Miami pop stars Gloria and Emilio Estefan donated money. Actress Mia Farrow visited and played with orphaned children while musician Wyclef Jean and actor Matt Damon trudged through mud.
The devastation created by four back-to-back storms in Haiti has attracted school children, politicians -- and celebrities.
Wrapping up his annual Clinton Global Initiative gathering in New York, where Haitian President René Préval and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair were among the speakers Friday, former President Bill Clinton threw his weight behind helping Haiti.
Clinton highlighted several commitments in the works to help Haiti, and pledged his support to helping Haitians rebuild their lives after this summer's storms that have ravaged the fragile Caribbean nation, left hundreds dead and a million homeless.
Among the endeavors:
• Jean and his Yéle Foundation's initiative to provide hot meals for 14,000 poor schoolchildren, food for 20,000 families a month, thousands of new agriculture jobs and grants to help farmers recoup their crops.
• Miami Beach resident Damon joining forces with Canada-based ONEXONE Foundation to raise at least $3 million to support local nongovernmental organizations working in Haiti.
• Habitat for Humanity International's decision to invest $7 million to repair 1,500 homes, build 1,000 new homes, provide financial support and training for 300 workers and micro-entrepreneurs in the low-income construction sector, and train 1,000 families in disaster prevention and mitigation.
Clinton's announcement came on the heels of visits to the island by Jean, Damon and Farrow, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Meanwhile, Gloria Estefan, who was on tour in Europe when the tragedy struck, briefly interrupted her trip to send a $25,000 donation to the University of Miami and Project Medishare, which are leading a fundraising effort on behalf of the island.
''We want the Haitian community to know that we love and support them during this time of need,'' Estefan said.
-- JACQUELINE CHARLES
Source: MiamiHerald.Com
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