Last night, Be Like Brit held our 2nd Annual Fall Gala Fundraiser. While our Gala is a fundraiser, Len and Cherylann want to be sure that it is a night of FUN! Being mindful that in all that we do, we always honor Brit and her memory - and from all I know of her, Brit loved to have a good time! With good friends, food, dancing, and the generous outpouring of support from everyone who came, it was indeed an incredible night!
Cherylann graciously gave the crowd permission to have fun - because that's what Brit was all about - Living life to the fullest, enjoying the company of good friends and family. When an event like this comes around, understandably, out of respect, people feel like it may not be appropriate to "have fun" - but this event is all about that - celebrating a daughter taken too soon, but whose memory lives on forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, through strangers who have become friends, and through the children in Haiti who call Be Like Brit home.
I'll share with you what I spoke about at the Gala, along with a few photos. It's so great to be in Boston and in Massachusetts, and I am so grateful to have met hundreds of our loyal supporters and friends! We Love You!
The Mission Statement for Be Like Brit is to serve the children of Haiti by establishing a safe, nurturing, and sustainable orphanage in an environment where they can grow, learn, and thrive.
It's hard to believe that it was just a year ago that I found a job vacancy posted online for a position at an orphanage in Haiti, and now, here we are, gathered together as friends and as family to be sure that the Mission of Be Like Brit is realized. And there's no question that both Brit's call to action and the mission of the organization which honors her legacy of compassion is doing just that.
Over the course of the past 10 months, I have visited over 90 homes, and conducted over 90 assessments as part of how to determine who comes to Be Like Brit. I can tell you that in every case, without hesitation, every child I have met and every family I have visited is in need. Tonight, because of Brit and her text, there are 35 children in Haiti who are growing, learning, and thriving.
Tonight, because of people like you, who are committed to our Mission and to continuing the compassion of Britney Gengel, 35 children will go to sleep in a safe, sound building; with full bellies; with their best clothes laid out for Church in the morning, and with the peace that comes in not having to worry about how you might survive another day.
We have been so incredibly blessed and so incredibly fortunate this past year. While we continue to receive so much support from those who have been with Be Like Brit from the beginning, we are constantly working on building relationships with other organizations and Missions which will better enable us to be sure that we meet the needs of our 35 children.
Through our long-term Britsionary program, this past summer, we hosted 4 month-long Britsionarys (volunteers) who brought with them invaluable skill sets and programming for the children and staff in Haiti.
Ashley Belcher, who was friends with Brit while studying together at Lynn brought a soccer programming to the children, focusing on building psychosocial skills as well as stressing the importance of fun.
Keely Campbell, a guidance counselor at Eagle Hill School, brought a theater and pragmatics program, and we were able to have our first mini-play using the outdoor chapel area.
Melissa Butler spent a month working with the children on developing memory books - a keepsake these children will have with them for years to come, and something we can add to over the years.
Finally, Amanda Madore, a school teacher from upstate NY helped us with educational assessments and the setting of individual educational and life skills goals.
Another exciting relationship we have been able to broker is with Tulane University's School of Social Work. Members of Tulane's Global SW cohort spend their final semester of graduate school abroad. Be Like Brit became an official global field practicum site, and we welcomed our first two interns, Lauren and Zakiyyah, on September 2 of this year.
The Director of Field Programs visited us in Haiti just two weeks ago, and has expressed Tulane's desire to maintain this working relationship on a permanent basis. This brings great value in terms of our ability to address issues around mental health, trauma, abuse, as well as our ongoing work to broker services for our children and the community.
I want to tell you briefly the story of one of our girls, who I won't name - but whose situation was especially bleak. When I met this girl, she was wearing only a ripped, dirty t-shirt, sitting on the ground propped up against a "house". She was covered - from head to toe - in various fungal infections, ringworm, scabies, etc. She had lost almost all of her hair - and what little hair she did have had started to lighten, a sign of malnutrition. When we brought her in to Be Like Brit, the staff seemed somewhat frightened by her physical appearance - though after a brief explanation of what was causing it and how we would treat it, their minds were eased.
On Wednesday night this past week, I walked up to this child, who has been living with us for about 6 months. She was getting her hair done by one of our caregivers - an evening ritual which sometimes takes hours - she looked up and she said to me, "M. Jonathan, mwen bel!" which means, Mr. Jonathan, I am pretty! She showed me her arms, her legs, her feet - her hair. Finally - she has beautiful hair!
As I started to respond to her, my voice cracked and my eyes started to tear up. "Yes" I said. "You are pretty!"
As she smiled and as I walked away, I realized the significance of that moment. In that moment, the mission of Be Like Brit resonated in my head - and what has become Brit's call to action, Brit's challenge to all of us, was met.
Every day - no matter how stressful or chaotic it may be - I see these children, and I see the direct results of the support, money, donations, and love so many bestow upon them and upon Be Like Brit. What you give goes towards bettering the lives of these 35 children, and ultimately 31 more. I see them changing every day.
It is because of people like you that it is possible.
