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Monday, 3 December 2007

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SEE VIDEO Brad Pitt helps New Orleans with pink tents

Hollywood star wants to expand project in city he loves

Brad attends the premiere of The Assassination of Jesse James in New York

Brad Pitt unveiled his ambitious new residential vision for the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Ninth Ward of New Orleans on Monday's Today show. With a goal to have the project completed by the end of next summer, he calls it "Make It Right."

"I'm hoping we can start here and expand all over New Orleans," the star, 43, told Ann Curry as the two walked among pink tents ("an art installation, a social statement," he called them, admitting he'd like to see how it looks on Google Earth) erected to mark where on the site the future homes are to be built.

Calling himself "not much of a salesman," Pitt, who on Nov. 9 pledged $5 million of his own money toward the long-gestating project, is asking the general public – "foundations, individuals of means, church groups" – to donate and "help the families of New Orleans get back into their homes."

"We can do it, it's ready to go," he said, explaining that each home would cost $150,000. Should prospective contributors not be able to make such large donations, separate household items are available for what he called "Christmas adoption," such as a solar panel or family bathroom fixtures.

By Stephen M. Silverman

See video of Brad Pitt in New Orleans...