I am following up with you regarding our invitation to the Haiti Arise! 5th Anniversary Fundraising Banquet.  Not only are we celebrating five years of service to the Haitian community in the Philadelphia Area and Haiti, we are also celebrating Haitian Flag Day (May 18).  We are taking this opportunity to honor several Haitian leaders in the community:  Dr. Michel Francois, Rev. Maurice Choizi and Mr. Antoine Pierre.  In addition, we are honoring several American leaders and/or organizations who have help us support the Haitian community: Eastern University Department of Nursing, Chairman Stanley Straughter and the Mayor’s Commission of African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, Magatte Dia and the Philadelphia Department of Health Ambulatory Health Services, and Brown’s Family Shoprite.

I solicit your attendance and/or participation.   You can show your continued support in the following ways:

• Attend the banquet on May 22nd – see the invite and purchase your ticket below.
• Invite a friend or community partner to the banquet.
• Place an Ad in our fundraising booklet (full page $150 > half page $100 > quarter page $75 or business card $35) – attached is the order form (deadline May 15).
• Make a donation of any amount at www.elisejosephfoundation.org.

Come and enjoy great Haitian and African music from our special guests, dance presentation, and delicious Haitian food. We appreciate your friendship, partnership and continued support.

HAITI ARISE!

Lifting the Hopes of the People

Elise Joseph Foundation’s 5thAnniversary Fundraising Banquet

Saturday, May 22, 2010

6:00-9:00pm

Location: Palmer Theological Seminary, 6 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096 (City Ave. & Route 30)

Join us in celebration of the Elise Joseph’s Foundation’s fifth Anniversary in serving the Haitian/Haitian-American Community.

Enjoy a night of authentic Haitian culture, cuisine, and art.

Special performances & presentations include:

Soulé Music Duo–Nathalie & Vanessa

Haiti Tribute Dance–Dr. Joselie Deans of Eastern University 

Rising Soul Star–Rafiya

Silent Auction of Haitian Art

& More

**Proceeds from this fundraiser will enable the Elise Joseph Foundation to continue in providing financial support and services to the people of Haiti. **

 Please click this link to purchase tickets and register.

EJF 5th Anniversary Banquet–Haiti Arise!

EJF collaborating with ESF in Haiti

Upon learning the 7. 0 earthquake hit Haiti, my heart was immediately overwhelmed by the knowledge of the devastating impact such an event would have upon my Haitian people.  My “Haiti Cheri” (Beloved Haiti), how much more do you and your people have to suffer?  A country where 80% of the population lives below the level of absolute poverty and 47% suffer from undernourishment (FAO 2006 World Report).  I arrived six weeks following the disaster on March 4, 2010, I accompanied with the Explorers Sans Fontieres’ (ESF) nursing team of 10 and a Pediatric doctor to provide medical assistance and support to Hopital Adventiste of Diquini-Carrefour and came face-to-face with the enormous needs and challenges my people are enduring.

EJF Advisory Board member, Pastor Aaron Campbell, counsels alongside CEO, Gilda Jean-Louis

What touched me the most are the survival stories.  Pastor Aaron Campbell of Antioch Calvary (EJF Advisory Board Member, pictured above) and I provided counseling for several patients and their families.

Young survivor Sebastien, now an amputee, waits in hopes for a prosthetic leg

Stories like that of eight year old Sebastian, whose mother and father, both fell and died on his legs while trapped under rubble.  Upon seeing his grandmother nearby stated: “Grandma, I think a truck hit the house,”  who then replied “no, it was not a truck,” as her dying last words. Despite his amputed left leg, he is filled with faith and assurance of a brighter future.  Marie and her five children , whose husband died in the school where he was teaching , was breastfeeding and battling suicidal ideation; unable to come to grips with  the desperate situation she was facing with her children.  While tears are streaming down her face, she expressed, “I sometimes let the baby cry because I am so hungry, I can’t breastfeed her; I am a terrible mother.” There’s the 14 year old who was raped and recently found out she was pregnant and let’s not forget 12 year old amputee, Marvens and 18 years old brother Robenson who begged their mother  to hold on, but her last words to them were: “I can’t hold on anymore, I am sorry……”  There’s a great need for an holistic approach to nursing care for the survivors of Haiti’s earthquake.

Children of Diquini, Carrefour, Haiti

Here are some ways you can help us serve our people…..