More than 600 Students From 40 States and Six Continents Help to Rebuild the Lower 9th Ward NEW ORLEANS, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Former President Bill Clinton today joined Brad Pitt and 600 students from around the world to formally break ground on Pitt's Make it Right project, which will construct 150 sustainable and affordable homes in the Lower 9th Ward. Students participating in the project have gathered this weekend in New Orleans for the inaugural meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University. Held at Tulane University, this meeting convened students, university administrators, and activists together to take action towards solving some of the world's most pressing issues. "It is only fitting that we culminate a weekend focused on youth service by turning words in action," President Clinton said. "I'm pleased that Make It Right would invite us to be here today, to give us all the opportunity to restore the historic Lower 9th Ward and help residents rebuild after Hurricane Katrina." Along with President Clinton, Pitt and residents from the Lower 9th Ward, the students cleaned and prepared more than 10 blocks of the neighborhood that will welcome the first returning residents to the area. Pitt announced the launch of Make It Right at the 2007 CGI Annual Meeting. He and Steven Bing each committed $5 million to the project, for a total of $10 million in matching funds, and challenged others to join them in rebuilding New Orleans.
