ATLANTA (AP) – Even with all her fame and accolades, Jane Fonda struggled for years with self-confidence.
The two-time Oscar-winner was able to overcome her insecurity with a strong support base of friends, therapy sessions and by writing a memoir. But she knows others aren’t as fortunate as her, particularly teenagers trying to find themselves while avoiding life’s pitfalls.
To help, Fonda started the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential, which has sought to prevent teen pregnancy and improve adolescent health. Fonda founded GCAPP in 1995, when Georgia had one of the highest teen birth and pregnancy rates in the country. Since then, the state saw a 66 percent decrease in the birth rate for teens between the ages of 15 to 19, according to state data.
“Teen pregnancy is a factor of poverty and hopelessness,” said Fonda, also known as a political activist. “We have to give kids hope, so they won’t engage in risky behavior.”
Fonda’s foundation will hold a fundraiser to help her cause. An 80th birthday celebration called “Eight Decades of Jane” will be held on Saturday with hopes of raising at least $1 million for her nonprofit organization.