Netflixs Orange Is the New Black Brings Lasting Change to Criminal Justice System With New GoFundMe Initiative ‘The Poussey Washington Fund’
Summary
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GoFundMe, the world’s largest social fundraising platform, announced today an initiative in partnership with Netflix’s critically-acclaimed series, Orange Is the New Black, the Poussey Washington Fund. Named after the memorable character from the series played by Emmy-winning actress Samira Wiley, Poussey Washington, the fund is an initiative that will support eight preexisting non-profits to benefit organizations focused on social issues surrounding criminal justice and policy reform, immigrants’ rights and helping those affected by mass incarceration. Creator and writer, Jenji Kohan and executive producer, Tara Herrmann, realized they had an opportunity to encourage their passionate fanbase to help make an impact. Taystee recognized an opportunity to make a difference for her fellow inmates, and we saw no reason why we couldn’t launch our own initiative to have an effect in the real world,” creator Jenji Kohan commented. The series brought the topic of criminal justice to the forefront of pop culture, and now they are turning that on-screen interest into real, tangible off-screen action.” “The Poussey Washington Fund gives Orange Is the New Black fans and others the opportunity to help women who are not unlike Poussey, Red, Taystee, Maria, Daya and other characters from the show,” said Piper Kerman, author of the memoir “Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison,” upon which the Emmy Award-winning original series on Netflix is based.