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GH Actors Give Back: Rick Hearst Friday, March 28 2008

American Idol's whopping 73 million dollar fund-raising effort from last year is an amazing success story about the positive effect of celebrity when it comes to helping others. Soap actors are no exception, and Soaps.com would like to take this opportunity to tell fans about the charities that some of their favorite actors hold near and dear to their collective hearts. We'll kickoff this series with a man whose alter ego, Ric Lansing, has shown his softer side lately on General Hospital's -- Rick Hearst.

According to his website, Rick's heart goes out to children. Specifically, he seems to like the idea of applying art to enriching (or even healing) children's lives or general well being. One of this two chosen charities is called HARK (Healing Arts Reaching Kids). The mission of the group is "To help bring creative arts therapy experience to patients of Children's Hospital at Los Angeles." Rick's website lists the materials that the group is always looking for. Things like musical instruments, paint sets, glitter glue, paper, jewelry-making supplies, etc. For information on how you can help, go to HARK's website.

The other group he strongly supports is the E.S.C.A.P.E. Children's Theater in California's Santa Clarita Valley. This program aims to "... allow children the opportunity to develop self-esteem, discipline, creativity and teamwork, in a positive, supportive environment." Rick tells his fans that "In a country that tends to look upon the arts as an unnecessary evil not worth funding or supporting, I applaud and willingly support the further development of this program." To learn more, go to E.S.C.A.P.E.'s website.

Soaps.com is proud to spread word of the good works that daytime actors do - in addition to lighting up our personal lives with their talent. Thank you Rick (and his family!) for all that you do.