Entrepreneur Diana Jenkins Donates $1 Million and Forms Haitian Relief Organization With Sean Penn

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles entrepreneur Diana Jenkins today announced that she has donated $1 million and partnered with actor and director Sean Penn to establish the Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization to deliver medical supplies and transport doctors to people whose lives were devastated by the January 12 earthquake.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100122/LA42246)

Ms. Jenkins, owner of the popular Neuro beverage brand, began her relief initiative immediately following the earthquake, providing a $1 million donation to launch the group's efforts. Mr. Penn has already organized delivery of 12,000 pounds of medical supplies and humanitarian aid, while Ms. Jenkins has accompanied doctors and nurses to the country to provide critical assistance. Additional doctors and more supplies provided by the Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization were scheduled to arrive in Haiti on Saturday.

Said Ms. Jenkins: "The world cannot ignore the cries it hears from Haiti. The time to act is now, or Haiti's pain will only get worse. These funds will help ease not only immediate suffering, but provide seed money for rebuilding devastated hospitals and schools. My experience in Bosnia has taught me that without those fundamental institutions, needless suffering continues."

Added Mr. Penn: "We believe that whenever and to whomever suffering occurs, and a fellow human can lend a hand, they should lend a hand. Diana has set an example for all of us. Donating time and money is critical to ease Haiti's suffering."

The Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization works directly with other humanitarian operations as a "relief provider to relief providers." It queries hospitals and other organizations daily about their immediate needs and then arranges rapid deployment of staffing and supplies to meet those demands.

Ms. Jenkins, founder of The Sanela Diana Jenkins Foundation for Bosnia and Herzegovina, is committed to restoring dignity, prosperity, justice and hope to her native country, pursuing diplomatic, philanthropic, educational and legal initiatives.

SOURCE Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organization