Gonzaga Helps Haiti

TO: Gonzaga Community
FROM: Stephen Hess, SJ, Interim Vice-President for Mission
SUBJECT: Update on Gonzaga Relief Efforts for Haiti
SENT: January 28, 2010

Update on Gonzaga Relief Efforts for Haiti

The aftermath of the Haiti earthquake continues to affect the lives of an estimated three million people. During the past two weeks the Gonzaga community has responded with love and generosity by praying, donating money, and organizing fundraisers to bring comfort to our Haitian sisters and brothers. All the money being raised at Gonzaga will be donated to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) who will use the money for direct aid to Haiti. A Haiti Task Force has also been meeting regularly to assess how our campus community can best respond to the needs of Haiti, as well as keep abreast of and help coordinate the many efforts occurring across campus so that we can respond as one university community. This task force will continue to monitor the ongoing relief and recovery in Haiti and provide opportunities for continued donation, educational opportunities, and other ways or responding. Some members of the task force have also been meeting with colleagues from other higher education institutions in Spokane to discuss ways we can collaborate with our Haiti efforts during the coming weeks.

Following is a list of ways we can continue to help and events that will be occurring related to the Haiti earthquake:

Members of the Gonzaga community can continue to make on-line donations
directly to CRS at https://secure.crs.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3181&3181.donation=forml.
In person donations can be made at University Ministry located in the Crosby Student Center, the Office of the Vice-President for Mission in College Hall 207, or in the collection jugs located in various places across campus.
A “Harmonizing for Haiti” benefit concert will be held on Friday, January 29, in the Spokane Room of the COG. This event will begin at 8:00pm and feature the Big Bing Theory and other campus music groups and musicians.
A Haitian Teach-In will be held on Monday, February 22, at 6:00pm in Wolff Auditorium.
A Homecoming Dance Haiti Fundraiser will be held on Friday, February 26, in the Crosby Student Center. Tickets will be $5.
GSBA will have a ‘Hairy for Haiti’ fundraiser.
The executive committee of the staff assembly will donate $1000 to CRS in lieu of a using the money to pay for a meal at the Spring staff assembly gathering.

As we are aware from the media and other reports relief crews of all types are trying to meet the many needs of the Haitian people at this time. Members of some of the relief crews have ties to Gonzaga. Two or our ROTC alums have been deployed to Haiti to assist with relief efforts. Also, Dr. Peter Hession, the son of Jane Hession in the Business School, is volunteering his time to bring medical care to the people in Haiti. As we remember and pray for our sisters and brothers in Haiti may we also pray for Peter and all those from our Gonzaga community who are in Haiti bringing care and hope in the midst of tragedy.

TO: Gonzaga Community
FROM: Stephen Hess, SJ, Interim Vice-President for Mission
SUBJECT: Gonzaga Helps Haiti
SENT: January 14, 2010

Gonzaga Helps Haiti

The devastating 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday of this week has affected an estimated three million people, with tens of thousands dead. In the aftermath of this tragedy, relief crews are struggling to meet Haiti's immediate needs of food, water and medical supplies.

We have received word that the niece of one of our alums, Terese Hightower ('89) and Fr. Hightower, S.J. (Director of University Ministry), Molly Hightower, did not survive the collapse of the seven-story orphanage in which she was working when the earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday afternoon. Molly, a graduate of Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma and the University of Portland (2009) had gone for the year to volunteer for the organization "Friends of the Orphans." Our hearts go out to her parents, Terese, Fr. Hightower, and her entire family during this time; we give thanks for the selfless dedication to others that her work with those most in need represents. Please keep Molly, her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as we all consider ways of aiding the people of Haiti during these difficult days.

At this time of great need, the Gonzaga community is reminded of our mission to be women and men for others who reach out to those most in need, and of the dignity of all people created in the image and likeness of a compassionate Creator. Therefore, we will be coordinating a multi-part response to both the immediate and ongoing needs in Haiti.

How can I participate now?
Gonzaga will be coordinating several "Days of Donation" to address Haiti's urgent needs of food, water and medical supplies. There will be several physical and online locations where Gonzaga community members may donate money to relief work in Haiti. Donations will support Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an international humanitarian agency with more than 50 years experience in Haiti and a coordinated relief effort already in progress there.

We encourage students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents to make on-line donations directly to Catholic Relief Services at https://secure.crs.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3181&3181.donation=form1. Also, in-person donations may be made at University Ministry in Crosby Student Center, the Office of the Vice-President for Mission located in College Hall 207, or in the collection jugs located across campus.
In coordination with Catholic parishes across the country, collections at the 12:10 pm Mass on Friday, January 15 and 8:30 pm Mass on Sunday, January 17, in the Student Chapel will also be donated to Catholic Relief Services for use in Haiti.
Sodexo is joining with us by providing students the opportunity to donate some of their dining dollars for Haitian relief.

Please remember that no donation is too small - all gifts will make a difference.

How can I participate later?
A task force has been formed consisting of the Interim Vice-President for Mission, CCASL and University Ministry staff, faculty, and students who will meet regularly to assess how our campus community can best respond to the Haiti tragedy. We will continue to monitor the ongoing relief and recovery in Haiti and providing opportunities for continued donation and educational opportunities. Future efforts may include collaboration with Seattle University, our sister Jesuit university.