Corporate Partners
Opportunity to Help
On January 11, 2010, 80% of Haitians lived on less than two dollars a day, and 50% were illiterate. On January 12, the earthquake hit, and over 4,000 schools were severely damaged or destroyed. The post-earthquake situation in Haiti, while improving, remains dire. While private citizens and international governments are giving considerable financial assistance, this does not begin to approach the levels of funding for post-Katrina reconstruction or the Marshall Plan.
Haitians are ready, willing, and capable of rebuilding for a better future, but there’s an incredible need for resources and expertise that will multiply their efforts. We believe that businesses and corporations of all kinds can help meet that need.
Philosophy and Practice
Corporate Partnerships benefit education in Haiti and provide businesses with an opportunity to exercise corporate philanthropic responsibilities, boost workforce cohesion, and improve employee morale. Ultimately, it’s a chance for all of us to live out shared values and ideals in the US and Haiti. We seek for our partnerships in Haiti, as well as in the U.S., to be grounded in humility, mutual respect, shared learning, reflection, and action as keys to long-term sustainable change.
Partnering to Make a Difference
Corporate Partners make a difference with Haiti Partners in 3 ways:
- Corporate Giving: Partner companies can make a difference for a better world—specifically through education in Haiti—and Haiti Partners will make it meaningful and encouraging for you and/or your employees to get involved. Workplace giving campaigns are a great way to bring employees together for a cause. A matching grant or pledge can also be a great motivator for employees.
- Gifts-In-Kind: Partner companies providing products in the areas of office supplies, education, physical school infrastructure, office technology, etc. can donate goods and materials to meet specific needs in Haiti and the Haiti Partners office in Florida. For more information on this opportunity, see our note on gifts-in-kind.
- Technical/Consulting Services: Partner companies with expertise and experience in our core areas (Supporting Partner Schools, Teacher Training, and Leadership Development) and support areas (web design, social media, and administration) can donate technical and consulting services.
Haiti Partners is already implementing these kinds of initiatives with a number of corporate partners, from industry-leading corporations to new media start-ups.
- Briggs & Stratton: A Fortune 1000 company, Briggs & Stratton donated 240 generators to be used in schools, clinics, churches, and non-profit offices throughout earthquake-stricken areas. This donation, worth over $250,000 dollars, has been vital in keeping relief and reconstruction efforts going over the last year. Briggs & Stratton is also featuring Haiti Partners as a principal beneficiary in their workplace giving campaigns.
- DAS Distributors: In addition to their generous long-term support for our teacher training program, DAS Distributors gave $12,000 to build cistern for the Bel Platon Community School, providing access to water for 7 staff, 133 students, and hundreds of other residents on the southern half of La Gonave. The cistern alleviates sever water shortages on the island during the dry season.
- Regal Paints: A family-owned small business based out of West Palm Beach, FL, Regal Paints has been supporting Haiti Partners since its inception. Its consistent monthly support has been a huge help over the years.
Advocates
If you’re a highly motivated individuals who want to see their company get involved in meaningful ways in Haiti, we hope you’ll consider serving as a Corporate Advocate. In this role, you’ll be the crucial nexus between HP and your company. You can make a difference by :
- Raising awareness about education in Haiti and Haiti Partners,
- Communicating the mission, philosophy, and practice of Haiti Partners,
- Exploring one or more of the above opportunities for corporate partnership
Corporate Advocates will be invited to participate (when it’s convenient for you) by:
- Conference Calls every other month where HP brings together Corporate Advocates from across the country to receive updates on the work in Haiti and brainstorm ways their respective businesses can raise awareness and support education in Haiti,
- Bi-weekly e-mails with video updates on Haiti,
- Always being able to pick up the phone or shoot an e-mail over to the Haiti Partners Staff
As an organization that places such a premium on relationships, we also hope to encourage groups of Corporate Advocates to travel to Haiti where they can meet Haitian colleagues and see the impact of their advocacy first-hand.
For More Information
Email: info@haitipartners.org, Phone: 772-539-8521
