Ellen Pompeo - Ellen Pompeo Helps Kids In Care Cook Thanksgiving Dinner

The actress took part in the Alliance for Children's Rights annual holiday program, which helps teenagers who grew up in care.

Last week (ends20Nov11), Pompeo joined a group of 50 youngsters at the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in L.A. where they learned culinary skills to help them prepare food for the Thanksgiving festivities.

HBO entertainment president Sue Naegle, who is on the charity's board, also attended the event and she tells the Hollywood Reporter, "What really surprised me is how many kids go through the foster care system that never find families and are never adopted. Then they turn 18, and they're pushed out of the system."