In an online webinar with Health Equity International in mid-February 2023, personnel at the St. Boniface Hospital in Fond des Blancs, Haiti, offered us an update on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti and its effects on both the hospital and the Fr. Marc Piche Elementary school in Puit Chacha. Toward the end of 2022, we had sent a donation to HEI to support their efforts during this crisis. However, during the webinar, we were advised by the hospital’s chief medical officer to keep our focus on the school. He said that it is essential for the future of Haiti that its children be educated, so he asked us to keep financial support for the school as our number one priority. We anticipate the school budget for 2023-24 (including the hot lunch program, dental care program, and tuition costs for graduates now attending secondary school) to come out to around $70,000. We will have one more collection (August 5-6) before the school budget payment is due.

Below is a financial report of our income and costs over the past five years. We share this information because we want you to know that IC Haiti has been a good steward of your generous support. In addition to meeting projected school costs, IC Haiti managed to keep a surplus of funds on hand during this five-year period to respond to emergency situations, to support health programs offered through the regional Saint Boniface Hospital, to maintain the upkeep of the school facilities in Puit Chacha, and to fund the school and lunch programs a year in advance. The beginning balance of our bank account on January 1^st 2018 was $73,805, and the ending balance on December 31^st 2022 was $45,326.  We are happy to report that support from the Collaborative remained constant even during the pandemic. Thank you and thank God for this ongoing opportunity to be instruments of His care, kindness and generosity.

This information has been reported annually to the IRS and to the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts.