Funds Will Benefit Sean Penn and Ann Lee’s Non-Profit CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort)

HOLLYWOOD, CA – February 28, 2021 – Tonight, during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), announced a $500,000 grant to CORE, (Community Organized Relief Effort), a crisis relief nonprofit organization co-founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee.

During the telecast, Golden Globe winner and two-time Academy Award® winner Sean Penn took the stage to shed light on CORE, an organization he co-founded with Ann Lee, which is dedicated to saving lives and strengthening marginalized communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. Over the last year, CORE has taken a leadership position in the COVID-19 response and is committed to an integrated approach, the CORE 8, which is inclusive of expanded testing, community-based contact tracing and quarantine support services. The organization has administered 5 million free tests across dozens of test sites throughout the nation, with a focus on serving low-income groups, communities of color, first responders and essential workers. In 2021, the organization is working to support equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the communities it serves, in addition to continued testing and resource coordination efforts. To-date, CORE has assisted in administering over 400,000 vaccine doses in Los Angeles alone.

“During this year’s telecast, it was important to highlight important issues and organizations working on the frontlines of the pandemic, said HFPA president, Ali Sar. On behalf of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, we are pleased to donate $500,000 in support of CORE’s COVID relief efforts, specifically their focus on testing and vaccination programs.”

Within hours of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Sean Penn mobilized a powerful network to take immediate action. More than 10 years later, the organization continues to lead sustainable programs focused on four pillars: emergency relief, disaster preparedness, environmental resiliency and community building.

“The extraordinary contribution from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is deeply appreciated,” said Sean Penn. “While this donation helps to provide vital support for CORE’s COVID-19 relief efforts, it will also require contributions from the government, private sector and individuals – whether that be a donation or simply wearing a mask and practicing safety guidelines – to protect our communities and overcome this pandemic.”

“We are immensely grateful for this generous donation from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” said CORE Co-Founder and CEO Ann Lee. “The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming brighter, but we still have a long road ahead to protect our communities in the United States and beyond, as we overcome this pandemic. These funds are critical for sustaining our programs as we support equitable access to vaccinations, testing and essential resources to the communities who need it most across the United States.”

About the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was founded in 1943 – then known as the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association – by a group of entertainment journalists based in Los Angeles. During World War II, the non-profit organization established a cultural bridge between Tinseltown and millions of cinema fans around the world who demanded drama and inspiration through entertainment. The HFPA continues to do so today with a membership representing more than 55 countries. Since 1944, the group has hosted the annual Golden Globe® Awards – the premier ceremony which honors achievements in both television and film. The licensing fees from the Golden Globe® Awards has enabled the organization to donate more than $44.5 million to more than 70 entertainment-related charities, film restoration, scholarship programs and humanitarian efforts over the last 25 years. For more information, please visit www.GoldenGlobes.com and follow us on Twitter (@GoldenGlobes), Instagram (@GoldenGlobes), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/GoldenGlobes).

About CORE

CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a nonprofit organization co-founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee that is dedicated to saving lives and strengthening communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. Within hours of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Penn mobilized a powerful network to take immediate action. More than 11 years later, CORE continues to lead sustainable programs focused on four pillars: emergency relief, disaster preparedness, environmental resiliency and community building. The organization has expanded beyond Haiti to support communities in The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the United States. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, CORE has been operating free testing sites across the country alongside local partners, providing essential resources and contact tracing services as well as part of its integrated “CORE 8” approach to combat the pandemic. In 2021, CORE is working with its partners nationwide to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines as they become available to the communities the organization serves.

For more information about CORE, please visit www.coreresponse.org/covid-19 and follow CORE on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

For more information about the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s philanthropy work, please visit www.goldenglobes.com/hfpa.