Orange Is the New Black establishes The Poussey Washington Fund

Orange Is the New Black pays homage to a fictional character by developing a real-life fund!

Orange Is the New Black has officially premiered its final season on Netflix, but their impact will last for a long time to come. During the official season 7 premiere, creator Jenji Kohan and executive producer Tara Herrmann revealed that they would be starting the Poussey Washington Fund to raise money for a number of honorable causes including protecting the rights of immigrants, according to Deadline.

You’ll have to watch the video below to see how beautiful this cause is, and while you’re at it, keep a BIG box of tissues next to you, because you WILL cry–a lot. As I mentioned above, the fund is named after Orange Is the New Black character, Poussey Washington (played by Samira Wiley), who passed away back in season 4 unexpectedly. I’m definitely not over that death still.

Some of you may not know this, but Poussey’s death was a call back to the actual death of Eric Garner of Staten Island who was stopped by authorities and placed in a chokehold until he lost consciousness and eventually passed away.

Deadline reported that the following non-profit organizations would benefit from the fund:

"A New Way of Life: Reentry Project, Anti Recidivism Coalition, College & Community Fellowship, Freedom For Immigrants, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Woman and Girls, unPrison Project, Women’s Prison Association"

If you’re interested in donating towards the fund, you can find it on GoFundMe.org and in case you’re wondering about the distribution, it will be spread evenly amongst all eight organizations! How beautiful, right?

Orange Is the New Black has truly impacted people from all backgrounds in a way that no other show will be able to. Not only did they shine a light on underrepresented groups such as immigrants and the LGTBQ community, but they gave people the courage to stand up for themselves in their own lives.

It is an absolutely beautiful series that may be over but it will live on in our hearts for years and years to come.