Since the earthquake, the outpouring of support for Haiti and Partners In Health has been astounding. Individuals have donated their savings; schools, churches, and businesses have taken up collections; and enterprising and generous supporters have organized concerts, parties and bake sales, donated their birthday and wedding gifts, and led marches and rallies. Many have run marathons or ridden their bikes for hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to raise money for Haiti. In total, supporters registered more than 450 events on our online calendar. But from phone calls, emails, letters and conversations, we know that's just the tip of the iceberg.
The web continues to play a crucial role in our supporters' efforts and interactions with PIH. Online groups, like the Harry Potter Alliance, banded together with other fan clubs to raise $123,000—proving that online communities can have an incredible impact. On PIH.org, more than 2,500 personal fundraising pages have been set up, enabling individuals and groups to raise more than $2.3 million for our work in Haiti. Our online supporters’ collective goal for all PIH programs has now increased to more than $17 million.
Students across the country have shown unprecedented initiative in their responses to the earthquake. Students at Dartmouth University, where PIH co-founder Jim Kim is the current president, led the charge. Subsequently, a spontaneous student movement took form, as students at more than 100 campuses rallied for more support. One of the highlights came when PIH issued the Students For Haiti Challenge, and called upon college and university students to raise $50,000 for PIH in just one week. To raise the stakes, the Entrepreneurs Foundation’s Help Haiti Fund offered to match the students’ donations dollar for dollar for seven days, or until they reached the $50,000 goal—whichever came first. By the end of the week, the students had blown past the goal, raising $110,682, for a total donation of $160,682.
A tremendous amount remains to be done, but it is impossible to measure the gratitude we carry for all those who have stepped forward to support our work and Haiti. And when speech fails us, we rely on the emotional thank you video recorded by supporter Cliff Landis.
As we mark six months after the earthquake and look to the challenges ahead, we are heartened by knowing that more than 200,000 supporters have joined with the people of Haiti and PIH to work for a brighter future.
