SOPUDEP Recognized In Upcoming Canadian Fundraiser Event
SOPUDEP School is honored to be recognized as an important social program in Haiti in amongst such wonderful organizations such as Dr. Paul Farmers Partners In Health and Baptist Haiti Mission Canada. These groups, including the school, are being featured as part of a fundraiser taking place March 1st in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with a portion of proceeds going to SOPUDEP School.
The event was masterminded and organized by Lisa White, Matthew Levy, and Hector Johnson, along with members of the C.H.A.N group (Canada Haiti Action Network). The night includes live entertainment, including Singers Sibel Thrasher and Hector Johnson, Comedian Chris Molineaux, Haitian MC Vlad Lubin, Juggler Matt Levy, and Keynote Speaker - Filmmaker/Journalist Kevin Pina with excerpts of his latest film: Haiti: "We Must Kill All the Bandits"
SOPUDEP and The Sawatzky Family Foundation can't thank all these people enough for their hard work and dedication in their effort to raise awareness and support for the school.
Thank you to all involved!
Ryan Sawatzky
Here is their official press release:
"Haiti: Clay in our hands, Hope in our hearts"
- a multifaceted event including a live stage show, silent auction with art, pottery and varied items, refreshments, and acclaimed filmmaker/journalist Kevin Pina.
When: Sunday March 1st @ 3:00-6:30pm.
Where: South Delta Baptist Church 1988 56th Street Delta, BC V4L 2B1
What: (Doors open at 3:00pm) Silent Auction / 3:00-4:00, Stage Show 4:00-5:30pm, Light Refreshments Filmmaker/Journalist Kevin Pina 5:30-6:15 pm. Questions and Answers 6:15-630 Close and Thanks 630.
Cost: Tickets $20.00 for first person, $10.00 for tickets thereafter, children by donation. Tax receipts available.
Who: Jazz/gospel sensation Sibel Thrasher, Comedy legend Chris Molineaux, Haitian MC Vlad Lubin, Singer Hector Johnson, Juggler Matt Levy , Keynote Speaker - Filmmaker/Journalist Kevin Pina with excerpts of his latest film: Haiti: "We Must Kill All the Bandits" as well as stilt walkers, dancers, magician, spoken-word and much more.
Why: Haiti has been battered by 3 hurricanes in 2008, international debt, rising food prices, 80% unemployment, political challenges, deforestation, high mortality, malnutrition along with homelessness, AIDS and Tuberculosis. It is amongst the poorest countries in the world and the poorest in North America.
Donations support these suggested charities:
1. Partners in Health - Dr. Paul Farmer (Harvard) – the award winning founder of PIH trains 3rd world health care professionals to combat AIDs, tuberculosis and to open multiple health centers. With nine hospitals in countries such as Haiti, Rwanda, Russia, Mexico, and Peru; P.I.H. is the global leader in grass roots, sustainable medicine. Please investigate their good work at http://www.pih.org
2. SOPUDEP - A Haitian school that provides food and education for nearly 500 homeless children. Despite funding challenges and a lack of many essentials, including textbooks, SOPUDEP remains a model of educational excellence. A major supporter for the school has been The Sawatzky Family Foundation, a Canadian charity. Please investigate their good work at http://www.sopudep.org
3. Baptist Haiti Mission Canada- for more than 60 years BHM has served 335 schools, 1 hospital, and various clinics and churches. Yearly they provide 600,000 meals to school children and 260,000 textbooks to these schools. Please investigate their good work at http://www.bhm.org
• At the door make cheques payable to your charity of choice and you will receive a tax receipt for your donation.
• All monies received go straight to charities and overhead for the event is our donation. No offerings will be taken.
• Kindly call or email to reserve tickets or to offer help. Any help with art or other items for the silent auction gratefully accepted.
• No-one will be turned away for lack of funds. For those unable to afford the suggested cost we simply ask that you give what you can :).
"Haiti: Clay in our hands, Hope in our hearts"
Contact: Lisa White
Phone: 604-328-1496
Email: haitianevent2009@live.ca or
Email: levymatt42@yahoo.com