Hinsdale Central Bowling Benefit

The Future Educators of America (FEA) Club at Hinsdale Central High School is doing its part to help their fellow students in Haiti by sponsoring a bowl-a-thon on Friday March 19 from 3:30 - 6:00 pm at the Willowbrook Lanes in Willowbrook, IL.

The FEA is being joined in this effort by HC's Family Career Club (FCCLA), ACE, and others clubs in order to raise funds to help Schools Count Corp, along with Kids4Good and Haiti Partners, rebuild Institute Mixte Nao School in Darbonne, Haiti.

The event, "Knock 'em Down to Build It Up" refers to bowlers being monetarily sponsored for the number of pins they topple in three games so that the total funds can help to raise IMN. This should be a huge event with so many clubs engaged in the fun. We already have 25 lanes of bowlers and, if we get enough bowlers, may actually use all 32 lanes!!

Not only are the students getting sponsors for the bowlers but anyone wishing to make a donation can do so! If you wish to make a tax deductible donation simply contact Dick Flesher at rich219@comcast.net. Should you desire to sponsor a bowler feel free to contact Marge McMahon at mmcmahon@hinsdale86.org.

Willowbrook Lanes is giving us a great deal on 3 games of bowling and shoes so that we can maximize the amount of donations.

Why not get in on the action! There are prizes galore in addition to the excitement generated by the bowling. This is all in addition to the good being done by raising funds for IMN.

Many thanks,
Dick

Getting Ready for the Kids!

The people, and there many, who care about Institution Mixte Nao re-opening are busy cleaning up the area.

How a school ought to be constructed, the manner of delivering the curriculum, how IMN ought to be operated and the like can all be discussed but the fact of the manner is that the sooner the kids can get back to class, to some degree of 'normalcy,' all the better.

I want to weigh in on what my thoughts are that represent those of our Board of Directors here at Schools Count.

First of all the sooner kids back to school, the better. Also, IMN will best function when the Director, Maxandre, runs the school with his staff. Schools Count Corp will donate funds but we have no interest in telling Maxandre how to run his school. Haitians are bright enough to run their own school. I really mean this. Haitians are resourceful and competent and we simply want to offer some assistance.

Another reason we want to help rebuild IMN is because we will use Haitian resources. IMN will be rebuilt with Haitian concrete and Haitian wood. The labor to construct the school will be Haitian. We will help rebuild IMN we won't take ownership of it.

I'm appreciative of your interest in aiding in this endeavor.

Thanks,
Dick Flesher

Willing to Dig In!

Pictured are staff members of Institution Mixte Nao in Leogane, Haiti. Holding recent paychecks, courtesy of Kids4Good in Darien, IL these teachers are already hard at work clearing debris from the area where IMN once stood!

I just thought I would give you a bit of background on IMN...the school we will help to rebuild.

IMN was founded in 2002. It is a kindergarten and primary school which served 136 students prior to the Jan. 12th earthquake. IMN functions in Haitian Creole and uses progressive educational methods and materials. IMN has been set up not only to teach students to read and write but to help them discover their strengths and to put them to use in a positive manner. This vision fits nicely with that of Schools Count Corp which is "devoted to the world's children by providing resources that have the power to lift the spirit and unlock the potential of the human mind.

Given the optimism of the Haitians, the resourcefulness of IMN's Director Maxandre, and the conviction of IMN's staff, the school will be up and running in no time at all!!!

Be sure to follow the growth of IMN through the joint efforts of Schools Count, Kids4Good and Haiti Partners.

Many thanks,
Dick

Rebuilding Haiti, One School At A Time

This is what Institution Mixte Nao, an Elementary School in Darbonne, Leogane, Haiti looks like six weeks after the devastating earthquake rocked the region. That's the sad news.

The good news is that Schools Count Corp will join forces with Darien, IL based kids4good (http://www.kids4good.org/) and Haiti Partners (http://www.haitipartners.org/) to rebuild IMN!

Due to some logistical concerns, our efforts have had to shift from working to rebuild St. Joes in Petit Goave to getting IMN back on its feet. It really doesn't matter where new schools are built as long as we can help to get Haitian children back in the classroom!

Thanks to Kids4good the Director of IMN, Maxandre, has been provided with sufficient funds to pay his teachers a good deal of the pay they had coming though classes quite obviously aren't able to be held. The staff, as you can see, are already busy clearing the ruble from the site so that construction can commence in the near future.

The beauty of this project is that Kids4Good have been helping IMN, and Maxandre, for the past three years and Haiti Partners has been aiding various schools in Darbonne for some time. In fact one of the directors of Haiti Partners, John Engle, has a home in Darbonne!! This really looks to be an ideal endeavor from the standpoint of communication, have first hand assistance on the ground, access to key personnel and so very much more.

If you haven't already done so, please consider making a contribution to rebuilding IMN. Simply go to http://www.schoolscountcorp.org/ and make a donation. We are looking at constructing this school within a few short months!

Dick Flesher

Why Bother?

Why, five years after Hurricane Katrina, would we still deliver supplies to New Orleans and hold a Mardi Gras Jazz Benefit to aid the city? Why bother with struggling Chicago schools? What's to be gained in the face of what seems like a 'losing cause?'

Perhaps that last statement is a good place to start. If people think that working with economically disadvantaged children, or those struggling in the inner city in some other way, is a losing cause then they don't really care about others. And if some students are 'losing,' in some manner, then it is incumbent upon those of us 'winning' to come to their assistance.

Those of us at Schools Count Corp take seriously the second word, 'count', in our company name. Every child counts and given a chance to make something of themselves many of these young people will make it.

At a minimum, most of us, at one time or another, needed someone to pull for us, to make a phone call or to put in a good word. More than likely, not withstanding our own hard work, we likely were the beneficiaries of a decent person helping us in more significant ways; lending us money, taking us into their homes, or providing us with a job. Let's face it, rare is it that we 'made it' completely on our own. If we have 'made it' on our own we certainly ought to be grateful to others for having 'made it.'

I, like many of our volunteers, have spent hundreds of hours with those children in need. The vast majority of them just need a chance, a boost of some sort. The look on their faces when they get a shinny new instrument, a backpack with supplies, or a new uniform, gives proof of an appreciative student. I have seen students give a better effort in class when they knew someone else was working with them side by side.

For those who still lament, 'why bother?' I have a simple answer...it isn't a bother! It is an honor and privilege for Schools Count Corp to be able to help others.

Thanks for all that you do and consider asking other to join in this endeavor.

Many thanks,
Dick Flesher

Mardi Gras Benefit Just Around the Corner

There's just 12 days until the Hinsdale Central Jazz Ensembles take to doing what they do best...playing the coolest jazz anywhere around the suburbs!!

The Feb. 23 7 pm event is not only a chance to listen to some wonderful jazz, it also offers the musicians, and everyone attending, the opportunity to help Live Oak Elementary, in New Orleans, the build their music program.

Over recent years the HC Mardi Gras Jazz Benefit has enabled St. Bernard Parish, McDonogh #35 H.S., Warren Easton H. S., Douglas H.S., Hynes Elementary, Priestley Charter, Banneker Elementary, McDonogh City Park Elementary, and Sarah Reed Elementary to strengthen their music program. This is quite an accomplishment.

Admission is $5 per individual or $10 for the entire family. Remember, if you donate an instrument you get free admission and Schools Count will provide you with a tax deductible gift receipt for the donated instrument. Quite a deal! Refreshments are provided by the Hinsdale Central Music Parents Assn. Because of the Parents Assn., generosity, all proceeds of the evening will go to Schools Count Corp. How very kind of these people!

Should be a wonderful evening! See you there!

Thanks,
Dick Flesher

Update on Haiti

(photo by: aeroflight.co.uk)

As of Wednesday, February 10th this is some news from various areas of Haiti including Petit Goave

• 47% of all Haitians are under 18 years of age. Sadly, a big problem is that too many young people are dying because of diarrhea and respiratory infections
  
• No banks were open as of Feb. 4th


• Many citizens have fled to Petit Goave from Port au Prince. As of yet the number is difficult to determine


• Many residents prefer plastic sheeting to tents as the sheeting is easier to store (not much storage space as you might expect) and it keeps people closer to their homes


• A good deal of cleaning of debris is taking place on a number of streets


• The area is really pretty stable and peaceful according to CHF International


• Shelter is becoming as important as obtaining water


• The Haitian government as of Feb. 9th estimates the death toll at 230,000.

You can help Haiti by going to http://www.schoolscountcorp.org/ to make a donation to rebuild St. Joseph School in Petit Goave, Haiti

Thanks,
Dick Flesher

Latest on Haitian School

Just want to give you some background on Petit Goave, Haiti, the location of St. Joseph School (to the left). Petit Goave is one of the oldest towns in all of Haiti, dating back into the 1600's. Today, the population of Petit Goave is around 14,000. The larger area including Petit Goave and Grand Goave and its surrounding region has a population of nearly 40,000 people. Sadly, we know that over 1,000 citizens from the area perished and that scores more were injured

Not only was St. Joseph school destroyed in the Jan. 12th earthquake so too were City Hall, the main church and the library. This is in addition to the countless homes and businesses either totally destroyed or severely damaged as a result of the earthquake.

Many agencies are in Petit Goave lending a hand (too many to mention but here are a few); the U.S. Marines, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, the Spanish Navy Marines, the International Medical Corps and CHF International. In fact, to get daily photos, stories and blogs, the CHF website it terrific. Check it out! www.chfinternational.org.

On the fundraising end of things, Schools Count Corp. received $1356 dollars in the first week of its efforts to raise money to rebuild St. Joe's. To play your part in helping to rebuild the school you can go to www.schoolscountcorp.org to make a donation.

Thanks for your concern and involvement.
Dick Flesher

All That Jazz, Mardi Gras!

Yes, it's time for Mardi Gras - Hinsdale Central H. S. Jazz Ensemble style!! There's no better high school jazz played this time of the year than what is heard from the musicians at HC!

For the third consecutive year, under Director Jeff Waggoner, the HC Jazz Ensembles will bring jazz to life to benefit the work of Schools Count Corp. This exciting evening of music will feature all the jazz ensembles at Central in addition to soloist Deborah Wright Powell.

This year proceeds of the event will benefit Live Oak Elementary School in New Orleans as they rebuild their fine arts and music program.

As in the past the benefit performance will be held in the high school cafeteria on Tuesday, February 23 at 7:00 pm. Admission is $5 per individual or $10 for the entire family. Anyone wishing to donate a music instrument that evening will have free admisssion to the nightclub style event. Schools Count will be pleased to write a tax deductible gift receipt for each donated instrument. Quite a deal!! Free admission, donating an instrument for a student in need and a charitable contribution.

Why not relax, sit back in the dim lite cafe, enjoy some terrific jazz, sip on some coffee and eat some scrumptous king cake. You can do this all while funding a school looking to add music to its school curriculum.

Looking forward to the event and seeing you!

Many thanks,
Dick Flesher

Update on Haiti school

(an outdoor market in Petit Goave, Haiti. photo by: gofbw.com)

Two days ago I met with members of the New Trier High School staff who, along with Little By Little, are partnering with us to rebuild St. Joseph School in Petit Goave, Haiti. Lots of ideas were shared about the site of the school, architectural plans, the timing of rebuilding, sourcing materials, labor, funding and more.

It was a positive meeting in many regards. I was pleased to hear that the site of St. Joe's has water and electric. These are two crucial elements relative to constructing the school. Without them we would be in serious trouble. Though we are a long way from going into Haiti to start construction, the team agreed that at some point in the near future we will need to go in and make an assessment of the situation. Hopefully that is something that will take place within the next couple of months.

We have plenty of connections to Haitians living in the Chicagoland area who have close friends and family in Petit Goave. This will enable us to get transportation within Haiti, find Haitian workers to help build the school, locate housing, provide the assistance needed for obtaining building materials and so much more.

We continue to pursue all types of fundraisers in order to make the project a success. It seems likely that we will be able to raise all the needed money to make the school a reality.

One thing is certain, we are all on the same page in terms of helping the community. What particularly impressed me was, to a person, our sense of doing what the people of Petit Goave desire. Each of us voiced our concern that we have to be sensitive to the needs of the people of Haiti and that we simply not barge in. We care about and respect the citizens of Petit Goave.

We are continue to be steadfast in our support of Haiti.

Dick Flesher

HC Art Doing Its Part

To say that Schools Count Corp is a grassroots non-profit is an accurate statement. As such we depend upon lots of individuals and groups to contribute, in many ways, to this cause.

Few groups have done more for our charity, and the students we serve, than the Art Department, and its students, at Hinsdale Central High School. The ways in which they support Schools Count are many!

Students might purchase a snack in an artroom and donate some change or a couple of dollars towards building a school in Petit Goave, Haiti. In recent years the National Art Honor Society has sold artwork and donated much of the proceeds towards the purchase of art supplies that are provided to the schools of New Orleans. At other times, the students and staff have run various types of fundraisers in order to generate funds so that general classroom materials can be brought to the students in New Orleans.

Within the next few weeks a number of Central students will create miniature artwork for an auction. You guessed it...the proceeds will benefit students in need.

Whether raising funds for art supplies, creating artwork, aiding our charity in bringing an art kiln to Warren Easton High School in NOLA, or generating interest in art programs elsewhere the students and staff at Hinsdale Central have used their talents and generosity to help where help is needed.

Hats off to HC Art!!

Many thanks,
Dick Flesher