ALIA Productions has long been a fan of the Noble Peace Prize winners Medecins Sans Frontiere (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders. This organization has already been working in Haiti, knows the country, and has clinics on the ground. They now have additional mobile units operating in and around Port au Prince. MSF has a great record of applying most of funds raised directly into services, ie 87%; less than 1% is spent on management, with the balance going towards fundraising.

www.doctorswithoutborders.org

From Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Executive Director, ASU Gammage: Arizona State University is providing support for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. From fundraising drives to special fundraising dinners, ASU is bringing the community together in support of Haitian relief. Additionally, they are coordinating with The Broadway League to send financial support to the region.

Musicians from The Cleveland Orchestra and the New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy (NWS), joined forces to present “Musicians for Haiti,” a concert to benefit Haiti, January 27 at the Lincoln Theatre (541 Lincoln Road). The performance was conducted by The Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Möst and NWS Conducting Fellow Teddy Abrams.

The performance, the latest collaboration between the two prestigious institutions in a relationship that began nearly 18 years ago, included Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Elgar’s Nimrod from Enigma Variations, Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.

All ticket sales, sponsorship money and donations benefitted Partners In Health (PIH), an organization that has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years and is helping those affected by the recent earthquake. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. PIH works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world. Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses and community health workers. The vast majority of PIH staff are local nationals based in the communities served. Patrons may also make additional donations, www.nws.edu.

“Harmony for Haiti” Concert at Eastman School Raises Earthquake Relief Funds Haitian alumnus was among scheduled performers An Eastman School of Music graduate who was in Haiti when the country was hit by a catastrophic earthquake performed at the benefit concert on, January. 28, in Kilbourn Hall.

Titled “Harmony for Haiti,” the concert was organized and coordinated by Eastman School master’s degree students Jordan Hayes and Emeric Viani, who connected with and invited alumnus Louima Lilite to participate in the event. In addition to Lilite, a tenor sung and spoke briefly about Haiti, the concert featured the Eastman School’s Balinese gamelan ensemble, Gamelan Lila Muni; other Eastman School ensembles including a student orchestra; and the Yellowjackets, one of the University of Rochester’s all-male a cappella groups.

The suggested donation for the “Harmony for Haiti” concert was $10, with proceeds going to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund established by President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush. One hundred percent of the Fund donations were earmarked for immediate relief and to assist long-term recovery efforts.

Lilite, who received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Eastman in 2008 and is now assistant professor of music at Oklahoma Baptist University, was about four hours away from Port-au-Prince when the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck on Jan. 12. He was in Limbé at the North Haiti Music Camp, where he serves as the coordinator, and it was several days before he learned of the safety of his sister and her family. Lilite, who was born in Haiti and grew up in Port-au-Prince, was able to return to the United States as planned on Friday, Jan. 15.

While studying at the Eastman School with Professor Carol Webber, Lilite sang in several productions and was awarded Eastman’s Teaching Assistant Excellence in Teaching Award in 2007. He also taught at Nazareth College and at Houghton College. His other honors include the Presser Music Award from the Presser Foundation and First Place in the Advanced Division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Eastern Region Conference Auditions. He has taught, lectured, and coached in the United States and overseas for more than 13 years.

From Kareen Rispal, Cultural Counselor, Embassy of France Cultural Services: The Cultural Services of the French Embassy extends its deep sympathy to the people of Haiti and wishes to emphasize its solidarity with all those affected by the devastating earthquake. The heartbreaking images from Haiti’s capital have been a call to action for Francophones and Francophiles who want to lend their assistance. Relief efforts are already underway by the French Government and hundreds of other countries, as well as by international organizations. Even as the details of what exactly is needed in Haiti are yet unclear, we have a keen desire and obligation to lend our support to the Haitian people in this distressing time. This list offers a non-exhaustive list of charities and fundraisers in New York City. I strongly encourage you to make a donation. Our thoughts go out to the people of Haiti and to the Haitian community here in the United States.

• FIAF presents - HAITI's RELIEF EFFORTS
  For our World Nomads 2009 series dedicated to Haiti last spring, FIAF worked closely with David Belle, co-founder of Ciné Institute in Jacmel. Jacmel is a small town south of Port-au-Prince that has also been hit very hard by the destructive earthquake. Thankfully, the Ciné Institute team and students are all alive; however the town is completely devastated. David Belle and the Institute have just sent an urgent appeal for help for the town—food, water, blankets, medicine, and of course money. Make a donation for Haiti's Relief Effort today! Link



• The Bell House presents STRENGTH THROUGH UNITY
  All performers will be playing abbreviated, acoustic and/or stripped down sets. Scheduled to appear: Jimmy Fallon, The Walkmen, Ted Leo, Eugene Mirman, The Wrens, Michael Showalter, Sondre Lerche. New York State senator Diane Savino will also be present. The Bell House 149 7th St (between Second and Third Aves) Gowanus, Brooklyn (718) 643-6510 Wednesday, January 27th at 6p.m. Link



• Barbès presents A NIGHT OF HAITIAN RARA
  Between 1936 and 1937, while working for the Library of Congress, Alan Lomax made a number of trips to Haiti where he recorded hundreds of hours of tapes. For the first time, those recordings are being released along with Alan Lomax’s journal and field notes. The recordings document a variety of popular styles, including many Rara groups. Rara is festival music usually played by marching bands. The music is played on drums and homemade bamboo horns (sometimes replaced by PVC pipes) and is often associated with certain aspects of Vaudou rituals. it’s also a purely celebratory music which can have political and protest overtones. To celebrate the release, Barbès is proud to present a night dedicated to Haitian Rara. Barbès 376 9th St (corner of 6th Ave.) Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 965-9177 Thursday, January 28th at 7p.m. Link



• The Brooklyn Bowl presents A BENEFIT FOR THE RED CROSS HAITI FUND AND YELE HAITI
  Robert Randolph & the Family Band will be hosting a very special jam session to support the American Red Cross' ongoing efforts in Haiti. This special night of music, taking place on January 20th will bring the spirit of the many jam sessions Robert led at the Wetlands Preserve to the Brooklyn Bowl and will feature friends and special guests throughout the evening. All tickets are general admission. All TF fees (after CC processing) go to charity. $25.00 - $200.00. The Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, (718) 963-3369 Wednesday, January 20th at 8p.m. Link

From Jeanna Disney: For several years IMN has been supporting a development program in Jacmel, one of the most affected areas by the earthquake in Haiti. The immediate aftermath of the earthquake requires meeting basic needs; clean water, medical supplies, food and rudimentary shelter. Konpay has workers in areas underserved by larger organizations and has provided the first medical aid response into Jacmel, where several thousand patients had no medical attention. They bring extensive experience and a network of contacts working on a grass roots level to procure food, water and fuel to aid the relief effort. As you are considering how you can help we encourage you to consider donations to Konpay among your choices.

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From Bill Reichblum, Founder & CEO, KadmusArts: We have posted a blog that lists each and every major Haitian aid organization from around the world as a comprehensive and easy access resource.

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National Symphony Orchestra – Haiti Earthquake Relief Benefit

All proceeds from the Friday, Jan. 22 concert by the National Symphony Orchestra benefited the relief efforts in Haiti. The concert began with a special performance of the "Air on the G String" from Bach's Suite No. 3 followed by the previously announced program. A Haitian-themed, free Millennium Stage performance proceeded the Relief Benefit at 6pm.

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HELP HAITI, “A Night to Remember,” a very special event to benefit the people of Haiti, was hosted by Living Arts of Tulsa and Marjorie “Gigi” Bontemps on January 29. The event included Latin dancing groups, Carribean and Latin music by DJ San Dunga, catering by Hibiscus, Calaloo’s and Wanda’s Cakes, full bar, silent action and raffle, and a clothing drive courtesy of Goodwill Industries. All proceeds donated to Haitian relief.

From Gina Hyams, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center: "Help for Haiti: An Intimate Evening with James Taylor," which sold out last night and was simulcast on WAMC Northeast Public Radio and will be repeated tonight with another sold out concert, raised $570,500 for Partners in Health. James Taylor's longtime singers Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller, his wife, Kim Taylor, and Boston Symphony Orchestra cellist Owen Young joined him for the concert and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder spoke about Partners in Health and Haiti. We are grateful and honored to be able to open our theater the our community so that we might come together and help each other help others during such a critical time.

Phillippe Entremont with Mezzo-Soprano Heather Johnson, conducted an all-French program to benefit earthquake relief in Haiti on January 28. In a joint effort with Union Theological Seminary and Partners in Heath, Manhattan School of Music collected voluntary donations during the concert. In addition to the collection, the School donated net proceeds from the concert to Partners in Health, Union Theological Seminary’s medical organization Haiti. PIH has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. Guest conductor Philippe Entremont, himself a French native family in Haiti, conducted a romantic program of works by Berlioz and Ravel as part of La Musique, the year-long celebration of the music of France. Read more about Partners in Health at www.standwithhaiti.org

Operation HOPE Makes a 5-year Commitment to Assist in Haiti Long-Term Rebuilding - Announcement made to support Haiti from World Economic Forum

From Operation HOPE: John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE (HOPE), as well as a Young Global Leader, announced today at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland his organization's response to the crisis in Haiti. Operation HOPE's Global Initiatives have made this commitment in conjunction with the Clinton Global Initiative's (CGI) call for action in Haiti.

Recognizing that the survivors in Haiti are going to need support from the world community in years to come, Bryant has committed his financial literacy nonprofit to extend a hand to the people of Haiti by opening an Operation HOPE Haiti office, which will be the first of its kind in the region. Learn More

From Linda Brumbach: Sometimes a person has the remarkable gift to meet an entire new community of people through their children. It was through this world that I had the opportunity to meet my dear friend Yifat Susskind, who is the Policy & Communication Director of MADRE, an organization that uses human rights to advance social justice. I have been so impressed with Yifat's work and her ability to connect the dots between women's rights, democracy, poverty and social change. The organization has been working tirelessly for the last week on getting immediate on-the-ground health care support to Haiti.

Our close friends and colleagues have been directly and significantly impacted by this disaster. As we all try to navigate what we can do in the face of unimaginable devastation, please take a moment to read about what MADRE is doing now and how you can help today.

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Notes From Home presents, “St. Louis Musicians for Haiti,” proceeds benefit Doctors Without Borders on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. Sheldon Concert Hall. $15 general admission. Tickets on sale Saturday, January 16 at 10 a.m. Call MetroTix at 314-534-1111 or visit www.TheSheldon.org. Tickets also available without a convenience fee in person at the Fox Theatre Box Office.

An all-star line-up of St. Louis musicians will donate their time and talent for “St. Louis Musicians for Haiti,” a one-night only event, Tuesday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. to benefit Doctors Without Borders’ Haitian Earthquake Relief efforts. Hosted by Julius Hunter, the event will feature soul and R&B singer Brian Owens, folk group Mayor Taylor, the Bottoms Up Blues Gang, soprano Christine Brewer, jazz pianist Peter Martin, classical pianist Peter Henderson, jazz vocalist Mardra Thomas with husband Reggie Thomas on piano, and jazz, soul and R&B singer Kim Massie.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. www.doctorswithoutborders.org

From UK Arts International: UK Arts International has had a long association with Haiti - firstly through its director, Jan Ryan, sponsoring a child there through Plan International and subsequently through the work we have done in presenting Haitian musicians and other artists from the country in the UK.

We have therefore been especially affected by the recent earthquake and want to help all we can to raise funds - not just for the immediate relief efforts, but for the subsequent rebuilding of the country which is going to be a far longer task.

After much thought on how best to do this and which charity to work through, we have chosen Plan International, since we know first hand of the work they are doing with communities there, in terms of establishing schools and health centres and in bringing clean drinking water to rural villages.

Jan Ryan has therefore set up a page on justgiving.com to support Plan's work in Haiti, but instead of just asking for your donations, we are offering to send anyone who does donate, a copy of the soundtrack for Vodou Nation, the show that UK Arts International toured in the UK in 2004. It featured one of Haiti's best loved bands, Ram, and it is their music that is on this CD.

We suggest a minimum donation of £20 for a CD and £30 if you would also like us to send you a poster or a brochure for the show. All you have to do is click here for more information and to make a donation.