June 4, 2010

I (John Engle) had the privilege of leading a group this week with Briggs and Stratton. Briggs and Stratton donated 240, 5,500 watt generators to Haiti Partners for schools, churches and grassroots organizations. These generators are valued at nearly $200,000. In Haiti, they would cost much more. Briggs and Stratton people have come to learn about Haiti and capture images on film. What a pleasure being with them, showing them Haiti and introducing them to our Haitian colleagues. What great people and how inspiring to learn about their corporate culture of community and generosity.

We had the opportunity to meet with Antoine Bien-Aimer, the Minister of Interior and his Director of Civil Protection. And something totally unexpected was hanging out with Jimmy Buffett (see below). Laura Timm, Briggs and Stratton executive, is keeping a blog. Click here to view.

Haiti Partners is deeply grateful to Briggs and Stratton for reaching out to Haiti in such a generous way.

Above: Children beside a donated Briggs and Stratton generator at Mission Ranch in Cite Soleil where Haiti Clinic functions.

Above: A child is receives medical care at Mission Ranch, where a Briggs and Stratton generator provides power for lights and fan and some refrigeration.

Above: We meet with Eramithe Delva in tent city by Haiti’s National Palace to learn more about how her organization for women who are victims of violence will benefit from a generator. Eramithe is part of Haiti Partners’ Leaders Program.

Above: Right to Left: Allan Klotsche (Haiti Partners’ Advisory Board Member), Laura Timm with Briggs and Stratton, Jimmy Buffett and I (John Engle) at Hotel Oloffson

Above: An example of the destruction all over Port au Prince.