We want to help support you . We 'll raise money , and we 'll get you whatever you need . ... You need a science lab ? You need a water fountain ? You need a soccer field ? You tell us what you need . We 're not going to come in and tell you what we think you should be having next . '' It 's a really cool way of working , and I 've gotten to visit some of those schools . It 's a beautiful organization . Hamasaki : Why is this cause important to you ? Wilson : I think that charity is a tricky thing , because a lot of times , people equate charity with handouts . I do n't believe in handouts . I do believe in education . And I do believe that the way to change a society , to uplift people -- not just their spirit , but to uplift their society and economic base -- is through education . That 's what Mona Foundation focuses on . It especially focuses on the education of women and girls . And I think that is key . ...
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Actor Rainn Wilson is dedicated to improving the lives of young people around the world . The star of `` The Office '' works with the Mona Foundation , which supports educational initiatives for children in developing countries . He is also involved with Planting Peace 's program to deworm children in Haiti . Wilson got to know Planting Peace 's founder , Aaron Jackson , after Jackson was honored as a CNN Hero in 2007 . CNN 's Sonya Hamasaki recently sat down with Wilson to talk about CNN Heroes and his humanitarian work . Below are excerpts from that interview . Sonya Hamasaki : What inspired you to get involved with the Mona Foundation ? Rainn Wilson : The founder of the Mona Foundation actually knew my dad for years , and the more I learned about it , the more I realized I really found the perfect charity . It sponsors schools and educational initiatives all over the planet . The thing that is really exciting is that it finds grass-roots educational initiatives that are already working , and the Mona Foundation comes in and says : `` What do you need ?