Hamilton Catholic school board had supported renos
Tuesday 19 January 2010
By Dana Brown
The Hamilton Spectator (Jan 19, 2010)
Right after Christmas, the Hamilton Catholic school board learned renovations were finally complete on the Haitian Orphanage it had supported for six years.
Just weeks later, the Port-au-Prince orphanage, which was also an educational institute, was destroyed in the Jan. 12 earthquake.
St. Joseph's Home for Boys is in Port-au-Prince and housed about 75 boys.
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board has supported renovations to the facility through its annual pilgrimage and has sent nearly $75,000 to the orphanage.
"We had heard that it was a facility which needed help, so that these boys not only would have a place to stay but also be educated," said Nancy DiGregorio, a superintendent of education with the board.
Two years ago, boys from the facility visited Hamilton and performed at all of the board's schools and visited students' homes.
Since hearing the news about the building, the board has initiated a two-week fundraiser called Coins for Kids, with hopes of raising $50,000. The deadline is Friday.
The money will go directly to St. Joe's with additional matched funds from the government going to help other organizations.
"We know as a system that we are there for them and we will do whatever we need to do to make sure that those boys are back in that facility and continuing with that education," DiGregorio said.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution can make cheques payable to the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board. The board's mailing address is 90 Mulberry St., P.O. Box 2012, Hamilton, ON L8N 3R9.
dbrown@thespec.com
905-526-4629
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