In 2006, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie established a foundation to support humanitarian causes; its work extended across several countries

In 2006, Hollywood actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie established the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to support humanitarian work and provide assistance to people facing difficult circumstances around the world. The foundation became their major charitable act, supporting numerous organizations dealing with issues of poverty, children, health care, and homeless people.Their interest in humanitarian issues was not limited to the film industry. Jolie worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as a goodwill ambassador since 2001, and she was actively involved in many humanitarian projects. Her experiences during visits to areas affected by conflict and displacement helped bring international attention to the challenges faced by refugees and vulnerable families.The foundation’s work included supporting established organisations that provided direct assistance to people in crisis. In May 2007, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation donated US$1 million towards humanitarian efforts for people affected by the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. The contribution was directed to three organisations: UNHCR, the International Rescue Committee and SOS Children’s Villages. These organisations were involved in helping displaced people and supporting communities affected by the humanitarian emergency.One of the foundation’s significant initiatives came in September 2008, when it pledged US$2 million to support healthcare programmes in Ethiopia. The funding was intended to establish a centre in Addis Ababa for children affected by HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, along with a programme to treat tuberculosis in children and adults. The initiative built on the couple’s earlier support for the Maddox Chivan Children’s Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which provided medical care, education and social services to children affected by HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.Their charitable contributions also covered environmental protection, disaster recovery and support for children. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the foundation contributed to organisations and projects involved in rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina in the United States, supporting children’s health centres in Cambodia and Ethiopia, and protecting wildlife in Namibia. It also supported organisations including Doctors Without Borders and the Global Action for Children initiative.The Jolie-Pitt Foundation reflected the couple’s decision to use their resources to support work beyond the entertainment industry. Rather than limiting their contributions to one issue or region, they directed funding towards different humanitarian and environmental needs, working through organisations with experience in those areas.Their philanthropic efforts formed part of a broader history of public engagement with humanitarian causes, particularly Jolie’s longstanding work on behalf of refugees and displaced people.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!