FFTP’s 25th Annual Celebration of Hope Gala: Building Dreams and Homes for Families in Haiti
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 5, 2024) – For a quarter of a century, supporters of Food For The Poor’s Celebration of Hope Gala have been making dreams come true for vulnerable families in Haiti, providing them with the blessed gift of a safe and sturdy home.
These dreams have materialized into reality as more than 1,000 homes have been built.
This year, the gala is focused on making the dreams of 25 more families in Patasson, Haiti, come true by raising funds to build homes that offer true protection from the harsh winds and rains.
FFTP is partnering with Fr. Frandy Jean-Louis of the Grand Bassin Parish, in Haiti, to build the homes.
The 25th annual gala is set for Saturday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. For the fifth year in a row, the program will be livestreamed.
Jamaican singer-songwriter Glacia Robinson, a devoted humanitarian and award-winning Caribbean Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee, will perform songs from her album “Hands of Mercy.”
Over the last 25 years chairing the gala, Dr. Lynne Nasrallah said she has borne witness not only to tremendous destitution in Haiti but also remarkable hope during her many mission trips with FFTP.
Nasrallah recalled visiting a riverside slum near Cap-Haïtien called Shada where thousands lived in dilapidated homes.
“I looked up into the mountains and asked God, why did He show me Shada?” Nasrallah said. “‘Lynne, I show you and your pilgrim friends Shada so that you can tell others about it! So that those who have eyes to see, will see it, and those with a heart to feel, will do something about Shada.’”
FFTP has begun moving families out of Shada and providing them with new homes, thanks to the generous donors of the Celebration of Hope gala.
“I’ve been having that same dream for 25 years,” Nasrallah said. “To build just one more Emmanuel Village in Haiti. Right now, the families of Patasson are on their knees, hoping that their prayers will be answered.”
Last year, the gala’s supporters pledged to build more than 40 homes for poverty-stricken families who have been praying for safe shelter in Trouchouchou, Haiti. Ten of those homes have been built.
Patasson is located in Haiti’s northeast region, not far from Shada. For the most part, it has been immune from the violence that has wracked Port-au-Prince and other regions of the country this year.
Most families live in fragile homes constructed of wood scraps and dried mud, practically defenseless from the fury of storms or even the slightest rainfall or gust of wind.
At night, the absence of electricity leaves streets in darkness, confining residents to their deteriorated dwellings.
The lack of safe water leaves them no choice but to drink untreated water, resulting in frequent illnesses and suffering, especially among children.
Priscille is an elderly widow who has lived in Patasson for eight years with her children and grandchildren.
“My family and I are desperately in need of safe shelter,” Priscille said. “Unfortunately, our house was built to protect us from the sun, but not from the rain.”
The homes built by FFTP donors will include a porch at the entrance, two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, one bathroom with a flushable toilet and shower, and a rainwater collection system connected to a 500-gallon water reservoir, all unimaginable blessings for many families in Haiti.
“The Celebration of Hope Gala under the leadership of Dr. Lynne Nasrallah represents the compassion and generosity of our supporters, who understand that a safe home is the foundation for a better future,” FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine said. “By building these homes, we are not just providing shelter; we are offering hope, dignity, and a path to a brighter tomorrow for families in Patasson.”
Committee members include: Dr. Lynne Nasrallah, chair, Linda Bonnewitz, Bruny and Paula Compas, George and Kim del Campo, Mike and Dr. Desirae Friend, Cynthia Hawkins, Nicole Nasrallah, George and Joanne Olson, Lisa Padilla Ortiz, Nancy Padilla, Dwight and Lisa Saathoff, Tom and Jean Wilkes, Jean and Donna Wilson, and Holly Wilson.
For more details, to donate, and to RSVP, visit foodforthepoor.org/celebration
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 15 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for vulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit foodforthepoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Communications
954-471-0928
[email protected]