farmanimal to families inneed.Her travelshaveal-
ready takenher toTanzaniaand India,whereshe“saw
howdifficult it is to liftyouup frompovertywhenyou’re
struggling just to feedyourself.Heifer International
givespeopleadairycow thathelps them feed themselves
and toearna little income.Then, theybecomeresponsi-
ble forhelping liftupaneighbor through ‘passingon the
gift’ ofanimaloffspring. It’s thebestpossiblesolution to
theproblemofhunger,”sheexplains.
Theconceptofvolunteerism issomethingshehas
passeddown toherchildrenaswell.
Sarandonadmits, “Theonly thing that ever fright-
enedmeabout havingkidswas this idea that those
whowere reallyprivilegeddidnot havepassion. I
don’tknowhowyouhelpsomeonewho isnot interested
inanything. ThankGodmineareall interested!”
While shehasnot pushedher causes, her children
havebecome “very considerate, compassionatepeople
whoarefiguring it out,” she says.
Theentire family sharesa common interest in
Habitat forHumanity, anorganization that helpsbuild
houses for those inneed. TheSarandonhousehold
alsohasa compulsory riteof passage that has trans-
lated intohelpingothers.
“
Wehavea tradition inour
house that each childhas todo something tomark the
passage intowomanhoodormanhood that ispositive
and creative.”SonJackenlisted thehelpof hisbasket-
ball teamandbuilt ahouse forHabitat,whileEva
workedonanurseryat a shelter located in theBronx.
Travel forpleasure isalsoonSarandon’sagenda.She
plans tovisitpicturesqueMachuPicchu thisspring for
thefirst timeand toreturn toherroots in Italy (she is
part Italianonhermother’sside).Whilereturnsojourns
toBaliandKyotoareonherwish list, shesays, “Ihave
all therequests forfilm festivals that Ihavebeensaving
formyoldage” for future tripsaswell.
Mosteveningsyoucanfind theenergeticactress
spending timewithher latestpassion—Ping-Pong.While
workingwithagroupofeditors foradocumentaryshe
wasproducing, shediscovered their loveof thegameof
table tennis. “I found theirpassion [for thesport]socom-
pelling thatwegotmoney together, foundaspace,andone
thing led toanother.”The result isSPiNNewYork,
Sarandon’snewbusinessventure that ispartbar, part
table tennis.Located in thecity’sFlatironDistrict,her
favorite feature is thewidewindow that looksout into the
23rdStreet#6subwaystation.Sheparticularly loves the
senseofcommunity thatSpinbringsas topplayersactas
trainers,giving lessons toeveryone from thenovice to the
seasonedplayer,and thereareweekly tournaments.
“Whatwewant is forpeople toseehow theatrical the
game is,”sheexcitedlydetails.Whilemodestonherown
levelofexpertise, sheexplains there is“averyquick
learningcurveup toacertainpoint,andyouhave toput
in the time,which Ihavenotdone!”WhenSarandon is
withoutapaddle inherhand, sheoftendoublesasa
“ball girl,”pickinguperrantorangeballs that, inciden-
tally,match the Ikeasofas.
Asshe fearlesslyenters thenext stageofher life,
Sarandon isconstantlygrowing, continuallyhoning
hervoice, and livinga lifeof purposeandpassion. “I
thinkyour relationshipwithyourself andwithother
people—alongwithyourgoals—arebreathing, living
things.”ForSarandon, it’sa lifewell lived.
COVER STORY
Susan Sarandon: Purpose, Passion, and ...Ping-Pong
© ERIN KORNFELD (2)
SUMMER 2010
celebratedliving.com
30
“
THEATRICAL
Whatwewant is for
people toseehow
thegame is.”
