Kevin Bacon has decided to make the most of the popular, tongue-in-cheek party game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," which supposes the actor can be connected to any other actor within six movies, by turning the joke into a charity website.
Playing on the small-world angle, SixDegrees.org connects many different charities on one social network to which users can donate individually or collectively.
"SixDegrees.org is about using the idea that we are all connected to accomplish something good," Bacon said in a written statement. "It is my hope that Six Degrees will soon be something more than a game or a gimmick. It will also be a force for good, by bringing a social conscience to social networking."
The actor founded the website with other celebrities, including his wife, actress and Golden Globe winner Kyra Sedgwick, Nicole Kidman, and Robert Duvall, who have chosen to highlight their favorite charities.
Bacon plans to match the donations raised for the top six non-celebrity fundraisers with grants of up to $10,000 each.
"People give to charity because someone they know or respect asks them," said Bill Strathmann, the chief executive of Network for Good, one of the website's partners in the non-profit initiative. "So charities are increasingly looking to their supporters -- not just themselves -- to raise awareness and money online. That means both celebrities and everyday people can make an enormous difference for people in need."
The creation of the site highlights the trend of increased interest in using online services to raise money for charities among user's family and friends. On the Six Degrees site, users will be able to upload personal photos and stories and stump for a charity of their choice.
Some of the celebrities' chosen charities include: the Natural Resources Defense Council, UNIFEM, Pro Mujer, YouthAIDS, Clothes Off Our Back, the Scleroderma Research Foundation, Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, and Operation Smile.
Bacon will kick off the launch of the site at the opening weekend of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where he and other celebrities will be encouraging charitable giving.
A party at Sundance hosted by Entertainment Weekly will also celebrate the launch.
The game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" has been popular on college campuses for a decade, eventually becoming a catchphrase for small-world phenomenon.
-- Anna Bengel