NBC’s Savannah Guthrie conducted an exclusive interview with Tom Hanks on Thursday which aired this morning on Today. Hanks is portraying Fred Rogers in the upcoming film You Are My Friend, and provided a message of hope the late Mister Rodgers would most certainly agree with. A message we could all probably use right now:
“The great thing about America I think is that people will show up to help…people ask me about playing Fred Rogers all the time. Fred said something amazing, he said, ‘Look to the helpers. Look to the people who show up’…there’s a myriad of things that an individual can do if they just are made aware of the need, that is service to people who really need it, not just the veterans…now, the simplest, tiny thing, may make a huge difference in somebody’s day and that means in their life.”
Hanks and Guthrie were in Washington to participate in the Hidden Heroes Gala last night, an event by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation that honors Americans who’ve served our country and the family and friends who lives are also affected.
Senator Susan Collins and Leader-designate Nancy Pelosi were recognized with the first Congressional Caregiver Champion Award at the event on Thursday evening.
Guthrie led a panel discussion on leadership and community in America with Hanks and special guests Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal columnist and presidential speechwriter; Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian; and Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO of AARP.
