Jodie Foster Funding Alien Search

Jodie Foster has donated money to Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) who needed to raise $200,000 to continue to run the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) of 42 radio telescopes in northern California, which is used to search for signs of intelligent life in the universe.

Foster played Ellie Arroway, a SETI scientist, in the movie Contact, and included a note:

I’m a SETIStar because, just like Ellie Arroway, the ATA is ‘good to go’ and we need to return it to the task of searching newly discovered planetary worlds for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. In Carl Sagan’s book/movie Contact a radio signal from a distant star system ends humanity’s cosmic isolation and changes our world. The Allen Telescope Array could turn science fiction into science fact, but only if it is actively searching the skies. I support the effort to bring the array out of hibernation.

I always feel it's a bit strange when an actor attaches themselves to a cause based on having played it on TV. It seems legitimate enough - even basic research for a role would be enough to peak interest in a cause for a lot of people - but I always think it seems a bit cheesy to identify with something because you pretended to be that thing once in exchange for money. But I can't argue if it's a good cause. Is hunting aliens a good cause?