Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition raising funds to help family victims of school collapse

MIAMI – The Haitian-American Community in South Florida expressed its solidarity with the Haitian Parents whose children are victims of the recent school building collapse in Haiti where 98 children died and 150 were injured when La Promenade school collapsed in the matinee of November 7, 2008.

Leaders of the Haitian-American community in South Florida met this week in order to come with a plan to assist these families.

The Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition (HAGC) in collaboration with other community partners will provide assistance to 150 children , will raise funds, and provide custom made body bags for the deceased. HAGC is also in the process of negotiating with the Florida Association of Volunteers for the Caribbean (FAVACA) in order to send a team of mental health professionals to help in the counseling of victims and there families.

HAGC is urging Haitian authorities to put in place policies and proper resources to help in implementing better code-enforcement and impose drastic penalties, on chronic violators, said Jean-Robert Lafortune, Chairman of the Haitian-American grassroots Coalition, a Miami-based Haitian-Advocacy group.

We are making an appeal to all people of goodwill to come out an help these grieving families. “I urge everyone to contribute to this collective effort”, said Marleine Bastien, FANM Executive Director and also an official of the Coalition.

Donations can be sent to:

HAITI RELIEF FUND, Re: School Collapse
Eustache Fleurant
Bank of America
Acct:229011888173
9499 NE #2 Ave
Miami Shores, Florida 33138

For additional information call Marleine Bastien at: 305-756-8050 or Mr. Lafortuene at: 305-785-4248