Archived // Cover Story

POWER IN ENTERTAINMENT: Brad Pitt
Actor/Producer
By: Ed Stephon & Nicole Bruno

There is no other actor that has exemplified the persona of the "All-American" man quite like Brad Pitt. The young blonde, blue eyed man, we saw throwing punches in Fight Club, has now aged gracefully into a responsible, compassionate and sophisticated man, who can still bring excitement to the big screen—all while making the most out of the tremendous life he has made for himself. What sets him apart from other actors today is his unique outlook on life. “I believe you make your day. You make your life,” says Pitt. “So much of it is all perception, and this is the form that I built for myself. I have to accept it and work within those compounds, and it's up to me.” In addition to having received two Academy Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award, Pitt has appeared on the annual Celebrity List in Forbes for the last three consecutive years and has been included in the Time 100, a compilation of the 100 most influential people in the world as selected annually by Time. While his Hollywood life has not always been easy, he has overcome many obstacles, making him very deserving of the honors he has received. “You must lose everything in order to gain anything,” says Pitt.   While Pitt takes on many different roles on the big screen, the same goes for his work off screen. When not working on a set or spending time at home with his family, Pitt can be found traveling around the world, helping to make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. From building sustainable houses destroyed by hurricane Katrina, to donating hundreds, and even millions of dollars to causes and institutions ranging from hospitals, to supporting gay marriage, this man has proven to be completely versatile. He uses his fame for the greater good and prefers active involvement with organizations, rather than solely attaching his name. “Philanthropy is good for us. It's in our best interest. It's personally rewarding when you see lives change because of an action that you take that, though simple to you, means so much to others. You sleep peacefully at night,” says Pitt.

After hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Pitt visited the Lower 9th Ward for the first time and was shocked by what he saw: the remnants of people's lives strewn across the streets and entire neighborhoods torn apart and turned upside down. Pitt was even more disturbed by the lack of a clear plan to address the situation. Inspired by the courage and hope of the residents he met, Pitt resolved to do whatever he could to help them rebuild. He began by working with “Global Green” to sponsor an architecture competition aimed at generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainably. That successful project inspired Pitt to form the “Make It Right” foundation which has been committed to building 150 houses in the Lower 9th Ward ensuring a green, affordable, sustainable, and replicable community to serve as a model for further rebuilding.


In 2006, he also co-founded the Jolie-Pitt Foundation with companion Angelina Jolie to aid humanitarian and conservation causes around the world. Through the foundation, he has helped fund one of his favorite charities, “WildAid,” whose mission is to stop

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