The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands has announced that through the generosity of the residents of the Virgin Islands, it has collected more than $115,000 for the Haitian Relief Fund. Established on Jan. 14, following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the fund supported a flight that left St. Thomas two days later with a team of 12 doctors, nurses and support staff, and more than 2,200 lbs. of donated medical supplies. In total, the fund has assisted with 20 round-trip Haitian relief flights of volunteers and medical supplies from the V.I.
The cash value of the donations from individuals, businesses and fund-raising efforts in the territory has been maximized by the addition of in-kind goods and services including donated flights, medical equipment and supplies, and professional medical expertise valued at well over one million dollars. Countless lives have been saved, thanks to these bighearted donors and the dedicated volunteers working under the leadership of USVI Haitian Relief founder Carmen Partridge.
In the next phase of the Haitian Relief effort, it will support efforts to build the capacity of the Haitian Community Hospital — L’Hopital de la Communauté Haitienne in Port-au-Prince — where the V.I. volunteers have worked these past seven weeks. This not-for-profit hospital provided critical care to thousands of the wounded and acutely ill in the weeks following the earthquake and is a lifeline of the Haitian community. It will also support efforts to improve the quality of care for the ever-increasing number of children who are living in orphanages in Haiti.
It was thanks to the vision and support of CFVI’s Angel donors that the Community Foundation was in a position to help after the earthquake in Haiti. Because of Angels, 100 percent of donations received for this fund will go to the Haitian relief effort with no fees or administrative charges assessed. According to CFVI president Dee Brown, “The Virgin Islands’ response to the crisis in Haiti is an example of our community at its best — generous donors and compassionate volunteers from every walk of life, working together to help a neighbor in need.”
For more information about the Haitian Relief Fund, contact CFVI at 774-6031 or visit the home page of the Web site at www.cfvi.net.
