Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Donate $500,000 to Joplin Tornado Relief

By Christine Fenno Posted Jun 11th 2011 11:09AM

The Jolie-Pitt Foundation announced a donation on Friday of $500,000 to aid recovery efforts in Joplin, Missouri, after a tornado brought death and destruction to the area last month.

"With the devastating loss of 30 percent of the city, the Joplin community faces great challenges ahead," said Brad Pitt. "Having spent much of my childhood there, I know these people to be hardworking, humble and especially resilient."

Angelina Jolie added: "Our hearts go out to the families in Joplin who have lost so much."

The Kansas City Star reports that the couple's donation will benefit the Joplin Recovery Fund.

The tornado that directly hit Joplin in May destroyed miles of the city, including a hospital, in mere minutes. The death toll has topped 150. In the aftermath, victims are now reportedly fighting a lethal fungus stirred up by the twister.

Pitt's ties to Missouri run deep. Born in Okalahoma, Pitt was raised with his sister and brother in Springfield, Mo., attending Kickapoo High School and the University of Missouri. Pitt left the college weeks before graduating to launch an acting career in Los Angeles, where he took odd jobs and acting lessons until fame struck. The actor knows a thing or two about rebuilding after a natural disaster, ever since he became actively involved in designing housing for hurricane-ravaged New Orleans in recent years.

Tags: angelina jolie, brad pitt, brangelina

Comments

(126)

Saturday 11 June

By Manana

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

They can't go to the store without the media hounding them. I'm pretty sure they don't give money to get into the media. They don't need to. It's amazing how people try to make a good deed look bad. Sad

By hello kitty

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

I'd call his career; 'cut rate work', Hollywood hack.

By Jorli

Vote down Vote up Report this

psmithTx, I give because I have no use for items I no longer use. and no I do not deduct it from my taxes. However, you would be naive or stupid, if you think those 2 don't get tax deductible contributions on their taxes. Surely, yo uaren't that dumb.

Pamela, Jennifer Aniston is not defined by Brad Pitt as you and your immaturity want to think. How many years has it been and when will idiots like you get over your fascination with it? Grow up. Like you and the others, I am entitled to an opinion. You just can't accept there are other views to the subject. Some of you people act as if you know these people. You don't, nor will you ever!

I want to thank David for being civil in his response. For those of you who chose to condemn my opinion, I suggest some maturity. Again, this was a great deed that was done, but the notoriety of this deed was not needed, IN MY OPINION. This would go for anyone, not just this couple, who just happens to love the attention.

By the way, is it really a large amount of money given, if you get it back on your taxes? No its not!

Look into how donations claimed for deductions on taxes really pans out, and you'd be surprised how this big donation isn't as big for the people of Joplin as you think.

By Adam

That's very honorable of them. Like them or not, people like Brad & Angelina, Demsel Washington, Gary Senise, Sean Penn, Antonio Banderous, and many more stars have tried to help out in people's time of need. I think that's great.

By PAT

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Not my favourite people BUT they truly have feelings & big hearts.God bless them both. Where was Obama?? Oh yes, drinking beer in Ireland & Playing ping.pong in UK.

By Tex

A rather silly non sequitur to toss out, but I'm sure you feel better for having said it.

By tony

How does it feel to be so dumb...Obama flew there as soon as he got back and delcared it a disaster area and gave federal funds....What a moron you are..

By Limar

How about Minneapolis, they're still cleaning up from the same day storm. Are we totally forgotten?

By BB

A lot of people have donated time and money to the Joplin tornado relief.Why the Jolie/Pitt Foundation felt the need to announce their donation is a question only they can answer.Hats off to everyone that donated,regardless of the amount.

By tammysue112059

I do not care whether the Jolie-Pitts received media attention or not. What I care about is they donated to my hometown that was devastated by the storm. Sounds like a whole lot of anger going on in some people's posts. What a shame people want to waste their time on anger...those in Joplin do not need your anger, but your donated time to help rebuild.

Sunday 12 June

By LAURA

Well said. It takes one touched by the devastation to really get it right.

By TONY

I am sure a lot of celebs donated to the disaster....Some just do it silently without the fanfare of being publically accepted....

By dododoers

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

A lousy 500,000 grand!!!!!!! That's a drop in the bucket for them. Probably spend that much on toys for the kids in a month. But THANKS anyways!

By meshanovaa

They set up a foundation so they can KEEP ON GIVING down the line. And they gave away 8 million last year alone. Maybe you should take some time to investigate them before you spew out your negativity.

By Ed

Thats different.

By terry

THIS IS WHY WE PAY TAXES ,YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON JOPLIN ,OURS GOES TO THE USELESS WARS BUSH AND NOW OBAMA CAUSED,AND THIS MAKES YOU GET A TAX BRAKE AND YOU LOOK LIKE YOU SHOULD GET THANKS FOR YOUR MONEY,THE TAX PAYERS SHOULD GET THE THANKS.THIS COUNTRY IS SO MESSED UP FROM THESE 2 PRESIDENTS,BUT THANKS ANYWAY .

By judifem

Only 500K! They must be short on funds. They sent a million and more over seas. Guess the good o' USA isn't good enough!

Monday 13 June

By sway

They set up a foundation so they can KEEP ON GIVING down the line, get the whole story before you critize. How much did you give?

By ANG

HONESTLY SPEAKING ,,, IF YOUR THAT RICH AND LUCKY AND GIFTED WITH EVERYTHING, THEN DONT YOU THINK THE EXACT THING TO DO, WOULD BE GIVING , AND I DO MEAN GIVING,,,, I KNOW I WOULD

By sunshine

would like to thank everyone in america and around the world for your help and prayers to our city.

Page 3 of 7