The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fonda, Yearwood to host fundraiser
November virtual event will benefit Georgia nonprofit for teens.
Jane Fonda hasn’t left her Los Angeles townhouse in eight months.
But she’s breaking her quarantine for a cause that she calls “my heart” — the annual Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential “EmPower” party.
While previous years have witnessed Fonda return to Atlanta — where she lived for almost two decades even after divorcing media mogul Ted Turner — to host the soiree, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic forced a shift in plans for the 25th celebration of GCAPP.
Fonda will join Georgia native Trisha Yearwood live in Nashville for the event — 6 p. m. Nov. 12 — where they will beam in virtually from the Studio G complex Yearwood shares with husband Garth Brooks.
“I am actually going to Trisha’s studio in person, and it’s the first time I’ll have left ( home). I’m going to do it and come right back,” Fonda said lastweek from California. “I’m a big fan of Trisha’s, but I don’t know her. She comes from the South and likes the fact that I did this organization 25 years ago, and I’ve stuck with it, and it’s become the go- to organization inGeorgia for issues concerning adolescents. She finds that very cool.”
Yearwood, who also hosts “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen” on the Food Network, will curate a gourmetmeal, which an Atlanta caterer will prepare and deliver to homes to thosewho donate starting at the $ 10,000 level. ( Turner is supplying bison meat from his Ted’s Montana Grill chain, Fonda said.) The country star will also perform a free concert at the end of the fundraiser and live auction. Sign up for the link to watch the show at gcapp. org/ empower.
When Fonda learns during our interview that Yearwood hails from Monticello, she lets out a
throaty laugh.
“Oh! Monticello! Will we have things to discuss! FifteenminutesfromMonticello Ted has a plantation where we spent every Christmas and Thanksgiving. I have driven through Monticello so many times.”
Fonda expects many of her friends to call in — castmates from her charming Netflflix hitwith Lily Tomlin, “Grace and Frankie,” are on the invite list— and a lifetime humanitarianawardpresentation to Turner by Atlanta Braves legend Hank Aaron will also take place virtually.
HLN’s “Morning Express” host Robin Meade (“I love her, she’s so enthusiastic,” Fonda said) has beentapped to host the event. “I love her, she’s so enthusiastic,” Fonda said. Patrons or sponsors can access the event at gcapp. org/ empower.
In 1995, Fonda founded what was then called the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention as a method to arm young people with knowledge and skills to shape their futures.
Since then, teen births in Georgia havedecreased71%, according to GCAPP, progress that allowed the organization to broaden its scope.
“It’s partly the fact thatwe were so successful in helping the rates to drop. But there were other things that needed to be addressed to help teenagers have healthy, productive lives — exercise, physical health, combatting obesity. I know personally through my own life how important it is to a young person to gain agency over their lives,” Fonda said.
A fifirecracker in her early ’ 80s, Fonda remains indefatigable. Her efffffffffffforts as an activist haven’t been quelled by the pandemic. She still hosts “Fire Drill Fridays” online— aswell asnumerous environmental fundraisers — and recently released the book, “What Can I Do?: My Path FromClimate Despair to Action.” Coupled with her onscreen work, which includes the final season of “Grace and Frankie” ( expected to resume filming in January), Fondamaintains a rigorous schedule.
“I’m going on 83 [ years old], and I think this is what I’mgoing to be doing for the rest of my life,” she said of her activism.
ButherdevotiontoGCAPP is undiminished.
“This is the fifirst organization I ever started on my own,” she said. “When I decidedin 1994that Iwanted to do it, I traveled all over Georgia. I knowGeorgia better than Ted ( Turner) does, I’ll tell you! I’vebeenincounties in North Georgia, South Georgia, Middle Georgia. I wanted to see what was already beingdoneonbehalf of adolescents and their reproductive health. I’m grateful to GCAPP because it allowedmeto knowGeorgia so well.”
While Fonda is the fifigurehead for GCAPP, this year’s “special” presentationonline with Yearwood might allow flflexibility for additional fun.
“Hey, I sang backup for Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry,” Fonda said with a laugh. “So hopefully Trisha will let me join in ( a song).”