Five Years Later, Hollywood Is Still Helping NOLA

It's been five years since Hurricane Katrina blasted through the Gulf region, killing almost 2,000 people and displacing more than a quarter of a million others. Hollywood stars, many with ties to New Orleans and its rich cultural legacy, came forward in droves to help rebuild. But as the media withdrew, so too did many of the celebrities.

The good news is that a core group of concerned performers has continued to help the locals rebuild their lives, reports FoxNews.com. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bought a mansion in the French Quarter, where they live part time. Two years after Katrina, Pitt also put his love of architecture to work and founded a nonprofit housing group Make It Right with a goal of building 150 energy-efficient houses in the Ninth Ward. The group has reportedly raised $31 million, $5 million of which Pitt donated himself. So far, 50 houses have been built with another 25 set to be completed this year. Check out this amazing story on Oprah.com about how Make It Right has helped improved the lives of Ninth Ward residents.

Crooner Harry Connick Jr. is another celebrity who has stayed the course, offering on-going support to a housing village for displaced musicians he and Branford Marsalis helped conceive with Habitat for Humanity. More than 72 homes and five duplexes have been completed so far.

Rod Stewart’s daughter Kimberly and comic Harry Shearer have been big supporters of the nonprofit Common Ground Relief. Faith Hill headlined a free concert in New Orleans on Tuesday to show support for those still rebuilding.

Other stars are helping out in the best way they know how, by bringing entertainment dollars to the city. Sandra Bullock (who bought a home in the Garden District) premiered her hit film The Blind Side in New Orleans, Spike Lee filmed two documentaries on the rebuilding, Sylvester Stallone filmed The Expendables there and Tim Robbins shot his upcoming flick Green Lantern in the Big Easy.

Photo by howieluvzus via Flickr.