Billy Jean In Miami

On August 27th, NPH USA Raised over $10,000 for scholarships for college students at NPH Haiti. Billy Jean, a recipient, spoke about how he plans on using his education to give back to his country by providing free legal counsel to underprivileged Haitians. He has been volunteering for two years at the home where he was raised since two years of age and is helping NPH USA raise the money it needs to enable the 600 children currently at the home in Haiti the opportunity to go to college just as he did. The event also featured the photography of award-winning Haitian-born photojournalist Carl Philippe Juste, whose politically active family was forced to flee its homeland in 1965. Settling in Miami, Carl has served the Haitian community since 1991 through his work at the Miami Herald capturing the struggles of Haitians in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. Carl’s father, Viter Juste, who recently passed away at the age of 87, was the founder and creator of Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood. 

Child Sponsorship table materials at the home of NPH USA Board Member Tomas Hauff 

From left to right: Guest 1 – Vivi Santisteban Guest 2 – Jaime Escandon Guest 3 – Marisa Chauvet 

From left to right: Guest 1 – Lourdes Martinez Guest 2 – Alfredo Benetiz Guest 3 – Monica Ledanzo 

From left to right: Guest 1- Sherman Humphrey Guest 2 – Daniela Humphrey Guest 3- Kristina Fueyo – Child Sponsorship Manager 

Bacardi, an NPH USA corporate sponsor 

From left to right: Guest 1- Theresa Rice – Board Member Guest 2 – Agueda Pol Guest 3 – Guillermo Pol 

Left to right:  Guest 1 – Tomas Hauff – Board Member and Host Guest 2 – Leah Stern – Regional Director Guest 3 – Gloria Burns Guest 4 – William Burdette 

Left to right: Guest 1 -  Kristina Fueyo – Child Sponsorship manager Guest 2 – Charles Webber & Guest 

From left to right: Guest 1 – Art Massolo – Chair of SE Regional Board for NPH USA Guest 2 – Kristina Fueyo – Regional Manager of Child Sponsorship Guest 3 – Leah Stern – Regional Director 

Left to right: Guest 1 – Maritza Jacobson Guest 2 – Rocio Pellerano – Vice Consul at General Consulate of the Dominican Republic, Miami Guest 3 –Ana Oliveira 

Artist Carl Juste with William Burdette who purchased --- "Legacy" shot in Havana, Cuba in 1996: What was once a prestigious private school for the elite now houses a state run day care for infants and toddlers. Toddlers take a look at the outside world through the vintage ironwork of the old and decaying building. 

Billy Jean takes a comedic respite following an emotional speech 

Guests sit outside of Pinecrest Estate listen as Billy Jean delivers an empowering speech about how NPH has saved his life and given hope to thousands of children in Haiti and in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. 

Carl Juste with one of his most famous pieces in the background, “The Mask” and holding “I am a Man,” shot in Memphis, TN. 

Artist Carl Juste with CJ and Madelyn Occhipinti who purchased --- "Leg Up" shot in Port-au-Prince Haiti, 2010: The Athletic Soccer player Wilfred Macena, 25, does a hand stand in jubilation after learning how to walk and kick a soccer ball again using his new prosthetic leg after several hours of being fitted. Guest 1 – Madelyn Occhipinti Guest 2 – Carl Juste Guest 3 – CJ Occhipiniti – Board Member 

From Left to right:  Guest 1 – Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes – Board Member Guest 2 – Edison Sabala Guest 3 – Frank Donaghue – CEO of NPH USA Guest 4 – Olti Mollaymeri Guest 5 – Stephanie Hirschenson Guest 6 – Shawn Rosen - Holtzman

An Invitation from Billy Jean

"My name is Billy Jean. God gave me the opportunity to grow up in the NPH home in Haiti. Now, I stay involved with this wonderful family to give to other children the same opportunities that I had. I am studying law in Haiti, and hopefully after I graduate, I will move to America for a master’s degree. Over the summer, I am in Pennsylvania volunteering at a family camp, the YMCA in Deer Valley. When I was a child, many Americans used to come to my orphanage and dedicate a year of their life to volunteer and take care of us, so today, I have decided to volunteer in America, to give back to this wonderful country and its people. It is just a small way I chose to contribute, and I do it with great love in my heart. I invite you to meet me at a cocktail event in Miami, Florida on August 27th; in fact it will be my privilege to meet you there and share with you how NPH has changed my life. Come see how our family is raising thousands of children and transforming their lives. I hope I will meet you there, wishing you the best in your life. God bless you and thank you."

Learn more about the event on our website here: www.friendsoftheorphans.org/billyjean

All The World to One Child

Here is a blog post from dedicated Friend, Rebecca Kollaras. She ceaselessly supports Friends of the Orphans and contributes to the "Unofficial Friends of the Orphans Miami" facebook fan page, UFO Miami, completely made and managed by volunteers. 

As you may or may not know, I volunteer with the Friends of the Orphans. My daughter Zoe and I sponsor an eight year-old girl, Jaydy, in the Dominican Republic. She and her younger sister Paola, were abused and neglected to the point of danger, by their mother. Neighbors took them in and cared for them until the father could get custody. Unfortunately, he also was unable to care for these girls because he works at a farm, a great distance away. He decided to send the girls to the Friends of the Orphans supported home in the Dominican Republic just over a year ago. They are now cared for, happy and being educated by this 100% volunteer organization which receives no public funding.  My daughter and I write letters back and forth with Jaydy, and my father and step-mother are now sponsoring Paola, the younger sister. We plan to make a family trip to meet the girls soon.

Zoe's penpal Jaydy

I am blogging today to  request any sort of donation for the silent auction in the Friends of the Orphans 2nd annual All the World to One Child fundraising gala.  Friends of the Orphans is an international non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned and abandoned children through the support of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), a network of orphanages, hospitals and community outreach programs in nine countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

On Friday October 21, Friends of the Orphans (Southeast region) will hold its 2nd annual fundraising gala, All the World to One Child, at Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami, FL. The evening, which will feature an unbelievable array of gourmet delicacies created by the chefs at A Joy Wallace Catering, an open premium bar by Bacardi, lively music by our host DJ, an inspirational story by our special guest Aurora Zacarias from NPH Mexico and phenomenal silent auction, will attract over 250 guests.

By donating an auction item or gift certificate, you will be making a tax-deductible contribution that will help Friends of the Orphans in its mission to provide hope to the children we serve.

Furthermore, by supporting the 2nd annual All the World to One Child, you/your business will strengthen its recognition as a philanthropic leader in our community and throughout South Florida, as our database encompasses an array of professional, diplomatic, press, entertainment, arts and community leaders.  All silent auction sponsors will have the opportunity for direct exposure at the event in the form of an item display and bid sheet, as well as recognition on a slideshow that will be looping throughout the evening. 

Happy boys

In addition, I would consider it a very important personal favor if you would consider donating to this cause. It can really be anything – trips, dinners, gift certs, books, services, jewelry, parade floats…anything that will help raise money for the charity. I appreciate your support immensely and so do the 3,700+ orphaned/abandoned kids Friends of the Orphans cares for in the Caribbean, Latin America and Mexico.

With gratitude,

Rebecca