Hollywood Artists to Give $500,000 to Assist Children Affected by Cyclone Nargis

(May 13, 2008) Not On Our Watch, a non-profit organization founded by actors Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, producer Jerry Weintraub and human rights lawyer David Pressman, has awarded Save the Children $250,000 to provide for the critical needs of children and families affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Not On Our Watch will further provide a match contribution of up to $250,000 for every dollar donated to Save the Children's Cyclone Nargis emergency relief work during the period of May 13, 2008 through May 13, 2009.

Since the devastating cyclone hit the south west coastal region of Myanmar on May 3, officials estimate over 30,000 have died and more than 1 million children and families have been displaced from their homes.

"Save the Children is very grateful for this donation, which will help us meet children's survival needs in Myanmar, and assist them on their path to recovery from this devastating event," said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children US.

"We are proud to support the Myanmar relief and recovery efforts of Save the Children," said Alex Wagner, executive director of Not On Our Watch. "Save the Children has proven itself as a strong partner for Not On Our Watch, delivering aid and life-saving relief to millions of children and families affected by humanitarian crises around the globe."

The support from Not On Our Watch will allow Save the Children to expand the scale of its relief and recovery efforts in Myanmar through the distribution of food, water and essential non-food items. Additionally, funds contributed will help support Save the Children's efforts to restore the education system in Myanmar and help children return to school when it is normally scheduled to resume in early June.

In the past week, Save the Children has provided lifesaving supplies of food, clean water and shelter materials to 100,000 people, including about 40,000 children under age 12 in twelve Yangon townships and the Irrawaddy delta region. Supplies have included rice, water, oral-rehydration solution to treat diarrhea, blankets and materials for cooking and shelter.

Save the Children currently operates programs in all five of the districts severely affected by Cyclone Nargis and has worked in Myanmar since 1995. As one of the largest non-governmental organizations at work in Myanmar, the agency's 500 staff - almost all local nationals - implement programs focused on early childhood care and development, child health and survival and child protection.

Save the Children is seeking $10 million in donations for its emergency response and recovery efforts in Myanmar. As of Monday, the organization had raised more than $3 million dollars in donations and pledges from individuals, corporations and foundations for its Cyclone Nargis response.

The donation to the Cyclone Nagris relief effort marks the second time in a year that Not On Our Watch has contributed to Save the Children programs. The organization's first grant of $1 million is helping provide health and psychosocial support programs to tens of thousands of women and children affected by war and crisis in West Darfur, Sudan and eastern Chad.

More information

Not on Our Watch (www.notonourwatchproject.org) seeks to focus global attention and resources to stop mass atrocities around the world. The non-profit organization, headed by George Clooney, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Jerry Weintraub and David Pressman, draws on the powerful voices of artists, activists and cultural leaders to generate life-saving assistance and protection for the vulnerable, marginalized and displaced.

Save the Children Contacts

Eileen Burke
Cell: 203-216-0718
Office: 203-221-4233
eburke@savechildren.org

Mike Kiernan
Cell: 202-460-0614
Office: 202-640-6630
mkiernan@savechildren.org

How you can help

Learn more about our response in Myanmar and how you can help.