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Jennifer Garner is celebrating her 53rd birthday with a purposeful initiative rather than a typical celebration. The 13 Going on 30 star has committed to running one mile a day for 67 days to raise funds and awareness for children suffering from acute malnutrition, partnering with Save the Children. As she steps forward with this heartfelt campaign, her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, has also been making headlines, publicly praising Jennifer Lopez’s bond with his children after their recent split, adding a layer of drama to the week’s stories.
On April 18, a day after her birthday, Garner shared an emotional Instagram video of herself walking along a beach. In the video, she unveiled her plan to raise funds for ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF)—a crucial, life-saving treatment for children facing severe malnutrition.
“I feel compelled to do something, to put my feet on the ground for kids,” Garner explained. “Millions of children are suffering from acute malnutrition, and 16,000 children are at immediate risk of dying from preventable causes.”
The cost to save a child’s life? Just $67. Garner has committed to running 67 miles over the next 67 days—one for each dollar it takes to provide six weeks of RUTF. As a mother of three—Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 13—whom she shares with Affleck, she expressed how the thought of children going to bed hungry “keeps [her] up at night.”
“I had an idea,” she continued in her video. “If one of my kids when they were little was hungry going to bed, they could always manipulate me into giving them a snack. I just couldn’t bear the thought of them going to bed hungry.”
Garner encouraged others to join her movement by walking, biking, running, or even crawling one mile a day until June 22, using the hashtag #67Strong4Kids. She urged followers to donate to Save the Children or any organization working to combat childhood hunger globally.
While Garner’s campaign continues to gain momentum online, her quiet strength and unwavering commitment to vulnerable children stand in stark contrast to the public attention surrounding her ex-husband. Recently, at the premiere of The Accountant 2, Ben Affleck praised Jennifer Lopez’s relationship with his children, calling her “spectacular” and “great to my kids.” Despite the swirling speculation about their post-divorce lives, Garner remains focused on what she does best—showing up with heart, grace, and action where it’s needed most.