Jessica Simpson wanted an orphan for her 17th birthday

It seems singer-actress Jessica Simpson's philanthropic interests have come from her roots.

The 27-year-old, who works with the Casa Hogar Elim orphanage in Mexico, revealed that she first visited the orphanage as a child with her dad.

"My father was a minister, so growing up, we'd go on a missionary trip every summer, New York Daily quoted Simpson, as saying.

The pop star who donated a new Chrysler minivan to the orphanage in March this year revealed, that the first time she saw the deprived kids she made her mind to adopt them.

"The first time I went to that orphanage, I was 16. I remember holding this baby who was found in a dumpster. I wanted to adopt him right then and there. I was like, 'Dad, can I have him for my birthday, please?'" she said.

Simpson had won a Chrysler Crossfire sports car at the 2006 MTV awards, but exchanged the 50,000-dollar luxury car for a minivan so she could help the orphanage. (ANI)