When it comes to philanthropy, Kevin Bacon likes to keep things personal. In 2007, he founded SixDegrees.org, a youth-centered social impact organization that takes its title from the popular parlor game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. And now, the nonprofit is launching a new initiative named in honor of the Footloose actor’s late mother.
Called Ruth’s Room, the endeavor transforms underutilized spaces into “hubs of connection, dignity, and healing.” It was inspired by the advocacy undertaken by Ruth Bacon, a lifelong educator who designed social programs for children and families, including one at a Pennsylvania prison in 1985 that helped incarcerated men connect meaningfully with their kids.
“My mom was so selfless, always thinking about what she could do for others, whether it was us kids or someone else’s children,” Bacon said in a statement. “Ruth’s Room is a beautiful way to honor her heart for justice and community.”
The initiative will identify spaces within communities in need nationwide and collaborate with partner organizations to breathe new life within the four walls. The inaugural Ruth’s Room is a dedicated music space for young people in Philadelphia. Furnished with a recording booth, production tools, and a performance stage, it “provides a safe and inspiring environment for teens to create, collaborate, and connect through the transformative power of music,” per the site.
Beyond the end results Ruth’s Room will deliver, a large part of its aim is to bring local organizations and individual volunteers together in pursuit of bettering their communities. The first room was built with the help of Philadelphia nonprofit Rock to the Future, which works to disrupt generational poverty by providing free music programs to the city’s underserved youth. (In another example of Bacon’s family approach to charity, he and his brother recorded a song in 2022 to benefit the organization.)
“Ruth’s Room reflects the heart of our mission: building bridges and creating opportunities for those who need it most to find community,” said SixDegrees.org Executive Director Stacy Huston. “We’re thrilled to launch this program and invite communities across the country to join us in honoring Ruth’s legacy.”
This isn’t the first example of an initiative honoring the educator, who died in 1991. She was an instructor in the early childhood education program at the Community College of Philadelphia, and in 1989 the institution established the Ruth Holmes Bacon Award of Excellence, a $2,000 scholarship for graduates displaying professional promise. Another $2,000 scholarship, the Ruth Holmes Bacon Minority Student Fellowship, was created in 2004 to encourage more Asian and Hispanic students to pursue associate degrees in early education.
Know a space in your neck of the woods that might be a good fit for a Ruth’s Room? SixDegrees.org is calling for nominations, “whether it’s a community center, school, creative venue, or a space in a correctional facility,” per the site. You can get involved in other ways as well, including donating, volunteering, and becoming a collaborator. Visit the website to join the movement.
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