Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie gave away just under $5 million to charities in 2009 according to tax filings. Their Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave less in 2009 than in 2008, but it’s still a lot of money: $4.9 million. You can’t quibble with that. Their Form 990 filing shows that the couple supports organizations in Brad’s hometown of Springfield, Missouri, his interest in New Orleans, and Angelina’s concerns internationally (she funds groups in Cambodia, home to adopted son Maddox). They also pay little in salaries to the people running the fund, keeping expenses down in general. Madonna and her Raising Malawi/Kabbalah funds could learn a lot from Brad and Angelina.
The couple also doesn’t invest in schemes or dubious cults/religions. Their biggest donee: Brad’s Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans, which got $2 million. The money went right into building homes in that city. The second biggest donation was $1 million to the Pakistan Emergency Fund at the United Nations. Almost $700,000 went to organizations in Springfield including $333,000 to the endowment of a pediatric cancer fund in Brad’s mom’s name. They have a tremendous interest in helping children, too. Jolie-Pitt gave $100,000 to Kind, Inc. in Washington DC. That’s a group that helps pay for lawyers to represent abandoned children in dire straits around the U.S.
All in all, very impressive considering that already in 2011, Jolie-Pitt has awarded $500,000 to Joplin, Missouri for rebuilding their storm ravaged city.
