Next Week's Event

Spent some time this evening getting together prints from Haiti for next week's fundraiser at the Bradfords in Claremont. Little wine, some appetizers and then tell the story of Be the Power of One. The prints have been a fun way to raise funds. Some of the shots were taken by us and others by Jean Ronal. Someday we hope to have these available to purchase directly from the website.

FACEBOOK, PAYPAL and MORE....

There will be more on this later but...just last night we set up a Facebook page for Be the Power of One. It was so easy, alot of fun and we're really excited about using this as a way to keep everyone updated on what is going on. Soon we will be including a "button" so people will be able to donate with their credit or debit card directly from this blog, the FB page or emails. Boy, the 21st century is amazing....

Today Susan and I had an interview with Kevin Lowry, a State Farm insurance agent, who is making us the first recipient of his new "Bobcat Award" he states that "the primary goal is to encourage & promote positive community efforts and unselfish acts". We are honored to be recognized and look forward to hearing about future recipients. I've attached Kevin's Facebook link for more info.  Thanks Kevin!!!



https://www.facebook.com/KevinLowry.StateFarm

Thanks All for an Amazing 2011

We would like to express our gratitude for the support you've shown over the last year to Be the Power of One.  Without this support, and your encouragement, throughout the year our efforts would have been much more difficult.  This last year was eventful, exciting, gratifying and in some cases exhausting.  Our August trip to Pignon allowed us to see some of the reconstruction progress that has been made in Port-au-Prince. The presence of heavy equipment loaded with rubble was evidence that the clean up was in full swing. On the outskirts of Port-au-Prince we saw the construction of new home tracks being built. We are sure this must be a welcome sight for Haitians who, after almost two years, are still living in tents.

 It was very good to be back in Pignon. We felt more at home and much less anxious about what adventures this trip would bring. We did have plenty of adventures involving travels over Haiti’s wicked dirt roads but those stories are for another time. It was great to see old friends and to meet many new ones. We continue to be amazed at the hospitality and friendliness of the Haitian people. We were blessed this year with six young men that helped us with the students. Their assistance was invaluable. By the end of the week we had well over 200 young students in a single classroom.  We could not have managed without their help. 

Here is a listing of what your collective support was able to provide:

1.       Drilling of a well on the school property including a secured cinder block housing. Major support came from Oakhurst Sierra, Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise and Tracy Rotary Clubs.

2.       Outdoor recreational equipment, craft supplies, toys and personal hygiene items for the students at the summer program.

3.       Several hot lunches for the 200 summer school students

4.       Four large boxes of miscellaneous school supplies; pencils, crayons, paper, paints, dictionaries, rulers, staplers and staples, folders, etc.

5.       Christmas shipment of 100 gift bags for student plus small gifts for school staff

6.       Construction of school desks for two classrooms

7.       School uniforms for students

8.       Three sets of textbooks for each classroom

9.       One year’s worth of workbooks for primary grade classes

There are probably some things we missed on this list, even so this is a tremendous amount of work completed. We are very grateful to you, as is Pastor Carsel and the students and families of Pignon. 2011 was a good year with so much accomplished.

We look forward to expanding our efforts in 2012. We would love to drill another well with the help of Haiti Outreach (they are amazing), and we’re looking to support a second school.  We are currently setting up a college scholarship program to benefit some of the young people who are anxious to further their education.  It costs about $1,500 per year, including books, tuition and travel expenses, to attend University in Haiti, and this is well beyond the means of most families there.  We also hope to expand our Send a Student to School program with a goal of 100 donors by year end.  This program is based on the idea that it only takes $10 per month per student to support a school and is an affordable way to make a big difference.

These are big plans we have that will take the efforts of many people. We ask for your continued encouragement and support. Please know that whatever form or amount your support comes in it will be put to good use.

Thanks so much !!

Tim and Susan Madden

Christmas Gifts to Haiti

Thanks to the creative efforts of the Bradford Family, the Van Werts, the Jewetts and Maddens, Susan and I have 100 beautifully decorated gift bags we are sending off to Haiti for Christmas. Each bag contains pencils, a toothbrush and toothpaste, stickers, a small stuffed animal or flute and candy canes (of course). This shipment is the result of donations throughout the year that are collected and organized so that we can provide a little something special for the students in Pignon. Susan and I sometimes kid about needing a warehouse (other than our den) to store all these items. I guess having to find a warehouse for storage would be a good problem to have.

Thanks to everyone who donated items for this year's Christmas packages. You can be assured that your donations will be much appreciated and will brings smiles to a lot of faces this holiday season.

Pignon Well Project Continued.

Just yesterday Susan and I received pictures from Jean showing the completed well house. This is the third and final step for the well project. Since my post last month a concrete slab was poured around the newly installed pump and it was prepared for the construction of the well house. Everyone here is so pleased with how smoothly the entire project went. Haiti Outreach did an amazing job bringing the project in ahead of schedule and under budget. The Oakhurst and Tracy Rotary Clubs were likewise impressed and pleased with how quickly this international project was completed. We've been told by others with more experience in international projects that Haiti is a difficult country to work in. This has not been our experience. We seem to have been guided to the right people and organizations that have made this effort unproblematic. Pastor Carsel's friendship and guidance in Haiti along with the experienced staff at Haiti Outreach have made this a rewarding process for everyone involved. We hope that we can work with Haiti Outreach again in another community. There is certainly no lack of need in Haiti.

THE WELL IS IN !!!!!

Susan and I were so excited yesterday to hear that the well in Pignon has been drilled. We were expecting it to be drilled at the end of the month but equipment was available and there was an open spot in the schedule, so Haiti Outreach went forward and made it happen. This is such a wonderful accomplishment and whether through donations or simply an encouraging word, you have all played a part. It was just about a year ago that Susan and I made this a priority in our lives and we feel so blessed that it has come to fruition. We want to give a huge "THANKS" to our friend Jean Ronal in Pignon who has provided these pictures and who has been such a good friend. He has made our efforts in Haiti much easier. Also the efforts and generosity of the Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club, the Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary Club and the Tracy Rotary Club must be acknowledge. These Clubs have gone way beyond what we expected and are the major financial support for this project.

Haiti, like most developing countries, does not know the convenience or health benefits of having fresh water each time you turn on the faucet. Thanks to our trips to Pignon, this wonderful convenience is no longer something we take for granted in our lives. This well will provide fresh water for the students at school eliminating the need to send someone to the river with a 5 gallon bucket to get water. It will also give the school the opportunity to start a community garden providing food for neighborhood families or produce that can be sold at the market. The well will be a life changing event for this Pignon neighborhood.

Again, thank you all for the support and encouragement you have shared with Susan, me and our friends in Haiti.