'The Haitian' from NBC's 'Heroes' Kicks Off Campaign to Fight Trafficking & Exploitation of Haiti's Children

'The Haitian' from NBC's 'Heroes' Kicks Off Campaign to Fight Trafficking & Exploitation of Haiti's Children

Available for interviews in New York April 10 to 12

Jimmy Jean-Louis, known as "The Haitian" on the hit NBC series "Heroes," will kick off an innovative U.S. campaign to raise awareness of the up to 200,000 children who are the victims of modern-day slavery, trafficking and exploitation in Haiti.

"The exploitation of children is a stain on human dignity," says Jean-Louis, who is also the Goodwill Ambassador for Children for the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF). "It is within our reach to create a better future for these children."

The Haitian-born actor will be in New York from April 10 to 12 and available to the media.

"I Too Am Haiti" Campaign

PADF's I Too Am Haiti campaign seeks to raise awareness and money to help exploited children in the country less than 200 miles off the Florida coast.

As part of the I Too Am Haiti campaign, Jean-Louis will visit key cities during the next six months. He is planning a visit to Congress in late April to press for more economic and human rights assistance for Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Its special website - www.ITooAmHaiti.org - and its toll-free line - (877) 572-6544 - will be operational starting April 8.

Media Availability

Jean-Louis is available on April 10, 11 and 12 for media interviews. PADF has broadcast quality b-roll of Haiti.

Meanwhile, Jean-Louis and fellow members of the Hollywood United Football Club will play an exhibition soccer game on April 11 at 2:30 p.m. at Field House at Chelsea Piers in New York. Hollywood United's lineup includes: Anthony LaPaglia ("Without a Trace"); Dule Hill ("Psych"); Gilles Marini ("Dancing with the Stars"); Donal Logue ("Life"), among others. The exhibition game is organized by Setanta Cup and is not directly related to the I Too Am Haiti campaign.

About PADF

PADF is a non-profit organization established in 1962 to promote, facilitate, and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past year, it had more than 4.5 million beneficiaries in 18 countries.

PADF is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Haiti. With nearly three decades of work on the ground, PADF now manages a large portfolio of activities ranging from community-driven development to protecting human rights.

Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and has field offices in Colombia, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. www.padf.org

About Jimmy Jean-Louis

Born in Petion-Ville, Haiti, Jean-Louis's family was poor and struggled to make ends meet. His mother migrated to France and, and when Jean-Louis was 12 years old he joined her.

Although today he lives in Los Angeles and enjoys a successful television and movie career, Jean-Louis never lost his feeling of connection and empathy for the daily struggles of his compatriots in Haiti, who are suffering from poverty, disease, and natural disasters. In 2008, he founded the non-profit Hollywood Unites For Haiti as a means of helping the people of his beloved native land Haiti. www.hufh.org

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- March 31/

Source: Pan American Development Foundation

CONTACT: Neil Foote of Foote Communications, +1-214-448-3765,
neil@neilfoote.com, for PADF; or Michael J. Zamba of PADF, +1-202-458-6180,
mzamba@padf.org

Web Site: http://www.padf.org/
http://www.hufh.org/

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