Message From David & Orly Perez, 2010

Monday, February 1, 2010

Dear Friends,

On Tuesday, January 12, a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, just 15km from the capital. Reaching a magnitude of 7.0, this is the worst earthquake Haiti has experienced in 200 years. While the death toll is still unclear, hundreds of thousands are feared to be dead. Another 3 million are affected as schools, homes and hospitals have collapsed.

Haiti is one of the world’s poorest countries in the world, meaning that vital services like electricity and water are now almost completely inaccessible in the wake of the destruction. At this moment, the people of Haiti need our support more than ever.

Although 2 Life 18 Foundation’s mandate is to help and rescue Americans during US-based disasters and emergencies our Board of Directors quickly assessed the situation in Haiti and realized not enough help was being delivered and distributed, as continues to be the case now going into the third week.

Because we had great relationships in Haiti formed four months before the earthquake, we were well positioned to get emergency aid to those most in need. Drawing on our first responder experience of delivering aid during Hurricane Katrina, far in advance of FEMA and the Red Cross, we were able to once gain jump into action. Working with ministries, humanitarians and our close contacts with local organizations we were able to provide quick and effective relief. Haiti and its people are very dear to my team and me, and we simply can’t and won’t wait for governments, larger relief organizations like the United Nations, World Food Program (WFP) and USAID that continue to demonstrate sheer incompetence during major disasters time and time again.

We want to thank all of our volunteers and donors again for all you are doing and have done to help us get needed aid into Haiti. Together, we believe we have already made a BIG difference in Haiti!

Understanding where our donations are going is very important to all of us and here are some of the most worthy and reputable organizations that are well-outfitted to ship, store, securely receive and distribute goods in Santo Domingo, DR and Port au Prince at the privately-owned, secured, and bonded warehouses in the Freezone. Corruption is a huge problem and understanding the way to operate in Haiti is very important, otherwise all of our hard work can be confiscated and sold to the poor. That’s why we believe that IsraAID / IDF, Free the Children (Enfants Entraide) and Morning Star Christian Academy (Pastor Jay) who have been on the ground for many years deserve our aid.

IsraAID helped in the Tsunami and is a top-notch organization that my wife and I have been in touch with and supporting for many years. IsraAID's emergency response in Haiti is supported through the generous donations of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, American Jewish Committee, Bna'i Brith International, The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago in addition to other Federations in the North America. IsraAID is a coordinating body of Israeli and Jewish organizations and other interested parties based in Israel who are active in development and relief work and are concerned about global issues. IsraAID: The Israel Forum for International Aid has launched an emergency relief effort in response to the devastating earthquake that shook Haiti, just outside the capital of Port au-Prince on 12 January. By 14 January, IsraAID rapidly deployed its first relief team to the region through its member organization F.I.R.S.T. The 15 member civilian response team, comprised of doctors, nurses, paramedics and logisticians all belonging to FIRST's Search and Rescue teams will be providing emergency medical assistance and distributing urgently needed humanitarian supplies. The team lands in the Dominican Republic and will travel by land to the earthquake zone. IsraAID team members will work along side 'Operation Blessing' to provide emergency medical assistance in clinics, which have been overwhelmed since the disaster hit. http://www.israaid.org.il/

Free The Children was founded by 12-year-old Craig Kielburger in 1995 when he gathered 11 school friends to begin fighting child labour. Today, Free The Children is the world's largest network of children helping children through education, with more than one million young people involved in our programs in 45 countries.

In Haiti, Free The Children/ Enfants Entraide is working with Frere Saballa and Oxene Estinfil at Les Petits Freres et Petits Soeurs de l’Incarnation in Pandiassou, Hinche, Plateau Central, HAITI. With the help of their on-ground partner, Partners In Health, they have been providing emergency relief and medical supplies to get immediate, effective, primary health care and support to the hardest-hit communities. In the days and weeks ahead, they are seeking emergency funding that will help to rebuild Haiti’s infrastructure. True to their mission, Free The Children’s long-term relief efforts will focus on education and school-building to get children safely back in school.

We strobgly urge you to direct donations to them that will be immediately directed to support the people of Haiti in three ways:
1     Emergency relief through a partnership with Partners in Health, an organization that has provided on-the-ground healthcare in Haiti for over 20 years.
2     Shipments of medical supplies where $1 = $10 of medical supplies (made possible through a partnership with World Medical Relief that allows Free The Children to purchase supplies below cost).
3     Education projects to equip schools locally with supplies, school kits, teacher training and more.

Canadian donors should please note: Free The Children is eligible for a matching fund through the Canadian International Development Agency. The Government of Canada will match all donations made by February 12 toward the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
http://www.freethechildren.com/

Dr. Jay Threadgill graduated from International Bible Institute and Seminary, Orlando FL, and has received his Doctorate in Biblical Studies from Jacksonville Theological Seminary. He and his wife have served our Lord and Savior in the Nation of Haiti for the past 21 years. There they are the senior ministers of COTR-Port Au Prince, which has grown from 6 to over 6,000. Fisher of Men Ministries has planted over 25 Churches throughout the nation, as well as 14 academic schools, and 4 accredited Bible Schools. Fisher of Men also facilitates a feeding program which last year fed nearly 3000 students throughout the city and in the "province" areas of Haiti. Also taking a portion of the Food and Water is: Morning Star Christian Academy http://www.fomhaiti.org/aboutus.html

We are blessed to have you part of our mission to save lives. By donating your time, money and services you will soon come to understand how many lives you are saving by simply being able to deliver a bottle of water and baby formula to starving kids and the poor that have been forgotten by the rest of the world. Our team has worked endless nights flying doctors, nurses and coordinating emergency aid drops by small planes, helicopters, and trucks. I’d like to share one of my favorite verses “To save a life is as if you saved the whole world”. Your efforts will make a difference. Remember that even the smallest act of kindness can make a world of difference in the life of someone who has lost everything, or a loved one and now needs everyone’s help to rebuild their life.

With all our prayers and gratitude,

Davide perez
David & Orly
Founders 2 Life 18 Foundation Inc.

Click here to download pdf version of this letter

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Message From David & Orly Perez, 2007

Dear Friends,

The dispersed Katrina Community needs all of our help more than ever. Two years later, where have the billions of dollars in aid gone? Areas of New Orleans are still without basic services (water, electricity, waste removal), while the levees are inadequately rebuilt to their pre-Katrina standards. Please join forces with 2 Life 18 Foundation, Inc. to help us help rebuild communities and restore dignity and autonomy to our neighbors struck by this unprecedented natural disaster. Donations have slowed to a trickle as the Hurricane has faded from network coverage and while needs are still very pressing. We have learned that helping these victims who have lost everything from family members, home and jobs, to basic mental stability must be a grass-roots effort that comes from all of us. Whether you can contribute time, assistance, support, or funds for everything from weekly gas money to monthly rent and basic everyday needs while job-hunting and rebuilding lives continues, it is with heartfelt thanks that we welcome your care and attention.
Davide perez
David & Orly
Founders 2 Life 18 Foundation Inc.

Listen here to my August 29 2006 KPBS interview on the Anniversary of Katrina

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Message From David

November 16, 2005

(2 1/2 months after Hurricane Katrina)

Dear Friend,

Thank you for caring. Because of people like you we were able to make a difference in the lives of more than 1,000 people affected by Katrina.

Katrina is being hailed as the greatest natural disaster on American soil. Unfortunately, the aftermath of this catastrophic hurricane has proven to be a soil on our government’s ability to respond to the needs of its citizens.

Over the Labor Day weekend, while most major corporations and federal government offices were closed for the holiday, I issued a clarion call for Americans, great and small, to come to the rescue of our fellow countrymen. Personally, I felt compelled to be at ground zero to offer aid and save as many lives as possible. During the first two days alone, I spent $250,000 of my own money on the rescue effort.

Thank you for listening to my plea.

My heart is filled with gratitude that multitudes of people across this great land rose to the challenge and responded immediately to my cry. By partnering together, we have proven once again that this is the greatest country in the world and that America’s greatness is truly in her people.

And the challenge continues.

As many of the good people from the Gulf States mourn the loss of loved ones and most mourn the loss of life as they knew it, we must continue to extend open arms in these uncertain times. Our work continues as we are actively involved in finding missing persons, reuniting families, providing cross-country transportation, working with governmental and service agencies, and providing aid. We have recently distributed over $80,000 of private money in direct financial aid to evacuees.

Our citizen mandate is to ensure that out of despair, comes hope. In the upcoming days, you will see ways on our website to proactively be involved in helping Katrina victims rebuild their lives. Just as the private sector rose to the occasion of opening their hearts and their homes to victims at the moment of crisis, I believe that individual citizens will continue to help rebuild lives one person at a time.

When I stepped up to the plate in a time of emergency, I did not realize that I was a catalyst to what became a national network of volunteers raised up virtually overnight for the common purpose of responding to the basic needs of others.

Now I must listen to you.

The clear consensus is that we must build upon the foundation that we began together. We have a moral imperative to be prepared to respond immediately to the needs of Americans – particularly if our government is ever caught off guard again. My wife, Orly, and I have formed a public charity for the common purpose of responding to people in times of disaster. Donations to the newly formed 2 Life 18 Help and Rescue Organization will go directly to the Katrina victims. When our work with the Katrina Relief Effort is completed, any unused funds will be utilized to respond quickly in times of a national emergency. Our goal is to continue in the tradition of the Katrina Relief Effort as a coordinated private sector based “first response” effort in times of national emergencies like the current Bird Flu Pandemic where we have been actively engaged with leading relief organizations in developing a proactive awareness program.

By contributing to 2 Life 18 Foundation, Inc. by volunteering or donating, we all continue the work we’ve begun together - of saving lives and uplifting the human condition.

I’d like to share one of our favorite verses from the Torah “To save a life is as if you saved the whole world”. Your efforts have made a difference. Remember that even the smallest act of kindness can make a world of difference in the life of someone who has lost everything and needs to rebuild their life.

I have been blessed to be part of a family that has deep-rooted spiritual and religious beliefs. On behalf of my family, I ask that you join us in celebrating each day with a prayer for good health and peace on earth. As we have worked together toward a common goal, I feel my family has been greatly expanded over the last few weeks.

I want to personally thank you for being part of a historic endeavor that saved countless lives. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family.

G-d Bless You,

Davide perez
David Perez
Founders 2 Life 18 Foundation Inc.

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