The Insider.com

Philanthropy has become a key part of celebrities' lives, some inspired by altruism and others seeking to maintain (or repair) their public image. Actress Sophia Bush, on the other hand, places charitable advocacy in front of everything, including her acting career.

• August 24, 2012Katherine Jenkins Denies Beckham Affair Rumors
• August 24, 20125 Things to Know About Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• August 23, 2012REPORT: John Mayer & Katy Perry Call it Quits
• August 23, 2012Bobbi Kristina and BF Get Even More Tattoos
• August 23, 2012Ryan Lochte Talks Prince Harry Pool Party
• August 22, 2012A Chance to Win DisneyNature's 'Chimpanzee'

During an interview with The Insider on the set of her new show Partners, Bush revealed that not only does she place advocacy in the forefront, but that being able to help others is the reason she thinks she was given the gift of her acting ability.

RELATED: Sophia Bush Mourns Loss of Little Cousin in Tucson Massacre

"There's a lot of people who work in the entertainment space who attend a gala or two a year and write checks, and that's the extent of it for them," Bush said to The Insider's Brooke Anderson. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with that...If you don't have a lot of time, then fine; but for me, the summation of my life is advocacy. It is everything to me, and I think that part of the reason that I am an entertainer is because it lends me the platform with which to do that."

Among the many philanthropic endeavors that she has taken on over the years is Pencils for Promise (PoP), an organization that provides educational opportunities to less-developed countries. Bush explained her passion for the organization.

"I don't think that where you live should govern how well you live," the 30-year-old California native said. "Every child deserves the same opportunities to have a great education, to feel safe, to be well-fed, and to play, and PoP provides so many of those things to these kids to really allow [their] lives to be different."

PIC: Sophia Bush's Style Standout!

Bush recalled an unforgettable experience with the children of a small village in Guatemala that inspired her to build a school in their village.

"I'm looking at these children that are two-and-half feet high who want to go to school so badly that they're holding hands in little human chains running across a freeway playing chicken with motor vehicles just so that they can learn to read and write," she recalled. "I was just so overwhelmed."

In addition to supporting PoP, Bush is also a big supporter of The Global Poverty Project's upcoming Global Festival concert, which music fans can only attend by taking action against global poverty. The Global Festival aims to put pressure on world leaders to commit funds to help those in poverty around the world.

RELATED: Jarett Wieselman Breaks Down Why 'Partners' is Promising

After the successful run of her first television series, One Tree Hill, came to an end after nine years this year, Bush found Partners, which she said she pursued because she wanted to do what she hadn't done on One Tree.

"I was really far from home and the subject matter of that show resonated so much with me but a lot of it was heavy," she said. "I said, 'I want to work in L.A., and I want to work on a half-hour show, and I just want to laugh.' I want to do the opposite of what I've done."

Partners will premiere September 24 on CBS. For more information about PoP or Global Festival, click the links.