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