2010 (February) APJ - Other Articles - File Catalog

Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) is proud to announce the support of an impressive roster of Hollywood celebrities. They are lending their financial support and influential voices to help rebuild Haiti by funding street schools for the children living in the slums and in the burgeoning camps around the city of Port-au-Prince. Getting children back to school – often the only place they receive clean drinking water, their only food for the day, medical attention, clothing and hope – has become a top priority.

APJ remains committed to long term sustainability in the ravaged country. "Emergency relief is still very important -- with the help of Operation USA, last week we trucked in another $150,000 in food and supplies to sustain the St. Luke's program and the children and families of the slums that rely upon its outreach programs,” says Paul Haggis, Founder of APJ. Schools right now might not seem like the most important thing to re-establish but it just isn't true. The children may not be in urgent need of an education, but they desperately need physical and psychological support. They need a daily meal and water and medical care that comes with our schools. These thousands of children need a safe place to gather, where they can find hope, and even joy and beauty.

The issues on the rise right now are gangs, violent crime, prostitution and child slavery. Schools are more important now than ever." When built, the street schools will assist thousands of children living in the slums of Port-au-Prince. Prior to the earthquake, APJ had been committed to sponsoring a number of these schools in Haiti and supporting the work of Father Rick Frechette, a doctor and community organizer who works out of St. Damiens Pediatric Hospital in Port-au-Prince, the only free pediatric hospital in the country. Donors to APJ have an opportunity to contribute to long term sustainability in a country that so desperately needs it.

The following donors will each contribute $50,000 annually for the next five years ($250,000 total). Each donation will fully sustain a street school in Port-au-Prince including providing clean water, meals, medical supplies and educational material to the children:

The following gracious donors have also committed to supporting APJ as their annual $10,000 donation for ten years ($100,000 total) will sponsor an entire classroom:

As a volunteer-run organization, APJ is one of few charities that is able to send 100 percent of the funds raised directly to workers on the ground in Haiti. Paul Haggis personally covers the overhead costs of the organization.

Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ), established in early 2009, is a fundraising effort founded by Paul Haggis and friends that encourages peace and social justice and addresses issues of poverty and enfranchisement in communities around the world.

Over the past year, APJ has directed its efforts to raising enough funds to fully sponsor three schools in Haiti in support of the initiatives of Father Rick Frechette and his team. These schools aren’t just a place to learn but provide for their only meal for the day, clean water and a chance at the future to children who desperately need it.

Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, APJ has focused its efforts on raising much needed funds for emergency relief efforts in the ravaged country that is only a few hours from our shores.