Jessica Takes Orphanage for a Ride

Jessica Simpson donates a van she won at a swag suite last fall to a Mexican orphanage

By Gina Serpe Feb 23, 2007 7:04 PMTags

Jessica Simpson has donated some serious swag to a Mexican orphanage.

The pop star passed along a brand new seven-seater van to the Casa Hogar Elim orphanage in Nuevo Laredo last week, publicist Cindi Berger confirmed to E! News.

Simpson won said vehicle at a swag suite at the MTV Video Music Awards last fall.

Not that she was too likely to keep the ride for herself—hitting up Hyde in a Chrysler Town & Country somehow fails to scream hot young Hollywood.

Per People.com, someone from Simpson's camp phoned Mama Lupita, the woman who runs the orphanage, to ask if she could use some extra wheels, then informing her that Simpson would be making a donation.

According to Chrysler, John Mayer's significant other originally snagged the much sportier Crossfire at the awards show bash, but requested to swap it for the van to get more mileage for the orphanage.

It's not the first good deed Simpson has done for the orphanage.

Simpson first visited the site when she was just 11 as part of a Texas church group and last year sparked rumors of pending motherhood when she announced she was "exploring options to further help these children in need," and said that she had been pondering adoption for some time.

Simpson soon clarified that she didn't have any immediate adoption plans, but she would eventually like to fund her own south-of-the-border orphanage after getting inspired by donating time and money to Casa Hogar Elim for years.

As it is, Ashlee's big sis has already kicked off her next donating initiative, putting up for auction on eBay the red dress she donned in her Super Bowl commercial for Pizza Hut. Proceeds from the gown will go directly to Mama Lupita's orphanage.

The van, meanwhile, is expected to be delivered next month.