When I first heard the news of the Tsunami my heart filled with sadness and my eyes filled with tears. I headed straight for Venerable Piyananda’s Los Angeles temple, Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara. I had met Venerable Piyananda many years ago while producing a film project with Sir Arthur C. Clarke. At that time I fell in love with the spectacular beauty of Sri Lanka and the kindness and graciousness of its people.

I knew if I gave money to Venerable Piyananda it would go directly to the people who needed it most, and would not get lost in large administration fees and red tape. Quickly my heart told me that I needed to help beyond just writing a check, and thus Hollywood Artist Alliance was born. While I have had the pleasure of working with big stars over the years on films such as Titanic, my closest friends work behind the scenes. They don’t make the huge salaries. And then I realized that consistent small donations could add up to a significant amount of money that might truly help people.

Traveling to Sri Lanka with the Airline Ambassadors, clowns and Patch Adams for the March ’05 Ground Breaking ceremony infused me with joy. My joy increased 10 fold upon arriving in Sri Lanka and witnessing just how much the Sri Lankan people and government had accomplished in such a short time. What impressed me most was the resilience of the Sri Lankans. Through such devastating tragedy, hope and commitment emerged. While I am aware that great challenges remain, what the Sri Lankan community has achieved over the last year is truly remarkable.

It has been a deep honor for me to work with Venerable Piyananda and my new Sri Lankan friends, as well as working with my dear friend Tess Cacciatore from The World Trust Foundation, and all the volunteers and donors of Hollywood Artist Alliance.

In embarking on this journey I couldn’t have imagined all the blessings such an experience would afford me. I carry Sri Lanka and it’s people in my heart always and I pray for peace and continued success in the reconstruction.

With Deepest Gratitude,

Camille Cellucci
Filmmaker and founder
Hollywood Artist Alliance