An 'Au Naturel' Jolie and Pitt Laugh at Gossipmongers at LA UNICEF Bash

Brad Pitt and Angelina JOlie are the anti-glamour couple at the UNICEF Ball honoring Jerry WeintraubPresumably the tabloids won’t let up on the fact that Brangelina is coming unglued and there’s no love left in the house, but Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were beyond joined at the hip last night, at UNICEF’s Ball honoring Jerry Weintraub.

The pair looked very Cultural Creative last evening, perhaps the most “au naturel” we’ve seen them when attending a gala. Angelina Jolie is a UNICEF ambassador and chose to not outshine the grime of the many devastating war and poverty zones that she covers on her international beat.

Diamonds at the Beverly Wilshire and starving camps in Somalia don’t make the best press, although no one would throw even a marshmellow at Jolie and Pitt, a couple who goes beyond “walking their talk” for humanitarian causes.

A blissed-out Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at Jerry Weintraub’s UNICEF Humanitarian of the Year dinner.Some folks love to criticize celebrity charities, although I’m not among them. Each one should be evalauted individually, just like any other charity.

Brangelina gets high marks from the fiercest critics who say that some celebs feather a mighty big nest out of our donations. No scandals with this duo.

Angelina and Brad each put about $6 million into their foundation last year, then gave away $6 million. The biggest recipients of their largesse were: Global Health ($2 million), Human Rights Watch ($1 million), Brad’s Make it Right Foundation ($1 million).

Even their lawyer Robert Offer donated $10,000. The couple’s foundation paid $224,564 to Global Philanthropy Group for grant management.

SOS Childrens Orphanages

A few weeks ago, the celebrity hound dogs were hot on the heels of Angelina and Brad’s trek to the SOS children’s orphanage in Jordan with headlines saying that “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” were looking for another child to adopt.

It was revealed yesterday that the couple has been paying the room and board and other necessities of life for seven children at the orphanage and just may buy them a house, presumably with a caretaker. This idea opens up an entirely new concept in celebrity adoption, an issue raised by Madonna’s adoption of her daughter Mercy in Malawi.

Theoretically a couple could “adopt” children but leave them in their homeland with a caregiver, while making make regular visits to them.Personally I find this an interesting concept — even a joint fund concept — one that allows givers to be directly involved with recipients of the aid. This is a growing focus among donors, especially as we understand that most of the child matching is only PR, not the real deal.

SOS International is a prestigious and large organization. Visiting the SOS celebrity partner page shares accolades from Angelina Jolie, Nelson Mandela, the Dali Lama and Queen Noor of Jordan —  as a partial list.

Visibly Different Values

I’m no insider on the private life of Brad and Angelina. What I do see loud and clear is that they have a Cultural Creatives focus (and most days Smart Sensuality, too, meaning that they retain glamour and a visible sensuality like Shakira or Madonna) as philanthropists and a couple not afraid to get dirty in the grime of life.

These stories aren’t the spice of Modern values celeb-wannabe blogs. Plus the world typically prefers a trashy breakup story, and not a couple doing well together. How boring! Actually la dolce vita isn’t so boring, just more private.

Yesterday was International Human Rights Day, and Angelina penned a mighty plea for justice in Darfur. Read her confrontational questioning about President Obama’s Sudan strategy: Angelina Jolie Argues for Action in Darfur.Anne

Photos: Daily Mail UK