Jaden Smith honored for environmental activism at inaugural Redford Awards

(7 Dec 2018) JADEN SMITH HONORED AT INAUGURAL REDFORD AWARDS
For decades, actor and activist Robert Redford worked on protecting the environment.
Now his non-profit organization is honoring a new generation of environmentalists to inspire activism in the future.
The Redford Center hosted its first inaugural awards event in San Francisco Thursday (6 DEC. 2018) and chose musician, actor and activist Jaden Smith as its first honoree.
20-year-old Smith has been campaigning to reduce ocean plastic waste since he was 10-years-old.
At age 14, the actor co-founded a boxed water company that reduced its plastic waste output compared to other bottled water suppliers by 80 percent.
He's currently working on a clothing line using environmentally sustainable materials.
At the event Thursday, Smith credited his parents, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, with inspiring him to become an activist.
"They have honestly been the most supportive family that I could possibly ask for. And when I was on this journey of educating myself and learning about these different things and wanting to be involved in these different environmental movements, they were so instrumental into keeping me inspired and keeping me around the right people that could push me forward in the best way so that I could really go forward to make change. So without them I really don't know where (me) or my ideas would be so I really owe it all to them."
During the ceremony, Redford's son James congratulated his father on his Golden Globe nomination for his role in "The Old Man and the Gun." The 82-year-old American icon recently announced his retirement from acting.
The Redford Center is committed to driving positive environmental change through inspirational stories.

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