Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Donate $1 Million (as much as China) to Haiti Relief

[t0dd]

Source: NBC



Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, one of Hollywood's most recognizable couples, have donated $1 million towards the relief effort in Haiti, where a massive earthquake has crippled the island nation.

The A-List couple, who have been known for their political and social activism, made the large gift to Doctors Without Borders whose three hospitals in the Haitian capital were severely damaged by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake, the organization said in a statement.

They will use some of the money to send additional medical staff, including surgeons, and equipment to build a 100-bed tent hospital with two operating rooms, the Associated Press reported.

"We understand the first response is critical to serve the immediate needs of countless people who are now displaced from their homes, are suffering trauma, and most require urgent care," Pitt said in a statement.

Jolie said it "is incredibly horrible to see a catastrophe of this size hit a people who have been suffering from extreme poverty, violence and unrest for so many decades," according to People.com.

The couple's donation appears particularly generous when compared with large nations and the dozens of pledges made by international corporations. Only Irish mobile phone operator Digicel has offered more -- promising $5 million in aid while the European Union has approved $4.37 million in initial relief funding. Canada is giving $4.8 million immediately with a promise of more to come. China is pitching in with $1 million.

...

Read more: http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/entertainment/celebrity/NATL-Brad-and-Angelina-Donate-1-Million-to-Haiti-Relief-81396792.html

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:applause: :yourock:

[Bigmack]

1. I read that Bank of America..

donated $1 million, too.

Brangelina = $1 mil

Bank of America = $1 mil

What's wrong/ironic/insane about this picture?

[Abq_Sarah]

4. They can't just hand over all the profits

They are publicly owned.

Hell, I'm just grateful they repaid the TARP funds.

Here's a list from Reuters on donations: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1317488820100114?type=marketsNews

[roguevalley]

12. they could hand over their bonuses. that would be justice.

[kestrel91316]

2. You can criticize celebrities all you want, America, but when the going gets tough,

some of them REALLY step up to the plate.

The industrialized world's governments should hang their heads in shame. Brad and Angelina have shown them how it's REALLY done!

[MellowDem]

13. OR... it just shows that celebraties are paid as much as many small countries

which is what's really shameful. When the going gets tough, celebraties are like every other uber-rich person out there in general.

[kestrel91316]

16. Not these particular folks.

[MellowDem]

32. No, not these ones

[Umbral]

21. Wow, that was really 'generous' of you. nt

[MellowDem]

31. More like realistic... nt

[marshall]

52. I wouldn't call Chna a small country

They are nipping at our heels for world dominator.

[Dulcinea]

28. THIS should make the front page of supermarket tabloids!

Their donation to Haiti should be front and center of all those rags we see in the grocery store checkout lines, instead of Kate Gosselin or the Kardashians. (Who the hell are these people anyway?)

[Common Sense Party]

3. Good, I hope more Hollywood celebs pitch in. And finance fatcats.

And Tiger Woods--he should donate about $50 million, just to save a teeny bit of face (he's probably spent that much on hookers over the past 5 years).

[Chicago dyke]

39. now, now. they weren't "hookers"

they were waitresses. :-)

Brad and Jolie have given 1/100 as much as the entire US government. just to put in perspective.

[kayla9170]

5. Disagree with Angie's Policital Stances but she has A GOOD Heart

Thanks Angie and Brat!

[Walk away]

6. What are the political stances you disagree with?

I assumed they tried to stay as apolitical as possible so that they could effectively lobby for their areas of interest like aid to children and disaster relief.

I have never heard them espouse a political view. So what are you refering to?

[t0dd]

7. I know one stance of hers (that Brad shares)

they won't marry until same-sex marriage is legalized nationally.

[Walk away]

8. Why would you disagree with that? .... nt

[t0dd]

9. I'm not kayla9170

I wholeheartedly agree with that stance :) :hi:

[fascisthunter]

35. I Did not Know That

pretty cool

[LostinRed]

10. I think she mentioned she doesn't like Obama

she said he would be a one term President. You can use the google. I don't remember that well. Her father is a right-wing nut. I don't think she is that crazy, but not 100% progressive.

[Walk away]

15. I just did. You are referencing FOXNews and they were referencing an unnamed source.

Who sites Foxnews on DU? Even for something like this. I really think that it is irresponsible to smear someone without even providing a link but after checking I can see why.

Do you just not like these people because they are famous and generous and support good causes with their money?

[LostinRed]

17. I didn't cite Fox news

I posted that I remembered hearing/reading she thought Obama would be a one term president. I googled it and yes, most of the sites that reported it were gossip sites and there is a foxnews blog post about it. I wasn't trying to smear her. Don't accuse me of using Fox news as a source.

[Walk away]

42. Fox was the original source of the gossip from an anonymous....

contributor. Your information came from Fox and was spread around gossip blogs. I really consider this a dirty way to slander someone. No one is perfect but I have never seen trash like your post here at DU. You have no idea how these people feel about anything and telling people to "use the google" to look up unsubstantiated gossip for you is pretty low.

I don't know about this woman's politics because she does not make her views public. She does, however, donate millions of dollars to the needy and uses her celebrity to encourage others to do the same. Being apolitical has enabled her to rally all types of people to help children around the globe. She doesn't deserve to have lies about her passed around the Internet.

[paulsby]

23. jolie has views that are not reflexively left or right wing.

she is certainly not sympatico with her father on many issues, but neither is she going to agree with progressives on a lot of stuff.

[CrawlingChaos]

24. She supports the continued occupation of Iraq

Went over there after she joined the CFR and wrote a propaganda piece for them. Really disgusting.

Also stated during the campaign that she could not decide between Obama and McCain.

And I know I'll get slammed for this but with the amount of press these two get every time they make a donation, I really have to question whether it's generosity or a million dollars worth of career-enhancing PR. I remember after Katrina there were a few celebrities (I think Sandra Bullock was one) who gave huge donations without calling a press conference to announce it or releasing statements or fanfare of any sort.

I'll save my admiration for all the ordinary people who damn well couldn't afford it but gave something anyway, without basking in any public glory.

[emilyg]

25. +1

[closeupready]

38. If you have cites for any of these outlandish claims, I'd appreciate it if you could post them.

Otherwise, $1M to help when people are dying, and you call this out as a publicity stunt?

Wow. What can I say. :mad:

[CrawlingChaos]

49. What "outrageous claim"?

The *fact* that they always make SURE they get plenty of press when they donate is blatantly obvious. I guarantee you there are other celebrities gave very large donations but we're not sitting here discussing them because they didn't call reporters to announce it. See the difference?

Or are you questioning my claim that she has acted as a propaganda instrument for the CFR? Here's a link to the article she wrote, attempting to paint the continued occupation as a humanitarian effort that must continue indefinitely:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022702217.html

[closeupready]

50. First of all, the word I used was "outlandish". But whatever. Secondly,

Ms. Jolie did not say what you imply she said, from my reading. She stated she supported continued and escalated humanitarian efforts at rebuilding Iraq to the extent that safety can be secured with the help of the US presence there. I can't see any liberal or progressive on DU who would contradict her desire to see humanitarian assistance continue in Iraq unless you have a problem with schools, homes and civil society. You may object to the neutral tone she strikes when she speaks of the Surge and of Petraeus, but hey, neutral is not supportive; it's neutral.

[onehandle]

11. Why should China donate anything?

They do so much for the world already.

:sarcasm:

[wickerwoman]

26. So let's take an example of a generous act and use that occasion to bash them?

China had a massive earthquake in Sichuan in 2008. 70,000 people died. It was an extremely traumatizing event for millions of people (my entire office was in tears for days and took up a collection to help victims).

I'm sure that such a recent memory of a similar catastrophic event is what's prompting the donation.

Why make such a mean-spirited comment about it?

[lbrtbell]

14. I don't care for their work, but this is fantastic

To use the movie jargon, two thumbs up for Brangelina!!

[earcandle]

18. We'll donate have our Freedom Fried sales going forward to Haiti!

Let us know if you purchased on itunes or CD Baby or Amoeba 
and once we confirm, 50% goes off to WHERE?  Gosh, who do we
give it to in Haiti?  Help! 

[flamingdem]

19. CNN is actually helpful in spurring quick reactions I think, good on them nt

[Prometheus Bound]

20. Regarding Chinese aid, the first donation is generally a token. Larger amounts usually follow.

After the Asian tsunamis, China's initial contribution was US$2.5 million but that was later upped to US$60 million. With most countries it is the same I think.

[EFerrari]

22. The first donation is usually what the local representative has

on hand or is authorized to release on these occasions.

[dipsydoodle]

27. Aside from which

China's donations probably tangible and go direct as opposed to donating Bechtel privatising the water supply etc. :sarcasm:

[BumRushDaShow]

29. I just now heard on the radio that Walmart

donated $600,000. Found a link here: http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/NewsRoom/9597.aspx

:wtf:

The world's LARGEST corporation. :banghead:

[lunatica]

30. Comparing celebrities to countries is nuts

Do celebrities have the same expenses that countries do? Please.

That said, I think Angelina and Brad's donation is truly life saving and shows a true generosity of heart of social consciousness. I don't have the time to look it up now, but didn't they donate a huge amount to New Orleans after Katrina. I recall Brad rolling up his sleeves and actually rescuing people right after the flood.

[roguevalley]

57. HAITI TELETHON WITH CLOONEY JANUARY 22

[rrneck]

33. So, why did we even hear about it?

They are private citizens and they are extremely wealthy. They could have gotten that money moved without all the media attention.

They are the most overhyped and overexposed people on the planet. That million gets them even more exposure. It'll pay off for them in the end.

[redwitch]

36. Really?

:wtf:

[closeupready]

40. Isn't it amazing?

This board, I don't know anymore. What is wrong with people, you know?

[redwitch]

43. Petty is really wearing on me.

No time to waste on it, too much to do that is more important. Petty does nothing for anybody. I think it's great that they donated and I hope it encourages others. One of the good things about being famous means you can influence for good. These two seem to do their best to make the world a better place and I applaud them for it. :hi:

[closeupready]

47. +1000

n/t

[silverweb]

41. "So, why did we even hear about it?"

Why hide it?

Maybe their donation will encourage the substantial number of adoring fans they have to donate, as well. Maybe that's their motivation in allowing the publicity. I believe it may be called "leading by example" or something silly like that.

[fascisthunter]

44. just because we hear about it doesn't mean their donation is any less meaningful

especially to Haitians there suffering.

If anything, it pressures others to do the same.

[Gormy Cuss]

46. Perhaps in the hope that it goads other "A-list" personalities into doing the same?

They are overexposed but they also know that some of that celebrity can be exploited this way, even if as you stated it ends up paying off for them in the long run.

[rrneck]

53. I'm cheating a little here

by responding to several others. Hope that's ok.

Of course it's a wonderful thing to do and I'm sure the money will be appreciated and used for good. There is no doubt they have done a wonderful thing.

They could spend a million more easily than most people could spend a thousand. It's easy for them to write a million dollar check. How much money would they be spending if they used their star power to solicit donations. If they spent their very valuable time making a difference instead of money that they have in abundance it would be more laudable. This way, they get waaaay more than a million dollars worth of exposure and their lives aren't interrupted in the least.

If you really needed money and Bill Gates gave you a thousand bucks and some working stiff gave you his last thousand bucks in the world, who would have made the greater sacrifice for your benefit? The amount of time they might spend in a real fundraising effort would be much greater in "per hour wages" than a measly million bucks.

Am I cynical? Yes. I'm always wary of people who advertise their good deeds. Especially people who make a ostentatious living by attracting attention.

[Gormy Cuss]

54. Frankly, I'd rather that they (and other celebrities) just write the fat checks.

Rather than be a spokesperson for a charity event or cause with the attendant costs of administration, they have just put out a million dollar challenge to the other PR obsessed types in Hollywood.

[rrneck]

56. Now you're talking.

Is there anybody in Hollywood that won't take a phone call from Brad Pitt? Why do they need NBC to contact people? The only people they contact through the media are the ones they make money from.

[CrawlingChaos]

55. Agreed - legitimate observation - NOT petty

Especially relevant in our celebrity-worshipping culture, which is NOT a good thing.

[goclark]

34. Outstanding K and R

[closeupready]

37. They both have such big hearts. :-)

What a wonderful thing to do. :applause:

[fascisthunter]

45. right wingers hate seeing celebrities donate publicly

because the concept of giving is being promoted. This statement of course does not imply anyone on this thread disliking them for the reasons I have stated. It's just something I have observed from other right wingers on TV and in person.

[Guilded Lilly]

48. Bravo

well done.

[Romulox]

51. Cheers to them. nt