Wyclef Jean resigns as Yele Haiti CEO

Nick J — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:18:31 +0000

by Bob Considine
The Star-Ledger – Hours before he announces his intent to run for president of Haiti, Wyclef Jean has announced he will relinquish his leadership role at Yéle Haiti, the charitable organization he started in 2005 that has raised some $9 million for his home country.

Jean, the Grammy Award–winning musician who grew up in Newark and East Orange and currently resides in Saddle River, is expected to formally announce his candidacy on CNN’s Larry King Live tonight.

Share Derek Q. Johnson, who guided the revitalization of Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater earlier in the decade, will assume Jean’s role of CEO at Yéle Haiti.

“For the past five years, Yéle has been a huge part of life for me, my wife, Claudinette, and the rest of our family, and I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish for the country and people we love,” Jean said in a statement. “I have learned many important lessons from my experience with Yéle, most notably the incredible power of individuals united by a sense of purpose and community.”

Jean said he was not stepping down in his commitment to Haiti. In an interview with the Star-Ledger on Wednesday, Samuel Jean, Wyclef’s brother, said he had “pushed the boat as far as he could” in terms of his philanthropic work.

“Now he wants to engage in the political process because it’s the best way to make meaningful change,” Samuel Jean said.

From 2001 to 2003, Johnson initiated the capital campaign for the Apollo Theater, which included a $50 million commitment to fund theater renovations. From 1994-2001 and from 2004-09, Johnson worked for Time Warner Inc., where he ultimately served as senior vice president of corporate initiatives. Johnson currently serves as CEO of Integrated Urban Holdings LLC, which is currently working with other businesses to develop and construct a 21-story, multi-use facility in Harlem.

“The importance of the work that Yéle is doing in Haiti can’t be under-estimated,” Johnson said. “There is still so much that needs to be done, and Yéle is really in it for the long haul. The progress we’ve made so far makes me feel honored to head up this organization, and the progress that we still plan to make keeps me inspired to continue doing more.”

Hope for Haiti Now Telethon Raised $58 Million

Nick J — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:56:46 +0000

The “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon, shown Friday January 22, 2010 on 25 different television networks around the world, had by Saturday raised $58 million, with organizers saying that donations continue to be received. The donations will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Foundation and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund .

Text Message Donations

Nick J — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:57:49 +0000

The following organizations are accepting SMS donations charged to your cell phone bill in the US only:

* SMS text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts
* SMS text “YELE” to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts
* SMS text “GIVE10″ to 20222 to donate $10 to Direct Relief
* SMS text “HAITI” to “20222″ and $10 will be given to the Clinton Foundation’s Haiti Relief Fund

source: Google

Kreyol Network» Yele

Wyclef Jean resigns as Yele Haiti CEO

Hope for Haiti Now Telethon Raised $58 Million

Text Message Donations