Fundraising for education in haiti

Artists for Peace and Justice raises $500k at TIFF event

This weekend marked my first event with Artists for Peace and Justice as a member of the Board of Directors (Canada) and what a wonderful night it was. We celebrated Geddy Lee from Rush for a lifetime of philanthropic work while Yannick Bisson from Murdoch Mysteries and his wife Shantelle Bisson were feted for being changemakers.

There was something very special about being in-person again for a cause that supports kids in Haiti getting an education. I produced a video with cameos from APJ’s Ben Stiller, Susan Sarandon and Olivia Wilde, that helped center the night around why we were there and why it mattered so much – especially after the year that country has had. Earthquakes, a Presidential assassination and covid means even more hardships for a country already struggling.

Suzanne Boyd, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Zoomer magazine, Co-Chaired the evening with Natasha Koifman, President of NKPR, who opened up her home for the beautiful backyard event. The night was hosted by APJ Board member George Stroumboulopoulos along with Natasha Gargiulo who flew in from Montreal for the festivities. Phenomenal musician Paul Beaubrun arrived directly from Haiti to perform for the crowd. Rick Springfield also performed virtually singing favourites like “Jessie’s Girl”.

Grateful to the people who came out to support so generously and helped us raise $500,000 for the program. It will have such an impact on the lives of these kids and no doubt the country at large.