Human Rights Advocates Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Support SOS Children's Villages

Jolie urges support for the SOS model of care

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SOS Children's Villages, the world's largest charity for orphaned and abandoned children, welcomed Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to its Village in Amman, Jordan. The October visit was a result of an invitation from Her Majesty Queen Noor, Honorary President of SOS Children's Villages - Jordan.

After spending time with SOS children and mothers in Amman, Jolie enthusiastically spoke of the SOS family-based model of care: "The SOS model of providing care for children without parental care is one of the best, as they are still in a family setting within their own country," Jolie said. "We hope more people learn about their programs and give them support."

SOS operates in 132 countries with three SOS Children's Villages in Jordan. SOS Jordan includes 20 family homes where orphaned children grow up in a nurturing environment with an SOS mother, brothers and sisters. Ms. Jolie first visited the Amman, Jordan Village in 2003 when she committed to financially covering the costs of one family home.

Her Majesty, Queen Noor, Honorary President of SOS Children's Villages in Jordan

Her Majesty Queen Noor, Honorary President of SOS Children's Villages -Jordan, introduced the SOS Children's Villages model to the country in 1983 and has worked tirelessly to help SOS flourish in Jordan ever since. Ms. Jolie acknowledged Queen Noor's ongoing humanitarian work in helping refugees, stating: "We are very grateful to Her Majesty, Queen Noor, for all she has done for displaced Iraqis since 2003 and appreciate the dedication of King Abdullah and Queen Rania to their incredible humanitarian initiatives."

Emergency Assistance for Refugee Children

SOS also provides emergency assistance to refugee children. In 2007, Angelina Jolie visited SOS Children's Villages' Trauma Therapy Center in Chad. There, she witnessed severely traumatized women and children who had escaped the horrors of Darfur being comforted with shelter, food and counseling.

"For over half a century, SOS has built strong roots in every country where it builds villages. When it comes to emergency response, we always function as an anchor for community services," said Dr. Heather Paul, CEO of SOS Children's Villages - USA.

About SOS Children's Villages

For 60 years, SOS Children's Villages has been dedicated to the long-term care of orphaned and abandoned children. With 500 villages in 132 countries, SOS offers a family-based village model that provides for the holistic needs of a child -- family, community, education and support -- essential for the successful transition from childhood into adulthood. Through Villages, schools, medical facilities, micro-lending, and family strengthening programs, SOS Children's Villages impacts the lives of over 1 million people each year. In 2009, SOS Children's Villages was honored with the Save the World Award. SOS has also been awarded the Mother Teresa Gold Medal, the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize and the Vietnam Friendship Medal. For more information, visit www.sos-usa.org.

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Heather Paul
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