Yéle Haiti

Yéle Haiti was a charitable organization established in 2001 by Haitian-American musician and rapper Wyclef Jean, who was born in Haiti and has kept ties there. It is legally known as the Wyclef Jean Foundation and incorporated in the state of Illinois, United States. It operated into 2012, when it was closed after investigations by the New York State Attorney General over financial issues. The title was coined by Jean, meaning "cry for freedom." It publicized its fundraising to aid victims of the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, but by February of that year, the New York Times reported that questions were raised over its finances, and that funds had been used to benefit Jean personally and members of his circle. The charity is subject to suits in Haiti attempting to recover unpaid debts.

Yéle Haiti was founded as a charitable organization by Haitian-American musician and rapper Wyclef Jean. Born in Haiti and immigrating with his family to the United States at age nine, he grew up in northern New Jersey. Becoming a Grammy Award-winning musician and rapper, he has kept family and other ties in Haiti.

The charity was known legally as the Wyclef Jean Foundation and was incorporated in 2001 in the state of Illinois. After the island suffered damage in 2004's Hurricane Jeanne, the foundation provided scholarships to 3,600 children in Gonaïves, Haiti, with funding from Comcel telephone service company. Yéle continued to provide scholarships, school funding, meals, and other charitable benefits to citizens of Haiti in the following years.

The 2010 Haiti earthquake devastated the island and its capital Port-au-Prince. According to Jean, Yéle raised more than $1 million in 24 hours using a plea on Twitter. His foundation raised additional funds after Jean took part in an MTV donation drive and other publicity efforts to benefit survivors of the earthquake. Together with actor and producer George Clooney, Jean organized the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon. The most watched telethon to date in history, it aired on almost every network and many cable channels. Jean appeared as the last performer on the telethon, singing a medley that ended with Haiti's traditional Rara music.

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