Every time he crosses the Claiborne Avenue bridge heading east across the New Orleans Industrial Canal, actor Brad Pitt gets a lump in his throat. From that vantage point, he can look down on a section of the city's Lower Ninth Ward that is ground zero for Make It Right, a home rebuilding initiative Pitt launched to help people whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. "Each time I come back to New Orleans and drive over that bridge, I get this swell of joy," Pitt said, his eyes going watery. "It's means a lot to me to watch that neighbourhood take shape." Pitt and his movie star partner, Angelina Jolie, own a house in the city's French Quarter, and they visit the city regularly with their six children. The actor shared his feelings about the city and its recovery with a few thousand people on Saturday evening, when he and comedian Ellen DeGeneres (pictured), a New Orleans native, hosted the Make It Right Foundation's biggest fundraiser at a New Orleans hotel. Billed as A Night to Make It Right, the star-studded, sold-out gala is drew 1,200 guests to attend a dinner prepared by New Orleans celebrity chefs John Besh and Emeril Lagasse, and a concert featured musical stars Rihanna, Sheryl Crow, Seal and Dr. John. The line-up included Hollywood luminaries and honorary hosts Sean Penn, Spike Lee, Josh Brolin and Kevin Spacey. Asked if it was difficult to get the big names to journey to New Orleans for the event, Pitt joked, "Even though these people don't like me that much, it really was simple."