Boca Grande Hope For Haitians: Transforming the Lives of the Poor, One Home at a Time
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2020) The Boca Grande Hope For Haitians Committee is more than half way to reaching its fundraising goal for 50 homes. Thanks to the generous support of nearly 60 guests who attended the 11th annual Boca Grande Hope For Haitians cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception at the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club in Boca Grande, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 4, hosted by Chairpersons Ben and Louise Scott.
Boca Grande Hope For Haitians committed to fund 150 homes over a three-year period in Savann Kabrit, Haiti, through Food For The Poor. Nearly 100 homes funded over the last two years have been built, and the Scotts are eager to fund the remaining 50, which will provide safe shelter for nearly 300 people.
“We’re off to another good start with 31 homes,” Ben Scott said. “It takes about two months for all the donors to respond and the committee will make follow-up calls. Our donors know the good that their contributions will make to change the lives of so many in Haiti. This project has been successful because of that.”
Food For The Poor President/CEO Ed Raine, who was the keynote speaker shared his vision, which is to implement sustainable development strategies by building communities with schools, clinics and business opportunities. The Boca Grande Hope For Haitians Committee was eager to meet Raine, and is motivated by his plan for helping the poor.
“I believe change is always good and he will bring to the table a great deal of experience,” said Ben Scott. “I find him highly motivated, and his organizational skills should help Food For The Poor elevate to another level. Ed also talked about working in more meaningful ways with the Haitian families after they move into their new homes, such as learning skills or starting a small business.”
The Hope For Haitians Committee partnered with Food For The Poor in 2009, months before the devastating earthquake rocked Haiti. In 2010, the Boca Grande Hope For Haitians Committee began raising money and Food For The Poor’s staff in Haiti started building homes. Over the decade, 464 homes were built for destitute families. When the committee reaches this year’s goal of 50 homes, the people of Boca Grande will have built 514 homes over the last 11 years.
“I admire their compassion for the people of Haiti and their desire to break the cycle of poverty,” Raine said of the committee. “I look forward to working together with them and to continue to transform the lives of the poor.”
To help Boca Grande Hope For Haitians reach their goal, please call (954) 427-2222 ext. 4020, or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/bocagrande.
Committee members include: Chairpersons Ben and Louise Scott, the Rev. Gary Beatty, the Rev. Jerome Carosella, the Rev. Michelle Robertshaw, Henry and Ginny Bryant, George and Lois Castrucci, Patricia Chapman, John Denneen, Lou and Corie Fusz, Jim and Lynda Grant, Stephen and Susan Jansen, Tom and Nancy Lorden, and Sue Sligar.
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for orphaned and abandoned children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.
Wanda Wright
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6079
[email protected]
