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Jared Leto donates $5,000 to injured Utah children

Jared Leto presents the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto donated $5,000 to two young Utah children injured when their stroller was struck by a car, and he’s encouraging others to do the same.

Leto tweeted that he donated the money to a GoFundMe account for Griffin and Watson Peachey, who were seriously injured on Oct. 8. Their mother, Brighton, was pushing their stroller in a crosswalk near 1850 E. Sego Lily Drive when she and her children were struck by a car. Three-year-old Griffin suffered a skull fracture and a broke collarbone; 18-month-old Watson suffered a broke neck, broken pelvis and a lacerated kidney. They both face “a very long, hard road of recovery,” according to the GoFundMe page.

“I encourage everyone to do the #goodthingchallenge,” Leto tweeted. “Remember the smallest gesture can make a big impact … even if it’s just a hello and a smile."

The GoFundMe page had raised more than $88,000 (of a $100,000 goal) as of Wednesday afternoon.

Leto won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his role as an HIV-positive, drug addicted transgender woman in the 2013 film “Dallas Buyers Club.” The 47-year-old actor got his big break as a member of the cast of the 1994-95 TV drama “My So-Called Life,” and has gone on to roles in more than two dozen films, including “Prefontaine,” “Fight Club,” “American Psycho," “Mr. Nobody,” “Suicide Squad" and “Blade Runner 2049.” He’s also the lead singer and songwriter for the band 30 Seconds to Mars.

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