What If? Foundation Summer 2008 Newsletter
July 20, 2008

by Margaret Trost		print version
		print version (graphics)

Dear Friends of the What If? Foundation,

Since my last newsletter, there has been no change in the near-famine conditions in Haiti.Food prices remain at an all time high, so most Haitians struggle to eat every day. Thankfully, the What If? Foundation funded food program at St. Clare's Church in Port-au-Prince is running smoothly, offering an "islet in the middle of the ocean" for 1,000 children every Monday - Friday.

We are so grateful for your financial support, which has allowed us to respond to the crisis with an increase in funding for the food program. Your donations made it possible to begin sending more money each week to pay for the rising cost of rice, beans, meat, vegetables, and cooking oil. Through your gifts, the children who find their way to the St. Clare's rectory each day receive a hot, nutritious meal, prepared with love by members of the St. Clare's community. When there is food left over (the cooks try to see that there always is) adults are served.

Beginning this week, there will be much more activity at the rectory. The beloved Summer Camp that we fund each year started on Monday, July 7th.Members of the St. Clare's community provide an incredible 6-week experience for the children who attend. In a neighborhood without any organized sports or enrichment activities, the camp is seen as the highlight of the year. CampDirector, Jean-Marie Noel, has written an overview of what he has planned - see below. All the campers receive lunch as part of the program. After they eat, the regular 1,000 + meal/day food program begins. So, for the next 6 weeks, over 1,500 meals/day will be served.

I will be going to Haiti later this month to visit the programs and meet with the St. Clare's community. We'll be talking about their vision for the future and how the What if? Foundation can best support it. I look forward to sharing news of my trip in the next newsletter.

With gratitude for your continuing support,
Margaret

Margaret Trost
President, What If? Foundation
1563 Solano Ave., #192
Berkeley, CA94707
http://www.whatiffoundation.org/

How To Donate

To help pay for meals and school scholarships, click here to visit our website.

On our website, you can donate through PayPal or by printing out a mail-in form.

All donations are tax-deductible.

Every donation, large or small, makes a difference.

Meals now cost 70 cents each - 20 cents more than a year ago due to rising food prices.

Through a largely volunteer effort, the What If? Foundation keeps administrative expenses extremely low.

In 2007, they were less than 4% of our budget, enabling us to send more than 96% of donor funds directly to the food and education programs we support in Haiti.

Summer Camp Starts This Week

From the Summer Camp Director, Jean-Marie Noel:

For the last several years, through the Summer Camp that is funded by the What If? Foundation, we have been able to work with the young people of the Tiplas Kazo community. The classes we teach are designed to help the children learn skills for the future - so that they can help themselves, their families, and their country.

This summer we have enrolled 450 children and will offer 12 workshops over a 6-week period:sewing/dress making, embroidery, pastry making, wood working, card making, drawing, calligraphy, macramé, videography, photography, computer skills, and English class.

The children love this camp!It is the highlight of the summer for them. Thank you for helping make it possible. It makes such a difference in their lives.

Our vision is to offer some of these classes year round on the weekends.

Sincerely, Jean-Marie

News from Food Program Coordinator, Madame Gabrielle

(Translated from French)

Dear What If? Foundation,

We have the pleasure to inform you that the program is running well despite the hike in food prices. We make due with what we currently have at our disposal and respond accordingly. The number of beneficiaries to the program increases each day. The recent increase in funds to pay for the food has contributed grandly to the continuing flow of the program. We pray that you will be able to continue to provide us with financial assistance.

Respectfully yours,
Madame Gabrielle

What If? Foundation Book To Be Published in September

I'm very excited to share with you that a book I (Margaret Trost) have written about my experiences in Haiti and the birth of the food program and the What If? Foundation will be in bookstores this September.

It's called "On That Day, Everybody Ate: One Woman's Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti"

Dr. Paul Farmer, the renowned physician featured in the book Mountains Beyond Mountains and co-founder of Partners In Health, has written the book's foreword. I'll send out more information as we get closer to the release date, but wanted you to know now that it's coming soon.

[Note: Satya Center applauds Margaret for her continued good works! We look forward to seeing the book & helping our readers get a copy this fall!]

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Providing Hope and Opportunity to Impoverished Children in Haiti

You can read more about Margaret's work with Fr. Jean-Juste in the What If? Foundation Archive at Satya Center.

To donate to the What If? Foundation, make checks out to the What If? Foundation and mail them to:  1563 Solano Ave., #192, Berkeley, CA  94707. Or go to the website to make a donation there.

Photos & Newsletters courtesy of Margaret Trost & the What If? Foundation.