Aid Arrives to IMN

Not only has Schools Count Corp, along with Kids4Good, helped to rebuild Institute Mixte Nao in Haiti, we have also been busy getting the children needed supplies.

Erik Badger, of Haiti Partners, has sent along this photo which shows the children with zip lock bags of supplies.  Between Kids4Good and Schools Count we were able to get the children folders, paper, pens and pencils and Erik took them to Darbonne last week.

Our goal with IMN continues to be one of comprehensive assistance.  We will continue to aid the school director/principal, Maxandre, with funds for further construction, pay for the teachers, money for books and various resources for classroom use.  Now is no time to let up.  Now that the students are back in class we want to help the children, and their parents, get the best education possible!

Thanks to one and all for getting the students back to school so soon!

Dick Flesher

Knock Em Down WILL Build It Up

WOW, talk about fun and a fundraiser!!

The "Knock 'Em Down to Build It Up" bowl-a-thon was a huge succees!!  67 bowlers descended upon Willowbrook Lanes on March 19th to help raise money for IMN School in Darbonne, Haiti and did they ever raise the money!!

There were prizes for the three highest individual scores in addition to lots of candy and treats being provided to the top two teams in each of the three games.  Finally, our top student was awarded for generating the greatest dollar value of sponsorship

When all was said and done, well over $1200 was generated through the sponsorship of the bowlers.  This is a huge sum of money and will go far in the expansion of the school.

A huge thanks goes out to various Hinsdale Central clubs for making the day happen.  FEA and FCCLA had much to do with organizing the events, getting sponsors and convincing other students to participate. 

Student Government, LHO, ACE, and the girls
bowling team members showed up in great numbers
to support the event.

Special thanks goes to FEA sponsor Marge
McMahon, FCCLA sponsor Lisa Sopiarz, FACS member Dawn Oler, Volleyball Coach Kelly Maley, girls freshmen softball coach Lynn Hatzikostantis, and Activities Director, Pam Kalafut for all the work they put into the benefit. 

Finally, thanks to you bowlers...you are making the rebuilding of IMN a reality.

Dick Flesher

Aiding Kids4Good

Not only is Schools Count Corp aiding IMN in rebuilding its school we are doing so in cooperation with Haiti Partners and Kids4Good.

With students now attending school, the children are in need of various supplies.  Kids4Good has a number of initiatives in the works in order to get classroom resources to IMN.

In order to help Kids4Good, Schools Count Corp has donated 75 notebooks, 120 pencils and 80 pens to the Hope4Haiti endeavor.  To the left is a note from Kids4Good thanking you, the donors of Schools Count, for your assistance.

The Latest News from Haiti

I want to provide you with the progress underway at IMN in Darbonne, Haiti courtesy of Maxandre Bien-Aime the principal of the school.

Yesterday, Thursday, March 18th was a HUGE day as Maxandre and his staff welcomed students back to school!!  Following is a brief not of Maxandre:

"I'm very happy because this morning my student back to school.  It was very exciting for me.  I can't find the best word to thank all of you.  I learned a few stories from my students.  These stories are very sad.  They survived but they lost parents, sisters, and cousins, their houses collapsed, they failed and run...they falled and run, wow, very bad stories.  They want to thank you for your help and they are very appreciate the new space.  They are very enjoyed."

"Tomorrow they will draw some pictures or design."

Peace, Maxandre

No doubt Maxandre and his students are incredible people; resilient, forging ahead, wanting to better themselves and grateful for our help.  To those of you who continue support Schools Count, Haiti and IMN please accept my profound thanks.

Dick Flesher

IMN Update

I want to share part of a letter I received this morning from the Principal, Maxandre, at IMN in Darbonne, Haiti.  The first portion of the letter deals with money, space and construction.  I'll spare you the details and get to the latter part that has much more to do with the students.

Say Maxandre:

"What will we do with the kids in the next couple of weeks before school officially opens?  With help from a social worker named Nakej Brutus, the teachers at IMN will participate in a two-day seminar (15-16 March).  Nadej will work with the teachers on how they need to support and work with the children who have been traumatized by the great shock of the earthquake.  The teachers will create a special curriculum with a series of themes which are relevant to what the kids have just lived through.  Another seminar is scheduled for 30-31 March on providing psycho-social support for the students."

"The kids will play, make drawings, and learn what to do when a natural disaster strikes the country.  They will also enter into a formal apprenticeship on April 15th that will be decided upon by the principal and teachers.  But this is a special year, for a bunch of special students, at a special school.  Even the evaluations/tests will have to be made special."

"John Engle and some friends of his will also help IMN receive 10 laptops to help the kids learn how to use a computer.  These laptops are made especially for kids.  A young woman named Matanya who is close to the school will be going for two weeks to participate in a seminar so that she can return to teach four kids from the school  plus five other young people from the area information technology.  This is a pilot program."

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our donors and supporters.  Haiti has become even more dependent on outside help now, and I'm so happy for Cynthia, Erik, Mary Lou, Dick and all their teams and the many other friends who've begun to help IMN.  I assure you that the money you've sent is being spent in the best way possible and directly to support the education of Haiti's children at IMN.  I want to thank you all.  I had some fears about being able to realize this project, but each time I receive an email, a phone call, I feel stronger and I believe we can succeed."

Words well said by Maxandre!

Many thanks,
Dick Flesher

Great Progress at IMN!

Within the past 24 hours Maxandre, the Principal at IMN, sent me these photos regarding the ongoing contruction of IMN.

You have to admit, this is truly fabulous progress!!  If you have read some of my other blogs you know that the teaching staff is getting ready to welcome the students back to classes within days.

One of the things most striking to me about the photos is the utter urgency with which the work and workers are going about building the school.  The look in their eyes tells me that they are one determined bunch.

At any rate, I simply wanted to share the latest with you.  Feel free to pass these along to your family, neighbors and friends.  Let them know that Haitians know how to get the job done.

Though the building is being erected at a furious clip much work remains to be done.  Your continued interest and supported is appreciated and very much needed.

Again, many thanks!
Dick

We Need You!

People from all walks of life have jumped in to assist Haitians in their time of need.  From governments in every corner of the earth to the smallest charities,   citizens, young and old, have supported Haitians in their time of need.

This is an important story in the midst of what is seemingly a never-ending saga of the misery that the earthquake brought to this serene island nation.  Yet out of the hardships and heartaches I know that Haitians are doing their part to rebuild their lives.

As I write you, I am aware of Haitians erecting their own homes, starting micro businesses, and constructing schools.  It almost seems as though these resilient people are literally creating jobs out of thin air but, creating jobs they are.  All of this is a testament to forge ahead.

We at Schools Count are bound and determined to continue to aid Haitian education.  As you are well aware, there are no 'quick fixes' to an institution as large and complex as education.  We're all too familiar with this story here in America.

Schools Count has a number of fundraisers in the works right now and your helping us by supporting various fundraisers would be appreciated.  We are having a bowl-a-thon this Friday, March 19th at Willowbrook Lanes.  To sponsor a bowler simply email me at rich219@comcast.net and I'll set you up.  Red and blue 'Hands Helping Haiti' braclets will be available at the end of this week.  To buy a $2 braclet just let me know and I'll get one to you right away.  Looking to do some spring shopping?!  Why not buy a $5 ticket from us to earn a 20% off coupon and 15% off savings pass at Lord & Taylor's April 13th event?  100% of the proceeds from each of these fundraisers will go towards helping to rebuild IMN school in Haiti.

Imagine 100 people donating $5 for Lord and Taylor discounts combined with 500 people buying $2 braclets and 70 people - at $10 apiece - sponsoring a student bowling.  The resulting $2200 would go a long way towards rebuilding a $30,000 school.

Don't wait, Haitians aren't!!!  Jump in and help the children of Haiti.  We Need YOU!!

Many thanks,
Dick Flesher