By all accounts, the 2015 HavServe Fundraising and Volunteer Recognition Gala on January 17 in Silver Spring, MD was a huge success. A very diverse group of more than 275 attendees ― at any given moment, one could hear more than five different languages being spoken among the crowd ― were treated to the talents of amazing local Haitian-American musicians, singers and folk dancers. And of course, there would be no Haitian gathering without a wide variety of exquisite Haitian cuisine, all prepared by HavServe volunteers.
Since HavServe was founded in response to the devastation caused by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, it is its custom to commemorate the victims in some way each year. This year, the evening began with the recitation of a moving poem “A Prayer for the People of Haiti,” written by Rabbi Naomi Levy, to the accompaniment of the “Theme from Schindler’s List” played on the violin by two youth volunteers. That sublime moment of paying homage to those who perished reminded us of the words of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel about never silently standing by whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering.
The 2015 fundraising gala was an occasion for HavServe Volunteer Service Network to renew our commitment to never stand by silently while the most vulnerable are denied the right to a basic education and, therefore, a fair chance at a brighter future. It was a time to reflect on ways to continue working to improve the lives of those in a remote village somewhere in the mountains of Haiti who could not be present in that gathering at the Civic Center, but were never too far from our hearts. Gala attendees were invited to join HavServe in our quest to “shape Haiti’s future one child at a time,” through the organization’s efforts to improve the whole environment of the children of Lebrun, Haiti and equip them to successfully complete a quality, basic education. The evening culminated in a rousing call to action, encouraging everyone to make an impact by donating their time, talent, technical expertise and their dollars.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our attendees, volunteers, donors, supporters for their ongoing support and participation. Your unwavering support makes the dream of shaping Haiti’s future one child at a time an achievable goal.
