Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth Hosting Benefit Screenings of Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Costars go the extra mile to help raise cash for a pair of charities through special sneak peeks of the latest Hunger Games flick

By Josh Grossberg Oct 23, 2013 12:58 PMTags
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These Hunger Games stars are giving back.

Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth are doing their part to help some great causes by hosting two special charity screenings of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire before highly anticipated sequel's release on Nov. 22.

Oscar winner Lawrence, who plays the series' heroine Katniss Everdeen, has arranged for a benefit showing of Catching Fire in her native Louisville, Kentucky, to benefit the St. Mary's Center, E! News has confirmed.

According to local affiliate WHAS-TV, Lawrence suggested the Nov. 20 screening as a way to give back to her community. St. Mary's organizes training for adults with intellectual disabilities and money raised will go towards a new satellite campus.

As of press time, the 23-year-old actress isn't due to attend the sneak peak, but her good friend Andy Struck (whom she's known since middle school) will go in her place.

Per Knoxville Tennessee station WBIR, Hemsworth—who plays Katniss' BFF Gale Hawthorne in the sci-fi dystopia—is scheduled to walk the red carpet for a sneak peek benefiting Variety—The Children's Charity of Eastern Tennessee, which provides assistance to kids in need, including those with mobility issues.

The charity event is being organized by Regal Cinema, which founded the local chapter of Variety in 2001, and will take place on Nov. 19.

Catching Fire picks up where 2012's The Hunger Games left off—with Katniss and fellow Tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) forced to embark on a victory tour after the pair broke the rules to win the last Hunger Games. Their newfound popularity has inspired rebellion within the districts, prompting a plot by Panem's President Snow (Donald Sutherland) to eliminate them by having both compete in the Quarter Quell, a version of the games which is held every 25 years.