Maria Bello Brings Change to Haiti (Radar Online)

August 10, 2011 By

 By Leah Ornstein - Radar Style & Beauty Editor

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, actress Maria Bello and a group of women started the WE ADVANCE charity to improve the health, safety and well-being of women throughout the slums of the ravished country’s capital city, Port-au-Prince.

The group recently re-visited the developing nation, bringing a camera crew with them to document their program in action, and RadarOnline.com has the inspiring video, narrated by the critically acclaimed actress

In the video, which premiered at The Hamptons For Haiti Benefit last month to a crowd which included Mariska Hargitay, Liev Schreiber, Fisher Stevens,Patricia Arquette and Donna Karan, Bello explains how she, Barbara Guillaume, Alison Thompson, Aleda Frishman and a group of prominent Haitian women got together to discuss the problems facing Haiti.

“This small country boasts over 10,000 NGOs and received over a billion dollars of aid after the earthquake, yet the conditions remain abysmal,” Bello says. “Where did all that money go?  It made us angry. WE ADVANCE was created because, basically, we were p***ed off.  We wanted results.”

PHOTOS: Stars Help Out at the Help For Haiti Telethon

In the last 7 months, the group has created the Nap Vanse Family Clinic, which has seen and treated more than 10,000 people, started-up educational programs, providing natives with the opportunity to learn English and take classes in sanitation, art therapy and physical education, and also treated children to a weekly wash day, where 200 kids get to take a bath.

To read the full article on RadarOnline.com, click here or on the image below:

Maria Bello Brings Change to Haiti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Video: Alison Thompson’s New Book & How to Help in Haiti

August 9, 2011 By

Alison Thompson, one of the founders of We Advance, takes a moment from our Hamptons for Haiti event to talk about her book, The Third Wave, and ways we can help out in Haiti. The Third Wave is about her experience volunteering in the last ten years. Check out her interview by Kristien Alquero from tcgagency:

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The Hamptons for Haiti Benefit (SociallySuperlative.com)

July 20, 2011 By

Socially Superlative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WeAdvance.org, GlobalDirt.org and Plum Hamptons Magazine hosted the Hamptons For Haiti benefit event on Sunday afternoon to raise funds for Cité Soleil in Haiti—the poorest region in the Western hemisphere.

After holding the hand of a young boy who had his arm amputated without anesthesia due to lack of medical supplies, Maria Bello co-founded WeAdvance.org to take direct action for the well-being of suffering Haitians.

The fundraiser was held at The Ross School in East Hampton on Sunday, July 17th, 2011, and featured musical performances by The Diva of Haiti Barbara Guillaume, prodigy pianist Gamar Josama and singer Melky Jean (sister of Wyclef) as well as a sobering yet uplifting documentary about WeAdvance.org that hits home for why Haiti needs our help right now.

Other notable guests included Mariska Hargitay, Patricia Arquette, Donna Karan, Cristina Cuomo, Sean Avery, Hilary Rhoda, Terry Quinn, Doug Liman, Fisher Stevens, and Liev Schreiber.

Silent auction items included a visit to Maria Bello’s NBC Fall series Prime Suspect set with actor Aiden Quinn, a visit to NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit set with actress Mariska Hargitay, lanterns fromRestoration Hardware, tablets from VINCI Tab, artwork by artists Peter Tunney, Beth O’Donnell, Anthony Russell in conjunction with Raphael Mazzuco and Marc Baptiste, a photo shoot with Elizabeth Jordan, and a cruise aboard Courtney Ross’ glamorous boat.

Sponsor tables included Soft Serve Fruit Co. to keep us all cool, rum from Ron Dominicano, and a fancy lemonade stand  from the Sweet ‘Tauk ladies.

All proceeds from the event benefit WeAdvance.org and GlobalDirt.org, whose impact on the community was immediately felt from their first days on the island.  They’ve established the first-ever ambulance service in the area, and are providing medical care, education and support for those who need assistance in rebounding from the 2010 earthquake.

Guests received gift bags with items from Christopher Fischer Cashmere, Madame Paulette®,GlobalDirt.org, Kenneth Mark, M.D., FACMS Office, restaurants Philippe Chow and Nello Summertime, Angelo David Salon, RéVive, Popchips, Bond No. 9 New York, Laura Geller Makeup, Rene Furterer, Plum Magazine, and The Third Wave: A Volunteer Story by author Alison Thompson.

To read the full article and view photos from the event on SociallySuperlative.com, click here or on the image below:

Hamptons For Haiti Benefit - Socially Superlative

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Hamptons for Haiti Event a Success

July 18, 2011 By

Hamptons For Haiti Invite

Thank you to everyone who came, participated and donated to our wonderful event that was held on July 17, 2011, which we hosted with our partner, Global DIRT. Together we raised over $10K through our live auction that featured art donated by Peter Tunney, Marc Baptiste, Elizabeth Jordan, and donations. We also celebrated the release and book signing of Alison Thompson’s book, The Third Wave. The raised funds went toward establishing the first ever ambulance service and our ongoing efforts in Cité Soleil, Haiti–the poorest slum in the western hemisphere. We are so grateful for our friends who came to show their support like Mariska Hargitay and Patricia Arquette just to name a few. More photos to come!

Hamptons for Haiti - Maria Bello & hosts

Maria Bello, Elizabeth Jordan, Sonja Nuttall, Clare Munn, Patricia Arquette

Hamptons for Haiti - Alison Thompson, Peter Tunney

Peter Tunney purchasing Alison Thompson's book, The Third Wave

 

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Stars Shine For Hamptons in Haiti Fundraiser At Ross School (Hamptons.com)

July 17, 2011 By

East Hampton - On Sunday, July 17 from 12 noon to 3 p.m., Maria Bello, Mariska Hargitay, Keifer Sutherland, Donna Karan, Cristina Ross, Elizabeth Jordan, Clare Munn, Sonja Nuttall, Leslee Feldman,Brian Doug Lyman, Jean Shafiroff, Fisher Stevens, Terry Quinn, Courtney Ross, Beth O’Donnell, Alison Thompson, Kristine Szabo, Andrew Saffir, Amanda Patricia Velasquez, Marc Baptiste, and Ross Bleckner are just some of the stars to appear at “The Hamptons For Haiti” fundraiser to be held at the Ross School. The event will feature a cocktail brunch and a live auction featuring walk-on roles on many of today’s hottest primetime shows. There will also be a musical performance by The Diva Barbara Guillaume all to raise funds to benefit We Advance and Global Dirt, two not-for-profits that are dedicated to making a difference in Haiti.

“All proceeds will go to We Advance and Global Dirt, two Haiti organizations that work side by side” said Thompson, one of the founders, along with Bello, of We Advance, and author of “Third Wave” a book about volunteering. “We Advance focuses on gender-based violence, with an emphasis on educating and empowering rape victims and the children of Haiti, while Global Dirt’s mission is to buy an ambulance and mobilize a 911 rescue service that is very much needed.”

To read the full article on Hamptons.com, click here or on the image below:

Stars Shine For Hamptons In Haiti Fundraiser At Ross School

 

 

 

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Hamptons for Haiti Shines Light of Hope (East Hampton Patch)

July 17, 2011 By

Star power unites to help change lives in Haiti. By, Lisa Finn

Sunday’s star-studded “Hamptons For Haiti” fundraiser at the Ross School, is far more than just another glittering summer cocktail gala.

The benefit which will feature a slate of A-list prime-time celebs, including Maria Bello, Mariska Hargitay, Keifer Sutherland and many more, who will lend their star power to making in a difference in the lives of impoverished children and rape victims in Haiti.

The event, which features a cocktail brunch, live auction – with exciting prizes including walk-on roles on primetime television shows – and a musical performance by The Diva Barbara Guillaume, benefits We Advance and Global Dirt, two not for profit organizations aimed at bettering tomorrows.

Global Disaster Immediate Response Team (DIRT) was founded in January 2010 by Adam Marlatt shortly after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Adam and fellow Marine Robert Sullivan have created a volunteer force dedicated to providing immediate assistance to victims of disasters worldwide, including Haiti.

We Advance founders Alison Thompson, humanitarian and disaster relief veteran, and “ER” star and women’s right activist Maria Bella work together on infusing hope into dire situations.

To read the full article on EastHampton.Patch.com, click here or on the image below:

Hamptons for Haiti Shines Light of Hope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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