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Update #19 —- A Timely Message to Friends and Donors of Fonkoze Regarding the Earthquake
Wed., Jan. 27, 2010 – 4:05 PM (EST)
Fonkoze USA continues to closely track developments on the ground in Haiti in order to share those developments with our friends throughout the country, and guide us in allocating resources for the relief and rehabilitation effort in the weeks and months ahead. Below, we have excerpted a report from Carine Roenen, Director of the Fonkoze Family Member Organization that initiates and incubates new branches and new services, earlier this afternoon:
“A plan for inspecting earthquake-damaged offices has been put in place. Alexandre Hector, Director of Operations, will go to Gantye and Kabare on Friday accompanied by an engineer. The same engineer will also inspect all the other branches in the Western department in the coming weeks. Staff is also coordinating with an international NGO that will come to inspect Fondwa, Jakmel (the new office) and possibly Marigo. The NGO will train two engineers, so that they can continue the inspections in all of the other branches.”
Fonkoze has been highlighted in the media, but always to the extent and in a manner that we believe is appropriate given our accomplishments and capacity. However, you may be interested in the following three excellent features about Fonkoze:
- Katleen Felix, Fonkoze’s Haitian Diaspora Liaison, was interviewed along with Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University, yesterday on National Public Radio (NPR). For a transcript of the interview, please visit: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122986056
- From: America.gov, produced by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs a description of how Fonkoze with tremendous civilian and government assistance got desperately needed cash to Fonkoze operations in Haiti:
http://www.america.gov/st/business-%09english/2010/January/20100125173456berehellek0.4566767.html - From: The Women’s Media Center, an article entitled, “Micro-lender Fonkoze to the Rescue in Haiti,”` by Peggy Simpson -- Able to quickly reach a well-developed network of women throughout the country, an alternative banking system performs while the Haitian economy is in shambles: http://womensmediacenter.com/blog/2010/01/micro-lender-fonkoze-to-the-rescue-in-haiti/
Yesterday, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that donations to aid Haiti have exceeded $470 million. So far, Fonkoze USA has secured donations and commitments totaling more than $1.5 million, and we are negotiating some additional grants. We are grateful that so many organizations and individuals have recommended us as an organization to which people can send Haiti donations at this critical time.
For friends in the United Kingdom, BRAC UK is doing a great job of supporting Fonkoze’s efforts in Haiti. UK donors may contribute through BRAC UK’S website: http://www.bracuk.net/default.aspx?id=5. They will receive the benefits of charitable giving in the UK since BRAC UK is a fully registered non-profit there.
I would also remind you that legislation in the U.S. has now been put in place for donors to elect to take a tax deduction for aid to Haiti in tax year 2009 or 2010. Donations must be made after Jan. 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010.
Contributions are needed to fund Fonkoze’s Relief and Rehabilitation effort that will:
- help our staff members return to work so that they can stabilize their own lives and continue to serve our borrowers
- open an emergency operations center to re-establish banking for the poor and transfer remittances to clients and numerous non-profit agencies serving Haiti
- acquire equipment and facilities to replace what was destroyed
- provide financial resources to ensure that new loans are available for women who have lost their businesses and need to re-establish them
- assist clients who lost their homes with house building and repair financing
Donate online at this link using Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
Make checks payable to FONKOZE USA and mail contributions to:
FONKOZE USA
50 F Street, NW
Suite 810
Washington, DC 20001
Fonkoze continues to need your prayers and financial support!
Sincerely,
John Mercier
President
Fonkoze USA