Sean Penn Creates Nonprofit Fundraising Organization for Haiti

From http://www.miratelinc.com/blog/sean-penn-creates-nonprofit-fundraising-organization-for-haiti/

Sean Penn Creates Nonprofit Fundraising Organization for Haiti

February 15, 2012

When you think of actor Sean Penn a few things might come to mind like a talented actor with a bit of fire in him and a dedicated activist and contributor to nonprofit fundraising . Penn burst on the scene as the perpetually stoned surfer in Fast Times at Richmont High but has since become better known for his leading roles in such critically acclaimed films as Milk and I Am Sam. Penn fought for his privacy living in the Hollywood fishbowl but Penn learned to navigate his way around this somewhat and has used it to show another side of his personality. A side that is courageous, compassionate and philanthropic.

He was very involved in the clean-up following Hurricane Katrina. Many remember the iconic image of Penn in a boat helping the survivors and clean-up effort. Penn’s humanitarian efforts did not end in New Orleans. In fact he is now focused on helping Haiti rebuild after the devastation of 2010 and has created a Foundation dedicated to its relief efforts.

Penn is the CEO of J/P Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO), a nonprofit that “works with both government and non-governmental agencies to deliver immediate results where the need is greatest. Principle efforts include providing emergency medical and primary care services, delivering badly needed medical equipment and medicine, rubble removal facilitating community regeneration, management of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, distributing food and water purification systems, improving communication systems, and developing housing and education facilities.”

J/P HRO has achieved a lot during their work in Haiti including treating approximately 8,000 patients through their medical program each month. They have removed some 200,000 pounds of rubble from the country. 100 metric tonnes of cholera supplies have been delivered throughout Haiti. Some 400 children from the camp receive a free education thanks to their school. This organization offers twenty-four hour emergency response systems seven days a week and has been recognized by the Red Cross for Cholera Response. Beyond being a figurehead and driving force behind the relief organization Penn has gone as far as to reside in Haiti and actually participate in J/P HRO’s efforts. His organization runs a tent camp that houses approximately 20,000 internally displaced Haitians. The organization also employs 1000 people a day and has 300 full-time staff members on their team.

Cinema for Peace Los Angeles honored Penn on January 14, 2012 along with the J/P Haitian Relief Organization receiving the Cinema for Peace Award for Humanitarian Action in Haiti. Cinema for Peace was established in 2002 and is a worldwide initiative to help promote humanitarian efforts through film. Bill Maher the star of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher hosted the event and ”Orlando Bloom, Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, James Gandolfini, Mel Gibson, Melanie Griffith, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Salma Hayek, Eve Hewson, Felicity Jones, Diane Lane, Petra Nemcova, Julia Roberts, Hilary Swank, and Rainn Wilson were among the celebrity guests.” Oprah Winfrey, who recently did an episode of her new show Oprah’s Next Chapter on her station OWN about Penn’s efforts in Haiti, recorded a message for the event.

Donations to J/P HRO can be made at JPHRO.org or United States residents can text JPHRO to 41010 to give a $10 donation (standard text messaging rates still apply). The offer of a one time donation via text has become a fundraising avenue that is both accessible and affordable to the masses and most popular since the Haiti disaster.

It is admirable to see a star of Penn’s calibre be more than just the spokesperson or figurehead and actually be involved in a hands-on manner. He is doing more than just lending his celebrity status to his nonprofit organization while others run the business – he is giving himself and his time. The strides that his nonprofit organization is making is nothing short of inspirational. Sean has certainly come a long way since Jeff Spicoli.