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John Stamos: Saving babies from abandonment

John Stamos is trying to raise public awareness of the problem of babies in danger of abandonment.
John Stamos is trying to raise public awareness of the problem of babies in danger of abandonment.Giacinta Pace
/ Source: NBC News

Question: Can you tell me about your charity, Project Cuddle?

Stamos: I’ve been with it for about five years now. The reason I got involved with it is because celebrities always try to attach themselves to things and I was looking for something that I could kind of devote myself to and this was the most tangible. I really knew I could help this woman [Project Cuddle founder Debbe Magnusen]. She was working out of her garage saving babies. She started with an 800 number to find a place for abandoned babies, or if you’re thinking of abandoning your baby to call this number. She then would go help the pregnant teenagers or women and find parents for them.

Q: Please describe your role within Project Cuddle.

Stamos: I’ve sort of been getting the word out. It’s one of those things … who doesn’t want to talk about it? Ellen, Oprah. I’ve been on all the shows talking about saving babies. Everybody’s really into it. So my job initially was to get the word out. I do talk to the girls when I can, when I need to. But mainly it’s to get the word of Project Cuddle out there.

Q: Can you share a moving experience that you’ve had while working with the organization?

Stamos: Honestly, I’ve had so many. People come up to me and say, “I was going to abandon my baby and I saw you on 'Ellen'”, or “We saw the Oprah piece and I didn’t [abandon]. I called Debbe.” Or parents will come up to me! I’ve had parents come up to me with this baby and say, “Thank you, because the birth mother saw you on television, heard you talking about it, called Debbe and now we have a baby because of it.”

Q: Tell me a little bit about the new Broadway show you’re starring in, "Bye Bye Birdie."

Stamos: I’ve started doing "Bye Bye Birdie" and it’s going great. The rehearsals are really fun. It’s just such a sweet, honest, beautiful show. It’s one of those shows that everybody knows and has some connection to, and I think it’s going to be what everybody wants it to be. I think they’re approaching it very smart. It’s very simple, it’s very true to what the piece is.

Q: Is there anything you have planned in the future with Project Cuddle?

Stamos: I’m always trying to get the word out, and I host all their events. This year I’m not going to be there, so I’m trying to find somebody to host their event.