Travolta donates to Mandela charity

JOHANNESBURG — John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston donated 70,000 rand (about $10,000) to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund on Saturday, during their visit to South Africa, and spent some time singing and dancing with children the foundation has supported.

The children treated the "Hairspray" star, Preston and their daughter Ella to a drum concert and serenaded them with a poem titled, "Eyes in the sky, foot on the ground." Travolta later did a few dance steps with the children.

Casually dressed in a black jacket and a white T-shirt, Travolta talked about the importance of family life.

"Children keep you humble," he said. "Children keep you grounded."

South Africa's first black president set up the fund to provide a variety of services for children, including support for street children and the children of refugees. Its plans include a children's hospital to be built in Johannesburg.

In a recorded message played at Saturday's event, Mandela urged people to protect society's "most valued asset, its children." Travolta on Saturday urged other stars to use their status to contribute to Mandela's legacy.

Travolta, a spokesman for the Australian airline Qantas, will stay a few days in South Africa to support the Australian World Cup team.