Tuesday afternoon, January 12, 2010, an earthquake registering 7.0 in magnitude struck less than ten miles from the Caribbean city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  The resulting devastation to both life and country was nothing short of catastrophic.  Virtually every life in this poor island nation has been negatively impacted and none is more evident than the impact on Haiti’s youngest citizens, the orphaned infants and children.

The Pittsburgh Foundation rightly concentrates most of our discretionary grantmaking right here at home. But when disaster strikes somewhere else, we believe that one way our community maintains its own health is by reaching out to others who are in desperate need and hardship.  The Pittsburgh region has generously responded to this emergency with both donations and volunteer hours. 

To date, the Foundation, together with its donors and members of the public has contributed more than $150,000 to various relief organizations providing emergency aid in Haiti. The general public contributed $20,000 of this total through PittsburghGives, the Foundation’s on-line giving portal. 

The photos and stories may have faded from front page news stories.  However, much work remains to rebuild this country.  We will continue to update you with more information from Pittsburgh organizations that have stood up to meet this daunting challenge and are directly working for the people of Haiti.