Pitt, Jolie give $1million to kids impacted by war Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Posted online: Jul 03, 2008 at 1640 hrs

: Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million for educational aid to children impacted by the Iraq war in that country and in the United States, a charitable organisation said recently. The Jolie-Pitt Foundation has given $500,000 to three groups in the war-torn country which will provide aid for some 5,700 children, said the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which is co-chaired by Jolie. Money will pay for basic necessities, including books and supplies to help send Iraqi children to school. Aid will also go to refugee kids, and to school rehabilitation programmes.
The foundation also gave $500,000 to help children in the United States who have a military parent killed in Iraq, or who are separated from a parent stationed in the country. The donation for U.S. kids will go to the Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Programmes, which will provide educational tutors and counseling to 2,500 kids.
Pitt, 44, and Jolie, 33, have donated millions of dollars to charity over the years. Jolie, star of action movie Wanted, has long been an advocate for refugees and is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Pitt has earlier advocated for relief in the Darfur region of Sudan and has backed a programme to help build homes for survivors of Hurricane Katrina in the US. The pair have four kids of their own and Jolie is expecting twins.

Sienna Miller joining Crowe in Robin Hood redo
Sienna Miller is in negotiations to play Maid Marion in Nottingham, a revisionist take on the Robin Hood legend starring Russell Crowe. Director Ridley Scott’s Universal Pictures the project depicts the Sheriff of Nottingham (Crowe) more as a noble lawman than as the right-hand man of the evil King John. The Robin Hood character, as yet uncast, is more shady. He and the sheriff face off in the Sherwood Forest. Marion historically has been the object of Robin’s affection, someone whom he steals from King John. Details of how that is subverted in the new project were not divulged. Miller recently wrapped production on Paramount’s G.I. Joe,in which she plays the Baroness. Her other credits include Factory Girl and Alfie.

Hilary Duff joins Cool school
Hilary Duff, who won raves for her role as an Asian superstar in the political satire War, Inc. has found a way to beat the heat, joining the cast of the new comedy Stay Cool.Duff co-stars in Cool with Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, Chevy Chase and Jon Cryer. The project comes from filmmakers Mark and Michael Polish, and begins shooting next month. It is described as a “knowing-your-age comedy,” centering on a successful author (Mark Polish) who is forced to confront an unrequited high school crush (Ryder) when he returns home to deliver a commencement address to graduating seniors.
Duff will portray a sexy high school senior who flirts with the visiting author and invites him to the prom. The actress has been slowly moving beyond the tween audience that powered her to stardom with the Disney TV series Lizzie McGuire and a succession of chart-topping albums. She will be back in the studio to work on her fifth album this summer.