Christian Bale Leads Groundbreaking Foster Care Project
Christian Bale is doing more than lending his name — he’s spearheading a first-of-its-kind initiative in California. His goal: to reshape the foster care experience and keep siblings together.
After nearly two decades of persistence, Bale officially broke ground on a purpose-built village in Palmdale, California. The project will feature a dozen homes and a community center, providing foster siblings a chance to grow up together. Construction, estimated at $22 million, is expected to finish in 2025.
A Personal Mission
Bale’s journey began in 2008, when his daughter was just three years old. He was moved to act after learning how often siblings are separated in Los Angeles County’s overburdened foster system. “I had a very naive idea about just getting land and bringing kids in, like the Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music,” Bale admitted.
Determined to do it right, he attended child welfare meetings in Chicago. There, he met Tim McCormick, who had experience building similar models. Together with Dr. Eric Esrailian, a UCLA physician and film producer, Bale co-founded the organization behind the project: Together California.
Breaking Ground
In early 2024, Bale stood on a dusty lot 60 miles north of Los Angeles, shovel in hand, beaming at the start of construction. Local officials and donors joined him to mark the occasion. Despite delays and the COVID-19 pandemic, Bale persisted. McCormick recalled, “Through all sorts of challenges, COVID and everything else, he never gave up.”
The architectural firm AC Martin is designing the village. CEO Tom Hsieh emphasized its importance: “We need to give back to society. This project may be small, but I’m tremendously proud of it.”
From Vision to Reality
Bale has been closely involved in the design process. “I love architecture and seeing it come to life is very exciting,” he said. The village still requires additional fundraising and recruitment of foster parents, but momentum is building.
When completed, the village will offer a lasting solution for siblings in foster care. Bale calls it one of his proudest off-screen contributions. “When I close my eyes for the last time, I want to know I made some useful changes in the world. This will be one of them,” he said.
A Lasting Legacy
Christian Bale’s vision is no longer a dream. The project is under construction, funded, and steadily moving toward its goal. Once finished, it will provide foster siblings a home together and leave a lasting mark on child welfare in California.
