Updates
02-03-2012
We were in Haiti the week of January 23rd. It was good to see how well the construction is progressing. There was a civil engineer from Virginia along and he gave the work an A+. There were about seventy workers on the site because everything is being done by hand in order to create more jobs. The workers are paid $8.00 plus a meal. That is about four times the average wage so there are plenty of willing workers. I have posted new photos.
The girls will be moving into the bungalows in time for the start of school this September. A school and recreation facilities on the same campus will come in due time. The Salesian Sisters will work on those projects as soon as the orphanage is completed.
The next progress report on the construction will be to show everyone the finished product, a new home for forty-five little girls. The fundraising results will be posted as your gifts are received.
Many, many thanks to all! You made all this possible. God Bless!
01-19-2012
People are wonderful! We are already at 75% of our revised goal! Thank you! Thank you!
More pictures of construction progress coming in early February.
12-08-2011
As you can see, we have removed all the photos we had previously posted regarding the orphanage planned for construction in Croix des Bouquets. But there is good news and new photos. Please read on.
A team has just returned from Haiti and decided that unfortunately it will not be possible to proceed as we had hoped. As was reported several months ago on this web site, there was a problem with the property on which we were to build. The real estate is privately owned and cannot be purchased by a charitable organization to which we could transfer the funds for construction. Our efforts to change this were fruitless. This has been a bitter disappointment for all concerned. However, we view ourselves as having a duty to all the wonderful donors to be sure the money is spent as intended to help orphaned children through a reputable charitable institution in Haiti.
So we had to look for an alternative during the team’s one week stay. We visited four established charitable organizations which were identified as needing new residential facilities to care for children impacted by the earthquake. There is so much need, the team wished we could help them all. One was eliminated from consideration because of the availability of other sources of funding. Another was dropped because it was not a residential facility but more like a youth center. The third gave us concerns about its sustainability.
After completing a due diligence process involving reference checking, confirming licensure, and an on-site visit, etc., we have decided to fund the construction of an orphanage to be operated by the Salesian Sisters, an order of Haitian nuns who have an excellent reputation and operate several orphanages in Haiti already.
We visited one of their existing facilities which was neat, clean, well organized and efficient. The girls will all be educated through high school and then assisted with either university or job placement. We were also very impressed by the uninhibited fun the kids were having.
All the Salesian’s orphanages in Haiti are filled to capacity, but as we knew there is almost unlimited demand. This is particularly so for girls. Therefore, the Sisters have determined that they will build a new facility which will provide a home for an additional 150 orphans. They have been methodical in their preparations, acquiring a site, arranging for the UN to clear it, establishing a team of architects, engineers, accountants, etc. Test borings have been done, a perimeter wall constructed, and construction started for the few buildings for which they have funds in hand. All work is being done by hand, i.e. no power equipment, so that more jobs are being created.
The design concept is to have a series of bungalows, each of which will accommodate fifteen girls together with a housemother. There will be separate buildings for a cafeteria, school and recreation. Each bungalow will cost $156,000 to complete.
Our photo gallery has pictures we took of the girls at the Salesian Sisters’ existing orphanage we visited and of work being done at the new site.
With the generosity of everyone over the last year, we will be able to give the Sisters at least enough money to equal the cost of two “bungalows” and part of a third. If it is possible to raise an additional $40,000, then we will have enough to equal the cost of a third bungalow.
So we are back asking for the last time that you consider making a year-end contribution. We’d like to have enough to cover the third bungalow, but in any event, whatever is raised will be forwarded to the Salesian Sisters to cover construction costs. And then our fundraising will end, and all you will receive from us in the future will be progress reports.
Many thanks, and have happy, healthy and blessed holidays.
10-19-2011
Friends,
I know it has been too long since I posted an update. I apologize.
The fact is that we have not been able to resolve the ownership issue. Because of that, we are concerned about transferring the funds because charitable status would be in question.
Therefore, we are looking for alternatives. A team will be in Haiti the first week of December to review four candidate institutions which have successfully passed the initial vetting process.
Your generous donations are still safely deposited in a bank in Boston. We are frustrated that we have not been able to take children off the street. However, we want you to be comfortable that your gifts will not be misspent.
If you have any questions, please contact me at rgreene@phillipslytle.com or 716-847-7038. I will report right after I return from Haiti.
Many thanks.
Bob
07-19-2011
Property Update
I have not provided an update as promised because there has been little change, and we are all frustrated.
We have not been able to resolve the ownership issue. Although we have not given up, we must look for alternatives.
The money is safe, still on deposit in a Boston bank. It will not be forwarded to Haiti until all questions have been resolved satisfactorily. In the meantime, I will continue to collect funds for the kids.
Thanks for understanding.
Bob Greene
05-09-2011
Property Update
We knew everything was progressing too smoothly. With your help, we surpassed our goal. The architects at Wendel were moving towards a set of plans, and we thought title to the real estate was in the Haitian foundation which would be operating the new facility.
That last item has proven to be a problem. We hit a snag on a real estate ownership question, so all work has stopped until it is resolved.
However, be assured that all the funds are safe in a bank in Boston. There is a separate account maintained by Medicines For Humanity. Nothing has been transferred to Haiti and will not until we are fully satisfied with respect to all the details. There are no administrative or overhead charges so 100% of your kind gifts are still on deposit and ready for transfer at the appropriate time.
As we have been told that the issues may take several months to resolve satisfactorily, I will post updates about the middle of each month.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Bob Greene at rgreene@phillipslytle.com.
Thank you for your patience.
03-30-2011
$406,898.45 WE DID IT!
WE HAVE SO MUCH GOOD NEWS TO REPORT!
• We made our goal!
• The architects at Wendel in Buffalo are preparing the plans as their gift.
• The necessary paperwork in Haiti is getting close to completion.
Our biggest concern is whether the amount we have raised will be enough. We will not know until the construction contract bidding process is completed. To be safe, we are continuing to raise money. If there is any excess, it will be used to buy computers for the classrooms. Right now, they have none.
Thank you for your generosity, your letters and e-mails. This will happen!
02-01-2011
We are so close: $388,961.21
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
01-12-2011
SUCCESS! We made the second match!
As of January 12th we have $352,898.16! Thank you everyone who made this cause part of your holiday giving.
Coming soon: a report on our progress in Haiti.
Again, THANK YOU!
12-22-2010
We are making progress! In the last ten days we have raised over $8,000, bringing the total donations to $259,267.16!
Only $11,000 to go to make our next match!
THANK YOU! And have a blessed holiday season.
12-10-2010
People are wonderful! As of December 10, 2010 we have received $251,108.56. If we can reach $270,000.00 by January 15, we will receive an additional $50,000 from a very generous donor.
We have other great news. Wendel, a full service architectural and engineering firm, has taken on the orphanage as a project and will design the new facility as its gift to this effort. Brian Brady and his team have already started work and hopefully it won’t be long before we will be able to show you what the orphanage will look like. THANK YOU WENDEL!
12-09-2010
Thank you to United Graphics! The Buffalo publication and commercial printer donated its services to produce brochures for us. These brochures will enable us to tell more people the story of Notre Dame de Lourdes/ Foyer des Filles de Dieu. It will also greatly assist in fund-raising efforts for the Haitian Orphanage Fund.
Thank you United Graphics!
302 DONORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED OVER $238,000!
11-04-2010
People are being wonderfully generous! Over $18,000 has been raised towards our second matching grant of $50,000 which must be met by January 15th. Please remember if we make our match, every gift will be doubled. Gifts large and small will all help. THANK YOU!
Here are more encouraging words from a few recent donors:
“After hearing of the devastation in Haiti, I wanted to do something for these young girls. I’ve had many blessings in my life so I knew this was the time to share them. I hope more people will take a look around them, count their blessings, and help these young girls get a real home.”
- Peggy B.
“I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these children. Sometimes we feel so helpless, but aiding this orphanage, even in a small way, will make a big difference, especially to each child served.”
- Karen P.
"After the earthquake in Haiti, the Haitian Orphanage Fund offered me a very personal way to help the 67 girls from the orphanage who lost their home.
Thanks to the very moving updates and photos the organization provides, I have been able to share very directly in the rebuilding effort and to see the wonderful ways these girls are being helped to return to a normal life."
- Kathy C.
SUCCESS ON MATCH #1!
NOW ON TO MATCH #2!
10-06-2010
You did it! Through the generosity of so many people, we successfully earned the first matching grant by reaching $170,000 before October 15th. That grant of $50,000 brings us to $222,772.00.
The same donor has promised to do another match of $50,000 if we can reach $270,000 by January 15, 2011.
Please pass along the good news and ask friends and relatives to help us earn the second matching grant. If we can do that, our goal of $400,000 will be within striking distance.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
You can double your gift by donating now! You can help us make this happen for these kids.
09-22-2010
As of September 22nd, we are at $161,617.56, and need $8,382.44 to reach $170,000 and our $50,000 match.
09-08-2010
Our fundraising total is at $153,922.56 as of September 8th, so we need to raise just over $16,000 by October 15th in order to collect the $50,000 match.
Here are some encouraging words from a recent donor:
"I want these children to feel safe and secure again. These kids deserve it -and need it- and I figure if I don't help them-who will?
I know I can't save all of Haiti- none of us can solve even a fraction of the problems Haiti has as a result of the devastation caused by the earthquake.
But we all can do something....."
- Marion G.
08-30-2010
Thank you to all who have donated. So far, we have raised $25,150 against the challenge grant and a total of $145,525.56. With your generous support we can reach the match level, which will put us more than halfway to our goal!
Here are some words of support from Resurrection Church:
". . . . I am writing to express our . . . support (for) the Foyer des Filles de Dieu in Port-au-Prince, Haiti . . . . We as a parish have had a close twinning relationship with the Foyer for 21 years . . . . As twinning partners with the Foyer, we are very excited and encouraged . . .”
“For many years we have sent regular contributions . . . toward the operating expenses of the orphanage, and have also contributed significant sums toward capital needs . . . . We look forward to collaborating with you.”
Resurrection Church, Moneta, Virginia
08-11-2010
The first weeks of the campaign have been very rewarding. As of August 9th, we have raised a total of $120,375.56. And achieving the match would bring us to over half our goal!
Thank you to everyone and for your kind messages of encouragement. Here are a few of them:
“I am really glad that so many people responded to the Haiti disaster to help these girls!”
- Julia B. (age 10)“We at Solar Liberty Foundation are excited to provide a solar electrification system to the soon to be rebuilt Notre Dame de Lourdes/Foyer des Filles de Dieu Orphanage. Solar electrification will allow the orphanage to have power for lighting which will increase the security for the girls, lighting for studying, power for cooking and all other power needs. We believe that the future of Haiti depends on young girls such as the children in the orphanage. We hope that their 'green' orphanage will allow these young girls to prepare for successful futures. We admire the work that all of the volunteers are doing to make the new orphanage a reality.”
