Press

June 6, 2010

“ANN ARBOR HOMEBUILDER TAKES UP ORPHANAGE RENOVATION CAUSE IN AFTERMATH OF HAITI EARTHQUAKE”

http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-homebuilder-takes-up-orphanage-renovation-cause-in-haiti-in-aftermath-of-earthquake/

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February 15, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BUILDERS COMBINE TO FUND AND CONSTRUCT SHELTER FOR HAITIAN CHILDREN

ANN ARBOR, Michigan and BRECKENRIDGE, Colorado – Mike Mahon and Andrea DeLuca, of Ann Arbor based Adaptive Building Solutions, and Michael Rath, of  Breckenridge design and build firm Trilogy Partners have founded The Haiti Orphan Rescue Program (HORP) to build permanent shelter for Haiti’s orphaned and abandoned children. Haiti’s “children without families” receive very little aid from their government. Mr. Mahon and his family have years of experience in Haiti helping these most vulnerable Haitians and their caregivers with support and medical aid. The earthquake of January 12, 2010 left more than 500,000 children without family or government support, spurring Mahon, DeLuca, and Rath to establish HORP as a non-profit 501(c) charitable organization.

As an association formed by Building Professionals HORP intends to fill an important niche by serving orphan communities specifically and directly. Aid has come to the people of Haiti but how and when it will be distributed is a question yet to be answered. The orphans of Haiti have long been supported by non-governmental agencies stressed to provide adequate care to children without families. There are thousands of orphanages or children’s relief shelters in Haiti, many of which were in very poor condition before the earthquake. The Earthquake has added hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children to the lists of orphaned and abandoned, pushing an already burdened system to the breaking point. No one knows how, when, or how much aid these children will receive. Children with disabilities are of particular concern. HORP intends to assist Haitians rebuild and renew their orphanages by offering design and construction management support, technical support, labor supervision and recruitment, logistics and shipping assistance, communications and funding.

HORP’s next project commences in April when members of HORP will travel to Haiti to refurbish Melissa’s Hope Childrens Community,  a damaged orphanage housing 20 children more than half with disabilities.

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Press contact:

Email Michael Rath or Michael Mahon

Press Release : Printable PDF

HORP Mission Statement : Printable PDF

Founders Biographies: Here