South Florida Private Country Clubs Partner with Food For The Poor to Build New School in Petit Goave, Haiti

BOCA RATON – The Florida Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) today announced the “We Care Haiti Relief Aid” Program continues to benefit citizens of Haiti through generous contributions to the CMAA Club Foundation by committing to build a new school in Petit Goave, Haiti located 25 miles south of Port Au Prince in conjunction with Food For The Poor, which is currently ranked as the largest international relief organization based in the U.S. and ranked as the fourth largest overall charity in the U.S.

The new school will educate approximately 125 children ranging in age from 6 to 14 and will consist of six classrooms, two offices and restroom facilities. According to Food For The Poor President/CEO Robin Mahfood, “The children of Petit Goave have limited access to school, and prior to the earthquake, the schoolhouse was in dire need of extreme improvements and expansions to serve the entire community. We are grateful to J.J. Sehlke, Managing Partner, Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale for bringing Food For The Poor and the Club Managers Association of America together on this project.”

Jay DiPietro, CMAA Club Foundation Chairman and President, Boca West Country Club added, “The CMAA Club Foundation is honored to have the opportunity through the generosity of members and staff from over forty private clubs who contributed to make this new school become a reality through the We Care Haiti Relief Aid Program.”

The Club Foundation received $55,000 in donations; $50,000 will be allocated to the construction costs of the new school and the remaining $5,000 is reserved for underwriting the school’s operational expenses for the first year.

“We all agree that most importantly, the school will give the children and community of Petit Goave hope for a better, brighter future,” commented Craig D. Martin, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of St. Andrews Country Club of Boca Raton and Founder of the We Care Haiti Relief Aid Program. “All of us are grateful to the outpouring of donations from our members and employees who were instrumental in providing relief to so many earthquake victims in Haiti.”

As part of relief efforts, most Florida CMAA private clubs provided two options to consider for their members and staff to donate to the “We Care Haiti Relief Aid” Program. Over 85% of the almost $500,000 collected provided direct money to those employees with family in the affected areas who were in need of aid and support. The second option was a tax deductible contribution to the CMAA Club Foundation.

South Florida private country club General Managers through their Club Managers Association of America’s Club Foundation present Food For The Poor with a check for $55,000 to build a new school in Petit Goave, Haiti. The funds will also cover one year’s operating expenses.
PRNewsFoto/St. Andrews Country Club