(AP Photo/Bill Haber)

It’s been almost 3 years since one of most devastating and costliest disasters any of us have seen in our lifetime… Hurricane Katrina. And while the nation was initially enraged and disgusted by the way rescue, cleanup and restoration efforts were (and still are) being handled, by now most of us have gone on with our daily lives without even giving a thought to the fact that the people who lost there entire lives during this disaster may still be suffering and still need our help.

In his third visit to Southern Louisiana since Katrina struck in August 2005, Vidal Sasson is among the ranks of Angelina and Brad, Spike Lee (see earlier post), and others who have not forgotten.

Who better to help restore the Camellia City – Slidell, Lousiana to it’s original beauty than the beauty professionals themselves. Vidal Sasson is doing just that by partnering with Habit for Humanity. He and his group Hairdressers Unlocking Hope – an international fundraising effort by beauty professionals, have brought more than manual labor to this cause. Over the past year, they raised more than $100,000 for Sassoon’s effort by hosting silent auctions and cut-a-thons — events where they give hair cuts with the money going to Habitat. The donation generated enough money to build two homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

According to an Associated Press article Sassoon and company have raised $1.7 million for Hairdressers Unlocking Hope. The group’s donation went to the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity, which is building 21 houses with the money. Sassoon personally donated another $100,000 for the construction of the first two homes, which last fall went to a single mother of five and a family of four.

Sasson, whose career spanned more than four decades, became famous for his modern, low-maintenance styles and is the founder of the worldwide brand of shampoos and salons. Now 80, he has retired from the beauty industry and spends much of his time on philanthropy. “This is not charity,” he said. “I hate that word, charity. This is an absolute joy.” (By STACEY PLAISANCE, Associated Press Writer)