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About the St. Boniface
Haiti Foundation
Did
You Know....
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What
SBHF Does
From small beginnings--a 1981 parish Walk for Hunger in Quincy, Massachusetts--the
St. Boniface Haiti Foundation has expanded to become an independent organization
able to consistently and significantly aid the people of a desperately
poor rural region of the Republic of Haiti. SBHF supports and helps operate
a hospital and a nutrition center, as well as outreach and education programs.
In all its work in Haiti, SBHF closely cooperates and consults with local
residents, government, and other non-profit initiatives.
(More on our history)
The
Haitian Dilemma
Once fought over by Spain and France as the lushest and most valuable colony in
the Western Hemisphere, Haiti is today its poorest country. Despite a nascent
democracy, Haiti has few remaining natural resources to aid in its economic
reform and recovery. Its mountainous terrain is 97 percent deforested. Soil
erosion and lack of rainfall combine to make adequate farming and livelihood beyond the reach of its rural population. Even the staple
food rice, once a prized export, must now be imported from producers in
the U.S. The country is an ecological disaster, with no solution in sight.
The population of Haiti is 8.3 million. Denied the necessities and access to basic services that most Westerners
take for granted, eighty percent of all Haitians fall below the World
Bank's absolute poverty level. The illiteracy rate is 65 percent while
the unemployment rate is a staggering 70 percent. The average annual income
has fallen in this decade from $325 to $250 and continues to fall due to inflation. The difficulties of daily
life, i.e. no electricity, no telephones, severe shortage of water and
lack of transportation, all contribute to a variety of chronic and acute
medical problems. (More facts on Haiti)
The democratic government in Haiti, while aware of the pressing need
of its people for improved health, educational and social services, has
the daunting task of trying to rebuild the nation economically and politically
with minimal resources and little "outside" support.
St.
Boniface Hospital
St. Boniface Hospital, in the south-central region of Fond des Blancs,
is a private, non-profit effort to help meet this need. The hospital offers
a 32-bed inpatient unit and round-the-clock Emergency Room service. In the year 2000,
a new surgical unit and nutrition center were built. St. Boniface
Hospital treats over 45,000 patients per year; these numbers continue to
to increase as we add new facilities and expand our services.
St. Boniface Hospital is a project of the Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation
of Randolph, Massachusetts.
Haitian doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals, assisted by U.S.
volunteers, provide day-to-day patient care
and run the hospital's many programs. Dr. Wilfrid Cadet oversees
all areas of the hospital as Directeur General. In addition to St. Boniface Hospital's permanent
staff, ongoing work retreats from the U.S. bring doctors and other medical specialists
to the hospital to provide critically needed expertise. Groups come from Jacksonville, Florida, Lewiston, Maine, Chicago and the Boston area.
 Environmental and Social Impact
Although its mission is primarily medical, the presence of St. Boniface
Hospital contributes to the economic, social and environmental development
of the area. The Foundation provides community support in ways both large and small,
the effects of which are frequently beyond measure. Our Scholarity Program to pay
school tuitions is a testament to the value we place on education for someday
pulling the country out of its present quagmire.
Also, deep-wells for cleaner water have been installed and/or repaired; simple
dwellings are being constructed. The village now hosts a successful reforestation
project. Health education and prayer groups meet regularly at St. Boniface
Hospital. The St. Boniface buildings run on solar energy supplemented with generator back-up.
Networking
and Community Collaboration
St. Boniface Haiti Foundation promotes collaboration and networking. It supports
the concept of community-based networks by working with
a variety of groups both in Haiti and the U.S. These groups include the community
in Fond des Blancs, a large support base in Concord, Massachusetts, St. Vincent Medical
Center in Jacksonville, Florida, St. Mary's Medical Center in Lewiston,
Maine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and St. Boniface Haiti Foundation in Randolph, Massachusetts.
Financial
Support
The Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation's growth in cashflow for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 -
money invested directly for the health of Haiti's people - amounted to $1,391,717.
(Financial Statement) Contributions come primarily
from working and middle-class individual donors. SBHF is also supported
by such larger entities as the Hershey Family Foundation, St. Vincent Foundation,
Christian Aid Ministry,
and Medicine for Humanity's Lifeline program of pharmaceutical donations. The St.
Boniface Hospital uses limited resources in a responsible way, relying on contributions
of medicines, supplies, expertise and services to stretch its funding. In Haiti,
not a drop of water or a grain of rice goes to waste. By maintaining our total
overhead at 13 percent, we are keeping our fiscal spending in line with this philosophy.
in addition, volunteers give untold hours to the Foundation. Participants of our
Work Retreat Program
carry in donated medicine and supplies and pay their own way at an average
cost of $1,200 per person in order to reach out to those trapped in the
desperate poverety of Haitian life.
Summary
Note
The St. Boniface Hospital is administered by a dedicated staff, and
is able to point to excellent accountability for all of its funding
services and medicines. The population of Fond des Blancs shows great
hospitality to volunteers and generous appreciation for the collaborative
effort with the Saint Boniface Haiti Foundation. The Hospital affirms
the dignity of those being served by treating each person with compassion
and respect. In providing medical access to this vulnerable and extremely
poor population, the project heeds Christ's teaching:
"What you do for one of these least ones, you do for Me."
Matt
25:40
Board of Trustees
John Logue,MHA, Chair
Former hospital administrator, present Director of Spirituality Center
at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Jacksonville, Florida. Active member
of Foundation for 20 years. Leads groups on Work Retreat. Heads
Florida Chapter of Foundation.
Orange Park, FL
perlog@aol.com
Rev. Richard DeVeer, Vice-Chair
Former pastor of St. Boniface Parish, the founding site of the St. Boniface Haiti
Foundation. Fr. DeVeer is chairman of the Governance Committee and has been a frequent traveller to Haiti.
He is currently parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Weymouth. Past
president until 2004.
Chelsea, MA
Richard790@comcast.net
Jeffrey Lynch, Treasurer
President and owner of Enterprise Equipment in Weymouth. Chair of Finance
Committee. Under his guidance and oversight, a comprehensive budget has
been put into place. He is currently working on the investment portfolio
of the organization.
Hingham, MA
JLynch@enterpriseequip.com
Vicki Bond, R.N., Secretary
Registered nurse, co-chair of the Annual Dinner Committee for 4 years.
Volunteer as school nurse at Mother Caroline Academy, a private school
for inner city girls in Roxbury.
Boston, MA
VickiDBond@yahoo.com
Nannette Canniff, President and CEO
Original co-founder of St. Boniface Haiti Foundation in 1983. Has led
many Work Retreat Groups to Haiti and devoted her life to providing care
for the people of Haiti through its many years of political strife.
Worked alone until additional staff hired in 1999.
Randolph, MA
SBHF2Haiti@aol.com
Ronald P. Carzoli, MD
Medical Director, Pediatrix Medical Group, Jacksonvillle and Chief of Pediatrics,
St. Vincent's Medical Center, Jacksonville, FL. Veteran of multiple surgical
trips; primary interest in Haiti is expansion of nursery and improving newborn
care by providing equipment and education for the staff.
Jacksonville, FL
carzolimd@yahoo.com
Patricia Chute
Published author. Co-ordinator of the Scholarship Fund, which sends over
400 children to local schools every year. Has raised money for school
tuitions, and organized a Learning Center, which offers a vigorous program
in Literacy for all members of the community.
Cambridge, MA
patricia.chute@verizon.net
Steve Felger, M.D.
General surgeon and Chief of Staff at Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville FL.
Veteran of several surgical missions to Fond des Blancs. Member of Clinical Committee.
Jacksonville, FL
tfelger@comcast.net
Jacqueline H. Haley
Attorney, past Chairman of the Board of Directors of South Shore Hospital,
Weymouth, Ma. Currently a graduate student in the School of Education at Bridgewater
State College. Serves on the Foundation's Clinical Committee.
Weymouth, MA
Phaley1@comcast.net
Rev. Frank Herrmann,S.J.
Professor in the Law School at Boston College. Chairman of Development
Committee. Has led a group of college students to Haiti each year since 1997.
Chestnut Hill, MA
herrmanf@bc.edu
Wilce Mascary, Engineer
Native of Fond des Blancs, Haiti, has been in the U.S. for 20+ years.
Liaison with the Haitian community in the greater Boston area.
President of COFEX INC, an organization that provides social investment
to projects in Fond des Blancs.
Brockton, MA
Wilsak@comcast.net
Robert McNulty, Clinical Engineer
Project Manager for Philips Medical Systems in Andover, MA. An engineer,
he provides technical advice and assistance with facilities infrastructure and acquisition/repair of equipment.
Has traveled yearly to Haiti in addition to other third world countries
volunteering on healthcare projects.
Malden, MA
bob_mcnulty@netzero.net
John Meade, D.M.D.
Former professer at Tufts University School of Dentistry. Currently
practicing dentistry in Medford, MA. Has made many trips to Haiti to work
with our dentist and supplies our dental clinic.
Lee Myles,CEO
St. Mary's Medical Center in Lewiston, ME. Has been to Haiti and
encourages a group of employees from his hospital to participate in a
Work Retreat to Haiti each year. Instrumental in getting medical care
for Haitians needing care in the US.
Lewiston, ME
lmyles@sochs.com
Rev. Gerald J. Osterman
Co-Founder of St. Boniface Haiti Foundation in 1983. Former pastor of
St. Boniface Parish and current pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish
in Everett, MA. Envisioned establishment of hospital, school, and
community support projects. Travels frequently to Haiti. Responsible
for coordination of activities and ministry to Haitian community in his
parish.
Everett, MA
xavieriii8@aol.com
Wayne Perkins, M.D.
Retired Ob-Gyn. Has worked in Haiti at Crudem Foundation in Milot, and St.
Boniface Hospital in Fond des Blancs in 10 years. Instituted Cervical Cancer
Prevention Program at St. Boniface Hospital in 2004. Milton, MA
Wperk33@comcast.net
Marie Lourdes Poteau
Accountant, nutritionist. Native of Pestel, Haiti. Currently working as a
Nursing Assistant at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Involved in our work for many years with her husband, our former trustee,
Presnor Poteau(deceased).
Randolph, MA
John Russo, Electrical Engineer
Chair of the Facilities Committee. Responsible for generating the
overall plan for land use, buildings, and equipment. Has traveled
yearly to Haiti to make assessments and improvements to facilities and
equipment. Oversees electrical system and needs.
Norwood, MA
john.l.russo@verizon.net
Lois Sweet, R.N.
Past Vice-President of Foundation until 2004. Has travelled to Haiti
every year since 1984. Co-Chair of the Dinner Committee for 5 years.
Board of Directors, Alumni Association, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital
School of Nursing, Boston, Massachusetts. Former Director of Nurses at
Brandeis University for 20 years.
Concord, MA
lsweetlms@aol.com
Of note is that all of our trustees have experienced life in Haiti, making
it a concrete rather than a strictly theoretical commitment. In addition,
100% of our Trustees have contributed to the organization.
Advisory
Board
Dennis Hines
Ann Gendron Natterer, M.D.
Lin Piwowarczyk, M.D.
Bridgid Steele, M.D.
Dennis Taylor, Ph.D.
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