Waste Management Presents $50,000 Donation to the Florida Marlins “Homes for Haiti” Program

COCONUT CREEK – Moved by the ongoing crisis in Haiti, Waste Management presented a $50,000 donation to the Florida Marlins “Homes for Haiti” program during the August 22nd Marlins vs. Astros game which was sponsored by Waste Management.

“Homes for Haiti” is a program by the Marlins and Coconut Creek-based Food For The Poor to build much-needed housing in Haiti.

Waste Management, which has more than 500 workers of Haitian descent in South Florida, rallied immediately after the Jan. 12 earthquake to raise $100,000 in emergency aid for Haiti. Now the company has joined the Marlins’ effort to build homes in a country where more than 1 million people have been displaced.

“We are extremely pleased to partner with Food For The Poor and the Marlins in this vital effort to bring housing and hope to those in great need,” said Dawn McCormick, Community Affairs Manager for Waste Management in South Florida.
“It is gratifying to support our Haitian co-workers, many of whom lost family members in the earthquake, by participating in this effort that will put families into permanent homes and provide them with a safe and more secure future.”

The Waste Management donation will provide 10 two-room homes. Food For The Poor homes are permanent, sturdy concrete construction with rebar reinforcements, and strong corrugated zinc roofs. The charity is ramping up its capacity for building, and homes are going up in Pierre Payen, Trou Du Nord, Demier, Chastenoye, Delogner, Gros Chaudiere, Mahotiere, Leogane, and Grand Goave.

“We are grateful for the support of Waste Management on one of the most important projects we can do right now, which is to build homes,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor.

Waste Management presents a check for $50,000 to the Marlins “Home for Haiti” project with Coconut Creek-based Food for the Poor to build the Inspiration village of new, permanent homes in Haiti. From left: Lil Billy; Angela Smith, Marlins Director of Community Outreach; Coconut Creek Mayor Lisa Aronson; Marlins Catcher John Baker; Dawn McCormick, Community Affairs Manager, Waste Management; Mark Khouri, Director of Goods in Kind, Food for the Poor; and Billy the Marlin.
Several thousand Waste Management employees from throughout South Florida joined Coconut Creek city and community leaders at the WM sponsored game. In addition, Cathyana Marcel, a student at Coconut Creek High School, threw out the first pitch in recognition of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County “Bigs in Schools” program which pairs high school student mentors with students from Coconut Creek Elementary School The program is sponsored in Coconut Creek by Waste Management.