OlderReese Witherspoon & Jennifer Garner Visit New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS — In a gutted building with no interior walls, exposed pipes and no air conditioning to stave off the Louisiana heat, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner and Cicely Tyson chatted with children who had lost their homes, then watched as they sang, danced and worked on art projects.
The movie stars were among a delegation of women touring devastated parts of the city Monday to meet with families and children trying to adjust to life after Hurricane Katrina.
"I don’t think you get a real clear perspective unless you come down and see it," Witherspoon said after chatting with students at a "Freedom School" set up by the Children’s Defense Fund to help young storm victims.
"The children need attention right now," said Witherspoon, this year’s best actress Oscar winner for "Walk the Line."
The visit was part of an effort by the fund to bring attention to the needs of storm victims, particularly traumatized children. The group plans to open more than 20 such schools in communities along the Gulf Coast: 13 for Louisiana and nine for Mississippi.
The New Orleans school is in part of the city inundated with 5 feet of water after Katrina hit Aug. 29. Many homes sit empty and deteriorating, and piles of storm debris still line sidewalks.
About 1.2 million people younger than 18 are living in areas rendered disaster zones by Katrina, and as many as 8 percent, or 100,000, are expected to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, according to various estimates.
Some experts say the mental health toll may be much higher. Of the first 1,000 children screened by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 27 percent displayed symptoms of trauma, including nightmares, flashbacks, heightened anxiety and bedwetting.
"I’ve been shocked and heartbroken," said Garner, star of TV’s "Alias" and the film "Elektra," who cried when the children danced and sang "Something Inside So Strong" by South African singer Labi Siffre.
It’s nice to see actresses Reese Witherspoon, 30, and Jennifer Garner, 34, doing what they can to help Hurricane Katrina victims. Garner’s a good actress, she cries (inset) just like that in Alias! More pictures in the gallery!
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For all of the people demanding proof of money these two women may or may not have spent, I just have to ask: and what have YOU done for the victims of the hurricane? And are you still doing it, since the crisis isn’t over by a long shot? Or is it just easier to sit at a keyboard and bash a celebrity when their presence alone will bring the issue back to the forefront for a lot of people who have easily let it slip their minds?Oh why bother, we all know the answer.
For all of the people demanding proof of money these two women may or may not have spent, I just have to ask: and what have YOU done for the victims of the hurricane? And are you still doing it, since the crisis isn’t over by a long shot? Or is it just easier to sit at a keyboard and bash a celebrity when their presence alone will bring the issue back to the forefront for a lot of people who have easily let it slip their minds?Oh why bother, we all know the answer.
exactly. and firstly Reese does give financially. she gives money to the childrens defense fund, a charity that helps these children and others in need of help out there, the charity is the one that set up the freedom school to help the storm victims, and she and garner are there on behalf of the childrens defence fund. they both work very closely with the chairty. and lastly, when this terrible thing happened, celebs came out, now you never hear about it anymore at all, i believed everything was pretty much ok now crisis wise, granted im not from america, but i wasnt aware and now i am, their raising awareness on an issue that still needs attention. so props to them for doing so. because that WILL help. i agree with #26. have any of these people getting on their soap box done anything themselves and are are they still doing so? probably not.
Oh, but you don’t know #27. I have given to aid in rebuilding and to help the victims on several occasions and actually I have given more than I could really afford. Now let me see Garner put forth some money and not just lip service.
RE: to JulieI don’t earn MILLIONS of dollars, and I’m not a celebrity…so that’s the issue, if you make that kind of money, you should help this type of causes, not only with your presence and your picture taken there crying, but with a CHECK, you know what I mean??? that’s the point..
one last thing: I dont’ buy that image of Jennifer Garner crying, It just looks so fake (remember: she is an actress….even I can force a cry once in a while…)
just because youre not on millions, doesnt mean you cant or shouldnt donate, thats a pathetic excuse. and they are using their fame positively. they know being there will generate press, they want to increase knowlege and awareness in the issue and they know they can so they are.people are turning such a positive thing into something very negative, and thats sad.people are missing the important issue here. its pathetic that people are arguing over money. their there doing something important, something that matters, and their there on their own time because they KNOW their in a privliged position and can bring awareness to the issue by being there, being involved. Reese does give money, i dont know much about garner, so i dont know if she does, but im betting she does. her intentions are good, and some comments here are just disgusting.
In my opinon you SHOULD help in you make millions, there is people living with less than US$ 1(or even less!!! or nothing) a day, so if you make a lot of money, you shoud have the concience and try to help those less fortunate than you….no????? It’s good they help with their presence there, but to me that’s just one of the few things they can do to help and since they are famous is let’s say it it’s kind of their job to do it and make people not to forget abouth those issues, but I’m so positive that’s all the do…
good for them to lend help
well the discussion is pointless because Reese DOES donate her own money, not only her time and jennifer DOES donate her own money (Garner did contribute to the Katrina fund, as well as supporting various funds across the board from child to adult.) and it isnt their job to make people not forget about these issues at all. it isnt their job to do charity, or help out, they do it because they want to and thats their choice. good for them!
how come you didn’t highlight cicely tyson’s name? she’s a celebrity too; has been for quite some time.whether their emotions/reactions are real or not, this is the job of the celebrity, to give back to the community of the world. they have enough nice things and a job easier than a coma, it’s the least they can do. tom cruise could learn a lesson or two from ALL of these lovely ladies.
I am born and raised down here and believe me, its still a horrifying mess. I still cry real tears on a regular basis. Whether or not these women were truly sincere with their tears, it doesn’t matter. Any awareness and attention of how horrible things still are down here will still keep the conversation a household topic and hopefully encourage other celebs to open their wallets. I’m sure their accountants are telling them they need the right offs! I’m telling you america, my beloved new orleans won’t be fixed in all of our lifetimes. still very sad and frustated.
I am born and raised down here and believe me, its still a horrifying mess. I still cry real tears on a regular basis. Whether or not these women were truly sincere with their tears, it doesn’t matter. Any awareness and attention of how horrible things still are down here will still keep the conversation a household topic and hopefully encourage other celebs to open their wallets. I’m sure their accountants are telling them they need the right offs! I’m telling you america, my beloved new orleans won’t be fixed in all of our lifetimes. still very sad and frustated.
I am born and raised down here and believe me, its still a horrifying mess. I still cry real tears on a regular basis. Whether or not these women were truly sincere with their tears, it doesn’t matter. Any awareness and attention of how horrible things still are down here will still keep the conversation a household topic and hopefully encourage other celebs to open their wallets. I’m sure their accountants are telling them they need the right offs! I’m telling you america, my beloved new orleans won’t be fixed in all of our lifetimes. still very sad and frustated.
I am born and raised down here and believe me, its still a horrifying mess. I still cry real tears on a regular basis. Whether or not these women were truly sincere with their tears, it doesn’t matter. Any awareness and attention of how horrible things still are down here will still keep the conversation a household topic and hopefully encourage other celebs to open their wallets. I’m sure their accountants are telling them they need the right offs! I’m telling you america, my beloved new orleans won’t be fixed in all of our lifetimes. still very sad and frustated.
I am born and raised down here and believe me, its still a horrifying mess. I still cry real tears on a regular basis. Whether or not these women were truly sincere with their tears, it doesn’t matter. Any awareness and attention of how horrible things still are down here will still keep the conversation a household topic and hopefully encourage other celebs to open their wallets. I’m sure their accountants are telling them they need the right offs! I’m telling you america, my beloved new orleans won’t be fixed in all of our lifetimes. still very sad and frustated.
I am born and raised down here and believe me, its still a horrifying mess. I still cry real tears on a regular basis. Whether or not these women were truly sincere with their tears, it doesn’t matter. Any awareness and attention of how horrible things still are down here will still keep the conversation a household topic and hopefully encourage other celebs to open their wallets. I’m sure their accountants are telling them they need the right offs! I’m telling you america, my beloved new orleans won’t be fixed in all of our lifetimes. still very sad and frustated.
I forgot about NO but thanks to these two great actresses now I remember to do something more about it….. Now about those ******* that insulted Reese and Jen, I hope it’s your turn to be devastated by hurricanes much worse than what happen in NO and then maybe you will all learn to appreciate the help of the celebrities.
I forgot about NO but thanks to these two great actresses now I remember to do something more about it….. Now about those ******* that insulted Reese and Jen, I hope it’s your turn to be devastated by hurricanes much worse than what happen in NO and then maybe you will all learn to appreciate the help of the celebrities.
είσαι καταπληκτική Ντζέννιφερ. Μου αρέσεισ πολύ γιατί δίχνεισς αυτό που είσαι. Δε φοβάσαι να το δίξεις. Συνέχισε και θα φτάσεις ψυλά.
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