Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization Announces Beat the Rain Campaign

Actor, director, and activist Sean Penn and philanthropist/entrepreneur Diana Jenkins have launched their new campaign, Beat the Rain, in hopes of relocating many thousands of Haitians currently living in tent cities before the onset of heavy rains - the rainy season begins in March. The goal is to protect those Haitians living in tent cities and camps from the potential outbreak of disease such as cholera, typhoid, malaria, tetanus, and tuberculosis.

An estimated $8 million is needed to build temporary, 500 square foot homes and to expedite relocation.

The Beat the Rain campaign mission is to raise funds for secure, temporary homes and to call on local officials to expedite the inspection process to protect citizens from the rain and even more destruction.

"When the rain comes," Penn says, "it's going to be a public health disaster. It could easily be on the scale of the earthquake itself. What we're trying to do is prevent it. The inspection process is too slow and people are not being let back into their homes. There is enormous risk if they are not relocated or given better means of shelter soon."

Penn went on to say that disease is already spreading. "There were incredible hygiene problems within the neighborhoods prior to the quake. This is a new disaster waiting to happen, if we do not take action now and do something to prevent it."

According the the J/P HRO website, they've already accomplished some pretty amazing feats.

Some examples of their accomplishments include:

1. Delivering more than 100,000 pounds of medical supplies.
2. Distributing roughly 2,000 meals a day to earthquake victims.
3. They have successfully cut through red tape and bureaucracy in order to get large shipments of antibiotics and anesthetics into the country.
4. They have donated much needed medical equipment such as an X-ray machine, ultrasound machine, and ventilators to hospitals.

This foundation is doing a world of good and should be commended on its efforts. If you had asked this writer 25-years ago whether I thought Sean Penn would be capable of such an act of human kindness, I would have said no way. But here he is in the midst of something quite amazing and proving that no matter who you are or what walk of life you come from, we all have the ability to do something good, make our mark, and make a difference.

For more information about the J/P HRO Foundation or to make a donation, visit their website here.

Source:
Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization