Much has been made about Oscar winner Sandra Bullock’s ties to the college town of Austin, Texas, where the star has retreated to avoid the paparazzi’s glare since her divorce from Jesse James. But on Tuesday (August 31), Bullock appeared on the “Today” show to discuss her love for New Orleans, where she has found another home.

Bullock, in her first televised interview since her split with James, told host Matt Lauer that the Big Easy has always been a comfortable place for her, somewhere she has gone often to visit, ring in the new year and most recently, the place where she finalized her adoption of son Louis.

But the reason she was there this week was to celebrate the successful rebuilding of the Warren Easton Charter High School, which suffered more than $4 million in damage five years ago this week during Hurricane Katrina. She sat next to Arthur Hardy, a New Orleans Mardi Gras expert and Easton board member, who said he laughed when Bullock called with an offer to help help, thinking someone was pulling his leg.

“She found us … [and] called me on a Sunday afternoon,” he said, laughing.

“I like to cold-call people, people who I think are outstanding community members … how you doin’?” Bullock joked. Read More