602. Aaron Jackson's global project, "Planting Peace' fights every day for a more just, peaceful, loving world through their humanitarian deeds.

Aaron Jackson is an American, human rights and environmental activist. He was raised in Destin, Florida and attended Valencia College until 2002. After backpacking around the world, he interned at The Homeless Voice, an advocacy group in Davie, Florida and became director of the COSAC Homeless Shelter. The first orphanages he opened in Haiti were established using money he made as a golf caddy while living in a homeless shelter in order to fund the orphanages. Aaron was named a CNN Hero in 2007 after leading a campaign to deworm children in Haiti.     Aaron's Planting Peace is a global nonprofit organization founded for the purpose of spreading peace in a hurting world. Their projects focus on a range of humanitarian and environmental initiatives, including a multi-national deworming campaign; a network of orphanages and safe havens in developing countries; LGBTQ rights advocacy; the Equality House; and rainforest conservation efforts in the Amazon.   Planting Peace has successfully dewormed over 22 million starving children around the world. Planting Peace has been able to create and sustain a total of 6 orphanages. Four in Haiti and two in India. Planting Peace has rescued 5 elephants from slavery. Planting Peace founded the Equality House, a worldwide symbol and center for advocacy in the movement toward LGBTQ rights. The house sits right across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church. Planting Peace has purchased and protected 2008 acres of Amazon rainforest. Planting Peace has provided basic care such as medical aid, housing, and nutrition to roughly 80,000 refugees in Ukraine and in Bangladesh. Planting Peace has pulled over 20,000 pieces of trash out of our Oceans.  plantingpeace.org