Los Angeles, California, May 27, 2025 – In a heartwarming encounter yesterday evening, a 10-year-old homeless boy named Daniel Rivera offered his last piece of cake to Jodie Foster, mistaking the Hollywood icon for someone in need like himself. What followed was an extraordinary act of kindness from Foster that has changed Daniel’s life forever, proving that even the smallest gesture can lead to a ripple effect of hope and transformation. The two-time Oscar winner, fresh off her acclaimed performance in the French-language film A Private Life (Vie Privée) at the Cannes Film Festival, has once again shown why she’s not just a star on screen but a beacon of compassion off it.
A Chance Meeting at Sunset
The incident occurred just after 6:00 PM on May 26 near a busy intersection in downtown Los Angeles, not far from the Sunset Diner where Foster had recently witnessed another act of kindness. Foster, 62, was in the city for a series of meetings following her triumphant return to French cinema with A Private Life, a film that earned a 10-minute standing ovation at Cannes. Dressed casually in a loose striped T-shirt, jeans, and her favorite white Birkenstock sandals—a look she often favors for low-key outings—she was walking to her car after a quiet dinner alone, seeking a moment of solitude amidst her hectic schedule.
It was then that Daniel Rivera, a small boy with a tattered backpack and a hopeful smile, approached her. Daniel, who has been living on the streets with his mother, Sofia, since they lost their apartment six months ago, had been given a small chocolate cake by a kind passerby earlier that day. It was his only food for the evening, and he was saving it to share with his mother. But when he saw Foster, sitting on a bench with her head down, scrolling through her phone, he mistook her for someone in need. “She looked sad, and I thought maybe she was hungry like me,” Daniel later told a local news outlet, his voice soft but earnest.
Without hesitation, Daniel walked up to Foster and offered her the cake, wrapped in a crumpled napkin. “I only have this, but you can have it if you’re hungry,” he said, holding out the small piece with both hands. Foster, initially startled, looked up to see the boy’s wide, sincere eyes and the tiny cake in his hands. “I was so touched,” Foster shared in a statement on her Instagram, which has since garnered over 1.5 million likes. “Here was this little boy, clearly struggling himself, and he was willing to give me the only thing he had. It broke my heart and inspired me all at once.”
A Life of Hardship Meets a Moment of Kindness
Daniel’s story is one of resilience in the face of hardship. His mother, Sofia, a single parent who immigrated from Honduras five years ago, had been working as a housekeeper until she lost her job during a recent wave of layoffs. Unable to pay rent, the family was evicted, and they’ve been living in a series of shelters and on the streets ever since. Daniel, despite his circumstances, has remained a bright and compassionate child, often seen helping other homeless individuals in the area. “He’s always been my little helper,” Sofia said, her voice trembling with pride. “He gives even when we have nothing.”
Foster, who has a history of supporting those in need—she recently pledged $500,000 to a community center in East Los Angeles after discovering her maid’s volunteer work there—was deeply moved by Daniel’s selflessness. She accepted the cake with a grateful smile, but her mind was already racing with ways to help. “I couldn’t just walk away after that,” Foster said. “I knew I had to do something for this boy and his mother. No child should have to live like that, and no child should feel they need to give up their last piece of food.”
Jodie Foster’s Life-Changing Response
Foster sat with Daniel for a few minutes, asking about his life and his mother. When Daniel pointed to Sofia, who was waiting nearby with their few belongings, Foster approached her as well, introducing herself and listening to their story. Sofia, initially overwhelmed to realize she was speaking to a Hollywood legend, broke down in tears as she shared their struggles. “I didn’t know what to say,” Sofia recalled. “I recognized her from The Silence of the Lambs, but I never thought someone like her would care about us.”
Foster, who has often spoken about the importance of understanding others—“I am obsessed with being understood,” she told The Atlantic in April 2024—knew she had the resources to make a difference. She immediately contacted a friend at a local nonprofit that supports homeless families, securing a temporary apartment for Sofia and Daniel through a rapid rehousing program. But Foster didn’t stop there. Drawing on her experience as a producer—she founded Egg Pictures in 1990 and produced films like The Baby Dance (1998)—she reached out to a community college in Los Angeles, arranging for Sofia to enroll in a job training program with a full scholarship, covering childcare costs so Sofia could focus on her studies.
For Daniel, Foster’s actions were even more transformative. Recognizing his compassionate nature and bright spirit, she set up a trust fund to ensure his education through college, pledging to cover all costs, from school supplies to tuition. “I want Daniel to have the opportunities I had,” Foster said, reflecting on her own childhood as a child star who attended Yale University despite the pressures of fame. She also arranged for Daniel to attend a local arts camp, knowing the power of creative expression to heal—she herself found solace in acting as a child, a craft she began at age three in a Coppertone commercial.
A Viral Story and a New Beginning
Before leaving, Foster handed the cake back to Daniel with a wink, insisting he share it with his mother. She then took to Instagram to share the story, posting a photo of the crumpled napkin with a caption that read: “This little boy gave me his last piece of cake because he thought I needed it more. I’m in awe of his kindness, and I’m doing everything I can to give him and his mother a better life. Let’s all be more like Daniel.” The post went viral, with the hashtag #BeLikeDaniel trending on X, amassing thousands of comments from fans praising both Daniel’s generosity and Foster’s response. “Jodie Foster is a true hero,” one user wrote. “She saw a child in need and didn’t hesitate to change his life.”
The story also caught the attention of local businesses and organizations, who rallied to support Sofia and Daniel. A nearby bakery donated a month’s worth of meals, and a children’s clothing store provided Daniel with a new wardrobe for school. The outpouring of support has given Sofia renewed hope. “I feel like I can breathe again,” she said, clutching Daniel’s hand. “Jodie didn’t just help us—she showed us that people care.”
A Legacy of Compassion
For Foster, this encounter has deepened her commitment to advocacy. She has always been drawn to stories of resilience—she played a young sex worker in Taxi Driver (1976) at age 12, earning her first Oscar nomination, and later a rape survivor in The Accused (1988), for which she won her first Oscar. Her recent work in A Private Life, where she portrays a psychiatrist unraveling a mystery in fluent French, has been hailed as a triumph, with Variety noting her “spiky vitality and unexpected playfulness.” But off screen, Foster’s actions continue to reflect her belief in the power of connection. “I’ve been lucky in my life,” she told CBS News in January 2024. “Now it’s my turn to give back.”
Daniel, now settled in his new apartment and preparing to start school, says he wants to be “someone who helps people” when he grows up, just like Foster. “She’s my hero,” he said, clutching a new sketchbook Foster had given him for the arts camp. For Sofia, the change is nothing short of a miracle. “I thought we’d never get out of this,” she said. “Jodie showed us that kindness can change everything.”
As Foster prepares for her next project—she’s rumored to be directing a new film about female scientists—her encounter with Daniel serves as a reminder of the impact one person can have. In a world often marked by hardship, Jodie Foster’s actions have turned a boy’s small act of generosity into a life-changing moment, proving that compassion, like a piece of cake, can be shared to make the world a little sweeter.
