Actor Brad Pitt has launched his own regeneration project for hurricane Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.
Pitt's Make It Right foundation needs $22.5 million to build all 150 homes. He has pledged to match $5 million worth of donations, saying they have raised $2 million thus far.
Architects donated their time and the money will pay for construction as well as subsidize the sale price for people of modest means. Pitt commissioned 13 architectural firms to produce houses that would incorporate solar power and other environmentally sound designs.
The neighborhood was largely destroyed when levees holding back floodwaters broke in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The actor fell in love with the city while filming Interview with the Vampire there in 1994. Earlier this year, he set up home in the city's French Quarter with Angelina Jolie and their children.
Pitt, who is from Missouri, was in New Orleans earlier this year filming a new film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
HollywoodPoker celebrity Dennis Quaid is also contributing to the economical rebuilding of New Orleans.
Having worked for 20 years or so with a charity called the International Hospital for Children (IHC) in New Orleans, he has pitched in to help IHC by literally going for the green.
Over the last five years, he has hosted the Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend annual golf tournament to raise money for a shelter and three other charities.
HollywoodPoker raised $30,000 at last year’s event with the HollywoodPoker.com Texas Hold 'em Celebrity Challenge, helping the organization raise over $300,000 during the entire weekend.
Quaid, who has called upon his friends at HollywoodPoker in the past to help raise money for the victims of Katrina, knew they would come through for him at this worthy event.
An elated Quaid said, “The HollywoodPoker event was a blast, we had so many people turn out, it was amazing.’’
While on location nearly 20 years ago filming the Big Easy in New Orleans, Quaid fell ill and was sent to the doctor who founded the IHC where he learned about the organization's role in servicing the needs for children's medical care and assistance in third world countries. He has supported them ever since.
Read more about the Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend at press release.
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