Haiti Flight Update -- January 2009

Leslie Sosnowski Reports Following Hurricane Relief Aircraft Charter and Deliveries

On December 19, 2008,

Airline Ambassadors

coordinated a Charity Flight to Haiti. 

$1,000,000 worth of aid reached the devastated regions.

The success of this enormous disaster relief effort was evident and critical in many communities throughout the country.

Many thanks to William Dise and George Hazy Gen.Manager for American Airlines in Miami. 

American lent Airline Ambassadors an A-300 aircraft. Ruth Matranga, AAI's Miami Director,

A good time was had by all! Two human chains formed down both aisles of the plane and aid was unloaded down both stairways.  Christmas carols were sung to lighten the load in the high temperatures.

coordinated a crew of 11 volunteers

(pilots and flight attendants). 

Forty people rode on the plane:  AA employees, press, Nancy Rivard, President of Airline Ambassadors, various project representatives and donors.  A delegation of 7 people remained in Haiti for the weekend to work to get the aid out, form relationships with officials, and visit projects.

The cargo hold was filled and every overhead bin was stuffed with aid.  Four TV crews also joined the flight.  Many thanks to Leslie Sosnowski who helped raise funds for fuel for the aircraft.  

Our success for this mission was due particularly

to American Airlines and we never could have accomplished so much without this spectacular support --    largely to you, Frank Campagna!

The Haiti Mission Report Continues

With Further Distribution of Aid. 

This is the beginning...

The following summary is comprised of the logistics and accomplishments in the

Haiti Missions of December 2008 and January 2009.

• Over $1 million worth of aid procured, shipped and distributed.

• A group of about 40 people flew on the airbus donated by American Airlines on a relief mission to Haiti.  The group consisted of American Airlines Miami-based crew, and some Colorado-based humanitarians.

• Funds for the fuel costs were raised by friends of William Dise, in Colorado and Chicago.

• Medical supplies for 2 different medical missions that operate out of Colorado were shipped.  The Colorado Haiti Project and St. Mary Corwin shipped and received vital supplies for their January medical missions.

• On ground effort co-ordinated by Dr. Roger Jean-Charles who continues to work with the Civil Protection Corps, in Haiti, to ensure final and equitable distribution to the Haitian people.  Haitian Ambassador to U.S. was supportive in this endeavor.

• 11 donors of goods, 10 beneficiaries  including some “pass through projects" who shipped their supplies down and received them in Haiti.
• Some ground transport in U.S. donated (e.g. Kangaroo shipping for St. Mary Corwin).
• The Honorable Raymond A. Joseph, the Haitian Ambassador to the United States of America, helped facilitate the arrangements for this mission.  He was available by phone 24/7 to the delegates and also, through his family and friends, at Melky Jean’s CARMA Foundation.  Thank you,  Ambassador Joseph!

Airline Ambassadors extends our heartfelt gratitude to singer/songwriter Melky Jean,

who is the spokesperson for SolesUnited^sm in Haiti.  Melky's CARMA Foundation donated shoes,

from her project warehouse, to the Haiti psychiatric facility.  Melky's cousin, Guiders Kernizan,

arranged the distribution of the Croc’s™/SolesUnited^sm Shoes at Croix des Bouquets.

Our sincerest thanks to Melky, Guiders, and the CARMA Foundation!

December 19, 2008 American Airlines airbus arrives for Haiti Disaster Relief Mission.   Flying to Haiti!	A reception would be held at the hotel Montana for the delegates, hosted by Leslie Sosnowski and Dr. Jim Smith Over 63,000 lbs of aid was shipped on the December 19th airbus -- from Miami to Haiti. Every overhead compartment, from row 19 to the rear of the aircraft, was filled.  Aid was also under every seat and in the cargo hold.
Melissa Koester, Leslie Sosnowski,  and Dr. Jim Smith leave Miami for Haiti Disaster Relief.	A warm welcome from our ground crew in Haiti to unload the airbus on December 1, 2008
Dr. Jim Smith and Melissa Koester relax for a minute.	Fr. Kesner Gracia of the St. Paul’s mission and the Colorado Haiti Project, with William Dise.
Dr Roger Jean Charles (pictured at left) was instrumental in this mission.  Pictured left to right:  Dr. Roger Jean Charles, Dr. Jim Smith, a local dignitary	Dr. Jim Smith, a local dignitary, and Leslie Sosnowski,
Friendships across projects: Pictured left to right: Guiders Kernizan of CARMA, William Dise of AAI, Fr. Kesner Gracia of The Colorado Haiti Project  with Jacob Smith (12 yrs) son of Dr. Jim Smith of St. Mary Corwin Foundation of Pueblo, Colorado   The aid is welcomed by the community of Petit Trou de Nippes, at the St. Paul’s mission.	Jacob Smith has found a new friend in a local boy at the mental health hospital in Croix des Bouquets.  Our visit brought shoes and more importantly, hope to the people who live here.  It is so important that they know they are remembered. A happy recipient of some of the aid shipped by Airline Ambassadors.  This girl lives in the community of Petit Trou de Nippes.  Her community was preparing for the upcoming medical mission.  Over 100 duffle bags of supplies were shipped on the airbus.  The St. Paul’s mission also was delighted to receive some of the LDS hygiene kits and health kits.
Children in the village of Croix des Bouquets with their new shoes from Croc’s/SolesUnitedsm.	Thank you, Croc’s/SolesUnitedsm!
Leslie Sosnowski, William Dise, and Mikerland (our new friend in Haiti).	An informal meeting with Jacques Edouard Alexis. Pictured left to right:   members of the AAI delegation and other local Dr’s, Dr. Jeune, Melissa Koester, Dr. Garody, Jacques-Eduard Alexis, William Dise, Leslie Sosnowski, Dr. Jim Smith, Fr. Kesner Gracia, Dr. Roger Jean-Charles.
Airline Ambassadors volunteers meet dignitaries in Haiti. Leslie Sosnowski, Mikerland (our new friend in Haiti), and Melissa Koester.	Croc’s™ Shoes , through the SolesUnitedsm program, arrive in Haiti!   Thank you!

Sharyn Dyer and Denise Fairfax surround their new Haitian friend, Mikerland.

 

The American Airlines' airbus delivery made many follow-up missions possible. 

The supplies continue to be distributed in Haiti.  In December, Dr. Jim Smith documented the

American Airlines' /Airline Ambassadors' delivery with a MobileMe Gallery. 

Another Photo Gallery, provided by Dr. Jim Smith, documents the on-going distribution of supplies, in Gonaives,

by Dr. Roger Jean-Charles and Dr. Jim Smith's team, in mid-January 2009.

As mentioned in our latest eUpdate, Airline Ambassadors' next major project, in Haiti,

is to build a hospital in the high lands of Gonaives. 

You can help by visiting our Donate to a Project page and visiting the Haiti Disaster Relief entry.

Thank you to all of our members for making this work possible!

 

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