The Northern Trust Bank community room was transformed with the distinctive sounds of musical steel drums and vibrantly colored Haitian artwork last Friday evening, when attendees enjoyed an evening to “Educate and Celebrate” the mission of Haiti Partners – helping Haitians change Haiti through education.
Haiti Partners was founded by John Engle, who maintains homes in Haiti and Vero Beach with wife Merline and their two children, and Kent Annan, who resides in Vero Beach with wife Shelly Satran, Associate Pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church, and their two children.
“We’ve got several things going on at one time,” said Adam Bolinger, Haiti Partners board president, thanking sponsors and volunteers and welcoming guests.
Wine glasses in hand, guests wandered by the various tasting stations around the room, where specialty wines were paired with tapas dishes created by Wild Thyme Catering. Guest pourers, Rick Appel, Ray Comparetta, Al DeRenzo, Willie LaCroix, Rev. Cliff Melvin, John Moore and Al Sammartino, all looking spiffy in bow ties and white Haiti Partners aprons, manned the different stations.
Silent auction items were also displayed on tables and walls along one side of the room, and live auction artwork was exhibited at the front. Many of the items had been acquired this past January by Suzanne Bolinger during a trip to Haiti. In addition to paintings, she had chosen traditional hand-crafted Haitian artifacts, including decorative hammered metal art, carved wooden bowls, beaded jewelry and numerous other pieces.
“It’s what I think people will want to put in their homes. There’s a certain flavor to what would look beautiful in a Vero home,” explained Bolinger of her choices.
“You’re really not buying a painting,” said volunteer auctioneer Gene Cravens, encouraging bidders during one of the live auctions. “You’re making a contribution and we’re giving you a painting.”
Prior to the auction of a particularly lovely painting of dancers, Engle shared a poem that poignantly ended with the stanza: “Thank you Haiti for your invitation to dance. May we dance together with love, joy, beauty and grace.”
Noting that the cost of a scholarship to a Haiti Partners school was just $1 per day, Jeanine Harris invited guests to become scholarship sponsors, adding, “This is an easy thing; educate a child for a year.”
Through the efforts of Haiti Partners, more than 1,000 children annually receive a good education in seven primary schools, including their own Children’s Academy. The organization also provides 44 older students with scholarships to Haitian seminaries, with a goal toward becoming justice advocates in their communities on behalf of children, and has developed self-sustaining social businesses such as a bakery and a poultry farm
Like a number of other supporters, Dale Jacobs has seen first-hand what Haiti Partners has accomplished, visiting the country last October with fellow members of the Community Church of Vero Beach.
“We went to learn about Haiti and what Haiti Partners is doing,” said Jacobs. “I think what impressed me the most was the commitment of the parents of children attending the Children’s Academy. It’s incredible the commitment that they have to improve the lives of their children. Haiti Partners is all about educating children; teaching them values to improve their society – transparency, responsibility and accountability. The things that we take for granted. They’re really doing some great things.”
