On Christmas Day 2007, I drove to the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans to take a first hand look at the progress made in rebuilding one of the most devastated areas hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

My main interest in visiting the Lower 9th Ward was to drive through the Make It Right (MIR) project site. This project, started up by Brad Pitt, Steve Bing and local residents, cannot be missed as you cross over the canal bridge and enter the Lower 9th from the west. Bright pink tents appear over the horizon, serving as vibrant markers to represent the first 150 houses in the community that will be rebuilt. The "Pink Project" injects a feeling of cheerfulness where mostly a bleak setting surrounds the site.

The Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans was one of the richest cultural communities in the country, a crossroads of families, music and social interaction, until Hurricane Katrina. As one community leader aptly described it recently, the Lower 9th Ward had an 'atmosphere of engagement' that featured time spent with one another in dialog, in celebration of the music, words and history that make the Lower 9 so special. Porches and stoops were important places to catch up with one another and talk about everyday life.

In December 2006, Brad realized that an opportunity existed to build environmentally-friendly "green" houses that were affordable and sustainable to replace the houses lost in this community, and his interest in the community is truly encouraging to those who have waited over two years now for funds to rebuild their homes.

Meet Giggles, #514811 on the adoption list at the Louisiana SPCA. As LA/SPCA continues to recover from the devastation of Katrina, they provide shelter and many services to aid abandoned and neglected companion animals throughout Louisiana. From now through January 31st, we will donate $3 for every donor who contributes through the Make It Right charity badge.

Simply click here to donate through the badge, and then return here to tell us your name so we can display it on a pink swatch as thanks and recognition for helping to build a home for a resident of the Lower 9th Ward.

To help spread the word about this fundraiser, please pass out this Make It Right fundraiser flyer.

Please note that only donations made directly through the SixDegrees.org charity badge links on this Website will count toward the challenge to win an extra $50,000 for Make It Right. EddieTheDawg.org does not have access to any information provided to NetworkForGood or SixDegrees.org or the Make It Right project when you donate through the charity badge. Everyone can watch this badge to see the number of donations and total dollars donated, as these amounts climb. For additional updates, please check back on this Web page, which will be updated frequently through January 31st.

When you visit the charity badge, click on the SHARE tab and you will also find instructions and code to display the badge on your Web page, MySpace, and other places to help spread the word about this fundraiser.

Please visit the Make It Right NOLA Website for more information and details about the homes that are being built, plus you can purchase MIR gear to benefit this project. Please note that only donations made directly through the SixDegrees.org charity badge links on this Website will count toward the challenge to win an extra $50,000 for Make It Right. If you have any questions about this fundraiser, please contact me.

~ Steffanie    last update January 15, 2008

Entering the Make It Right NOLA site on Christmas Day 2007.

Overlooking a portion of the Make It Right NOLA site which marks the locations of 150 houses for the current rebuilding phase.

Prieur Street in the Lower 9th Ward.