Joe Mantegna honored with Hollywood Walk of Fame star

Maurice Snell and Joe MantegnaJoe Mantegna was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last Friday. I just loved hearing this since I regularly read People Magazine (which I affectionately call the Journal of Popular Culture) to keep myself apprised of all things related to the “stars,” and I had the chance to meet and talk with Mr. Mantegna during our Easter Seals Living with Disabilities video shoot. Mantegna has a daughter with autism and has been a longtime friend of Easter Seals. A story on The Hollywood Walk of Fame web site recognizes Mantegna’s charitable nature:

Mantegna has helped raise millions of dollars for charities all over the world, including Autism, The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Pediatric Aids Research, The National Kidney Foundation, Easter Seals, Melanoma Research, The Tom Sullivan Blind Children’s Charity and Breast Cancer Awareness.

Maurice Snell summed up Mantegna’s spirit in a post he wrote for us here after meeting the actor during a charity event in Chicago:

At first, Joe told his own story about his family life, which includes his older daughter Mia, who is autistic. He explained the trials and tribulations he and his family suffered during the early part of Mia’s life. The road was rocky, but Joe and his family have stayed together and are optimistic about his daughter’s life.

He went on to express his involvement with the Easter Seals organization. The most interesting part of the conversation was me asking the question of what inspired Joe to represent Easter Seals. His response: yours truly. At first, I couldn’t believe it. But I knew he was saying it from the heart. If I were to thank Joe in person, I would tell him, “Thank you for your words of inspiration to the Easter Seals family. I see you not only as a spokesperson, but also a philanthropist and humanitarian for people with autism, including me. Whenever you come back into town, I would love to meet Mia.”

Mr. Mantegna is absolutely right: Maurice IS inspiring and is also a great spokesperson for autism awareness. With Joe Mantegna and Maurice sharing their stories, autism awareness indeed gets a boost!


 

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