from people that had directly linked through my Twitter page." And now they also have the ThriveGulu website and Facebook page.
Whedon, on the other hand, has pretty much avoided the online world.
"It is a world and I'm supposed to be creating worlds, so I'm not allowed to live in either the real or virtual one," he stated profoundly.
Still, it is undeniable that there is a current convergence of two spheres in the entertainment industry as Silicon Valley and Hollywood are somewhat tumultuously crossing paths.
Whedon confirmed this collision, adding, "You can accomplish anything now and you can do it without the help of a giant conglomerate. The tech itself has changed the way we create and the way we interact and I find it dazzling."
Dushku concluded the evening with an enticing offer to support ThriveGulu and assert positive and constructive expression any way possible: "Do something powerful with us."
Learn more at the ThriveGulu website, Twitter, and Facebook page.
Follow Eliza Dushku on Twitter and Facebook.
For more video, subscribe to What's Trending on YouTube!
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.