St. Andrew’s OutReach Sponsors Student
to Attend Midwifery School in Haiti
Maison de Naissance, the birthing home in Haiti that is sponsored by Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies Foundation, is staffed with Haitian Nurse Midwives. These are nurses who attend the National Midwifery School in Port-au-Prince Haiti for 18 months. The school graduates approximately 30 students and these new graduates are in such high demand in Haiti that there is a shortage of them to staff the many maternity centers, hospitals and clinics throughout the country.
Due to this shortage of ISF’s (midwives), Maison de Naissance has initiated a scholarship program where capable, state-certified nurses are chosen to attend the National Nurse Midwife School with tuition and living expenses paid. In return, the newly certified ISF’s agree to work for MN for a period of 2 years and will earn a regular ISF salary during that time. MN worked in partnership with the National Nurse Midwife School in Port-au-Prince, the Ministry of Public Health in Haiti, and the Nursing School in Les Cayes, Haiti to make this scholarship program possible.
St. Andrew’s OutReach will sponsor one of the 2 students chosen (by interview and credentials) to attend the National School!
Her name is Gulnise Veillard, a nurse from Les Cayes.
She is thrilled to be able to have this opportunity to further her education, advance her nursing skills and work for Maison de Naissance. Gulnise will start school October 1, 2008 along with the other student, Marie Nicole Dieuveiulle who is being sponsored by the Diocese of Maine.
Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies Foundation wants to express our deepest appreciation for this generous donation by the Outreach Committee of St. Andrew’s. It truly will transform Gulnise’s life, her family’s life, and the mothers and babies she will serve at MN in the future.
~ Cindy Obenhaus,Program Director, HM-HB Foundation
Fools for Christ’s Sake Event – A SUCCESS!
Thank you to all who participated in the Fools for Christ’s Sake Concert and Dinner on Friday, April 25. We are happy to report that $5250 was raised towards our goal of $18,000 to begin a hot lunch program at our mission school in Maniche, Haiti. For those unable to attend, we are certain that you will hear others rave about the phenomenal concert presented by Guy Montes and Sharon Hettinger and the delicious Haitian feast that followed in the Undercroft. We hope you will plan to join us for a repeat performance next year!
Event Details:
 Mr. Guy Montes, the son of a Haitian Episcopal priest, was born and raised in Haiti. He attended the only Episcopal school that offered music in its curriculum. In 1998, Guy came to St. Andrew’s as a member of Meli Melomane, the Haitian men’s choir, and attended the University of Kansas. After graduating with a degree in music performance (concentration in flute) he settled in Overland Park with his wife and family. Guy is the proud father of 3 children, ages 12, 8 and 1. He is a member of the St. Andrew’s choir and was pleased to present this concert as an offering to the children in Haiti.
Dr. Sharon Hettinger, St. Andrew’s Music Director and Organist since 2005, received her Master’s of Music (Organ/Church Music) and Doctor of Musical Arts degree (Organ Performance) from the University of Kansas. She is very active in the American Guild of Organists and contributes to many of the St. Andrew’s outreach ministries.
Together on April 25, Mr. Montes and Dr. Hettinger performed works by Poulenc, Hue, and Mower.
For just $25 per person, attendees enjoyed a concert and a gourment Haitian meal, all while helping others.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Outreach Endowment Fund
Jesus tells us, whenever we care for those whom
he calls
“the least of these my bothers and sisters,” we do it
for Christ himself.
~ Matthew 25:40
St. Andrew’s and its parishioners have a long history of
involvement in the world around us, both in our own neighborhood
and in nations around the globe. Our social outreach involves giving
time, talent and resources to programs that serve the poor. These
programs are recognized for their assistance in meeting basic human
needs and provide tools for self- empowerment. As we offer ourselves
in social outreach, we live out one of our parish’s core values:
Serving in God’s World.
Historically, requests for financial assistance have been accepted
from St. Andrew’s parishioners who are personally involved
in the program and are willing to act as a liaison to the parish
and the Outreach Commission. The program must exist outside
the confines of St. Andrew’s, it must promote Christian values
and it is desirable for the program to offer opportunities for volunteer
service.
In 2006, the Outreach Commission sought to build congregational
awareness and enthusiasm for our outreach ministries. A total of
$6700 was raised through two fund raisers and individual donations.
To ensure that social outreach continues into the future, the Commission
requested that the Vestry use these funds as “seed money”
to establish a restricted endowment for outreach ministries and
grants. In response the Vestry established a permanent endowment
fund and resolved it “to be known as The St. Andrew’s
Outreach Endowment Fund.
The purpose of the Fund is to enable St. Andrew’s to fulfill
its mission more completely beyond what is possible through its
annual operating funds, and therefore distributions from the fund
shall be limited to (i) outreach ministries and grants, and (ii)
such other outreach purposes as are specifically designated by donors
to St. Andrew’s whose gifts are included in the Fund. The
Fund shall be held as a separate ‘endowment fund for a specific
purpose.’ As such, the principal thereof shall not be invaded
and the net income there from shall be distributed periodically
to or for such outreach ministries as are recommended by the Outreach Commission (or its successor(s)) and approved by the Rector
and the Vestry. Distributions from the Fund shall not be made to
the general operating budget of St. Andrew’s.”
Parishioners and friends of St. Andrew’s are encouraged to
consider a donation to the Fund in thanksgiving, or in honor or
memorial of a loved one. For more information, please contact the
church office and they will put you in touch with a member of the
Vestry Endowment Committee and the Outreach Commission.
|
