In the months that have passed since the January 10, 2010, Hope for Haiti Now telethon raised a record-setting $66 million, both the celebrity-filled benefit and the tragedy of the Haitian earthquake itself have faded from the headlines.
However, the money raised is still being distributed to the seven beneficiary charities.
Hope for Haiti Now Has Distributed $35 Million To Date
According to Hope for Haiti Now oversight committee, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, $35 million of the approximately $66 million raised has been distributed to date.
These initial grants focus on immediate disaster relief. The money has been distributed among 6 of the 7 relief organizations (which were designated by Hope For Haiti Now producers and organizers in January 2010).
- Oxfam America: $8 million (water and sanitation systems, shelter and relief supplies, long-term sustainability)
- Partners in Health: $8 million (emergency supplies and medical assistance; social and economic support)
- American Red Cross: $6 million (emergency shelter & non-food relief items)
- UNICEF: $6 million (family- and child-focused protection and support, including prevention of child trafficking and exploitation)
- United Nations World Food Programme: $6 million (food distribution and assistance through July 2010)
- Yéle Haiti: $1 million (“to promote community mobilization in major underserved neighborhoods to coordinate aid delivery and support recovery efforts”)
The seventh designated relief organization, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, focuses on rebuilding efforts in the earthquake-ravaged areas of Haiti. It is expected to receive money during the next round of distributions to the beneficiary charities, scheduled for May 2010.
Determination of Fund Distribution
Allocation of the Hope for Haiti Now monies is determined by a conglomerate of three entities:
- The Bridgspan Group, a nonprofit strategy-consulting group;
- the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides oversight for a variety of Hollywood-driven charity events; and
- The Hope for Haiti Now Advisory Committee..
The Bridgespan Group
The Bridgespan Group aids nonprofits in “developing strategies and building organizations that inspire and accelerate social change.” It is itself a nonprofit organization founded in 2000.
Entertainment Industry Foundation
The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIN) designates itself as “Hollywood’s Leading Charity”. EIN organizes and oversees a number of entertainment-driven charity events and organizations, including Stand Up to Cancer, Black Eyed Peas’ Peapod Foundation, John Legend’s Show Me Campaign, and EIF's Revlon Run/Walk For Women.
The Advisory Committee
The Hope For Haiti Now Advisory Committee is comprised of eight individuals with experience in nonprofits, relief, and philanthropy.
- Diana Aviv, President & CEO, Independent Sector
- Brian Concannon, Jr., Esq., Director, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
- William Foster, Co-Partner, The Bridgespan Group
- Steven Gunderson, President & CEO, The Council on Foundations
- Nancy Lindborg, President, Mercy Corps
- Jacques-Philippe Piverger, PineBridge Investments
- Judith Rodin, Ph.D., President, The Rockefeller Foundation
- David Saltzman, Executive Director, Robin Hood Foundation
Hope for Haiti Now is expected to announce distribution of the next round of funds in May 2010.
Sources:
- Entertainment Industry Foundation website
- Hope For Haiti Now website
- Chronicle for Philanthropy, "Haiti Telethon Organizers Award $35-Million in Relief Grants"
Christine E. Taylor - Christine E. Taylor is a freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Christine is currently writing a series of articles ...
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