KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Across the country, volunteers are celebrating the rewards of their hard work. It's part of a national effort which encourages people to make a difference in their communities and their towns by volunteering. It's a commitment, but one that advocates say leads to lifestyle enrichment for the donor and the receiver. The giving spirit is also felt in the music industry. One of the singers from the pop group 'N Sync is adding his voice to a charity foundation. By joining the Giving Back Fund, Justin Timberlake hopes to raise money to improve music education in America's schools. Timberlake is in Washington for a concert this afternoon. He has already met with some political heavyweights during his visit, including Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton. He joins us now from the White House.
Hi, Justin.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SINGER, 'N SYNC: Hi. How are you doing?
PHILLIPS: Good. Hey, it's sort of neat to see you in front of the White House. You look like a reporter out there. Do you feel like one?
TIMBERLAKE: No. "We're standing live here in front of the White House, and..."
(LAUGHTER)
TIMBERLAKE: We're trying to get some dirt. No, I'm just kidding.
PHILLIPS: Oh, no, never bad scoops. Come on.
(LAUGHTER)
TIMBERLAKE: No, never.
PHILLIPS: Hey, tell us about what's going on and this foundation that you are starting. For 18 years old, this is amazing. It's wonderful!
TIMBERLAKE: Right. Well, thank you. It's so funny, I just started this foundation about two weeks ago, and already I'm sitting on a panel with the president and the first lady, talking about my plans to put the arts programs back in the schools.
And I think that's really a sign of good things to come. My inspiration for doing this was, back when I was 10 or 11 in a public school, I had dreams of being, you know, in a pop group or being a superstar entertainer, and there was never any music programs to help me pursue my dreams.
So I think this part of me giving back is just to make sure that the kids who have the same dreams get the opportunities that I didn't have at such a young age, because, you know, kids are really our future, and I think we can all agree on that.
PHILLIPS: Justin, you talk about how important music was to you and is to you, especially as a younger child. What kind of difference do you think being involved with music can make?
TIMBERLAKE: Well, I think, especially for young minds and young hearts, music is such a positive way to channel so many different emotions that young people may not know exactly how they feel about, instead of using those emotions in a negative way that I think, you know, we've seen in the past couple of years. And I think if we install some high-caliber music programs, then these kids can have outlets. You know, say you're not the most popular kid school, you're not the high school quarterback, you're not the prom queen, but you have a creative -- you know, everybody has a creative mind, and it will just give them a positive way to use their emotions. And anything that they may feel confused about, they can express it in music and feel OK about it.
PHILLIPS: Justin, I'm very curious to know what you said to Mrs. Clinton.
(LAUGHTER)
TIMBERLAKE: Well, I sat on a panel yesterday, and I think the first thing I said was that this isn't your normal pop-group demographic that I'm speaking to. But, yes, it's not everyday I get to dress up to go to work. I got to wear a suit and a tie and everything. I felt important. No, it was a lot of fun, and I basically just thanked her for the opportunity. I know that she's heavy into putting the arts programs back in the schools, and that makes me feel great about what I'm doing, the fact that it's made it this far in only two weeks. And I think in the next, you know, several months, with the Giving Back Fund, I'll let, you know, everyone know exactly how they can help me do everything that I want to do. So I'm very excited about it.
PHILLIPS: Well, tell us about the concert, Justin.
TIMBERLAKE: Well, I'm about to go to soundcheck after I finish this interview with you. We're here -- I'm excited. Garth Brooks is here. Lenny Kravitz is here. I've got to go get my autograph book and get some autographs. (LAUGHTER) But, yes, we're doing the soundcheck for -- it's called "The Concert of the Century," and it's here, and we're performing for the president and the first lady. We're so excited, and, you know, what more could you ask for? We're living it up.
PHILLIPS: Will you let me ask for a little acappella solo here? Will you give me a little something?
TIMBERLAKE: I don't have my guys with me. I feel kind of silly.
PHILLIPS: Oh, Justin!
TIMBERLAKE: If I had the other four with me, we could kick some, you know, five-part harmonies for you.
PHILLIPS: OK. I'm going to call on you guys tonight during a different break, all right?
TIMBERLAKE: OK, cool.
PHILLIPS: Justin Timberlake, thank you so much for joining us.
TIMBERLAKE: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: All right.
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