I was thinking about the old saying, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." I realized that probably it's a bad idea to teach people to fish. Probably it's better to ask them how they can solve the problem of feeding their families, then lend them the money to help them implement their own solutions. FINCA empowers the poor and allows them to develop small businesses as they see fit, through microfinancing.

While the Toronto International Film Festival is a time for celebrating the best in film (and fashion!), it is also a time for artists and others within the industry to come together and show their support for causes that matter to them. For me, that cause is Artists for Peace and Justice -- a non-profit organization that encourages peace and social justice and addresses issues of poverty around the world.