On the afternoon of Sunday, September 8th over 300 of our incredible supporters wore their hearts on their sleeves and shared in an afternoon of song, story and swimming (!) for the annual Artists for Peace and Justice Festival Lunch. Co-hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos, Pascal Raffy, Diane Bald and Michael Budman at the Budman’s private family residence, the fifth annual Bovet 1822 and Artists for Peace and Justice Festival Lunch presented with Roots Canada celebrated the work of APJ in Haiti – and made quite a splash!

Maria Bello, dressed in a bright red designer suit and Louboutins, jumped into the pool fully clothed to raise $20,000 in the live auction. Later, when the auctioneers spotted an iPhone at the bottom of the pool, pop graphic artist Peter Tunney made the plunge and brought the device to dry land. This was just the beginning of the action as everyone took time out of their busy film festival schedules to support APJ. Adrien Brody and Moran Atias spoke about the work of APJ and the value of everyone coming together for this important cause. Making a quick stopover in Toronto from Tokyo while on world tour, Michael Bolton was brilliant as two women won the bid to be serenaded by the award-winning singer with his hit song “When A Man Loves A Woman.” Colin Firth and Jason Sudeikis showed their support and attended the lunch. The 300 person ticketed event also featured musical performances by Grammy-award-winning vocalist, producer and songwriter Daniel Lanois and prolific singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright.

“Each year our friends in Hollywood and Toronto come together during the film festival to celebrate our work and to keep the spotlight on Haiti and our life-changing programs. We’re so proud and excited of everything we have been able to achieve. Our remarkable supporters have ensured that we can welcome 2,000 high school students back to school this year, and I am so grateful for their help.”

Olivia Wilde, an APJ board member since the very beginning, told a moving anecdote of having met a young Haitian boy named Wilson who vows to one day be the president of the United States. She spoke of the care that this young boy takes to ensure that his school uniform is immaculate and his homework is perfect; tasks that Wilde, as a schoolgirl, didn’t necessarily pay attention to or consider so important. Wilson places such a high value on his education that he considers his teachers to be heroes, his stars.

“We made a commitment to Haiti for the long-term. We believe that every human being deserves a chance. Through the generosity of our 300 guests we’re providing free high school and college education, we’re giving these kids the tools they need to live and thrive, and everyone can help.”

“We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of our attendees and our major sponsors Bovet 1822, Roots Canada and Audi Canada for helping make this event possible,” says CEO, David Belle. “I would also like to personally thank Diane Bald and Michael Budman for their generosity as this year’s co-hosts and to give an additional thank you to all past and present event organizing committee members, partners and volunteers who have helped to make APJ in Canada such an enormous success.”

For photos from the event click here!

Attention all New York City based students! APJ is now accepting applications for its Fall 2013 Internship Program. An internship with APJ during your fall semester is an excellent way to gain professional experience and learn first hand what it’s like to work in the non profit sector while also helping the kids of Haiti and having fun in the APJ office with our small, dedicated team.

This fall we are specifically seeking talented applicants for Operations and Community Management Internships. To learn more and for application instructions please visit our careers page.

Applicants for all positions must be independent, detail oriented and most importantly enthusiastic about our work. Unfortunately due to the large volume of applications we receive we cannot respond to each application individually. We look forward to reviewing your application!

Great news from one of our long-term ambassadors, Steve Hawthorne (of PD90), who is embarking on a four part film documentary entitled “Road to World Cup 2014”.

RWC2014 will document the lives and stories of 11 soccer players from across the world and tell the stories of how they achieved their dreams to represent their home nations by playing on the sport’s biggest stage. Soccer is the most universal of global sports, and a language understood by the youngest and the oldest from the most remote locations in Africa to the most cosmopolitan cities in the USA. This of course includes Haiti where passion for the sport runs very, very deep.

Filmed using mobile devices this project crosses many boundaries not typically achieved by bigger film projects. The access to the lives of these players and their most personal stories is remarkable, and especially in its depiction of the role soccer has played in the lives of disadvantaged youth from across the world and as a reminder of the sport’s unique power to unite and inspire us.

A portion of proceeds from the film will be generously donated to APJ to help support our many young fans and footballers at the Academy and Artists Institute. We congratulate Steve Hawthorne and PD90 on this and we look forward to watching it next summer during World Cup 2014 Brazil!