Katrina – Five Years After: Making it Right

Part 2 of a special 3-part series

NEW ORLEANS -- When it comes to the charitable endeavors of celebrities, most people tend to be a bit skeptical and perhaps rightly so. There is no shortage of stories about actors or musicians abusing their star power in the name of goodwill. Charity organizers can tell you horror stories of pretentious celebs that make outrageous demands in exchange for lending their face to even the most worthy causes.

Some solicit payment outright, others demand expensive "riders" – ultra first-class travel accommodations and perks for themselves as well as their entourage of personal assistants, bodyguards, chefs, personal trainers and even pets – expenses that come from the very funds they are there to help raise.

One of the Make it Right Foundation's completed homes

Still, charities usually cough up the dough, because an appearance by say... Wyclef, at a fundraiser in Haiti, can draw the kind of response that pays for itself. OK, bad example – a French charitable foundation actually had to cancel an event held to build a new school in the singer's hometown of Lasere because his outrageous demands, including a $100,000 “performance fee”, were cost prohibitive.

I know what you're thinking. The press often makes it seem as if such events are done out of the kindness of the performer's heart, that they flew home on their own dime like they might on any visit to see the family, then hopped up on stage and broke a sweat for the sake of those less fortunate. Sadly, that is hardly ever the case.

However, heavily publicized catastrophes that hit upon our national unity – events like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, tend to move even the most hardened hearts. As disconnected as we can sometimes be, these tragedies remind us of our commonalities. When such an event strikes, organizations like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army are typically awash with donations from Americans of all walks of life and financial means.

Many times, celebrities are inspired to give something more proportionate to their considerable resources and make a spontaneous pledge to assist matters with a large check. Too often, reality sets in as the reaction wares off. Financial advisors, agents and other members of the inner circle intervene. Since a pledge isn’t a contract, the details can usually be smoothed out to the most equitable, tax-friendly solution that can be found. The media usually only shows up for the announcement and the photo with the giant fake check and rarely follow up on the follow through.

Public Domain Photo by Tanaya Harms, USAF

I’ve seen this enough to remain naturally skeptical to celebrity good will, so when I first heard of the Making it Right Foundation, an organization started by Brad Pitt to build safe, affordable housing in the Katrina ravaged Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, I was a bit iffy. Pitt, whose connection to the city includes the filming of his breakthrough hit film Interview with a Vampire, owns a mansion in the French Quarter and reportedly stays there several times a year.

Frustrated by the slow redevelopment after the storm, Pitt founded the Make it Right Foundation in 2007 with the goal of building affordable and green houses for residents who’d been displaced by the storm.

Pitt, who also gives generously to a slew of other charities, seeded the effort with $5 million of his own money. But his efforts didn’t stop with a check. An amateur (though reportedly talented) architect, Pitt worked with dozens of local and international design experts to develop models that would be conducive to the mission. Tired of seeing “affordable housing” outfitted with energy sucking appliances that make residents’ utility bills anything but, the actor focused on energy efficient designs that included solar panels and energy star appliances.

The homes are built on stilts and designed to withstand Katrina-like storms. There is even one that floats on guideposts up to 12 feet above its foundation. So far, Make it Right has built 50 such homes, helping nearly 200 people return to their community. In three years, Pitt’s passion for the project has only intensified and it seems a given that he will fulfill his commitment of 150 homes.

The houses sport impressive designs and though Pitt admits that the task of keeping them affordable was humbling, he seems to have done better than other private developers who’ve long strove for something similar. Pitt was even invited to Washington to discuss such designs with President Obama and Speaker Pelosi and how they might be utilized in a national effort to promote sustainability, demonstrating how far reaching the actor’s efforts might ultimately become. In fact, it isn't much of a stretch  to imagine Mr. Pitt will one day be better known for his contribution to sustainable living than roles in hit films like Legends of the Fall and Troy.

His success has invited the assistance of dozens of additional suppliers interested in pitching in, often at cost or less. Pitt also has the sort of magnetic star power that seems to make even other celebrities a bit star struck. Ellen DeGeneres and HGTV star Mike Holmes from Holmes on Homes have also lent themselves to the cause and Hollywood producer Steve Bing even matched Pitt's $5 million funding.

So, while many celebrities could seemingly take a note from Mr. Pitt when it comes to altruism, his commitment to his causes goes a long way in restoring my faith when it comes to celebrity goodwill. For the people of the Lower Ninth Ward who the foundation has returned to the community, his contribution goes beyond words. Not enough has been done to get displaced residents of New Orleans back to their city. Hats off to Brad for doing much more than one man’s share.

Read Part 1: Katrina – Five Years After: What Have We Fixed?