Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's love for children is by no means limited to
their own: The couple has donated US$1 million to help kids affected by the war
in Iraq, the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict announced yesterday.
The organization will distribute the donation, made through the couple's
Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to four organizations working on behalf of children who
have lost parents, homes and schools in Iraq. Children in the U.S. who have lost
parents in the conflict will also benefit.
"These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way
to help them heal," said Jolie in a written statement from Education Partnership
for Children of Conflict, which she co-chairs.
"We hope to encourage others to give to these great organizations," Pitt
added in the statement.
The money will be divided between the Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero
Program, which provides military children with counseling and educational
support; Women for Women International, which will provide books, school
supplies and other basic necessities to Iraqi women and children; the
International Rescue Committee, which will repair three schools and offer
classes for more than 2,500 students; and NineMillion.org, which will give
school uniforms and learning materials to more than 2,000 displaced Iraqi kids.
Last year, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave more than 300,000 dollars to
support the International Rescue Committee's relief program for Darfur refugees.
Jolie, who's expecting twins, has said the babies are due in August. She and
Pitt have four children: Maddox, 6; Pax, 4; Zahara, 3; and Shiloh,
2.
