Saturday, November 29, 2014

Dominique-René de Lerma: BLUMEHaiti.org Fall 2014 Newsletter: Message from Janet Anthony, President

Janet Anthony, President

This Newsletter is forwarded by Dominique-René de Lerma

Message from the President


Welcome to our Fall 2014 newsletter!

BLUME Haiti is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization working with Haitian and international partners to develop leadership skills, awaken individual potential and to create opportunities for social and civic collaboration, and economic development through music education and performance in Haiti.

In our last newsletter we noted that BLUME Haiti has offered support to 18 music programs in 8 of Haiti’s 10 departments serving close to 4,000 students click here for a map these 18 programs.) Since then, requests for support have come in from several more programs in far-flung provinces as well as in the Port-au-Prince area.To ensure to the best of our ability that your donations are well managed, BLUME Haiti only supports programs that we have personal knowledge of. To that end, I will be in Haiti in December and hope to make site visits to a number of new programs that have requested our support.

In this newsletter we would like to remind you that the holiday season is coming up – consider giving back by giving to BLUME Haiti duirng our holiday giving campaign. We also feature The Loft Violin Shop and Antonio Violins, two of our very generous sponsors, board member Scott Harrison, and a recent visit to the Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities made by board member Carolyn Desrosiers to screen a film she co-directed (Bel Son Productions – Kenbe La – Hold on) and to speak on activism through the arts.

Last year, more than 10,000 organizations in 46 countries came together to celebrate #GivingTuesday.  This year, the third annual, global Giving Tuesday will take place on December 2nd and BLUME Haiti is proud to be part of this event.  So, what is Giving Tuesday? Coming right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this is a global day of giving that serves to bring together charities, families, individuals and businesses to “transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.” What will you give back on #Giving Tuesday?

I can’t tell you how many people in Haiti, youngsters and adults, have told me that music saved their lives. Music is a potent tool of communication through which we can move to feelings and emotions beyond the capacity of words to express.  Many Haitians grow up in circumstances unimaginable to most of us and, through their participation in music programs, find a way to move their lives forward in a positive direction. Program administrators, parents and students themselves tell us that studying music offers an alternative to gangs, violence, drugs, and prostitution and allows children to imagine a different future for themselves. Will you help us continue this mission?

Even a small, individual donation can have an oversize impact. In 2015 we hope to:
  • Increase the number of teacher salaries we supplement (currently we support teacher salaries in four programs)
  • Offer more scholarships to promising young students
  • Continue to bring instruments and supplies (sheet music, strings, reeds) to music programs throughout the country.
Please join us as we seek to change the life trajectory of many of Haiti’s youth.

If you would like to find out more about how you can help, contact: info@blumehaiti.org.
You may make a tax-deductible contribution directly online at: http://www.blumehaiti.org/donate.html

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