Did you celebrate Tom Hanks Day over the weekend? What’s that? You didn’t realize it was International Tom Hanks Day? Tsk tsk. Wilson would be ashamed.
A Chicago businessman (and major Hanks fan) named Kevin Turk came up with the idea eight years ago in college. Turns out, Hanks was up for it.
Every year, the actor sends Turk signed memorabilia and Turk takes the lead in printing t-shirts and raising money for Hanks’ favorite cause: Lifeline Energy, an organization working on energy poverty issues in Africa. (A good bit of what’s raised comes from the $1 PBR specials at a Chicago bar.) Then Hanks matches whatever Turk and friends are able to come up with.
Hanks has been Lifeline Energy’s American Ambassador since 2003, when he realized the power that wind-up radios could have for needy populations. Through his support and donations, thousands upon thousands of African children have been exposed to radio education.
Hanks is even willing to promote his own personal holiday, as he did recently on Jimmy Kimmel Live:
Photo via PR Photos.