Partners In Health (PIH) is a nonprofit corporation based in Boston that is committed to improving the health and well-being of people living in poor communities. The stories of PIH and its co-founder, Dr. Paul Farmer, were chronicled in Tracy Kidder’s bestselling book, Mountains Beyond Mountains. PIH believes that health care is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. For more than 20 years, PIH has worked with local partner organizations and national governments to provide technical and financial assistance, medical supplies, and administrative support to projects in Haiti, Peru, Russia, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, Burundi, Mexico, Guatemala, and Boston. The goal of these partnerships is neither charity nor development but rather “pragmatic solidarity” – a commitment to struggle alongside the destitute sick against the economic and political structures that cause and perpetuate poverty and disease.

Meryl has supported Partners in Health with a 2009 benefit performance called “Courage in Concert”, reuniting the original cast of Tony Kushner’s 2006 “Mother Courage” production, including guest stars such as Daniel Craig and Maggie Gyllenhaal. In 2010, she mentioned the organization in her Golden Globes speech, winning for “Julie & Julia”.

I come to Golden Globes weekend and I am conflicted how to have my happy movie self in the face of everything I’m aware of in the real world, and that’s when I have my mother’s voice coming to me: Partners in Health, shoot some money to Partners In Health, and be damn grateful you have the dollars to help. And I am grateful. I’m really grateful.

“Partners In Health sends thanks to Meryl Streep tonight on behalf of the people of Haiti. In her Golden Globe acceptance speech, by paying homage to her mother’s intolerance of “gloom and doom,” and by channeling her mother’s voice, Meryl gave hope to many—to our staff in Haiti, to our patients, to all those pained by the footage of a country in ruins. For five days, we have been mourning for Haiti. Our hearts are broken, and yet, we know that we must not languish in our grief. We must persevere in our efforts to provide relief in Haiti; to increase our support with supplies, medicines, and trained medical staff. Meryl, you are much more than “a vessel for other people’s stories,” but we thank you tonight for launching Partners In Health’s story, and, therefore, Haiti’s story. Partners In Health is proud to be an organization that inspires hope and gratitude in you and many others. But we cannot take credit—all of our lessons in hope have come from Haiti”. (source: Partners in Health)

The same year, Meryl lent her voice to the audiobook “Haiti After the Earthquake” to benefit Partners in Health. It was released in 2011.