Actress Carrie Preston has landed numerous roles in everything from stage to screen. Preston’s breakout performance was her Outer Critics Award nominated turn as “Miranda” in George C. Woolf’s Broadway production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest with Patrick Stewart. She currently stars as Arlene Fowler, the red-headed sassy waitress in the Golden Globe nominated HBO series True Blood, which is now in its 6th season. Simultaneously, the hard-working entertainer also has recurring roles on two hit CBS shows: The Good Wife and Person of Interest.
The Project Solution is a non-profit organization that works with a community of individual donors in the U.S. to fund vital projects overseas for communities in need of help. Some projects include a rainwater catchment tank in Uganda, a toilet facility for children in India and a roof on an orphanage in Haiti.
Founded by Joe Gonzalez and Tara Bracco in 2009, this group pools small donations - from $10 to $100 - and donors are placed on a "donation team" where they work together to fund life-changing projects. The Project Solution gives everyday people the chance to be a part of the answer.
In less than five years, this charity has funded 13 projects in 10 countries and has served over 10,000 people worldwide.
Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace
Q: What is your cause?
Carrie: I'm on the advisory board of The Project Solution, an organization that funds small scale projects all over the world every year. Every cent of the money raised goes directly to these very specific, very trackable projects. So as a donor, you can actually see exactly what your money is helping to do.
Q: What is the most memorable moment you have had while working with this organization?
Carrie: It's the community aspect of the cause that's so moving to me. Groups of people (even school kids) gather together and create a collection of funds and then watch those funds turn into something tangible that impacts a community. And they do that TOGETHER under the guidance of Project Solution. I thought, "Why not have a couple or a family do a project together?" So, my husband Michael and I helped to fund the rebuilding of a community youth center in Kenya. For a relatively small amount of money, we were able to impact the 5,000 people who use the center. We got updates of the project along the way, but the most memorable moment was seeing the final photo of the finished structure and getting the letter from the director of the center thanking us for impacting their lives.
Q: What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?
Carrie: Well, my Mother gave birth to me and sacrificed a lot to give me a childhood full of love, passion, curiosity and gratitude, which I carry with me throughout my life. That's a pretty nice thing to do for someone!