For Darfur
Encyclopedia
For Darfur Inc. is a United States based non-profit organization
aimed at raising awareness about the ongoing humanitarian conflict in Darfur
, Sudan
. It raises funds in order to bring aid packages via Doctors Without Borders to refugees affected by the conflict. By August 2008, the organization had raised over $1,000,000 through private fundraising and awareness events. In November 2007, For Darfur, in conjunction with fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer
, held a fundraising cocktail party and auction in Palm Beach, Florida
, and raised over $100,000. In May 2008, the organization produced and promoted Kanye West
's Glow in the Dark Tour
Concert at the AmericanAirlines Arena
in Miami, Florida
.
on January 31, 2007 as a way for teenagers to spread awareness of the Darfur conflict through fundraisers and events. Unlike the Save Darfur Coalition
, For Darfur Inc. primarily focuses on staging concert productions. The organization has grown from its initial seven members to well over 25 chapters in states across the United States.
For Darfur Inc. was founded by Gabriel Schillinger
, Kayle Gishen, Grant Dubler, Matthew Teper, George Merck, Clea Stone, and Jimmy Sunshine. They all still remain as active members.
's Glow in The Dark concert at the AmericanAirlines Arena
in Miami, Florida
. The concert was an awareness and fundraising show. It brought in over $500,000 that went directly to Doctors Without Borders and had a sellout crowd of over 12,000 people in attendance.
. For Darfur has been their single largest contributor.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
aimed at raising awareness about the ongoing humanitarian conflict in Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. It raises funds in order to bring aid packages via Doctors Without Borders to refugees affected by the conflict. By August 2008, the organization had raised over $1,000,000 through private fundraising and awareness events. In November 2007, For Darfur, in conjunction with fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer
Lilly Pulitzer
Lillian Pulitzer Rousseau , better known as Lilly Pulitzer, is a socialite and prominent fashion designer. She is known for founding Lilly Pulitzer, Inc., which produces clothing and other wares featuring bright, colorful prints...
, held a fundraising cocktail party and auction in Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
, and raised over $100,000. In May 2008, the organization produced and promoted Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's Glow in the Dark Tour
Glow in the Dark Tour
The Glow in the Dark Tour is a critically acclaimed world concert tour by Kanye West featuring Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D, and Nas. It began on April 16, 2008 in Seattle, Washington and travelled to Latin America, Asia, Europe, New Zealand and Australia through to early December.The tour...
Concert at the AmericanAirlines Arena
AmericanAirlines Arena
The AmericanAirlines Arena is a sports and entertainment arena located in Downtown Miami, Florida along Biscayne Bay. It was constructed beginning in 1998 as a replacement for the Miami Arena and was designed by the architecture firms Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture. The Arena is home to the...
in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.
History
For Darfur Inc. was founded by seven students from Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, FloridaBoca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
on January 31, 2007 as a way for teenagers to spread awareness of the Darfur conflict through fundraisers and events. Unlike the Save Darfur Coalition
Save Darfur Coalition
The Save Darfur Coalition is an advocacy group calling for international intervention in the Darfur genocide in the Eastern African state of Sudan...
, For Darfur Inc. primarily focuses on staging concert productions. The organization has grown from its initial seven members to well over 25 chapters in states across the United States.
For Darfur Inc. was founded by Gabriel Schillinger
Gabriel Schillinger
Gabriel Schillinger is a humanitarian activist and entrepreneur from Delray Beach, Florida. He is the co-founder and executive director of For Darfur. In 2009 Schillinger founded Decade Worldwide.- Kanye West concert for Darfur :...
, Kayle Gishen, Grant Dubler, Matthew Teper, George Merck, Clea Stone, and Jimmy Sunshine. They all still remain as active members.
Events
The organization has staged over 35 events since its inception. The majority of events focus on attracting teenagers such as concerts and club events. Events from 2007 included:- Members were invited guests to sessions at the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
- Promotional Event at Sun-Fest, May 2007, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Jammin' For Darfur Concert, June 2007, Delray Beach, Florida
- Fundraising Event with Jimmy BuffettJimmy BuffettJames William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
, November 2007, Palm Beach, Florida - Co-Sponsor of Youssou N’Dour concert, November 2007, Miami, Florida
- For Darfur members officially opened NASDAQNASDAQThe NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
on December 26, 2007
Kanye West concert for Darfur
On May 6, 2008, For Darfur Inc. produced and promoted Kanye WestKanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's Glow in The Dark concert at the AmericanAirlines Arena
AmericanAirlines Arena
The AmericanAirlines Arena is a sports and entertainment arena located in Downtown Miami, Florida along Biscayne Bay. It was constructed beginning in 1998 as a replacement for the Miami Arena and was designed by the architecture firms Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture. The Arena is home to the...
in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The concert was an awareness and fundraising show. It brought in over $500,000 that went directly to Doctors Without Borders and had a sellout crowd of over 12,000 people in attendance.
Mission statement
The organization's mission statement is as follows:Board members
The organization is run entirely by high school, college, and university students. Its current board members are:- Gabriel SchillingerGabriel SchillingerGabriel Schillinger is a humanitarian activist and entrepreneur from Delray Beach, Florida. He is the co-founder and executive director of For Darfur. In 2009 Schillinger founded Decade Worldwide.- Kanye West concert for Darfur :...
: executive director - Grant Dubler: legal director
- Matthew Teper; Marketing and Promotional Director
- George Merck: funds director
- Clea Stone: creative director
- Jimmy Sunshine: South Florida director
- Corey Saft: financial director
Advisory board
For Darfur Inc. also has an advisory board which consists of Kenny Laguna, Adele Merck, Dr. Brent Schillinger, Mark Sunshine, Michael Epstein, and Rev. George Andrews II.Awards
The organization has received numerous awards for its work in bringing the Darfur conflict to the forefront of teenagers across the country, and the most recent is the Heroes in Medicine Award. For Darfur received this award for 2007-2008 for its efforts in bringing medical treatment to people affected by health issues resulting from the conflict.Partnership with Doctors Without Borders
Since its foundation, For Darfur has donated 80% of funds raised to Doctors Without BordersMédecins Sans Frontières
' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
. For Darfur has been their single largest contributor.