With the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina still evident in New Orleans, even after two years, Brad Pitt decided to do something to help out. Brad Pitt’s goal was to build 150 eco-friendly houses in the Lower 9th Ward. Through the project, people - Americans and people from other nations - have been able to donate money to help rebuild the homes; some people, like Will Ferrel, have even been able to adopt a whole house.

The cost to build the houses is about $150,000 each. The goal is to build nice, attractive houses that people actually want to live in. Though today there are only pink blocks and pink tents representing what will one day be there, it’s a start. Brad himself pledged $5 million to the project, and others pledged similar amounts. Thursday, December 20, a $1 million donation was received from an anonymous donor. In short, Americans are getting involved in the rebuilding.

In fact, just before Christmas, Brad told TODAY’s Ann Curey, “We’ve had 12,000 people across America come in and donate… Our initial goal was 150 houses, and we’ve got 52 houses that have been adopted, which means 52 families.”

The actor, currently dating Angelina Jolie and father of her youngest child, said, “It’s working. It’s really working. It’s that thing we talked about of people coming together and people helping people, and that’s where America’s great… If this plan works, we’re going to have people moving in here by the end of summer.”

Today (Monday January 1, 2008) and tomorrow the pink awning covering the scaffolding will be removed. The awning will be used to make into collectible handbags. To buy the handbags, donate money or learn more, visit www.makeitrightnola.org. (They are still taking donations.)

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