By Victoria Mairal-Cruz, ’12, Contributor
From starting the Hoops for Haiti program and buying dance tickets, to helping child slaves through the Restavek foundation, students’ reaction to the crisis in Haiti “has been just remarkable,” according to Dean of Service Learning Deborah Floyd. At a lunchtime gathering last week, CCDS students brainstormed ideas for relief efforts on the island nation, which suffered a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake Jan. 17.
The first event students endorsed was “Hoops for Haiti,” in which people will pay to compete in a competition shooting hoops to gain points and win a prize. The event, which will occur at the basketball game against Summit Country Day School on Feb. 12, will consist of two parts: a raffle at halftime and a competition after the game. Ticket prices for the raffle will be $1 per ticket and six for $5. The prize for the raffle is signed sports memorabilia.
The idea was proposed by Jules Cantor, ’11. According to Cantor, after the game, 25 contestants will compete in an NBA-style three-point contest. The highest scorer will win a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods, and the Cincinnati Enquirer will likely cover the event.
“I feel there is honestly no way better to raise funds than by promoting relief aid through an event that appeals to all age groups. ‘Hoops for Haiti’ combines the urge for assistance of a nation in dire need with healthy competition and fun,” Cantor said.
Another idea discussed at the meeting was to start a branch of the Restavek Foundation at CCDS. Juniors Alanah Hall, Alexandra McInturf, and Charles McKee, supported by Upper School Modern Languages Department Chair Jeanette Hecker, presented the thought at the meeting.
The Restavek Foundation was founded by John-Robert Cadet, a former Haitian slave.
According to McInturf, the foundation “speaks for the child-slaves in a very poor country— children who are either orphaned or sold into slavery.” When asked what can be done to help the effort, McInturf said, “The best thing we can do is raise awareness…and send supplies and money.” However, she said she believes that the effort to help children should be long-term. “It was a problem … before the earthquake, and maybe it took an earthquake to bring attention to a country that is suffering.”
“[The] school would be a great place to start to raise money for the Restavek Foundation, because there’s a great… caring community here,” Hall said.
The ultimate goal is to start a branch at CCDS and sponsor a child. McKee said, “Only $30 can sponsor a child, and we are capable of raising much more than that.”
According to McKee, the charity is worth supporting because in the long term, it is making efforts to stop slavery, while in the short term the foundation is attempting to help the Haitian people in the aftereffects of the earthquake.
Dr. Hecker believes this is a worthwhile cause because as Haiti is a French-speaking country, supporting the Restavek Foundation “[combines] the French language with community service.”
The Student Council is contributing to Haiti assistance.
According to Mr. Scott Dillingham, Upper School Director of Student and Multicultural Life, Health, and PE, a portion of the profits from each ticket to the Winter Formal will go to relief efforts in Haiti. Of the $15 cost for one ticket, $2 will go to Haiti, $2 will go to Breakthrough Cincinnati, and $1 will go to Dunk for LLS, which raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The remaining $10 will contribute to prom expenses.
“We feel that there are many great relief efforts going on in the Upper School, and … other groups in the Upper School … have been involved in worthwhile relief efforts as well… I think this is a great way for the Upper School to support the Haiti relief effort. Every little bit helps,” Mr. Dillingam said.
Mr. Dillingham is right—any help that people give makes a difference. CCDS students can do a lot to help, and their reaction to the situation in Haiti is proof.
Ms. Floyd said she hoped “to be able to contribute to the relief effort for the Haitian people, particularly the children, and to continue to foster a spirit of service… in the student body.” According to Floyd, “We’ve already accomplished one of these goals.”
Photo courtesy of sirenschronicles.com.