Celebs donate $500,000 for aid to Darfur

NEW YORK, March 13 (UPI) -- A humanitarian organization founded by several Hollywood stars has donated $500,000 to the United Nations World Food Programme Humanitarian Air Service.

The donation was made by Not On Our Watch, an organization founded by actors George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt, producer Jerry Weintraub and civil rights lawyer David Pressman.

WFP-HAS announced earlier this week that by the end of March it would be forced to ground the helicopters and planes that carry 8,000 relief workers, along with supplies, to remote parts of Darfur because no confirmed donations had arrived toward its $77 million budget for the year.

"Having seen first-hand the epic humanitarian challenge in Darfur, George Clooney and his colleagues know the life-saving power of the Humanitarian Air Service," WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said in a statement. "This contribution will make a difference to the millions of vulnerable women and children trapped there, and we hope it will inspire other donations."

"We are proud to help ensure the survival of this lifesaving program and strongly encourage others to do the same," said Clooney, a UN Messenger of Peace.