18th Annual Gala: Toronto event raises over $700,000; gang violence disrupts Haiti students’ schooling

NewsWorld NewsUS NewsOlivia Wilde backed a free school in earthquake-hit Haiti that began with 300 students; the charity says it has since helped over 32,000 children, and a September 2026 fundraiser added more than $700,000 Olivia Wilde backed a free school in earthquake-hit Haiti that began with 300 students; the charity says it has since helped over 32,000 children, and a September 2026 fundraiser added more than $700,000 Hollywood actress Olivia Wilde has been associated with an initiative that has worked to make education more accessible to children in Haiti, a country that has faced years of political instability, poverty and humanitarian crises.

Through Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ), an organisation supporting education and community development, the effort helped establish a free school in Port-au-Prince following the devastating 2010 earthquake. According to the organisation's official website, what began as a school for 300 students has grown into a larger educational programme supporting more than 1,400 students each year.

APJ also credits its wider work with helping over 32,000 children access education, healthcare and other opportunities. The connection between Wilde and the organisation goes beyond celebrity support. She is listed on APJ's official website as a member of its board of directors.

She has also spoken about the importance of supporting organisations that work closely with local communities rather than relying solely on outside aid. Her association with the initiative dates back to its early years, when the organisation was expanding its education programmes in Haiti.

The Academy for Peace and Justice was established in the aftermath of the January 12, 2010 earthquake, which devastated large parts of Haiti, including its capital, Port-au-Prince. The disaster killed hundreds of thousands of people and left millions without homes, adding to the challenges faced by a country already struggling with poverty and limited access to education.Rather than restricting its response to emergency relief, APJ focused on creating an institution that could provide children with opportunities beyond primary schooling.

A gathering of artists and supporters helped raise $4.5 million towards purchasing land, building the school and providing scholarships to students for their first five years.The school opened in October 2010 and was designed to serve children from disadvantaged communities.

Its early student population included around 300 children between the ages of 12 and 18. The institution was also designed and developed with Haitian leadership, teachers and staff at its centre.Over the years, the six-acre campus has expanded considerably.

APJ says the Academy now supports more than 1,400 students and employs approximately 180 teachers and staff annually. The organisation's wider programmes have also extended beyond traditional schooling, with support for healthcare, scholarships and vocational opportunities.

Another part of its work was helping rebuild and expand Haiti's film school into the Artists Institute, a professional training centre supporting the country's film and music industries. APJ continued supporting the institute until 2018, and it is now run by Haitian staff, including former students.A fresh fundraising effort in Toronto The organisation's work received another boost in September 2026, when its 18th annual Artists for Peace and Justice Gala raised more than $700,000 during the Toronto International Film Festival.

According to NOW Toronto and a September 14 announcement from the organisation, the event was held at the Windsor Arms Hotel and recognised three prominent Canadian personalities: Actors Andrea Martin and Emily Hampshire, and musician Jann Arden.The evening brought together members of the entertainment and philanthropic communities, with George Stroumboulopoulos and Kardinal Offishall serving as co-hosts.

The programme also included musical performances, an awards presentation and a live auction featuring works by artists including Russell Young, Tyler Shields and Mr. Brainwash. The latest fundraiser adds to APJ's fundraising record.

The organisation says it has raised more than $37 million since its inception, helping over 32,000 students access education and healthcare.Education amid Haiti's worsening crisis The fundraising efforts come at a particularly difficult time for Haiti, where escalating gang violence has disrupted everyday life, displaced families and made access to essential services increasingly difficult.

The challenges are also affecting children's education. APJ's board chair Natasha Koifman told NOW Toronto that violence has prevented a significant number of the school's students from attending classes. The organisation is increasingly focused on ensuring that children have a way to continue their education despite the insecurity around them.The situation extends beyond schools.

A September 2026 assessment supported by UNICEF, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme estimated that 253,725 children between six months and five years of age could experience acute malnutrition in Haiti between June 2026 and May 2027.

Join conversation Nearly 94,000 are expected to face severe acute malnutrition.For APJ, continuing to invest in education is therefore about more than keeping classrooms open. It is also about giving children the chance to build a future in a country where violence, poverty and instability have made even ordinary opportunities increasingly difficult to access.

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