Rainn Wilson

Interviewer: Of all the possible foundations you could've picked, why did you choose to support Mona Foundation?

Rainn: When the Foundation contacted me about helping them out, I took some time to ask some questions and investigate. Everything I discovered about what the charity did was utterly fantastic.
I believe education is the most important thing in the world. It all begins and ends there. That is what the Foundation supports above all else.

I wanted to support a place where basically every penny of a donation would go directly to make the world a better place. The MONA Foundation does that.

I wanted to support a Foundation that makes every person feel like they could make a difference in the world. Mona does that as well.
It's basically the perfect Charity!

Interviewer: Recently, we've noticed a new interest in giving internationally. Do you see that among your peers? In your opinion, what spurs that interest?

Rainn: More and more we Americans see ourselves as part of a world community, a family of man. While things may seem to be getting worse in the world, things also seem to be coming together and barriers are dropping at the same time.

Interviewer: You know that since 1999, Mona Foundation has focused on the education of children because universal education is one of the top two requirements for the eradication of poverty worldwide. Did having a child of your own change what you wanted to do in the world or what was important to you?

Rainn: I don't want to educate my son, because then he will question my authority more. I want him kept in ignorance. Maybe have him raised by racoons or monkeys or something.
C'mon, I can't have all my answers be serious, can I?

Interviewer: The other major requirement for the eradication of poverty is gender equity. Some of the characters you've played, in fact, the environment of your current show, "The Office," is not exactly "equality-minded." But those situations often bring the biggest laughs:-) Do you think laughter helps people think differently about such issues? Why?

Rainn: At our best our TV show holds a mirror up to our culture and the laughter that comes from the petty absurdity of our society is the most rewarding.
I do however think there is a good deal of value in people running into doors and vomiting on cars too.

Interviewer: There's a saying, "The stage will be the pulpit of the future." You're an actor and your wife, Holiday, is a writer. Do you think the arts can impact how we live our lives?

Rainn: I think the arts can do more than impact our lives. I believe the arts are not something to be separated from one's life or one's religious Faith. In the best of all possible worlds, a fully integrated life would intertwine the arts with all other aspects of ones life. The greatest cultures that the world has known have united the arts with the social fabric, commerce, religion, family - as an essential, all-encompassing avenue of human expression.

Interviewer: One picture of you often posted on the Internet is of your character, Dwight, holding up a sign with attributes attached to each letter of his name:
D ynamic
W orker
I ntense
G ood
Worker
H ard Worker
T errific

Interviewer: Did you choose those characteristics, or were they in the script? If you had to choose one attribute that everyone in the world might benefit from, what would it be?

Rainn: I don't know that the world would benefit from any of Dwight's favorite personal characteristics. I think that instead of more hard work, the world might actually benefit from a bit more compassion. From the latin "to feel with". If we could all "feel with" our brothers and sisters in our human family a bit more, we might really benefit from that.
Terrific-ness would also be good. The world would be a much better place if we were all just a little more 'terrific', don't you think!?

Interviewer: Finally, what personal message would you like to give to those who view this interview at the Mona Foundation website?

Rainn: I think we got what we need with the previous questions, don't you? Let me know if you guys want more! Thanks so much! It was fun answering these.

http://www.monafoundation.org/rainn-wilson.htm