Haiti Relief Effort

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near its capitol, Port-au-Prince. Already the poorest nation in the Americas, Haiti has been decimated by the earthquake. The Haitian government has reported over 200,000 people killed, 300,000 treated for injuries, and 250,000 homes destroyed.

The day after the earthquake, then-Interim President Davitt McAteer asked Dr. Dominick DeFilippis and myself to head Wheeling Jesuit University’s response. We invited the Service for Social Action Center to coordinate student efforts and the Appalachian Institute to provide additional input and support. During the first week of classes, this group, along with students, met to plan the response.

Because of the difficulty of transporting material goods safely and cheaply to Haiti, the committee focused the University’s efforts on financial support. Although an initial designee, the school benefiting from The Haitian Project was minimally affected by the earthquake, and so the committee redirected the University collection to Jesuit Refugee Services, Partners and Health, and Catholic Relief Services. The students have set a goal for campus to raise $5,000.

This web page serves as a source for information on the University’s response, including the financial collection total, events to raise funds and awareness, prayers, and other resources on Haiti. If you would like more information or have suggestions, please contact me (jbrogan@wju.edu, x2168) or the organizer of a specific event, if listed.

Please continue to keep the people of Haiti in your prayers, and thank you for your generosity.

Sincerely,
Jamey Brogan
Director
Office of Campus Ministry