Press Release: $1 Million Jolie-Pitt Foundation Donation to Educate Children Impacted by Iraq Conflict
| For Immediate Release Wednesday, June 28, 2008 | Contact: Gene Sperling, gsperling@educationpartnership.org |
Today, the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict (www.EducationPartnership.org) announced that the Jolie-Pitt Foundation has made a $1 million contribution to support the education of 8,000 young people from both the United States and Iraq impacted by the recent conflict. The donation will support four organizations who work to help provide education and support to both children who have lost parents, homes, and schooling opportunities in Iraq as well as young people in the United States who are coping with the long deployment, injury, or even the death of a parent serving in the United States Armed Services. Ms. Jolie has visited Iraq twice in the past year. "These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal." said Ms. Jolie. "We hope to encourage others to give to these great organizations," stated Brad Pitt. Gene Sperling, co-chair of the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, added, "Education often falls through the cracks for children of conflict, but it is what can be most effective for providing hope about the future for children who have already been through tragedy or trauma."
For Children in the United States, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation is contributing $500,000 to support:
The Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program helps thousands of military children who have been separated from a parent serving in Iraq - and many who have lost a parent - keep their balance in school with tutors, counseling, and support. Admiral Frank Gallo, National Executive Director of the Armed Services YMCA, stated, "The contribution from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation is a major boost to our efforts to serve the children of our brave members of the United States Armed Services who are engaged in our current conflict. These new funds will mean that 2500 children who were previously unable to attend Operation Hero can now take part and get the educational support and counseling that they need and deserve." New Operation Hero programs will be launched at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and Fort Sill in Oklahoma; a new Little Heroes program will be started at Camp Pendleton, California – the longest-serving Operation Hero program. The funding will also expand existing programs in four high-deployment areas: Fort Drum, New York; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Stewart, Georgia; and Twentynine Palms, California.
For Children of Iraq, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation is contributing a total of $500,000 to support:
- Women for Women International to sponsor 300 Iraqi women and up to 1,200 children. The program will allow these women to provide their families with basic necessities, pay to send their children to school, and purchase books and learning supplies.
- The International Rescue Committee to support their school rehabilitation and accelerated learning programs in 3 schools in Najaf, Iraq benefiting over 2,500 students.
- NineMillion.org/UNHCR to make uniforms, school supplies, and learning materials available to over 2,000 Iraqi children who have been internally displaced or forced to flee to Jordan and other neighboring nations.
To learn more or contribute please go to EducationPartnership.org.
