Saturday, Feb. 13, starting at 7:30 p.m.: Attend the Open Your Heart for Haiti Valentine's Party - A benefit. Enjoy an evening of live music and an auction at Old Arizona, 2821 Nicollet Ave S. Teh suggested admission fee is $25 - $100 and all proceeds will go to Haiti Outreach, a locally supported nonprofit that has been working in Haiti for 12 years.
Support Rebuilding for Haiti through the Cooperative Emergency Fund
On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed most of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. Millions of people have lost their homes, workplaces, and family members. The extent of the devastation is severe; many of Haiti’s cooperatives have been severely damaged and many of those they serve are in severe need.
The Cooperative Development Fund has a fund strictly for the purpose of assisting people in times like these: The Cooperative Emergency Fund. The goal of this fund is to help re-establish the cooperatives of countries devastated by disaster so that they can once again serve their members, and their countries.
The Cooperative Emergency Fund will donate all monies received from now until July 2010 to help the rebuilding efforts in Haiti.
CDF will collaborate with international cooperative relief efforts in this endeavor to rebuild those co-ops afflicted by the disaster. Over the last 20 years, CDF has raised over $275,000 for cooperative relief and rebuilding efforts for ten different disasters. The CEF was founded to give stability and constancy to CDF’s emergency relief efforts, many of which are of a longer-term rebuilding nature.
Donate online by going to http://www.cdf.coop or send a check to:
Cooperative Emergency Fund
c/o Cooperative Development Foundation
2011 Crystal Dr., Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22202
Why Rebuilding?
Time after time, donations spike in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, a huge portion of the funds donated are spent on setting up disaster-relief operations that may no longer be the primary need, and six months later, reconstruction stalls because the world's attention has moved elsewhere. Rebuilding efforts are generally underfunded, but they meet the need that remains after the initial crisis has passed. By supporting cooperative rebuilding, you are supporting sustainable, people-centered recovery that focuses on meeting member needs. You are helping to rebuild social and economic institutions that are controlled by and accountable to their members.
UPDATE: Nordic Naturals has just launched its "Open Your Heart to Haiti" campaign, through wich it will contribute 1% of sales during heart health month (February 1–28) to Architecture for Humanity from their best-selling product, Ultimate Omega™ (all sizes of liquid and soft gels). These efforts will deliver funds for the community-focused, long-term sustainable reconstruction initiative of the capital city, Port-Au-Prince.
Look for the shelf signs in the Wellness Department or click here to learn more.
