Brooklyn Borough President

A LEAP OF FAITH:
BROOKLYN CHURCHES GIVE HAITI A HELPING HAND

In photo 1: Borough President Markowitz expresses his support for Mayor Bloomberg’s Brig conversion plan. Pictured from left to right are: State Assemblymember Joseph R. Lentol; Mayor Michael Bloomberg; Borough President Markowitz; Councilmember Letitia James; and HPD Commissioner Shaun Donovan.

Photographs by Kathryn Kirk

Pictured from left to right: Lt. Guy Cethoute of Haitian American Law Enforcement Fraternal Organization (HALEFO), Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham, Borough President’s Special Assistant for Haitian and Caribbean Affairs Shedline Pierre, Detective Franz Jerome (HALEFO), Consul General of Haiti Felix Augustin, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Samuel Nicholas, Rev. A. R. Bernard, Sr. of the Christian Cultural Center, Director of Global Communities in NY for World Vision Luis Minier, Council Member Letitia James and State Assembly Member Rhoda Jacobs.

Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham will travel to Haiti to deliver $50,000 check from Christian Cultural Center as part of Brooklyn’s ongoing Haiti relief efforts.

On Tuesday, August 3, Borough President Marty Markowitz joined Rev. A. R. Bernard, Sr. of the Christian Cultural Center at the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall to announce that $50,000 raised by members of the Christian Cultural Center will be given to the Nazareen Church of Bel-Air to help the communities of “Mapou” and “Fonds Verrettes” that were devastated by the terrible flood that hit Haiti this May.

“Brooklyn is the Borough of churches and our faith community has once again proven that they are always willing to go the extra mile and lend a helping hand,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “The generosity of the Christian Cultural Center and the people of Brooklyn serves as model for the rest of the country. By working together, we have given the communities of “Mapou” and “Fonds Verrettes,” who have endured a terrible disaster, a chance at a better life.”

Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham will travel to Haiti on Thursday to hand deliver this donation to the church in Port-au-Prince. Felix Augustin, Consul General of Haiti was also on hand for the event.

These funds are part of the ongoing efforts of the Borough President, Council Member Letitia James, Council Member Yvette Clarke, State Assembly Member Rhoda Jacobs, State Senator Kevin Parker and the international relief organization World Vision to encourage Brooklyn’s faith community to send relief to the people of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. So far, Brooklyn’s faith community has raised $10,000 for World Vision to distribute to help rebuild communities devastated by May’s deadly flood.