Jolie discusses orphans' plight

WASHINGTON, April 27 (UPI) -- U.S. actress and adoption advocate Angelina Jolie used the formal launch of Global Action for Children to talk of the plight of orphans in developing countries.

"I am here to simply ask you to think about orphaned children not as a burden but as a great opportunity," Jolie, an adoptive parent, said during a news conference Thursday. "They have had to work very, very hard to survive, but when they are given a chance, they grow strong, stronger than most."

Organized in 2003, GAC aims to increase U.S. funding for orphans in developing countries by $2.5 billion annually, People magazine said. One of the organization's key proponents is former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie.

While in Washington, Jolie and GAC Executive Director Jennifer Delaney met with U.S. State Department leaders, including Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Dina Powell and Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes.

"We talked about how there is such a growing need to help children around the world," Delaney told People. "We talked a great deal about universal education and orphans and vulnerable children, so I do think there's some receptiveness there to this issue."