Partners in Haiti and Friends in New Orleans Featured in Web Series
The two popular web series, Power of Partnerships and Friends of Episcopal Relief & Development, are back this month. Both of these series highlight the importance of partners and supporters in furthering the agency’s mission to help heal a hurting world. This month’s installments focus on work that is being done in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010.
The ongoing partnership between Episcopal Relief & Development and the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti has been invaluable in facilitating an expedient and effective response to the Haiti quake. March’s Power of Partnerships article goes into more detail about this partnership and its continued evolution in the wake of the disaster. It also provides a bit more insight about the difficulties that Episcopal Relief & Development and the Diocese of Haiti have faced in responding to this extremely complex situation.
The response to the Haiti crisis from the Episcopal community has been overwhelming. Dioceses, parishes and individuals from around the country and the world have shown their support for Haitians with an unprecedented outpouring of generosity. Episcopal Relief & Development would like to thank everyone who has lent a hand in helping Haitians during a time of emergency.
This month’s Friends of Episcopal Relief & Development story focuses on the efforts of Christ Church Cathedral, of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana (EDOLA) in New Orleans, whose parishioners feel a particular empathy with Haiti. Not only does New Orleans have historical and cultural connections with the country, but residents have also related to those affected by the quake because of their own experience with Hurricane Katrina.
Recalling EDOLA’s partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development following Katrina, Dean David duPlantier of Christ Church Cathedral was inspired to hold a benefit for Haiti. He collaborated with Irvin Mayfield, founder of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and artist in residence at Christ Church, and Ronald Markham, President and CEO of the orchestra, to pull together a concert. Despite short notice and a number of competing events around the city that weekend, the benefit drew close to 350 people and raised more than $13,000 to assist the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti’s relief efforts.
To assist those suffering in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti, make a donation to the Haiti Earthquake Response Fund at www.episcopalrelief.org or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. Please write “Haiti Earthquake Response Fund” in the memo line of all checks.
Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States and an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The agency takes its mandate from Jesus’ words found in Matthew 25. Its programs work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Together with the worldwide Church and ecumenical partners, Episcopal Relief & Development strengthens communities today to meet tomorrow’s challenges. We rebuild after disasters and empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
