Words cannot express how truly saddened we are by the recent catastrophic events that took place in Haiti. Our hearts go out to the folks and their families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. The unspeakable devastation that has taken place with our Caribbean neighbor has deeply affected me and the entire organization, and we’re stepping up to do what we can for our sister-island to help get her back on her feet.

I must say, though, that at times like these, I’m very proud of how we’ve all come together so quickly to help make a difference, so that Haiti can recover as fast as possible from this unfortunate incident.  In the name of disaster, you surely see how small the world is, and it’s during times like these that we have to put aside our own goals and reprioritize in order to help out in whatever way we can.

So naturally, The Sandals Foundation, the non-profit arm of our organization, immediately snapped into action to initiate a Haiti Relief Effort and Fund for our friends going through this earth shattering time.   We tried to figure out what kind of resources we had that could make the most impact.   And Thursday, we used our corporate jet to fly the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Bruce Golding, to Haiti to officially dispatch the Jamaica Defence Force that would assist with disaster relief efforts.  We also joined forces with the Jamaica Hotel & Tourism Association, to bring in much needed supplies like linens, non-perishable items, and clothing to the island. 

The Haiti Relief Fund we’ve set up is delivering support and monetary donations to several organizations including the Salesian Missions and Popular Services International (PSI), which have more than 100 years of combined experience and presence in Haiti and a taskforce made up of hundreds of workers and volunteers that are out in the trenches right now trying to lend their support.   A companywide initiative across all of our resorts, on all five islands, is taking place to collect much needed funds for Haiti, and many of our team members on-property have started their own unique fundraising relief efforts.

We’ve been getting so many calls from our partners asking what you and your clients can do to lend support and make a difference. And what Haiti needs most right now is funds to bring this island back to life. We know we can always count on you to help out when we ask, and whatever you can do to support this nation, however small, will surely be remembered. So, through the Haiti Relief Fund, you and your clients can donate money directly through The Sandals Foundation just by logging on to www.SandalsFoundation.org to see how you can help out now.

Haiti has a long road to recovery, but together we can do our part to help make a difference!

Thanks again for all that you do!

Jamaica Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding (second from left) talks with Lt. Col. Jamie Ogilvie (far right), alongside Leader of the Opposition Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller (far left) and Information Minister Hon. Daryl Vaz (third from left). This was at the airport right before they boarded the jet for the trip over to Haiti.

I’ve been glued to the news and the internet, but no matter how many times I see photos like these, I just cannot imagine the devastation and demise that has taken place in Haiti.