Founded in 2010, the J/P Haitian Relief Organization, the nonprofit benefiting Haiti started by actor Sean Penn, hosted its annual benefit last night at the Montage Beverly Hills. The evening, cohosted by Alexandra and Sean Parker, and Hollywood powerhouse legend Bryan Lourd, brought together a glittering crowd to raise funds to support the developing Caribbean nation. “It’s really important that Sean Penn has been committed to this organization, and to Haiti for a very long time,” said actress and Haiti native Garcelle Beauvais. “Even before the earthquake and after the earthquake, and now the hurricane, I feel like there are so many other charities he could help out with or other countries, but he sticks to Haiti because he sees the need.”
In the crowd was a cavalcade of A-listers, including Leonardo DiCaprio, who reportedly donated a Harmony Korine piece from his personal collection for the evening’s auction, Nick Jonas, and Pamela Anderson, joined by son Brandon Thomas Lee. Also in attendance were Penn’s children, Dylan and Hopper, who chatted up Lily Collins in Zuhair Murad and Diane Kruger in Elie Saab. But the evening was meant for celebrations and reflections. After emcee Bill Maher got the crowd laughing with his typical routine on the upcoming administration, actor Jeffrey Tambor tugged at the crowd’s emotions, recalling his late colleague and friend Garry Shandling’s commitment to the organization, posthumously donating $1 million to the nonprofit, which announced the launch of a humanitarian award in his honor.
But it was the auction and performances that saw the biggest highlights of the night: From the purchase of Julia Roberts’s vintage Toyota sport utility vehicle to Beck crooning on stage, the evening raised a record-shattering $37 million to support J/P HRO’s efforts which also included contributions from the Government of France, the Parker Foundation, the World Bank, and the evening’s proceeds from the live auction.
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