‘Orange Is the New Black’ fans can give back through charity named for Poussey Washington
Can a fictional character inspire real-life change?
The creators of “Orange Is the New Black” are betting yes as they use their final season, which drops July 26 on Netflix, to launch a charity fund that will offer microloans to released convicts to support them in building new lives.
The Poussey Washington Fund, which Netflix formally announced on social media Wednesday, the eve of the Season 7 binge, is named after a fan-favorite character (portrayed by actress Samira Wiley) who was killed by a prison guard in Season 4. Her death launched a riot that reverberates through the series finale.
The fund will spread out every donation equally to eight already-existing nonprofit groups.
More: Netflix's 'Orange Is the New Black' to end after Season 7 in 2019
Wiley said she's honored to have the fund named after her character and happy to have the show embrace real social responsibility.
"It's just a TV show, at the end of the day, but it's changing people's minds and hopefully with this fund it will be changing people's lives — getting them the education that they need, getting them the health care and the mental health care that they might need," she said.
Netflix posted a four-minute video on YouTube after some fan testimonial about how the show changed their lives, and cast members took to Twitter to talk about the charity fund.
The GIFT @OITNB has been in my life goes beyond words, but the great honor I have in this entire experience is happening now. The impact of #OITNB will live on through the fans and through The Poussey Washington Fund. #OrangeForever Learn more here: https://t.co/cxUs2DrvfM
— Uzo Aduba (@UzoAduba) July 25, 2019
I’m honored to have been a part of #OITNB for the past 7 years. The impact the show has made has been so important to me, and I’m so grateful that it will continue with The Poussey Washington Fund. Learn more or make a donation at https://t.co/BA0NO3CY8f pic.twitter.com/1J7Yejhb9M
— Laura Prepon (@LauraPrepon) July 25, 2019
Tara Herrmann, an executive producer and writer on the show, said the idea for the fund came from people over the years asking how they could give back. The fund was established with $50,000 in seed money from the show and is supported by GoFundMe.org.
"It's really a call to action to our fans," Herrmann said. "There are people out there who feel like, "Now what? What can we do? You've given us the story, we see it, we want to make a difference.' So hopefully this is a place to go,"
The entire 13-episode final season is a call to action on a host of social justice issues, following its flawed characters as they seek redemption by taking concrete action to improve the world.
In the show, providing microloans for newly released prisoners is a brainstorm from Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson (played by Danielle Brooks), even though she knows she will never be released after being wrongly convicted of murder.
Before the final credits roll on Episode 13, fans will see a pitch to contribute to a crowdfunding campaign to take that idea out of the writers room and into the real world: “Poussey Washington Fund: Text pwfund to 41411 (U.S. only) or visit crowdrise.com/pwf to find out more.”
Contributing: Associated Press
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Netflix, ‘Orange Is the New Black’ launch Poussey Washington Fund