The actor’s organization J/P HRO continues rebuilding Haiti with medical, relocation, structural and community development programs.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, October 6, 2013, 11:31 AM
Jim Spellman/WireImage
‘We’ve got five Haitian runners, 10 runners total, running for the team representing Haiti and our organization J/P HRO coming to the New York City Marathon – the marathon. So we’re really looking forward to it,’ actor Sean Penn said.
Sean Penn is ecstatic that his relief organization will sponsor runners from Haiti to participate in the New York City Marathon next month.
“We’ve got five Haitian runners, 10 runners total, running for the team representing Haiti and our organization J/P HRO coming to the New York City Marathon – the marathon. So we’re really looking forward to it,” Penn said.
The 53-year old actor, who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday night, expressed satisfaction that the organization continues to rebuild Haiti with its medical, relocation, structural and community development programs -but also that it brings hope to the island nation.
“It’s rewarding. I just came back from Port-au-Prince, where I visited our Haitian marathon runners, and to see that great discipline that Haitians have and that great spirit and the excitement that they have visiting New York for the first time.”
Penn started the J/P Health Relief Organization after a catastrophic magnitude-7.0 earthquake ripped through Haiti in January 2010, killing more than 100,000 people. The organization set up camps for displaced residents and facilitated medical clinics. It continues to save lives and brings sustainable programs to benefit the nation. Penn acts as CEO and chairman of the board for the organization.
When asked if his efforts to make a meaningful and lasting impact in Haiti made him proud, Penn responded: “I’ve got a group I’m very proud of and really inspired by. Let’s say I’ve been granted a fortunate ticket in.”
The two-time Oscar-winning actor made the comments at the world premiere of his film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” at the New York Film Festival. Penn stars alongside writer-director Ben Stiller.
The 26-mile New York Marathon takes place Nov. 3.
Although it is great that white people are doing a lot in Haiti, I think Haitians are doing a lot as well. And the only way for Haiti to move up from the floor is for Haitians to start to doing for themselves. Often times, Haitians tend to put more importance into other nationalities achievements than their own kind.
As a Haitian, I’m asking for all Haitians who have a say in the media to start promoting Haitians who are doing great things as much as they would rush to promote a white person who is doing something in Haiti.
I encourage the leaders of this website to visit the following link: http://www.lghmarathon.org. All five runners that Sean Penn has endorsed to run the NYC marathon, had placed and won cash prizes from the inaugural LGH marathon and that’s a marathon organized by a group of Haitian professionals.
Haiti needs all the press that it can get. I think the idea of this marathon is Haiti is one of the best things that happened to Haiti since the devastated earthquake.
I would love to see write up on that marathon.