The Fort Stewart area is among those that will benefit from a $1 million donation by the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to support the education of 8,000 young people from the United States and Iraq, according to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. The beneficiaries of the contribution are from both the United States and Iraq and have been impacted by the recent conflict.
The donation will support four organizations that 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.
Angelina Jolie visited Iraq twice in the past year.
"These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal," Jolie said.
The funding will expand existing programs in four high-deployment areas: Fort Stewart, Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort Carson, Colo., and Twentynine Palms, Calif.
"We hope to encourage others to give to these great organizations," Brad Pitt said.
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, which 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.
Adm. Frank Gallo, national executive director of the Armed Services YMCA, said, "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 2,500 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, Calif., - the longest-serving Operation Hero program.
For children of Iraq, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation is contributing a total of $500,000 to support the following causes:
• 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.
The donation will support four organizations that 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.
Angelina Jolie visited Iraq twice in the past year.
"These educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal," Jolie said.
The funding will expand existing programs in four high-deployment areas: Fort Stewart, Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort Carson, Colo., and Twentynine Palms, Calif.
"We hope to encourage others to give to these great organizations," Brad Pitt said.
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, which 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.
Adm. Frank Gallo, national executive director of the Armed Services YMCA, said, "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 2,500 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, Calif., - the longest-serving Operation Hero program.
For children of Iraq, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation is contributing a total of $500,000 to support the following causes:
• 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.