Kevin Federline Wants To Save The Penny

Every cause could use a celebrity, and every celebrity needs a cause. And, if you're married to one of the most successful singers of all time, you need a quirky, bizarre, out of the ordinary cause. K-Fed has found just that.

As part of a new campaign by Virgin Mobile to introduce their one-cent text messages, they have initiated a "Save the Penny" campaign, to make sure the coin isn't phased out of existence. Sure enough, Kevin Federline has found his cause.

The event, sponsored by Virgin Mobile and Americans for Common Cents, took place at New York's Times Square. As ABC News reports, "Federline emerged from a red truck wearing an Abraham Lincoln mask, driving the swarm of paparazzi around the truck into a frenzy." As for the rest of his wardrobe, K-Fed "was nattily dressed in a black suit, white dress shirt, aviator sunglasses and sporting his trademark stubble."

The New York Daily News reports that Kevin came out on stage at Times Square and said "What's up, New York! I'm here with Virgin Mobile to bring the power back to the penny! I feel good about the penny! I'm glad to give it back to these charities." After that, Kevin Federline sent the first one-cent text message, which he said was to "his wife".

The "Save The Penny" campaign is part of a charity drive, collecting pennies for "The RE*Generation", a charity that tries to connect kids with activist groups. It also marks the keeping of K-Fed's promise to do charity work as part of his promotional tour for his upcoming debut album, Playing With Fire.

After the event, Kevin Federline spoke with press to do some interviews. Fox News quoted K-Fed as saying "When I first got onstage, I was a little nervous. This is my first time doing a charity event." Kevin Federline even opened up about being a father, and about their upcoming second child. Extra TV quoted K-Fed as saying, about his upcoming child, "We haven't thought of a name. We're still in discussions. We don't want to know what it is or anything like that." About being a dad, Kevin Federline said "I love it. The best thing in the world. It's more than all of this. It worth many, many, many a-pennies."

With Virgin Mobile's new promotion of 1000 text messages for only $9.99, and with the "Save the Penny" campaign, is the penny really in trouble? CNN Money reports that "the cost to produce a single penny, which is primarily made of zinc with just 2.5 percent worth of copper, exceeded its face value due to rising commodity prices. The cost to produce a penny has risen from .97 cent in 2005 to 1.4 cents, according to the U.S. Mint." The report also goes on to mention that "In 2001, Rep. Jim Kolbe, R- Arizona proposed banning the single cent in favor of a rounding system. Kolbe has said he is now considering reintroducing the legislation."

As it stands right now, there's no threat to losing the penny. The hub-bub around the event is barely more than a publicity campaign both for Virgin Mobile and Kevin Federline, with "The RE*Generation" being the lucky benefactor. Perhaps the future will tell a different story, but until then, Federline now has his cause: saving the lowest-denomination of American currency.

[Additional Sources: ABC News, New York Daily News, Fox News, Extra TV, CNN Money]