By IANS
New Delhi : Indian beauty queen and former Miss World Diana Hayden has joined hands with some of Hollywood's most influential women to build homes for the needy and poor in Los Angeles.
Last week, Diana teamed up with more than 100 of Hollywood's leading women such as actresses Jeanne Tripplehorn of "Big Love" fame, Julie Bowen ("Ed" and "Boston Legal"), Diane Farr ("Numbers") and author of "The Tuff Chix Guide to Easy Home Improvement" for an event designed to empower and celebrate women while raising awareness about the need for affordable housing in the US.
"Diana helped put up framing for the homes and worked on other aspects including the fittings," said her spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar. "Apart from being delighted to support a charitable project like this, the most touching part was when Diana met the families who will one day live in these homes," he added.
The families will be able to move into their new homes later this year.
The celebrities partnered with the Habitat for Humanity charitable organisation in Los Angeles for the one-day annual invitation-only event termed 'Power Women, Power Tools', to build homes in south Los Angeles at one of the build-sites for this year's Jimmy Carter Work Project.
"After the day's work was completed, a special ceremony took place to surprise 20 Los Angeles families with the news that they have qualified to become 'Habitat for Humanity' partner families. Their reactions were a mix of shock and joy," Bhagwagar said.
Recollects Diana: "The joy and euphoria was stunning! Some were clapping, some laughing and crying. When you see the expression on their faces you feel so special to be part of something so beautiful. And when you work alongside them, the love and magic you experience is priceless."
The event was sponsored by Home Interiors Charitable Foundation, part of Home Interiors and Gifts, a direct seller of home decor accessories.
The partner families were chosen from more than 500 applications. They were selected on the basis of need, willingness to invest at least 500 hours of "sweat equity" building their home and an ability to repay a zero-interest loan.