The Providence Rotary Charities Foundation's Matching Campaign to support ShelterBox* relief for earthquake survivors in Haiti has achieved its goal of $25,000.

The Foundation made an initial $10,000 donation and committed to match additional contributions from Rotarians and anyone else -- dollar for dollar -- up to another $15,000.

The results were immediate and gratifying. Rotarians, as well as their employers and friends, gave more than $7,500, which the Foundation matched. And as the challenge was nearing an end, we received a surprise gift from some very special young people. Here's the story:

Seekonk's Hurley Middle School Students
Double Down on Haiti Relief

With Providence Rotary Charities Foundation Match

After students at the Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School in Seekonk, MA raised $867 for Haiti earthquake relief through a bake sale, a raffle and other appeals, they went looking for a way to donate the money to do the most good. They found their answer when Student Council faculty adviser Michael Sandstrom spotted a newspaper article about a donation match offered by the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation of the Rotary Club of Providence.

Checking further on the club's website, the students learned that they could double their money with a dollar-for-dollar match offered by the Foundation for donations to ShelterBox, the international charity that provides tents, tools and other living supplies for disaster relief. They liked the idea of giving Hatian people shelter during the rainy season, and of course they liked the idea of turning their $867 into $1734.

"This is a win in so many ways," said Foundation chairman Ronald Hoak. "The students doubled the money they'd worked so hard to collect, they got an introduction to Rotary and its motto of Service Above Self, Rotarians got to meet some truly exemplary young people and, most important, dozens of Hatian people are getting shelter and months of survival supplies."

The deal was completed as adviser Sandstrom and six Hurley School students exchanged ceremonial (and real) checks with Foundation chairman Ronald Hoak and ShelterBox representative William DiBiasio at a meeting of the Providence Rotary Club.

Front row (l-r) ShelterBox representative and Providence Rotarian William DiBiasio, students Jocelynne Casper, Sam Jennings, Jamie Behan, Anthony Tusino, Tulsi Patel and Samantha Rego. Back Row (l-r) Student Council Faculty Adviser Michael Sandstrom, Foundation Chairman Ronald Hoak, event organizer Gary Kaufman and Providence Rotary Club president Richard Applebaum.

*Founded in 1999 by a member of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall, England, ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide. Each ShelterBox contains:

• A tent big enough for ten people

• Vinyl insulated sleeping mats and thermal blankets

• A five-gallon water container and 180 water purification tablets (enough to supply a family of ten for three months)

• A tool kit, trenching shovel, rope and mosquito netting

• Ten ponchos

• Eating utensils and cook stove

• Children's activity kit

• All delivered in a 2'3" x 1'4" x 11" plastic container that can be used for water or food storage or as a cot or table

"Emergency shelter for more than 30,000 people has already reached the devastated areas of Haiti, but the need continues to grow as the island's rainy season approaches," said Ronald E. Hoak, chairman of the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation.

"We are appealing to members of the Rotary Club of Providence and the Rhode Island public for additional funds to purchase and deliver more ShelterBoxes to Haiti. The Foundation will match all contributions up to an additional $15,000, so when you give $10 it's actually $20 because we give another $10."

"Collaboration between Rotary and ShelterBox assures that the aid is distributed as quickly and efficiently as possible," said William DiBiasio, the Providence Rotarian who is coordinating the local effort. "Rotary volunteers and ShelterBox personnel are on the ground working with military and government officials to deploy the ShelterBoxes where they are most needed."

YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFT WILL BE
WORTH TWICE WHAT YOU CONTRIBUTE!

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a new window will open at the JustGive.org site.
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to the Providence Rotary Charities Foundation

for Haiti relief using your credit card.
Thank You!