Hollywood Honors a "Hero of Haiti"

Fifty days have passed since the worst earthquake in 200 years struck the Caribbean city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The initial quake was later followed by twelve aftershocks greater than magnitude 5.0. Structures of all kinds were damaged or collapsed, from shantytown homes to national landmarks. The rehabilitation of a nation has started and much more remains to be completed.

That’s why In Touch Weekly and Reality Cares have partnered up to honor the heroic achievements of Eric Klein, Founder and CEO of Can-Do.org. “Heroes Of Haiti,” a special Hollywood benefit, helped raise funds so that Eric and Can-Do.org can continue their incredible work in the region. Since arriving on the ground in Haiti on Jan. 17th, Eric (below, second from left) and his team of volunteers have worked tirelessly with the Haitian water companies, trucking companies, and community members to set-up an effective and efficient pipeline to get aid directly into the hands of the people.

Helping others is nothing new for Eric, whose journey to this point is nothing short of inspiring. In 2004, he was in a car accident that changed his life in an unexpected way. Rather than using his settlement money to undergo surgery, he took the money to Sri Lanka where politics and red tape hampered the 2004 Tsunami relief efforts. Eric spent four months living in Galle, Sri Lanka, where he led groups to clear rubble, rebuild villages, restore wells, and aid small businesses. Klein's fresh approach to disaster relief was commended by the people and local government of Galle.

In 2008, Klein founded Virtual Volunteer, the first interactive website that enables individuals, donors, corporations, and organizations to participate virtually in live humanitarian projects and critical disaster zones. Participants can view videos, and even see live streaming footage of how their donations are directly impacting the communities and individuals whose lives they have touched.

Switching back quickly to the Hollywood community, this fundraiser was hosted by Mary Murphy of So You Think You Can Dance and Jerry Penacoli of Extra. The sports lounge Capitol City in Hollywood was filled with live music and celebrities (including members from the cast of The Hills, below) supporting the efforts of Klein and Can-Do.org in Haiti.

Eric Klein is no stranger to the reality red carpet himself. Eric was chosen out of thousands of applicants nationwide to participate in Oprah Winfrey's new primetime TV series, The Big Give, a reality show where he competed to change the lives of strangers. Using this as a stepping stone to achieve bigger dreams, Klein has continued to build Can-Do.org and prove that we can cut through the red tape, document our efforts, and create lasting change in countries like Haiti and Sri Lanka. Ultimately, Klein's organization is going to change the face of philanthropy and set new standards for effective disaster relief.

Photos by Brian Putnam.