As you know if you’ve attended any of our Trivia events, SFH puts the “fun” in fundraising.  There’s another opportunity coming up to have fun for a cause.

On Friday night, June 15, you’ll be able to have a few laughs and get a glimpse inside the world of Hollywood (sort of) while helping a friend in Haiti.

The event

We will be holding a “staged reading” of a film script.  The script is for an original G-rated comedy called “Scrolled”.  It is best described as a cross between “The [original] Muppet Movie“, “National Treasure“, and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World“.

“Staged reading” means that the script will be read by actors on a stage.  There will be little or no action.  Film being a visual medium, the audience must supply the visuals with the help of their imaginations and a narrator’s description.  Think of it as watching an old-time radio show.

Although the odds are that this will never become a real film, imagine the bragging rights if it is!

Regardless, we can guarantee a few things:

1. You’ll have a good time and some laughs.
2. Multiple movie-related door prizes will be awarded.  (Prizes currently include tickets to “Harry Potter Night” at the Lowell Spinners, movie treats, and more TBA)
3. You’ll help a great and very tangible cause.  Speaking of which…

The cause

The Jean family (Guito is in the back)

Guito Jean is a 27-year-old man living in Croix-des-Bouquets, a suburb of Port-au-Prince.  With his mother and father both dead, he is the sole support for an extended family of seven – sisters, nephews, and nieces.  Without a job, that’s an almost impossible task.

Guito’s dream is to drive a taptap for a living.  For those who have never been to Haiti, taptaps are the ubiquitous form of public transportation that Haitians depend on.  Aside from their exceptionally colorful design and their propensity to overflow with passengers, they are a lot like our taxis.

Until recently, Guito gave private English lessons for his income, but that has always been inconsistent at best.  His current plan is to enroll in our Biznis Pam program, learn the fundamentals of running a business, and get a loan to buy a taptap.  Unfortunately, the cost of a taptap is much higher than our typical loan, so we are trying to make up the difference with funds from this event.

The vital stats

Where:  Grace Community Church, 275 Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA
When: Friday, June 15, 2012, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Cost: $10 per ticket, available only at the door.  (Ticket price is tax-deductible!)

Snacks will be available for free and door prizes will be awarded to lucky attendees.  (You won’t get those at the local cineplex!)

If you have any questions about this event, please write to trivia@servantsforhaiti.org.

Monite, our field director and trainer, sent us an update this past week.  Here’s the good news:

Of the five people who attended the first class, four created business plans that were approved and funded with micro-loans.  (The fifth student didn’t meet all class requirements.)  All four new businesses are in operation.  Here is Monite’s report on the status of each:

Some of Johnny's treats ready for sale.

Three of the four new businesses are growing.  One of the ladies keeps thanking us for her  loan. Another, who has been selling women’s clothing recently started selling a new clothing item for men.  Our candy seller added cookies to his list of tasty products.

All four have already made their initial loan repayments on time.  All this reflects tremendous success for which we are very thankful and gratified.  It clearly affirms the effectiveness of our new program.

Monite’s summary of the work is, “…so exciting that SFH is involved in that!”

What’s next?  Monite is ready to begin her second session, with potential students on a waiting list.  The demand for the training is very high.  The only thing holding us up is financial support for the training and a new set of loans.  Our trivia fundraiser helped, but we need you, too.

Can you commit to helping a family start a new business and thereby a new hope for the future?  It’s more involved than sponsoring a child, but it pays long term dividends to the family, neighborhood, and nation.  Contact us or donate today to learn how you can be part of building a brighter tomorrow for Haiti.

Fridge space is at a premium.

It’s not easy getting support for our current mission. What we do is hard to wrap up and describe in pithy sound bites.  It doesn’t have a simple handle that people can grasp easily.  And there’s nothing to put on your refrigerator.

Back when we first started Servants for Haiti, we helped only children.  School.  Orphanage.  All we had to do was show a picture of one of those cute kids.  People would fight over them.  They paid their monthly support and got an adorable picture of the child to put on their refrigerator.  Everyone wins.

That was great.  A child got educated, fed, cared for.  Nothing wrong with that.  Nothing at all.

Until later.

Since those days, some of those same children have graduated.   They have a high school diploma and nothing else.  No more education.  No job.  No free meal at lunch time.  And nothing to do with that diploma.

That’s where we come in now. Servants for Haiti wants to fill that black hole with bright hope.

A medical school scholarship for George who will some day be a doctor providing medical care for his people.

Stephanie’s tuition so she can be a nurse in a nation that lost 400 nursing students during the earthquake.

A sponsor to pay Junior’s way through auto mechanic school.

A new business for a woman with two young children and a husband who recently lost his job.

These are the kinds of things that aren’t exactly suitable for adorning your refrigerator.  But they are the kinds of things that change lives and, when reproduced enough times, a nation.

So if you’re looking for refrigerator ornamentation, there are plenty of organizations doing good work that will accommodate you.  If you’re more interested in bringing a brighter future to Haiti, we invite you to work with us.  There are plenty of ways to get involved, from a simple donation to traveling with us to Haiti.  Contact us today.

But if you still want a cute picture for your refrigerator, try this one:

Magdala and Samuel

This is Magdala and her brother Samuel, whose mother is now running her own business thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

As such material is produced, we will add it to the following list:

SFH brochure – Full color informational brochure about SFH, its history, and mission.  Feel free print out or email as many copies as you need and spread the word.

…more to come…

If there is anything you want to see here, let us know.

The picture of Haitian children coupled with that slogan effectively got our message across.   We helped individual children get a good start in life through care and education.

About a year ago, that task was transferred to a new organization, HIA, and SFH moved on with our new calling.  Today we are helping young adults and whole families get back on their feet through new homes, businesses, and continuing education.  As such, the old logo was obsolete.

The new logo is shown here:

This logo will often be accompanied by a new slogan: “Building a brighter tomorrow.“  That’s what we’re doing, still one family at a time.

A few different ideas are represented by the new look.

First, the hands represent the partnership between SFH, our friends in Haiti, partner organizations, and you, our supporters.  This task is far greater than any of us could possibly undertake on our own.

The sun in the center reminds us that we can brighten Haiti’s future.

Finally, it’s inspired by the Haitian proverb, “You must have patience to raise the sun.”  This means that any great task will require patience before results are seen.  The final product, however, is worth the time and effort.

Your support is crucial to building a brighter tomorrow – long term and sustainable – in Haiti.  Join us as we raise the sun.

Click the logo above to go to the evaluation form.

Our 3rd annual Trivia Night and Silent Auction fundraiser is now history.  And a historical event it was!  Almost 160 people were in attendance at the Lowell Elks.  All expressed their excitement over the evening’s events.  Here’s a sample of the comments:

We all had a great time at Trivia last night.

You have done a wonderful job of growing this event, every year.  It looks like it is now established as a Spring Tradition, at this point, and hopefully a solid fundraiser for Servants for Haiti.

Really nice venue – a lot more space than last year and climate control was top notch!

If you were there, we’d like to have your feedback, too.  Please fill out our evaluation form.

If you weren’t there, here are some highlights.

Trivia Central

First of all, let it be known that Trivia Night sold out three weeks in advance.  Part of being a long-awaited annual tradition is that, if you miss it one year, you have to wait a whole year for the next edition.

For the third year in a row, the event has grown by 50% in attendance and funds raised.  (Rumor has it that we’ll have to rent out TD Garden in a few years.)

To start the festivities, we played the following video, now also available on the SFH YouTube channel:

Thank you from Haiti

All the people in this video express their gratitude for the service SFH has rendered to them and their families.  Thanks to the generosity of the good people who supported Trivia Night, we’ll have more friends thanking us in the coming years.

Music was a big part of the evening, but this video song was a highlight:

Davidson’s song

The collection of nearly 50 Silent Auction items saw ardent and enthusiastic bidding.  Though thankfully no fights broke out, there was strong contention for the weekend on Martha’s Vineyard, as well as the framed, autographed pictures of Rob Gronkowski and Tim Thomas, among other desirable goods.

The lesson should be an obvious one: Next year, get your tickets early.  And bid early, often, and high.  (By the way, we’re already planning next year’s event for April 6.  Keep it open.)

SFH and the people of Haiti say, “Mesi anpil!”

Stephanie, our nursing student

On Thursday, March 15, a small cadre of SFH representatives traveled to Haiti to survey conditions in general and our work in particular.  We are pleased to tell you that there are many good signs to report.

We met with some of our post-high school students who are thriving and excited about their prospects.  Watch this site for more reports and profiles of these young people.

The initial batch of SFH-backed businesses has begun their efforts to support themselves.  We were delighted to find, in a local grocery store, candies distributed by one of our budding entrepreneurs.  We brought back a few morsels, some of which will be available for sampling at Trivia Night.

Our “man-on-the-ground”, Monite, is already gearing up for her next class, just awaiting funding.  Proceeds from Trivia Night will go toward that need, but extra donations are needed and appreciated.

Monite (far left) and her Biznis Pam students (l to r): Odulka, Shedlyne, Wilda, and Johnny

While in Haiti, we met several other groups doing their part to help our friends move forward.  Many of the projects are long range ones aimed at helping the Haitian people help themselves.  Initiatives to revive the dormant rice industry and other agricultural enterprises show tremendous promise.  We ate some of the local produce and couldn’t get enough of it.

Other works we heard about involved reforestation and creating an export market for Haitian coffee.

Efforts like these will some day make Haiti self-sufficient.  The Haitian people want to work.  They are tired of handouts and are willing to do whatever it takes to turn their homeland around.  With your help, we can create a new sunrise in Haiti.

Thank you for your support!

Trivia night 2012 has come and gone. If you were there, we’d love to have your feedback. Fill out an evaluation form HERE.

If you didn’t attend, you missed a great night.  Plan on coming next year, tentatively scheduled for April 6, 2013.

Come back to this site for a recap of the fun and plenty of photos as soon as your humble webmaster recovers.

Yes, our 3rd Annual Trivia Game and Silent Auction is coming up fast.  It will be held on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 7:30 PM*.  To accommodate the expected larger crowds, we are moving to a more spacious facility.  The fun will be at the Lowell Elks, 40 Old Ferry Rd, Lowell, MA.

Last year, we had to stop selling tickets when we hit 100 because space was limited.  Folks had so much fun last year, we expect them all to come back… and bring friends.  We’re aiming for 150 this year but we’re bound to sell out again! To see how exciting last year’s event was, visit this page.

To offset the cost of renting the new space (and to get more help for our Haitian friends) we are increasing the cost of tickets to $15.  We do not apologize for this increase.  The need is too great.  Besides, last year some people actually complained because they thought the cost was too low!

In 2011, the money went toward the construction of homes for Haitians that were still living in tents.  (Families are living in those homes today.)  This year, the proceeds will go toward our business development program, Biznis Pam.  With this money, Haitian entrepreneurs will be able to learn how to start and maintain a new business.  Then their efforts will be funded and supported by Servants for Haiti.  This is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

You can start ordering tickets today – $15 each or a table for eight for $120.  Just go to our ticket purchasing page.  We suggest you buy tickets early and often.  It’s likely to be a sellout again this year.  Tickets will be not be available at the door. Best to get yours soon.

Click here for a sampling of items

Then there’s the silent auction. We’ll have another terrific selection of items this year, including dining gift certificates, hotel stays, sports memorabilia and tickets, videos, books, arts and crafts, Haitian products, and more.  Bid, Bid, Bid! Click here to read about a selection of the fantastic items you can bid on.  More will be added to this page as they become available.  Check back often!

A full cash bar will be open during the evening.  Free snacks will also be available.  To maximize your fun, bring snacks (or even a meal!) for your whole table.  Last year, everyone else looked on in envy as one table brought a pizza dinner!

We will update this page if and when more info is available.  Meanwhile, feel free to write to trivia@servantsforhaiti.org if you have any questions about the event.

Click here to buy tickets

It doesn’t seem possible that it has already been two years since the earthquake that shook the literal and virtual foundations of Haiti.  If you lived in a tent under constant threat of violence, disease, and the elements, it would feel like an eternity.

Servants for Haiti isn’t looking at the years but the lives.  With your support, we have educated more students, helped more hopeful entrepreneurs, and housed families.  For those folks, two years ago seems a lifetime away.

Stay with us as we look forward to more changed lives and a better Haiti.

God bless you for your support.

SFH wants to wipe the tears away. You can help.

"Isn't it great helping Haiti, honey?"

Here’s your chance to combine two of your passions: Shopping and Haiti.  Two different fund-raisers are running concurrently where you buy stuff and SFH gets some money:

Check out this Wildtree fundraiser You’ll find lots of natural options for helping to provide your family with easy, healthy, all-natural meal options.  Lots of gluten-free options as well.  Share shipping with a friend to help cut your costs.  20%  of all proceeds from this sale will go to Servants For Haiti’s new business program, Biznis Pam.

Also, a part of all proceeds made from any Wildtree parties  booked though this fundraiser will be donated back to SFH.

Go to this site then click on the My Events button on the left side of the page.  For the event called “Servants For Haiti Fundraiser”, click on the “Shop Now” link.  This fundraiser will run through January 30, 2012.

And this Tupperware fundraiser This is just what you’ll need to store all those new herbs and spices that you bought from Wildtree!  Tupperware donates 40% of all proceeds to SFH from now through the end of January 2012.  Click here to go right to the SFH fundraiser page.