The movie stars were among a delegation of women touring devastated parts of the city Monday to meet with families and children trying to adjust to life after Hurricane Katrina.
The delegation of more than two dozen women from Hollywood, Washington and New Orleans chatted with

students as they worked on art projects and read books in small groups. Listed participants included actresses Elisabeth Shue, Jane Kaczmarek, Holly Robinson Peete and LaTanya Richardson Jackson, wife of actor Samuel L. Jackson.

The delegation also met with displaced families living in a village of government trailers and took a bus tour of the Lower Ninth Ward, a struggling part of the city even before it was devastated by the storm.

High school and college students are trained and hired to work in Freedom Schools, which provide children with three meals a day, cultural and developmental activities, and conflict-resolution exercises.

“I’ve been shocked and heartbroken,” said Garner, star of TV’s “Alias” and the film “Elektra,” who cried when the children danced and sang “Something Inside So Strong” by South African singer Labi Siffre.

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The I Have a Dream Foundation – Los Angeles, founded in 1987, has helped to fulfill the academic dreams of nearly 1000 Dreamers in the Los Angeles area. IHAD-LA adopts an entire first grade class in an area of the city where the dropout rate approaches 60% and provides that class with free, year-round academic and cultural programs, mentoring and tutoring from first through twelfth grades. Dreamers stay in school and graduate high school at twice the rate of other students in Los Angeles public schools. After graduation, IHAD-LA, provides a scholarship to help Dreamers attend college or vocational school.

Jennifer first hosted the event (in 2004) that awarded the two for their positive work and influence in the community.

“I feel extremely honored,” Bowser said before receiving the honor, “and I also feel extremely connected to the organization because it’s an organization that adopts a class of inner city kids and helps to fuel their dreams and having been an inner city child myself I really have a deep appreciation for that purpose.”

In 2006 she returned to host the brunch which includes presentations by George Lucas and Magic Johnson.

View more photos – 2004 and 2006

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Annual Gospel Brunch

The Alzheimer’s Association, the world leader in Alzheimer research and support, is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer’s. For nearly 25 years, the donor-supported, not-for-profit Alzheimer’s Association has provided reliable information and care consultation; created

supportive services for families; increased funded for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes. The Alzheimer’s Association nationwide network of more than 300 points of
service offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, families, care partners, residential care professionals and professional health care providers.

Jennifer first attended Alzheimer’s Benefit with Victor Garber in 2004 then she came back in 2005 where together with Victor they perform selections from the acclaimed Broadway revue “Side by Side by Sondheim.”
Also in 2005 with husband Ben Affleck, Victor Garber and Ron Rifkin, they participated in 2006 Los Angeles Memory Walk.

View more photos – 2004 and 2005

OFFICIAL WEBSITES: Alzheimer’s Association and Los Angeles Memory Walk

ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The WB and UPN joined forces for a primetime special entitled

Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast, to raise funds for those impacted
by the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck took viewer donations on the phones.

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Women’s cancer Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Jen first got involved because Scott Foley, Jen’s ex-husband, lost his mother to ovarian cancer when he was 15.

Jennifer’s favorire flower is the tulip. Magazine SELF asked one of her favorite jewelry designers Helen Ficalora
to creat 14-karat-gold tulip pendant ($150). You can buy it and institute will receive 25 percent of the proceeds.

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OFFICIAL WEBSITES: Women’s Cancer Research Institute and Helen Ficalora

The Lunchbox Found, founded in 2004, is a non-profit organization that provides lunch to children in schools in South Africa who would otherwise go without sustenance. Many of these children are AIDS orphans, who are running child-headed households, and who cannot afford to pay their school fees of $15 per year.
The Food

Bank for New York City is the city’s primary supplier of food for the hungry and helps provide over 240,000 free meals served each day – one out of four children in New York City depend on the Food Bank for meals.

Jennifer Garner designed lunchboxes for a Charity auction.

View Jen’s launchbox

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: The lunch box auction

The Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center is nationally recognized for its exemplary treatment, education, and prevention programs. The RTC provides comprehensive, free treatment for sexual assault victims, including 24-hour emergency medical care and forensic services, counseling and psychotherapy, advocacy, and accompaniment services; training for police, prosecutors, judges, medical and mental health personnel, and
other providers of rape victim services; prevention/education programs for children, adolescents, and college students; community education; consultation for schools, the media, government agencies, and other organizations; and educational films and publications that are distributed nationwide.

Jennifer Garner hosted an event for the Rape Foundation for the Rape Treatment Center of Santa Monica along with David Schwimmer. David, who has been part of the organization for 7 years, says that Jennifer’s appearance has led to much support and contribution.
“It’s a place that you can’t enter or leave without it touching you,” said Garner about the treatment center. Schwimmer concurred, adding that he has “never been more moved by an event or fund-raiser than this one.”

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Rape Foundation

Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), founded and owned by Marian Wright Edelman, is a program set up to help ensure that American children receive a Healthy, Fair, Safe and Moral head start in life. The organization pays particular attention to children in poor financial situations and with disabilities. CDF makes an effort to educate Americans about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get ill and to keep them on the right path in life. CDF is a private, non-profit organization which runs by support by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. The organization never takes government funds.

View more photos – 2002 and 2004

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Children’s Defense Fund

The Ataxia Telangiectasia Children’s Project, better known as the A-T Children’s Project, was founded in late 1993 by a family in Florida when two of their children were diagnosed with A-T. It is a public, tax-exempt, non-profit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The A-T Children’s Project was formed to raise funds through events and contributions from corporations, foundations and friends. These funds are used to accelerate first-rate,

international scientific research aimed at finding a cure and improving the lives of all children with ataxia-telangiectasia.

In 2004 Jennifer spoke at the “A Night Out With The Stars” benefit to support the degenerative neurological disorder A.T. (Ataxia-Telangiectasia).

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: A-T Children’s Project

This annual triathlon provides an opportunity for athletes to enjoy a fun-filled competition — and to raise funds
to help support the lifesaving programs of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Jennifer attented the 17th Annual Nautica Malibu Triathlon.

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: PEDAIDS Nautica Triathlon

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Revlon Breast Cancer Run

Helping Kids… One Card At A Time

Some of our favorite celebrities have created — and graciously donated — their very own works of art to benefit PEP — the Pediatric Epilepsy Project. Your purchase helps fund the research and treatment of children with epilepsy at the Pediatric Neurology Department at UCLA.

Here are example of Jen’s work:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Pediatric Epilepsy Project

The Pediatric Epilepsy Project at UCLA (PEP) was formed with a single, all-important mission: to raise funds, provide financial support and increase community awareness to help sustain the Division of Pediatric Neurology at UCLA.
One of a kind! Highly collectible! Guitar Center’s Online Auction was a big hit for PEP. Great guitars painted by Jennifer Garner, Donald Trump, Pink and more brought in a lovely donation. Official auction ended on April 30th but some guitars are still available.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Pediatric Epilepsy Project

The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 144,000 children worldwide.

Jennifer satisfied wish of fifteen-year-old Rachel, who battles a life-threatening medical condition who met Jen and other casts on the Alias set.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Make a wish foundation

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada is an affiliate of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International which started in 1970, by a group of concerned parents of children
with juvenile (type 1) diabetes. They saw a need for an organization dedicated to finding a cure for this potentially
deadly disease, and felt the way to find a cure for diabetes was through significant funding of diabetes research.

Victor Garber is using his personal experience with juvenile (type 1) diabetes, and his personal friendship with actress Jennifer Garner, to help raise awareness and research dollars for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in a new public service announcement. The PSA, shot exclusively for JDRF Canada on the set of the hit television show, ALIAS, aired on the CTV network kicking off Diabetes Month in Canada and JDRF’s primary awareness campaign.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation