Haitian Fundraising Dinner Successful in Spite of Short Notice

After the parent of three Baltimore International Academy students suggested that the school organize a fundraiser for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, plans went into motion quickly.

The parent, Mr. Davis, requested permission from the BIA Board of Directors to have a fund-raising dinner for Haiti. He stated that he would spearhead the event with the help of the PTO. The Board approved his request during their January 16th meeting.

Two days later, on Monday morning, he had produced a flyer for the event and dropped it off at the school. He also made arrangements with a restaurant for a portion of the food that would be provided for the affair. The parents and school staff agreed to donate the rest of the food. Everyone’s generosity resulted in so much food that people were able to have second servings! Students provided entertainment, with poetry in French and African dancing. Speakers included Mr. Franz Cadet, a native Haitian who is BIA’s PE instructor, Mr. Bien-Ame, also a native Haitian who now lives in Baltimore and has a daughter in BIA, and Madame Kona-Facia Nepay, President of the BIA Board of Directors.

Despite only being organized on four days’ notice, the Jan. 22 event raised $1,200, according to Ms. Jeanne Cobb, IB PYP coordinator at BIA. “I give a lot of credit to the parents and students,” who filled the BIA cafeteria for the event, she said. Parents paid $10.00 for dinner while students paid $5.00. Many families have also donated clothes and other supplies for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, was struck with a Magnitude 7.0 earthquake on January 12, that killed about 250,000 people and destroyed most of the city.

In addition to the fund-raising dinner, students participated in a “Dollar Dress-Down Day,” a popular event that allows students to pay one dollar not to wear their school uniforms for the day. The proceeds from that event were added to the money from the dinner.

BIA is seeking a source that will donate matching funds when it donates the money to a non-profit active in Haiti.