| January 12, 2011
Naples, Florida, January 12, 2011 – On Wednesday, January 12, 2011, Naples, Florida based 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Hope for Haiti, observed a “Day of Remembrance” with staff, volunteers and community members. After a challenging and emotional year, Hope for Haiti hosted a gathering to reflect and remember the lives that were lost, the hearts that were broken, the homes that were destroyed, and the 1.3 million families who are still homeless after the 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti’s capital and surrounding areas on January 12, 2010.
Reverend Benjamin Casimir of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Immokalee and Roman Catholic Bishop Frank J. Dewane of the Diocese of Venice, lead Hope for Haiti in prayer during the Haiti Remembrance Ceremony on January 12, 2011. |
 JoAnne Kuehner, Founder and President, and her granddaughter, Tiffany Kuehner, Vice President, pray for all who have been affected by the January 12, 2010 earthquake, during a Hope for Haiti remembrance ceremony.
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Beginning at 4:30PM, prayers were given by the Bishop Frank J. Dewane, the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Venice, Reverend Panel Marc Guerrier of Holy Name of Jesus Episcopal Church in Naples and Reverend Benjamin Casimir of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Immokalee. The service included a moment of silence at 4:53pm, the exact time of the earthquake, to reflect and offer prayers for all who died in the earthquake and through Haiti’s current struggle with cholera.
Members of the community and Hope for Haiti staff and volunteers filled the organization’s office, comforting one another by being together during this time of commemoration. Not only was this a time to reflect on the tremendous loss, pain, and sadness over this past year, but it was also a time to remember the enormous generosity, dedication, hard work, camaraderie, and love that was shown in Haiti and worldwide as we all responded to the needs of earthquake survivors.
Since the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, Hope for Haiti has been at the forefront of the emergency response and is committed to the country’s recovery. The organization has distributed over $30 million in humanitarian relief and has offered more than 14,000 volunteer hours since the earthquake alone. Hope for Haiti continues to address the country’s most immediate needs in education, nutrition, and healthcare.
Please consider making a gift in memory of all who perished in the quake and in honor of those fighting to survive by donating on Hope for Haiti’s website www.hopeforhaiti.com or contacting their Naples office 239-434-7183.