Lions Clubs International Foundation Marks 2nd Anniversary of Haiti Earthquake

OAK BROOK, Ill., Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) will mark the 2nd anniversary of the devastating Haiti earthquake with several unique redevelopment projects, including opening Haiti's only nursing school and completing housing in Port-au-Prince's toughest neighborhoods, Cite Soleil. 

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The school's inauguration is set for this month. Students are currently studying in make-shift tents. The new facility has four classrooms and a lab practice area with hospital beds where students will treat patients. A dormitory is also planned. Three-hundred-fifty nursing students will attend the school this year. The facility is hurricane and wind proof, with windows built to serve as emergency exits in future disaster situations.  

LCIF has also completed two out of three phases of a housing project in Cite Soleil. The second phase will be complete within the next two months.

"What's unique about LCIF is we have stayed committed to the same Haitian families for the entire two years, first providing tents, now giving them homes," said LCIF Chairperson Sid L. Scruggs III.  

Lions have completed 403 homes and 197 are in progress. LCIF has only about 20 people still living in tents, and is providing temporary shelters or homes to everyone originally given tents.  

"The Haitian Lions members are overseeing our redevelopment projects, which enables us to incorporate input from the Haitian people into everything we do. For example, the homes have been developed in the local style," continued Scruggs.

These projects are possible due to Lions' generous outpouring of support, providing more than US$6 million to LCIF in support of relief efforts in Haiti. Other projects include additional housing projects, a community center and school, with additional projects currently being developed.

Lions membership in Haiti has grown from 80 in 2009 to 132 currently. Lions live in the community and remain committed to long-term relief, developing future projects that address needs not currently being met.

Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International. Established in 1968, LCIF is committed to providing humanitarian services to those in need, including providing disaster relief, saving sight, supporting youth and combating disability. The Foundation has awarded more than US$50 million for disaster relief in the last 10 years. LCIF was ranked by a Financial Times study as the #1 non-governmental organization with which to partner. Learn more at www.lcif.org.

SOURCE Lions Clubs International Foundation