One of the Johnny Depp Zone’s most cherished traditions is our annual birthday gift for Johnny, called the Birthday Project. Each year we choose a charity which is connected to Johnny’s philanthropic interests. We pool our modest contributions and make a Zone donation to a worthy cause in his honor, as a way of celebrating and thanking Johnny for all the joy he has given us over the year.
This year, the people of Japan desperately need our help, due to the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 which left more than 13,000 people dead and another 14,000 people missing. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 200,000 people are still taking refuge in evacuation centers. About 260,000 people do not have access to water and 180,000 households are without electricity.
So the 2011 Johnny Depp Zone Birthday Project will benefit. . .
Mercy Corps’ Fund to Help Survivors of Japan’s Earthquake
How incredible it is to remember that just a week before the earthquake, Johnny was in Tokyo for the premiere of The Tourist; many of our Japanese Zoners were among the jubilant crowds who greeted him so warmly. Then tragedy struck—the strongest earthquake to hit Japan in a hundred years. We are heartbroken for our Japanese friends and want to help them recover and rebuild.
In a public service announcement for Unite for Japan, Johnny Depp said, “A catastrophe of this magnitude almost seems like science fiction—but it’s not. It’s real. It’s very real.” Johnny then urged all of us to make a donation and "spread the word, to unite for Japan.” You can hear his remarks here:
We can think of no birthday gift more fitting than to answer Johnny’s plea and give what we can to help those in Japan who have lost so much.
Unite for Japan is not a charity in itself; it appeals for donations to existing charities. The Zone chose Mercy Corps from among the charity partners listed under Global Giving because Mercy Corps is highly-rated by Charity Navigator; it has a long-time relationship with Peace Winds and people on the ground in Japan; and its programs address basic needs like shelter, water, and medical care.
You can read more about their work here:
Mercy Corps is a 501(c)3 charity; your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by U.S. law.
As in past years, the Zone has set up a Paypal account strictly for 2011 Birthday Project contributions to benefit Mercy Corps’ Fund to Help Survivors of Japan’s Earthquake. This is a particularly easy way for international donors to contribute to the Birthday Project, since Paypal will convert your local currency to dollars. We have also set up a special fundraising page on the Mercy Corps website, if you wish to donate by credit card. We will be accepting donations through Johnny’s birthday, June 9, 2011.
Your donation can bring comfort and support when it is needed most. When we pool our small gifts together, we can do a lot of good for others.
Please join us in wishing Johnny Depp a very Happy Birthday, and in saying for all the joy he has given us, by donating to the 2011 Birthday Project.
Part-Time Poet[/n]
Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
-- J. M. Barrie
Unread postby In-too-Depp » Sun May 01, 2011 7:10 am
Thank you PtP, what a wonderful project to choose, so apt considering Johnny's recent trip and of course his love for Japan. Being an anime addict and chatting on anime websites I've learnt firsthand just how much the disaster has cost so many and makes me appreciate how precious but fragile life is.
I'm sure MercyCorps will be grateful for any and all donations, they work so hard to help so many. I will start donating right away.
And Wit, was his vain frivolous pretence
Of pleasing others, at his own expense
Great that you chose a cause which Johnny publicly supported. A wonderful way to celebrate Johnny's birthday, in his spirit, and a pleasure to be able to give a little bit in return to everything he gives us. Happy 48, Johnny !
Thank you ptp, or Arigato as they say in Japan, for choosing Mercy Corps for Japan as this year's cause. A great way to celebrate Johnny's Birthday and an opportunity for us to express our thanks to Johnny for all the joy and happiness that he brings to us and for us to try to pass on even a fraction of the goodwill that he shows towards his family, friends and "bosses"
"If I'm going do to this for a living I want to at least provoke a thought or make someone look at something, however subtle, from another perspective." (JD on acting).
Unread postby fireflydances » Sun May 01, 2011 10:06 am
Couldn't be a more worthwhile choice for this year's birthday project honoring Johnny Depp. Prior to my current career I worked in the field of international development for over 25 years and it's a small community, you get to know who does good work and who just spends people's money, and MercyCorps is highly respected. Really happy to see Depp Zone chose this route.
"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested." Sir Francis Bacon, Of Studies
Once again a brilliant way to celebrate Johnny's birthday - thank you PTP.
I have to say that I had been on one site which showed a few charities to make a donation and I was not certain which one was the best but because you have made MercyCorp the charity of choice, and made it so much easier then this is the one I will choose also. Thank you so much PTP - I will be happy to make a donation and may the Japanese people get all the help and support to see them through this tragedy.
Dreams do come true -
29 June 2009 - 25 February 2010 - 12 May 2011 - then sealed with a kiss on 3 November 2011 then May 9th 2012 Quote "" you mean our grandchildren" My Art Gallery
Unread postby part-time poet » Mon May 02, 2011 3:02 am
In-too-Depp wrote:Thank you PtP, what a wonderful project to choose, so apt considering Johnny's recent trip and of course his love for Japan. Being an anime addict and chatting on anime websites I've learnt firsthand just how much the disaster has cost so many and makes me appreciate how precious but fragile life is.
Johnny's public service announcement for Unite for Japan showed us how important this is to him, too. We wanted to answer his call, as much as that's possible.
In-too-Depp wrote:I'm sure MercyCorps will be grateful for any and all donations, they work so hard to help so many. I will start donating right away.
You're absolutely right--any donation is welcome. When we add all our gifts together, they grow into something wonderful . . . more than we could ever accomplish alone.
Part-Time Poet
Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
-- J. M. Barrie
Thank you so much for this opportunity to donate. I have wanted to help but didn't know for sure how or where and as part time poet said Johnny has made it easy. Bless him always he is an
"What interested me was that he has so many faces" "But each one is completely pure & innocent" Francois Marie Banier about Johnny
We can think of no birthday gift more fitting than to answer Johnny’s plea and give what we can to help those in Japan who have lost so much. 
for all the joy he has given us, by donating to the 2011 Birthday Project.
and Theresa 
I was looking for some nuts. 
