Broadway's Megan Hilty Reveals She's 'Always Envisioned' Adopting an Older Child

Megan Hilty was among the stars who generously donated their time and talent at last night's Voice for the Voiceless: Stars for Foster Kids, an event benefiting the nonprofit organization You Gotta Believe, which specifically focuses on finding permanent families for youth in foster care who are 10 years old or older. The concert, organized by Sirius XM host Seth Rudetsky, was held in New York City.

In a new interview with PEOPLE, the Broadway star reveals that adopting an older children to join her 9-month old daughter Viola Philmena has always been part of her and husband Brian Gallagher's future plans.

"Adopting older children really is something I've always envisioned for later in life," she tells the site. "There's something about those older kids that haven't found their forever homes that just makes me want to grab all of them and take care of them."

The Smash star adds, "You can't hear their stories and not have compassion and do anything you can to provide them homes."

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Megan Hilty first made a name for herself in the role of Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked. Of her performance of Lorelai in the Encores! staging of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote, "Megan Hilty achieves the unlikely feat of wrestling Lorelei from the hands of [Marilyn] Monroe and [Carol] Channing to make the character entirely and originally hers." She recently starred alongside Sean Hayes in NBC's comedy Sean Saves the World. Prior to that, she portrayed the seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn in NBC's musical drama Smash for two seasons. In March 2013, Hilty released her debut solo album, It Happens All The Time, which included fresh interpretations of compositions by contemporary songwriters and producers.

Additionally, her voice was featured as Rosetta in Disney's Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings. She's previously recorded vocals in Disney's The Secret Life of Magic Gourd, Phineas & Ferb, Glenn Martin DDS, American Dad, Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games, Robot & Monster, Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return as well as singing as Snow White in the film Shrek the Third. She can also be heard alongside Placido Domingo on the opera star's duet album.

Her television credits include guest-starring roles in Melissa & Joey, Bones, The Closer, Desperate Housewives, CSI, Shark, Ugly Betty, Eli Stone and The Suite Life of Zach & Cody. Among Hilty's film credits are The Bitter Feast and the short film The Happiest Man Alive, opposite Justin Chambers.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos