American Jazz troupe donates instruments to Cubans (AP)

HAVANA – Members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra are in Cuba for the second time in a year, this time to distribute a planeload of instruments to promising young musicians at four Havana schools.

The Horns for Havana project grew out of a much higher profile visit to Cuba last year that was headlined by Jazz at Lincoln Center legend Wynton Marsalis.

Carlos Henriquez, a composer and arranger for the New York-based troupe who organized the project, said Wednesday that he and other musicians on the earlier trip were deeply affected by the talented young musicians they met but disturbed by their lack of good instruments.

Many of the youths had broken or worn-out instruments, including guitars without strings, trumpets without valves and violins with cracked wood.

This timed, Henriquez and other musicians brought enough equipment for four complete acoustic jazz orchestras. They valued the instruments at $250,000.

"We are here for the kids," Henriquez said.

Yahoo! News

Jolie-Pitt Foundation donates $500,000 to Joplin (AP)

JOPLIN, Mo. – Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are donating $500,000 from their foundation to help Joplin rebuild from the deadly tornado that struck the southwest Missouri town last month.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks says the gift from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation will go to mid- and long-term needs in the tornado-ravaged city. The Community Foundation announced the gift Friday in a news release.

Pitt grew up in southwest Missouri and says in the release that he spent much of his childhood in the area and knows the people to be "especially resilient."

The May 22 tornado destroyed more than 8,000 homes and 400 businesses. The death toll was 151 as of Friday, including several victims who died as a result of injuries suffered in the storm.

Yahoo! News

LeAnn Rimes Donates Her Clothes to a Cash-Strapped Fan

Leann Rimes recently showed off her generosity by offering to donate unwanted clothing from her closet to a fan having financial difficulty.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the country singer was clearing out her wardrobe on Wednesday while she was on Twitter at the same time.

Rimes tweeted, "3 SOLID hrs of closet organization. Ok, so the ladies asked for the shoes.....they're everywhere. Even on the back if the door......all organized though! The shelves are 3 rows deep under the bags! Everyone has a vice....mine are shoes and handbags :)"

A fan of Rimes, Peggy Joyce, tweeted the singer asking, "Anything u want to donate to me? From OH and lost job and have a 16 month old. Bad year... just wondering if u have clothes or accessories u don't want? Only one income coming in and extra money goes to son."

She even told Joyce that she would take care of the shipping charges even though Joyce had offered to pay the expenses.

Joyce thanked the singer and posted the message, "My lil guy Connor...he's 16 months now...he thanks you too! So sweet of you!!" The message was followed by a picture of her son.

Rimes had recently used Twitter to fire back at reports that claimed the singer was too thin after she was photographed looking thin and gaunt at a basketball game.

She tweeted, "Dear lord! I do not workout too much nor do I starve myself. I'm so over this and moving on."

PoPEater

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

LeAnn Rimes Donates Her Clothes to a Cash-Strapped Fan

Leann Rimes recently showed off her generosity by offering to donate unwanted clothing from her closet to a fan having financial difficulty.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the country singer was clearing out her wardrobe on Wednesday while she was on Twitter at the same time.

Rimes tweeted, "3 SOLID hrs of closet organization. Ok, so the ladies asked for the shoes.....they're everywhere. Even on the back if the door......all organized though! The shelves are 3 rows deep under the bags! Everyone has a vice....mine are shoes and handbags :)"

A fan of Rimes, Peggy Joyce, tweeted the singer asking, "Anything u want to donate to me? From OH and lost job and have a 16 month old. Bad year... just wondering if u have clothes or accessories u don't want? Only one income coming in and extra money goes to son."
Rimes, 28, quickly replied, "DM

View the Original article