Bentley University recently launched "Project Haiti: The Redevelopment," a special fundraising campaign for Haiti disaster relief following the tragic earthquake that hit the country on January 12, 2010. Led by a committee of dedicated Bentley undergraduate and graduate students, and supported by Bentley faculty, staff and administrators, Project Haiti will raise money to go directly to aid the people most affected by the Haiti earthquake.

This semester marks the first phase of the campaign which has already raised more than $22,000 to date, with all funds going to the nonprofit organization ShelterBox, an organization that responds immediately to natural disasters around the world by delivering boxes of aid to those who need it most. Each box costs $1,000 and contains items immediately necessary for survival after a natural disaster. "After looking into more than twenty nonprofit aid providers, it was clear that ShelterBox was the perfect fit as a donation recipient for Project Haiti's first phase. The ability to track every box from donation to delivery provides an accountability that was essential to our team and to the Bentley community," noted Dan Merica, Bentley senior and Project Haiti committee representative.

Items in the box include a ten-person tent, thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets, mosquito nets, water purification supplies, a tool kit, a small stove, cooking and eating utensils, and children's coloring books, all stored efficiently in a durable, sealed, plastic bin. While ShelterBox delivers boxes all over the world, Bentley has been guaranteed that all boxes funded by Bentley monies will be delivered directly to Haiti to aid those displaced by the January quake.

To accomplish Project Haiti's immediate fundraising goals, the committee will roll out a series of three  events this semester, supplemented by smaller efforts - such as lip synch contests, trivia games, and theater productions - from various groups across campus. "Through Project Haiti, the Bentley community has made a commitment to strive to meet the needs of the Haitian people. The unique quality of the Bentley campaign is that its goals are focused on short and long term assistance. We plan to surge ahead with our efforts now and continue involvement well beyond this semester, as we are certain the redevelopment of this vibrant nation will be ongoing for years to come," says Dr. Kathleen Yorkis, Bentley University vice president for student affairs.

Details for the three primary campaign events are as follows:

• A launch event took place on March 1 with Bentley President Gloria Cordes Larson kicking off the campaign by donating the first ShelterBox and signing a banner designed by the Bentley Student Artists. Other participants in the launch included Bentley English Professor Barbara Paul-Emile, her husband, flutist Serge Emile and Assistant Director of the Bentley Multicultural Center and musician Adam Payne, who each performed.
• On March 26 the committee will host a carnival event with donations and t-shirt purchase proceeds directed to Project Haiti.
• The final spring semester fundraising event will be Spring Day, a preplanned event featuring a performance by student bands and a major recording artist with prize raffle fees and donations to support Project Haiti.

Beginning in Fall 2010 and beyond, Bentley will continue to raise funds during a second phase of the campaign. These monies will go towards microfinance initiatives identified through local Haiti NGOs and organizations such as Partners in Health and Yéle Haiti who are working to help Haiti rebuild itself in the long term.

In addition to fundraising, in conjunction with the Bentley Service-Learning Center, Assistant Director for Academic Programs Shawn Hauserman will teach a course in Fall 2010 through the management department titled "The Haiti Relief Project." The course will expose students to Haitian culture through guest speakers and other source materials as well as work with a non-profit whose mission is, in part, to restore Haitian economic, environmental and social structures through establishing sustainable enterprises.

"The Bentley students' desire to use their business skills to solve complex global issues for the greater good is what truly allows us to create courses such as this. Hopefully The Haiti Relief Project course will lead to other courses that will provide ongoing support for Haiti relief for the foreseeable future," states Mr. Hauserman, whose goal is to develop a strategic five year plan which will include identifying the institution's continued academic exploration of this cause. Currently, the Natural Sciences department offers a course that studies natural disasters where they are analyzing the physical and economic implications of the Haiti earthquake.

SHELTERBOX instantly responds to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict by delivering boxes of aid.  Each box supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and lifesaving equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless. The contents are tailored depending on the nature and location of the disaster, with great care taken sourcing every item to ensure it is robust enough to be of lasting value.The cost of a box is $1,000, including delivery direct to those who need it. Each box bears its own unique number so as a donor you can track your box all the way to its recipient country via www.shelterbox.org. Since its inception in 2000, ShelterBox has firmly established itself at the forefront of international disaster relief, providing emergency shelter for the people who need it most on every continent.