The Entertainment Community Unites For onePULSE: A Benefit For Orlando In Hollywood, CA
Notable Industry Names, Companies and Luminaries Partner for August 19th Event to Honor and Remember the Victims of Orlando Shooting Tragedy;
Proceeds Raised from the Event will Benefit the onePULSE Foundation and the National Compassion Fund to Serve Those Affected by the Tragedy and Build a Permanent Memorial
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In a powerful show of collaboration and support, leading names, artists and businesses in the entertainment community are teaming up in an event to honor as well as raise much needed funds for the victims of the Orlando tragedy. onePULSE: A Benefit for Orlando is a unique partnership effort to raise in support of onePULSE Foundation (www.onePULSEFoundation.org), the official 501(c)(3) entity incorporated by the owners of the Pulse Nightclub. The August 19th event will be held at the recently launched NeueHouse Hollywood, aligning artists, activists, and survivors in a program that honors those taken by the tragedy with tributes to the heroes and victims of the Orlando shooting.
The diverse presentation from the Hollywood community will include Barbara Poma, owner of Pulse Nightclub, and will feature an exclusive video that interviews both survivors and families of the victims, some of whom will be in attendance at the event, along with a special video message from President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
The evening is supported by many leading names in the industry, and the onePULSE Foundation will raise additional funds through their generous donations. Via partners CharityBuzz, Prizeo and Omaze, those who want to support the initiative beyond the text to donate campaign can bid on one-of-a-kind experiences donated by supporters who include Mark Cuban, Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres, Cyndi Lauper, Sir Richard Branson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, LP, Robbie Rogers and many others.
All proceeds raised through individual donors, corporate sponsorship - and via the text PULSE to 91999 donation campaign - will benefit the onePULSE Foundation, whose mission is to provide assistance to victims of the attack at Pulse Nightclub and build a permanent memorial at the Pulse Nightclub site. Through the end of 2016, ninety percent of monies raised through this campaign will be granted to the National Compassion Fund (www.nationalcompassionfund.org), developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime, and designated to support those affected by the June 12th tragedy. The remaining proceeds from the event and campaign will contribute to the creation of a permanent memorial at the existing site of Pulse Nightclub, providing a sanctuary of hope dedicated to the lives affected and taken by the tragedy in Orlando, FL.
"The genesis of Pulse Nightclub began with honoring the heart and vibrant spirit of my late brother many years ago, but at this moment we have an even greater call to action," said Barbara Poma. "With the help of some incredibly generous partners, we are grateful to lean on the platform that the industry provides to spread love and support to those affected by this tragedy. I am awed by how quickly so many individuals have come together in a common cause. Our goal is to create a true family community. No amount of hate can destroy that bond. We will heal together."
Entertainment industry leaders including Virgin Produced, iHeartMedia, Universal, private work collective for creative entrepreneurs NeueHouse Hollywood and the City of Los Angeles have also lent their support to the campaign. In support of the initiative, Virgin America guests will soon be able to donate inflight by going to the shop: make a difference section of the RED ® in-flight entertainment system as well.
"The horror of this attack on the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities prompted the generosity of people from around the world. We are honored to serve as steward of these funds and ensure that we receive in the name of victims is distributed directly to them," said Mai Fernandez, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime.
"We look forward to collaborating with all those who support this mission so that this is a unified effort, made possible not by one person but by and for everyone who wants to help," added Poma.
For more information on how to join or support the onePULSE coalition as an individual or business, please visit: www.onepulsefoundation.org.
About Pulse Nightclub
For over twelve years, Pulse was a destination that welcomed everyone and embraced the LGBTQ community. It had been a place immersed in joy and music, and one that united Orlando's diverse communities. Founded by Barbara Poma and Ron Legler in the memory of Barbara's late brother, John, who passed away in 1991, the name Pulse was chosen to keep his pulse beating on. Pulse Nightclub in turn became the heartbeat of Orlando and the spiritual home of the LGBTQ community.
On June 12th, 2016 Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL was the scene of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The tragedy took 49 lives, and injured 53 others, and left a deep wound in both the Orlando community and around the world.
About the onePULSE Foundation
The onePULSE Foundation is the official 501(c)(3) incorporated by the owners of Pulse Nightclub. Its mission is to provide financial assistance to the victims affected by the attack at Pulse Nightclub. Through the end of 2016, it will contribute 90% of funds raised to the National Compassion Fund, with the remainder contributing to the creation of a permanent memorial at the existing site of Pulse Nightclub, which will ultimately provide a sanctuary of hope dedicated to the lives affected and taken by the tragedy in Orlando, FL. on 06/12/2016.
About the National Compassion Fund
The National Compassion Fund, a program of the National Center for Victims of Crime, provides a single, trusted way for the public to donate directly to victims of a mass crime, such as a shooting or terrorist attack. It has been developed in partnership with victims and family members from past mass casualty crimes, including those from Sandy Hook, Aurora, Virginia Tech, Oak Creek Temple, NIU, Columbine, and 9/11. The National Compassion Fund (The Fund) serves donors by honoring their intent and crime victims by distributing donations directly to them, in a fair and transparent way. The National Compassion Fund is a project of the National Center for Victims of Crime, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID #30-0022798 and Florida Registration #CH21962, California Registration #110155.
SOURCE onePULSE Foundation
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