'Hope For Haiti Now' Distributing Remaining $31 Million Raised Through Telethon

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- "Hope for Haiti Now" (HFHN) today announced the allocation of the remaining $31 million – of the $66 million in total – raised through the Emmy-nominated telethon "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief."  The $31 million will be distributed in two payments to partner organizations including Oxfam America, Partners In Health, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund that are focused on recovery and reconstruction efforts in Haiti.  The first payment was made on Friday, July 2nd and the second payment will be in December 2010, following an assessment of the effectiveness of the funds' use.

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"Nearly six months after the devastating earthquake, more than 1.5 million people remain homeless as the rainy season brings flooding and increases the spread of disease throughout the country," said George Clooney.  "This money will help with rebuilding efforts.  We are extremely grateful to all those who donated so generously, and hope we can keep the people of Haiti front and center in the minds of the American public – their road to a full recovery is a long one."

In May, Oxfam America, Partners In Health, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, and Yele Haiti Foundation submitted proposals for the second round of funding.  After an intensive review process and guidance from the HFHN Advisory Committee and The Bridgespan Group, a management consulting group that advises non-profits; the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), the 501(c)(3) organization providing pro bono philanthropic support and HFHN are allocating the final $31 million as follows:

• Partners In Health: $7 million to deliver comprehensive medical care, strengthen Haiti's public health and medical education systems, and provide improved specialty care such as surgery, post-operative care, rehabilitation and physical therapy, and mental health.
• Oxfam America: $6 million to provide water, sanitation, hygiene promotion, shelter, livelihoods and food security for the people of Haiti.
• US Fund for UNICEF: $5 million to protect children in Haiti through family tracing and reunification, psychosocial services, the treatment and prevention of gender-based violence, and combating child trafficking.
• United Nations World Food Programme: $5 million to feed children, nursing mothers and families and provide cash and food for work programs in Haiti.
• Clinton Bush Haiti Fund: $5 million to create jobs and promote economic opportunity in Haiti by supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, to which women are key contributors.
• Yele Haiti Foundation: $3 million to create jobs for local Haitians in underserved communities.

"The devastation in Haiti after the earthquake is on a scale none of us have ever witnessed," Partners in Health Co-Founder Paul Farmer noted.  "Partners In Health is committed to the long-term rebuilding of a sound public health system, including infrastructure, medical education and training, and, of course, continuing to care for patients, as we have done for nearly three decades.  We are grateful to Hope for Haiti Now for their generous support of Haiti and of our work, which is helping to make this ambitious and necessary undertaking possible."

The first installment of $35 million was distributed on February 5, 2010 to partner organizations Oxfam America, Partners In Health, the American Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, and Yele Haiti Foundation, and focused on immediate disaster relief.  HFHN and EIF monitored the use of distributed funds through reports, site visits, and interviews with the partner organizations' staff.

EIF, MTV Networks and George Clooney, the telethon's principal organizer, are committed to ensuring that the donated funds are successfully put to use in Haiti.  All partner organizations are required to meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability and effectiveness.  Each organization will keep reporting regularly to HFHN on how the funds are being used on the ground in Haiti.  Field reports and real-time updates are provided to keep the public informed of the progress of relief and recovery efforts.  The impact of immediate assistance will continue to be closely monitored and assessed each month.

"Our partner organizations continue to do critical work that honors the compassion and selflessness of people around the world who donated so generously to Hope for Haiti Now, as well as all the good citizens of Haiti," said MTV Networks Chairman and CEO Judy McGrath.

The Advisory Committee has global and domestic expertise in four key areas: philanthropy/foundation governance and grant-making, nonprofit oversight, disaster response and Haiti relief. The Committee's members are:

• Diana Aviv – President & CEO, Independent Sector
• Brian Concannon, Jr., Esq. – Director, Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti
• William Foster – Partner, The Bridgespan Group
• Steven G. Gunderson – President & CEO, Council on Foundations
• Nancy Lindborg – President, Mercy Corps
• Jacques-Philippe Piverger – Founder, Global Syndicate
• Judith Rodin, Ph.D. – President, The Rockefeller Foundation
• David Saltzman – Executive Director, Robin Hood Foundation

"Tens of thousands of Haitian families are still homeless and living in over 1,200 makeshift tent camps in Port-au-Prince.  With the rainy season underway and another hurricane season upon us, it's a race against time to build new homes.  Insufficient medical care, clean water, food and sanitation remain urgent problems, while jobs must be created so parents can provide for their families long-term," said Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti Director Brian Concannon, one of the advisory committee members with extensive experience working in Haiti.

About the Review Process

The Bridgespan Group, a 501(c)(3) management consulting firm for non-profits, developed the criteria used by the Advisory Committee to evaluate each beneficiary's funding request that included:

• Goals – objectives and program outcomes that are clearly identified and achievable, with specific information regarding target beneficiaries, method of serving beneficiaries and identification of timing and method of existing work, if any

• Operating Plan – an overview and timeline of basic activities, outlining leadership roles and staffing levels needed, major non-personnel investments and budget for use of funds

• Partnerships – ability to work in collaboration with other groups and to describe distinct roles, relative to other charities or agencies

• Reporting – basic tracking and reporting capability and timely receipt and expenditure of funds, including, but not limited to measurement of program outputs toward goal (e.g. number of patients treated) and commitment to high level of transparency in publicly sharing data

• Leadership – experienced team of senior personnel in place, as required to execute plan, this includes a stated commitment by Leadership Team to implement the Operating Plan

• Compliance – Compliance with laws, rules and regulations governing charitable organizations and adoption of nonprofit best practices such as: function of board of directors, compliance with an established policy governing conflicts of interest and complete and up-to-date tax and financial filings

In terms of the criteria for funds to be used specifically for recovery and rebuilding, the partner organizations each had to demonstrate a capacity to execute effective, sustainable and lasting long-term recovery efforts, as evidenced by:

• Community Accountability: Decision-making systems and structures for ensuring accountability to the Haitian people, consultation with vulnerable constituencies (such as earthquake victims, camp residents, women and girls), and community engagement in the design and implementation of recovery efforts (i.e., needs assessments, camp committee feedback, etc.)

• Collaboration: Track record of coordination and collaboration with other key Haitian partners and stakeholders to prevent duplication, identify gaps, learn from best practices, and leverage resources for greater impact.

• Capacity-Building: Plan to invest in and strengthen Haiti's infrastructure by building the capacity of government institutions, local nongovernmental organizations (NGO's) and the indigenous leadership of Haitian civil society.

• Public Sector Coordination: Coordination with the Haitian government (e.g., national ministries, municipalities).

• Evaluation: System for rigorous monitoring and assessment of community needs, gaps, risks, and grant outcomes.

"HFHN has a duty to the public to ensure that donations are used responsibly and effectively," said Advisory Committee Member Steven G. Gunderson, President and CEO of the Council on Foundations.  "The goal of this philanthropy is, in a nutshell, to help Haiti build back better and stronger than before.  On-going follow-up on and evaluation of how the funds are being used is the best way to make good on that commitment, and HFHN is pursuing both rigorously," he said.

The "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon aired on January 22, 2010 and featured 24 performers in Los Angeles, New York and London, as well as over 100 celebrity participants answering phones and taking donations.  The telethon was broadcast on 60 networks in 100 countries and viewed by 83 million people around the world.  "Hope for Haiti Now" has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.  The telethon was produced by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions, in collaboration with Viacom's MTV Networks and George Clooney.

SOURCE Hope for Haiti Now