Paris's Rwanda trip postponed
2007-10-26 16:23
Los Angeles - She can get out of
jail, but Paris Hilton is having a harder time getting to
Rwanda.
The charitable organisation sponsoring Hilton's planned
trip to the African nation, part of her aim to swap partying
for philanthropy, said on Thursday it was postponing the
journey.
The Spanish-based group, Playing for Good, said it was
cancelling the trip due to a "restructuring" in its
organisation.
"Paris has been a loyal and gracious supporter of Playing
for Good, but the foundation has to regrettably reschedule this
trip," the group said in a statement.
The group said it hoped to reschedule "at a later date."
A spokesperson for Hilton was not immediately available.
Earlier this month, the millionaire hotel heiress turned TV
personality said in an interview in Newsweek magazine that she
hoped to shed her party-girl image and leave a mark on the
world. The Rwanda trip was to be a first step on that journey.
Hilton, 26, is a member of the family that founded the
Hilton Hotel chain.
Three weeks in jail
She gained fame as a celebrity debutante
and turned her notoriety into a career as an actress, singer
and pitch person for products from perfume to shoes.
But this year, Hilton ran afoul of Los Angeles law
enforcement officials and in June served three weeks in jail
stemming from a drunken driving incident.
She told Newsweek that "before, my life was about having
fun, going to parties - it was fantasy."
"But when I had time to reflect, I felt empty inside. I
want to leave a mark on the world," Hilton said.
Playing for Good helps business and celebrities become
involved in charity work.
The group had hoped to videotape
Hilton's trip in the hope of selling a reality TV show called
The Philanthropist featuring various celebrities.
- Reuters