When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12, millions of people donated money and resources to the impoverished area. By the end of last week, major charities had raised more than $380 million, and last Friday’s “Hope for Haiti Now” celebrity telethon raised $58 million; donations are still pouring in. Bars, nightclubs and suppliers across the country are hosting charity concerts and events and making contributions to assist the country. Here’s just a small sampling of charitable giving from the beverage alcohol industry around the United States.
NRA Encourages Restaurants to Make Donations
The National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) joined with Share Our Strength to organize restaurants for Relief-Haiti, an extension of the original Restaurants for Relief in 2005 that raised nearly $1 million after Hurricane Katrina. Share Our Strength will grant 100 percent of funds to organizations with proven capacity and crisis expertise. Restaurants can participate by donating a portion of sales from a week, day or specific menu item; collect donations from patrons or have them make online donations at www.strength.org/Haiti; encourage employees to make individual donations and match them; and visit the web site at http://www.strength.org/get_involved/restaurants_for_relief/ for more ideas. Interested restaurants should send the restaurant name, city and state to RFR@strength.org to be added to the list of participants. Program donations can be made online through Share Our Strength at any time before February 12, 2010.
Cocktails for a Cause at Cure, New Orleans
The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society and Cure partnered to host Cocktails for a Cause on Jan. 23 from 5-7 p.m. Two cocktails were featured: Oloffson’s Punch and the Sazerac, the Official Cocktail of New Orleans. Each cocktail sold for $9, and 100 percent of the proceeds —which totaled $2,500 — benefited the American Red Cross’s efforts in Haiti. The event was sponsored by Sazerac Rye and Rhum Barbancourt, a rum-producing company from Haiti.
Diageo Airlifts 45,000 Pounds of Food, Supplies
Just three days after the earthquake hit, Diageo airlifted 45,000 pounds of food and emergency supplies to victims in Haiti in its first trip, and teamed up with the Washington Redskins to deliver a second round of aid workers and emergency supplies days later. Diageo’s specially commissioned 727 aircraft departed as part of Diageo’s Spirit of the Americas Humanitarian Aid program, an ongoing effort to deliver assistance to disaster zones and communities where Diageo employees and their families work and live. The supplies included food, cooking oil, Ensure and the new World Health Organization sanctioned emergency health kits, which contain enough materials to provide basic medical care to more than 10,000 people for 90 days. Diageo holds a minority stake in Brasserie Nationale d’Haiti S.A., a brewery located in Port Au Prince that has more than 1,300 employees.
Florentine Gardens Hosts Todos Por Haiti, Hollywood
On Sunday, Feb. 7, Hollywood nightclub Florentine Gardens will host Todos Por Haiti: Helping the People of Haiti, an American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fundraiser. Guests will need to make a minimum donation of $20 (cash or check); all proceeds go directly to the Red Cross. The event, organized by Yari Mor for the Latin Music Community, will feature DJ Pedro “El Sabroso” spinning throughout the night and live performances by: Mariachi Divas, Johnny Polanco, Chino Espinoza, Son Mayor, Yari More, La Sonora Colombia, Roxing Kafe, Grupo Vallenato De Colombia and more to be announced. There also will be special dance performances by World Salsa Dance Champions Cristian Oviedo and Liz Lira, as well as Salsabor Y Cache, and other special guests include Jacqueline Cacho and Hernan De Veky.
Pentair Helps Provide Clean Water
Pentair Foodservice and its Everpure brand are donating $200,000 to fund portable water treatment systems and related supplies to Haiti. Working with Pentair’s charitable partner, Water Missions International, the company will provide 10 Living Water Treatment Systems and five chlorinators, which can give about 100,000 people access portable drinking water daily. Each LWTS has a filtering system that reduces disease by removing waterborne pathogens. The system operates from any surface water – ponds, lakes and streams – allowing for water collection from any available source. Chlorinators are for use with shallow wells where the water is clear and does not require filtration, but could still be contaminated, the company says. The systems are being shipped and installed in coordination with WMI.
Manor Nightclub Hosts Red Cross Haiti Relief, Chicago
Outfit Events, the LGN Group and the American Red Cross held a fundraising event for Haiti at Manor Nightclub in Chicago on Saturday, Jan. 23. A $10 donation from patrons went to the American Red Cross to provide assistance. The evening featured music by DJs and special guest appearances by Tiger Woods’ alleged mistress Jaimee Grubbs and late-night appearances at Rino from “Jersey Shore” stars Jenni “JWoww” Farley and Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola.
Proceeds for Yele Haiti at Opera, Hollywood, Calif.
On Thursday, Jan. 21, Opera in Hollywood, Calif., hosted an event in which a portion of all proceeds went to rapper Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Foundation. DJ Mark Da Spot provided music for the event. An e-mail also went out to Opera’s e-mail list with information on donating to Yele Haiti through text (text “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5).
CombierUSA Donates Earnings
From Jan. 20-March 1, CombierUSA will donate 20 percent of all its earnings to Doctors Without Borders – Emergency Relief Fund. The orange peels used in Combier Liqueur d’Orange and Royal Combier are sourced from plantations in Haiti.
Fundraiser on Super Bowl Sunday at Chino Latino, Minneapolis
The Vikings may not have made it into the Super Bowl, but Chino Latino is still hoping crowds show up for its Haiti Relief Fundraiser held during the Super Bowl (it will be aired at the venue) Feb. 7 from 4:30-close. Donation jars will be available, and 10 percent of all proceeds go to Feed My Starving Children Haiti Response Fund.
If you’ve held or plan to hold a Haiti relief fundraiser, e-mail the details to Managing Editor Emily Hanna Mayock at ehanna@questex.com. To donate to the American Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org, or check out a list of charities and what your money will go toward in this CNN article.