George Clooney raising $350m to help struggling members of showbiz

Washington, Feb 24 (ANI): George Clooney has launched a new fundraising drive along with film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, to help entertainers who have fallen on hard times.

The 'Descendants' star and Katzenberg hope to raise 350 million dollars to benefit the Motion Picture and Television Fund (Mptf), which provides heath care and other services to struggling showbusiness professionals and retirees.

"I was raised to believe that, as a community, we should be judged by how we take care of people who can't take care of themselves. This is our community. This is our commitment," Contactmusic quoted Clooney as saying.

The campaign has already raised 200 million dollars, thanks to numerous contributions made by the likes of Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg, and the group hopes stars will continue to dig deep in their pockets.

"The fact is that today we can't anticipate what kind of help and support they'll need from Mptf. But we can be certain that there will continue to be needs that otherwise won't be filled without the support of our charity," Mptf executive Bob Beitcher added

The non-profit organisation was founded in 1921 by Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, among others. (ANI)